Cyndi Turner's Blog, page 13

The Importance of Rebuilding Trust After Addiction

When you struggle with addiction, it can be hard to recognize the many ways that substance abuse affects your life. Because substance abuse may change behavior, this can lead you to take risks you may not otherwise take when unimpaired. The repercussions of risk-taking behavior can lead to serious problems like legal troubles, financial issues, divorce, or loss of loved ones. Serious consequences like these can negate trust in your personal and professional relationships. Continued substance use can make it especially difficult to mend communication problems that may be at the root of your addiction. However, repairing relationships is possible with Insight Into Action’s relationship counseling. Our programs can help you rebuild trust after addiction to focus on living a happy and healthful life.

Re-establish Trust After Addiction

Unpredictable behavior can cause serious trust issues for most relationships. Since addiction affects the body and the mind, it can drive you to act in ways that hurt those around you. Some typical behaviors may include the following:

Manipulation of loved ones to obtain drugs or money for more drugs.Lying about how much alcohol you have consumed, where you have been, or who you have been with.Stealing from friends and family members.Engaging in illegal activities or risk-taking behaviors like unsafe sex.Driving while intoxicated or impaired.

Because each of these behaviors comes with extreme consequences, it is easy to understand how friends and family members may have difficulty trusting future behavior. Self-change is difficult, and often recovery comes with a steep learning curve. Rebuilding trust after addiction may seem like an insurmountable hill to climb under these circumstances. But the good news is that you have help. With Insight Into Action’s relationship counseling, you can start repairing relationships today.

Rebuild Personal Relationships with Family Therapy

With the right mix of personal therapy and family therapy, you can begin to address how your behavior has affected others in your life. Individual therapy will offer you tools to better process and cope with your own recovery process. But adding family therapy to this process has many important benefits. When a family experiences division due to an individual’s addiction, the entire family dynamic can get tossed into chaos. You can mend this unsettled dynamic with family counseling. Some of the benefits that family counseling offers include the following:

Reconnect with family while incorporating your sober persona.Resources for all individuals to learn about the complicated process of recovery.Facilitation of the family dynamic helps you to learn models of appropriate behavior.Safe space to express emotions and address trust issues.

Family therapy can be one of the most important tools to help you reconnect and move forward into a recovery that will help the whole family thrive. Personal relationships can be mended with the help of the actions of the family unit. However, professional relationships may not be so easily fixed.

Addiction in the Workplace

It can be extremely difficult to mend professional relationships after trust has been broken due to addiction. Typically, your boss will not join you in a therapeutic session. If your behavior warrants expulsion or dismissal, most workplaces will follow through on these actions. The stigma and office gossip for certain types of jobs can even amplify your inability to find new employment when this happens. Repairing relationships after addiction means that you may have to put in more work to show the changes you have undergone. Rebuilding trust after addiction may mean you must learn tools to help you better communicate your needs in the workplace and life.

Contact Insight Into Action Therapy for Relationship Counseling Today

If you are struggling with rebuilding trust after addiction, we encourage you to reach out to Insight Into Action Therapy. Find the support you need for your journey to sobriety. Our comprehensive therapeutic options can help you to reconnect and repair relationships while you maintain your recovery. Call us today at 703.935.8544 or complete our secure online form if you feel you or someone you know needs support. Gain insight into your actions with our community-based relationship counseling at Insight Into Action Therapy.

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Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment for Alcohol

Millions of Americans develop alcohol dependence at some point in their lives. When you become physically dependent on a substance like alcohol, you may need a mix of medical treatment and behavioral therapy to recover. Alcoholism is an illness that can be difficult to diagnose and treat because alcohol is so prevalent in daily life. Unfortunately, when alcohol defines the moments of your life, it can lead to behaviors that affect your safety, health, and your community. However, you can manage your symptoms in an outpatient treatment program designed to best help you. If you have been struggling with finding the right treatment program for alcoholism, consider the medication-assisted treatment program Insight Into Action. Your individualized MAT program can get you back onto the path to your wellness.

