Category: Conditions

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How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your System?

Alcohol affects everyone a little differently. Some people get drunk easily, while others have a high tolerance that makes it difficult to feel its effects. A few factors impact intoxication levels and how long alcohol can actually stay in your system. 

Here’s how your body metabolizes alcohol, how long tests can detect it, and what happens in your body when you drink.

How Alcohol Affects the Body

Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it slows down the central nervous system. That’s why drinking alcohol makes you feel more calm, euphoric, or even drowsy. By inhibiting your nervous system, alcohol also reduces your motor coordination, reaction time, and ability to think critically. 

Here are some of the ways alcohol affects your body in the short term:1

  • Brain: Alcohol makes it hard to focus or make decisions. When you’re intoxicated, you have lower inhibitions and are more likely to act impulsively. And with heavy drinking, you might become dizzy, lose consciousness, or have gaps in your memory the next day (often called a blackout). 
  • Mood: Drinking can change your mood, making you feel relaxed, excited, angry, or depressed. It can also increase your sexual desire.
  • Physical ability: Drinking can cause changes in your hearing, vision, and depth perception. It can also make it harder to walk or remain coordinated. Your speech may be slurred, and your reaction time slows down. 
  • Organ function: Alcohol is taxing on your liver and digestive tract. Because it affects the nervous system, heavy drinking can cause slowed breathing. You might feel nauseous after drinking, or vomit or have diarrhea. 

While the short-term effects of drinking may not last very long, that doesn’t mean they’re insignificant. Impulsive behavior, slowed reaction time, and changes in your mood can impact your life in ways that have far-reaching effects, from accidents and injuries to poor decision-making. 

How Alcohol is Measured Inside Your Body

The level of alcohol in your body is measured by blood alcohol concentration, or BAC.2 This number measures the amount of alcohol present in your bloodstream, and is expressed as the ratio of how many grams are present per 100 milliliters of your blood. 

You can also measure BAC by breath, which counts how many grams are present per 210 liters of breath. To learn more about blood alcohol concentration, try out this BAC calculator.3 

Factors That Impact the Length of Time Alcohol Stays in the Body

Alcohol affects people differently. How intoxicated one person gets and how quickly, as well as how long alcohol stays in their body, depend on a few variables.

  • Gender: “After drinking the same amount of alcohol, women tend to have higher blood alcohol levels4 than men, and the immediate effects of alcohol usually occur more quickly and last longer in women than men,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Body fat percentage: Because it holds less water than muscle, fat absorbs alcohol from your blood at a lower rate.5 This means that for 2 people who weigh the same, the person with a higher body fat percentage will have a higher BAC after drinking the same amount. 
  • Age: In general, the older you get, the longer alcohol stays in your system.5 That’s because your ability to process alcohol worsens over time. According to Harvard Health, older adults have a higher BAC than younger people after drinking the same amount.
  • How much you’ve eaten: If there’s food in your stomach, your body will absorb less alcohol. Studies show that “the consumption of foods before or together with alcohol6 reduces peak blood alcohol concentration, decreases absorption and slows metabolism. In particular, ‘high-energy’ meals may slow down alcohol metabolism and reduce subjective intoxication.”
  • Other drugs present in your system: Some medications affect how your body handles alcohol.7 This includes blood pressure medication, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory drugs. 

How Long Does It Take to Feel the Effects of Alcohol?

Just like there’s no standard length of time that alcohol stays in your body, the time it takes to feel the effects of alcohol varies from person to person. Typically, you’ll feel the effects of drinking alcohol anywhere within 15-45 minutes,8 depending on the strength of the drink and how quickly you drink it. 

After the first 15-45 minutes, you’ll likely feel the relaxing effects of alcohol. If you continue to drink, especially at a rate faster than one drink per hour, you’ll feel progressively intoxicated. At a BAC of .02%, you might feel relaxed and euphoric.9 At a BAC of .05%, you may start to experience lowered inhibitions, impaired judgment, and loss of coordination.  

BAC of .02%, you might feel relaxed and euphoric

How Your Body Metabolizes Alcohol

When you drink, alcohol enters your stomach and then travels on to the small intestine. From there, small blood vessels carry the alcohol to your bloodstream. Roughly 20% of alcohol gets absorbed through the stomach.10 The majority of alcohol is absorbed through the small intestine, though about 10% is eliminated via your breath, sweat, and urine. 

Alcohol is primarily broken down in your liver. Using the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), your liver breaks down alcohol molecules into acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is then broken down into acetate, which is then metabolized into water and carbon dioxide. At this point, your body can eliminate these molecules easily. 

How Long Does It Take the Body to Metabolize Alcohol?

A good rule of thumb is that most healthy people can metabolize about one standard drink per hour.11 Of course, factors like age, body fat percentage, and gender can greatly impact the rate at which your body processes alcohol. 

So, when does alcohol leave your system? If you consume more than one standard drink per hour, your liver has too much to process at once. The additional alcohol remains in your bloodstream and body tissues until your liver can metabolize it. This is what makes you feel drunk. 

What is One Standard Drink?

Here’s what one standard drink12 means, according to the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism:

  • 12 ounces of normal-strength beer (4-5% alcohol)
  • 1.5 ounces of liquor (40% alcohol)
  • 5 ounces of wine (12-13% alcohol)

Can You Speed Up the Process?

No, you cannot speed up the alcohol metabolization process.13 Once you’ve consumed alcohol, it has entered your bloodstream and can only be eliminated via the enzymes in your liver and through your sweat, breath, and urine. While some things might make you feel more alert—like drinking caffeine, water, or taking a cold shower—they will not remove alcohol from your system. 

How Long Can Tests Detect Alcohol in the Body?

Alcohol can remain in your system for up to 72 hours. How long alcohol can be detected depends on the kind of tests used: 

  • Blood tests can detect alcohol for roughly 6 hours.
  • Urine tests can detect alcohol for 12-24 hours.
  • Breath and saliva tests can detect alcohol for 12-24 hours. 
  • Hair tests can detect alcohol for up to 90 days.

When Excessive Drinking Becomes an Addiction

Alcohol is often socially acceptable, which is why it can be so hard to tell when your drinking is becoming a problem. While there is no safe level of drinking, guidelines for moderation14 are much lower than most people realize. 


If you’re concerned about your drinking and think you may need treatment to stop, search alcohol rehab centers and reach out directly to learn about available options.

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Adult Children of Alcoholics: Healing From Childhood Trauma and Learning to Thrive

Growing up with a parent addicted to alcohol can make for a difficult childhood. And that struggle continues to affect many into adulthood. Some adult children of alcoholics, (or ACoAs) turn to alcohol themselves, while others find themselves disconnected from the world around them. Others may develop a mental health condition that holds them back from fully living life. No matter how your childhood affects you in the long term, rehabs that treat trauma can help you release the hurt of a childhood affected by alcohol. 

Understanding Adult Children of Alcoholics

Adult children of alcoholics (ACoAs) are people who grew up in a home with one or more parents addicted to alcohol. And while many ACoAs enter adulthood without any long-lasting effects,1 some people continue to experience problems stemming from trauma during their childhood. Whichever camp you’re in, it’s important to remember that whether or not you develop issues from your childhood is not a reflection of your character. 

In many cases, an alcoholic home is also an abusive home. Parental alcohol addiction increases a child’s risk of sexual and physical abuse. According to one study, 85% of reported child abuse cases involve alcohol.2 Child neglect is also common. 

It may seem like nobody understands what you’ve been through, but you’re not alone. In the U.S., there are over 76 million adult children of alcoholics,3 many of whom have shared experiences. 

One common experience for ACOAs is growing up in a home with many unspoken rules that they have to follow to avoid trouble:

  1. Keep the addiction and any other family problems a secret.
  2. Don’t express your feelings.
  3. Always be perfect.
  4. Taking care of your own needs is selfish.
  5. Don’t relax or play.
  6. Avoid conflict at all costs.

These rules of operation create an environment where trusting others, expressing your needs, and having feelings is bad. And learning these kinds of lessons when you’re developing your understanding of the world means you may carry them into adulthood.

Common Traits of ACoAs

Because so many children of alcoholics experience similar trauma, many ACoAs face similar challenges. 

Distrust of Others

It’s common for parents addicted to alcohol to show affection inconsistently.4 One moment they may be loving, while the next they’re cold or cruel. And when someone becomes addicted to alcohol, drinking becomes the priority.5 As a result, working, providing food, and attending school functions fall by the wayside. So many ACoAs quickly learn that they can’t trust people6 for love or survival. 

The outside world becomes a scary place when you have a parent addicted to alcohol. Your parents may have taught you to keep their secrets so they wouldn’t get into trouble. Or maybe you couldn’t confide in your friends or teachers for fear of losing your family or getting into trouble yourself. People and systems that are there to protect you instead become something you fear. 

This distrust then makes it difficult to accept love from others. You become so accustomed to doing everything on your own that it may be scary to lean on someone else for your needs. And even when you do start to rely on others, it’s very common for ACoAs to fear abandonment.7 The volatility of your childhood makes it difficult to believe that love can be consistent.  

Hyper-Responsibility or Lack of Responsibility

It’s common for ACoAs to feel responsible for their parent’s addiction and its consequences. Sometimes that’s because a parent directly places blame on their child through their words or actions. Children start to believe that they’re responsible for any negative event that happens, but positive events are the result of luck. And feeling this way can lead to a dysfunctional sense of responsibility. 

Many ACoAs also grow up feeling like it’s their job to keep their family afloat. You may have started working to earn money for your family very early in life or taken on a parental role to younger siblings. This hyper-responsibility doesn’t disappear when you turn 18 or move out. Many ACoAs will continue to feel responsible for the happiness and well-being of everyone around them—an impossibly big task. 

On the flip side, some children growing up with addicted parents fully reject any responsibility.8 They become dependent on others for functioning. This is because they never had someone show them how to healthily identify, label, and communicate their needs. And because they rely on others for almost anything, it’s common for these children to grow up feeling like they can’t do anything right. They lose all confidence in their abilities because they never have to practice them. And that makes adulthood much harder. 

Perfectionism

Many ACoAs seek recognition from the outside world for their achievements as an escape from the dysfunction at home. When you don’t receive consistent affection just for being you, you grow up feeling worthy only because of your accomplishments. And especially when you’re young, the only parts of your life in your control are often your performance in school or extracurriculars. 

