When you feel you’re about to be overcome by your thoughts or emotions, knowing how to “urge surf” can help bring you back to center. This mindfulness technique, often used in addiction recovery, is also an essential coping skill for better mental and emotional health. What Is Urge Surfing? The foundation of urge surfing is...Read More

Everyone knows that one foundational pillar of wellness is exercise. So why could too much of it be bad for your health? Unfortunately, some people develop an exercise addiction that’s often a symptom of mismanaged obsessive-compulsive disorder or an eating disorder. Understanding Exercise Addiction You’ve probably heard of a “runner’s high”: a sensation experienced after...Read More

The National Institute on Drug Abuse states a cold, hard fact: Veterans and active military personnel with alcohol use disorder (AUD) or substance use disorder (SUD) are three times more likely to receive a diagnosis of depression and/or PTSD. So if you or a loved one need professional help for SUD or AUD, mood disorders,...Read More

Everyone has periods of sadness or feeling blue. But not all people receive a diagnosis of depression. Understanding the causes of depression and the viable treatment options helps reduce the stigma of the disorder and enables individuals to live full, rich lives. What Is Depression? Before we look at any causes of depression, let’s first...Read More

Treatment for substance addiction, co-occurring disorders, process addictions, and mood conditions might not be effective without taking into account an individual’s full life and experiences. One aspect often overlooked in cookie-cutter approaches is the impact of trauma. Many therapeutic approaches can effectively address trauma, including a relatively new application: brainspotting. How Trauma Affects the Brain...Read More

It’s sometimes hard to understand that supposedly helpful medication can end up causing problems. Such is the case with many sleep aids, including Ambien. When receiving treatment for this habit-forming drug, there are both physical and psychological aspects to consider. Facts About Ambien When people struggle with insomnia due to addiction detox, chronic pain, grief,...Read More

Too often, someone who doesn’t understand addiction as a brain disease might say, “Well, if they really wanted to quit, they would.” This myth is all too common, and makes it even more challenging for people to consider substance abuse treatment and recovery. Willpower alone can’t help stop addiction—but it might aid aspects of recovery...Read More

Numerous therapeutic approaches are used to treat co-occurring substance abuse and mental health diagnoses. At Cottonwood Tucson, in Arizona, we aim to educate our guests about the various options available to support their recovery. One such option is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR was developed to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and...Read More

Whether you’re newly sober or in long-term recovery, the holiday season can be both full of joy and full of stress. It’s easy to be boxed in by lofty expectations, even with the best intentions. If you use a 12-Step program as one of your sobriety wellness tools, it’s easier to understand why even the...Read More

When medical professionals talk about mind-body wellness, what does this actually mean? It’s an acknowledgment of the connection between all aspects of self: our physical well-being, our mental and emotional health, and even our spiritual center, or soulful intent. Whole-Person Wellness Without question, medical applications are necessary for progressive health. After all, if you break...Read More