4 Myths About Women and Addiction

Men and women are far from equal when it comes to substance use disorders – and, thankfully, more and more research is exploring the gender differences. Still, many myths abound when in comes to women and addiction. Here we take a look at a few common ones and the facts that dispel them. 

Myth: More men than women get addicted to drugs and alcohol.
This used to be true, but the gender gap is closing. Experts say that women are among the fastest-growing segments of drug users in the U.S. Some stats, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD): 

• Up to 4.5 million women over age 12 in the U.S. have a substance use disorder.
• 3.5 million misuse prescription drugs.
• 3.1 million regularly use illicit drugs.
• More than 200,000 American women die as a result of alcoholism and drug dependence.
• More than 4 million women are in need of addiction treatment.

Myth: Women and men begin using for the same reason.
Women are twice as likely to experience anxiety and depression as men – and this often leads to self-medication as a way to manage these mental health conditions. Trauma also plays a role: Seventy four percent of women struggling with addiction reported sexual abuse in their history, according to one of the first studies to examine female addiction. And a large percentage of women seeking treatment for addiction report lifetime histories of emotional abuse and physical assault.

Myth: Pain is an equal driver of addiction for men and women.
In fact, women have been study-proven to suffer more frequently and more intensely from pain – and, in general, they visit more doctors and are more likely to be introduced to opioids through a painkiller prescription. The proportion of women seeking treatment for opioid addiction has grown so much that today the number of men and women in rehab for this addiction is about equal.

Myth: Women and men should be treated for addiction in the same way. 

Women tend to develop addictions faster and more seriously than men. In addition, women have a greater chance of relapse. What’s more, many women are dealing with such treatment barriers as social stigma, co-occurring disorders, trauma and financial constraints – which all make gender-specific treatment even more important. Addiction treatment progresses differently for women, too, and women have a greater chance of relapse.

Women and Addiction Recovery

At Rising Roads Recovery, we know that every woman who comes to us is incredibly unique and needs to be treated that way. One size does not fit all – and one future does not work for everyone. To learn more, call 866-746-1558. 

5 Benefits of Reading

When’s the last time you lost yourself in a good book? If you don’t remember, you might want to add reading to your recovery to-dos. In fact, becoming a bookworm can boost your mind and wellbeing in a big way. So go ahead, let yourself get caught up in a particularly compelling story this summer — it’s good for your long-term sobriety!

Here are a few study-proven ways reading can help you: 

• Reading can help you stress less. Even more so than listening to music, sipping a cup of tea or taking a walk, according to one study. In fact, researchers say that reading can tame tensions by as much as 68 percent. 
• Reading can help you sleep better. But this only holds true if you pick up a paperback.  The bright screens of e-readers and tablets can actually mess with your sleep cycles. 
• Reading can help ease depression symptoms. Specifically, reading self-help books has been study-proven to lower levels of depression when combined with support sessions. 
• Reading can boost your concentration. Focusing for prolonged periods on reading a book is a great exercise to enhance your powers of concentration – and this skill can do wonders during recovery and beyond as your return to school or work. 
• Reading can make you more empathetic. Studies show that reading stories in which characters are rich and developed allows the reader to take on these personalities and understand what it’s like to be someone else. 

Staying Stronger Together 
By learning and practicing healthy coping skills, you can empower yourself and feel more confident about dealing with stress for a healthier, happier you. The programs at Rising Roads Recovery Services for Women are designed to help women get and stay sober. To learn more, call today: 866-746-1558.

Surprising Signs of Being a Perfectionist

You’ve likely heard by now that there’s a pretty strong link between perfectionism and addiction. In fact, experts say that perfectionism can cause someone to turn to addictive substances or behaviors in order to quell persistent feelings of frustration, despair, shame and guilt. Plus, perfectionism distorts a person’s view of reality – and this can promote addiction and/or interfere with your recovery. 