Alcoholism Treatment

Your environment and social gathering spaces may make recovery from alcohol use disorder an extremely challenging task. Alcohol consumption is prevalent in the media and is available in most stores and restaurants. Most holidays and celebrations include the consumption of alcohol. This popularity of alcohol makes alcoholism treatment efforts especially complicated. Recovery is a personal process, and that means that effective treatment may look different for each individual. With Insight Into Action Therapy, your recovery experience will be individualized to your experience. You will be assisted with abstinence from alcohol in a professional environment that replaces drinking with healthful choices. Our evidence-based, medication-assisted care is especially effective for minimizing cravings and symptoms of withdrawal. This increases your chances of maintaining your sobriety.

Medication-Assisted Treatment Program for Alcohol

Medication-Assisted Treatment or MAT is a type of therapeutic option that helps to treat alcohol dependence. This program incorporates two specific therapeutic needs to target both physical and emotional dependence. Medication-assisted means that a trained professional will work with you to help alleviate physical cravings with FDA-approved medications. These medications can calm overactivity in your brain that keeps you craving a substance. Once your body is clear of a chemical need, behavioral therapies will help you address your recovery obstacles. Behavioral therapies can help you learn to replace an emotional need for alcohol with new and healthful coping mechanisms. The coordinated effort of a MAT program helps you to avoid relapse. This ensures that you will have the tools to cope with the stressors of life. This will help you stay strong when you experience the need to reach for substances that negatively affect your health and wellbeing.

Is a MAT Program Right for Me?

Typically, individuals who use a MAT program for sobriety stay sober for longer periods of time and maintain that consistency. But when you have the clarity of mind to address your behaviors, it can improve all parts of your life, as well. MAT programs are effective for many types of recovery processes, including the following:

Individuals who may be struggling with alcohol use disorderThose who have experienced treatment resistance in the pastIndividuals who have been in recovery but have relapsedThose who may be struggling with co-occurring disorders

The right MAT program can help support your recovery by controlling physical withdrawal symptoms. When you can focus on your goals in sobriety, you can do the work you need to replace alcohol in your life.

Learn More About MAT at Insight Into Action Therapy

If you or your loved one has been struggling with a need for comprehensive therapeutic options, including MAT, consider Insight Into Action Therapy. Our experienced professionals can tailor your recovery program to your individualized needs. Contact us today at 703.935.8544 or complete our secure online form if you feel you or someone you know needs professional support. Gain insight into your actions with comprehensive community-based treatment at Insight Into Action Therapy. We can help support you on your path to recovery.

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Practicing Alcohol Moderation: A Harm Reduction Alternative to the Abstinence-Only Model

Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC, and Craig James, LCSW, LSATP, MAC will be presenting “Practicing Alcohol Moderation: A Harm Reduction Alternative to the Abstinence-Only Model” at the Cape Cod Symposium on Addiction Disorders. Attendees will be able to view the seminar live from 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm on Saturday, September 11, 2021, or for 45 days after the event. For more information: https://www.ccsad.com

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A Courageous Conversation about Collective Trauma

A Courageous Conversation about Collective Trauma sponsored by Beloved Yoga. As part of the panel discussion, Craig spoke about the social justice movement of 2020 and the substance use challenges of our society.

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Recovery Awareness: Celebrating Ian Gordon’s Art at ArtSpace in Herndon

On Saturday, June 26, 2021, The Chris Atwood Foundation sponsored Recovery Awareness: Celebrating Ian Gordon’s Art at ArtSpace in Herndon. Cyndi and Craig attended the event and learned more about the harm reduction options the Mobile Care Unit offers throughout the Northern VA area.

