Tag: Grief and Loss

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Depression and Recovery: Sabra’s 7 Ways to Find Your Path to Feeling Good

Battling depression can feel like being stuck in a deep pit with no way out. The weight of sadness, lack of energy, and loss of interest in life can be overwhelming, making even simple daily tasks feel impossible. But what if there were not just one, but many paths to finding your way back to feeling good?

In a recent episode of the Giving Voice to Mental Health Podcast by Recovery.com, Sabra, a woman navigating career transitions and significant grief, shared her powerful journey through depression and recovery. Her story highlights a crucial message: options are beautiful, and not having options can be dangerous.

Sabra’s experience underscores the multifaceted nature of depression and the importance of a personalized approach to healing. From navigating seasonal affective disorder and deep depressive episodes to exploring different medications and ultimately finding profound relief through ketamine treatment, her story is a testament to resilience and the evolving landscape of mental health care.

1. Recognizing the Nuances of Depression

Depression isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience. It can manifest in various forms, from persistent low-grade sadness to severe, debilitating episodes. Sabra’s narrative beautifully illustrates this spectrum. She openly discussed her diagnosis of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression linked to changes in seasons, typically in winter. However, she also spoke of “deep depressions” triggered by significant life events, such as a traumatic divorce, a devastating breakup, and the compounding grief of losing her father and beloved dog.

For Sabra, a self-proclaimed “type A person, artist who has hustled and worked and been doing all of the things all of the time,” depression brought her to a jarring halt. She describes it as slowing her down, making her feel like “nothing is functioning.” Even when she appeared “normal” to others, internally, she felt a profound loss of energy, passion, and drive.

“It may look normal, but it’s not your normal,” she powerfully stated, emphasizing the internal struggle that often goes unseen. This highlights a critical aspect of depression: its impact is often deeply personal and may not always be evident to those around you. Recognizing this internal disparity is a vital first step toward seeking help.

Life throws curveballs, and for individuals prone to depression, these curveballs can act as powerful triggers. Sabra’s story is a prime example. The end of a challenging marriage, a subsequent heartbreak, and then the successive losses of her father and dog plunged her into deep depressive states. These external factors exacerbated her underlying tendencies toward depression and SAD.

“I knew that there were other factors involved, like having tried a few different medications within the year and that they didn’t work. And just being triggered more and saying, yeah, this is more than just grief. This is uncontrollable grief, this is depression,” Sabra recounted.

Recognizing triggers is an essential part of managing mental health. Whether it’s seasonal changes, significant life stressors, relationship difficulties, or grief, understanding what might precipitate a depressive episode allows for proactive strategies and seeking support before symptoms become overwhelming. It’s about understanding that while grief is a natural response to loss, when it becomes “uncontrollable” and leads to a significant decline in functioning, it may have transitioned into depression.

3. The Journey Through Different Treatment Paths

The path to recovery is rarely linear, and Sabra’s experience with various treatments perfectly illustrates this. Her initial attempts with traditional antidepressants, Zoloft and Lexapro, yielded mixed results. While they offered some support, the side effects and lack of significant improvement led her to discontinue them. This highlights a common reality: finding the right medication and dosage often requires patience and collaboration with a healthcare provider.

Sabra’s candidness about the challenges she faced with these medications—sleep disturbances, headaches, and a general feeling of not receiving enough support—is a crucial reminder that not every treatment works for everyone, and it’s okay to advocate for yourself and explore alternatives.

“I did not respond well to the Zoloft. I didn’t sleep well. I had headaches all the time. It was making me very unhappy and uncomfortable. And so that was not the right thing,” she explained.

Explore treatment options for depression.

4. Embracing Novel and Emerging Treatments: Ketamine

When traditional approaches weren’t providing the relief she desperately needed, Sabra was introduced to ketamine treatment through a friend who is an ER doctor and co-owns a ketamine clinic. This marked a significant turning point in her recovery journey. Despite her initial fear and unfamiliarity with psychedelic drugs, the structured, clinical setting and the presence of a supportive nurse helped alleviate her anxieties.