This obsession with external success combined with self-blame for your parent’s addiction quickly turns into perfectionism for many ACoAs. Your focus becomes avoiding any reason for people to criticize or blame you. And in turn, you feel like you can never make mistakes. It’s also very common for ACoAs to have a hard time having fun. Life is not about being happy, but about being in control. 

This is an exhausting way to live, and can easily lead to burnout. It’s important to remember that you’re worthy of love and kindness regardless of your resume or report card. Pursuing healing through rehab or therapy can help you develop a truer sense of self-love. 

Negative Self-View

Studies show that having a parent addicted to alcohol causes lower self-esteem9 in many cases. One reason for this is that many children of alcoholics believe they’re to blame for their parent’s addiction. Your parents may tell you that they drink to deal with your misbehavior. Or they’ll purposefully create conflict with you so that they “need a drink to calm down.” And when you blame yourself for such an intense issue at a young age, you may begin to believe there’s something wrong with you.

Another underlying cause is the theme of selfishness in an alcoholic home.10 ACoAs learn that their emotional needs are less important than everyone else’s and that they’re selfish if they prioritize themselves. Your sense of worth becomes rooted in how well you take care of others. But the truth is that your needs are important too, and learning how to communicate them is essential in adult relationships.  

Emotional Dysregulation

Many ACoAs also have trouble regulating their emotions.11 You most likely didn’t grow up with a positive model of emotional self-control because you may have seen your parents use alcohol to cope with unwanted feelings. Or you may have witnessed them become extremely emotionally volatile while drinking. So you didn’t have a chance to learn how to manage your emotions or react to others’ emotions in a positive way. 

Anger is especially difficult to deal with for ACoAs. Witnessing a parent’s rage at a young age is frightening. You may start to fear your own anger, needing to control it at all times. But bottling up your emotions or avoiding them isn’t healthy. Through rehab and therapy, you can develop the skills to be able to mindfully react to feelings without feeling threatened. 

Conflict Avoidance

In many alcoholic homes, conflict is intense and prevalent. And without a healthy model of conflict resolution, many children develop avoidance techniques like hiding in their room or dissociating.12 The cause of this is completely natural: you’re just trying to survive and stay out of harm’s way. But the result is that you never learn how to resolve conflicts in a healthy way. You might even learn that it’s your job to keep your family dynamic running smoothly, which means sweeping major issues under the rug. As such, many children of alcoholics continue to avoid conflict in their adult lives, which affects their mental, physical, and social health. 

When left untreated, these issues can continue well into adulthood. In fact, issues stemming from addicted parenting can still impact older adults. 

The Impact of Growing Up with an Alcoholic Parent

Growing up in an alcoholic home is chaotic. It’s hard to predict your parents’ next move and you never really know if your needs are going to be met or ignored. And that kind of unpredictability can create problems down the line. 

Increased Risk of Substance Abuse

ACoAs are up to 10 times more likely to become addicted to alcohol13 themselves. Having a father addicted to alcohol increases both men’s and women’s risk of alcoholism while growing up with a mother addicted to alcohol tends to increase women’s risk more than men’s. And ACoAs are also at greater risk for addiction to drugs other than alcohol. 

This could be because of a genetic predisposition for addiction, or because you learned to cope with stress by drinking after watching your parent do the same. Childhood abuse also increases your risk of addiction in adulthood.14

Difficulties in Relationships

Many ACoAs have trouble both forming and maintaining healthy relationships,15 especially romantic ones. Growing up without being able to trust others or even rely on your parent for consistent affection may make you fear intimacy in adulthood. And if your relationship model growing up involved somebody addicted to alcohol, you may not have a good blueprint for what a healthy relationship looks like. 

Every relationship involves some level of conflict. But because ACoAs didn’t have the chance to learn positive resolution skills, conflict can quickly trigger aggressive behavior. Or you may be conflict avoidant, meaning you handle conflicts by pretending they don’t exist. 

Physical Health Issues

Growing up with an alcoholic parent also affects your physical health. In fact, ACOAs face a higher risk of many physical health conditions:16

  • Diabetes
  • Sleep problems including insomnia
  • Fatigue and delirium
  • Gastrointestinal disease
  • Cancer
  • Heart disease
  • Cirrhosis 

Mental Health Issues

Instability in your childhood can affect your mental health17 into adulthood. Studies show that ACoAs have an increased risk for certain mental health conditions:18

In addition to these mental health conditions, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common result of growing up with a parent addicted to alcohol.19

Simple and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (cPTSD)

The intensity and chaos of alcoholism is traumatic. And childhood trauma tends to stay with us in many forms, sometimes without us realizing it. Many ACoAs experience the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of their childhood. For example, hypervigilance is a common symptom of PTSD. And studies show that ACoAs learn to be hypervigilant20 from a young age to protect themselves. 

Many ACoAs also have all 3 of the defining symptoms of complex PTSD (cPTSD):21

  1. Difficulty managing emotions
  2. A negative self-view
  3. Trouble forming and keeping healthy relationships

Even if you don’t have a diagnosed mental health condition, the trauma of your childhood can affect you in many ways. But it doesn’t have to follow you forever. Many rehabs offer trauma-informed programs to help you heal from your past, and learn healthy ways to communicate and cope.

Overcoming the Lingering Effects of Alcoholic Parenting: Strategies for Healing and Moving Forward

Emotional Sobriety

Tian Dayton, psychologist and author of ACoA Trauma Syndrome, compares growing up with addiction to secondhand smoke:

We inhale the thinking, feeling and behavior of the addict emotionally, psychologically and behaviorally; we take who they are while using, into our own inner world…Many of the clients that I treat have never had a problem with substance abuse. But they still act drunk.

“Emotional sobriety,”22 a term first coined by AA founder Bill Wilson, is what people in recovery gain once they learn to regulate their emotions. Because this is often a major theme for ACoAs, learning to feel and work through emotions healthily is a crucial step in the recovery process.   

Rehab for Adult Children of Alcoholics

Thankfully, there are plenty of places to find support.

Some rehabs have dedicated treatment programs for ACoAs. Residential rehab programs give you access to multiple therapies and a supportive community to help you in your healing journey. Some rehabs even specialize in treating ACoAs. For example, one of the 9 phases of Affect2U’s treatment program focuses on ACoA-specific challenges. And if you’re not sure if a rehab you’re looking into offers informed support, you can always call their admissions team to ask. 

Going to rehab can help you resolve the trauma of your childhood, manage resulting mental health conditions, treat your addiction, and learn positive coping skills. And attending a residential program allows you to take a step back to give you space to re-evaluate your life. You’ll have access to professionals who understand what you’ve experienced in childhood and how it’s still affecting you. And you can work through your struggles through a variety of therapy methods. 

Treatment Options in Rehab

One treatment option that can help ACOAs is family therapy. This can open up lines of communication that have been shut down, helping you and your family heal the ways in which you relate to each other. Learning healthy conflict resolution alongside loved ones can help your relationship function more positively. 

Behavioral therapies are another option for ACoAs.23 Treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help you learn new ways to resolve conflict, communicate your needs, and cope with stress. Your therapist will teach you how to identify and monitor your emotions and give you strategies to deal with unwanted feelings like relaxation techniques. The goal is to interrupt your regular patterns of reacting to emotional situations and replace them with more positive behaviors.

Resources for Adult Children of Alcoholics and Their Families

Support Groups

Rehab offers a supportive community to heal. At many rehabs, you can find support groups for people experiencing the same issues. You may attend meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous, which even if you aren’t addicted to alcohol could help you gain an understanding of what your parents have experienced. Some rehabs also offer Al-Anon meetings, specifically for loved ones of people with addiction. There are also rehabs for parents.

You can also attend support meetings outside of rehab. You’ll find others who understand what you’re going through and can support your healing journey. Al-Anon and other organizations offer virtual meetings for your convenience. 

Books for ACoAs

Books about growing up with addicted parents that can expand your understanding of your own experiences:

It may initially feel daunting to uncover past traumas, but you can heal—and multiple pathways can help you get there. 

Take Back Control of Your Life in Rehab

When you’re a child, life is mostly out of your control. And growing up with a parent with addiction makes it feel even more so. But you’re no longer a child. You are in charge of what happens next. And you’re in charge of your own healing. 

You don’t have to heal on your own: going to a rehab that treats ACoA-related trauma can provide the expertise and support you need. 

Explore rehabs that treat trauma to learn more about treatment methods, pricing, and more, and reach out to centers directly. 

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The Role of Nutrition in Addiction and Mental Health Recovery

Nutrition is a foundational element of well-being. Not only can good food provide a sense of pleasure and joy, but eating a nutritious diet helps your body and mind perform at their very best. If you’re seeking addiction or mental health treatment, establishing supportive eating habits is especially vital. The right nutrition plan can help you rebuild your health and prevent relapse.

Finding the right rehab program includes understanding the role of nutrition in your treatment plan. Helping your mind and body get back to functioning at their optimal levels will set you up for recovery success.

The Relationship Between Addiction and Nutrition

If you’re using drugs or alcohol, it’s common for substances to become a higher priority than your diet. People are more likely to feel depressed, anxious, or lethargic when they don’t get the nutrients they need.1 In turn, a poor diet can make it harder to resist drug cravings2 and contribute further to addiction.

Physical Symptoms of Poor Nutrition

Addiction can make you more likely to choose meals with low nutritional value, or not eat enough in general. As such, many people struggle with malnourishment in early recovery3 and may be underweight. While different substances impact your health and nutrition differently, regular substance use is likely to result in one or more of these symptoms:

Nutrition for Recovery

Addiction takes a huge physical toll on the body. Using alcohol or drugs requires your body to work extra hard to process and eliminate toxic substances and repair the damage they cause. From detox to post-rehab recovery, good nutrition helps to heal your body and mind.

Good Nutrition Can Ease Withdrawal Symptoms

Replacing lost nutrients is an important aspect of detox. The detox process can take a lot of mental and physical energy to complete. You may experience symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.10 When you’re ready to recover, eating healthy, nutrient-dense foods can help you ease withdrawal symptoms and avoid relapse.11

Food Provides Energy During Early Recovery

Recovering from addiction requires energy, resilience, and motivation. If you’re not eating well, you’re more likely to feel overwhelmed or drained in the early stages of sobriety. But with a nutritious diet, you’ll have the energy you need to stay motivated in recovery. Eating well helps you think more clearly,12 pay attention for longer periods of time, and enjoy a more balanced emotional state.

Plus, a balanced diet helps your body heal from addiction.13 Good nutrition helps your immune system improve, and your organs and tissues to repair themselves. Eating well is a key part of building healthy habits to support your new lifestyle—a main goal of residential rehab.

