Are You Getting SAD?

Do you feel particularly down in the dumps during a certain time each year? Maybe you feel like winter is just not the season for you, what with the grey skies and the dreary atmosphere. The less the sun shines, the worse you feel. You might be genuinely depressed, with the depression taking a toll on your job, daily activities and personal relationships. Luckily, those bad months end, and the good ones begin; spring and summer are just around the corner. That is, the depression is at least over until next year—if you are experiencing SAD. 

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a recurrent feeling of depression that happens during the same time each year. If you find that you are depressed during a certain time of the year, such as the cold months of winter, but are completely back to normal during the summer and spring time, you might be experiencing SAD. Any person can get this mood disorder. Here are some ways that you will know if you have SAD.   

Common Characteristics  

There are some common factors that increase your risk of developing SAD. For instance, women are more likely to develop this disorder than men. Also, people who are living far from the equator, with very little sun for most of the year, see more frequent occurrences of Seasonal Affective Disorder within their communities. This is especially prominent in the winter when grass is scarce. Those who have a relative that was diagnosed with SAD are also more likely to develop the disorder.

Causes and Symptoms  

Though experts are not certain what triggers SAD, it seems to be associated with the amount of sun that a person can get in their area during certain times of the year, such as winter. The lack of sunlight can cause a person to feel depressed because it throws off your internal, biological clock. The symptoms of SAD include:

●      Feeling grumpy, anxious or tired

●      Cannot focus on normal activities

●      Craving more crabs and eating more

●      Gaining weight

●      Feeling tired after a lot of sleep

●      Having trouble concentrating

These symptoms come and go with the seasons, but they are noticeably the same with each passing year. It can be hard to tell the difference between SAD and other types of depression when making a diagnosis, so it is important to keep track of these changes in mood for your medical professional.

Substance Abuse and SAD

Those with Seasonal Affective Disorder are at greater risk for also experiencing a substance abuse disorder. Depression can drive a person to drink or use drugs to achieve a quick escape from the negative feelings that they are experiencing. This brings more problems to the table during treatment and often lead to a dual diagnosis Seattle WA or co-occurring disorder.

Emotional Transformation Therapy

Emotional Transformation Therapy is a type of therapy that can remove emotional distress and any physical pain that is being caused by it. This therapy is very effective in treating Seasonal Affective Disorder. If you believe that you suffer from SAD, view our ETT page or contact a representative with South Coast Counseling today.

Read more to learn about Seasonal Affective Disorder and how you can get help with Emotional Transformation Therapy. 

Common Addictions Among Teens | South Coast Counseling

Here are some of the most common addictions among teens, as well as signs and symptoms of different types of substance abuse treatment.

Some early signs of alcohol or drug abuse among teenagers are fairly straightforward, regardless of the substance involved: a teen may be developing an addiction when he or she suddenly begins to neglect or struggle with school, changes friend groups, distances him- or herself from family, drops activities or sports he or she used to enjoy or alters eating and sleeping habits. However, further signs and symptoms depend on what substance is being abused. Watch for these signs of the most common addictions among teens:

Alcohol

Symptoms specific to alcohol abuse include bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, memory gaps or loss, shaking and poor coordination. In addition, teens may use mints or gum to cover the smell of alcohol. While alcohol is often easily obtained by underage drinkers outside the house, it is prudent to keep an eye on alcoholic drinks that may be stored in your house, which may go missing or be watered down to disguise drinking.

Marijuana

Like alcohol, marijuana can cause a loss of physical coordination and memory, but it can also slow reaction time, induce lethargy, make ordinary or inappropriate situations seem humorous and increase sensitivity to sound, taste and visual perception. Since marijuana is typically smoked, it can cause coughing, bloodshot eyes and a constant dry mouth known as “cotton mouth.” Marijuana also has a noticeable smell, which some teens try to cover with, again, mints or gum. Users may have difficulty concentrating, either on conversations or on their own explanations, leading to a tendency to ramble.