Ketamine-assisted therapy is an emerging treatment for severe depression, PTSD, and other mental health conditions, often used when other treatments haven’t been effective. Administered in a controlled environment, it can rapidly reduce depressive symptoms and offer a new perspective for individuals struggling with persistent mental health challenges.

“She said, it’s okay to cry. There’s nothing wrong with that. Just experience what you can and I’ll be right here with you the whole time,” Sabra shared about her nurse, highlighting the compassionate support that made a difference.

After six sessions of ketamine treatment, Sabra experienced a profound shift. Less than a month later, she was “smiling and laughing and telling the story and out and about and feeling great.” While she still grieves her dog, the debilitating depression that consumed her had lifted.

This transformative experience underscores the importance of staying open to evidence-based, newer interventions when conventional methods fall short. It’s a reminder that the landscape of mental health treatment is continually evolving, offering new avenues for healing and recovery.

5. The Power of Community and Support

Beyond formal treatments, Sabra emphasized the critical role of community and support in her recovery. Her best friend, who advocated for ketamine treatment and provided a vital connection, played a significant role in her journey. Having someone who could see her suffering and offer a concrete solution was invaluable, especially when Sabra felt too overwhelmed to seek help herself.

“My best friend is married to an ER doctor and they own a ketamine clinic here in town, and she had been telling me, I wish you hadn’t gone on those antidepressants. I really think the ketamine would help,” Sabra explained, showing the pivotal role her friend played.

This highlights a universal truth in mental health recovery: you don’t have to go through it alone. Whether it’s friends, family, support groups, or peer communities, having a network of people who understand and care can make a profound difference. As the podcast hosts discussed, mental health challenges can be incredibly isolating, and having someone simply listen without judgment can be a powerful form of healing.

“When we can just listen, that alone can be like a treatment. That alone is one of the things that helps us get through, get past or find a little bit of peace in whatever pit we happened to be stuck in at the time,” one reflected.

6. The Evolving Nature of Recovery and Self-Compassion

Recovery from depression isn’t a destination; it’s an ongoing journey. As Sabra and the hosts discussed, what works today might not be what’s needed a year from now. Our needs change, and so too should our approach to mental well-being. This calls for a flexible mindset and a willingness to continually reassess and adapt our coping mechanisms and treatment strategies.

The idea that “all of those things that maybe felt like they didn’t work, they were leading us somewhere,” is a powerful perspective. Each attempted treatment, even if seemingly unsuccessful, provides valuable information and nudges us closer to what does work. It’s about building a comprehensive toolkit of strategies and resources rather than relying on a single “fix.”

Furthermore, self-compassion is key. Depression often comes with intense self-criticism and feelings of inadequacy. Sabra, as a “type A” individual, struggled with feeling “substandard” when her energy and drive diminished. Learning to extend grace to oneself during these challenging periods is vital for healing.

7. The Importance of Options and Accessible Resources

Perhaps the most resonant takeaway from Sabra’s story is the profound importance of having options and access to resources. When depression takes hold, the ability to seek out and evaluate different pathways to healing can be severely impaired. This is where comprehensive, accessible resources like Recovery.com become invaluable.

“I think to know that there are many options, but you have to find the one that works for you because there’s not one right solution and it might be a multitude of things,” Sabra wisely advised.

A platform that allows individuals to explore various treatment modalities, filter by location, insurance, and specific conditions, can significantly reduce the barrier to seeking help. When someone is at their lowest, the thought of navigating complex healthcare systems can be overwhelming. A streamlined resource that presents available options empowers individuals to take that crucial first step.

“Because having options is a lot better than not having any options,” the hosts concluded, summarizing the core message of Sabra’s empowering narrative.

