Resources for Adult Children of Addicted Parents

Resources for Adult Children of Addicted Parents

by with No Comment addictionmental healthRecovery

Just like other chronic diseases, addiction is a disease that affects the entire family. Addiction changes the addict and, as a result, impacts how they interact with their family. The entire household is changed by addiction. The effects of having an addicted parent can be felt long after childhood and long after the parent gets sober. Our parents set the tone for the relationships we form throughout the rest of our lives. Dysfunction in these relationships can create dysfunction in our later relationships. 

Adult children of addicted parents may find that they struggle more in their relationships than those who grew up without addiction in their homes. At The Last House, we understand the devastating effects of addiction on the family and we know how those effects can linger. We know the value of working through these effects and are happy to help you explore the available resources. 

What Does It Mean To Be Adult Children of Addicted Parents?

Whether your parent has found their way to recovery or not, you may still be feeling the effects of their addiction. Adult children of addicted parents grow up with at least some level of dysfunction and it affects how they interact with the rest of the world. Many who are adult children of addicted parents find themselves struggling with addiction and others will find themselves in relationships with addicts.

The children of addicts often engage in many unhealthy behaviors in relationships. They often are unable to set healthy boundaries with others, put the needs of others before their own, and engage in people-pleasing.  Adult Children of Alcoholics/Dysfunctional Families (ACA) is a twelve-step program that offers children of addicts a place to heal from growing up with an addict and the associated dysfunction. ACA describes itself as “a safe, nonjudgmental environment that allows us to grieve our childhoods and conduct an honest inventory of ourselves and our family—so we may (i) identify and heal core trauma, (ii) experience freedom from shame and abandonment, and (iii) become our own loving parents”.  Through participation in peer support groups such as ACA and working with a therapist, many adult children of addicted parents can heal. 

Examples of How Addiction Affects Family Members

As children, we learn about attachment, nurturing, and socialization from our families. If one or both of our parents struggle with addiction, the way that we interact with other individuals will be impacted. Growing up with an addicted parent can lead to unmet developmental needs. The chaos of an addicted parent often leads to the disruption of attachment, roles, routines, communication, finances, and socialization. Because addiction requires so many secrets and lies, it can be hard for a child to understand what is and is not real. Additionally, many adult children of addicted parents report having to grow up much faster to take on the responsibilities that their parent was not fulfilling or to deal with the abuse that occurred. The effects of being the child of an addicted parent are long-lasting and often require a great deal of therapeutic work to overcome. 

Why You Should Live In a Sober Living House

Located throughout West Los Angeles, The Last House is a network of structured sober living homes. We believe in enabling our clients to have a meaningful life. The Last House will provide you with the tools to participate in your recovery.  Activities such as service commitments, sober parties, conventions, dances, and house outings are all a part of helping you learn how to have fun in sobriety. As active members of the Los Angeles Sober Living community, our staff understands what it takes to stay sober and can support you in your journey. So, if you’re wondering how to create your sober life, The Last House is here to help. 

How to Learn Relapse Prevention Coping Skills

How to Learn Relapse Prevention Coping Skills

by with No Comment addictionmental healthRecoverySuccess Storiestreatment

Originally, relapse prevention was a separate aspect of addiction treatment, not combined with the standard treatment, but something reserved for after… later. This practice was in place for many years, before relapse prevention was integrated into addiction treatment, giving addicts the opportunity to practice these prevention measures in a controlled environment like rehab.

Relapse prevention coping skills are the skills necessary for individuals to learn to maintain sobriety after leaving addiction treatment. Through this process individuals are able to learn and practice these relapse prevention coping skills to make them habits prior to their return or next real world trigger. 

The Last House integrates relapse prevention coping skills into their addiction treatment programs by providing real world experiences for practice and supportive community. To see how we utilize these coping skills and to see how we can support your sustainable recovery, contact us today at The Last House.

What Are Relapse Prevention Coping Skills?

Relapse prevention skills are a combination of mental and physically habitual practices you can put into place to monitor your personal mental health. This can be done by addressing the following things: fear, redefining fun, learning from setbacks, and becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. These mental tasks can help prevent individuals from falling into one of these three forms of relapse- emotional, mental, or physical.

Physically, there are several relapse prevention techniques that you can put into place in your daily life that will help you maintain long-term sobriety and mental strength. Being aware of your surroundings, maintaining a healthy diet and rest habits, participating in self-care activities, and accessing your support system are physical things you can do to keep your mind and body strong. 

How Do You Learn Relapse Prevention Coping Skills?

In addiction treatment you will be taught many helpful relapse prevention tools and develop a relapse prevention plan. For example, one of the tools you may be taught in treatment is “HALT: Ask yourself if you are Hungry? Angry? Lonely? Or Tired? Oftentimes being hungry, angry, lonely, or tired can trigger a desire to use, and therefore it is important to identify [and] address the underlying need instead of using a substance.” Or even “SOBER: Use the SOBER brief meditation when feeling a desire to use: Stop, Observe, Breathe, Expand, Respond.” 

