Neurofeedback and Young Adults

The clinical professionals at the Claudia Black Young Adult Center at The Meadows understand the enormous complexity of how the human brain functions in young adults, aged 18-26. Addictions, psychological trauma, and certain mood disorders often surface during this time period in a person’s life and may be connected to the presence of a dysregulated brain stem. In recognizing this crucial aspect of recovery, we utilize proven treatments to help regulate our patients throughout the healing process, which allows them to embrace long-term recovery.

Neurofeedback (NFB) is an integral part of our treatment plan and the core of our onsite Brain Center at the Claudia Black Center. In our Brain Center, our young adults have access to the latest and most efficient technology designed to promote “self-regulation” skills that can enhance and expedite the recovery process. Neurofeedback provides the patient with an opportunity to observe and influence the activity of their brain through practice and feedback. Both the addicted patient and those with a trauma history learn to self-regulate and develop a feeling of internal control and a sense of safety. Additionally, patients with ADHD learn how to produce the brain wave patterns associated with focusing, which cause the symptoms of impulsivity and distractibility to lessen.

Because of life stress, the brain creates unhealthy patterns that influence people’s everyday lives. With neurofeedback, individuals can reestablish healthier brain wave patterns that decrease anxiety, lessen depression, lessen emotional reactivity, and increase healthy emotional responses, improve mood, enhance learning, strengthen concentration, gain more restful sleep, lessen negative self-talk and increase self-esteem. In essence, neurofeedback is brain wave training and a means to overcome conditions and habits that interfere with everyday life. For neurofeedback to be effective, a minimum of 8 sessions and ideally 10 or more are required.

Once a young adult has completed the intake process at the Claudia Black Center, a brain mapping assessment is performed. During the brain mapping assessment, electrodes are placed on the patient's scalp to monitor brain activity for a short period of time. The data obtained from the electrodes provides a detailed brain map of the patient's brain waves and the specific locations of activity in the brain. This process takes a total of four minutes; one minute each for the first 3 mini mappings with eyes open and one minute for the last mini mapping with the eyes closed. This gives better insight into how the brain functions during different states of arousal.

Neurofeedback treatment follows the initial brain mapping assessment. During the session, which is typically 6-12 minutes, electrodes are applied to the client's scalp to collect brain wave data. Brain waves are translated into images and sounds via a specific computer. As patients watch their brain pattern on a monitor, they can begin to regulate the Alpha, Beta, and Theta waves with the use of breath, positive self-talk, and being present with a soft focus. Concepts are also suggested to the patient to think about to show the changes in brain activity. When certain thoughts arise or when feeling stress, the suggestions are then provided to help change brain wave activity. This teaches the patient skills to regulate the brain stem on his or her own outside of the neurofeedback session.

Sarah, a patient at the Claudia Black Center, came to treatment for substance abuse, depression, anxiety, trauma, and suicidal ideation and she was experiencing horrific nightmares. After 14 neurofeedback sessions, Sarah’s nightmares were gone and she was sleeping well. Her affect was brighter and her self-esteem clearly improved. This was demonstrated by how she carried her body, how she dressed, and her interaction with peers. Sarah was so excited about her neurofeedback that when her parents came for family week, she made a point of bringing them to the Brain Center to see the neurofeedback machine and to meet me.

Jon, another patient, was in treatment for substance abuse, predominantly alcohol and marijuana, and co-occurring depression. He, like most of the young adults at the Claudia Black Center, was struggling with poor self-esteem. He felt overwhelming guilt and shame about never being good enough: not manly enough to receive his father’s love. Jon was stuck in his obsessive negative self-talk. To help him, I implemented a protocol specifically for issues with self-esteem and being stuck. I used a neurofeedback game called “variable-dot mazes” which, in essence, is like Pac-Man. Jon’s Pac-Man was not moving, he was stuck, but as he started using positive affirmations of his self, Pac-Man began to cruise. We kept that protocol up for his last 5 sessions with excellent results. When he left after 10 sessions, he had reduced his Theta and Beta waves and increased his Alpha waves. Neurofeedback helped him feel better about himself; feel more empowered and helped him recognize that he had choices.