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Acceptance During Pride Month

In recognition of Pride Month, Cyndi Turner was interviewed by family law attorney Catherine Reese on Family Matters with Reese Law on “Why Accepting Your LGBTQ Child Matters.”

Watch on Youtube Here.

At Insight Into Action Therapy, our counselors proudly support the LGBTQ+ community and offer therapy for individuals and their partners through relationship counseling, as well as individual counseling. Call us at 703.935.8544 today.

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Repairing Relationships After Sex Addiction

If you or someone you love has been struggling with any addiction, you know that repairing relationships is typically a necessary part of ongoing treatment. However, when you struggle with sex addiction, you may find that personal relationships can be especially difficult to repair. Cheating in romantic relationships or imposition of unwanted feelings, or crossing personal boundaries can seriously damage your personal relationships. Your professional relationships can also be affected by compulsive behaviors if they cross into the professional space. If compulsive sexual behavior affects your daily life or relationships, consider seeking sex addiction treatment with Insight Into Action Therapy.

What is Sex Addiction?

Sex addiction is an addiction much like any other chemical dependency. Individuals struggling with sex addiction experience a compulsive need to partake in sexual acts, which satisfies the desires of their brain and body chemistry in the same way that a prescription drug user may seek out opiates or an alcoholic drink a beer. Individuals with sex addiction will be triggered by certain environments, like bars or dating apps, or may use sexual behavior to cope with stressful situations. This means that a treatment environment must help with both bodily reactions and coping mechanisms. Some of the behaviors an individual with sexual addiction might engage in include:

Anonymous sexSeeking out multiple sex partnersChronic, obsessive fantasiesCompulsive masturbationCompulsive viewing of pornographyAltering daily life or routines to seek out sexual encountersLying about uncontrollable sexual behaviorsGuilt or remorse after sexual encounters

Because these behaviors may cause substantial personal and professional risk, likely, their addiction will negatively impact an individual’s quality of life, physical health and mental health, and personal relationships.

Characteristics of a Healthful Sexual Relationship

When a relationship is a healthful one that nourishes your body and mind, all individuals within the relationship will work together to maintain reciprocal well-being. Some of the recognizable characteristics of a successful relationship include:

Communication

We often hear that communication is key to our relationships. But what this means is that both parties share the necessary openness and vulnerability to express their needs and recognize the needs of one another. In this way, compromises can be reached to support both individuals.

Respect and Consent

Respect takes communication one step further with the definition of boundaries. Like a fence in a field, boundaries are clear lines that express a level of consent. Consent is an agreement between participants to engage in an activity. Enthusiastic verbal consent is also part of the legal definition of consent. Active communication means checking in with your partner before sex and renewing that care throughout the duration of your encounter. Checking in during sex can be as simple as asking, “Is this okay?” A “Yes” is retractable, and you must respect another’s boundaries as a way to express your care.

Emotional and Physical Satisfaction

Emotional and physical satisfaction means that the experience of sex is pleasurable and meaningful for all parties involved. Healthful sex, like most physical activity, can activate endorphins, lower blood pressure, and reduce stress. When you have healthful, safe sex with a meaningfully engaged partner in the process, you get the positive benefit of a workout and the emotional validation of being cared for.

If these characteristics are missing in your sexual experiences, or if you feel that you are placing yourself or others into dangerous situations, likely, you are not engaging with sex under healthful terms. Insight Into Action Therapy can help you gain insight into your relationship with sex so that you can heal and grow loving, reciprocal relationships.

Seek Addiction Treatment Today with Insight Into Action Therapy

If sex addiction is affecting you or a loved one’s life, consider Insight Into Action Therapy. It is important to find the right professional for you or your loved one’s needs, and our experienced consultants can guide you through this healable condition. Contact us today at 703-935-8544 or complete our secure online form 703-935-8544 if you feel you or someone you know needs professional support. With Insight Into Action Therapy, comprehensive treatment is available to help you break free from the cycles of sex addiction.