Eating Well in Life After Rehab

Nutrition supports every stage of recovery, even well beyond inpatient addiction treatment. Eating a balanced diet contributes to an elevated mood,14 higher energy levels, and better physical health.

It’s even proven that learning about nutrition helps people heal from addiction.15

Addiction and Disordered Eating

There’s a strong link between eating disorders and addiction. Up to 35% of people addicted to drugs or alcohol also struggle with an eating disorder—11 times higher than the rate of the general population.16

For some patients, disordered eating habits develop during the addiction recovery process.17 Weight gain is common in early treatment, when appetite increases and drugs are no longer depleting you. Weight gain can contribute to mental health issues, including eating disorders. But with the right medical care and nutrition plan, you can find lasting physical and emotional health during your recovery journey.

Learn more about eating disorder recovery here. 

The Link Between Diet and Your Mental Health

Nutrition is often linked to physical health. However, there’s a powerful connection between nutrition and mental health, too. Eating nutritious foods is an essential part of healing mental health issues including depression and anxiety. While nutrition has historically been undervalued in mental health treatment, it’s now gaining popularity and acceptance among experts.

The Gut-Brain Axis

According to nutritional psychiatry, there’s a direct link between your gut health and your brain.18 The “gut-brain axis” describes the physical connection between these 2 organs via the vagus nerve.

The vagus nerve starts in your brain stem and connects to your gut via the central nervous system. It not only plays an important role in digestion and nutrient absorption, but also sends nerve signals back and forth between the brain and the gut.

This means that a healthy balance of gut bacteria helps your brain produce the right chemicals to stay healthy and emotionally stable. And in turn, your brain helps your gut maintain the right balance of bacteria. In fact, studies show that healthy gut bacteria can improve your mood.19

Nutrition for Mental Wellness

If you’re struggling with your mental health, eating healthily might feel out of reach. Many people enter treatment for their mental health with poor nutrition.20

To help you heal, comprehensive rehabs programs leverage this gut-brain axis and use nutrition to support your recovery. Tailored meal plans can support healing and restore nutritional balance. This naturally helps you feel better and maintain energy and focus on your work in treatment.

Find Calming Relief

The right nutrition plan can provide structure and peace during early recovery. Inpatient mental health programs provide regular meals at routine intervals. This helps patients find a greater sense of calm,21 as well as maintain blood-sugar levels for stable energy throughout the day.

Nutritious food can also allow those healing from mental health issues to experience much-needed pleasure. Eating tasty foods releases dopamine in the brain,22 boosting your sense of joy. Studies also show a link between certain amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids and improved mental health23 during treatment.

Boost Your Mood

Neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin are vital for your mental health, mood, and overall wellness. Inpatient treatment programs that focus on nutrition can ensure you’re getting the right balance of vitamins and minerals for brain health:24

  • Probiotics
  • Magnesium
  • Tyrosine
  • Curcumin
  • Theanine
  • Amino acids

Heal Your Relationship with Food

Healthy eating is an important element of healing for people in eating disorder recovery. When you enter treatment, you’ll start to replenish nutrients your body needs by eating regular, nutrient-dense meals.

Treatment programs also give you the opportunity to learn how to stay healthy beyond your time in rehab. In some centers, you’ll work one-on-one with a nutritionist or dietitian to plan meals, shop for groceries, or even learn to cook. Over time, eating nourishing meals in treatment can help you rebuild trust with yourself25 and repair your relationship with food.

Eat Well to Build a Foundation for Recovery

Eating for recovery provides nourishment, energy, and comfort during every stage of your healing journey. And while the link between recovery and diet is universal, everyone’s needs are unique.

Search rehabs to discover the right fit for you. You can sort searches by various dietary needs, find programs with healthy meals, and even find treatment centers with vegetarian and vegan offerings.

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What Is Disordered Eating?

Disordered eating can be inconsistent. One day you might happily eat dinner with friends, and the next you could feel like it’s a struggle to make toast. And that sort of emotional roller coaster can make it hard to label what you’re going through. So how do you know when you need to rethink your relationship with food?

First and foremost, you can learn about the criteria for disordered eating. This behavioral pattern can be harder to recognize than other eating disorders. From there, you can find clarity—about your own feelings, and about whether you need treatment for disordered eating.

Recognizing the Signs

This collection of behaviors is a little different for everyone. And it doesn’t always fit neatly into a diagnosis, like anorexia nervosa or binge-eating disorder. You might experience a wide range of disordered eating habits, ((Pereira, R. F., & Alvarenga, M. (2007). Disordered eating: Identifying, treating, preventing, and differentiating it from eating disorders. Diabetes Spectrum, 20(3), 141–148. https://doi.org/10.2337/diaspect.20.3.141)) and they might change over time.

According to experts at The Emily Program Anna Westin House St. Paul, these patterns still put you at risk. Often, the primary goal is weight loss or a change in appearance. But prioritizing those goals over your own health can be extremely harmful.

the emily program st paul
The Emily Program Anna Westin House St. Paul offers in-person and virtual eating disorder treatment with personalized options for adolescents and adults of all genders.

What Does Disordered Eating Look Like?

In today’s culture, there’s a fine line between staying fit and eating unsustainably. And you might not even know if you’ve crossed it. If you’re not sure, you can take an objective look at your own behavior.

Start by answering these questions:

  • Do you follow rigid routines around eating?
  • Do you feel guilty after you eat a satisfying meal?
  • Do you feel like you have to “earn” the right to eat by exercising?
  • Does your concern about food interfere with your daily life?

If you said yes to any of these questions, there’s a chance that you have at least some disordered eating habits. Tell your doctor or therapist what you’re going through, and ask their advice about what to do next. They’ll help you understand the cause of your disordered eating and start to plan for recovery.

What Causes Disordered Eating?

Mass media rules today’s society. Movies, TV, and social media trends dictate beauty standards. And for most people, those standards are unachievable. This can do a lot of damage to your self-image, especially for young people.

Social pressure raises the risk of disordered eating. ((Al-sheyab, Nihaya A., et al. “Relationship between Peer Pressure and Risk of Eating Disorders among Adolescents in Jordan.” Journal of Obesity, vol. 2018, Sept. 2018, p. 7309878. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/7309878.)) And that pressure can come from anywhere. You might want to earn approval from your parents, peers, work colleagues, or romantic partners. But external validation is rarely enough to make you feel better. By the time you need treatment for disordered eating, you might have more serious mental health concerns.

How Does Disordered Eating Affect Mental Health?

Pre-existing diagnoses, like anxiety ((Swinbourne, Jessica M., and Stephen W. Touyz. “The Co-Morbidity of Eating Disorders and Anxiety Disorders: A Review.” European Eating Disorders Review, vol. 15, no. 4, July 2007, pp. 253–74. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.784.)) and depression, can contribute to disordered eating. ((Casper, Regina C. “Depression and Eating Disorders.” Depression and Anxiety, vol. 8, no. S1, 1998, pp. 96–104. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1520-6394(1998)8:1+<96::AID-DA15>3.0.CO;2-4.
)) Some people use this behavior as a coping mechanism. By controlling what you eat, you might feel like you can also control your emotions. But in the long term, the reverse is often true.

Addiction and disordered eating ((Harrop, Erin N., and G. Alan Marlatt. “The Comorbidity of Substance Use Disorders and Eating Disorders in Women: Prevalence, Etiology, and Treatment.” Addictive Behaviors, vol. 35, no. 5, May 2010, pp. 392–98. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2009.12.016.)) often appear as co-occurring disorders. And either one can cause the other. For example, you might take a drug that suppresses your appetite. Or, you might eat smaller portions so you can get drunk more easily. These 2 issues can have severe impacts on your physical and mental health. And, if left unchecked, disordered eating habits can turn into full-blown eating disorders.

wellness resource center boca raton
Wellness Resource Center in Boca Raton, Florida offers multiple levels of care, including a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and intensive outpatient program (IOP) with supportive housing for eating disorder patients.

Eating Disorders vs. Disordered Eating

Disordered eating is a descriptive phrase, ((Striegel-Moore, Ruth H., et al. “A Prospective Study of Disordered Eating among College Students.” International Journal of Eating Disorders, vol. 8, no. 5, Sept. 1989, pp. 499–509. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-108X(198909)8:5<499::AID-EAT2260080502>3.0.CO;2-A.)) not a diagnosis. This pattern of behavior is less extreme and more common than eating disorders. ((Zucker, T. (n.d.). Eatings Disorders vs. Disordered Eating: What’s the Difference? National Eating Disorder Association. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/blog/eating-disorders-versus-disordered-eating)) There are a few diagnosable eating disorders, ((“Eating Disorders.” National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders. Accessed 2 Jan. 2023.)) which have very specific criteria:

  • Anorexia nervosa: severe food avoidance or restriction, and possible distorted body image or fear of weight gain
  • Bulimia nervosa: cycles of binging and purging
  • Binge eating disorder: episodes of uncontrollable binging
  • Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): severe food avoidance and restriction, without distorted body image or intense fear of weight gain

Even if none of these describes your behavior, you can still have disordered eating habits. And it’s never too early to start recovery.

Treatment for Disordered Eating Behaviors

Disordered eating patterns can become more extreme ((Smith, Alyssa C., et al. “Examining the Relation between Mind Wandering and Unhealthy Eating Behaviours.” Personality and Individual Differences, vol. 200, Jan. 2023, p. 111908. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2022.111908.
)) over time. By treating your symptoms early on, you can stop them from escalating. You don’t even need a diagnosable eating disorder to get support.

Nutrition Education

Nutrition education is vital for recovery. Patients learn how to plan healthy meals that meet their unique needs. And by eating well during rehab, you’ll replenish any vitamins and minerals you may lack. This sets you up for success, both physically and mentally.

In this type of treatment, you don’t just learn what to eat. You also learn why you’re eating it, ((Contento, Isobel R. Nutrition Education: Linking Research, Theory, and Practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2007.)) and how it fits into your lifestyle. And that can inspire you to improve other parts of your routine, from your exercise regimen to your work-life balance. These practices can help you stay centered throughout recovery.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular treatment for disordered eating. ((Murphy, Rebecca, et al. “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders.” Psychiatric Clinics of North America, vol. 33, no. 3, Sept. 2010, pp. 611–27. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.004.)) This talk therapy focuses on problem solving. First, your therapist helps you identify problematic thought patterns. Then, you’ll explore how those thoughts affect your behavior.

