NPR reports that teens today suffer from more anxiety than they did during the Great Depression. Researchers cite inflated pressures, such as the need to have the right material objects and have the right appearances as the top contributors to teen anxiety. The pressure to have everything, be everything, and handle everything is certainly a huge stress in teen living. Developing a strong sense of self can be difficult when ads pull you in every direction, college admission becomes insanely competitive, and body obsession consumes our culture. It’s no surprise that teens turn to drugs, alcohol, and prescription pills to take the edge off. It’s also no surprise that teens develop body dismorphia and eating disorders. By addressing every aspect of a teen’s life, a dual diagnosis treatment center helps an adolescent drug and alcohol user find ways to cope in today’s busy world by addressing the underlying issues, and to develop the tools to keep them on the path to success.
Yesterday I took a trip with the rest of the Visions kids to a homeless shelter called the Midnight Mission. While I was there I had a life-changing experience. After I left I felt like I made a difference in the world. I was serving beans, and there were easily over 400 people. There were kids, adults, and families. While I was serving, the people were very kind and loving. They were thankful. I started to run out of beans and I realized that the first 100-150 people got beans, zucchini, and a hard sandwich. After I had served all the beans, over 250 more people didn’t get any beans. I sat and I observed the less fortunate, remembering that I was hungry and had a nice dinner waiting for me in the car. Not only did I have a nice dinner but we were going to take a trip to Starbucks afterward. So, as I remembered what I had, I started to cry. I had this feeling that I have never had before, and I cannot explain what it was. I stood looking at the people and saw that there was no more food for them, and I started to really feel the pain; I cried. Then I went and took a timeout. One of the kitchen staff at the Midnight Mission asked me if one of the homeless said something mean to me. I couldn’t help but feel even more upset and sad because the people were so nice and far from mean. I could not express the love and pain I felt for these people. I watched as they fought over more food. I heard their voices yell for more food and all I could feel was sorrow. I have never felt a want to help others, but today I wanted to give everything I had to them. I watched as we drove down Skid Row and saw them on the cold sidewalk, sleeping on rock, their stomachs growling. I had a warm hot coffee sitting in my hands, warm in clothes, wearing shoes, and being around the ones I loved. I hated how I took for granted the people at Visions, but when I got to see how these people have no one, I didn’t want to go home. All I wanted to do was stay close with all the people that I had met at Visions. Coming to the Midnight Mission was the best thing I could have ever asked for. I got a culture shock and the best feeling I could ever ask for. I guess you could say that the feeling I felt looking at them at first was helplessness, because after I ran out of beans I could do nothing more and I wish I could have. But that feeling changed as I realized that these are strong people. These people are struggling for their lives and are making it through. One of the residents here told me that he didn’t feel bad for these people, that they did it to themselves or get treatment for their mental health issues. They didn’t have a chance. Their addiction got so out of hand that they ended up like that. I can tell you that if the kids here didn’t have the chance to come to treatment and learn about the disease of addiction and co-occurring disorders, they would be in the same f@#king position. So, for someone to say that to me was heart breaking. I could not believe and even explain what was really happening to these people. This was also a good time for me to learn that not everyone believes what I believe. I believe that these homeless people didn’t have a chance to have a better life. But that resident doesn’t, so I cannot sit and waste the time I did have with the homeless telling him how he was wrong. That was a big for me to just let that go. I knew in my heart that I helped and I gave them a smile. I helped someone out for once. I truly helped someone out without any reward, and I wish I could go all over the world and make a difference in someone’s life. There was this one man that particularly touched me. He was in line, and I said to him, “Hi sir how was your Christmas?” His reply back to me was, “It was as good as it could ever be.” A homeless person who had no nice Christmas dinner, no presents, no home, no and family to spend it with could be grateful. I think that I got more than what was necessary on my Christmas, but I didn’t feel that on Christmas. I realized this about a week later. It was amazing to me that someone less fortunate can be humble and not complain. It bothers me that my conceited attitude is what I have always turned to, and because I always act like I am the shit, that’s how I am looked at as a person. But I am not that person. I am a loving and kind person. I just have a hard time showing it. And yes, it may take a couple more times of Midnight Mission and more volunteer work for me to really understand that I have it good. I have everything I could ever want. Not only that, but I should be grateful that I have a chance to be helped with my addiction as a teen. If the homeless, who suffer every day can get clean all on their own, I have great hope for myself and other kids at Visions. It takes a lot of courage and strength to get through treatment, even with loving and open people and all the luxuries. It’s amazing that these people got clean with nothing but themselves and meetings. That must have been so hard. So hard that I can only look up to them. I have everything I could ever need. I have a great family. I cannot explain the gratitude I felt yesterday. I can only continue to help and love these people as human beings and not something different. They are not different. They are struggling and so is everyone. I thank God and Visions so much! I could not have had nor needed anything better than what I had that day. I will never ever forget my day at the Midnight Mission.
