5 Healing Activities for Recovery

Everyone needs to spend some time trying to process their emotions and heal themselves from the difficult things that they go through. For people in recovery from an addiction or a mental illness, they will need to find multiple ways to heal themselves in their mind, body and spirit. These are some of the best and most effective healing activities for recovery.

1. Meditation
One of the best places to start when getting involved in healing activities is meditation which naturally helps calm anxiety and stress. Meditation is a beneficial way to quiet our thoughts and allow emotions to run their course as we stay present in the moment.

2. Expressive Art or Music
Self-expression can be crucial for coping with addiction or mental illness as the two can lead to complex emotions. Art and music therapy can be a great way to use creativity in order to express feelings that are hard to talk about.

3. Spending Time in Nature
Living in an urban environment can be stressful so it is important for people in recovery to reconnect with nature. Being in a natural place can relax our minds and help us feel connected to our inner spirituality.

4. Diet and Exercise
Many people don’t realize the amount of stress they put on their bodies by consuming toxic and unhealthy foods. Taking a break from sugar, caffeine, alcohol and processed foods can help heal the body and the mind.

5. Journaling and Writing
The act of writing can be another great way to process complicated feelings that are hard to discuss out loud. Writing in a journal can release emotions and also put them in a different perspective so that you can start to make sense of them.

There are many other activities that can help people heal, but these are some of the most immediately beneficial to use in recovery.

References

https://nccih.nih.gov/health/integrative-health

The post 5 Healing Activities for Recovery appeared first on Serenity Malibu.

source https://www.serenitymaliburehab.com/5-healing-activities-for-recovery/

Signs and Symptoms of a Panic Attack

People with anxiety issues sometimes suffer from panic attacks when they experience intense and overwhelming fear. A panic attack can lead to physical and emotional reactions to a trigger and can make people feel as though they are losing control. Panic attacks can be debilitating because they involve a number of frightening and uncomfortable symptoms.

Symptoms of a panic attack can include:
-Sense of danger or doom
-Fear of death or harm
-Rapidly beating heart
-Trembling or shaking
-Difficulty breathing and tightness in throat
-Sweating or chills
-Nausea
-Chest pain
-Sudden headache
-Dizziness or faintness
-Numbness or tingling sensation
-Feeling of detachment or unreality

When someone experiences a panic attack it can happen suddenly and without warning, causing them to feel unstable and afraid for their safety. What can make panic attacks difficult is that even after they subside the individual may have an intense fear that an attack will happen again at any moment. They may start to avoid certain situations that they feel could potentially trigger an attack.

People that suffer from panic attacks can develop them for a variety of reasons. They may have specific phobias that trigger them such as a fear of driving or leaving the house. They can also have social phobias that cause them to avoid people or public places.

Panic attacks can also sometimes be triggered by stress when it becomes overwhelming and affects the mind and body. In order to treat panic attacks it can be helpful for patients to be gradually exposed to situations that trigger them and learn strategies to cope with their stress. Medications can also be very useful in helping people manage panic attacks when they occur.

Treatment for panic attacks usually combines anxiety medication and cognitive behavioral therapy to help relieve more severe symptoms.

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms/index.shtml

The post Signs and Symptoms of a Panic Attack appeared first on Serenity Malibu.

source https://www.serenitymaliburehab.com/signs-and-symptoms-of-a-panic-attack/

5 Things to Know about Addiction and Bipolar Disorder

Substance abuse often is closely connected to mental health issues and bipolar disorder can be one of the most vulnerable to dual diagnosis. Because bipolar disorder and substance abuse frequently occur together, it is helpful to know certain facts about the disorder and how it relates to drug use.

1. Bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed during substance abuse – People that are struggling with bipolar disorder may not know that they have this mental illness, especially if their alcohol or drug use triggers symptoms and can seem like effects of the substances. Even people going through detox may be misdiagnosed because their symptoms may seem to be related to withdrawal effects.

2. There is no single cause for bipolar disorder or addiction – The reason people develop bipolar disorder or abuse substances can be related to a number of different issues including genetics, environment, biology and many other factors.

3. Co-occuring abuse with bipolar disorder is extremely common- Mood disorders like bipolar disorder very common in the US and the disorder is often accompanied by substance abuse issues. Many people with bipolar disorder use drugs as a way to cope with their symptoms.

4. Drug use can trigger bipolar symptoms – While many people already have bipolar disorder when they start using drugs, others can start to develop symptoms as a result of their drug use. It can intensify mood swings and worsen their state of mind, leading to manic and depressive episodes.

5. Treating bipolar disorder can reduce addiction issues and vice versa – It is important for people with co-occurring disorders to treat both problems simultaneously and ease the symptoms of each problem in connection with each other. When both issues are treated they can help relieve the other and bring about better mental health and behavior overall.

The post 5 Things to Know about Addiction and Bipolar Disorder appeared first on Serenity Malibu.

source https://www.serenitymaliburehab.com/5-things-to-know-about-addiction-and-bipolar-disorder/