CBT equips you with the practical skills you need to break out of unhealthy patterns. Treatment encourages you to accept your body, just as it is. You’ll also learn new ways to regulate your eating habits.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

New data supports using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to treat disordered eating. ((Juarascio, Adrienne, et al. “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a Novel Treatment for Eating Disorders: An Initial Test of Efficacy and Mediation.” Behavior Modification, vol. 37, no. 4, July 2013, pp. 459–89. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445513478633.)) This method helps patients regulate all their emotions—even pleasurable ones like happiness. Patients don’t try to “fix” the way they feel about food. Instead, you’ll use mindfulness techniques to accept those feelings. ACT empowers patients to build meaningful lives, honoring the richness of their emotions.

Reconnect With Yourself in Recovery

Your body is always changing. Whether you’re losing weight, growing out your hair, or just getting older, you look a little different every day. That means your relationship with your body is changing, too. Recovery from disordered eating is an opportunity to redefine that relationship, on your own terms.

Explore eating disorder rehabs to learn about their treatment methods, housing options, insurance coverage, and more.

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Breaking the Cycle of Chronic Relapse

When you start addiction recovery, sobriety might be your primary goal. But getting there isn’t easy—and staying sober can be even harder. It’s common for people to relapse after residential rehab. And if that happens more than once, you might need treatment for chronic relapse.

What Is Chronic Relapse?

According to the team at Phoenix Rising Recovery, “the overall relapse rate for substance use disorders is between 40% to 60%.” ((“Warning Signs of Chronic Relapsing Disease.” Phoenix Rising Recovery, https://www.phoenixrisingrecovery.com/resources/chronic-relapsing-disease-signs/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2023.)) And relapse rates for addiction ((Abuse, National Institute on Drug. “Treatment and Recovery.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, –, https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery.)) and other chronic medical illnesses are actually very similar. Many experts believe this is a normal part of recovery.

Relapse means different things to different people. For example, a person in treatment for cocaine addiction might continue to drink socially. Or, they might view any substance use—including the use of prescribed medication—as a form of relapse. Whatever your recovery goals are, chronic relapse interrupts your progress over and over again.

This isn’t a moral failing. Addiction and relapse have direct impacts on your brain chemistry. And data suggests that the more you relapse, the more vulnerable you are to relapsing again. ((Seo, Dongju, and Rajita Sinha. “Neuroplasticity and Predictors of Alcohol Recovery.” Alcohol Research : Current Reviews, vol. 37, no. 1, 2015, pp. 143–52. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4476600/.)) Once you get into this cycle, you’ll likely need expert help to get out of it.

What Causes Repeated Relapse

If you just relapse once, it might be easy to pinpoint the trigger. Maybe you went out with an old drinking buddy, or you got some bad news. And once you understand what happened, you can start working through it.

Chronic relapse is more complex. If you’re stuck in a loop of using drugs, getting sober, and using drugs again, there are probably bigger issues at hand. And identifying those issues can be the first step toward healing. Everyone’s journey is different, but chronic relapse has a few common causes:

  • Stress: Life is often stressful, and that’s not always a bad thing. You might be stressed about getting a promotion, or planning your wedding. But ongoing distress—or stress about negative things—can lead to chronic relapse. ((Sinha, Rajita. “Chronic Stress, Drug Use, and Vulnerability to Addiction.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, vol. 1141, Oct. 2008, pp. 105–30. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1441.030.))
  • Lack of social support: Healthy emotional intimacy is a powerful coping skill. For some people, it might even replace the urge to use drugs. Data shows that strong relationships protect you from recurring relapse. ((Atadokht, Akbar, et al. “The Role of Family Expressed Emotion and Perceived Social Support in Predicting Addiction Relapse.” International Journal of High Risk Behaviors & Addiction, vol. 4, no. 1, Mar. 2015, p. e21250. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.5812/ijhrba.21250.)) People with family support, in particular, relapse less often and less severely.
  • Untreated mental health issues: Co-occurring disorders are common among people with addiction. And some of them, like depression, can increase your risk of relapse. ((Nguyen, Linh-Chi, et al. “Predicting Relapse After Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment in a High-Risk Cohort: The Roles of Anhedonia and Smoking.” Journal of Psychiatric Research, vol. 126, July 2020, pp. 1–7. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.04.003.)) But with comprehensive treatment, you can manage your symptoms and stay focused on long-term recovery.

These are just a few potential reasons for chronic relapse. But whatever the cause, the solution is clear. If you’re relapsing repeatedly, you probably need to develop new coping skills. That could mean medical treatment, a new type of talk therapy, or another stay in residential rehab. The important thing is to find the approach that works for you.

Plan Your Recovery from Chronic Relapse

Bill, a former Recovery Centers of America patient, “went to a couple different rehabs and realized I was caught up in a cycle that I knew I couldn’t get out of on my own power.” But during his last stay in rehab, something changed. “This time around I was honest, open-minded, and actually let myself heal,” he says. Now sober for many years, Bill finally broke the cycle of chronic relapse.

When you first start rehab, you’re not just healing—you’re also learning how to heal. And you might not learn everything right away. Some people try many different kinds of treatment before they find the right approach.

Trauma-Informed Care

Without proper care, trauma makes chronic relapse more likely. ((Gerwe, Corinne F. “Chronic Addiction Relapse Treatment: A Study of the Effectiveness of the High-Risk Identification and Prediction Treatment Model: Part I.” Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, vol. 19, no. 4, Dec. 2000, pp. 415–27. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0740-5472(00)00136-7.)) And childhood trauma, in particular, is a predictor of this condition. If you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) complex post-traumatic stress disorder (c-PTSD), or other trauma symptoms, you might benefit from trauma-informed care.

This is a general philosophy, rather than a specific type of therapy. Trauma-informed rehabs recognize the impact your history has on recovery. And this approach does more than treat your symptoms. It also empowers you to heal the root cause of your addiction.

Long-Term Residential Rehab

If you haven’t reached your goals by using short-term interventions, long-term residential treatment might be your key to success. While you’re there, you’ll learn to identify the early warning signs of relapse. And then you’ll have more time to solidify your new coping skills.

Chronic relapse treatment almost always includes relapse prevention. ((Melemis, Steven M. “Relapse Prevention and the Five Rules of Recovery.” The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, vol. 88, no. 3, Sept. 2015, pp. 325–32. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4553654/.)) That usually involves cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness techniques. These methods address both relapse itself and any underlying mental health issues. Most programs also help you set up continuing care, which will help you transition out of residential rehab.

Sober Living

Sober living environments offer a supportive, structured place for you to call home. You can stay in some sober houses for months or years. You’ll likely have house chores, attend support groups or 12-Step meetings, and get a job or go to school. You may also be required to take regular drug tests.

These communities are a great option for people who need to rebuild their support networks during recovery. ((Dingle, Genevieve A., et al. “Social Identities as Pathways into and out of Addiction.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 6, 2015. Frontiers, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01795.)) You’ll have more freedom to set your own schedule, while still following some structure. And most importantly, you can develop a new sense of belonging among your peers.

One Step at a Time

Chronic doesn’t mean permanent. Returning to rehab is an opportunity to fine-tune your recovery goals. And with those goals in mind, you can perfect the coping skills you need to reach them.

Search rehabs that treat chronic relapse to learn about pricing, read reviews, and more.

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Find Joy in Healing From Ecstasy Addiction

You might call it molly, ecstasy, E, X, or MDMA. By any name, this drug is extremely popular and easy to find. But that doesn’t make it safe. And because it’s often cut with other drugs, you might not even know what you’re taking.

Misinformation about ecstasy runs rampant. And that puts you at risk of addiction. When you’re ready to heal, a rehab that treats MDMA addiction might help you start recovery.

The Unpredictable Effects of Ecstasy

Experts disagree about whether you can physically depend on ecstasy. ((Abuse, National Institute on Drug. “Is MDMA Addictive?” National Institute on Drug Abuse, –, https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/mdma-addictive.)) During recovery, some people have withdrawal symptoms or even need medical detox. But other patients only have psychological symptoms.

Whether it’s physical or purely psychological, addiction develops over time. But, more than many other drugs, molly can have serious short-term impacts.

Is Molly Really MDMA?

MDMA is an acronym. ((Abuse, National Institute on Drug. “MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly) DrugFacts.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 15 June 2020, https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/mdma-ecstasymolly.)) It stands for 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine. But when you take ecstasy, it almost always includes other substances. And because these additives are rarely disclosed, it’s hard to predict the effect.

This is an issue for every form of molly. You might expect ecstasy pills to contain substances ((Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement Administration. “Drug Fact Sheet: Ecstasy/MDMA.” April 2020. https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Ecstasy-MDMA-2020_0.pdf)) like amphetamines, meth, or other stimulants. But MDMA isn’t any safer in crystal form. ((Stone, Zara. “Tastes Like Tesla: How Tesla Ecstasy Pills Became The Hot Way To Get High.” Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/zarastone/2017/08/08/tastes-like-tesla-how-tesla-ecstasy-pills-became-the-hot-way-to-get-high/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2023.)) Joseph J. Palamar, assistant professor New York University Langone Medical Center, explains:

“In the 2000’s [Americans] thought pills had become so adulterated with other drugs that [Molly] was marketed as a purer form. But anyone can adulterate powder.”

And anyone can lie. It’s common for sellers to claim that their molly is pure, even if it doesn’t actually contain any MDMA. ((Dolan, Sean B., and Matthew W. Johnson. “The Drug Purity Discounting Task: Ecstasy Use Likelihood Is Reduced by Probabilistic Impurity According to Harmfulness of Adulterants.” Drug and Alcohol Dependence, vol. 208, Mar. 2020, p. 107772. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107772.))

If you’re concerned about what’s in molly crystals, pills, or powder, you can test a drug’s purity ((Nasir, Ace. Drug Checking Kit Instructions | DanceSafe. https://dancesafe.org/testing-kit-instructions/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2023.)) with a drug checking kit. When you dissolve the drug in a certain chemical, the liquid will change color. Then, you can compare it to a key to see what it contains. Some community organizations, like DanceSafe, give these kits out for free.

Mixing Ecstasy With Other Drugs

The Drug Enforcement Administration calls MDMA a “party drug.” ((Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement Administration. “Drug Fact Sheet: Ecstasy/MDMA.” April 2020. https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Ecstasy-MDMA-2020_0.pdf)) In other words, most people take it in social contexts like clubs, bars, concerts, and house parties. These situations encourage drinking and taking multiple drugs at a time. That practice is so common, there are even special names for various combinations. ((Chary, Michael, et al. “Candyflipping and Other Combinations: Identifying Drug–Drug Combinations from an Online Forum.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 9, 2018. Frontiers, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00135.))

