by Band Back Together | Jul 7, 2018
What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is severe anxiety disorder that may develop as a result of exposure to a terribly frightening, life-threatening, or otherwise highly unsafe experience (i.e. trauma). This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or someone else. It could be a sexual or physical assault, unexpected death of a loved one, an accident, war or a natural disaster. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a lasting consequence of such stressful ordeals.
Many people who have experienced such traumatic events will have reactions that include anger, shock, fear, guilt, and nervousness. These reactions are common and dissipate over time. However, for someone suffering from PTSD, these feelings increase and often become so strong that they prevent the person from living a normal life.
Who Gets Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Everyone handles traumatic events differently – just as each person handles fears, threats and stresses in a unique way. That means that not every person who witnesses or experiences a traumatic event will develop post-traumatic stress syndrome. Also, the support and help a person receives following the traumatic event influences the development of PTSD and the severity of symptoms of the disorder.
While PTSD was once known as something that happened to war veterans, it is now known that post-traumatic stress disorder can occur in anyone following a stressful event. The likelihood for developing PTSD depends upon many things, including:
- The intensity of the trauma and how long it lasted
- If you lost someone close to you
- How close you were to the event
- The strength of your reaction
- How in control you felt about the traumatic event
- The amount of help and support you got after the traumatic event
What Are The Risk Factors For Developing PTSD?
There are risk factors for developing PTSD, though. They include:
- Those who have had previously traumatic experiences – especially in early life.
- Those who have a history of physical, sexual or substance abuse.
- Those who have a history of mental illness, including depression and anxiety.
- Those who have a lack of support after trauma.
- Traumatic events are more likely to cause PTSD if they involve a severe threat to one’s life or personal safety – the more prolonged and extreme, the greater the risk for development of PTSD.
- Those who have suffered childhood abuse are at greater risk for development of post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Victims of physical and/or sexual trauma face the greatest risk for development of PTSD.
What Are The Symptoms of PTSD?
Symptoms of PTSD often begin within three months of the traumatic event, although they can take years to surface. The severity and duration of post-traumatic stress disorder varies from person to person – some recover within six months while others suffer many years.
PTSD can negatively impact everyday functioning at work and at home, as it often disrupts the normal course of a person’s day and makes it difficult to sleep, eat, or focus on a task.
The symptoms of PTSD are grouped into four categories:
Reliving: PTSD sufferers re-experience the stressful or traumatic event in some way. These can include thoughts and memories of the trauma, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and flashbacks. Someone with PTSD may also feel distress when they are reminded of the trauma, such as an anniversary of the event.
Avoidance: People who have PTSD may avoid places, people, or other things that remind them of the event or trauma. This may lead to feelings of detachment and isolation from loved ones and friends, as well as a general loss of interest in once-pleasurable activities.
Increased Arousal: People who have post-traumatic stress disorder may become exquisitely sensitive to normal life experiences. This is also known as hyper-arousal. Symptoms of hyper-arousal may include being easily startled, emotional outbursts, difficulty concentrating, increased blood pressure, muscle tension, and/or nausea and vomiting.
Feeling Emotionally Numb: It may be very hard for someone who experiences PTSD to express and feel their emotions. This is a way to cope with memories, but can feel very discomfiting for both the person with PTSD and their loved ones.
Other symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder include:
Can Kids Have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Anyone at any age can develop post-traumatic stress disorder. Their symptoms may be similar to those listed above or can be different. Older children experience symptoms similar to adults. Here are some other symptoms children with PTSD may have:
- Young children may have trouble being separated from parents or caregivers
- Children may have trouble sleeping
- Previously toilet-trained children may suddenly start having accidents or have difficulty using the bathroom.
- Children ages 6-9 may act out the traumatic event through drawings, stories and play. They may also develop anxieties or fears that do not seem to be related to the traumatic event.
Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Common?
PTSD is more common than once believed. It’s estimated that about 5.2 American adults suffer from PTSD each year, and 7.8 Americans will suffer it at some point in their lifetime.
PTSD can develop at any age – including childhood.
Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men, although that may be due to the fact that women are more likely to be the victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and rape than men.
How is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Diagnosed?
If the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder are present, a complete medical history and physical exam will be performed. If no physical illness is found, a general family practitioner will refer the patient to a mental health professional for a more thorough examination.
A mental health professional will perform a specially designed interview to ascertain whether PTSD is present and how severe the symptoms may be. From there, the therapist and person with PTSD can work together to develop a treatment plan to work on managing the symptoms of the disorder.
How is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treated?
The goal of treatment for PTSD is to reduce the physical and emotional symptoms, improve daily functioning and help the person better cope with the event that triggered the disorder. Treatment for PTSD often involves therapy, medication or both.
Medication – Often, those who have PTSD are prescribed antidepressants to control the feelings of anxiety associated with the disorder. Other medications that may be prescribed are mood stabilizers and tranquilizers.
Therapy – Therapy teaches a person who has PTSD to learn skills to manage symptoms of the disorder and learn to cope with the event and fears that triggered the disorder.
Coping With Specific Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms:
PTSD has very specific and very debilitating symptoms. Here are some ways to cope with these symptoms:
Intrusive memories, thoughts or images:
- Remind yourself that they’re just memories.
- Remember that while these can be overwhelming, the reminders often dissipate over time.
- Remind yourself that it’s normal to have memories of the traumatic event.
- Talk about these things with someone that you trust.
Sudden feelings of panic or anxiety:
PTSD often leaves us with our hearts pounding, feeling light-headed or spacey (often called by quick breathing.) If this is something that happens, remember:
- These reactions aren’t dangerous – you wouldn’t notice if you had them while exercising.
- These feelings may come with scary thoughts, which is what may make them so upsetting. These scary thoughts are not true.
- Try to slow down your breathing.
- These awful sensations will pass.
Difficulty concentrating or focusing:
- Slow down – give yourself time to focus upon what it is you need to do.
- Make “to-do” lists every day.
- Break big tasks into smaller doable chunks.
- Plan a realistic amount of tasks to do in a day.
- You may be suffering depression – if so, talk to your doctor about your symptoms.
Trouble feeling or expressing positive emotions.
