September is National Recovery Month, a celebration of the people who have achieved freedom from substance use disorders and the myriad paths they have taken to get there. Though addiction and its associated mental health issues are highly treatable, many women struggle for years without asking for help, while others never seek assistance at all. Educating yourself on the current research surrounding women and addiction recovery can help you decide how, where and when to pursue your new, sober lifestyle. Unique Treatment Barriers Facing Women Sadly, women who need substance abuse treatment might be less likely than men to receive the [...]

Even if you had a relatively complication-free pregnancy and delivery, it’s natural for every new parent to worry about their baby’s health and well-being. However, if your feelings of impending dread have become all-consuming and are starting to interfere with your sleep or other daily activities, you may have postpartum anxiety. Learn more about this condition and how it can affect your relationship with your newborn child. About PPA While having a baby can be joyous and exciting, many new moms experience the “baby blues” caused by a sudden drop in hormone levels. While your doctor likely prepared you for this, [...]

From groceries to utilities to health care, we must all spend money on specific things that improve our quality of life. Because the things we buy every day help fuel our local and national economies and create new jobs, politicians have historically issued stimulus checks to millions of Americans to help pull the nation out of various financial crises. Elected officials repeat the message that shopping is a civic responsibility, and advertisers reinforce a refrain that buying their products will solve your problems. Consumerism is a quintessentially American way to prove your self-worth and keep up with the Joneses. As a [...]

Do you approach new situations enthusiastically and with few reservations, or do you tend to take a more cautious approach? Are you excited about going to social gatherings, or does the idea of attending a party or networking event make your stomach clench and your heart race? If you have a personality disorder, your answers to these questions probably go beyond the traditional extrovert/introvert binary. For example, avoidant personality disorder can have severe ramifications for your career, your relationships and your self-confidence. Avoidant Personality Disorder vs. Shyness While avoidant personality disorder shares some character traits with shyness and social anxiety, the [...]

Humans come in an array of shapes and sizes, and our bodies are the vehicles that allow us to embrace life’s pleasures. Unfortunately, society reinforces the message that our appearance must conform to specific ideals. In particular, many girls and women go to extremes to achieve a certain size and shape, often sacrificing health and happiness along the way. According to data from the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 9% of the U.S. population, or 28.8 million Americans, will develop an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime. What are some disordered eating symptoms to be aware [...]

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, up to half of women can experience a traumatic event in their lifetimes, and many of them will go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder. This condition can be extremely disruptive, and can also lead to other problems such as substance abuse and eating disorders. Since PTSD is so prevalent among women, you may benefit from educating yourself about what it entails and its characteristic symptoms so you can spot the warning signs in yourself or others. What Is PTSD? The stigma surrounding trauma has given rise to the misconception that women with [...]

Among addiction’s most insidious abilities is its capacity to come between you and your loved ones. In recovery, you will need to find new ways to rebuild your relationships, including the foundation of trust that healthy relationships rest upon. Adventure therapy has emerged as a leading method for teaching people to trust others and themselves. What Is Adventure Therapy? Adventure therapy is a form of experiential therapy that helps people struggling with substance abuse and mental health disorders by allowing them to participate in various supervised “adventures.” Adventure therapy fundamentally relies on perceived risk, which requires participants to venture outside their [...]

These are undoubtedly uncertain times for the world. The current situation has people in their homes for the purpose of protecting people from spreading COVID-19. According to a KFF poll, 45% of adults in the United States reported their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the virus. For some people, this is the first time in this type of situation. It could bring feelings you have never experienced before.  Some common feelings you may be experiencing from this shelter-in-place order are fear, doubt, anxiety, guilt, isolation, and loneliness. For people who struggle with mental [...]

Most families and clients who are recommended aftercare after treatment are quite surprised. We also find that most people are confused because they have been given several options, at very different price points. There is not a lot of information available regarding the differences and what questions to ask that could be helpful. It's also challenging because, in some cases, some programs are using the same words, but the levels of care vary considerably. In this blog, we are going to go over the differences of aftercare, where Rising Roads fits, and what questions you can ask other programs when [...]

There is a general trajectory we see at Rising Roads.  This particular blog is regarding the first 30 days of our 90-day program.  It's important to define what level of care Rising Roads is in the treatment industry.  Rising Roads is a Residential Extended Aftercare Program for women. The women who come to Rising Roads are completing an initial 30-90 day stabilization program or have been in stabilization many times and continue to release into unhealthy patterns when they go home.  The primary goal of Rising Roads is to take the work that has been done and go deeper into the healing process, clinically [...]