Neurofeedback is an incredible asset to the treatment process and allows patients to maintain a strong, clear mindful intention for their desired outcome.

Written by Simone Mays, Neurofeedback Technician

Claudia Black Young Adult Center

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The Role of Community in a Treatment Setting

Nothing is more important in life than the connections we make with others. In recovery, having a tribe of people you can count on when things are both good and bad, is imperative for all ages.

For young adults, developmentally it is still their peers who have the strongest influence on them. This makes the need to cultivate a sense of community within their treatment setting vital.

At the Claudia Black Young Adult Center, our clients’ age group (18 – 26) the intentional use of community allows this aspect of their development to be utilized in a positive manner.

Community is built into the daily structure at the Claudia Black Young Adult Center; in fact, it’s the heart of the program. It begins upon admission with peer mentorship. An individual who has been in the program for a significant amount of time is designated to be the peer buddy for the newcomer. This person helps the newcomer become familiar with the geography of the program, and to allay any fears of being in treatment.

Community meetings occur each morning as peers and staff come together to share feelings, express gratitude, and set intentions for the day.

The evening Tenth Step gratitude meeting is the last group of the day in which they have the opportunity to engage in inward reflection, own behaviors that were harmful, and make self-amends or amends to peers within the support of the group. They often express gratitude citing healthy recovery risks they took that day, and acknowledge their peers, staff, and family.

Daily Opportunities

Our young adults come to treatment emotionally isolated and disconnected, with severe self-loathing and the belief that no one will ever see any value in them. Consequently, realizing their value and worth often stems from their connections with others with a similar history.

This can be seen in the case of Cassie. Cassie enters treatment agoraphobic, depressed, has urges to self-harm, and is afraid to come out of her room let alone attend group. She is adamant that she is in the wrong treatment setting. The staff invites the female community at the Claudia Black Center to hold a group meeting in her room to talk about their own fears of coming to treatment. As a result, Cassie feels less fearful, not so alone, and realizes that the other girls have huge fears too and later that evening she attends her first group and decides to stay in treatment. The girls that created this safe setting for Cassie also have their own experience of practicing a twelfth step, often for the first time.

Another example is that of Riley who spends the first two weeks in treatment telling his peers how he isn’t sure why he needs to be there despite his use of cocaine and marijuana which is threatening his college sports scholarship. Riley also distinguishes himself differently from so many others professing he comes from the “perfect” family with a story to match it. The group has witnessed him ignoring program policy by using a cell phone and sneaking visitors on campus after hours. In a regular morning community meeting, several of his male peers tell him how his behavior not only impacts his recovery but theirs as well. This use of community is a major influence in disrupting Riley’s denial and lack of accountability. As a result, Riley owned the many rules he was breaking, made amends to his peers, became tearful and revealed his father, in fact, was in prison and he had not had contact with his mother in months and she did not even know he was in treatment. The community responded by extending their hands to Riley and his roommate shared, “It’s nice to finally meet you, Riley.” Community helps our young people to not feel alone in their experience and to realize that many of their peers in the group have felt the same way.

Then there is Sam. Sam is scared to invite his dad to family week. His peers know this, and he asks a couple of the guys if they would come and sit next to him when he makes the call to his dad. Those guys told several others, and as Sam calls his dad he is surrounded with love, compassion, and the strength of his peers.

Community through Service

Community is also about having a sense of purpose larger than ones’ self and providing the opportunity to be of service to the outside community. We offer multiple opportunities for our young adults to give of themselves to those who are in need and less fortunate. On a monthly basis, a group of the Claudia Black Center’s young adults will go to a nearby city to participate in the preparation and feeding of over 500 homeless on a given night. When there are community activities such as the annual Easter Egg Hunt or Christmas giveaways for disadvantaged children in the local community the young adults are quickly asked to participate having already demonstrated their eagerness to participate. The experiences are most often humbling and they find it an honor to be of service. Such community service offers a different perspective on their own challenges, which fuels their gratitude for their own blessings.