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Grief: A Journey to Wellness by Rebecca E. Tenzer

Grief is a profound and unapologetic experience that can have an impact on every aspect of a person’s life. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, a pet, a relationship, or even a significant life transition, grief affects us on physical, emotional, and mental levels. It is often thought of as purely emotional, but grief significantly affects our nervous system, mental health, and overall wellness. Understanding the way grief interacts with our nervous system sheds light on why the experience can feel overwhelming, uncontrollable at times, and highlights the importance of approaches that integrate both clinical services and holistic care.

What Is Grief?

Grief is something that everyone will experience at some point in their lifetime; however, each person’s experience will be different. Grief is a journey, often complex, where we may experience different states of emotion, physical symptoms, and even psychological stressors. Grief can affect us on a level that is sometimes even undetected, however there are signs that it is there. Grief can be debilitating for some, it can be subtle for others and sometimes we can even feel “fine.” 

Let us “de-fine” what it means to be “fine.” Although grief is ever present, some days you may be able to get through work, relationships, and daily tasks without being consumed with the thoughts of whatever you are grieving. Grief is still there, it may just show up at various times and in unexpected ways. It could be a song you hear at the grocery store, a scent you recognize while walking past a restaurant, a picture or a memory that pops into your head that could trigger an emotional response. It is not always sadness that we experience, you might find yourself smiling and or laughing while remembering a happy time with that person, place or thing. 

Grief can also be complex. We do not always grieve just those that we have loved. Complicated family dynamics, toxic relationships, or jobs, even an experience that was not pleasant can cause a confusing grief response. I always say to people when they ask, “does grief really get better with time?” Honestly, it doesn’t really get better, in my personal and professional experience, it just gets “different.”

Grief and Mental Health

Grief has a massive impact on both mental and physical health. Specifically, grief heightens emotions like sadness, loneliness and hopelessness. When someone is feeling these emotions, they can often get down, feel blue more often than not or even suffer from depression. It can be challenging to diagnose because grief and depression have such similar characteristics. Grief, like depression, can have an impact on your sleep patterns, appetite, desire to do pleasurable things and cause us to isolate in our sadness. 

Sometimes folks may even experience anxiety and panic attacks thinking about the future without their loved one, relationship, job or whatever loss they have experienced. It can be difficult to imagine what life will look like after the loss. People often begin to question things like, “where will I end up in life now?” They may reconsider an identity they once had or be fearful of future stability and security. It is quite common to have overpowering doubts about the future when coping with a significant loss. All of these characteristics we so often associate with grief can create a stressed and anxious state for both the mind and the body. 

Grief and the Nervous System

When we experience grief, it triggers a trickle effect of responses in our body, particularly within the nervous system. The nervous system is responsible for regulating bodily functions, reacting to stress, and supporting overall well-being. When we experience grief, our nervous system can become stressed, as the intense emotional response to the loss triggers the body’s “fight, flight, or freeze” response. This can lead to increased stress (and an increase in cortisol levels), anxiety, fatigue, insomnia and difficulty focusing. It is important to note that all of these symptoms of grief can profoundly affect our mental health. Grief puts a strain on the nervous system, which changes the overall functioning of our bodies, both mentally and physically.

Understanding and nurturing our nervous system is essential during times of grief. Mindfulness also plays a key role in calming the system by creating a “rest and reset” response. The impact grief has on our bodies, minds and systems helps us to understand why it can be so difficult to “move on” and why people may feel trapped in a cycle of distress, unable to experience calm or relief. Mindfulness practices like breathwork, gentle movement, sound bath, reiki and restorative activities can help us regain balance and promote healing. Taking care of our nervous system supports our ability to process and recover from loss in a healthier way.

What many people do not know is that the nervous system’s involvement in grief is central to this mental health crisis one may be experiencing. The autonomic nervous system’s continued activation during grief can prevent individuals from engaging in healthy coping mechanisms like therapy, engaging socially, moving their bodies, eating healthy and sleeping regularly. 

