Navigating Compassion Fatigue as a Healthcare Worker

Individuals working in healthcare must practice compassion and empathy with every client to provide the best care. Some professionals may struggle with compassion fatigue (CF) if they experience chronic stress or other issues impacting their mental health. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Professionals regularly exposed to the traumatic experiences of the people they service, such as healthcare, emergency and community service workers, are particularly susceptible to developing CF.” Driftwood Recovery helps staff avoid compassion fatigue by providing professional support and encouraging a healthy work-life balance. 

What Is Compassion Fatigue?

People experience compassion fatigue after being exposed to the trauma of others. CF takes time to develop, and multiple factors influence who may experience it. According to the previously mentioned article by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “CF has been described as the convergence of secondary traumatic stress (STS) and cumulative burnout (BO), a state of physical and mental exhaustion caused by a depleted ability to cope with one’s everyday environment.”

Individuals with the following may have a higher risk of CF: 

• Lack of professional support
• Reduced social support 
• Lack of practical coping skills 
• Insufficient training to address trauma 
• Personal history of trauma 
• Difficulties maintaining emotional stability 
• Mental health disorders 
• Reduced stress threshold 

Many potential factors impact who develops compassion fatigue. The condition often causes guilt, shame, and other negative feelings, compounding the adverse effects of CF. Addressing the underlying causes of CF and finding healthy ways to express compassion and empathy can help healthcare workers create a better work-life balance. 

3 Ways to Manage Compassion Fatigue

Individuals with CF often feel overwhelmed by the trauma of others. The condition may affect relationships, work productivity, and overall health. Driftwood Recovery supports employees and provides them with the tools and resources to manage stress effectively. Finding positive ways to manage compassion fatigue reduces the potential side effects and improves the treatment process for clients and professionals. Below are three of the ways healthcare workers address and manage CF. 

#1. Emotional and Social Support

Seeking emotional and social support from loved ones and peers is the most effective method for managing the increased stress of CF. Healthcare workers often work long hours. Making the time to connect in person, over the phone, or in text with a support system, including workplace and personal support networks, reduces stress and provides critical cathartic release. Discussing the effects of someone else’s trauma can stabilize emotional responses and improve resilience. Many healthcare workers gain greater social and emotional support by prioritizing spending time with loved ones and building mutually empowering relationships with coworkers. 

#2. Setting Clear Work-Life Boundaries

Often, healthcare workers have extended hours, inconsistent schedules, and other factors interfering with their ability to establish clear work-life boundaries. The lack of work-life balance can cause some people to experience burnout and compassion fatigue. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), “Our workplaces play a significant role in our lives,” affecting “both our physical and mental well-being — in good ways and bad.”

Driftwood Recovery encourages staff to set firm limits to reduce the emotional impact of work stressors. Creating boundaries allows people to practice self-care and establish healthy routines supporting emotional stability. Stress management is more manageable for individuals who set a clear line between their work and home lives. 

#3. Treating Yourself With Compassion

Compassion fatigue often causes people to stop treating themselves with kindness and grace. According to Psychology Research and Behavior Management, “The importance of cultivating self-compassion is an often neglected issue among mental health professionals despite the risks to occupational well-being present in psychological care, such as burnout or compassion fatigue.” Taking the time to practice introspection often helps people identify if they have begun to treat themselves callously due to compassion fatigue. Self-awareness reduces negativity and fosters self-compassion. 

How Does Driftwood Recovery Help Professionals Avoid Compassion Fatigue?

Many factors contribute to the development of CF and emotional burnout. Driftwood Recovery helps professionals avoid CF and other problems in the workplace by creating a supportive and caring environment where coworkers uplift one another and normalize conversations about mental health. Staff members are encouraged to speak with management if they feel emotionally overwhelmed. Various resources are available to meet employee mental health needs. Driftwood Recovery understands the importance of prioritizing professionals’ emotional and physical health during and after work. 

The management team helps healthcare professionals avoid compassion fatigue by doing the following: 

• Providing training to recognize the signs of CF
• Offering mental health resources 
• Encouraging a healthy work-life balance through flexible scheduling and time-off policies 
• Promoting peer support 
• Encouraging honest and open communication 
• Implementing manageable caseloads 
• Offering professional development opportunities 
• Regularly assessing workplace stressors and addressing them with policy updates 

Driftwood Recovery supports every staff member and provides them with essential guidance during moments of high stress. Professionals can avoid CF by relying on workplace support services and other resources to manage stress.

Individuals who feel compassion and empathy for others often enter healthcare fields to provide support to individuals in need. However, constantly being exposed to the trauma and suffering of others can have a negative impact on a professional’s mental health unless they learn effective ways of managing their emotional responses. Compassion fatigue is a common concern among individuals working in healthcare. Mental health and addiction recovery specialist have a higher risk of being exposed to multiple secondhand traumas throughout their career. Driftwood Recovery protects employees from compassion fatigue by providing training and resources. All staff members receive the support of managers and coworkers as they develop healthy coping mechanisms. To learn more about our workplace policies, call (512) 759-8330

Individuals in healthcare may experience unusual or emotionally charged situations with coworkers and clients, leading to ethical dilemmas. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Moral dilemmas arise when two or more principles or values conflict and there are mutually inconsistent courses of action.” Driftwood Recovery provides comprehensive training and staff support to help clinicians navigate ethical dilemmas with dignity and compassion. 

5 Common Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare and How to Address Them

Ethics is a cornerstone of good healthcare. Ethical guidelines protect clients and healthcare professionals from legal issues, ensuring people have access to relevant and appropriate care. Identifying and adequately addressing moral dilemmas improves treatment outcomes for clients and reduces workplace stress for clinicians. Below are five common ethical dilemmas encountered in healthcare and how professionals can manage them. 

#1. Maintaining Client Privacy While Addressing Threats to Public Safety

Client privacy is essential to the therapeutic process. Ensuring confidentiality and privacy builds trust and confidence in the client-clinician relationship. However, some situations may make it challenging to maintain client privacy while balancing public health and safety. For example, clinicians may have to break confidentiality if a client expresses intent to harm themselves or others. Finding the right balance between ensuring public safety and maintaining client trust involves practicing good judgment. Driftwood Recovery has strict guidelines and protocols for managing client privacy and adhering to privacy laws. HIPAA and other laws ensure healthcare workers know when to break and when to protect client confidentiality. 