- Remind yourself that this is a common reaction to trauma, not something you’re doing on purpose.
- Don’t feel guilty for something you can’t control.
- Continue engaging in activities you like or used to like. Even if you don’t think you’ll enjoy it now, once you get into it, you may find yourself feeling pleasurable feelings.
- Take really small steps to tell your loved ones you care – write a card, leave a gift, send an email, call them to say hi.
Flashbacks:
- Keep your eyes open – look around and see, really see where you are.
- Talk to yourself. Remind yourself that you’re here, that you’re safe. The trauma is long-since over and you are in the present.
- Get up and move around. Take a drink of water or wash your hands. Interrupt the flashbacks with movements.
- Call someone you trust and tell them that you’re experiencing a flashback.
Irritability, anger and rage:
- Before reacting, take a time out to cool off and think.
- Walk away from the situation.
- Exercise every day – exercise reduces tension and relieves stress.
- Talk to your doctor about your anger.
- Take anger management classes.
- If you blow up at family or friends, find time to talk to them and explain what happened and what you are doing to cope with it.
Nightmares about the trauma:
- If you wake from a nightmare in a panic, remind yourself you’re reacting to a dream. The DREAM is responsible for the panic, not any current danger.
- Get out of bed, regroup, and orient yourself to the present.
- Try a pleasant and calming activity like taking a bath or listening to soothing music.
- If someone is awake, talk to them.
- Tell your doctor that you’re having nightmares.
Difficulty falling or staying asleep:
- Keep a regular bedtime schedule and routine.
- Avoid heavy exercise for a few hours before bed.
- Use your bed only for sex and sleeping.
- Don’t use alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine – these hurt your ability to sleep.
- Don’t lie there in bed thinking or worrying. If you can’t sleep, get up and do something quiet like drinking herbal tea, or warm milk. Read a book or do something else quietly.
How Do I Manage PTSD At Home?
Recovering from PTSD is a gradual, ongoing process that can take many months or years. The memories of the trauma will never disappear completely, although in time they will become manageable. Here are some ways to cope with residual complications from PTSD:
Recovery – Remember that recovery is a process, not an event, that happens gradually. Having an ongoing response to stress is normal. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting the event or removing all pain while thinking about the event – healing means learning to cope with the symptoms.
Learn – learning about trauma and PTSD in response to a traumatic event as well as some common signs and symptoms may help you to realize you’re not alone, weak or crazy. It helps to know your problem is something shared by many, many others.
Relax – sometimes, relaxation techniques can be helpful for people with PTSD. These activities include: muscle relaxation exercises, breathing exercises, meditation, prayer, spending time in nature, yoga, listening to quiet music. In others, however, these may increase distress at first. If that happens, simply try relaxation techniques for smaller periods of time, or mix them with other activities like listening to music or walking.
Don’t Isolate – The urge to pull back and isolate is very strong in those who have PTSD. It’s easy to feel disconnected to everyone around you, withdrawing from loved ones and social activities. It’s very important to have support from others while you recover, so resist the urge to isolate.
Join a Support Group – find a support group for people who have experienced similar types of trauma in your area. Being around people who understand what you are going through is priceless when it comes to recovery. It can remind you that you are not alone and provide you with invaluable information and tools for making a recovery from PTSD. If there are no local support groups, try online.
Don’t Self-Medicate – While you’re struggling with traumatic memories and painful emotions, the urge to use alcohol and drugs can be overwhelming. It’s a temporary fix. And unfortunately, these substances worsen PTSD in the long run, as they worsen symptoms like emotional numbing, social isolation, anger and depression.
Overcome Helplessness – trauma leaves you feeling vulnerable and powerless. It’s easy to forget that you do, in fact, have both coping skills and strengths. One of the best ways to overcome these feelings is to help other people. Donate time, money, help friends, or take other positive action. Taking positive action directly refutes the feelings of helplessness common in PTSD.
How Do I Help A Loved One With PTSD?
Be Patient and Understanding – Recovery from PTSD takes time – even if a person is actively trying to get better. Be patient with the pace (slow as it may be) and offer a kind ear. Someone with PTSD may need to talk about their trauma over and over – this is part of the healing, and while it can be frustrating to hear, don’t tell your loved one to “move on,” or “stop talking about it.”
Don’t Pressure – Sometimes, it can be very hard for someone with PTSD to talk about their trauma. For some people, it may make the situation worse. So never, ever force someone into discussing their trauma. Simply let them know that you are there if they’d like to talk.
Try to Prepare for PTSD Triggers – many people who have PTSD will have triggers around the anniversary of the trauma, certain sights, sounds, or smells. If you’re aware of what these triggers are, you can offer support and help to calm your loved one.
Don’t Take It Personally – Some of the more common PTSD symptoms can hurt your feelings. These may include anger, withdrawal, and isolation. If your loved one seems distant or irritable, remember this probably has nothing to do with you.
Be There – sometimes the biggest help for someone who is suffering from PTSD is to have a partner, friend, or other loved one simply be there for them. Do simple favors. Offer unconditional love. Don’t push. Simply be there for them.
It’s Not “In Their Head” – being the partner of someone with an invisible illness can be very stressful. You may wonder why they don’t just “get over it.” The thing is – PTSD is a real illness, and your loved one may already feel as though they’re going crazy. Don’t add to it by making your partner feel badly for having these emotions or guilt them for “not getting over it.” It’s not as simple as that.
Help Yourself – if handling the flashbacks, the anxiety, the numbing, and the rest of the PTSD symptoms are becoming too stressful for you, seek help for yourself. No one ever said you had to go through this alone. Seeing a therapist or attending a support group yourself can ease the burden tremendously.
What is Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Repeated traumatic events (such as long-term abuse) can result in what is known as Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (it may also be called Disorders of Extreme Stress Not Otherwise Specified or DES-NOS).
The current PTSD diagnosis doesn’t quite capture the severe psychological harm that occurs with prolonged, repeated trauma. Complex PTSD is somewhat different from typical PTSD as repeated traumas can cause the individual to question their own self-concept and alter adaptive abilities; in other words, the individual’s ability to distinguish between safety and danger is compromised. There is talk of adding Complex PTSD, with new criteria, to the DSM-IV.