The BBC in London reports that teens who have a bedtime later than midnight are 24% more likely to experience teen depression than those who have an earlier bedtime. Adolescents who reported they usually sleep five or fewer hours per night were 71% more likely to report depression, and 48% more likely to have thoughts of committing suicide, compared to young people reporting close to eight hours of sleep nightly, the study shows. Being well rested is an important aspect of a teen’s health and well-being as is adequate exercise. Lack of sleep is thought to contribute to emotional responses that can disturb judgment, concentration, and impulse control. Today’s teens face demanding schedules full of homework and extra-curricular activities, and getting enough sleep can seem impossible at times. The study suggests that parents can be an effective element in helping teens develop good time management skills and learn how to take care of themselves.
Started using drugs Got expelled from school Scared my friends and family Crashed a car Got stitches Took multiple trips to the ER Lost privileges Lied a lot Destroyed relationships Became a teen runaway Got sent to teen drug rehab Got clean Stayed clean Made new friends Repaired relationships Got to help others Finished high school Applied to college Celebrated multiple years clean Got to travel Got my driver’s license Got a job Learned to love myself Have made steady self improvements Have learned to be honest Have learned to take care of myself Developed self respect
It’s college application time and being a young recovering addict can add a bit more stress to an already stressful situation for any teen. While most teens look at going away to college as a chance at freedom and unlimited partying, as a recovering alcoholic and addict, the idea of leaving my established support system and being surrounded by college binge drinking makes me uncomfortable. Fortunately, in adolescent treatment, I learned the value of how to set up safe situations for myself. Many colleges now offer sober college experiences, or “dry” dorms, or floors of dorms where students agree not to drink, smoke, or use drugs. AA and NA meetings are available across the country whether it be in New York, California, Dallas Texas, etc. There are nationwide calling plans and internet access allow for an easy connection to sponsors and 12-step support. As I research schools, I am also checking out the availability of 12-step meetings and housing options at each school. I am considering living off-campus in order to avoid crazy dorm life. Some schools even offer scholarships to students who pledge not to drink while in school. I feel that with my strong recovery foundation, I will be okay no matter where I go, as long as I take the steps necessary to keep my recovery a priority. I am used to being a teen that doesn’t drink, but sometimes it is hard to explain my sobriety to people who don’t know me. I am excited to be going to college. Before I got sober, I didn’t think I would be able to do it. Sobriety is the reason I have the freedom to go to school, and remembering that will help me succeed wherever I end up attending college.
The drummer with Avenged Sevenfold, a rising force in the heavy metal scene, died on Monday at his home in southern California, the group and authorities said.
James Owen Sullivan, nicknamed “The Rev,” appeared to have died of natural causes, Huntington Beach police Lt. John Domingo told the Orange County Register. He was 28. The Orange County Coroner’s Office is investigating, the paper said.
“It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we tell you of the passing today of Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan,” the band said on its Web site. “Jimmy was not only one of the world’s best drummers, but more importantly he was our best friend and brother.”