#2. Informed Consent and Clients With Limited Capacity to Understand Treatment Options

The effects of chronic substance abuse, complex mental health issues, and developmental factors may impact a client’s capacity to understand their treatment options. Individuals with a decreased capacity to recognize their needs and identify effective treatment plans may have difficulty understanding their situation. Healthcare professionals are responsible for ensuring clients under their care give informed consent for treatment services. Some clinicians may struggle with determining if a client has the mental capacity to provide informed consent. 

Ongoing assessments and ethical judgment help healthcare workers recognize when a client needs an advocate. Driftwood Recovery ensures all staff know how to identify the signs of a client’s capacity to give informed consent. In cases where clients may not be able to consent, the clinical team follows legal guidelines for working with client families or representatives to make the best decisions for their care. 

#3. Refusal of Treatment Despite Severe or Life-Threatening Consequences

Individuals experiencing complex mental health issues, substance use disorder, or dual diagnosis may refuse treatment despite a high risk of relapse or self-harming behaviors. Mentally competent adults have the right to refuse treatment regardless of how this may affect their physical or emotional health. However, determining mental competency can sometimes be difficult and cause moral dilemmas for healthcare professionals. 

Studies have shown that when “a patient’s illness is affecting their capacity to refuse care, and they are considered a danger to themselves or to others, the healthcare provider is expected to treat the patient regardless of their refusal.” Every state has different laws regarding involuntary treatment. Driftwood Recovery educates clinicians on state, local, and federal laws for treating patients who have refused care. 

#4. Balancing Respect for Cultural Beliefs With Evidence-Based Care

Some people’s cultural beliefs may clash with evidence-based care, making it difficult to treat conditions impacting the client’s mental and physical health. Responding with compassion and curiosity instead of judgment can help healthcare professionals develop tailored approaches to care that meet client needs while respecting their cultural beliefs. 

Mental health and addiction recovery experts balance respect for client cultural beliefs with evidence-based treatments by doing the following: 

• Conducting cultural competency training 
• Actively listening to client needs and preferences 
• Collaborating with clients and their families to tailor treatment 
• Using culturally appropriate assessment tools 
• Providing access to bilingual counselors 
• Encouraging family involvement in treatment 

Healthcare professionals can respect cultural beliefs and stigmas surrounding treatment while gently introducing evidence-based modalities into treatment plans. 

#5. Setting Professional Boundaries With Compassionate Care

Boundaries may become blurred sometimes, making it difficult for healthcare professionals to set limits on how they interact with clients. Professionals set clear boundaries with clients by doing the following: 

• Defining professional roles at the start of treatment 
• Maintaining consistent and clear communication 
• Avoiding dual relationships, such as becoming a personal friend with therapy clients 
• Practicing self-awareness and mindfulness during interactions with clients 
• Consulting coworkers or supervisors if boundary issues become a problem 
• Respecting client autonomy

Boundaries help clients avoid confusion or miscommunication during treatment. Maintaining a professional distance from clients while treating them with dignity and compassion improves the effectiveness of treatment services and helps clients learn to set their own healthy boundaries. 

Mental health and addiction recovery programs involve many gray areas that may lead to ethical dilemmas for healthcare professionals. Strict workplace policies ensure staff members understand when they must legally report certain situations and how to react appropriately to moral dilemmas. Experts are humans, too, and may experience a lack of judgment. Comprehensive workplace guidelines help professionals know how to respond to various complex or sensitive situations. Driftwood Recovery trains staff to recognize and address potentially challenging interactions using compassion, objectivity, and transparency. Healthcare professionals benefit from relying on their supervisors and coworkers to help them navigate unusual issues that may have them worried about providing the best care to clients. To learn more about our policies, call (512) 759-8330.

At Driftwood Recovery, we believe staying connected through a peer-driven network is integral to lasting recovery. We believe that mutually supportive attachment with others can give you the tools you need to reintegrate into everyday life. Engaging in a robust alumni program allows you to connect with your peers and other resources like digital media for lasting recovery. 

Yet, you may question how digital media can offer positive interpersonal connections to thrive in recovery. You have likely heard stories about digital media making people more distant from each other. Despite how interconnected and instant digital media has made us, a great number of people are experiencing feelings of loneliness and isolation. Thus, understanding digital media and its relationship to substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health is important for recovery. 

Connecting Digital Media With Mental Health and SUD

The use of digital media is broad in scope. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in general, digital media is on-demand mass communication that is distributed digitally. For example, digital media can include things like blogs, podcasts, video games, and social media. Therefore, most people’s domains, such as work, school, and health, have been touched by digital media in some way. 

When you use a smartphone, apps, a computer, or tablet, you are engaged in and consuming digital media. Despite the broadness of digital media, at its root, it connects people. Whether that connection is through interactions, sharing information, or creative expression, digital media is a source of connection. However, that source of connection can also expose you to content that advertises and glorifies substance use. Social media, in particular, normalizes the overconsumption of alcohol and drugs as a positive. 

In addition, digital media impacts your mental health. According to Cureus, digital media, like social media, can increase your risk for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Despite being social creatures with the desire and need for companionship, digital media can distort those meaningful sources of connection. Digital media often leads to fewer face-to-face social interactions and can influence how you view and maintain your relationships. Thus, recognizing digital media’s influence on mental health and addiction can highlight its impact on recovery.

The Impact of Social Media on Recovery

Recovering from addiction and co-occurring mental health challenges can be difficult enough on its own. The addition of digital media can further compound stressors that may have contributed to your substance use. Listed below are some of the ways social media can hinder the recovery process:

• Advertisements
  • Romanticizing your past substance use
  • Can trigger cravings and negative emotions
• Information overload and online conflict
  • Increases risk for depression and anxiety
  • Difficulty dealing with stress, anger, and frustration
• Substituting addiction
  • Spending an unhealthy amount of time scrolling on social media
    • Distraction from recovery work
    • Disrupts sleeping patterns
    • Sense of disconnection from others
• Self-perception and fear of missing out (FOMO)
  • Decreases self-esteem 
  • Loneliness and isolation
  • Impairs mental health
  • Increases temptation 

The pervasiveness of social media highlights how digital media can act as a barrier to recovery. However, social media can also be used as a tool to dismantle barriers to sustaining recovery.

