Do Relapse and Drug Dreams Come True?

June 8, 2017

A relapse or drug dream is often a very terrifying nightmare experienced by those in recovery from addiction and substance use disorder. Typically, an individual will dream of using drugs that they fought fervently to recover from. These dreams can be so terrifying and vivid even to the extent that the individual wakes up believing they truly relapsed and/or that they’re still lost in the darkness of addiction. Instantaneously upon waking, feelings of distress, regret, and shame come into play. For some, it may take a significant amount of time to recoup from such a dream. In some cases, it takes hours or even days. These dreams may even become triggers for a recovering addict, facilitating the urge to use. So do these drug dreams come true?

What is the Meaning of a Relapse Dream?

Let’s start with the meaning of the word “dream”. Have you ever tried researching it to find …

We Don’t Always Get a Second Chance – A Poem About Drug Overdose by Chanda Lynn

February 23, 2017

Category:Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Addiction Treatment Centers / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Call to Action / Drug Rehab / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Epidemic / Heroin Treatment Options / Memorials / Overdose / Poetry / Protecting Our Children / Recommendation / Relapse Prevention / Understanding Addiction

Poetry has a way of penetrating deep within, stirring emotion and cultivating change like no other form of writing. It’s through imagery and words that poetry reaches and reminds us of deep rooted unfulfilled longings. Poetry helps individuals understand the topic it touches and relate to individuals on a much more personal level. Below, Chanda Lynn our newest recovery advocate, editor and writer allocates an alluring masterpiece that touches on the very serious subject of drug and heroin overdose.

Many members, followers, visitors and readers may be desensitized to the words “heroin overdose” because it’s seen and discussed frequently. But the seriousness of the subject can’t be emphasized enough. We are talking about a loss of life, the death of someone’s son or daughter, husband or wife, mother or father. The thought of a drug overdose may not scare you if the heroin and addiction epidemic has not yet reached your family. …

Does Taking Xanax or Klonopin for Anxiety Make you an Active Drug Addict?

February 8, 2017

Category:Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Addiction Treatment Centers / Addiction Vs. Dependency / Avoiding Triggers / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Depression / Depression / Disease of Addiction / Drug Rehab / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Treatment Options / Klonopin / Recommendation / Relapse Prevention / Triggers / Understanding Addiction / Xanax

Statistically speaking many men and women who suffer from the disease of addiction have some other type of mental health condition or disorder. Similarly, addiction may be the resulting disease of ongoing drug use that started as a result of wanting to escape some of the feelings associated with other mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, etc. Much like the controversy surrounding the effectiveness and safety of medicine assisted treatment options Methadone and Suboxone, there are some who believe that taking controlled substances, even if prescribed and regulated properly by a mental health professional for certain mental health conditions are keeping individuals enslaved to drug addiction. But does treating a mental illness with medication make those who take it an addict? What about medications like Xanax and Klonopin?

Two Schools of Thought: Does Taking Psychiatric Medication Make you a Drug Addict?

Some believe that taking prescribed medication as directed by a physician …

Understanding Addiction: Nature Vs. Nurture

January 26, 2017

Category:Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Addiction Treatment Centers / Addiction Vs. Dependency / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Disease of Addiction / Drug Rehab / Heroin Treatment Options / Myths About Addiction / Nature Vs. Nurture / Recommendation / Relapse Prevention / Stigma / Understanding Addiction

Our online recovery community talks a lot about heroin and drug addiction and covers many topics related to it. But how many of you really and fully understand drug addiction? How does one become an addict? Is being addicted to a mind-altering substance like heroin the same as being addicted to gambling? Is addiction genetic or is it the environment that initiates the onset of addiction? Is addiction curable? Do addicts have a choice not to use? This article is an attempt to fully explain drug addiction in a way that’s easy to understand for everyone.

What Exactly Is Addiction?

Despite all the information available on this heroin addiction and recovery website and online, many still think addiction is a choice. People who use drugs choose to use them so we must also choose to be an addict right? Well, one thing I’ve learned during my research and by starting this blog is …

What Not To Say to a Grieving Parent Who Lost a Child to Heroin Overdose

January 7, 2017

Category:Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Centers / Avoiding Triggers / Depression / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Epidemic / Memorials / Relapse Prevention / Stigma / Triggers

People have strong opinions about heroin and addiction. And while the Kill the Heroin Epidemic Nationwide community and family encourages and supports open discussion and sharing genuine opinions good or bad, there are certain things that just shouldn’t be said to a grieving parent who lost a child to a heroin overdose. While most men and women know how to be tactful and a certain amount of couth and diplomacy should go without saying, it’s unbelievable just how many uneducated individuals have made a grieving parent feel ashamed and ridiculed for having a son or daughter who previously suffered from heroin addiction. This article is meant to provide some support and encouragement to the grieving parent along with advice to individuals they come in contact with related to what and what not to say about their lost child.