Avenged Sevenfold, which Sullivan co-founded in 1999, hit No. 4 on the U.S. pop album chart in 2007 with its most recent album, a self-titled release that went on to ship more than 500,000 copies, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
In recent years, Avenged Sevenfold tried to live down its reputation for debauchery. Sullivan, in particular, had raised eyebrows after a 2006 cover story in metal magazine Revolver described his penchant for drugs and a cocaine addiction.
Our thoughts are with her family and friends during this extremely difficult time.
I remember one Christmas where I was so loaded that the nutcrackers started walking around during dinner and I couldn’t look up from my plate. Then there was that other year that I threw a tantrum and locked myself in the bathroom through dinner. Oh, and that other year where I nodded out for most of the day on prescription drugs and later threw up in the front yard. Ah, memories. It seems like the holidays tend to bring out the beast in active addicts, for one reason or another. My addiction really put a damper on the holidays for myself, and also for my family. It became a time that we all dreaded, rather than looked forward to.
Then one Christmas, I got sent to rehab. I wasn’t too excited to spend the holidays in rehab, as you can imagine, but at the time, it ended up being the best holiday my family or I had had in years. Instead of a car, or a pony, or a new iPod, I got the gift of recovery. Thumbs down, I thought. Totally lame. I didn’t want to do the crafts, I didn’t want to go to group, and I surely didn’t want to stop using drugs and alcohol, but as time went on, I began to change despite myself. The staff’s patience and love gave me the room and tools to find the best, truest version of myself. I’ve had some really good holidays in Jackson Hole, Wyoming since then, all thanks to that one year I got to go to rehab for Christmas.
Adolescents are often referred to treatment for substance abuse but are not referred to a program for appropriate diagnosis and treatment of any underlying cause for their drug and alcohol use. The issue is that many teens have symptoms of a mood disorder that may in fact lead to self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.
Families know how difficult it is to find treatment for an adolescent who abuses drugs or alcohol but also is diagnosed with a co-occurring disorder; i.e., ADHD, depression, or bipolar disorder. Traditionally, programs that treat a mental health diagnosis do not treat teens with substance abuse issues, and programs for substance abusers are not programmed for people with mental illness. Adolescents are often caught in this treatment or services gap.
It is important to find a program that is designed and staffed in a way to treat adolescent with a dual diagnosis. you should ask the fallowing questions when looking for a dual diagnosis treatment center:
-Do you have a Medical Director and what is their role? -How much time does your Medical Director/Psychiatrist spend working with your child? -Are your therapists licensed professionals (many programs save money by using inexperienced trainees)? -Are your clinicians at the facility full time? -What is the facilities daily staff to client ratio? -How many staff are actually on site at any given time? -Does the program provide neuropsych testing? -Does the program provide weekly clinical supervision meetings for the case management of your child? -Do your therapists, counselors and Medical Director work together as a team?
Not everyone is a candidate for residential dual diagnosis treatment programs. It all depends upon the severity of the problems. For people whose drug or alcohol addiction is not severe enough to warrant residential treatment, an outpatient treatment program in might be the solution.
If you or a loved one needs dual diagnosis treatment please click here- underlying cause.
The holidays are thought of as a time for family, giving, and cheer. The Holiday season also comes with a ton of family stress, holiday depression, social pressure and let’s face it a lot of drinking and drug use! For the recovering alcoholic or drug addict this time of year is one of the most dangerous “triggers” for relapse. I’ve known many an alcoholic or addict that succumbed to the triggers that the holiday season brings. It is Important to have and use a plan to prevent relapse during the Holidays.
-Go to meetings…lots of them! -Fellowship (hang out with sober people) -Keep phone #s of sober friends handy and use them if you think you may drink -Be of service (volunteer not just in AA or NA but in your community). There is nothing like helping someone else with their problems to help us forget about our own. -Remove yourself from situations you do not feel comfortable in.
If this is your first clean and sober holiday it may be a good one to spend the majority of your time with your new found friends that are in recovery rather then your family. Nothing against family, there’s just a lot of stress that comes along with them and family just doesn’t have an innate understanding of what your going through.