Since perfectionism and addiction are so closely linked, it only makes sense that curbing your perfectionism will help ease your recovery. Your first step, however, is to realize (and admit) that you are indeed a perfectionist. Here, we talk about a few surprising signs that you might otherwise overlook in yourself or someone you love: 

• You tend to binge eat often. Binge eating is a common coping mechanism for perfectionists, according to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Eating compulsively allows the person to numb any feelings of failure. Binge eating can have some serious mental and physical health consequences, so be sure to seek professional help if this is a common occurrence. 
• Stress-reduction techniques don’t seem to work: In general, perfectionists are more likely to be stressed and they’re also less likely to take advantage of relaxation practices like yoga or meditation, according to a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. To blame: A fear of not doing the techniques “just right,” noted researchers. Luckily, when it comes to relaxation there’s no right or wrong way to do it, so just try to go with the flow and focus on the end results.
• You get sick easily: Stressing about being perfect – and not taking advantage of stress-release techniques –  can do damage to your immune system. Uncontrolled stress is certainly risky for your sobriety and it has also been found to lead to heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, a higher risk of cancer and a shorter overall lifespan. So if you find yourself coming down with every cold, flu and virus that’s out there, book an appointment with your doctor. 
• You feel depressed. Studies have linked perfectionism with chronic feelings of sadness and anxiety – as well as a higher risk of suicide. Minding your mental health is of utmost importance, then, if you’re a perfectionist in recovery from addiction.

Heal Your Mind and Body
Our team can help you learn healthy coping mechanisms to deal with perfectionism, stress and other addiction triggers. To learn more about our offerings, contact us today at 866-746-1558.

Brush Up on Your Communication Skills

Many people in recovery find themselves a bit uneasy when it comes to communicating with others without the crutch of drugs or alcohol. In addition, you may have the added pressure of repairing relationships damaged by years of addiction. So how do you relearn to talk to people? Start with these tips: 

• Be yourself. True friends will need to love you for you, so avoid putting on a false front or attempting to be someone you’re not. Telling lies is never the answer and is a horrible way to establish a solid foundation for a lasting friendship.
• Make eye contact and smile. Body language is crucial when it comes to effective communication, so do your best to look people in the eye and speak slowly and clearly. And don’t forget to smile, which will show the other party that you’re trying to be friendly.
• Be sincere. You don’t have to be an expert on a topic in order to offer a warm and genuine greeting. Address coworkers and neighbors by name and ask how their day is going.
• Pick a mutual interest. Shared interests make for natural conversation starters – for example, if you love to garden and your neighbor has an interest in gardening, too.
• Stay up-to-date on newsworthy topics. Read or watch the news so you’re at least somewhat familiar with current events. This will give you some ideas to add to a conversation or start a discussion with someone else.
• Learn to listen. Conversations are a two-way street, so even if you’re excited about the subject matter or feel the urge to interject, it’s important to slow yourself down, pay attention to what the other person is saying and wait for your turn to talk.
• Practice with someone you trust. If you’re nervous about talking with others, practice striking up a conversation with a loved one or close friend – or practice by yourself by talking to the mirror. Like everything else in recovery, the more you practice, the easier it will become.

Employment and Educational Assistance 
Rising Roads offers women comprehensive employment and educational assistance, including interview coaching, resume building and professional networking. To learn more about how we can help you find your way into the workforce and regain your confidence, call today: 866-746-1558.

What to Eat to Beat the Bloat

Years of addiction can wreak havoc on your digestive health, including dealing with some bloating during recovery as your body begins to heal. The good news: You can take some steps to better care for your belly -- and perhaps one of the easiest (and yummiest!) is eating the right foods. 

Start with these fruits and veggies, which are loaded with fiber, antioxidants and vitamins to help you de-puff, feel great, and power through your recovery. 

• Cucumbers: These veggies contain quercetin, an antioxidant that helps reduce swelling. If you eat the skin, you can also benefit from caffeic acid, an antioxidant known to help nix inflammation. 
• Asparagus: Not only is this veggie a natural diuretic but it’s also a prebiotic, which increases the probiotics or “good bacteria” in your digestive system. 
• Leafy greens: Loading up on spinach, kale, and Swiss chard will give you a healthy dose of magnesium to help keep digestion and fluid balance on track.
• Avocados: Rich in soluble fiber, this superfood helps you stay full sans gassiness. 
• Tomatoes: Tomatoes are roughly 95 percent water and they’re loaded with vitamin C, lycopene, and other antioxidants that can help you de-bloat.
• Kiwi: This fruit contains actinidin, a natural enzyme that helps digest protein and prevents bloating. Plus, it’s a great source of fiber to help keep you regular. 
• Watermelon: Snacking on this water-dense food – watermelon contains more than 90 percent of water – is a great way to up your H20 intake and flush any excess salt in your body.  