Sometimes, grief can encourage the use of substances to handle the impacts on the mind and body as an escape from thoughts, feelings and sensations they cannot control. Often, grief reinforces negative thoughts or emotions associated with the loss. Because the nervous system is continuously strained, it becomes difficult for individuals to return to a baseline of mental wellness, meaning that mental health interventions must account for the body’s physiological state alongside the mind’s emotional needs.

The Role of Holistic Services in Alleviating Grief

Holistic services offer unique pathways for individuals to cope with grief in a way that addresses both the body and mind, providing a comprehensive approach that alleviates the nervous system’s strain and supports mental health. Unlike traditional therapies, which may focus primarily on the mind, holistic approaches recognize the interconnectedness of the body and mind, further emphasizing the need for whole-body healing. Techniques such as mindfulness, yoga, breathwork, and Reiki directly engage the nervous system, helping to alleviate the impact of chronic stress and bringing the body back to a state of balance.

1. Mindfulness and Meditation

    Mindfulness meditation is an effective way to bring the nervous system back to equilibrium by helping individuals focus on the present moment rather than ruminating on their loss. Mindfulness techniques stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting a sense of calm and allowing the body to rest. Through mindful breathing exercises and meditation, individuals can interrupt the body’s fight-or-flight response, offering relief to an overactive nervous system. 

Meditation helps in rewiring the brain’s response to grief, often associated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, reducing the intensity of negative emotions, and fostering mental resilience.

2. Yoga and Movement Therapy

Yoga, particularly restorative and gentle practices like mindful movement, plays a vital role in soothing the nervous system during grief. By emphasizing slow, mindful movements and breath, yoga can shift the nervous system to a relaxed state. Restorative poses and guided breathing ease the release of tension and stored emotions in the body, helping individuals process grief on a somatic level. 

Movement therapy in yoga encourages a reconnection with the body, disrupting the feelings of disconnection and numbness that grief often brings. Yoga’s emphasis on bodily awareness allows people to tune into their feelings without judgment, creating a safe space to process and accept their grief. 

3. Breathwork

Breathwork is a powerful tool for managing grief, as it directly impacts the nervous system by activating the parasympathetic response. Conscious breathing techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing or 4×4 breathing, allows individuals to regulate their heart rate and calm the mind. Breathwork practices help individuals confront the overwhelming emotions associated with grief, empowering them to face their loss without feeling overwhelmed by it. Engaging in regular breathwork can help break the cycle of stress that affects the nervous system, providing relief and helping individuals feel more grounded.

4. Reiki and Energy Healing

Reiki, a form of energy healing, is particularly beneficial for those struggling with the physical symptoms of grief. This practice focuses on balancing the body’s energy, promoting relaxation, and supporting the healing process. By channeling energy into areas of tension, Reiki soothes the nervous system and helps individuals release stored emotions that might otherwise manifest as physical symptoms. 

For many, the calming nature of Reiki helps alleviate the sense of “heaviness” often described in grief, offering a pathway to find lightness and inner peace. People often refer to a Reiki session as a “massage from the inside out” due to the deep healing and stress relief they feel during and afterwards.

5. Sound Therapy

Sound therapy, including sound baths and the use of specific sound frequencies, has shown to be helpful for those experiencing grief. Sound vibrations resonate with the body and help bring about a state of calm and relaxation by slowing down brainwave activity. This shift in brainwave patterns can reduce stress, making it easier for the nervous system to disengage from the fight-or-flight response. 

Sound therapy offers a therapeutic experience that can provide a momentary release from the emotional weight of grief and help individuals find moments of peace within their pain. People often describe sound bath immersion as a full body experience, like taking a nap on the beach, surrounded by soothing sounds of waves, while in a tranquil state of peace.

Embracing a Clinical AND Holistic Path to Healing from Grief

Grief is not a condition to be “cured” from but an experience to be lived through. While traditional mental health treatments like talk therapy and medication can play essential roles, holistic services offer a complementary approach that acknowledges the profound interconnectedness of the body and mind. By focusing on the nervous system and integrating practices that promote physical and emotional balance, holistic services provide a pathway to process grief in a way that respects the complexity of the experience.