In reality, at the Claudia Black Young Adult Center, we are creating a community that allows our young people to work through various challenges in treatment, which prepares them for the same challenges in which they will be confronted with on the outside.

Written by Sonia Buchanan

Originally published: http://recoverycampus.com/role-community-treatment-setting/

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What Do I Do With My Child?

College can be an exciting time for many young adults; it is where they experience many firsts, including a new lifestyle, friends, roommates, exposure to new cultures and a wide-variety of principles and thinking. Unfortunately, when many students are unable to handle these firsts, they’re more likely to struggle. Insecure and unable to manage the new environment or adjustments they can become susceptible to depression and anxiety.

In fact, the average onset for many mental health conditions is around the ages of 18 to 24, when many young adults find themselves attending college. According to the 2006 American College Health Association Survey, 45 percent of women and 36 percent of men felt so depressed that it was difficult to function.

Why Do So Many Young Adults Find Themselves Struggling?

Many young adults may find themselves feeling lost because the familiar people in their lives are no longer there to reinforce their identity, this leaves the student feeling disoriented and lacking confidence in their sense of self. Academic stressors can cultivate feelings of inadequacy, this combined with outside pressure of parental expectations can quite often become overwhelming to a person who is already dealing with so much going on in their lives.

This combination of a lack of confidence and a precarious identity can lead young adults to make poor decisions regarding drinking and drugs. In fact, according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) report, Wasting the Best and the Brightest: Substance Abuse at America’s Colleges and Universities, 45 percent of college students binge drink and nearly 21 percent abuse prescription or illegal drugs.

This explosion in the intensity of substance abuse among college students carries devastating consequences. Each year:

• 
  
  More than 1,700 students die from alcohol poisoning and alcohol-related injuries
• 
  
  700,000 students are assaulted by classmates who were drinking
• 
  
  Almost 100,000 students are victims of alcohol-related sexual assaults and rapes

Dealing with the Aftermath

Young adults ages 18 to 26 often have a perception of feeling “in-between,” knowing they are free from adolescent struggles and looking for independence. When a young adult is unable to cope with the rigors of academic life and find themselves dismissed from college, they along with their parents may not know what to do. They may be asking themselves, “How do I deal with my child’s addiction issues?” “How can I help my child resolve their traumatic experience?” or even more plainly, “How can I get my son or daughter back on track for a successful life?”

It’s Time to Call the Claudia Black Young Adult Center

A key to long-term recovery for young adults is finding a way to tap into an overall sense of purpose. At the Claudia Black Young Adult Center, we have developed a customized approach to target this unique population. Addictions, emotional trauma, and certain mood disorders may surface during this time period in a person’s life and may be connected to the presence of a dysregulated brainstem. The Claudia Black Young Adult Center understands the enormous complexity of how the human brain functions in young adults. We utilize proven treatments to help regulate our patients during the healing process, allowing them to embrace long-term recovery.

The Claudia Black Young Adult Center in Wickenburg, Arizona, provides an intensive, experientially-based 45-day treatment program for young adults ages 18 to 26 who are struggling with unresolved emotional trauma, addiction, have a dual diagnosis or who have failed past addiction treatments. Dr. Claudia Black - renowned author, speaker, and trainer who has been working with family systems and addictive disorders since the 1970s - is the clinical architect of the Claudia Black Young Adult Center.

In a safe and nurturing community composed of their peers, young adults are guided on their journey of recovery by examining the underlying causes of addiction and co-occurring disorders. The goal is for these individuals to gain the courage to face difficult issues, including grief and loss; heal from emotional trauma; and become accountable for their own feelings, behaviors, and recovery.

Contact us today or call 866-286-0105 to learn more about how our world-class treatment program can empower your child and set them on a course for success.