When you combine MDMA with other substances, you can’t predict how your body will respond. And if you have a bad reaction, you might not be able to get the help you need. For example, there are legal drugs that can reverse an opioid overdose. ((Abuse, National Institute on Drug. “Naloxone DrugFacts.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 11 Jan. 2022, https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/naloxone.
)) But time is of the essence. And if no one knows you took molly laced with fentanyl, they won’t know how to treat your symptoms.

Physical Effects

Even on its own, molly’s physical effects ((Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement Administration. “Drug Fact Sheet: Ecstasy/MDMA.” April 2020. https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Ecstasy-MDMA-2020_0.pdf)) can make it dangerous to be in a crowd. For one thing, the drug makes it hard to regulate your body temperature, so it’s easy to overheat. And you might get dehydrated, because MDMA interferes with the way you process water. ((Baggott, Matthew J. et. Al. “MDMA impairs response to water intake in healthy volunteers.” June 18, 2015. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/021113v1.full.pdf)) This can lead to cause kidney damage.

Like other stimulants, ecstasy puts a strain on your heart. ((Perrine, Shane A., et al. “Cardiac Effects of MDMA on the Metabolic Profile Determined with 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in the Rat.” NMR in Biomedicine, vol. 22, no. 4, May 2009, pp. 419–25. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1002/nbm.1352.)) And the effect is immediate—even if it’s your first time taking the drug. It raises your blood pressure, and can also increase your heart rate. For some people, this may be life-threatening.

Neurological Effects

Molly works by flooding your brain with serotonin ((Abuse, National Institute on Drug. “MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly) DrugFacts.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 15 June 2020, https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/mdma-ecstasymolly.
)) and dopamine. These naturally occurring neurotransmitters make you feel happy. Serotonin also regulates your mood, ((Serotonin: Functions, Normal Range, Side Effects, and More. 29 Sept. 2022, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232248.)) appetite, and sleep cycles. Dopamine is responsible for pleasure ((Watson, Stephanie. “Dopamine: The Pathway to Pleasure.” Harvard Health, 20 July 2021, https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/dopamine-the-pathway-to-pleasure.)) and a sense of reward.

Artificially boosting your serotonin and dopamine levels can feel good—briefly. But these chemicals aren’t infinite. Coming down from MDMA leaves you with a neurochemical deficit. ((Kim, Jueun, et al. “Ecstasy Use and Suicidal Behavior Among Adolescents: Findings from a National Survey.” Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior, vol. 41, no. 4, Aug. 2011, pp. 435–44. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1943-278X.2011.00043.x.)) For some people, that leads to severe symptoms like depression, fatigue, and even suicidality.

If you’re thinking about suicide or self-harm, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255). Trained counselors are available to help 24 hours a day.

Long-term molly use can have an effect on your brain. ((Kelly, Paul A. T. “Does Recreational Ecstasy Use Cause Long-Term Cognitive Problems?” Western Journal of Medicine, vol. 173, no. 2, Aug. 2000, pp. 129–30. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071023/.)) Experts believe that it might increase your risk of mental health problems, especially mood disorders. However, researchers are still gathering data about this issue.

Serotonin Syndrome

For some people, ecstasy causes serotonin syndrome—a potentially life-threatening medical condition. ((Tao, Rui, et al. “Environment Influencing Serotonin Syndrome Induced by Ecstasy Abuse.” Annals of Forensic Research and Analysis, vol. 4, no. 1, 2017, p. 1039. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5931730/.)) This is most likely for people who combine MDMA with prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ((Dobry, Yuriy, et al. “Ecstasy Use and Serotonin Syndrome: A Neglected Danger to Adolescents and Young Adults Prescribed Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.” International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, vol. 25, no. 3, 2013, pp. 193–99. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2013-0052.)) (SSRIs) like Zoloft, Prozac, or Lexapro. But anyone can develop serotonin syndrome while on molly, even if it’s the only drug you’re taking.

Serotonin syndrome can include elevated temperature and blood pressure, confusion, and seizures. These symptoms range from mild to severe. Mild cases can resolve without intervention, but severe serotonin syndrome is often fatal. If you experience these symptoms while on ecstasy, it’s important to get immediate medical care.

Recognizing Addictive Behaviors

There’s a reason people are drawn to molly. MDMA is a common way of self-medicating, ((Moonzwe, Lwendo S., et al. “The Role of MDMA (Ecstasy) in Coping with Negative Life Situations Among Urban Young Adults.” Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, vol. 43, no. 3, 2011, pp. 199–210. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3235684/.)) especially for people living through trauma like abuse or racism. Scientists are even researching ecstasy as a possible therapy for PTSD. ((Smith, Kimberly W., et al. “MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, vol. 62, no. 4, Apr. 2022, pp. 463–71. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1002/jcph.1995.)) But that treatment is still highly experimental.

When you take it recreationally, molly can mask painful emotions and temporarily distract you from problems in the rest of your life. But there’s a big difference between feeling good and actually healing. And in the long term, it’s dangerous to take any drug without medical supervision.

Certain people are particularly vulnerable to ecstasy addiction. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, “most MDMA users are teenagers or young adults” ((National Drug Intelligence Center. “MDMA Fast Facts.” https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs3/3494/3494p.pdf
)) between the ages of 18-25. LGBTQ+ people are also at a higher risk. And because peer pressure can normalize drug use, it might be hard to know when you need treatment. If you’re concerned about addiction, talk to your doctor or therapist about next steps.

Treating Ecstasy Addiction

Because of the cultural norms around molly use, treatment can be complex. For example, you might be in recovery from more than 1 addiction at a time. And since most people do molly in social settings, ((Wardle, Margaret C., et al. “‘Ecstasy’ as a Social Drug: MDMA Preferentially Affects Responses to Emotional Stimuli with Social Content.” Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, vol. 9, no. 8, Aug. 2014, pp. 1076–81. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsu035.)) healing may change the way you think of community.

1:1 Therapy

Individual therapy is a vital part of addiction recovery. And depending on your rehab center, you may have access to a few different types of treatment. In particular, experts recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a treatment for MDMA addiction. ((Abuse, National Institute on Drug. “How Are MDMA Use Disorders Treated?” National Institute on Drug Abuse, –, https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/how-are-mdma-use-disorders-treated.)) CBT equips you with practical skills to navigate both psychological and external triggers. In treatment, your therapist will help you identify difficult thought patterns. Then, you’ll practice responding to them with new coping strategies.

Social Support

When you’re high, ecstasy makes you feel closer to other people. ((Baggott, Matthew J., et al. “Intimate Insight: MDMA Changes How People Talk about Significant Others.” Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England), vol. 29, no. 6, June 2015, pp. 669–77. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881115581962.)) And in the short term, that can feel very good. But it can also be hollow. Relationships that center around drug use don’t always last. And social problems make you more vulnerable to molly addiction. ((García-Pardo, M. P., et al. “Role of Acute Social Stress in the Rewarding Effects of MDMA in Adolescent Mice.” Behavioural Brain Research, vol. 410, July 2021, p. 113348. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113348.))

In recovery, you might want to focus on building stronger relationships. Many types of treatment support this goal. For example, some rehabs offer family therapy or couples counseling. You can also attend group therapy with other patients in your program. And it doesn’t have to end when you leave rehab. Support groups—including 12-Step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and non-12-Step groups like SMART Recovery—offer community support in every stage of recovery.

Alternative Treatments

During rehab for ecstasy addiction, your brain chemistry will rebalance. Specifically, your serotonin and dopamine levels may start to normalize. Certain holistic therapies can support this process:

  • Massage therapy improves both mental and physical health. It also has a direct impact on neurotransmitters. Specifically, getting a massage increases your serotonin levels. ((Field, Tiffany, et al. “Cortisol Decreases and Serotonin and Dopamine Increase Following Massage Therapy.” The International Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 115, no. 10, Oct. 2005, pp. 1397–413. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1080/00207450590956459.))
  • Acupuncture is an ancient treatment that supports every aspect of recovery. It even has a spiritual component. Data shows that acupuncture helps regulate serotonin. ((S Surijadi et al 2018 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 1073 062041. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/1073/6/062041/pdf#:~:text=Acupuncture%20induces%20therapeutic%20effects%20by,the%20process%20of%20serotonin%20degradation )) This therapy also reduces anxiety.
  • Physical exercise has well-documented mental health benefits. Fitness improves your mood ((Basso, Julia C., and Wendy A. Suzuki. “The Effects of Acute Exercise on Mood, Cognition, Neurophysiology, And Neurochemical Pathways: A Review.” Brain Plasticity, vol. 2, no. 2, Jan. 2017, pp. 127–52. content.iospress.com, https://doi.org/10.3233/BPL-160040.)) by balancing neurochemicals. There are countless ways to incorporate exercise into your rehab experience. You can do yoga, go hiking, or even take a boxing class.

Learning to Love Yourself in Recovery

MDMA simulates happiness, pleasure, and even love. But as soon as the drug wears off, so do those feelings. In rehab, you’ll learn to find joy in more sustainable ways. Recovery can help you connect on an even deeper level. Over time, your relationships will get better and better—including your relationship with yourself.

Browse a list of rehabs that treat ecstasy addiction to learn about their types of therapy, housing, and locations.

Reviewed by Rajnandini Rathod

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The Real Value of Recovery From Shopping Addiction

Has your shopping gone from casual to compulsive? Shopping is such a common way to cope, some people call it “retail therapy.” But it can get out of hand. Shopping can even become an addiction. And when that happens, you may start to rack up debts—and not just financial ones.

In rehab for shopping addiction you can reevaluate why you feel like you need to shop. You’ll learn new coping strategies, change your spending habits and get your life back on track.

Treating Shopping Addiction

In the short term, buying new things can boost your mood. But if your life revolves around shopping, it can get in the way of your other goals. While there’s no standard treatment program for shopping addiction, ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.)) rehabs use a variety of methods to help you manage your symptoms.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

One of the most popular shopping addiction treatments is CBT—especially group CBT. In treatment, you’ll start by identifying why you shop. Then, you’ll learn new financial planning strategies. Patients also practice tolerating difficult feelings. For example, your therapist might help you accept the desire to shop without acting on it. Studies show that CBT is the most effective treatment for shopping addiction. ((Hague, Ben, et al. “Treatments for Compulsive Buying: A Systematic Review of the Quality, Effectiveness and Progression of the Outcome Evidence.” Journal of Behavioral Addictions, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 379–94. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.5.2016.064. Accessed 31 Jan. 2023.))