For those navigating grief, embracing both clinical intervention and holistic practices can offer a way to honor their loss without becoming overwhelmed by it. These practices help individuals reconnect with their inner strength, cultivating resilience and a renewed sense of hope. 

Grief is a transformative journey, and while it may never fully disappear, therapy with holistic services empowers individuals to move forward with compassion for themselves, honoring their loss while embracing life’s ongoing potential for healing and joy. Holistic approaches, with their focus on the nervous system and whole-body wellness, provide invaluable tools for those facing one of life’s most profound challenges, helping them find peace and balance in the wake of loss.

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2023 Oscar Nominated Movies That Include Addiction

Films and TV shows tend to shape how culture views a certain subject (or profession). Recently, the idea of therapists, mental health, and addiction in pop culture became more mainstream. However, some films and shows do more harm than good—overdramatizing addiction and mental health, or just poorly representing it.

Others capture the rawness, truth and importance of addiction and mental health. 

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed 

Winning an Oscar for best documentary, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed recounts photographer Nan Goldin’s experience with addiction. She depicts her addiction to prescription painkiller OxyContin, and her frustration with the Sackler family.  

America’s Opioid Crisis

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed shows that Nan’s addiction began after an injury. Doctors prescribed a common medication at the time, OxyContin – which is highly addictive if taken incorrectly1. It contains oxycodone, which causes a high similar to heroin. 

Nan, like many others, became addicted to OxyContin after a perhaps thoughtless pain management plan. Nan formed P.A.I.N.2, Prescription Addiction Intervention Now, to “speak for the 250,000 bodies that no longer can.”

The Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, received backlash for pushing OxyContin prescriptions when they perhaps weren’t needed. Nan worked to get museums and other Sackler-supported institutions to publicly separate from the family. 

America’s opioid crisis may have begun with overprescription of pain meds3, but it’s since grown for new reasons, like cheap, accessible products. Fentanyl, too, plays a large role in the 1,500 opioid-related deaths per week.

Treatment Options for Opioid Addiction

Many rehabs treat opioid addiction. In a residential setting, you’ll likely go through a medically supervised detox first, then begin therapeutic treatment. 

Therapies for opioid addiction could range from talk therapies to contingency management plans, which offer rewards for each step you complete in treatment. Talk therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) will help you work through the thoughts and emotions causing your behaviors. Then, you’ll learn new ways to process and manage what you feel.

You’ll learn coping tools for the future, relapse prevention strategies, and typically engage in an aftercare program to keep you well supported. 

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed explored prescription medication addiction. Other nominated movies this year blazed new trails, like The Whale.

The Whale Explores Grief And Binge-Eating

The Oscars nominated Brendan Fraser for Best Lead Actor. The Whale depicts Charlie’s (Fraser) journey through binge eating, grief, and depression. His coping mechanism began after the death of his partner. 

The story highlights the power of grief and the hold of eating disorders, and how they can function as a coping tool. Different characters in the film try to help Charlie, but as it often is, his grief is persistent. 

What Is Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge eating is eating without control4—it might feel impossible to stop. Sometimes, after binging, a purge happens; this is the pattern of bulimia nervosa5. You might purge through throwing up, taking laxatives, excessive exercise, or starving yourself. It’s meant to “undo” the binge. Not every binge eater purges, though. 

Binge eating might be your coping tool, especially if you’re dealing with something as powerful as grief.

Grief And Depression

Depression is a stage of grief6, as proposed by Kübler-Ross. In The Whale, Charlie mourns the loss of his partner, who died by suicide. Depression became a strong stage in his mourning. 

If you or someone you know is considering suicide or self-harm, you can call or text the number 988.

The film suggests binge eating became Charlie’s own way of committing suicide.

Getting Help for Grief And Depression

There’s help for the millions of others like Charlie. Grief and depression can weigh heavily—sometimes unbearably so. But you do have options to heal. 