A Grieving Parent is In More Pain Than You’ll Ever Know

lost a child Unless …

Overcoming Depression & Developing a Positive Attitude in Addiction Treatment and Recovery

January 4, 2017

Category:Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Centers / Depression / Depression / Disease of Addiction / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Recommendation / Relapse Prevention / Stigma

As a heroin addict in long-term recovery, you may have been stigmatized and shamed by numerous, uneducated individuals – including some less than encouraging friends and members of your own family. Though others may not understand the disease of addiction, no one will understand its devastation more than a recovering drug addict and those closest to them. Many suffering from addiction also experience depression. In this article, we help you understand the purpose of emotions, how to overcome feelings of depression and how to develop a positive attitude about addiction treatment, recovery and life in general.

It doesn’t always feel like it, but life is full of balance; day is to night as night is to day. If you are lucky enough to have found a community to support you in your sobriety (like our heroin addiction and recovery forum) then it’s likely easier to cope with those who fail …

6 Tips For Making a Better Recovery and Life for Yourself in 2017

December 30, 2016

Category:Addiction & Recovery General / Call to Action / Depression / Depression / Disease of Addiction / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Treatment Options / Long Term Recovery / Rebuilding Relationships / Relapse / Relapse Prevention

For many, 2016 has been riddled with addiction, grief, heartache and devastation. For those who spent the majority of the year living in active addiction, regardless of their drug of choice, 2016 was likely full of consequences. Even for those in recovery didn’t get away completely unscathed. For me personally, I’m still trying to repair my damaged and get a foothold on my finances even one year into long-term recovery. As a result, most individuals are ready for a chance and thankful that 2016 has now come to an end. For many, 2017 represents a year of hope, new beginnings and reinvention. Thus, below, we’ve provided 6 important tips and strategies for a successful recovery and life in 2017.

What is Recovery?

The answer is simple isn’t it? Just stay away from drugs and you’re in recovery, right? Well, that’s part of it but true recovery is so much more. Try and …

Why Relapse Isn’t a Sign of Failure

December 27, 2016

Category:Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Centers / Call to Action / Disease of Addiction / Heroin Addiction / Recommendation / Relapse / Relapse Prevention

Addiction relapse can be a frightening concept for anyone, especially family and friends of a recovering addict. A recovering addict may relapse for a number of reasons. It may be due to some overwhelming stressor, grief or pain. Or an addiction relapse may occur because of some overpowering trigger that transformed into a using thought or reservation (plan to use drugs on a particular day and/or time). But does this mean you’re a failure and that recovery is simply not for you? Are you destined to be an addict forever?

Addiction Relapse is Very Common

Studies suggest that approximately 50% of all individuals in addiction treatment and/or long-term recovery return to heavy use of drugs. 70 to 90% of recovering addicts experience at least one mild to moderate “slip”. See “Relapse – Is it a Part of Recovery?” to learn the difference between a relapse and a slip. Very few people walk …

5 Tips For Staying Sober For Christmas and New Year’s Day

December 18, 2016

Category:Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Call to Action / Christmas / Drug Rehab / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Epidemic / Heroin Treatment Options / holidays / New Year's Day / New Year's Eve / Relapse Prevention

A lot of people look forward to Christmas and New Year’s Eve and Day all year around. People typically start counting down he days months beforehand and some real holiday die-hards start counting for next Christmas immediately after the calendar flips from one year to the next. But for addicts and their families, Christmas day and the entire holiday season can produce a lot of temptation and depression. This article is designed to provide some tips and strategies for staying sober and getting through the holidays without relapsing and using drugs. See also “10 Relapse Prevention Tips, Especially the First 90 Days of Recovery“.

Prayers and Good Thoughts for Grieving Mothers, Fathers, Family and Friends

Before we get into tips and strategies designed to help recovering addicts stay clean and sober for Christmas and New Year’s, I want to offer up prayers and good thoughts to mothers, fathers, family members and …

What Trump’s Presidency Means for Addiction, Recovery and Drug Treatment

December 7, 2016

Category:Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Addiction Treatment Centers / Call to Action / Corruption / Disease of Addiction / Drug Rehab / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Treatment Options / Insurance Fraud / News / Politics / Protecting Our Children / Relapse Prevention / What to Expect

Donald Trump’s Presidency has arguably created more protest and more division in the United States than any other presidency before him. So called “peaceful” protests have broken out all over the streets in various cities shortly after the election and the closest of friends have become hostile towards one another because of political differences of opinion. More relevant to this community, a large portion of the overall online recovery community is angry and worried as to what this could mean for addicts getting help and addiction treatment. So how does trump’s presidency and addiction relate?

In late October of 2016 Donald Trump presented what his first 100 days in office would look like at a campaign stop in Gettysburg. Amongst his top priorities was working to eliminate Obamacare. The Republican-held House of Representatives have been trying to accomplish this for years but was always blocked by the largely Democratic-held Senate. After Tuesday’s election, power …

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