Dismantling Recovery Barriers With Digital Media

Some common barriers to maintaining recovery include lack of transportation and access to services, financial instability, and stigma. In addition to traditional recovery barriers, there can be barriers to accessing digital resources. According to JMIR Human Factors, barriers to the uptake and engagement of recovery apps can include:

• Poor access to smartphones, Wi-Fi, and mobile data
• Low motivation

While there are broad structural issues with digital exclusion and marginalization, digital recovery tools can still act as supplementary tools for healing. Through your alumni program, you can find the support needed to effectively utilize holistic intervention in digital technologies. Therefore, access to an active alumni program, both in person and digitally, can provide the tools needed to build connections and dismantle barriers. 

As noted in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, peer-to-peer recovery support is valuable to healing and recovery. Thus, digital sources can help leverage peer-to-peer connections for addiction and mental health recovery. With digital sources like online meetings, social networking sites, and recovery apps, you can find support no matter where you are. 

Some of the ways digital tools like recovery apps can support you include:

• Connection
• Community
• Educational information 
• Motivation
• Accountability
• Monitor progress

Yet, you may question how you can benefit from digital media without being harmed by the pitfalls of social media.

Ways to Build a Positive Relationship With Digital Media

Despite the challenges digital media presents to well-being, it can also support wellness when used thoughtfully. Finding recovery value in digital technologies starts with learning how to build positive relationships with digital media. Listed below are some of the ways you can build a positive relationship with digital technologies:

• Role of digital technology in your life
• Set clear and healthy boundaries
  • Types of media use
  • How much time is spent on digital media
  • Tech-free zones
• Engage in mindful media consumption
  • Seek out positive and educational content
• Practice digital detox days
• Prioritize non-digital activities 

There are many healthy ways that you can engage in digital technologies. With alumni support, you can continue to expand on your personal growth in every domain of your life.

Enhancing Healing Through Digital Connection With Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we know healing takes time; change takes time, and we are committed to your long-term well-being. Therefore, we provide a wide range of support services and resources like our alumni app. No matter where you are, our recovery app can help you stay connected to yourself and your peers to thrive in recovery. We are with you along every step of your journey, from sharing recovery milestones to access to recovery-focused podcasts. Through our sober community, you can find connections for belonging, compassion, understanding, and guidance.

Digital media has become integral to life, from work and school to expression and connection. However, exposure to glorified representations of substance use, information overload, and curated highlight reels of others’ lives can increase your risk for SUD relapse, along with challenges with depression and anxiety. Despite the harm digital media can do to your well-being and recovery, digital technologies like social media and recovery apps can be beneficial to sustaining recovery. You can find connections, motivation, and resources to support your recovery through digital technologies like recovery apps. With support from a vibrant alumni community at Driftwood Recovery, you can learn how to build a positive relationship with digital media. Call us at (512) 759-8330 to learn more today.

A 12-Step program is simultaneously well-known and mysterious to the average person. Many people have seen a 12-Step program parodied in movies and cartoons, so they have an idea that it’s a program that helps those struggling with addiction. However, the inner workings of a 12-Step program are not well known unless a person or their family member has been involved with it. Understanding what are the uniting principles behind 12-Step programs allows those who are struggling or have a family member struggling with an addiction to make informed decisions about their care. 

12-Step programs are effective enough to be essential parts of addiction treatment facilities. Driftwood Recovery is no exception by using a 12-Step program as part of comprehensive addiction treatment. The specific one used for each client depends on their wishes, as clients have the right to choose the programs they feel meet their values the most. No matter which program is chosen, clients can expect to receive peer support and tools to assist them in their recovery journey. 

To further understand the principles that make these programs so effective, we must first examine what a 12-Step program entails. 

What Is a 12-Step Program?

12-Step programs originated from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a spiritual foundation for recovery from alcoholism, so they are named after the program’s Twelve Steps to recovery. It’s designed as a way for a person not just to help themselves but also to help the family, friends, and community that their alcoholism may have harmed. The goal is to encourage clients to help themselves by seeking out and attending meetings. This model has been adapted and used for other addiction recovery groups. The original AA 12-Step program encourages individuals to surrender to a higher power as a source of strength. 

However, some people in the mental health care community do not agree with the original message of being powerless or embracing a higher power, as it’s believed it could isolate or discourage some people from seeking help. Secular versions such as SMART Recovery have been developed as an alternative to the AA 12-Step program model. SMART Recovery, especially, is commonly used in addiction treatment facilities. 

Though different, the goal of providing peer support and personal accountability is still the same regardless of the specific program. 

The Principles of a 12-Step Program

A 12-Step program operates on, of course, twelve guiding principles or traditions to encourage recovery. To summarize, a person utilizing a 12-Step program must:

• Be honest about their addiction and recognize how their behaviors impact themselves and those around them
• Accept that this is a battle they cannot win alone and seek help
• Take responsibility for their actions by making contact with those they are wronged and make sincere amends for any harm caused to them
• Find spiritual support and have faith in a higher being to give them strength to overcome addiction
• Perform acts of service to their peers and community
• Maintain their sobriety by attending meetings and practicing coping skills

Overall, 12-Step programs focus on the power of faith, forgiveness, and personal service as a way to remain in recovery. AA and other 12-Step programs based on it have the philosophy that addiction is a manageable chronic disease but ultimately a lifelong affliction. SMART Recovery, however, does not view addiction as a disease, only as behaviors that can be corrected. Instead of Twelve Steps, SMART Recovery utilizes a four-point program, which involves:

• Building and maintaining motivation so you can resolve to remain sober
• Coping with urges by identifying triggers and reducing or coping with them
• Manage thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to avoid relapse and find self-acceptance
• Living a balanced life by making healthy, realistic changes to promote recovery

Clients may use one or both program types to receive support during their recovery journey. Regardless of which program a client ultimately chooses, multiple studies have shown both programs to be effective for recovery. 

Finding Lifelong Support at Driftwood Recovery

The staff at Driftwood Recovery is just as diverse as its client base. People from all walks of life come to Driftwood Recovery to find a safe and secure place to heal. With a holistic treatment philosophy, great care is taken to be sure a wide range of treatment options is available. This includes the choice to participate in a 12-Step program, SMART Recovery, both, or neither. The power of choice is a fundamental human right. A right that Driftwood Recovery seriously upholds.