Complicated grief therapy (CGT)7, for example, can help with grief and all its stages. Using loss- and restoration-focused care, “the therapist works to facilitate the progress of grief to help the client come to terms with the death.” 

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help with depression and grief7. Using CBT, your therapist can help you modify your thoughts and change your behaviors. For grief, CBT could help you process your loss in a more productive way.

To Leslie And Blonde

Both To Leslie and Blonde highlight drug and alcohol addiction. They were also both nominated for Best Leading Actress in the 2023 Oscars. Ana de Armas played Marilyn Monroe in Blonde, and Andrea Riseborough played Leslie in To Leslie.

To Leslie depicts a mother’s struggle with addiction, spurred on by a seemingly-ideal lottery win. Leslie reaches new lows and eventually seeks help for her daughter’s sake and herself. 

Blonde retells the life story of Marilyn Monroe, who tragically and famously died after an overdose. 

Drug And Alcohol Addiction: Not Just for The Famous

Movies like Blonde make addiction seem almost ritzy—something only people with deep pockets can do. Then, To Leslie goes and proves that wrong. So which is true? 

It’s both. 

Addiction doesn’t discriminate. In each movie, despite the contrasts in leading women, their reasons for substance abuse were similar. The case remains true for many today. Stressors, mental illnesses, or trauma can start a habit you can’t stop on your own. 

Stories like Leslie’s and Monroe’s can help the larger public see this through a cleaner lens. Addiction wasn’t a moral failing of either woman. It was how they coped. 

But there’s more than one way to find that same sense of control. Treatment can help you see that.

Treatment Options for Drug And Alcohol Use

Many rehabs treat drug and alcohol addiction. Here, you’d have constant monitoring, individualized care, and a structured treatment schedule. Most residential rehabs also offer on-site detox. 

Depending on your situation, you might find an intensive outpatient program (IOP) or partial hospitalization program (PHP) more suitable. Each of these programs provides effective treatment, and you get to go home at night. IOP is less intensive, usually lasting 3-5 hours a day, while PHP could go for 5-8. 

In these treatment settings, you’ll learn relapse prevention skills and work on the thoughts behind your behaviors. Rehabs typically offer a variety of therapies to meet your needs. 

You can browse our list of rehabs to see reviews, pricing, and insurance information, and more.

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Too Late to Go to Rehab? Finding the Right Recovery Path as an Older Adult

Older adults face a unique set of challenges when it comes to finding treatment for addiction or mental health disorders. If you’re in this age group, you might feel self-conscious about seeking help at this point in your life, or be worried that you won’t be able to relate to your recovery peers if you do. And while it’s true that a smaller percentage of treatment centers offer special services for more senior clientele, the good news is that there are plenty of rehab programs specifically for older adults available to help people like you.

Addiction affects people of all ages and walks of life. No matter how old you are, you deserve to feel well. It’s never too late to make positive changes, take back control of your life, and be the best version of you that you can be.

Common Stressors of Older Adulthood

Globally, the age group of people 65 years and older is growing faster than all others.1 The number of people aged 80 years or over is projected to triple to 426 million in 2050. Fortunately, there’s also an increased focus on what treatment looks like for seniors. Whether you’ve struggled with the negative effects of substance use at other points in your life and are ready to find support now, or if you’re just starting to notice concerns, there are specialized rehab programs that can help.

Getting older comes with certain stressors that can have real impacts on your mental health:

Navigating Loss

As we advance in age, we inevitably experience loss in various areas of our lives. For some people, the emotional stress of these losses leads them to cope by using substances. For others, it can trigger relapse if they’ve struggled with addiction before.

Social work researchers Justine McGovern and Stephanie Sarabia point out how life changes like this can contribute to substance abuse among older adults.2 “Aging is accompanied by multiple losses: loss of work with retirement; family roles as parenting decreases and family hierarchies are upended; loss of spouse, family, and friends due to death; physical capacity; and independence with the onset of physical and cognitive limitations…These compounded losses can contribute to increased rates of depression and anxiety, which can exacerbate underlying mental health issues.”

