Waypoint Recovery Center Blog

Drug Overdose Deaths on the Rise

Recently released figures show that the number of South Carolina residents dying from drug overdoses continues to increase. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control reports that final figures from death certificates show 1,734 people died from drug overdoses in South Carolina in 2020. This represents a 53% increase from the 1,131 deaths that were reported in 2019. The sharpest increase was in working-age adults from 35 to 55.

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When Your Adult Child Has a Drinking Problem

When your son or daughter was a newborn, you may have imagined that things would get easier over time. Now that they’re an adult, you realize that a parent’s work is never done.

When your adult child has a drinking problem, it’s normal to feel helpless, angry, and worried about what the future may hold. You can’t swoop in to “save the day” like you did when they were a toddler with a skinned knee, but that doesn’t mean that your actions don’t matter. If you respond in a loving way while continuing to stress the need for effective treatment, you can help guide your child towards more positive choices.

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It is very common for people in recovery from an alcohol use disorder to crave sugar. In fact, you may find yourself wondering if you should be concerned about developing a sugar addiction.

Sugar Addiction & Alcohol Addiction: Similarities

While a sugar addiction doesn’t cause the same level of disruption to your daily life as an addiction to alcohol, there are some distinct similarities. Studies have shown that your brain lights up with sugar just like it does when you drink to excess. Consider this:

• Both sugar and alcohol release large amounts of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that creates feelings of pleasure.
• Both are consumed compulsively regardless of negative consequences.
• A tolerance to sugar can develop in much the same way your tolerance to alcohol increases when you drink regularly.
• With continued use, the body starts to need sugar to function normally.
• You’ll experience temporary withdrawal symptoms when sugar is eliminated from the diet.

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What Is a Functional Alcoholic?

A functional alcoholic is able to maintain an outward appearance of normalcy despite the negative effects alcohol is having on their mind and body. What a functional alcoholic often fails to realize is that alcohol use disorders are chronic illnesses that won’t get better without treatment.

Even if a person is able to hide their struggles today, there’s no guarantee that they will be able to do so tomorrow. Addiction can’t be addressed by willpower alone. The only way to move forward is to seek evidence-based care that promotes a wellness-focused lifestyle.

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It’s well-known that journaling is a simple way to promote mental health in recovery. Even if you don’t consider yourself a writer, the act of putting your thoughts down on paper gives you a chance to clear your head and gain a new perspective on what’s troubling you. Over time, your journal also serves as a tangible reminder of the progress you’ve made in your recovery journey.

Writing Prompts

If you’re having trouble deciding what to write about, don’t panic. We’ve assembled this list of recovery-oriented journaling prompts to help you get started. (If you’re looking for general journaling prompts that aren’t specifically focused on recovering from a substance use disorder, Refined Prose has a list of over 400 writing prompts organized into multiple categories.)

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We all have moments where we feel somewhat insecure about how we look. For example, it’s normal to pay extra attention to your appearance before a first date or a job interview.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder & Associated Risks

Body dysmorphia is more serious than these occasional worries. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition characterized by obsessive and intrusive thoughts about perceived flaws in your appearance. In some cases, there is a real physical difference—such as acne or wrinkles. In other cases, the flaw is entirely imagined.

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At the peak of its popularity, Sex and the City showed an entire generation of women a glamorized version of adulthood that made sipping fancy wine and Cosmopolitans seem like the ultimate female bonding experience. Now, nearly 18 years after the show’s last episode, the 10-episode revival And Just Like That… is portraying drinking in a slightly different light.

Time Tends to Change Things

And Just Like That… picks up with the main Sex and the City stars as they’re navigating the challenges of life in their 50s. Miranda, once a fiercely independent lawyer, is now a middle-aged woman struggling with an unhappy marriage, doubts about how she’s parenting her teenage son, and the difficulty of going back to grad school to make a major career transition. On top of it all, there’s an uncurrent of collective sadness surrounding Samantha’s decision to move to London and no longer have any regular contact with the group.

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Moving forward after a relapse may mean returning to rehab. While this may feel like you’re moving backward in your recovery journey, it doesn’t mean that you’ve failed or that lasting sobriety isn’t possible.

Chronic Illnesses Are Characterized by Relapse

Addiction is a chronic illness—and chronic illnesses are characterized by relapse. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the relapse rate for patients with substance use disorders is between 40% and 60%. Although this may seem like a very high number, it’s actually lower than what is found with two other chronic illnesses: hypertension and asthma. Patients with hypertension or asthma have a 50% to 70% relapse rate.

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