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PTSD in Children of Alcoholics

In addition to the basics of food and shelter, children also need stability, consistency, and emotional care in order to thrive. Typically, at a young age, children form an emotional attachment with their caregivers and this has an influence on their development. The most important emotional attachment for a child is usually their parents. Children learn from their parents how to behave, how to function in life, and how to form other healthy relationships. When children grow up in unstable environments, it can disrupt normal development and lead to difficulties, such as mental health conditions.

Effects of Alcoholic Parents

One environment that can be challenging for children is a home in which one or both caregivers struggle with alcoholism. The characteristics of alcoholism can interfere with a person's typical parenting abilities. They may have an unusual schedule that leads to instability in the child's life and they may not be able to provide consistent care. They may act in unusual or harmful ways towards the child, including making hurtful statements or becoming violent while under the influence. Further, the parents may not be emotionally available, and therefore, the child is not able to have their emotional needs met.

Traumatic Effects on Children

Each child is unique and consequently may respond to such conditions in different ways. One outcome that some will develop is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (more commonly known as PTSD). Many of us associate PTSD with veterans or sexual assault survivors, but in fact, PTSD can grow out of any situation where a person experiences a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. Unfortunately, for children growing up with alcoholic parents, where the caregiving is unstable or even abusive, and this situation can represent a complex (or on-going) trauma experience. When children develop PTSD, it often appears different than it does in adults.

PTSD Symptoms in Children

Many factors combine to affect the exact symptoms an individual with PTSD will exhibit. Specific factors can include the child's intellectual development, presence of other caregivers, and amount of time spent in the traumatic environment. When adults experience PTSD, they often have symptoms of flashbacks and nightmares. Certain reminders of the trauma experience may serve as triggers that launch the person with PTSD into a cascade of difficult memories and psychological effects. However, the developmental level and dependence of children on caregivers can result in other symptoms.

When children experience trauma, they may feel helpless or they may take on responsibilities in the home, while still being unable to resolve the larger situation. They may withdraw or shut down. They may disconnect or dissociate from their surroundings. They may learn to exercise avoidance just to keep going. Other times, children want to seek out help and act out with tantrums or other behavioral problems. These may be methods they developed to help them survive the difficulty of home-life. Unfortunately, any of these behaviors can negatively affect children at school and in other settings.

Comorbid Mental Health Conditions

If left untreated, children of alcoholics (especially those who also experience PTSD) may develop other problems too. Many will also struggle with symptoms of depression or anxiety. Some will struggle with perfectionism and low self-esteem. These children may also have difficulties forming attachments and trusting other individuals in their lives. They may develop other more difficult disorders such as Reactive Attachment Disorder or Borderline Personality Disorder. These types of mental health conditions can make it difficult for individuals to form healthy relationships.

Risk for Personal Substance Use

Children who grow up in homes with alcoholic parents, experience trauma, and develop PTSD often go on to have their own issues with substance use disorders. The reasons for this are three-fold. First, these children may have a genetic predisposition towards substance use. Second, they have witnessed substance use and it was role modeled for them. Third, sadly, in their efforts to cope with their PTSD, they often turn to substances as a maladaptive means of coping. They may find that it helps them “numb out” or temporarily reduce their symptoms and set aside their traumatic memories.

Adult Children of Alcoholics

For some individuals, who grow up in homes with alcoholic parents, their childhood is all about survival. They are just trying to get through each day, often taking care of themselves, younger siblings, the home, and even their parents. This survival mode may lead them to just keep functioning (at least on the surface). These children may not notice significant mental health problems until they are able to get themselves into a different situation (sometimes by entering college or moving out on their own). These adult children of alcoholics may then seek help to deal with their unresolved trauma.

Applying What We Know

Practically speaking, we want to use this information and here are some ways:

• For parents struggling with their own alcohol problems, this may be your call-to-action to get help and improve not just your life, but also the lives of your children.
• For adults who may see children in difficult situations, speak up and link them to help. Specially trained mental health providers can work with children to help them cope with trauma experiences and build their resilience for their lives ahead.
• For adults, who grew up in homes with alcoholic parents and complex trauma situations, seek help. Some mental health providers have specialized training in working with trauma.

These providers will be best able to help you alleviate symptoms of PTSD and go on to a better life.