Whether or not you have a diagnosable disorder, you may benefit from professional guidance as you navigate the transitions that happen later in life.

Physical Changes

People go through many different physical changes as they age, and these can all have significant effects on their quality of life. “Although often gradual, the aging process itself can produce changes that put older adults at risk for developing problem substance use,”3 say McGovern and Sarabia. “As the body ages, its capacity to process alcohol and other drugs becomes less efficient. Due to decreased lean muscle mass and a slower digestive system, substances remain in the body longer resulting in higher levels of intoxication.”

Interactions between prescription drugs, decreases in eyesight, and memory issues can all increase older people’s risk of substance misuse. Additionally, chronic illnesses can also increase pain and anxiety. Being able to physically access spaces—and participate in programs that are set up to accommodate physical disabilities and other needs—is especially crucial for those facing these challenges.

Emotional Changes

As we age, it’s also common to experience mental and emotional changes. Over time, elders may develop difficulties with problem-solving and spatial orientation. They might also notice feelings of depression related to having fewer social interactions, retiring from a meaningful career, or experiencing transitions in living situations. All of these can impact emotional well-being. This can also be exacerbated by sleep changes and insomnia, which can in turn increase substance use.4

Challenges related to physical, emotional, and psychological shifts, as well as potentially isolating life experiences, have very real impacts on older adults’ mental health. And this, of course, also affects patterns of substance use.

Substance Use Disorders Among Seniors

Substance use issues among seniors are widely underreported.5 That’s one reason why experts are calling for an increased focus on the needs of this age group in providing specialized, effective care.

Alcohol is the most common substance used in most countries worldwide. And according to the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health, between 2015 and 2017, 14.9% of adults aged 65 years and older reported high-risk levels of drinking.6

Changes in medication over time, combined with the cognitive impacts of aging, can lead to an increased risk of accidentally using dangerous levels of opioids. Older adults had the highest mortality rates related to opioid use7 between 2006 and 2013. Also in 2017, 3% of Americans aged 50–64 years and 1.5% of those 65 years old and older reported that they had misused opioid medications in the past year.

Substance use affects seniors in specific ways. Physically, effects might include an increased risk of falls, headaches, and seizures, as well as memory loss and disorientation. Substance use can also affect mental processes, leading to sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, and mood swings. Seniors might also experience social consequences of substance misuse, like increased family conflict and professional, financial, and legal difficulties.

It can be hard for elders to seek treatment for these specific reasons, and it can be a challenge to identify the real problem. That’s because, in many cases, substance abuse looks similar to symptoms of medical disorders that are common at an older age.8 Not everyone is at risk based on all of these factors, and your needs are unique based on what kinds of support work best for you. Luckily, rehabs offer specialized program options to help you harness your strengths and make the most of your treatment experience.

Specialized Programs May Better Address Your Needs

Research shows that intensive treatments and self-help groups geared toward the general population can be effective for older adults9 with more severe substance use issues. But because of the unique concerns described above, some people find it helpful to enroll in treatment specifically geared towards a more mature clientele. And some therapies are found to be especially effective for people of this age group:

Family Involvement

Many clients find family therapy to be a very meaningful part of their recovery journey. Because addiction affects all of our relationships, it can be highly beneficial to involve biological or chosen family members, partners, and other important loved ones in the healing process.

Hanley Center at Origins
Hanley Center at Origins in West Palm Beach, Florida has a robust program for older adults.

One rehab facility offering family-focused work is Hanley Center at Origins, located in West Palm Beach, Florida. “Quality care for the entire family must take each family’s specific challenges into account and offer a variety of age-specific solutions,” says the center’s clinical team. “These may include co-occurring mental health or medical challenges such as diabetes, cardiac issues, or cancers that are common with older adults.”

