Category: LGBTQ

LGBTQ People Are More Likely to Use – Realizing that you are LGBTQ can be traumatic, stressful, and freeing. Learning about who you are should be an experience that brings about growth, but learning you are part of a smaller, often stigmatized population can lead to a host of problems if not faced directly. Stress triggers are common in the LGBTQ community. Some of these stress triggers include fear of persecution, isolation, emotional trauma, internalized homophobia, religious intolerance, social discrimination, frustration, and loneliness. Each of these will be reviewed, explained, and related to substance abuse below.

Fear of persecution is a big factor in many hiding their LGBTQ status. Though it is more acceptable to be LGBTQ at this time in history than ever before, the stigma is still attached. Many people fear this stigma and end up leading a double life. The life presented to others as a happy person in a typical heterosexual lifestyle and a life in which sexuality in other manners is acceptable. The hidden lifestyle means secrets and lying. The stress of having two very distinct lifestyles can lead to drug use. The drug use seemingly makes it easier to lie about one part of life and handle the stigma attached to the other. This is one reason why LGBTQ people are more likely to use. Unfortunately drugs tend to confound the issues more than help.

Isolation that arises from public ridicule and rejection. For those that do choose to make their sexuality public, isolation and ridicule may ensue. This rejection can come from those close to the individual or the public at large. This ridicule creates a great deal of stress and those wanting to escape the distress may turn to drugs and alcohol. These substances will simply numb the stress, not remove it, but for many they are an option that can ultimately lead to more stress and disturbing behavior.

Emotional trauma and internalized homophobia are also concerns. When some individuals make their feelings known it can lead to an abusive situation. This can be for those of any age. Family members and friends may make the LGBTQ individual feel bad for how they feel or make them believe homosexuality is a horrible plague on those who take part in the lifestyle. This can lead to internalized homophobia. This internalization can make the person feel terrible in their own body, leaving drugs as a seemingly viable option for escape. The intolerance may also be religious based as some in the LGBTQ community may be members of religious groups or brought up in faith. These people may feel that they are terrible for their feelings and need to find a way to numb those feelings.

Finally, social discrimination can lead to difficulty finding jobs and love interests. This creates loneliness and isolation that can be difficult to overcome. All of this fear and isolation can lead to the need to escape reality, even for a moment. Drugs and alcohol can temporarily offer this escape, but can create problems on their own. Once the user has reached a low point and decided to take a chance on recovery, the real work begins. If you are ready for this step than treatment is right for you. Just remember that the outcome is totally up to the person in treatment and the work put into recovery will make a difference on the outcome.

LGBTQ People Are More Likely to Use – CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Depression Accompanies The Early Days Of Recovery – It’s A Normal Part of The Process

Battling Depression In Recovery  – One of the most difficult things about the early days of recovery is the depression – heavy, soul-crushing, disruptive, unbearable depression.

Though it doesn’t feel like it belongs in your body, and that it has no business creeping into your day, depression is (unfortunately) part of the recovery process. It doesn’t feel like you should be experiencing it now that you are clean, but you absolutely should be. If you are new to recovery, and you are feeling depressed – you are right where you are supposed to be. Depression is completely normal in the first year of sobriety.

Depression doesn’t completely lift until up to one year after you stop drinking and drugging. This news itself may seem depressing, but, ironically – it should give you some hope. Without understanding that depression is a normal part of the restoration process, you might have been thinking that you’re “not doing something right.” It’s not that you are doing anything wrong. It’s simply that you need time to get your mind right.

Why You Are Experiencing Depression

Battling Depression In Recovery  – The reason why you are experiencing depression is because you are no longer using drugs and alcohol. Depression is part of the withdrawal process.

After months or years of surging your body with chemicals, the neurotransmitters in your brain are misfiring. They are looking for cocaine, heroin, marijuana, alcohol – or whatever drugs you were feeding your body with. The problem is, those chemicals aren’t there anymore. Now that you are sober, your brain is confused. It is trying to form new neural pathways and re balance itself. This takes time.

The main reason why you are experiencing depression is because your brain lacks the chemical Serotonin. Serotonin is responsible for creating feelings of wellness, contentment, and happiness. When you were using drugs and alcohol, you were chemically inducing Serotonin, so the brain stopped producing it properly on its own. Now, it is depleted of Serotonin and your brain is working to begin making it without outside chemicals.

Don’t Let The Depression Take You Back To Your Addiction

Battling Depression In Recovery  – Many people end up relapsing simply because they feel they cannot walk through the depression without some kind of drug to pep them up and get them to a place of normalcy. It’s easy to convince yourself that taking some kind of mood or mind-altering substance is a solution for depression.

This is a mistake.

Going back to the drugs or alcohol will only make things worse. It will set you back and force you to start your recovery all over again. Then, you will have to face the depression again – only this time, it will be more difficult. Ultimately, to experience the gifts of sobriety, you are going learn how to walk through the depression to get to the other side……and you WILL get to the other side.  

When walking the road of recovery, you have to remember that things get better with time. This includes the experience of depression. You didn’t get where you are over overnight and you certainly won’t heal overnight. You will have to continue to walk your recovery journey with the faith that, with time, your mind and body will be restored to a place of wellness and your brain will begin to produce Serotonin naturally so you can feel better.

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Recovery Can Be Overwhelming Right Outside Of Rehab

Sober Living – By the time most people get out of rehab, they are ready to go home and sleep in the warmth and comfort of their own bed. They believe they have overcome their addiction to drugs or alcohol and are convinced they can stay clean for the rest of their lives. We say, “Not so fast!”

Although it may not seem like it, rehab is the easy part when it comes to maintaining sobriety. Of course, we recognize that in-patient treatment is no walk in the park. It is not easy. It is a very painful, challenging, and difficult process. Nevertheless, when you are in rehab, you are safely tucked away in an environment that keeps you in check. 

In treatment, you don’t have the stress and triggers of everyday living to worry about. All you have to do is focus on your recovery. You don’t have to worry about the daily responsibilities that come with work, raising a family, paying bills, and everything else that comes with being a human being.

Many people leave rehab feeling solid in their sobriety and ready to take on the world. Only to return home and find that they cannot manage everything that comes with being sober. This is quite common. For this very reason, sober living is often the right choice for people just leaving rehab.

What Is Sober Living?

Sober living houses are residential homes that have been designated as sober living facilities. There are a number of different types of sober living houses.

Some sober living houses are covered by insurance and associated with treatment facilities. They offer a very structured and formal setting that feels very much like a rehabilitation center. Other sober houses are privately owned and much more informal. They function as roommate kind of situation where several sober people live together and split the living expenses.

In sober living, you would have your own room, but share your living space, bathroom, and kitchen with other sober people. Many people think it’s fun and exciting to share a sober living house with other people who are walking the same path they are.

Why Choose A Sober Living Environment?

Most people choose to go to a sober living house right when they leave rehab and stay there while they complete Intensive Outpatient treatment or Aftercare. This allows them to acclimate to living outside of rehab while maintaining sobriety – without making the full leap back into their regular lives.

Some people find a sober house after they have been out of rehab for awhile because they find that living alone is just too difficult and they want to room with other people in recovery.

In sober living, you get to fellowship with other recovering people so you can get the support you need. This will help you stay clean and sober while working your program and getting used to life outside of rehab. This is the right choice for people who want to build a more solid foundation in their recovery. 

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.