Waypoint Recovery Center Blog

Building strong relationships with family and friends is a vital part of the recovery process. Often, this means learning how to recognize unhealthy behavior patterns, such as codependency, and promoting a positive way to move forward.

Codependency Dangers

Codependent relationships are characterized by an excessive psychological or emotional reliance on another person to meet one’s own needs. This dynamic is most often seen with married couples but can also be present in parent-child relationships and friendships.

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Synthetic marijuana is a mix of plant material and laboratory-made chemicals called synthetic cannabinoids. These chemicals get their name because they act on the same brain cell receptors as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the main active ingredient in marijuana. However, this does not mean that they affect the body in the same way. The chemicals used in synthetic marijuana products are completely different from the THC in the marijuana plant—which means they can affect the body in unpredictable and dangerous ways.

Use of Synthetic Marijuana Is Growing

Synthetic marijuana is sometimes referred to as fake weed, spice, K2, Mr. Happy, Kush, Kronic, Solar Flair, Bliss, Moon Rocks, or Scooby Snax. Products containing synthetic cannabinoids are widely available and frequently sold online or in convenience stores labeled as incense, natural herbal products, and herbal smoking blends.

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Relapse Warning Signs

Contrary to popular belief, relapse doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a slow process where a person starts to struggle emotionally and gradually slips back into old self-destructive behavior patterns. The act of using drugs or alcohol is simply the last step in a downward spiral.

Learning how to recognize the warning signs of a relapse can help you better monitor your recovery progress. If you can learn to identify the subtle signs that you’re starting to struggle, you can take action to put yourself on a different path before a full-blown relapse occurs.

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While willpower alone isn’t enough for a lasting recovery, there’s no doubt that commitment and motivation play a key role in helping you build a successful sober life for yourself. To stay on track, you’ll need to establish goals that are personalized to fit your unique needs.

About Locke’s Goal-Setting Theory of Motivation

Edwin Locke, an American psychologist, created what is perhaps the most widely respected theory in industrial-organizational psychology. The goal-setting theory of motivation was first introduced in 1968 and emphasized the important relationship between goals and performance. Locke’s research indicates that people reach their peak performance when specific and challenging goals are linked to feedback on results. He believed that all behavior must be motivated and that motivation is directed by the goals a person is working to achieve.

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Understanding PTSD & Addiction

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder triggered by trauma and characterized by intrusive or disruptive thoughts about the event. PTSD is often associated with military veterans. But there are other non-combat stressors that can lead a person to develop the condition. For example, being the victim of sexual assault, living through a natural disaster, surviving a serious car accident. Or receiving a life-threatening medical diagnosis can also trigger PTSD.

It is estimated that 3.5% of all adults in the United States will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. Many of these individuals will also struggle with addiction as a result of their condition. To move forward, they’ll need access to a personalized care plan that addresses their substance use disorder as well their PTSD symptoms.

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The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is full of excitement and opportunities to reconnect with the people you care the most about. However, the holiday season is also notoriously stressful—and this can be a trigger for people who are sober.

Tips to Help You Support Your Loved One This Holiday Season

At Waypoint Recovery Center, we believe family and friends play an important role in helping our clients build a future free from the burdens of substance abuse. Here, we share some tips to help you support your loved one and make the most of your time together.

Ask Them What They Need

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Dealing With Life

When your life no longer centers around substance abuse, you start to realize how frustrating day-to-day life can be. For example:

• Having someone butt in front of you in the checkout line when you’re in a hurry to leave the store
• Working with a coworker who tries to take credit for your ideas
• Having a friend cancel plans at the last minute
• Trying a new recipe for dinner but accidentally burning the meal

Feelings of frustration are a normal response when you’re faced with circumstances that are seemingly beyond your control. Unfortunately, frustration can put you at risk of relapse if you don’t have strong coping mechanisms in place.

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