According to the National Center for PTSD, symptoms of Complex PTSD may include:
Changes in emotions and the ability to regulate them. May include persistent sadness, suicidal thoughts, explosive anger, or inhibited anger.
Changes in consciousness. Includes forgetting traumatic events, reliving traumatic events, or having episodes in which one feels detached from one’s mental processes or body.
Changes in how one thinks of themselves. May include helplessness, shame, guilt, stigma, and a sense of being completely different from other human beings.
Changes in how the victim sees the perpetrator of the trauma. Examples include attributing total power to the perpetrator, becoming preoccupied with the relationship to the perpetrator, or preoccupied with revenge.
Changes in interpersonal relationships. Examples include isolation, distrust, or a repeated search for a rescuer.
Changes in one’s system of values and meanings. May include a loss of sustaining faith or a sense of hopelessness and despair.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder During The Holidays:
People suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may have a more difficult time during the holidays for any number of reasons:
PTSD sufferers can suffer setbacks at the anniversary or during the season the anniversary of the traumatic event occurred. For example, if someone has PTSD because of being molested by a family member during the holidays, the holiday season may bring back the memories and make it difficult to relax and enjoy the holiday. If a veteran remembers spending a horrible holiday seeing other members of their unit killed, the holiday season may be difficult to make it through. Sometimes, those suffering from PTSD do not understand why or cannot explain why they are irritable or cannot enjoy the holidays.
Family members try to make the holiday special and may end up feeling angry instead when the person with PTSD is not willing or able to participate in holiday events.
Holidays and family functions can make the PTSD sufferer feel like an outsider. They may feel uncomfortable joining in the celebration and, as a result, end up feeling alone and isolated. Although family members may try to include the person with PTSD, if the event brings back memories or makes him or her uncomfortable, being pushed into participating can make the feelings of isolation even more uncomfortable.
PTSD sufferers may have survivor’s guilt. The traumatic event that caused the PTSD may be one in which other people perished. This may create guilt and cause them to wonder why he or she survived and others did not. Holidays may increase these feelings. Family members, with good intentions, can create even more guilt by either ignoring the situation or calling attention to it. The survivor must be able to grieve in his or her own way and family members must be respectful of that grief.
Large crowds or events with alcohol can be problems for people with PTSD. He or she may feel unsafe in places with many people or large crowds. Trips to the mall or large family gatherings may bring about such uncomfortable feelings the sufferer may instead avoid all situations that involve crowds.
People with PTSD have a larger chance than the general public of having problems with alcohol. Holiday parties often include alcoholic beverages and this may be a big problem, especially if triggers are around.
No matter what the reason, the holiday season is often difficult for people with PTSD, but there are a number of things they can do to help manage their PTSD during this holiday season:
Understand Your Triggers – Knowing what your triggers are and having techniques to cope with triggers can help you to make it through family gatherings or shopping trips.
Develop Coping Strategies– Anxiety coping techniques, such as deep breathing or removing yourself from the situation for a few minutes can help.
Prepare Yourself – Be prepared for situations that may come up. You may want to write down some of your coping strategies. When a stressful situation arises, you can take out your notes and use the strategies. Sometimes during a stressful situation, you can forget what helps. Having it written down can help calm you down.
Accept You may Need to Leave – If your anxiety becomes difficult or impossible to handle, excuse yourself and leave, even if just for a few minutes. Sometimes leaving for a few minutes may enable you to relax and return for the rest of the event. Other times, your anxiety may require you to leave the event. Whichever it may be, leaving is an option and those people that care about you will understand.
Prepare First – When accepting a social invitation, ask the host or hostess questions to help you be more prepared. How many people will be attending? Who will be attending? By knowing about the event, you can prepare yourself for possible triggers and knowing in advance can help you cope with the triggers.
Create a Support Network – Finding someone that understands and is willing to provide you with support is a wonderful feeling. Bring a friend with you to events you find to be scary or may contain triggers for PTSD. Knowing there is someone that understands what you are feeling and will be watching for signs of anxiety can help and make coping with the situation easier.
The holidays are a time of spirituality. No matter whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanzaa, the meaning behind the holiday is love and peace. Family celebrations are meant to accentuate these feelings. However, holidays do not need to be celebrated only with family gatherings. Finding your own way to celebrate can make the holidays meaningful. Take time to volunteer at a local hospital or by providing food baskets to those that need them. Sometimes, reaching out to others that are in pain can help to relieve your own pain.
Additional Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Resources:
Anxiety Disorders Association of America – promotes the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety and stress-related disorders through advocacy, education, training, and research.
Sidran Institute Traumatic Stress Education and Advocacy – non-profit organization that helps people understand, recover from and treat those who have PTSD, dissociative disorder, and disorders that coexist with those disorders.
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies – an international, interdisciplinary professional organization that promotes advancement and exchange of knowledge about traumatic stress. This knowledge includes understanding the scope and consequences of traumatic exposure, preventing traumatic events and ameliorating their consequences, and advocating for the field of traumatic stress.
The National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – US Department of Veterans Affairs website. A wealth of information for families of veterans as well as anyone else who suffers from PTSD and/or related anxiety disorders.
Make The Connection – A support community run by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, geared towards helping connect military personnel with others who can help and resources to get them help with issues that arise upon coming home from a deployment.
Page last audited 10/2018
by Band Back Together | Jul 6, 2018
For tips for coping with depression yourself, or helping someone you love who has depression, please visit how to help someone who has depression.
Band Back Together is not Crisis Intervention. If you’re in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, please contact local emergency services or the Suicide Prevention Hotline (800) 273-TALK. Band Back Together also doesn’t offer counseling or other direct services.
What is Major Depressive Disorder?
While sadness is a normal part of the human experience – we all feel sad some of the time as a natural result of grief, loss, isolation, loneliness, or other psychologically painful life events. Sadness is natural. However, when sadness becomes more than feeling blue for a lot longer, it can become Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Major Depressive Disorder (also known as recurrent depressive disorder, clinical depression, or unipolar depression) is a form of depression that is characterized by an all-encompassing depressed mood and/or decreased interest in pleasurable activities nearly every day for at least two weeks. To be classified as a major depressive disorder, there must not be a history of manic, mixed, or hypomanic episodes. Major Depressive Disorder can either be a single episode or recurrent and is just as much an illness as diabetes. In fact major depressive disorder is one of the most common form of mental illness in the United States, in 2015, nearly 7 percent of Americans over age 18 had an episode of MDD.