Pharmacological Treatments

Some medications can help you manage compulsive buying. ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.)) For example, studies show that antidepressants can support your recovery. Typically, this treatment works best as a long-term solution, instead of a stopgap during rehab. And no medication is right for everyone. Talk to your treatment team about your physical health and your recovery goals to learn more about various options.

12-Step Groups

Groups like Debtors Anonymous and Spenders Anonymous take a 12-Step approach to shopping addiction recovery. Modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous, these groups connect you with a community of people on a similar journey. Peers gather to support each other, discuss spending habits, and share coping strategies. These free meetings take place worldwide, and even remotely.

Family and Couples Therapy

Because compulsive buying can cause relationship issues, some shopping addiction programs involve family in your treatment. ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.)) Family and couples therapy provides a space for everyone involved to share their feelings about compulsive shopping. This can improve your relationships in a number of ways. For one thing, it can help your loved ones understand what you’re going through. That makes it easier for them to support your continued recovery. Family therapy can also facilitate communication, helping you repair mutual trust.

Understanding Shopping Addiction

Shopping addiction, also called compulsive buying disorder, is a behavioral addiction that includes impulsive and excessive purchasing. ((Granero, Roser, et al. “Compulsive Buying Behavior: Clinical Comparison with Other Behavioral Addictions.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 7, June 2016, p. 914. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00914.)) And, like any addiction, you keep buying things despite negative social, financial, and legal consequences. Shopping becomes more than a way to acquire products you need. You might also use it to boost your self-esteem, cope with stress, and get social approval. Over time, it can become your primary coping mechanism.

Symptoms of Shopping Addiction

Shopping addiction is more than just enjoying buying new things.There are a few ways compulsive buying ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.)) stands out from other types of shopping:

  • Preoccupation with shopping
  • Boredom or depression before shopping
  • Guilt or shame after purchasing something
  • Pre-purchase tension that’s only relieved by buying the item you’re fixated on
  • Devoting an excessive amount of time, energy, and money to shopping
  • Shopping in private to avoid being questioned about your behavior
  • Prioritizing the quantity of items you purchase rather than their quality or usefulness

If you have this addiction, you can actually build up a tolerance to shopping. ((Barrett, Claer. ‘The Dopamine Is so High’: The Psychology of Shopping Addiction. 29 Nov. 2022, https://www.ft.com/content/5b4d2fd6-5510-4b0c-aeba-402211d97510.)) Over time, you might have to shop more often or spend more money to feel satisfied. In severe cases, going without shopping can even cause withdrawal symptoms. ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.))

The Impact of Compulsive Shopping

People with shopping addiction keep making new purchases, no matter the consequences. If you notice these effects of compulsive buying, ((ROSE, SUSAN, and ARUN DHANDAYUDHAM. “Towards an Understanding of Internet-Based Problem Shopping Behaviour: The Concept of Online Shopping Addiction and Its Proposed Predictors.” Journal of Behavioral Addictions, vol. 3, no. 2, June 2014, pp. 83–89. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1556/JBA.3.2014.003.)) you might consider getting treatment:

  • Excessive credit card debt
  • Hoarding
  • Relationship problems due to financial stress or keeping secrets about your spending
  • Legal problems if you start to fund your shopping in illegal ways
  • Inefficiency at work as you spend more time shopping and preparing to shop

Who Does Shopping Addiction Affect?

The most common time people begin compulsively buying is in early adulthood. ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.)) This could be because it’s the first time young people have financial freedom and uncontrolled access to credit cards. And women are more likely to develop shopping addiction.

Up to 1 in 20 people are addicted to shopping. ((“Are you addicted to shopping? If you can’t stop, you are.” Optum Life Balance. April 2014. https://www.hrm.oa.pa.gov/workplace-support/seap/Documents/Life%20Balance%20Newsletter/2014-shopping-addiction.pdf)) And compulsive buying is becoming more prevalent, ((Wilczaki, Andrew Richard, “Understanding compulsive buying: The dimensions and management of addictive shopping” (2006).
Master’s Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 186.
http://commons.emich.edu/theses/186)) for several reasons. First, credit cards are very easy to access, even for people who already have debt. Also, some cultures consider material wealth to be a sign of a person’s value. And because so much shopping takes place online, it’s easier than ever to buy things impulsively.

The Psychology of Shopping Addiction

Shopping addiction is an impulse control spectrum disorder. ((Granero, Roser, et al. “Compulsive Buying Behavior: Clinical Comparison with Other Behavioral Addictions.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 7, June 2016, p. 914. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00914.)) People who compulsively buy typically share some personality traits, like reward-seeking. And it’s common to experience both shopping addiction and other impulse control disorders.

Shopping Addiction and Co-occurring Disorders

Studies show that many people who compulsively shop also have at least one other mental health condition. ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.)) If that’s true for you, you can look for a rehab that treats co-occurring disorders. A few conditions are especially likely to co-occur with shopping addiction: ((Black, Donald W., et al. “Pathological Gambling and Compulsive Buying: Do They Fall within an Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum?” Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, vol. 12, no. 2, June 2010, pp. 175–85. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181956/.))

Experts are still researching the relationship between these conditions. Shopping addiction may be a symptom, or it may stem from the same root cause as another diagnosis.

What Causes Shopping Addiction?

Compulsive shopping is not a moral failing. In fact, biological, psychological, and social factors can all lead to shopping addiction.

Genetic Factors

Studies indicate that there’s a genetic component to shopping addiction. (( It often appears in multiple members of the same family. If you have this condition, your relatives are also more likely to experience depression, alcohol addiction, and other mental health issues.

Social Norms

Most of the time, shopping addiction appears in Western countries. This hints at a cultural source of compulsive buying. ((BLACK, DONALD W. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2007, pp. 14–18. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805733/.)) In these areas, data shows 2 primary factors that motivate people to shop compulsively.

First, capitalist society makes shopping easily accessible. A huge variety of different goods are readily available. People may also have more disposable income and more leisure time to use the items they buy.

Second, much of Western culture places high value on material wealth. People judge each other—sometimes harshly—for what and how much they own. As a result, there’s a great deal of pressure to prove your worth by purchasing new things.

A History of Trauma

Surviving childhood trauma can also lead to compulsive shopping. ((Sansone, Randy A., et al. “Childhood Trauma and Compulsive Buying.” International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, vol. 17, no. 1, Feb. 2013, pp. 73–76. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.3109/13651501.2011.653379.)) Any type of trauma, like physical abuse or neglect, can make shopping addiction more likely. But certain childhood experiences—like emotional abuse and witnessing violence—are especially common among people with shopping addiction.

For some people, shopping is a way to cope ((Wilczaki, Andrew Richard, “Understanding compulsive buying: The dimensions and management of addictive shopping” (2006).
Master’s Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 186.
http://commons.emich.edu/theses/186)) with the symptoms of their trauma. Focusing on a new purchase can briefly distract you from painful memories by making you feel better in the moment. And making financial decisions—even unsustainable ones—can give you a sense of control.

Shopping as a Coping Mechanism

Even for people without childhood trauma, compulsive buying isn’t really about money. ((“Are you addicted to shopping? If you can’t stop, you are.” Optum Life Balance. April 2014. https://www.hrm.oa.pa.gov/workplace-support/seap/Documents/Life%20Balance%20Newsletter/2014-shopping-addiction.pdf)) Instead, it’s a way to control or cope with stress. That’s why people with shopping addiction are more likely to buy something after experiencing a difficult emotion, like sadness or anger. Instead of accepting that feeling, you might seek the short-term gratification of a purchase in order to avoid emotional pain.

Take Ownership of Your Recovery Journey

Shopping—even sustainable shopping—relates to the idea of value. It might seem like buying things increases your self-worth. But the math isn’t that simple.

There’s so much more to you than what you own.

To learn more about treatment methods and contact centers directly, see our searchable list of rehabs for shopping addiction.

Reviewed by Rajnandini Rathod

Posted on

The Search for Solid Ground: How to Heal From Narcissistic Abuse

The term ‘narcissist’ gets thrown around a lot. And it’s often misused or used too casually. Narcissism is more than selfishness. And for survivors of narcissistic abuse, it’s anything but casual. If you’ve experienced the intensity of a relationship with a narcissist, you may need to heal from ongoing trauma symptoms. Some people find solace in self-help resources, while others use holistic therapies like yoga or acupuncture. You can even attend residential rehab to heal from narcissistic abuse.

If you or someone you know is being threatened or abused, call 800-799-SAFE or text “START” to 88788 to connect with the National Domestic Violence Support Hotline. Their support is free and confidential.

Understanding Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a serious condition ((Mitra, Paroma, and Dimy Fluyau. “Narcissistic Personality Disorder.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 2022. PubMed, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556001/.)) that can affect all parts of a person’s life. It falls under the cluster B umbrella of personality disorders, featuring unpredictable behavior and intense emotions. Researchers haven’t determined the exact cause of NPD. But childhood trauma, genetics, and receiving excessive praise can all be risk factors.

NPD can be hard to recognize, but these are some common traits:

  • A sense of superiority
  • Boldness
  • Aggression
  • High or unstable self-esteem
  • Defensiveness
  • Hypersensitivity
  • Constant need for praise and attention
  • Difficulty extending empathy to others
  • Manipulation of other

People with NPD can show arrogance, jealousy, and an unwillingness to relate to others. Because of this, many people with NPD have trouble forming and maintaining healthy relationships. This, combined with the high rates of aggression and manipulation, can easily result in narcissistic abuse. Domestic violence can take place in any relationship. But it’s often seen between parents and children, and romantic partners.

What Is Narcissistic Abuse?

Narcissistic abuse is any abuse from a person with NPD, ((Roberts, Michelle D., “Moth to a Flame: An Investigation of the Personality Traits and Early-Life Trauma
Histories of Women Who Have Survived Adult Relationships with Men with Pathological Narcissism”
(2021). Dissertations. 1043.
https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/1043)) or someone who exhibits narcissistic behaviors. It’s rooted in the aggressor’s inability to show empathy. The abuser tries to control the other person with intimidation, manipulation, and deception. This can happen in any type of relationship, but it’s often seen between parents and children, and in romantic partnerships.