Eating Healthfully During Transitional Residential Care 

If you are graduating from a stabilization program and realize you need more help, then our Rise Up Program is for you. During transitional residential care, you’ll learn critical life skills for independent living, including nutritional guidance. To learn more, call today: 866-746-1558.

Are You Being Good to Your Bones?

Mother’s Day marks the first day of National Women’s Health Week, an observance led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health. The goal: to empower women to make their health a priority. Experts suggest that women pay particular attention to their bone health. After all, one in three women suffer from osteoporosis, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, and addiction can sure do damage to your bones. 

Did You Know?

• Abusing drugs and alcohol can prevent your body from absorbing vitamin D, which plays a critical role in calcium absorption necessary for bone health.
• Certain abused substances, including alcohol and opioids, are study-proven to reduce bone density, upping your risk for the bone thinning disease osteoporosis. 
• Clinical depression, which often co-occurs with a substance abuse disorder, is also associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis.

Doing the work to get (and stay) sober is the perfect start toward safeguarding your bones – so, if you’re already in recovery, give yourself a pat on the back! In addition, you might want to add some of these bone-boosting tips to your healthy to-dos to prevent osteoporosis:

• Know your family health history. In 50 percent of osteoporosis cases, genetics plays a role. 
• Schedule a bone density screening. The tricky part of this “silent disease” is that you won’t know you have until you get tested (or you break a bone).
• Eat to beat osteoarthritis. Some bone-friendly foods to add to your diet: Sardines, canned salmon (with the bones), almonds, dark green, leafy vegetables, milk, yogurt, cheese, calcium-fortified juices and breakfast cereals.
• Stop smoking. Okay, easier said than done. But know this: Smoking cigarettes can rob your bones of vital nutrients, including calcium, and increase your risk of broken bones. 
• Make exercise a priority. Staying active and exercising helps to strengthen muscles and improve overall bone health, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. In particular, there are two types of osteoporosis exercises important for building and maintaining bone density: weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises.

Let Us Fuel Your Recovery
Rising Roads offers weekly nutrition classes, in addition to shopping preparation and cooking classes. The camaraderie of cooking together, gaining new skills, learning new recipes and enjoying the process is a positive move forward. To learn more, call today: 866-746-1558. 

This Prescription Medication May Aid in Treating Opioid Addiction

Given the rapid growth in opioid use and abuse, many researchers are working hard to develop new and innovative therapies that providers can use to treat the condition. In addition to that, scientists are also taking a closer look at using existing medications to aid in the fight against the opioid epidemic.

In that same vein, a team at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) examined the effects of a prescription medication, Lorcaserin, that was originally designed to help clinically obese patients return to a healthier weight.

Lorcaserin was originally approved in 2012 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat patients with a body mass index (BMI) over 30. The medication works by altering how the brain processes serotonin, which is associated with feelings of fullness. Serotonin also plays an important role in the disease of addiction - this neurotransmitter also controls the pathways associated with drug seeking behaviors.

To better understand how Lorcaserin affects the addicted brain, Kathryn Cunningham, a professor of pharmacology and toxicology and director of Center for Addiction Research at UTMB, and her team of researchers evaluated the behavior of rats who were given an unlimited supply of Oxycodone. The scientists then administered Lorcaserin to some of the rats, while others received a placebo. They found that the group of rats who received Lorcaserin self-administered Oxycodone less often and exhibited fewer drug-seeking behaviors.

In a paper published in the American Chemical Society Neuroscience, Cunningham and her collaborators found that the prescription could have a profound impact in the lives of those struggling with an addiction. Lorcaserin can help those with an opioid addiction by reducing the urge to use opiates and ultimately, mitigating the risk of relapse.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, 2 million Americans are dealing with an addiction to prescription painkillers and drug overdose is now the most common form of accidental deaths in the U.S. Given the severity of this public health crisis, it’s important that the addiction recovery community continues to make progress towards fighting this epidemic.

Post Relapse Care at Rising Roads Recovery

When individuals relapse, it doesn’t mean that their journey to addiction recovery is over. Though, it does require the help of professionals who specialize in helping those regain their footing in sobriety. At Rising Roads Recovery, we offer a recovery program that is tailored to helping women post-relapse. With our Boost Up program, we can help you identify your personal addiction triggers and develop a comprehensive plan to combat those cravings. To learn more, call today: (866) 746-1558.