How The Meadows Can Help

The good news is there is hope for individuals who grew up around alcoholism. Research has identified ways that therapy can help. Having a collaborative therapeutic relationship with a skilled therapist will provide a space where you can learn new skills for coping, process through your history of trauma, and move forward into your own healthier life. Specific therapy approaches can be used to best match your personal situation and unique characteristics. You can explore these options with a therapist.

For over 35 years, The Meadows trauma treatment program has been helping trauma victims heal and learn the skills necessary to cope with the devastating, and often hidden, effects of trauma. The trauma treatment program at The Meadows was specifically designed for trauma survivors by Pia Mellody and a team of world renowned experts including Dr. Peter Levine, John Bradshaw, Dr. Shelley Uram, Dr. Jerry Boriskin, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk and Dr. Claudia Black.

We have helped over 45,000 clients to date, through workshops and inpatient treatment programs. To learn more about the trauma workshops and treatment programs at The Meadows, call us at 800-244-4949.

Getting Help For Alcohol Addiction

At The Meadows, we treat all phases of alcohol addiction. From detoxification to our primary treatment program, we build foundations for long-term abstinence and sobriety. We focus on making changes in the way one lives, faces problems and relates to others.

Recovery from alcohol addiction may not seem possible, but it is. Once a person admits to having a problem, he or she has started down the path of recovery. Many patients trust The Meadows’ Alcohol Treatment Program to help them begin their journey toward sobriety. For more information please contact us online or call 800-244-4949 to speak with a representative to discuss your needs.

Content Source PTSD in Children of Alcoholics

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When Parents Have a Distorted Sense of Boundaries

Excerpted from the book Changing Course by Claudia Black, Ph.D., Senior Fellow at The Meadows

Many times abandonment issues are fused with distorted, confused, or undefined personal boundaries. We experience abandonment when parents have a distorted sense of boundaries, their boundaries and ours. They want us to like what they like, dress like they dress, and feel as they do. If we in any way express differences from our parents, or make different choices than they would, we know we run the risk of rejection.

How many of us attended colleges that our parents chose for us? How many of us married who we did or when we did because that was expected or desired by our parents? Having done what our parents expected, wanted, or demanded does not mean that it was the wrong thing to do. It just means that the decision was never totally ours. Certainly, many people do exactly what their parents don’t want them to do. Often this is an attempt to be a separate person. We choose to marry the person they would like the least, or simply choose to not attend college at all. It is not the outcome that is the issue as much as it is the decision-making process. Instead of choosing freely, we make a reactive decision based in anger.

When parents hold children responsible for what should be their responsibility, they are expecting something impossible of a child. In effect, they are telling children that they have more power than they truly have, setting them up to experience futility and inadequacy. Many times parents develop relationships with their children in which they are their friends, their peers, their equals. In doing so, they share information that is not age-appropriate for a child. Inappropriate information often creates a sense of burden, or even guilt, for children. That is not fair.

When parents are disrespectful of their children's boundaries and violate them, the message given is that they don't value the child as a person. That message becomes internalized as "I am not of value. I am not worthy." When parents don't acknowledge children's boundaries, the message they give is "You are here to meet my needs," and/or "I am more important than you," and/or "It is not okay to be your own person with individual feelings, desires, or needs." When children experience chronic abandonment with distorted boundaries, they live in fear and doubt about their worth. The greater the clarity a child has around boundaries, understanding who is responsible for what, and the greater a child's self-esteem, the more likely a child will be able to reject, rather than internalize, shameful behaviors and messages.

As children we cannot reject parents, because they are so desperately needed. Instead, we take on the burden of being wrong or bad. In doing this, we purge parents of being wrong or hurtful, which reinforces a sense of security. In essence, outer safety is purchased at the price of inner security.

What we must understand now is that our abandonment experiences and boundary violations were in no way indictments of our innate goodness and value. Instead, they revealed the flawed thinking, false beliefs, and impaired behaviors of those who hurt us. Still, the wounds were struck deep in our young hearts and minds, and the very real pain can still be felt today. The causes of our emotional injury need to be understood and accepted so we can heal. Until we do, the pain will stay with us, becoming a driving force in our adult lives.