If choosing a traditional 12-Step program, clients will have meetings with their fellow peers. These meetings help clients take responsibility for their actions and make honest life changes. The Courageous Family program often goes hand in hand with a 12-Step program. They both work as a way for the client and their family to rebuild their relationships. SMART Recovery also features meetings where clients can practice and discuss the coping skills they have learned in treatment.

Regardless of the program chosen, clients are encouraged to support each other and help their communities. Alumni in the alumni program often become mentors to others. This shows the person being mentored that healthy sober living is possible and gives them a person they can call for help when they need strength. Of course, sober living and social skills are taught as part of treatment. However, going off on your own can be a frightening time that is made better with a supportive mentor. 

The goal of every mental health care and addiction treatment facility is for its clients to be successful in their recovery. With the help of a 12-Step program and SMART Recovery, clients find the community they need to be successful. Though treatment can feel overwhelming, it gets easier with each step forward. 

To an average person, the idea of a 12-Step program conjures images of people sitting in a room as they admit that they have an addiction. The truth is that a 12-Step program is much more complex than that. These programs assist clients in changing their lives and taking responsibility for their actions. For many, it’s another step in their recovery that can bring immense healing. That’s why at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients have access to 12-Step programs as an essential part of addiction treatment. Everyone, including yourself and those you love, can recover from addiction with the right treatment. So don’t wait to start your healing journey; call (512) 759-8330 today.

Personality disorders affect more people than an average person may think. According to a collection of 46 studies spanning six continents, there is a worldwide prevalence of any personality disorder of 7.8%, with higher rates in high-income countries, about 9.6%. Those who struggle with a personality disorder face stigma and distrust. This is the result of many factors, such as media depictions, the difficulty in forming and maintaining relationships, and a societal reluctance to discuss personality disorders. 

Perhaps the hardest part of struggling with a personality disorder is the higher likelihood of also struggling with addiction. Although both conditions are difficult to experience and live with, recovery is possible with the right treatment and willingness to make healthy life changes. Driftwood Recovery works to make the treatment process as smooth as possible for any condition. By providing a supportive and judgment-free environment, clients everywhere can recover in comfort. 

The first step to recovery is recognizing when one needs to seek help. By understanding the link between personality disorders and addiction, it becomes easier to recognize the signs of both. Education is always the key to encouraging those who need to seek help. It has a secondary effect of bringing awareness to those struggling that recovery is never impossible.

What Are Personality Disorders?

Personality disorders are a group of long-lasting mental health conditions. These conditions impose distinct patterns of negative thinking and behaviors on a person. This, in turn, greatly impacts their relationships with others. These conditions cause a person to deviate from societal and cultural norms, which causes great distress. They often impair a person’s ability to function and relate to others, which may affect their social and familial lives. People with personality disorders often struggle with understanding emotions, tolerating distress, or may act impulsively.

Many personality disorders currently exist. They are grouped into three distinct clusters. These are:

• Cluster A: These personality disorders are characterized by a lack of interest or suspicion of others due to a consistent dysfunctional pattern of thinking and behavior. Examples include schizoid personality disorder and paranoid personality disorder.
• Cluster B: These personality disorders are characterized by consistent, unpredictable, over-dramatic behavior and over-emotional thinking patterns. Examples include narcissistic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder (BPD).
• Cluster C: These personality disorders are characterized by consistent dysfunctional patterns of anxious thinking and behaviors. Examples include obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and avoidant personality disorder.

Why Does Addiction Commonly Co-Occur With Personality Disorders?

There are several reasons why addiction is often prevalent in those who struggle with personality disorders. Personality disorders, for one, often bring a lot of stress and anguish to an individual. Since there is quite a lot of stigma surrounding personality disorders, a person may be afraid to reach out for help from a professional. To numb and manage these symptoms, a person may be tempted to self-medicate with substances and drugs, such as alcohol. Over time, the body will become tolerant to these substances. This forces the individual to need more of the substance to achieve the same effect. Once a person is dependent, it almost always leads to an addiction. 

Another reason why addiction is strongly linked to personality disorders is due to some of the common symptoms associated with these conditions. Those who have a personality disorder marked by impulsive or reckless behavior are more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol. Peer pressure and the desire to fit in or be “cool” contribute greatly to the impulse to use these substances. Of course, many drugs and substances are highly addictive and may only take a single use to form a chemical dependency.

There may be biological pathways that may be behind why some people have a higher likelihood of developing both conditions. Genetics that make up our bodies may be a major factor. How our brains are built may also be one, as a person with a slightly different prefrontal cortex may struggle with traits like impulsivity. Negative life experiences, such as trauma, may influence if a person develops one or more conditions. Family history may also be a significant risk factor as well. 

Despite these links, it’s important to remember that both these conditions are treatable with specialized care.

Finding Treatment and Healing at Driftwood Recovery

Driftwood Recovery, as a treatment facility, focuses on treating a wide range of conditions. Most of these conditions are co-occurring and require specialized treatment to address. These are called a dual diagnosis, as all conditions must be addressed at once to be properly treated. Personality disorders and addiction are all too common with a dual diagnosis, along with other conditions such as depression and anxiety. A dual diagnosis is treatable as long as the client is willing to ask for help and accept it.

The exact therapies vary depending on the individual and which addiction and personality disorder they are struggling with. However, some treatments are universal. Finding the underlying cause of both conditions is the first step, along with detoxing from the substance or drug being used. The next step is to treat the cause through various therapies, such as psychotherapy. Then, it teaches the client the skills needed to stay in recovery and achieve success post-treatment through various Driftwood Recovery programs. The courageous family program and alumni program are just a few programs used to build connections and healthy relationships with others. As personality disorders often impact a person’s relationships, such programs are vital to the recovery process. 

Perhaps the most important part of treatment at Driftwood Recovery is the realization that these conditions do not make someone a bad person. It’s a safe place to find understanding and respect, especially from fellow peers who are in the same situation. Though the link between addiction and personality disorders exists, it’s not a set in stone thing. It’s always okay to seek help before these conditions gain a stronghold over your life. So, if you are struggling, don’t wait. Reach out for help today. 