Depression is more than just a feeling of having the blues or feeling miserable. It isn’t a weakness; nor is it something a person can simply snap out of.
Some people never do seek treatment for major depressive disorder. Those who do learn that depression is a chronic illness that typically requires long-term treatment possibly including medication, therapy, and/or psychological counseling.
When to Get Emergency Help:
If you think you may hurt yourself, someone else, or attempt suicide, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
Also consider these options if you’re having suicidal thoughts:
- Call your doctor or mental health professional.
- Call a suicide hotline number — in the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Use that same number and press “1” to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.
- Reach out to a close friend or loved one.
- Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone else in your faith community.
If you have a loved one who is in danger of suicide or has made a suicide attempt, make sure someone stays with that person. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Or, if you think you can do so safely, take the person to the nearest hospital emergency room.
What Causes Major Depressive Disorder?
It’s uncertain to scientists what precisely causes major depressive disorder to evolve in certain people and not others. However, there are several factors that can increase the risk of developing the condition. A combination of genes and stress can affect brain chemistry and reduce the ability to maintain mood stability. Insufficient production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine can cause major depressive disorder. In neurology, differences in brain structures between people that are and are not depressed have also been noted.Changes in the balance of hormones might also contribute to the development of major depressive disorder.
Depression may also be triggered by:
- alcohol or drug abuse
- certain medical conditions, such as cancer, pain, and/or hypothyroidism,
- particular types of medications, including steroids
- changes in sleeping patterns may also contribute to depression
Who Is At Risk For Major Depressive Disorder?
Anyone can get Major Depressive Disorder, but there is a high hereditary link, either due to genetics, or learned behaviors. While children and adolescents can and do get Major Depressive Disorder, symptoms often begin in the late twenties. People who have a history of traumatic experiences, have had family members that have attempted or completed suicide, or have few personal relationships are also at risk for developing Major Depressive Disorder.Depression often begins in the teens, 20s or 30s, but it can happen at any age. More women than men are diagnosed with depression, but this may be due in part because women are more likely to seek treatment.
This list is by no means all-inclusive or meant to diagnose Major Depressive Disorder. Most people who have MDD experience symptoms strongly enough that they begin to affect daily life – be it school, work, home life, relationships with others.
If you suspect you may have depression, please call your doctor or a mental health practitioner.
Factors that may increase the risk of developing or triggering depression include:
- Certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem, and being too dependent, self-critical, or pessimistic
- Traumatic or stressful events, such as physical or sexual abuse, the death or loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, or financial problems
- Blood relatives with a history of depression, bipolar disorder, alcoholism or suicide
- Being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or having variations in the development of genital organs that aren’t clearly male or female (intersex) in an unsupportive situation
- History of other mental health disorders, such as anxiety disorder, eating disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder
- Abuse of alcohol or recreational drugs
- Serious or chronic illness, including cancer, stroke, chronic pain or heart disease
- Certain medications, such as some high blood pressure medication
What Are The Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder?
The main symptom of Major Depressive Disorder is a pervasive feeling of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration that interferes with daily life for more than two weeks, however there are often additional symptoms a person experiences.
Other symptoms of MDD may include:
- Agitation, restlessness, and irritability
- Change in appetite and weight
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue
- Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, self-hate, and guilt
- Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Social isolation – ignoring social requests, preferring to stay in alone
- Changes in sleeping patterns
Symptoms in Older Adults
In older adults, MDD may look a bit differently than it does to those younger which unfortunately means that older adults may be under-diagnosed with MDD. Here are some specific symptoms of major depressive disorder in the elderly:
- Memory difficulties or personality changes
- Physical aches or pain
- Fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep problems or loss of interest in sex — not caused by a medical condition or medication
- Often wanting to stay at home, rather than going out to socialize or doing new things
- Suicidal thinking or feelings, especially in older men
Symptoms in Children and Teens:
Common signs and symptoms of depression in children and teenagers are similar to those of adults, but there can be some differences.
- In younger children, symptoms of depression may include sadness, irritability, clinginess, worry, aches and pains, refusing to go to school, or being underweight.
- In teens, symptoms may include sadness, irritability, feeling negative and worthless, anger, poor performance or poor attendance at school, feeling misunderstood and extremely sensitive, using recreational drugs or alcohol, eating or sleeping too much, self-harm, loss of interest in normal activities, and avoidance of social interaction.
Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder:
Physicians or mental health practitioners will take a mental health history and discuss your mood as well as other symptoms with you. Health care providers may request blood or urine tests to rule out any physical/medical causes of depression. If this your symptoms come and go, it may be diagnosed instead as Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent.
What Are The Complications of Major Depressive Disorder?
Depression is a serious disorder that can take a terrible toll on you and your family. Depression often gets worse if it isn’t treated, resulting in emotional, behavioral, and even physical health problems that affect every area of your life.
Examples of complications associated with depression include (but are NOT limited to):
- Excess weight or obesity, which can lead to heart disease and diabetes
- Pain or physical illness
- Alcohol or drug misuse
- Anxiety, panic disorder or social phobia
- Family conflicts, relationship difficulties, and work or school problems
- Social isolation
- Suicidal feelings, suicide attempts or suicide
- Self-mutilation, such as cutting
- Premature death from medical conditions
How Is Major Depressive Disorder Diagnosed?
it’s important to call your doctor, and ALWAYS remember that you know yourself better than any physician. You may have to be your own advocate for treatment and care of major depressive disorder. It is VITAL to be honest with your therapist, doctor, or other members of your care team. You may not find the right doctor or therapist the first time you visit one. Do not hesitate to say “this relationship isn’t working for me,” and obtain a referral for another therapist/doctor/care team. They work for you, not the other way around.
