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As you already know if you are considering recovery or have been in recovery for some time, it is often a lonely journey. Especially at first. Your whole life changes overnight and new challenges can arise daily. Even though the journey is well worth the effort it can be stressful. This stress often leads to depression.

Depression is more than just occasionally feeling down, it is a feeling of doom and gloom that hangs around at varying levels throughout your day and night. Some days you may be up, but others you may not feel like even opening your eyes. If you are suffering from depression you should first have a medical exam. Depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance or vitamin deficiency. If this is the case then medication can correct many of the issues. However, sometimes depression really is all in the mind and must be addressed in other ways.

If depression is plaguing your recovery then read on to find out how to better your mood and take control of your emotions.

You have made a huge step by entering recovery. While this is a great first step it does not mean that all things will automatically become great or even good. One challenge that many people face, even in recovery, is depression. Some people have depression and choose addiction as a treatment of sorts, while others develop depression due to addiction; either way the depression must be dealt with while in recovery. Depression can cause many issues in recovery including negative thinking, feelings, and behaviors. If allowed to continue unchecked, depression can quickly lead to a relapse.

The first step to dealing with depression and the associated negative thinking and feeling is to talk about it. Whether you talk to someone in your support group, a counselor, or some other professional, you need to share. Many times simply saying things out loud, sharing the problem, take the power out of the thought. This can also help you come up with a simple solution that may not have occurred to you when the thoughts and ideas were stuck in your head.

Additionally, you need to practice healthy self-care. It may seem like a small or unimportant thing but simply taking care of yourself each day can make a huge difference. In severe depression it can be difficult to even get out of bed. But if you can force yourself to get up, to shower, to fix a small meal, then life and the depression can get better. As you get in a self-care routine then you can add aspects such as taking a five minute walk or riding a bike in the yard. The little things can truly make a huge difference.

So if you are feeling depressed in recovery, take the first step and get a physical. If the cause is not physical in nature take further steps to help alleviate the depression though talk therapy and healthy self-care. Even if the cause is medical in nature medication is not the only answer. It can be controlled in time with lots of work. That choice is up to you. What will you do to help your depression?

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It could be frightening and even unbelievable to imagine that your child, who you watched growing up might be using drugs or drinking. Drug abuse in teenagers is a very real problem. Drug and alcohol use among teenagers has become a major public health issue.

Child drug abuse statistics

Statistics from the US government and other independent surveys have reported over the past couple of years that by 8th grade, 15% of children have used marijuana. Around 64% of teenagers admitted to have used prescription painkillers they got from a friend or a family member. Some 28% of teenagers know at least one person who has tried ecstasy and 7.6% of teenagers use the prescription drug Adderall. 68.1% of high school seniors view smoking marijuana as normal. About 50% of high school seniors have abused a drug of some kind. Nearly 44% of high school students know a friend who sells drugs. Marijuana and alcohol are the most commonly abused drugs among teenagers.

The truth in these results are staggering! Drug use in teens can cause them health problems throughout the rest of their lives. Understanding the signs of drug abuse is vital as it could save your child’s life. If you’re worried that your child may be abusing drugs, here are some warning signs to look out for.

1. Changes in normal habits

According to a publication in Innovations In Clinical Neuroscience, “one of the earliest warning signs that predicts teenage drug use is changes in behavior and mannerism.”

The first thing you’ll most probably notice is a change in your teen’s regular habits. This is easy to spot. Some of these changes include withdrawal from family and friends, sudden change of friends, lack of communication and isolation or disinterest in activities they were previously enthusiastic about. As easy as it is to spot these events, it may however be the easiest not to recognise because they could seem like isolated events. Sometimes, you may only be able to notice something is amiss when you see several of these deviation occurring simultaneously. Your child might also be involved in stealing money or other items from around the house. This is a likely sign that they need money to buy more drugs.

2. Mood changes

Most teenagers who abuse drugs in some way may become more dramatic or irrational in their actions. Your child may become more irritable, verbally abusive, or even violent with you or other children in the household and neighborhood. Your child may also start to threaten to drop out of school, destroy property or run away from home. On the other hand, apathy, mood instability and depression shouldn’t be taken lightly because they are also signs of potential drug abuse. If your child begins to withdraw from others and starts spending more time alone. It could be a sign that the child is abusing a substance.

3. Physical changes

The use of drugs causes some noticeable physical changes in the body. This is because drug use takes a physical toll on the body. Some of the physical signs of drug abuse include: Bloodshot eyes, widely dilated pupils, sudden weight loss (or weight gain), poor hygiene, frequent nosebleeds, shakes or tremors, red flushed cheeks, bruises or other drowsiness or fatigue, unexplained injuries, etc.

