January is Mental Wellness Month 2019. In May, it’s Mental Health Month. Minority Mental Health Month is in July. What do these observances have in common?

Is your drinking out of control? National Impaired Driving Prevention Month 2018 is a great way to recognize your problem and seek help. Maybe you had some close calls while drinking under the influence? Did you know that there’s a way to quit for good?

Substance abuse can feel like a losing battle. The desire for a drug or alcohol of choice overpowers the person’s judgment. With addiction, they lose self-control and reject responsibility for anything other than the next high. This can create severe consequences in their life. They may suffer health problems, get in trouble with the law and face financial distress.

Many people feel overwhelmed by choosing the right place to go through rehab for addiction treatment. It is a big decision. There are so many things to consider - treatment approach, cost, and success rate, among others. 

But what about the rehab environment? Meaning, the physical surroundings, the staff, the makeup of the participants? These things can easily be overlooked, yet are some of the most important factors in recovery.

If you are an adoptee or adoptive parent you may be familiar with the term "adoption trauma." We deal with all forms of trauma as underlying causes of addiction at The Clearing, and what we know is that what is traumatic for one individual, isn’t for another. It’s all about how each person holds an event in our memory and consciousness.

Let's face it - family can be so stressful. In the worst cases, difficult, damaged people showing up to spend time with other difficult, damaged people. Perhaps no time of year makes this more evident than the holiday season!

Yet of course, the words “difficult” and “damaged” are just our own judgments, just stories that we tell. We could also say that our families are made up of beautiful, big-hearted, and funny people. But often we need to begin the healing process by acknowledging what’s hard about family life.

Many people suffering drug or alcohol addiction do not understand this problem is one of the effects of childhood trauma on adults. Unhealed trauma drains your energy and pulls happiness from your life, even when you do not think about your painful past. So if you want real hope and healing in your life, your addiction rehab treatment must include many hours of trauma counseling.

Millions of people affected by suicide loss observe International Survivor of Suicide Day each year. Through related events, you gain comfort and understanding in your trauma toward healing and hope. If you suffered suicide loss, this November 17, 2018 health observance helps you focus on what you need for a better future. If you abused drugs or alcohol before, during or after your suicide loss, you gain your hope and healing through rehab treatment.

Hello. My name is Scott and I am a recovering Malibu treatment center provider.

I worked in a luxury Malibu treatment center for several years while obtaining my doctoral degree. What I witnessed at that Malibu treatment center at that time is still impacting me today. After reading An Intervention for Malibu in the New York Times on the problems with Malibu treatment centers, a lot of the old memories came rushing to the surface.

When someone has low self esteem, it can make doing normal activities seem impossible. They feel unaccepted, unloved and unable to accomplish their dreams. By learning how to overcome low self esteem, individuals gain the confidence and courage to live a fulfilling life.