Your doctor may determine a diagnosis of depression based on:
- Physical exam. Your doctor may do a physical exam and ask questions about your health. In some cases, depression may be linked to an underlying physical health problem.
- Lab tests. For example, your doctor may do a blood test called a complete blood count or test your thyroid to make sure it’s functioning properly.
- Psychiatric evaluation. Your mental health professional asks about your symptoms, thoughts, feelings and behavior patterns. You may be asked to fill out a questionnaire to help answer these questions.
- DSM-5. Your mental health professional may use the criteria for depression listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association.
How Is Major Depressive Disorder Treated?
Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder often include antidepressants and therapy. While both are singularly effective, the combination of the two are often the best course of treatment, especially for severe depression. If depression is so severe that someone is feeling suicidal or cannot function in daily life, they may need treatment at a psychiatric facility to assist them in maintaining their own safety.
Medication:
Primary care providers often start treatment for MDD by prescribing antidepressant medications, but treatment may evolve to include specialists in mental health care.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These antidepressants are frequently prescribed. SSRIs work by helping inhibit the breakdown of serotonin in the brain, resulting in higher amounts of this neurotransmitter. Serotonin is a brain chemical that’s believed to be responsible for mood. It may help improve mood and produce healthy sleeping patterns. People with MDD often have low levels of serotonin and may relieve symptoms of MDD by increasing the amount of available serotonin in the brain. These include Prozac and Celexa.
Other medications. Tricyclic antidepressants and medications known as atypical antidepressants may be used when other drugs haven’t helped.
Psychotherapy:
Psychotherapy, also known as psychological therapy or talk therapy, can be an effective treatment for people with MDD. It involves meeting with a therapist on a regular basis to talk about your condition and related issues. Psychotherapy can help:
- adjust to a crisis or other stressful event
- replace negative beliefs and behaviors with positive, healthy ones
- improve your communication skills
- find better ways to cope with challenges and solve problems
- increase your self-esteem
- regain a sense of satisfaction and control in your life
Your healthcare provider may also recommend other types of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy. Another possible treatment is group therapy, which allows you to share your feelings with people who can relate to what you’re going through.
Lifestyle changes
In addition to taking medications and participating in therapy, you can help improve MDD symptoms by making some changes to your daily habits.
Eating right: Consider eating foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon. Foods that are rich in B vitamins, such as beans and whole grains, have also been shown to help some people with MDD. Magnesium has also been linked to fighting MDD symptoms. It’s found in nuts, seeds, and yogurt.
Avoiding alcohol and certain processed foods: It’s beneficial to avoid alcohol, as it’s a nervous system depressant that can make your symptoms worse. Also, certain refined, processed, and deep-fried foods contain omega-6 fatty acids, which may contribute to MDD.
Getting plenty of exercise: Although MDD can make you feel very tired, it’s important to be physically active. Exercising, especially outdoors and in moderate sunlight, can boost your mood and make you feel better.
Sleeping well: It’s vital to get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Talk to your doctor if you’re having trouble sleeping.
It’s important to remember that treatment-resistant depression does occur, in which case you’ll work with a doctor to determine what other options may work for you, such as higher doses of antidepressants and a combination of medication may also be used. Please talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have with your medication, or if you do not believe the medication prescribed is working after the initial adjustment period is over.
Additional Major Depressive Disorder Resources:
Depression And Bipolar Support Alliance – The DBSA fosters an environment of understanding about the impact and management of these life-threatening illnesses by providing up-to-date, scientifically based tools and information written in language the general public can understand.
National Institute of Mental Health – The mission of NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Page last audited 7/2018
by Band Back Together | Jun 29, 2018
What Is Addiction Recovery?
It takes a lot of guts to face up to addiction – no matter what the drug of choice. Some people are addicted to drugs or alcohol, but other people may be addicted to things like gambling, sex, hoarding, or other types of behaviors. Many people feel completely overwhelmed by their addiction, powerless against defeating it, and feel like there’s no way out. Sobriety may seem like an impossible, unattainable goal, but recovery is never out of reach, no matter how far down you believe you have gone.
Change is scary, but change is possible, and you have it within you to kick the habit. Addiction is NOT a life sentence.
Step One Addiction Recovery: Decide to Make A Change
Deciding to make a change is usually the most challenging part for most addicts. Giving up the comfort of your drug of choice, facing a change, and realizing that many things will have to change to work the path toward recovery can seem daunting and scary.
Preparing For Change:
- Keep track of your reasons for changing.
- Write down specific reasons that you want to get sober: keep it on you all the time to pull out when you’re facing a trigger or urge.
- Set specific, measurable and attainable goals, like a quit date or dates that you’ll begin to cut down
- Consider past attempts to kick the habit (if applicable) and what about those attempts worked and didn’t work. Addiction recovery is not a one-size-fits-all treatment: what works for you may not work for another person.
- Build a support network of friends and family to help you through this change. If you’re alone, try beginning one of the 12-step programs as they are full of people who have been where you are and know how to change.
- Get rid of reminders of your addiction from your home, car, and workplace. Dump your pipes, throw out your cigarettes, dispose of alcohol, or dispense of other triggering reminders of your addiction. These are incredibly unique things that may not affect all addicts equally. Throwing them out can be incredibly difficult, but so very worth it.
Step Two Addiction Recovery: Treatment Options
Treatment should focus not only on your addiction but on any other problems and mental illnesses you may have. There is no single treatment that works for every person and therefore your treatment should be tailored to your specific needs. Treatment requires deep commitment and follow-through on the part of the addict as well as his or her family. Addiction is known as a family disease, which everyone playing a part. While you, the addict, go to treatment (whatever you choose), your family also requires treatment as well. Make sure they prepare and complete treatment before you’re sober.
There are many places to look for help for addiction treatment and recovery. Not every addict requires extensive detox and weeks in rehabilitation centers, but some do. Here are some options for addiction recovery – do remember that it’s not going to be a one-size-fits all problem – that you can try:
1) Inpatient Addiction Rehab: Many people first begin their addiction recovery in Inpatient Rehab. Inpatient rehabs do offer structured treatment programs that should be designed to address all facets of each person’s addiction and tendencies. During inpatient rehab, addicts in recover reside in a substance-free facility and receive around-the-clock medical care and therapeutic support. In the first part of inpatient addiction rehab generally involves detoxing under strict medical care provided by nurses and doctors. Inpatient rehabs may be the best option for people battling chronic addiction, as well as those who suffer from a co-occurring mental or behavioral disorder (example: anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder..