Personality disorders are as varied as the people who struggle with them. These struggles can be severe enough to lead to other conditions, including addiction. Struggling with both a personality disorder and addiction can feel overwhelming, but there is hope. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients find the treatment they need to recover from addiction and manage their mental health disorders. The staff at Driftwood Recovery are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for clients to find healing and understanding. If you or a loved one is struggling, don’t wait to seek help. Call Driftwood Recovery at (512) 759-8330 to begin your recovery journey today. 

Self-medicating is a self-destructive behavior that often leads to addiction. Sadly, it’s an all too common behavior that affects countless people, usually the most isolated and vulnerable among us. There are many reasons why a person may choose to self-medicate instead of seeking help. Stigma, lack of education about treatment, poverty, shame, and many more all contribute to the likelihood of someone self-medicating. Understanding these factors and helping those who are struggling are all ways to prevent addiction and other harmful behaviors from taking root.

That’s why mental health care and addiction treatment facilities, such as Driftwood Recovery, work to educate the public and provide compassionate and quality treatment. Awareness and education are key in helping people recognize when they are self-medicating or have developed an addiction. It’s important to remember that anyone can overcome addiction and harmful behaviors if they are willing to accept help. The more awareness is spread, the better the likelihood that a person can get the help they need.

But before a person can get help, they must recognize what self-medicating looks like. Part of this may also involve examining their families closely and how they cope with difficulties. Sometimes, self-medicating behaviors are learned from our loved ones, which makes it even more difficult to recognize and stop. 

What Is Self-Medicating?

When someone self-medicates, they are using a drug or substance without the oversight of a doctor to relieve a negative symptom, real or perceived. Doctors prescribe medication in the exact amounts needed to keep their patients safe. They also check in with their patients regularly to make sure they are okay. Self-medication is dangerous because, without the oversight of a medical professional, drug and substance abuse can cause serious harm.  

Most people self-medicate to deal with chronic conditions. Those living with chronic pain and anxiety disorders are particularly prone to self-medicating. For example, a person struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may self-medicate by drinking alcohol to numb their nervous system. Someone struggling with pain may self-medicate with opioids. Marijuana is another common substance used for self-medication as a form of stress relief. Regardless of the substance or drug being used, a person will eventually become dependent, which can lead to addiction. 

Being able to recognize the signs of self-medication before it leads to addiction is also essential. Ask yourself the following questions. 

• Do you find yourself turning to a drug or substance to deal with a problem?
• Is it hard to get through a day without using a drug or substances?
• Do you feel as though you must have that drug or substance to function normally?
• When out of a drug or substance, do you panic or feel fear until you can obtain more? 
• Do you use a drug or substance so you don’t have to think about painful memories, feelings, or bodily sensations? 

 Answering yes to any of these questions is a sign that you are self-medicating and should seek help. 

Understanding Why Self-Medicating Often Leads to Addiction

It’s important to remember that addiction is never the result of a moral failing or the mark of a bad person. Addictions work by hijacking essential brain functions and causing them to become chemically dependent on the drug or substance. All substances and drugs will eventually lose their potency over time as the individual develops a tolerance. This forces the user to consume more of the substance or drug to achieve the same effect as before. Over time, this becomes a dependency, which then leads to addiction. 

There is a chemical factor behind addiction that makes it difficult to overcome. However, the psychological factor behind self-medication is perhaps what keeps someone addicted longer. For example, a person struggling with trauma may be afraid to quit drinking because they don’t feel strong enough to face their trauma. Someone else might not know how to relax, so believe sincerely that they cannot relax otherwise without the use of substances or drugs. 

Finding Treatment Before Self-Medicating Leads to Addiction

It’s possible to find help before a negative situation leads to addiction. Preventative mental health care is just as important as medical checkups in terms of maintaining health. There are many treatment facilities, including Driftwood Recovery, that can help someone manage their conditions and stress before they are tempted to self-medicate. Like doctors, mental health care professionals are bound by laws to protect privacy. Those who worry that asking for help may cause problems have nothing to fear. Mental health care professionals will advise, not judge, your situation. Their goal is to lessen your struggles and direct you to the resources you need to seek help. 

If someone has already developed an addiction, they can still receive help. Enrolling in a specialized treatment program is the best way to recover from addiction, as clients will have access to vital services such as medical detox and medication management. There, clients also learn skills that negate the need for self-medicating and keep them in recovery. For example, they learn to build a support network or discover exciting sober activities that give them joy. These greatly reduce the urge to self-medicate during and after treatment. 

No matter if you are currently addicted, on the cusp of addiction, or want to prevent it, help will always be available to you. So don’t allow yourself or a loved one to continue with this struggle alone. No problem is too big or too small to be solved, especially at Driftwood Recovery.

Self-medicating is a harmful behavior that many people engage in. Using drugs or substances without the oversight of a doctor can result in several problems, such as injury, addiction, or even death. People often engage in self-medicating to feel relief from pain, both physical and psychological. Treating this underlying pain gives clients the means to find healing so that they can begin a healthier and sober life. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients find the comprehensive and compassionate care needed to treat a wide range of conditions, bringing relief and healing to countless people. Anyone can recover from their mental health condition, including yourself and your loved ones. So don’t wait, call (512) 759-8330 today.

Healthcare workers may experience significant stress and pressure on the job. Many individuals in healthcare experience burnout due to ongoing work-related stress. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Nearly half of health workers (46%) reported often feeling burned out in 2022, up from 32% in 2018.” Chronic stress and emotional burnout contribute to the development of mental health disorders. Driftwood Recovery protects staff members by ensuring they have the resources to address any potential mental health disorder or concern related to overall wellness. 

Healthcare Workers Have an Increased Risk of Mental Health Issues

Individuals working in healthcare have an increased risk of mental health issues due to stressors within the workplace, including long hours, heavy workloads, and exposure to traumatic or emotionally upsetting events. Many people feel socially isolated, emotionally burnt out, and overwhelmed by career expectations. In addition, healthcare workers interact daily with individuals experiencing physical or mental health distress. The emotional toll may cause people to struggle with everyday activities and personal responsibilities. 