Inhalants

The use of inhalants, chemical fumes that produce extremely rapid intoxication, is more common among younger teens. Unfortunately, inhalants are also some of the most immediately dangerous intoxicating substances. The most common symptoms include disorientation, dizziness, nausea, slurred speech, nosebleeds and marks or sores around the mouth. Teens using nitrous oxide may also have frequent headaches, euphoria and muscle weakness.

Prescription painkillers, stimulants and anxiety medications

One of the most obvious signs of prescription drug addiction is pills going missing from medicine cabinets or around the house. In addition, users with prescriptions may use their medications much more quickly than they would if they were following the prescription schedule, or find alternate sources of medications they have been prescribed in the past even after the course of treatment is done. Teens abusing prescription painkillers or opiates, such as codeine, oxycodone and Vicodin, may become nauseous, confused, constipated or constantly tired. Those using stimulants such as Adderall or Ritalin may become euphoric, energetic and unable to sleep. Those using anxiety medications such as Valium, Ativan, Klonopin and Xanax display symptoms similar to alcohol intoxication, including loss of coordination, slurred speech, memory gaps and drowsiness.

Dextromethorphan

Dextromethorphan or DXM is an over-the-counter cough suppressant that causes symptoms similar to those of alcohol intoxication: slurred speech, disorientation and memory gaps. In addition, teens using DXM may become dizzy or nauseous and have mild hallucinations. You may also notice quick, uncontrollable eye movements.  

If you find that your teenager is struggling with drug abuse Huntington Beach or alcohol abuse or addiction, you can get help. Don’t hesitate to contact South Coast Counseling today for informational resources on addiction, treatment options and recovery.

5 Tips for Living with a Recovering Addict | South Coast Counseling

Everyone knows how hard it can be dealing with someone that is actively in addiction, but what many don’t know is how difficult it can be once the addict is back home and in recovery. One of the biggest fears, understandably, is accidentally causing the addict to slip back into their addiction. Because of this, many resort to tiptoeing around the addict and not giving them the help they need to stay in recovery. Here are five tips for living with a recovering addict.

1.) Get Educated

Getting educated about your loved one’s addiction is one of the most important things you can do to make living with the recovering addict easier. An addict in recovery may often feel misunderstood or alone, which can be a big obstacle in their addiction treatment. Learning exactly what their substance abuse treatment entails is a great way to show a recovering addict that you are engaged in the process of their rehab efforts.

2.) Support Your Loved one’s Sobriety

When a recovering addict comes home from inpatient drug or alcohol treatment Costa Mesa, they will need a lot of support. Support can be provided in any number of ways, but your main focus should be making sure the home is free of any addicting substances. Another way to support your loved one’s sobriety is to encourage them to take up a hobby they can do by themselves or even with your participation. Physical activities are a good choice because they fit in to the complete lifestyle change that is often recommended with substance abuse treatment.

3.) Make Sure You Get Support for Yourself     

In offering support for a recovering addict, loved ones often neglect to support themselves. Living with an addict can be emotionally and physically draining. Being aware of this and getting support for yourself will make things much easier to support your loved one during their rehab. There are many support groups, including NA and AA (Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous, respectively) that exist for the express purpose of helping the loved ones of addicts.

4.) Keep Stress Low

Stress is one of the biggest triggers that can cause relapse in a recovering addict. Since stress can come from many different areas, it is important for loved ones of recovering addicts to keep the home as stress free as possible. Resources like counseling, job training and education can help to keep stress low during substance abuse treatment and reduce the likelihood of relapse.

5.) Look Out for Relapse

Unfortunately, relapse does happen with recovering addicts, so it is important to be on the lookout for signs that your loved one may be reengaging in harmful habits. Common signs of a relapse may include speaking fondly of past substance abuse, initiating contact with old friends from their drug abuse days and abrupt changes in behavior. If you believe your loved one may have relapsed, it is important to deal with it in a healthy manner. Suggest that they talk to a counselor or attend a twelve-step meeting, but do not blame or judge them. Reacting negatively could cause them to be defensive and slip further in to relapse.

If there is a recovering addict in your life and you need advice on how to support their sobriety, contact South Coast Counseling for help today. Our experienced and caring staff can help you to make sure that you’re dealing with your loved one’s addiction recovery in a helpful and healthy manner.