2) Outpatient Addiction Rehabs are another form of total addiction care and treatment. Outpatient programs may offer many of the same kinds of effective treatments and therapies as inpatient rehabs, however in outpatient rehab, you’re allowed to live at home during the addiction recovery process. You can continue working and caring for your families while attending scheduled treatment sessions throughout the week. It’s important to remember that outpatient rehabs do not take place in a residential facility; which means you’re at a higher percentage of encountering triggers and relapse. Generally, outpatient rehabs are a step-down from an inpatient addiction rehab; still providing the support and therapies associated with addiction recovery without the structure of an inpatient program. Outpatient addiction rehabs tend to follow a progression from PHP to IOP setting.
- PHP or Partial Hospitalization Programs are generally the first step-down from traditional inpatient rehab in which people slowly relearn to acclimate from the highly-structured inpatient program in a much less restrictive ways. PHP programs tend to be much more involved in the therapy process, generally providing therapy 6 days per week about 5 hours a day. This allows patients to go home in the evening and be with their family. Partial hospitalization programs do not involve any sort of detox.
- IOP’s or Intensive Outpatient Therapy generally involves using less and less restrictive types of therapy to allow people to slowly acclimate to their lives in a measured, controlled manner, with therapy 10-12 hours a week about 3 days a week. IOP does not include any type of detoxification process
3) Continued Addiction Therapy can include regular meetings with a personal therapist, attending group meetings, and working the recovery program you’ve learned throughout the rehab process.
Use a state by state (in the US only) addiction recovery treatment facility near you.
Step Three Addiction Recovery: Support Network
Make recovery support group meetings a priority. It can be easy to feel overburdened with the amount of meetings per day to attend, but they really are vital for continued recovery and sobriety. Look at it like this: If you had time to go to the bar or get high, you have time to make it to meetings. In meetings you can find many people who understand what you’re going through and how to best support you.
Having close family and friends is invaluable for someone in addiction recovery, providing you have some.
Make sure to build a sober social network to replace any non-sober networks. Until they get sober themselves, you’re going to have to cut those people out to prevent triggering. Don’t visit bars, old hangouts, or places you used to use. You don’t want the chance to relapse.
You can find sober social networks throughout your meetings. If you don’t know where to find meetings, ask in therapy or consult your therapist.
Consider living in a sober-living home (especially if you don’t have a stable, safe, drug-free home environment) during the recovery period – this time is absolutely vital to your recovery.
Step Four Addiction Recovery: Manage Stress
Drug use, abuse, and addictions (of many kinds) may be triggered initially by unhealthy attempts to self-medicate with drugs and/or alcohol to relieve stress. To combat substance abuse and addiction, one must learn other ways to manage stress. Some of these include:
- Exercise – which releases endorphins (the bodies “feel good” hormones
- Yoga and meditation
- Calming music
- Deep-breathing
- Petting your animal
- Tell someone close that you’re feeling stressed
- Go to a meeting
- Go for a walk
- Soak in a hot, relaxing bath
- Try smelling fresh flowers, extracts, or coffee bean
Step Five: Controlling Cravings and Triggers
Controlling Addiction Triggers may include:
- Avoiding bars and clubs.
- Breaking up with old drug or other addiction buddies.
- Telling any medical professionals about your history of drug addiction up front so you can work together to find an alternative means of controlling any type of pain or discomfort.
- Using prescription drugs, especially those with a high potential for abuse (sleeping pills, painkillers, anti-anxiety medications) with extreme caution, make certain your doctor knows your history of addiction before you start to take these medications
Handling Addiction Cravings
- Talk to someone about your craving while in the middle of it.
- Change your thoughts and challenge formerly held beliefs. It’s easier to remember the positive aspects of drug use and not the negative ones. Make a list (or look at a list) of benefits and consequences if it helps to remind you of why you quit.
- Urge Surf – imagine yourself as a surfer riding the wave of a drug craving, staying on top of it until it crests, breaks and turns into foam, generally cravings only last 10-15 minutes
- Distract yourself while in the middle of a craving.
- Read a book, go jogging, focus your attention on something else until the urges subside.
- Don’t resort to junk food as an alternative – it will only add stress and pounds.
Step Six Addiction Recovery: Build a Meaningful Drug-Free Life
Now that you’ve overcome your addiction, you may find that you have a lot of free time and emotions that you’re not used to having. At first, it can be helpful to go to recovery meetings (12-step or other) as often as you can to gain a sober support network but eventually, you’re going to have to recreate your life. This time, you can do it the way YOU want it to be done. That’s not to say it’s easy, but it is worth it. Here are some ideas for building up your life again:
- Adopt a pet. Pets are wonderful at making you feel loved, needed, and wanted.
- Find a new hobby – it doesn’t have to be lame.
- Learn about the things you (sober you) enjoy. They may be markedly different than things you once enjoyed.
- Give yourself some time to reenter the real world and understand that it can be incredibly difficult at first. That’s okay – just keep going.
- Get involved in your community – replace your addiction with other wholesome activities. Volunteer, join a club, or become active in your neighborhood.
- Take care of your health.
- Get rid of the people in your life who are not good for – or to – you. You deserve better.
- Practice great self-care
- Don’t be too hard on yourself
- Learn to forgive, it’ll help you and everyone around you
- Take stock of what your biggest strengths are and see if you can find something to do regularly that showcases the things you’re great at, those that you enjoy, and those that make you feel good and accomplished
- Set meaningful, attainable goals to work toward rather than the end goal – it’s much more satisfying to accomplish things at once rather than focus on the bigger goal.
Step Seven Addiction Recovery: Relapses Happen
Relapse is a very common (albeit frustrating and discouraging) part of the recovery from addiction and abuse. Consider it an opportunity to revamp your treatment plan and learn from mistakes. It doesn’t mean you’ve lost everything, only that you need to try again. Relapse is incredibly common, but no less discouraging. Understand that you can get sober – and stay sober – once again. Now, you’ll have the advantage of having been through it before. Don’t let anyone else cause you guilt or shame for relapsing – only an addict knows an addict.