A few other potential causes of mental health disorders include: 

• Interpersonal conflict 
• Chronic health issues 
• Genetic predisposition 
• Trauma or abuse 
• Major life changes 
• Financial distress 
• Lack of social support 
• Poor work-life balance 
• Environmental factors 

Most people who develop mental health disorders have multiple factors impacting their ability to manage stress and maintain emotional stability. Some healthcare workers find it difficult to reach out for help if they begin to struggle. According to the Medical Clinics of North America, “A high proportion of health professionals (HPs) neglect their self-care [. . .] and, consequently, find it difficult to ask for help when their distress results in a mental disorder.” Many people are not sure how to recognize if they have a mental health disorder. 

What Are the Primary Warning Signs of a Mental Health Disorder?

Knowing the potential warning signs of a mental health disorder can ensure healthcare workers seek help if they notice changes in thoughts or behavior. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Mental illnesses are disorders, ranging from mild to severe, that affect a person’s thinking, mood, and/or behavior.” 

The signs of mental health disorders look very different from person to person. However, some of the most common warning signs include: 

• Mood swings 
• Fatigue 
• Memory issues 
• Unusual irritability 
• Difficulty concentrating
• Anxiety 
• Depressive episodes 
• Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected from others  
• Feeling hopeless 
• Dissociative episodes

Healthcare workers may face additional scrutiny and stigmas. The general public generally does not think about the mental health of the individuals responsible for providing physical and psychological treatment. It may not occur to some people that their therapist or doctor may struggle to emotionally process difficult or traumatic events they experience, witness, or hear about at work. In addition, healthcare workers often feel concerned for their careers and may avoid getting help if they fear how it may impact their financial security. 

The Risk of Developing a Mental Health Disorder

Anyone can develop a mental health disorder. Healthcare workers and others working in high-demand environments have an increased risk of being diagnosed with a mental health disorder. The pressure to provide continuous, high-quality care in stressful situations may cause healthcare workers to become anxious or depressed. Healthcare workers may struggle to set clear boundaries to protect them against emotional burnout and other factors that contribute to the development of mental health disorders. A healthy work-life balance is the best way to decrease the risk of mental health disorders. 

How to Avoid a Mental Health Disorder

Preventative measures may help people avoid mental health disorders. Some actions people take to improve overall health and wellness include: 

• Prioritizing self-care 
• Practice gratitude and maintain positivity 
• Avoiding alcohol and other substances 
• Setting realistic personal and professional goals 
• Maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise, and other healthy routines 
• Creating a solid support system 
• Practicing mindfulness in everyday activities 

Individuals with more risk factors may require additional preventative measures to protect their mental health. Driftwood Recovery supports each staff member to ensure they feel comfortable maintaining positive mental health, including setting healthy schedules and work boundaries. 

Steps Healthcare Workers Take to Protect Their Mental Health

Driftwood Recovery supports staff who want to improve their mental or physical health. Everyone has different needs, and management works with staff members to ensure their needs are met. 

A few steps healthcare workers take to stay healthy include: 

• Monitoring potential risk factors and addressing them whenever possible (e.g., reducing everyday stressors by practicing meditation) 
• Taking every work break 
• Seeking professional mental health counseling 
• Sharing struggles and concerns with family and friends 

Healthcare workers are responsible for providing high-quality, compassionate service to vulnerable individuals. Prioritizing self-care and preventing mental health issues ensures that healthcare workers can provide the best treatment to their clients. 

People often have difficulty recognizing the warning signs of mental health disorders and other health issues. An outside perspective can help people identify if they need professional assistance managing their mental health. Depression and other mental health issues are common among healthcare workers. However, the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders may be difficult for people to recognize, even as the side effects interfere with their ability to function. Driftwood Recovery understands the importance of supporting staff who experience mental health symptoms. Healthcare workers deserve to feel valued and heard when they struggle to maintain productivity at work. To learn more about our facility and policies, call us today at (512) 759-8330.

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders. Healthcare workers have an increased risk of developing mental health disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and other depressive disorders. According to the International Journal of Nursing Studies, “The prevalence of depression was estimated at 30% in a nationwide survey of more than 10,000 healthcare workers [. . .] Preventing, and actively managing, depression in healthcare settings is therefore a priority.” Living with depression while working in the healthcare field increases the risk of emotional burnout. Mental health support is essential, and Driftwood Recovery ensures that clinicians and support staff have access to emotional and mental health support. 

Risk Factors for Depression in Healthcare Workers

Individuals who work in healthcare frequently experience stressful situations and may hear, witness, or experience traumatic events at work. Personal stressors may also cause people to experience stress in the workplace. For example, healthcare workers experiencing relationship conflicts may have difficulty managing workplace stressors or maintaining a healthy work-life balance. 

Some common risk factors for depression include: 

• Work-related stress, including exposure to traumatic or emotionally distressing events 
• A poor work-life balance 
• History of mental health disorders 
• Chronic physical illness or pain 
• Relationship problems 
• Social isolation or lack of a support system 
• Physical and emotional exhaustion 
• Irregular or insufficient sleep caused by rotating work shifts or other factors 
• Financial instability 
• Unhealthy family environment 

Any life stressors have the potential to cause depressive symptoms. However, trauma, chronic stress, and persistent physical or mental illness may increase a person’s risk of becoming depressed. Working while experiencing depression makes it difficult for people to function and may reduce the quality of life for some individuals. 

Living With Depression While Working in a High-Stress Environment

Individuals working in healthcare often have long shifts where they engage with coworkers and people experiencing physical or emotional distress. The pressure of working in a high-stress environment stops some individuals from effectively managing depressive disorders. 

Depression causes a wide range of symptoms and side effects, including: 

• Sleep disturbances 
• Chronic fatigue 
• Difficulty concentrating 
• Memory problems 
• Feel persistently sad, anxious, or helpless 
• Slowed speech or movements
• Changes to appetite causing significant weight loss or gain 
• Physical symptoms, including body aches 
• Behavioral changes and mood swings 

The symptoms and side effects of depression may impact a person’s ability to complete workplace responsibilities. Struggling to meet obligations or expectations at work can worsen depressive symptoms. Healthcare workers benefit from getting professional treatment to manage symptoms of MDD and other depressive disorders. Driftwood Recovery prioritizes staff safety and provides support services to help employees manage depression and maintain positive mental health. 