Between 60-158 million people experience narcissistic abuse. ((Roberts, Michelle D., “Moth to a Flame: An Investigation of the Personality Traits and Early-Life Trauma
Histories of Women Who Have Survived Adult Relationships with Men with Pathological Narcissism”
(2021). Dissertations. 1043.
https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/1043)) Although so many people go through it, it can be hard to recognize—which is why it’s important to know the signs:

  • Isolation, in which the abuser cuts you off from supportive loved ones
  • Gaslighting, in which the abuser tries to convince you that they’re not abusive
  • Love bombing, where the abuser overwhelms you with excessive affection and attention, usually at the beginning of a relationship or after violence
  • Instability
  • Name-calling
  • The silent treatment
  • Stonewalling, where the abuser shuts down conversations they don’t like

It can be extremely difficult to recognize this behavior. It might start in small ways, and get worse over time. By the time it reaches full-on abuse, you’re so used to being treated poorly that you don’t see how bad things are. And if you love the other person, it’s easy to make excuses for them. You might even blame yourself, believing their behavior is justified.

Abusive relationships can even fool the experts. In fact, studies show that almost 60% of therapists miss the signs of narcissistic abuse. ((Roberts, Michelle D., “Moth to a Flame: An Investigation of the Personality Traits and Early-Life Trauma
Histories of Women Who Have Survived Adult Relationships with Men with Pathological Narcissism”
(2021). Dissertations. 1043.
https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/1043)) And because many people with NPD are charming and sociable, sometimes other people don’t take narcissistic abuse seriously. That’s especially true when the abuser is in a position of power.

Parental Abuse

People with NPD have a hard time considering other people’s needs—even their children’s. That can damage familial relationships, causing trauma on both sides.

When you’re a child, it’s natural to trust your parents. You rely on them for food, shelter, and emotional support. And, because you haven’t yet seen the world, you can’t easily compare their behavior to social norms. If gaslighting is your daily reality, you might not know there’s a better way to treat people.

Living through narcissistic abuse is one type of adverse childhood experience (ACE). ACEs affect your emotional development. And as an adult, ACEs can make you vulnerable to physical and mental health issues. For example, studies indicate having a narcissistic parent results in lower self-esteem ((Brittany N. Bach. “The impact of parental narcissistic traits on self-esteem in adulthood.” Smith College, 2014. https://scholarworks.smith.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1922&context=theses)) in adulthood.

Narcissistic parents project their inflated self-views ((Jabeen, Fakhra, et al. “Healing the next Generation: An Adaptive Agent Model for the Effects of Parental Narcissism.” Brain Informatics, vol. 8, no. 1, Mar. 2021, p. 4. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40708-020-00115-z.)) onto their children, who then internalize them. You may believe your role in a relationship is to give affection but never receive it. If you get stuck in that dynamic, this pattern can damage your adult relationships.

Intimate Partner Violence

Narcissistic abuse is also common in romantic relationships. Intimate partner narcissistic abuse usually happens in 3 stages: ((Roberts, Michelle D., “Moth to a Flame: An Investigation of the Personality Traits and Early-Life Trauma
Histories of Women Who Have Survived Adult Relationships with Men with Pathological Narcissism”
(2021). Dissertations. 1043.
https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/1043))

  1. Idealization, where the abuser imitates their partner’s personality and values to create the illusion of a perfect relationship;
  2. Devaluation, when the abuser drops the act and pulls away from, criticizes, or humiliates their partner;
  3. Discard, in which the abuser suddenly leaves the relationship, usually in an extremely hurtful way like cheating.

Narcissistic or not, abusive relationships are extremely difficult to escape. ((Leaving an Abusive Relationship | Office on Women’s Health. https://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/domestic-violence/leaving-abusive-relationship. Accessed 27 Dec. 2022.)) People with NPD may even show remorse after they discard you, only to leave again as soon as you forgive them. The goal here is to maintain the power imbalance, not repair the relationship. And even after you get to safety, the end of an abusive relationship rarely leaves you with closure. ((Cunen, Mary-ann Borg. The Recovery Process after Being in a Relationship with a Narcissist. www.academia.edu, https://www.academia.edu/3640472/The_recovery_process_after_being_in_a_relationship_with_a_Narcissist. Accessed 27 Dec. 2022.))

When you’re connected to your abuser financially, legally, or through children, breaking up can be dangerous. If you’re experiencing domestic violence, you can get immediate help. And you can make a safety plan before you’re ready to leave.

If you or someone you know is being threatened or abused, call 800-799-SAFE or text “START” to 88788 to connect with the National Domestic Violence Support Hotline.

Their support is free and confidential.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Abuse?

Abuse of any kind can do immediate damage. But even after you get to safety, you might feel the lasting effects of trauma.

Post-traumatic-stress disorder (PTSD) is a common result of narcissistic abuse. ((Arabi, Shahida. 2022. PTSD Symptoms: Romantic Relationships with Individuals Who Have
Narcissistic and Psychopathic Traits. Master’s thesis, Harvard University Division of Continuing
Education.)) With PTSD, you might experience flashbacks, nightmares, or feel guilty or on edge. And because narcissistic abusers manipulate their targets, it can be difficult to trust people again.

It’s hard to build a stable relationship without trust. That’s one reason why many people have trouble connecting with others in a healthy way after abuse. ((Rakovec-Felser, Zlatka. “Domestic Violence and Abuse in Intimate Relationship from Public Health Perspective.” Health Psychology Research, vol. 2, no. 3, Oct. 2014, p. 1821. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.4081/hpr.2014.1821.)) And if your parent was your abuser, you may have learned unhealthy behavioral patterns at a young age. These could include emotional outbursts, control issues, or high-risk behaviors. In fact, studies show that experiencing abuse increases your risk of addiction. ((Rich, S. Lynne, et al. “The Impact of Abuse Trauma on Alcohol and Drug Use: A Study of High-Risk Incarcerated Girls.” Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, vol. 25, no. 3, 2016, pp. 194–205. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1080/1067828X.2015.1007197.))

Narcissistic abuse also impacts your self-esteem. ((Cunen, Mary-ann Borg. The Recovery Process after Being in a Relationship with a Narcissist. www.academia.edu, https://www.academia.edu/3640472/The_recovery_process_after_being_in_a_relationship_with_a_Narcissist. Accessed 27 Dec. 2022.)) People with NPD have trouble showing empathy, so they often say cruel things to the people closest to them. This can cause anxiety or depression, which are common among people recovering from abuse of any kind. ((Radell, Milen L., et al. “The Impact of Different Types of Abuse on Depression.” Depression Research and Treatment, vol. 2021, Apr. 2021, p. 6654503. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6654503.))

Approaching Recovery From Narcissistic Abuse

When you’re ready to heal from trauma, you might need specialized treatment. Trauma-informed care is often the right place to start. In a trauma-informed program, your provider will have experience working with survivors. As a result, they’ll understand the unique needs of people with a history of abuse.

This approach can include several different types of therapy:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) ((Iverson, Katherine M., et al. “Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for PTSD and Depression Symptoms Reduces Risk for Future Intimate Partner Violence among Interpersonal Trauma Survivors.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, vol. 79, no. 2, Apr. 2011, pp. 193–202. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022512.)) is a popular method of treatment for survivors of narcissistic abuse.

In session, your therapist will help you break through unhelpful thought and behavioral patterns ((Cully, J.A., & Teten, A.L. 2008. A Therapist’s Guide to Brief Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy. Department of Veterans Affairs South Central MIRECC, Houston.)) that come from your trauma. For example, you might be hesitant to trust a new partner. In that case, your therapist could help you trace your fears back to their point of origin. Perhaps a parent broke your trust as a child, and you now expect betrayal in your closest relationships.

Once you identify the cause, you’ll learn practical ways to reframe your response. Your therapist might ask you to check the facts, comparing your partner to the person who abused you. Given their current behavior, do you expect them to betray you? And do they have the ability to harm you as much as your parent did? When a parent never arrives to pick you up from school, you could get stuck there. If an adult partner stands you up at a restaurant, your feelings might be hurt, but you’ll still get home safely.

You’ll practice these skills in session with your therapist, and also in your daily life. There are a few specialized types of CBT that can help you recover from narcissistic abuse:

  • trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT), ((Vanderzee, Karin L., et al. “Treatments for Early Childhood Trauma: Decision Considerations for Clinicians.” Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, vol. 12, no. 4, Dec. 2018, pp. 515–28. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-018-0244-6.)) a type of CBT for children and their non-abusive loved ones;
  • cognitive processing therapy (CPT), ((VA.Gov | Veterans Affairs. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand_tx/cognitive_processing.asp. Accessed 27 Dec. 2022.)) which teaches you healthier ways to think about your trauma;
  • prolonged exposure therapy (PE), ((VA.Gov | Veterans Affairs. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand_tx/prolonged_exposure.asp. Accessed 27 Dec. 2022.)) where you consciously confront your trauma in a safe environment to desensitize yourself to it.

Holistic Therapies

Because many people with trauma find it painful to talk about their past, talk therapies like CBT can be extremely difficult. And patients often drop out of these types of therapies (( E. Alpert, A. M. Hayes, J. B. Barnes, et al., Predictors of Dropout in Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD: An
Examination of Trauma Narrative Content, Behavior Therapy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2019.11.003)) because they can be so triggering.

In those cases, alternative treatment can be a great place to start. Holistic trauma therapies ((Wahbeh, Helané, et al. “Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, vol. 19, no. 3, July 2014, pp. 161–75. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587214525403.)) aren’t a replacement for other methods, but they can still have a major impact on your recovery. These are some of the most well-known holistic treatments for trauma:

Holistic treatments invite you to start healing your mind, body, and spirit at the same time. Patients reflect on the past traumas while rebuilding their sense of self. This can empower you to recover in a gentler, more sustainable way.

Physical techniques like massage and acupuncture can help you release tension stored in the body. If you survived physical abuse, this can be an extremely important part of healing. These treatments are opportunities for you to practice receiving safe, supportive touch. And by doing that, you can learn to feel safe in your own body again.

Medication

Some therapists recommend using medication to decrease trauma symptoms. ((VA.Gov | Veterans Affairs. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand_tx/meds_for_ptsd.asp. Accessed 27 Dec. 2022.)) This is a common treatment for patients with conditions like PTSD, depression and anxiety. Doctors often prescribe antidepressants like Zoloft or Prozac to help people manage intense emotions. But everyone’s experience is different. Talk to your doctor about your recovery goals, so they can guide you toward the right type of treatment.