Relapse does NOT mean you failed. Get back on the wagon, call your sponsor and your therapist, go to a meeting, check into rehab, and don’t beat yourself up for it.
Common Relapse Triggers:
- Physical discomfort
- Anger, sadness, trauma, or stress.
- Feeling happy – oddly enough, once things are going excellently in your life, you may feel like “celebrating” with your drug of choice
- Testing personal control – “plenty of people can have one drink, why can’t I?”
- Urges, triggers, and temptations – these are a challenging part of an addict’s recovery: urges, triggers, and temptations can sneak up out of the blue. If you can remind yourself that this is a temporary thing, most urges only last about 10 minutes. Try focusing on something else
- Fights and conflicts with others – if you’ve always coped with conflicts by using your drug of choice, this can be a struggle. Try to remember all of the reasons that you opted to get sober in the first place
- Social pressures – well meaning people are often guilty of pushing an addict to “join in the fun” or “get with the party” without knowing that he or she struggles with addiction. Enough social pressure can cause someone to feel as though they really can still use.
Coping with an anger management issue is already a complex and arduous struggle, but when combined with substance abuse, it feels impossible. Whether anger led to your addiction or addiction led to your anger, the two fuel each other in a dangerous cycle. You can’t address one and not the other, but learning to overcome your anger while in addiction recovery doesn’t come easily.
The Connection Between Addiction And Anger:
Though many don’t realize it, substance abuse often co-occurs alongside anger, aggression, and violent tendencies.
Sometimes, the anger comes first and leads to addiction:
- Anger issues lead to problems at work or home, leading the afflicted person to cope by using substances
- Rage becomes so overwhelming that a person seeks to numb the pain with substances
- The many stresses fester, leading a person to take out their anger and frustration by indulging in drugs or alcohol
In other cases, substance abuse preludes and leads to anger:
- Cocaine use in particular can cause aggression and violent behavior
- The resulting problems from increased drinking or drug use such as DUIs, relationship turmoil, financial stress, work conflicts, or job loss can create a deep-seated anger, especially if many events occur at once
- Dependence on a substance can create anger and resentment in itself
The presence of anger in general isn’t the issue — all of us feel angry, sometimes even enraged, at one point or another. It’s an unavoidable fact of life, and common in addiction recovery. When that fury lasts for days at a time, reemerges frequently, escalates into violent behavior, and/or consumes a person completely, however, it becomes dangerous.
Perhaps the most alarming part of the anger and addiction relationship is that many don’t even realize they have an underlying anger issue; it tends to be written off as only a symptom of their substance abuse, and assume that once they’re sober, their anger will fade away. For some, the anger may fade. However those with a true anger disorder, it isn’t that simple. To truly heal your body, mind, and spirit in recovery, you must address your anger as a separate — and equally important — issue.
Anger and resentment can sneak up on you in recovery. When things are going well, it’s a lot easier to reaffirm your choice to be sober. It’s the times that stress pops up — a long day at work, arguments with loved ones you’re trying to rebuild relationships with, lingering financial problems from old habits — that it’s hard not to feel angry over all that you’ve lost. Just because you know drugs and alcohol aren’t the solution doesn’t change the fact that they used to be your crutch amid life’s many struggles, and looking ahead to brighter, sober days can feel frustratingly overwhelming.
Meditation and Anger in Sobriety:
Meditation helps to focus and ground you in the present moment — not your regretful past, not your sober future. Meditation lets you stop and really let go of your worries, even if it’s just for a few moments. Best of all, it can be done just about anywhere at any time, no special skills needed.
There are many online options for guided meditations, but don’t be afraid to conduct your own meditation sessions. It’s much simpler than you might think: clear your mind, focus on your breathing, make a conscious effort to relax your body, and just let go. Your problems will be right where you left them, but you’d be surprised at how meditation can bring them into perspective. Often, dwelling on problems makes them seem more colossal than they actually are, and even just a few moments of peace can shift your attitude on overcoming them.
Exercise For Anger Management During Sobriety:
Exercise isn’t just good for the body — it’s excellent for your mental health, and some experts even consider it vital to a successful anger management program. It can be especially effective if you’ve had violent tendencies in the past because it acts as a healthy, physical outlet for your frustrations.
An anger management exercise routine work any way you’d like, but it’s important to keep in mind any physical limitations you may have as a result of your substance abuse. Take it slow at first; yoga is a great place to start as it combines both meditation and exercise, and can be adapted for various intensity levels. Incorporate it into your weekly routine, but don’t be afraid to throw in an extra session anytime your anger is getting the best of you. Going for a quick run or swimming a few laps in the community pool is a great way to burn off stress and work off all the things you can’t say or do in your new life. You’ll walk away feeling tired, but likely rejuvenated, with much less angry energy swirling within.
Creative Expression to Channel Anger:
Creative expression can be used as an outlet: perhaps your overwhelming anger made you lose appreciation for the beauty of the world, so you use photography as a way to capture it. You can write out your frustrations with your recovery journey, create a story about the life you hope to leave one day, or write letters to loved ones that you’re hoping to mend fences with. Dancing it out while singing along to your favorite songs is a cathartic, albeit unstructured, way to vent your frustrations.
Even if you’ve never been the “creative type,” don’t be afraid to explore that side of yourself.
Counseling For Anger Management:
Your sponsor is a great place to start when it comes to talking through your anger issues, but unless they’re trained in anger management, their ability to help you is limited. Bear in mind that though you’ll certainly want to explore and discuss, but the two issues must be addressed separately.
Find a counselor in your area who has experience with anger management techniques, especially if you can find one who’s familiar with addiction recovery. Be prepared to dig deep to really get to the root of your rage; one of the trickiest parts of anger is that often you only think you know the cause.
Your partner, siblings, children, or others may want to join you for a few sessions for insight on when your anger seems to flare up the most, when it’s most detrimental to your relationships, and how it’s affected not only your life, but theirs, as well. Your therapist can also help facilitate and guide conversations with your loved ones so that you can effectively — not angrily — resolve issues and begin to rebuild together.