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Treating Co-Occurring Disorders

It can be extremely difficult for any individual to acquire the needed coping mechanisms for their mental health conditions. Because of this, many individuals turn to substance abuse to regulate their emotions and body responses. In addiction treatment, this is known as comorbidity or having co-occurring disorders. Finding the right treatment for co-occurring disorders is complicated by the very nature of a dual diagnosis. Co-occurring disorders make it much more difficult to screen for a diagnosis if one is unknown and affects the sufferer by increasing the likelihood that treatment will not adhere. However, seeking outside help at Insight Into Action Therapy can be the most important step in greatly simplifying your recovery and improving your mental health.

Defining Dual-Diagnosis Care or Comorbidity

Comorbidity is the co-occurrence of two or more conditions that may affect the symptoms of the other. Comorbidity can occur as two mental health conditions, such as the presence of anxiety and depression or, more often, an addiction disorder such as alcoholism and a mental health condition.

Often, comorbid substance use disorder masquerades as an interlocked system of emotional and bodily reactions. Individuals struggling with substance addiction may utilize their chosen substances to respond to an underlying mental health condition. This means that treatment is much less likely to succeed unless the underlying condition is thoroughly addressed. This can be a reason for high relapse rates in substance addiction treatment. However, a collaboration between clinical professionals can alleviate some of the risks of relapse by addressing both the underlying disorder and the addiction response. This is why seeking the right care for your individualized treatment plan is vital. Insight Into Action Therapy takes co-occurring disorders under consideration when working with you to create your individualized care plan.

Comorbidity Recovery Options

The dual diagnosis recovery program at Insight Into Action Therapy was specially created to nurture individuals and their families who are dealing with co-occurring disorders. Our expert professionals work with you to tailor the program to your care with your underlying mental health concerns in mind. We treat some of the following:

Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.Substance use disorders such as alcoholism or illegal drug use.Addictions treatment for pornography, gaming, gambling, overeating, and shoplifting.

In determining your care phases, your treatment team will conduct a clinical interview and standardized measurements to determine the appropriate treatment referral. This will include consideration of the spectrum or degree of your addiction, your age, and your psychological needs, as well as a drug screening and breathalyzer test. With these measurements, our trained professionals will guide you with the tools you need to seek a healthful life balance. Once your care phases have been determined, we will partner with the right professionals for you. Depending on your unique concerns, your care may be coordinated among the following types of practitioners:

PsychiatristsPsychologistsAcademic supportAttorneysNutritionistsEmployment specialistsCommunity recreation support

When we say team, we mean team. Our intensive dual diagnosis program is based on years of experience in addiction and mental health treatment. It provides you with the flexibility and ease of mind to incorporate your family needs, as well as relapse prevention and aftercare support.

Treat Co-Occurring Disorders with Insight Into Action Therapy

Insight Into Action Therapy has a unique program designed to help you address and overcome dual-diagnosis concerns. Knowing the signs of comorbidity and seeking individual assistance for these urgent but healable health issues are paramount to the safety of you, your family, and your community. Contact our treatment team today at 703-935-8544 or complete our secure online form if you feel you or someone you know needs professional support and assistance. With Insight Into Action Therapy, comprehensive community-based treatment can help you or a loved one on the path to wellness.

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Gathering Virtually for Mental Health Awareness

Gathering Virtually for Mental Health AwarenessThu May 13th 11:00am – 5:00pmOnline Event Location:  Harm Reduction for Skeptics 

If you want to help people reduce the consequences of their substance use, you need to know about harm reduction. This presentation will give an overview of harm reduction, explore why it is a controversial topic, and review its core concepts. Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC is the Co-Founder & Clinical Director of Insight into Action Therapy and Insight Recovery Centers. Cyndi is a harm reduction therapist who has been in the addiction treatment field for almost three decades. Cyndi co-developed and facilitates the Dual Diagnosis Recivery Program, is a clinical supervisor for licensure, expert witness, and nationally recognized trainer in alcohol moderation. She developed the alcohol moderation Assessment which predicts who may be a successful candidate for alcohol moderation. Cyndi is the author of numerous articles and three books: Can I Keep Drinking?, The Clinicians Guide to Alcohol Moderation, and Practicing Alcohol Moderation. 