Managing Symptoms at Work While Living With Depression

Working and managing symptoms of depression takes dedication, a willingness to ask for help and careful planning. People often have to rely on their loved ones and coworkers to assist them in overcoming challenges related to depression and other mental health disorders. The severity of symptoms may fluctuate daily, making it essential for healthcare workers to have a solid support system. People must develop a strategy for reducing the impact of depression on their work while establishing and maintaining positive routines. 

A few of the ways healthcare workers manage depression while working include: 

• Taking advantage of mental health support services, including individual therapy and support groups 
• Utilizing employee assistance programs (EAPs) 
• Practicing self-care during and after work 
• Mindfulness-based exercises and other stress-reduction techniques 
• Setting clear boundaries to establish a work-life balance 
• Delegating work tasks whenever possible 
• Engaging in healthy activities and hobbies

How people manage their depressive symptoms varies depending on their resources, responsibilities, and personal preferences. Some forms of depression may require prescription medication or other treatments to make symptoms manageable. 

Healthcare Professionals Living With Depression Benefit From Support Resources

Support resources allow people to continue working while healing and addressing the underlying issues contributing to the depression. The type of disorder a person is diagnosed with impacts how they manage the symptoms. For example, individuals with major depressive disorder may need to take more breaks during work or take vacation days during more severe depressive episodes, while individuals with postpartum depression may need to attend treatment programs and take medication. Many treatment programs and services accommodate individuals who have work responsibilities.  

Setting Clear Work-Life Boundaries

One of the most important things a person can do to manage depression while working is to set clear work-life boundaries with supervisors, coworkers, and family members. Some people may even choose to transfer to other healthcare positions that give them additional time and space to focus on their mental health. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to express if they need support or want to adjust their responsibilities to accommodate treatment for depression or other conditions. Staff members have the freedom to set clear boundaries between home and work. The management team provides guidance and access to EAPs to ensure staff feel supported and empowered as they navigate treatment for depression or other mental health issues. 

Depression is prevalent and manifests in many different ways. Healthcare workers must support and uplift clients and coworkers. Being positive and meeting workplace responsibilities while experiencing depressive episodes may cause significant emotional distress or physical health side effects. Depression impacts all areas of a person’s life, including relationships and work productivity. Healthcare workers have high-stress jobs, and this may increase the severity of mental health disorders, including depression. Driftwood Recovery ensures staff members feel comfortable speaking up if they need mental health support. Management checks in with staff daily to ensure they feel comfortable in their position. To learn more about our facility and how we support staff, call us today at (512) 759-8330.

Entering recovery is a beautiful and often exciting thing. The journey has been filled with peaks and valleys that have challenged and inspired resilience. You join a growing community of individuals who have put in the work to reach early and long-term recovery. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 7 in 10 (72.2 percent or 20.9 million) U.S. adults are recovering or in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). However, on your recovery journey post-treatment, it is important to remain aware of and manage cravings and triggers throughout recovery.

You can get caught up in the excitement of early and long-term recovery. In the excitement of recovery, you may overlook the tools you learned in treatment to manage cravings and triggers. Recovery is a lifelong process, so cravings and triggers do not go away or end with your treatment program. The challenges of cravings and triggers can remain with you and disrupt your well-being when they are left to fester. Therefore, understanding your cravings and triggers can be invaluable to helping you maintain your recovery throughout your life.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know that fostering healthy attachments through connection is vital to building a strong foundation in recovery. Recovery is not something that should be done alone. Rather, recovery should happen within a community to guide you through the successes and challenges of recovery. With an attachment-based approach, you can find the connection and support you need in a sober community to thrive. Through our alumni program, you can find a sober community built on compassion, understanding, and guidance no matter where you are on your recovery journey.

Yet, you may still worry about the thought of continuing to have cravings in recovery. Having concerns about how you will maintain your recovery independently with cravings is understandable. However, you are not alone in your recovery or the stumbles and leaps you may make along your journey. You have a vibrant alumni program here to help you navigate this next leg of your recovery journey. Therefore, increasing your understanding of cravings and triggers can help you learn how to sustain your recovery in your daily life.

What Are Cravings in Addiction?

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), cravings are a strong, urgent, or abnormal desire for a particular substance or activity. Many types of cravings exist, including food cravings. However, cravings related to addiction can be significantly devastating in active addiction and recovery when left unaddressed. As noted in JAMA Psychiatry, drug cue reactivity and craving are an important set of underlying mechanisms and predictors of drug use and relapse. 

Cravings encompass a complex psychological phenomenon in which you experience a seemingly insatiable desire to consume the addictive substance or substances. Yet, what drives cravings to reengage with substances in recovery? For many people, cravings are often associated with cues or triggers. Therefore, addressing the relationship between cravings and triggers can provide insight into how cravings and triggers together can impact your recovery.

The Relationship Between Cravings and Triggers

First, understanding what triggers are can highlight the significance of their relationship with cravings. According to Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, a trigger is a stimulus that elicits a reaction. Moreover, as a key element of cravings in addiction, triggers are the stimuli that trigger or activate drug-related memories. 

The activation of drug-related memories connects to the same reward anticipation and craving response that occurred during active addiction. Most often, triggers are thought of as external stimuli that induce a reaction. However, triggers can also be enacted internally as well. 

While everyone has triggers that are unique to them, some of the cues that can trigger cravings include:

• External triggers
  • Locations you associate with past substance use, like bars, clubs, and other places where you used substances
  • Holidays and celebrations where substances like alcohol are readily available
  • High-stress situations and relationships like work stress, low income, and family conflicts
• Internal triggers
  • Boredom
  • Challenges with mental health like depression and anxiety
  • Physical discomfort or pain

Looking at the external and internal triggers showcases the many ways cravings can develop or reemerge from triggers.

Impact of Cravings and Triggers on Recovery

When triggers are ignored or unknown, it can increase cravings and your risk for relapse. Although it can feel scary or overwhelming, cravings are a normal part of recovery. Thus, recovery and relapse prevention is less about preventing cravings and more about learning how to effectively respond to cravings and triggers. Therefore, being aware of your cravings and triggers allows you to develop healthy coping strategies to reduce and process your cravings without relapsing.