Your Support System is Vital:
A solid support system is vital, but you have to be willing to ask for help. Talk to your partner, friends, parents, siblings, members of your religious organization — anyone you know you can turn to for a listening ear and shoulder. Your counselor and/or sponsor are excellent resources and certainly play an important role in your recovery, but you’ll want to have people close to you as well.
When you’re tackling the darker parts of yourself, it’s important to stay connected to those who know all parts of you, both the dark and the light.
If your anger or addiction issues have caused many of your loved ones to keep their distance, even now that you’re sober, first know that with time and hard work, your relationships can be mended.
In the meantime, talk to your sponsor or counselor about local support groups. If you’re in Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or the like, make it a point to speak up at meetings. Introduce yourself to others after the meeting, or see if someone wants to grab a cup of coffee. Suggest a group outing to the park for some fresh air and sunshine. It’s tough to get back out there and meet new people, especially early in recovery, but meetings are a great place to meet people who will truly understand your struggle; even if they don’t have an anger management issue specifically, they’ll be judgment-free of your past and will be the first to cheer you on for every step in the right direction.
In fact, they’ll be able to appreciate the gravity of even the seemingly smallest progressions in a way your loved ones can’t; that kind of understanding can make a world of difference.
Reasons To Stay Sober:
I know that this transition period is not unique to me. I’m sure many of you can knock back a few and move on with their day (or night?). That’s not okay for me. Okay, well, I could make it an option to me, it can ALWAYS be an option for me. I make the choice NOT to drink or abuse drugs.
But how does Sober You continue to abstain well the party continues? We all (should) have our own lists of why we quit our substance of abuse. I keep it with me, and you should write one too. What if you need a little more push? The following may help
1)You’re someone’s hero: While you may not know it, someone likely admires you for your choice to be sober. More often than not, your story has affected someone more than you know. Don’t shatter that by giving in to stress. Be the hero.
2. Your life is actually better this way. If you got sober, it was because your life was not what you wanted it to be. If you pick up a drink or drugs you may BAM return to addiction again, and quickly. Don’t let stress and uncertainty take that away from you.
3. Opening the door to one addiction leads to another door and another addiction. Luckily, I only ever dealt with pills as an addiction, thinking it would alleviate the pain. It didn’t.
4. You’ll want to remember this time later on. Even though it seems like life is kicking your ass, you’re probably gaining some valuable lessons, insights, and information for down the road. Drinking or abusing drugs yourself into oblivion would undo that. A few weeks (months) down the road, you’ll be glad for the chaos and stress of this time because it taught you to be stonger, as life has a way of doing.
5. A hangover will kick your ass. Hangovers make everything worse. Everything. If you’re already stressed out and overwhelmed, a pounding head and turning stomach will not help. In fact it will do the opposite—it will just make everything seem less achievable.
6. You’ll avoid making stupid, drunken/high decisions. If you’re sober, you’re no stranger to a past where you woke up in the morning with major regrets from the night before. When life is already kicking your ass, the last thing you need is additional stress created by choices made while intoxicated.
7. Your emotions shouldn’t dictate your life. Yes, this is easier said than done. But really, being stressed out and uncertain about points in life is normal. There is nothing unique about it, it’s just something you have to push through and feel. Numbing won’t do any good because the stressors will still be present, waiting to be confronted.
8. You’ve worked hard for your sobriety. Actually, I can’t speak for you. But I’ve worked harder for these two years of sobriety than I’ve worked for most things in my life. The last thing I want to do is throw that all away so that I can de-stress for a few hours. Because that’s all it would be—a few hours—and then back to reality. It’s not worth it.
9. You won’t have to explain yourself. Again, I can only speak for myself, but I know if I were to get wasted again, it would be in front of about 50 people who know I am sober, including my friends. I would have a lot of justifying to do, which would just result in shame and guilt. I kicked shame and guilt out of my life a long time ago, and they can stay out for good now.
10. If you were strong enough to get sober, then you’re strong enough to get through this, too. (Whatever “this” may be.) Getting sober hard. Therefore, this chaotic time of my life has got nothing on it. Nothing. If I can get and stay sober, then I can make it through this stressful few weeks without losing that sobriety. I can, and I will, one day, one hour, one minute at a time.
Additional Addiction Recovery Resources:
Alternatives to 12-Step Groups:
While many people do find great help and fellowship in the 12-step programs, others may not find it helpful. Here are 4 other addiction recovery resources (we do not claim that these organizations are any worse or better than others)
1) Women for Sobriety: is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women discover a happy New Life in recovery from Substance Use Disorders.
2) SMART Recovery: To support individuals who have chosen to abstain, or are considering abstinence from any type of addictive behaviors (substances or activities), by teaching how to change self-defeating thinking, emotions, and actions; and to work towards long-term satisfactions and quality of life.
3) Secular Organizations for Sobriety: is a nonprofit network of autonomous, non-professional local groups, dedicated solely to helping individuals achieve and maintain sobriety/abstinence from alcohol and drug addiction, food addiction and more.
4) LifeRing: is an abstinence-based, worldwide network of individuals seeking to live in recovery from addiction to alcohol or to other non-medically indicated drugs
Recovery 12-Step Groups:
After detox and recovery, most addicts find they benefit from continued recovery and sobriety support. The most common support program for recovery from many addictions and other mental issues is based on the 12-step (Anonymous) programs. All 12 step programs are based on the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program, founded in 1935 and based on the premise that the only way for a person to overcome his addiction to alcohol was to reach out and talk to other people who are struggling with recovery. In 1953, Narcotics Anonymous was granted permission to use the AA format and after that there was an explosion of groups that tailored the 12-step program to their particular type of recovery. Today, the 12-step programs (also known as the Anonymous Programs) cover almost every addiction and mental condition. If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction, you may find help or advice with one of these programs. The websites for each program typically includes various useful information about the disease, the program itself, and links to local meeting schedules.
Here is a list of programs with links to their websites where applicable:
Other 12-step support programs for friends and families of people in recovery:
Last audited 11/2018