4. Possession of drug paraphernalia 

This is the most definitive sign that your child is abusing drugs. If items such as weight scales, butane torches, bongs, smoking pipes, cigarette lighters, hypodermic needles, small porcelain bowls, balloons, and vials are found in their possession. It is a definitive sign of drug abuse.

Conclusion

Many of the behaviors associated with those substances (e.g. moodiness) may just be part of going through young adulthood. However, you need to study the child more closely in case it proves to be otherwise. As a parent or guardian, the future and safety of your child is in your hand because you may be the only person able to notice something amiss behind the scenes. Look for these signs, and help your child to be drug free.

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Addiction is all about loss. It is well known that addicts lose things like money, jobs, freedom, and so much more. Most addicts also lose trust as part of their addiction. This trust is not just lost in and from others but also self-trust. Losing trust is painful and can leave you feeling guilt and shame when others do not believe anything you say. However, trust is never fully lost or forever gone if you are willing to do the work. Building trust is something that can be earned through action, even after addiction has been an issue. There are no shortcuts to rebuilding trusting relationships, but it is possible. The remainder of this article will share some basic ways to start rebuilding trust. Remember each step is a long term commitment, not something to be done once and forgotten, trust takes time.

Though it may seem counterproductive, the first step in building trust is to focus on yourself without begging for forgiveness. This is especially true in the first year of recovery. A big part of trust is letting others see you start building a good life for yourself. If you can learn to trust yourself, others will begin to trust you as well. Stay your course and let others watch from a distance for a while, this goes a long way toward earning trust later on. This healing will come in time if you truly focus on yourself to discover where the dies and distrust originated and correct that issue. The next step is to avoid being a victim. There are likely times that you did some terrible things in life and during active addiction. Playing the victim in all of that will do you no favors. Be honest about what happened, ask forgiveness, and move on.

As part of building your new life you should also create a routine and stick to it. This builds trust because you can show that you will be where you say you are going to with regularity. Routine is equal to predictability and reliability.

Do the right thing without fail. While mistakes will occur, you do tend to know what needs to be done and what is right so choose wisely. Additionally, stay humble in all you do so your word can be impeccable and certain. This can be a valuable asset in all things in life. In all these steps your goal is to be consistent and earn trust back slowly.

Unfortunately, even with all these steps and hard work, there will be people that will never trust you again or limit their trust. This is not a bad thing, this is just life. Addiction hurts both you and others and those scars can run deep. Simply keep working on yourself and your life and if these individuals cannot trust you then move on with your own goals. You can learn to trust yourself, build new relationships, and create a life that is worth living. You are in recovery for yourself first and if others have been too hurt then you can move forward without them. You are worth the effort, but you must also put in the work.

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Relationships are a natural and necessary part of life. Relationships are also a needed part of recovery. Without the support of friends and others in recovery then you are not as likely to succeed. Not having friends and relationships in recovery is much like having a three legged square table, it may be functional, but it is not as sturdy and is more likely to cause problems. Unfortunately, when in active addiction the relationships we form are often detrimental to overall health. Our most frequent contact may be a dealer or other users. These people help us create unhealthy bonds in which we need them to complete an unhealthy behavior. In contrast in recovery we must form healthy relationships that help us be built up and succeed in face of any challenge that may arise. So how do we form such relationships? Read on to learn the basics of creating and keeping healthy relationships as part of recovery.

To find and create healthy relationships start by not expecting anyone to be responsible for your happiness. You hold the keys to your happiness. Being friends or in a relationship does not guarantee this, it simply enhances the possibility if the relationship is healthy. Take control of your own life, including the happiness aspect. Accept, love, and respect yourself first. Though you may feel strongly about someone else, if you do not love, respect, and accept yourself, the good and the bad, then no relationship will be truly healthy. This does not mean you think you are better than someone else, but that you understand that you are worth being a friend to and that you will respect yourself enough to know if it is an unhealthy relationship and end it. Additionally, make and keep clear agreements. This is part of communication.

If you are in a friendship or healthy relationship then you should know what the other expects. Perhaps your partner wants you to do laundry or dishes on a certain day to keep up with housekeeping. If this is something you can agree to than keep your agreement or work toward another mutual arrangement. Respect the differences between you and your partner. No two people are the same and at no point will you always get your way. Be respectful of the differences and find compromise for what is not agreed upon. As part of this you should learn to communicate wants, needs, desires, and concerns openly and honestly and expect the same from your partner. Even if something difficult needs to be shared, share it honestly and expect the same from your partner.

As you continue in the healthy relationship learn to do things because you care for the other person, not because you expect something in return. Forgive one another as needed and leave the past in the past this will help you build a healthy future. If a mistake is made, admit it, ask forgiveness, and try to fix the issue if possible. Make sure you review your expectations often as people and relationships are always changing and may need adjusted. Finally, make sure you appreciate your partner and take time to spend quality time together. You deserve the best out of a relationship and so does your partner. Is the relationship in your life healthy?

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.