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How to Cope with Mood Swings?

Mood swings are very hard to handle especially when you don’t know the reason behind it. Mood swings could be for various reasons. If a girl is having her days of month, then it is mood swing, if dumped or cheated by lover, then it’s a mood swing, but most dangerous of all is when a person is on drugs. Drugs could give mood swings that are near to impossible to handle. This happens because person becomes addictive and an addicted person can harm himself or others physically.handle especially when you don’t know the reason behind it. Mood swings could be for various reasons. If a girl is having her days of month, then it is mood swing, if dumped or cheated by lover, then it’s a mood swing, but most dangerous of all is when a person is on drugs. Drugs could give mood swings that are near to impossible to handle. This happens because person becomes addictive and an addicted person can harm himself or others physically.

So the big question is: how do we know a person has habit of intake of drugs?

Well, below mentioned are following symptoms, which are caused due to prescription drug abuse…

1. 
   
   Confused about surroundings: A person becomes confused about his surroundings. He doesn't know what is going on because he is subconscious all the time.
2. 
   
   Intoxicated appearances: When a person has habit of intake of drugs, he always looks messy. He has no time to clean up well. He won’t like to keep himself good because he doesn’t care about anyone but his drugs.
3. 
   
   The difficulty with memory: A person with prescribed drug abuse could have a hard time remembering important things. He could also forget to do his daily routine stuff. This could adversely affect his physical, emotional, social and mental self.
4. 
   
   Insomnia: Drugs could easily affect sleep pattern of a person. It generally makes a person restless and lazy that a person could have difficulty with the sleep. Also, this would make a person tired affecting his physical self with diseases like cardiac arrest, diarrhea, heart palpitation, etc
5. 
   
   Depression: When a human becomes victim of drugs, he fails to perform a basic task. His mood swings make it difficult to maintain relation with others. He hurts other as well as his own self. This makes him feel guilty when his drug dose-effect drains down. He feels bad about himself and depression hits him at its peak. Depression enables him to have more dosage of drugs and his deterioration starts.
6. 
   
   Alcohol addiction: As it is said one addiction leads to another, prescribed drugs abuse leads to smoking or alcohol consumption. Two addictions at a time are even more dangerous. Drugs abuse damages mind and mood swings, alcohol damages liver and other body parts.

Thus, it is advised to observe a person’s behavior for 7 days and then provide help. If you feel that you, yourself or someone, have become victim of these, do not hesitate to seek help from us. We are Claudia Black young Adult center that provides treatment for drug abuse and alcohol addiction in Arizona. Stay safe.

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5 Reasons why one should not have Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol has its origin from an Arabic term al-ḡawl which means bad influence or evil result for a headache. Alcohol has bad influence if its intake is in a higher amount. Any addiction is harmful to health but alcohol addiction leads to another addiction of drug or smoking or sex addiction. Too much intake of alcohol is not advisable and there are many reasons for you not to have alcohol but below mentioned are few of them.

1. According to one research, every year in the U.S., 5K people under the age of 21 dies from an alcohol-related incident such as car crashes, alcohol poisoning or other related injuries.
2. One bottle of champagne contains 90 pounds pressure per inch2, which is 3X the pressure of car tires. The cork of the champagne bottle popped, travels 60 miles per hour which cause serious damage.
3. Alcohol is a reason for impaired judgment when consumed. It could lead to unintended sexual activity, drinking, and driving, violence or other dangerous behaviors.
4. Proportionately more alcoholic women die from cirrhosis which means damage to liver than alcoholic men
5. Alcohol does not relieve depression - it makes it worse so do not think about forgetting problems with the help of alcohol.

If you feel you or any of your family members are addicted to alcohol, you could opt for Treatment for Alcohol Addiction from Claudia Black young adult center. Claudia Black treats all kinds of traumas, addictions, and disorders. Care for your loved ones.

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