Taking medication can lighten the emotional load during recovery. But it’s just one aspect of healing. It’s important to combine any prescription meds with other approaches to your care.

Self-Help Resources

In addition to residential rehab, therapy, and medications, other resources can support your healing journey. You can start educating yourself about this complex topic, alongside your search for a provider. If you enjoy podcasts, you can start by listening to one of the following:

Or, to read about healing from narcissistic abuse, you can check out one of these books:

These resources can help you learn more about NPD, narcissistic abuse, and the healing process. For many people, they’re an important first step to recognizing realities. But they’re no replacement for therapy. Survivors also benefit from professional care.

Residential Treatment for Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse

Abuse is never the survivor’s fault. But healing from it is your responsibility. And there’s no shame in admitting you need help. If it feels like trauma symptoms are dominating your life, you might consider attending inpatient rehab for trauma. Living on-site can help you fully focus on healing, become part of a community, and get a new perspective on your recovery.

See our list of residential rehabs for information on therapies, pricing, and more.

Reviewed by Rajnandini Rathod

Posted on

The Complex Relationship Between Addiction and Depression

Depression can be either a cause or symptom of addiction. Some people try to self-medicate their symptoms, which leads to addiction. Others get depressed because of their substance use. But there’s a reason these 2 conditions appear together so often. If you have signs of both, you might need specialized treatment at a rehab for depression and addiction.

Common Causes of Depression and Addiction

Depression and addiction often occur at the same time. And in fact, having depression doubles your chance of developing addiction. But the link goes both ways. Taking drugs can also cause depressive symptoms.

What’s more, these 2 diagnoses have overlapping causes. The same factors that put you at risk for depression can also make you vulnerable to drug abuse:

Addiction and depression cause similar brain activity. And acute symptoms activate the same neural pathways over and over again. If you have depression, that happens during a depressive episode. With addiction, it happens when you take drugs. Both conditions make those pathways more and more sensitive over time. So without proper treatment, either one will continue getting worse. And, you’ll become even more vulnerable to the other.

Getting the Right Diagnosis

To get the right type of treatment, you first need an accurate diagnosis. And that can be more complex than it sounds. For example, if your depression is the result of drug use, your recovery will need to include addiction treatment.

Depression can co-occur with a wide variety of health issues. These can include mental health conditions, like anxiety, and even physical ones. For example, diabetes is linked to depression. And sometimes it’s just a symptom of a more complex diagnosis.

Depression as a Symptom of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that occurs in over 50% of people with addiction. People with this condition experience periods of depression interspersed with mania. And because it’s a primary symptom, bipolar is often misdiagnosed as major depression.

If you get the wrong diagnosis, it can interfere with your recovery. And it doesn’t just delay your progress—it can also make your symptoms worse.  For a person with bipolar, antidepressants can trigger manic episodes. They can also cause intense swings between mania and depression, called rapid cycling.

Addiction can exacerbate your mood disorder symptoms. That’s true whether you have bipolar disorder, major depression, or something else. If you’re healing from both addiction and any other mental health issue, you might consider going to rehab for co-occurring disorders.

Treatments for Depression and Addiction

Depression and addiction are receptive to similar types of treatment. That means you can heal from both simultaneously. You might even find that focusing on one condition helps you heal from the other. For example, data shows that most depressive symptoms resolve during addiction treatment. But that’s not true for everyone.

When you enter recovery, you might not know which condition came first. But you can work with your care team to answer that question. If your depressive symptoms fade after detox, you might just focus on healing from addiction. But if you do have clinical depression, there are several ways to approach treatment.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches patients to cope with difficult thoughts. You’ll learn practical skills that help you live with and regulate even the most intense emotions.

CBT treats depression and addiction by helping people build self-confidence. And data shows that it has lasting effects, supporting your long-term recovery. You can also combine this therapy with other types of treatment, like medication.

Medication for Depression

Depending on your physical health, your care team may recommend prescribed medication. For example, it’s common to treat depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), like Prozac or Zoloft. Preliminary data shows that SSRIs may also support addiction recovery. Specifically, they might help people quit smoking or heal from sex addiction.

SSRIs typically take full effect after 6 weeks. And while they’re a common treatment for depression, they aren’t right for everyone. You may need to try a few medications before you find the right fit. Or, if you have treatment-resistant depression, you might need to take a different approach.

Alternative Treatments

If traditional therapy and medication aren’t working for you, there are many other ways to treat depression. Some of these methods are experimental, while others are highly researched but less well known.

These alternative treatments aren’t replacements for traditional medical care. But you can combine them with other therapies, or even attend a holistic rehab program. There’s no right or wrong way to plan your recovery—just the way that works best for you.

Clearing the Clouds

Depression and addiction have so much in common, it can be hard to tell which one has the greater impact on your life. But there’s a silver lining to their overlapping symptoms. With the right treatment, recovery can be straightforward. In the long term, you can use the same coping skills to manage any ongoing symptoms. But most importantly, healing means learning about the complex relationship between these conditions. And doing that will teach you more and more about yourself.

Browse rehab centers that treat depression to learn about their amenities, photos, and reviews.

Reviewed by Rajnandini Rathod

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Breaking the Cycle: How to Heal From Addiction and Anxiety

Anxiety can be more than a feeling. It also affects your behavior. And if it’s getting in the way of your daily life, it makes sense that you’d look for ways to cope. But not all coping strategies are healthy. Some—like drug use—can even make your anxiety worse. In rehab for anxiety, you can learn safer, more sustainable skills.

Recognizing Anxiety

Anxiety disorders ((What are the five major types of anxiety disorders? [Text]. 2013, February 9. HHS.Gov. https://www.hhs.gov/answers/mental-health-and-substance-abuse/what-are-the-five-major-types-of-anxiety-disorders/index.html)) look different for different people. They can even be invisible to others. But even for high achievers, anxiety can get in the way of important goals. If anxiety is interfering with your daily life, you may have one of these diagnoses:

Everyone feels stressed from time to time. But if your anxiety interferes with the rest of your life, you might have one of these diagnoses. And while it’s normal to search for ways to manage these feelings, not all coping mechanisms are healthy.

The Connection Between Anxiety and Drug Addiction

Anxiety and addiction ((Smith, J. P., & Book, S. W. (2008). Anxiety and substance use disorders: A review. The Psychiatric Times, 25(10), 19–23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2904966/)) are 2 of the most common diagnoses in the U.S. And they often occur together. Some people develop addiction in an attempt to self-medicate anxiety. Others feel anxiety about their addiction. Whichever comes first, one thing is clear: anxiety and addiction are a volatile combination. ((Nguyen, A., Mirbaba, M., Khaleghi, F., & Tsuang, J. (2017). Current treatment options for co-morbid anxiety and alcohol use disorders: A review. Journal of Addictive Behaviors and Therapy, 1(1), 0–0. https://www.primescholars.com/abstract/current-treatment-options-for-comorbid-anxiety-and-alcohol-use-disorders-a-review-106758.html))

What’s more, each of these conditions can make the other one worse. And that’s true even if a drug helps with your short-term symptoms. For example, benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for anxiety. But some benzos, like Xanax, have a rebound effect. ((Ait-Daoud, N., Hamby, A. S., Sharma, S., & Blevins, D. (2018). A review of alprazolam use, misuse, and withdrawal. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 12(1), 4–10. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000000350)) They’re hugely effective at relieving the symptoms of panic attacks. But, if you reduce your dosage, your anxiety might spike. This can easily lead to relapse.

The complex relationship between addiction and anxiety has an impact on treatment. ((Brady, K. T., Haynes, L. F., Hartwell, K. J., & Killeen, T. K. (2013). Substance use disorders and anxiety: A treatment challenge for social workers. Social Work in Public Health, 28(0), 407–423. https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2013.774675)) Specifically, it can be hard to treat underlying anxiety while you’re actively taking drugs. When you’re ready to heal from either of these conditions, you might benefit from treatment for co-occurring disorders.

Treating Both Addiction and Anxiety

There’s a silver lining here. Because these issues are so common, experts have sought out many effective therapies. In residential rehab, you might try one of these, or combine them as part of a comprehensive care plan.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Data shows that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can effectively treat anxiety and co-occurring addiction. ((Alamdarloo, G. H., Khorasani, S. M., Najafi, M., et al. (2019). The effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy on depression, anxiety, and stress levels in iranian males with addiction. SAGE Open, 9(1), 215824401882446. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018824466)) This type of talk therapy helps you recognize unhealthy thought patterns. When you understand the reason behind your own behaviors, you can learn to respond in a healthier way.

Your therapist will act as a guide, teaching you practical coping strategies. As you incorporate those skills into your daily life, you’ll learn to regulate your emotions. This healthy behavior can make it easier to work through anxiety without taking drugs.

Yoga

There’s more to yoga than physical exercise. It also teaches mindfulness, breathwork, and emotional endurance. It can even give you a sense of community. For these reasons and more, research shows that yoga reduces anxiety. ((Kuppili, P. P., Parmar, A., Gupta, A., & Balhara, Y. P. S. (2018). Role of yoga in management of substance-use disorders: A narrative review. Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice, 9(1), 117–122. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5812135/))

This is part of why yoga is often used in addiction treatment. Specifically, this mind-body practice can reduce drug cravings, helping you kick-start recovery. And over time, it can help you reconnect with yourself in an even deeper way.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback uses sensors to track your physical responses ((Banerjee, S., & Argáez, C. (2017). Neurofeedback and biofeedback for mood and anxiety disorders: A review of clinical effectiveness and guidelines. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531603/)) to certain stimuli. For example, you might wear a heart rate monitor during a therapy session. Then, with a clinician’s help, you’ll review the data it collected. This helps patients understand their own reactions to stress.

This treatment gives you valuable information about how your body reacts to certain emotions. You can then use that data to change your physiological response using different relaxation techniques. The goal is to empower you to make different choices—ones that will support your long-term health. As a result, biofeedback reduces both anxiety and drug cravings. ((Khatami, M., Woody, G., O’Brien, C., & Mintz, J. (1982). Biofeedback treatment of narcotic addiction: A double-blind study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 9(2), 111–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/0376-8716(82)90056-4))

Moving Forward, on Your Own Terms

Often, anxiety is the fear of things you can’t control. Some of those things—like the weather—will always be out of reach. That’s okay. In recovery, you can learn to accept your emotions just as they are. And by doing that, you can take back control of the best parts of your life.

Browse a list of anxiety treatment centers to learn about their housing, treatment options, insurance, and more.

Reviewed by Rajnandini Rathod