Everyone is welcome! Please register here.

The Community Connections Series will take a break for the summer and resume this fall.

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Binge Drinking and Young Adults

Many people think of binge drinking as a problem that is overwhelmingly experienced by college students hoping to unwind on a Saturday night. While this specific type of alcohol abuse is often observed in young adults, they may not be the only ones affected by their drinking habits. Substance abuse can carry serious financial, emotional, and physical risks and consequences to all involved, including the individual who uses the substance, family and friends, and even innocent bystanders within the community. Be aware of this behavior’s signs to decide if you or a loved one may need to seek addiction treatment.

What is Binge Drinking?

Binge drinking is characterized by a pattern of excessive alcohol usage in a single sitting, typically at or above the legal blood alcohol level of intoxication of 0.08. While this behavior is a form of alcohol abuse, it does not necessarily mean that an individual suffers from alcoholism. However, it is important to remember that this can be an early indicator of symptoms that may lead to alcoholism later in life.

Signs That Indicate You or a Loved One May Be Engaging in Binge Drinking

Substance abuse can look different depending on the individual, but some signs may indicate that you or a loved one is drinking excessively. Asking the following questions might help you assess your need for alcoholism treatment before a problem becomes too dangerous.

Are you exhausted after a night of drinking?

If you or your loved one is experiencing extreme exhaustion, complex mood swings, or irritability after a night of drinking, these can be indicators that the amount of alcohol you have been imbibing in a single sitting may be affecting both your body and the chemistry of your brain.

Do you exhibit embarrassing or risky behaviors while you are drinking?

Alcohol can lower a drinker’s inhibitions, which can lead to conduct that may be unusual or unexpected. Some of these behaviors may include:

Uploading embarrassing content to social mediaEngaging in hypersexual activityDriving while impairedCausing physical or emotional violenceIs your drinking affecting your memory of events?

A “cognitive blackout” is an incident where an individual loses the ability to recall events while under the influence of a substance. This can be an indication that lasting damage is being done from binge drinking. These experiences can trigger memory conditions such as early-onset dementia as well as exacerbate mental health conditions.

It is important to remember that while one behavior from the above list may or may not be a hard fast indicator that you are experiencing an issue with binge drinking, a “yes” answer to any of these questions means that you should consider reaching out for professional treatment before the risks of your behavior turn into consequences.

Impact of Untreated Binge Drinking

The impact of untreated alcohol abuse can be substantially life-changing. These are just some of the repercussions of substance abuse in general and binge drinking in particular:

Personal relationships may suffer.Work or school performance may fluctuate or decline.Increases in risk behavior may lead to vehicular accidents, DUI, and legal troubles.

When someone binge drinks, they also increase the possibility of physical harm, such as injury, memory problems, cirrhosis of the liver from extended alcohol consumption, cardiovascular troubles or stroke, and increased risk of developing depression, dementia, or psychosis.

The dangers of binge drinking are clear, but they can be avoided by getting the help you need before this behavior escalates into a situation that is beyond your control.

Seek Treatment for Binge Drinking at Insight into Action Therapy Today

Let’s help turn your insights into action with our 12-step outpatient substance use disorder and mental health services. Knowing the signs of binge drinking and seeking individual assistance for this urgent but healable health issue is paramount to both the binge drinker’s and the community’s safety. Contact us today at 703-935-8544 or complete our secure online form if you feel you or someone you know needs professional support and assistance with binge drinking behavior. With Insight Into Action Therapy, comprehensive community-based treatment can help you or a loved one on the path to wellness.

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