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and commitment therapy, also known as ACT, teaches clients to embrace their feelings instead of struggling against them. This may be especially useful for seniors struggling with substance abuse. ACT centers on mindfulness exercises, which help people to become more aware of their cravings, thought patterns, and feelings without judging themselves. This also encourages psychological flexibility. Committed action helps clients achieve their long-term goals by focusing on the values that will help them get better. ACT can also decrease the negative effects of chronic pain on mental health,10 says Julie Weatherell, a professor of Experimental Psychopathology at San Diego State University.

ACT’s focus on value-based living can be specifically beneficial for seniors.11 “Losing contact with one’s life values may occur following important significant life events such as retirement or new functional impairments that arise from a chronic illness,” say clinical psychologists Andrew Petkus, M.A. and Julie Wetherell, Ph.D. “[In ACT,] we address values earlier and to a greater extent than is usually done with younger people. We explicitly incorporate religion into discussions about values because this is a very important domain for many older people. We also talk about end-of-life issues in the context of values-driven behavior.”

Kolonial House in Sanur, Bali, Indonesia supports older adults and offers ACT as one of their treatment approaches.

Trauma-Informed Approaches

Trauma-informed care can be helpful in supporting elders who have experienced loss or other painful events during their lifetime and continue to feel the effects in their daily lives. In rehab, this also means taking a curious approach to understanding how addiction is related to a person’s emotional triggers and coping skills.

“Trauma-informed treatment really prepares individuals to live in recovery, which is good self-care. They also develop skills that will help them navigate in the world as they begin the process of healing from trauma, which might involve in-depth therapy and treatment to address their experiences.”

– Dr. Monika Kolodziej, Program Director of McLean Fernside
mclean fernside slide 2
A look inside McLean Fernside in Princeton, Massachusetts.

Nōmina Wellness in Courtenay, British Columbia provides eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and other treatments to help their senior clients manage symptoms while they develop adaptive skills to navigate traumas.

With so many options available, it’s important to keep in mind that deciding what aspects of care are important for you will be most helpful in choosing the right facility.

Continuing Care for Long-Term Success

Residential care can be life-changing, but it’s only the first step in the journey of recovery. You may have questions about what life will look like after inpatient treatment and how to set yourself up for success in the weeks and months after returning home. Most rehab centers offer aftercare programs to make sure that you’re supported in maintaining the positive changes you made. A good-quality continuing care program will also make sure you have adequate resources in place, as post-treatment challenges can and do arise. This can look like stepping down to an intensive outpatient program (IOP) or partial hospitalization program (PHP), or attending support groups with peers in recovery.

Because physical distance can create a barrier to accessing in-person therapy and group programs, some rehab centers also offer online aftercare services. Web-based programs can be especially useful for people with mobility concerns. They can also help you connect with and learn from people who aren’t necessarily located near you, but nonetheless offer valuable life perspectives. These remote programs are set up to be confidential, just like in-person therapy. And, if available, continuing to work with the same therapist after leaving rehab can create a smoother transition to the life you want to live.

It’s Never Too Late to Feel Well

Older adults may face some unique hurdles in the search for addiction and mental health treatment, but that doesn’t mean effective care isn’t available to you. You can receive support that’s in line with your wants, needs, and life experiences, several rehabs offer programs designed to provide exactly that.

To learn more about these programs, see our curated list of rehabs for older adults.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rehab Programs for Older Adults

Is rehab suitable for older adults?

Yes, rehab can be highly beneficial for older adults facing substance abuse or mental health concerns. Specialized rehab programs for older adults offer age-appropriate treatment, addressing their unique stressors and needs. These include navigating physical changes, such as managing prescription medication, alongside emotional changes, like navigating loss.

What types of rehab programs are available for older adults?

Rehab programs for older adults include inpatient or outpatient options, specialized programs with a focus on family involvement, trauma-informed care, tailored therapies, medical supervision, and more. An integrated program addresses the physical, mental, and social aspects of recovery.

What are the benefits of rehab for older adults?

Rehab for older adults provides a supportive and structured environment, specialized care for age-related concerns, medication management, social connection, and opportunities for building a sober support network.