Ways to Manage Cravings and Triggers

Cravings and triggers do not have to be the end of your recovery. With support, you can build tools to effectively address cravings and triggers in your life during and post-treatment. Listed below are some of the ways you can learn to identify and manage your triggers for cravings in your daily life:

• Keep a journal of your triggers
• Set healthy boundaries with your loved ones
• Identify and build a care plan for unavoidable high-risk situations
• Reach out for support from your support network

Thus, tips on managing your cravings and triggers highlight the value of your sober community in alumni to help you navigate recovery.

The Value of Continuing Support at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we know access to a peer-driven network can give you the tools you need to sustain recovery in the face of cravings and triggers. With a strong and vibrant sober community, our alumni program offers the value of shared experiences, accountability, and encouragement to guide you as you learn to live independently. It is important to remember that independent does not mean alone. Through our alumni program, you are never alone as you lean on and act as a source of support for your community. 

Unaddressed triggers can contribute to cravings that can increase your risk for relapse. However, relapse from cravings and triggers can be prevented or diminished when you are aware of the external and internal cues that trigger your cravings. With greater self-awareness, you can identify and build a plan of care to manage your triggers. Learning how to manage triggers to minimize addiction cravings in recovery can feel daunting, but with support, you can build the tools you need to sustain recovery. Therefore, through our active alumni program, you can find guidance, accountability, and encouragement in a community of peers who are taking their own unique but shared journey toward recovery. To learn more, call Driftwood Recovery at (512) 759-8330 today.

For many people, the underlying causes of addiction are a mystery. Addiction is often falsely considered to be a result of a moral failing or as a form of karmic retribution. However, this is simply not true. Nobody deserves an addiction, and addictions are never the result of karma or because a person is inherently bad. Instead, there are underlying causes of addiction that have been noticed and studied by mental health care professionals. Understanding these causes encourages those struggling with addiction to seek help, as well as de-stigmatizing mental health care in general.

At Driftwood Recovery, education is half the battle of addiction treatment. Helping clients discover the underlying causes of addiction in themselves and their families is one of the first steps of treatment. Some of these causes are beyond a person’s control, while others require life changes to manage. But ultimately, these underlying causes can be managed with the right treatment and support. Once this has been accomplished, clients can then continue on their recovery journey. 

It’s not just important to understand these underlying causes of addiction for treatment. Understanding them also protects your sobriety and prevents relapse. 

Common Causes of Addiction

Addiction is often the result of pain. It can be psychological pain, such as a person living with trauma or struggling with stress. Physical pain, especially chronic pain conditions like complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), can also result in addiction. Nobody wants to be in pain, and a person will attempt to eliminate or reduce their pain if possible. This leads to self-medicating behaviors. 

It first starts with recreational substance use, which can quickly turn into a dependency once the body becomes more tolerant. Drugs such as opioids and benzodiazepines, though used to treat medical conditions or reduce pain, can also be highly addictive. Those who carefully take these medications, even with the oversight of a medical professional, still risk developing an addiction. Some people may abuse substances to get an edge at school or work, especially if they have an undiagnosed mental health disorder.

It’s not just pain that is one of the causes of addiction. Peer pressure and a person’s social group can also play a significant role in addiction. Human beings have a psychological drive to want to fit in and be part of a group. This drive, coupled with the pressure to use substances, often makes some feel as though substance abuse is expected of them. It’s especially true for youth, who are frequently encouraged to consume alcohol by their peers. 

Addiction is also a result of unhealthy coping mechanisms. Stress, loss, and pressure are all difficulties a person will experience in their lives. Some can deal with these difficulties healthily and productively. Others, especially if they have never learned healthy coping skills, will turn to substance use. There is a psychological component to this as well, and many may believe that they have to abuse substances or they cannot relax. Treating the psychological causes of addiction is just as important as the biological aspects of it.

Family and Addiction

Sometimes, the underlying causes of addiction are out of a person’s control. Factors such as sex, environment, genetics, and more will influence a person’s likelihood of developing an addiction. For example, alcohol will have different effects on the body depending on the sex of the person. Some genetic markers may be responsible for a person’s likelihood of addiction. Family history is also one of the underlying causes of addiction, especially when it comes to how a child is raised. 

We learn as children how to notice social cues and behave in society by watching their family and peers. Children who experience early life stressors in their families, such as abuse or warfare, are more likely to develop addictions as adolescents and adults. We also watch how our parents and family members react to and use substances. Children who observe unhealthy substance use habits are likely to repeat these habits later in life. For example, alcohol is frequently abused for stress relief. Children who see their parents abuse alcohol in this way may assume that this is the “proper” way to deal with stress. 

It’s important to remember that these underlying causes of addiction don’t always result in an addiction. A person is not doomed to become addicted later in life. It may mean that they have a stronger likelihood of doing so, but it’s never set in stone. Understanding these underlying causes of addiction allows individuals to prevent addiction in their lives by seeking professional mental health care advice. 

Treating the Underlying Causes of Addiction

The best way to treat addiction is to prevent it. Educating the general public about addiction awareness and prevention is just one way to help those who are at risk. Another is to encourage those aware of possible causes of addiction in their lives to seek the advice of a mental health care professional. There, they can learn preventative measures, such as practicing healthy coping skills and diagnosing any conditions they may be struggling with. It’s always okay to seek preventative help, as no problem is ever too small.

Driftwood Recovery focuses on treating the underlying causes of addiction, especially conditions such as depression and chronic pain. Clients also involve their families in the treatment process through the courageous family program. With the oversight of medical professionals, clients have access to comprehensive and compassionate treatment. Those who complete treatment then have access to the alumni program, which further promotes success. 

Remember, you are more than your addiction, and the choices you make during and after treatment can inspire others to seek help as well. The more we work to treat and help those struggling with addiction, the healthier our communities become. 

Addiction never occurs as an isolated incident. There is always a cause or an underlying factor behind addiction that causes someone to abuse substances. Many times, it’s the result of pain and trauma. Other times, it comes down to factors beyond a person’s control, such as genetics and family history. Regardless of its causes, addiction can be treated, and recovery is possible for anyone. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients find quality and compassionate treatment for their addiction and other conditions. Nobody deserves an addiction, especially you and your loved ones. To learn how Driftwood Recovery can help you begin your recovery journey, reach out today by calling (512) 759-8330.