Month: October 2021

October 20, 2021

Why Mental Health Is a Top Priority in Recovery

Posted by Administrator in Mental Health

Years of substance use affect your body in more ways than you can imagine. But the side effects are not just limited to your physical health – they extend to your mental health as well. Physically, addiction to alcohol or drugs can have a negative impact on your heart, liver, kidneys, mouth, liver, throat, and more. Sometimes it’s easier to recognize the physical symptoms of addiction. What often goes unnoticed for years is the negative impact that addiction has on our mind, including our emotional and psychological well-being. These changes in our mental health are gradually revealed in our behavior, tone, how we communicate, social anxieties, and more. The short-term euphoria or relaxation that one derives from alcohol or drug intake is eventually overpowered by the long-term mental health issues suffered later in life. Isolation, disconnection from family and friends, and performance issues at work are just some of the…

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October 18, 2021

Don’t Fight It, Face It!

Posted by Administrator in Mental Health

We often find people trying hard to end the bad habits of addiction with great frustration, anger, and a sense of hopelessness. This is especially true after many years of habitual substance use and the negative mental health effects that come with it. A person can easily find themselves trapped in a mentally traumatic situation if they continuously try to fight their addiction with frustration, anger, and other harmful emotions. If you continue to fight your addiction daily like you’re in a war, chances are that you will lose. But if you start admitting your mistakes and face your addiction head-on, you’re much more likely to be victorious. Being strong-willed and determined to face your addiction by engaging in the right kind of recovery processes can lead to lasting recovery. Wondering how you can effectively face your addiction like a pro and beat it? Although there is no one-size-fits-all procedure…

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October 16, 2021

8 Reasons Why Your Family Can Be Your Greatest Support System in Recovery

Posted by Jaywalker Lodge Staff in Recovery

Family dynamics often become a roller coaster ride in the throes of addiction, even if only one member of the family is addicted to alcohol or other substances. Trust in each other erodes completely, daily family time is zeroed down, and behavior at home may be unacceptable, not to mention the mental toll on every family member’s health. Families suffer greatly when they see their loved ones in trouble. More than that, they are often left at the mercy of their addicted loved ones, with increased instances of domestic abuse, rude behavior, verbal insults, and so forth. When you are in active addiction, it can be hard to see beyond any suffering but your own. Not only does your family suffer as you do, but they are an integral and indispensable part of your recovery process. A positive relationship with your family can help determine the success of your recovery…

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October 14, 2021

It All Begins With “Forgiving Yourself” First

Posted by Administrator in Mental Health

History of addiction to alcohol or any other substance can have a long-lasting impact on a person’s recovery as well as their post-recovery life. Incidences of family/social conflict, rude/unacceptable behavior while under the influence, domestic violence, etc. can easily convert into a lifetime of shame and guilt. However, it is up to you as an individual how you manage the aftermath of your mistakes. Fortunately, mistakes have the power to turn you into something better than you were before. The journey to successful recovery begins at home and within yourself. The Solution Wondering how this is possible? Start simply by forgiving yourself. Yes, that’s right! Self-forgiveness is the first and foremost step that will help you fight against anger, resentment, and guilt. Blaming or hurting yourself for mistakes you have committed in the past – whether they were intentional or unintentional – can make your recovery process hard to achieve….

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October 12, 2021

When Anxiety and Addiction Collide

Posted by Jaywalker Lodge Staff in Mental Health

Anxiety and depression are often the unwanted takeaways of a long history of alcoholism and addiction. Mood swings, behavioral changes, anxiety attacks, and depressive episodes are common side effects of the disease that can become an everyday norm for addicted individuals. Not only is the addicted person’s mental health severely affected but their family life can be hampered beyond imagination, making their situation even more dire. Their personal relationships, social life, professional performance, life goals, etc. can all be negatively affected. The same is true for their family members as well. Anxiety Appears in Many Forms So, how many forms can this one term – “anxiety” – actually take in your everyday life? Probably a lot more than you think. Anxiety rears its ugly head in many ways, especially for those who are struggling with alcoholism and addiction. These include: Fear of any unknown situation, such as what will happen…

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October 10, 2021

Help Your Spouse and Family Recover From Your Addiction, Too

Posted by Jaywalker Lodge Staff in Recovery

Your addiction history is likely a long, sad, complicated story. Surely it is comprised of nerve-wracking episodes of behavioral and mental trauma as well as physical nightmares. However, this is the time to let bygones be bygones and start fresh. It’s time to leave your history behind and look forward to an addiction-free and happy life ahead. As you take this journey, it’s important to remember that your spouse, family, friends, and other loved ones have probably suffered a lot along with you. If your physical and mental health has deteriorated, so has theirs. People living in the same house with you have spent their days and nights worrying about you. They’ve seen you struggle, and they have struggled, too. The Toll That Addiction Takes on Spouses and Families Spouses, siblings, parents, children, and other family members all suffer in different ways. For instance, some go into a depressive mental…

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October 8, 2021

The Moral of the Story: Don’t Lose Hope

Posted by Jaywalker Lodge Staff in Recovery

Nobody ever said the recovery journey was going to be easy. It’s a life-changing process that detoxifies your body, refreshes your mind, and rejuvenates your soul for the years ahead. A process like this certainly deserves the required time, attention, and effort. There’s no doubt that alcohol and drug addiction can be harmful in many ways. Some impacts of heavy substance use only extend to one’s own physical body and mind, while countless others affect the person’s family and loved ones as well as the society surrounding them. However, we must leave all the stressful memories and depressing episodes behind and focus on the bright, addiction-free future we can achieve through lasting recovery. Indeed, recovery is possible for every person struggling with addiction with dedicated expert assistance and a supportive recovery community. Jaywalker Lodge has a well-earned reputation for serving as the greatest hope for men who struggle with addiction…

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October 6, 2021

Five Lessons to Help Renew Your Life After Addiction

Posted by Jaywalker Lodge Staff in Recovery

Addiction to alcohol or drugs is bound to alter your life in countless ways. Addiction can hamper your personal, professional, social, and family life and cause seemingly irreparable harm at times. Your social image changes, family ties are broken, friendships fade, and intimate relationships are affected, in addition to your own physical and mental deterioration. The years spent in active addiction are often associated with many other harmful conditions, such as anxiety, depression, isolation, and more. Over time, you develop an altered personality with negative emotions, disconnected family networks, antisocial behavior, and rude or unacceptable actions and reactions. The good news: all of this is not actually “you.” Your behavior must change, and so must you. This can be hard to achieve and even harder to maintain, but never impossible. There may be delayed progress, strong urges to use, frequent threats of relapse, and other dreadful events that shake your…

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