While these tools may be specifically taught in addiction treatment, it is also important to remember that through your relapse prevention plan, you may have a recovery wallet card, a support network, or self-help groups that you can attend to support you through this time.

How Can the Last House Help Me With Relapse Prevention?

Our addiction treatment program can support you at any point in the addiction treatment process. Our clients learn to manage their addiction in a safe, fun, and program-oriented setting where they can learn to focus on their purpose, progress, and building the foundation for their future.

At The Last House we offer addiction treatment through sober living communities and our clinical campus where men are building a sober community through shared experiences and connections. And we don’t just focus on addiction. We work with our clients to help them manage all their mental health needs through a holistic approach to developing a stable base of development and lifelong achievement.

Through our sober programs, clients are taught relapse prevention skills and are given the opportunity to use them in real-life situations and group sober outings. Through this process clients can experience the triggers and struggles of addiction while surrounded by a support system of men working together towards sustainable recovery.

Contact The Last House today to see how we can support your recovery.

Different Mental Health Resources for Men

Mental Health Resources for Men | The Last House

by with No Comment addictionmental healthRecoverySuccess Storiestreatment

Your mental health can be impacted by a great number of things within and outside of your control. Asking for help is something within your control.

The Last House provides mental health treatment and sober living in Los Angeles, California. Our mission is focused on providing a safe, fun, and program-oriented setting that helps our clients achieve their mental health and life foals. Contact us if you are ready to make a change for the betterment of your future, today.

What Is Mental Health?

Mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being and just like physical health, many illnesses and physical situations can impact our mental health.

For a long time, there has been a stigma about mental illness and getting therapeutic treatment or counseling has been judged or mocked. But now, mental health initiatives are working to combat the stigma around mental health. 

Mental Health America released a 5-minute Guide to Men’s Mental Health, citing 6 million men struggling with depression in the United States. It also indicates that 1 in 5 men will struggle alcohol dependency in their lifetime and that the suicide rates for men are far higher than those of women. These mental illnesses are just that, illnesses that require medical treatment. 

If you are unsure if you or a loved one are struggling with a mental health disorder, the National Institute of Mental Health indicates the following warning signs: 

  • Anger, irritability, or aggressiveness
  • Noticeable changes in mood, energy level, or appetite
  • Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
  • Difficulty concentrating, feeling restless, or on edge
  • Increased worry or feeling stressed
  • Misuse of alcohol and/or drugs
  • Sadness or hopelessness
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Feeling flat or having trouble feeling positive emotions
  • Engaging in high-risk activities
  • Aches, headaches, digestive problems without a clear cause
  • Obsessive thinking or compulsive behavior
  • Thoughts or behaviors that interfere with work, family, or social life
  • Unusual thinking or behaviors that concern other people

If you are experiencing these behavior changes or have noticed these warning signs in a loved one, contact The Last House today for an evaluation. Our experienced and compassionate team are ready to support individuals on a safe path of recovery.

What Are the Different Mental Health Resources for Men?

Men are less likely to get mental health support than women due to social norms, a reluctance to talk, and because of downplaying symptoms. Knowing this, rehabilitation and mental health facilities have worked to develop interactive opportunities for men to access mental health resources.

In TIP56, a treatment improvement protocol from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a 200+ page document on improving mental health practices for men, multiple mental health professionals pooled their knowledge to create and improve mental health treatment for men. Mental health resources like therapy, according to TIP56, are best provided in group therapy, single-gender groups for men, group activities that promote community building, individual therapy, and family and couples therapy are recommended.

How Can The Last House Help?

The Last House provides a continuum of support through multiple male mental-health focused programs. Through sober living, activity based therapeutic outings, and our clinical campus, our clients have the opportunity to develop a positive mental health structure focused on achieving their goals and sobriety.

Our 2020 Outcomes Study showed that of the respondents we supported over the last several years, 87% had maintained sobriety and 80% of those individuals had been sober for over a year at the time of survey. Our former clients indicated greatly improved family relationships, employment statuses, satisfaction with life, educational goals, and emotional wellbeing. 

Contact us today to see how The Last House can be your first step on the journey of recovery.

What Are the Benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous?

What Are the Benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous?

by with No Comment addictionmental healthRecoverytreatment

Among the many resources, you will find in trying to get sober, Alcoholics Anonymous is one that you will likely hear mentioned repeatedly. Founded more than eighty years ago, Alcoholics Anonymous has been instrumental for millions getting sober. A quick look at the program helps us to understand the benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous. In addition to it being a free and accessible program, Alcoholics Anonymous has meetings worldwide multiple times per day. In fact, meetings may be found every hour of the day in some major metropolitan areas. Finding the right Alcoholics Anonymous group for yourself is a little bit like trying on clothes. You will want to try out multiple groups until you find one that suits you. Each group has its own personality.  At The Last House, we know the importance that twelve-step groups can play in long-term recovery. We are happy to help you explore the Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in the area and help you find the right one for you. 

What Are the Benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous?

One of the reasons you will hear so much about Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step recovery programs is their availability and accessibility.  In 2012, Alcoholics Anonymous estimated nearly 64,000 groups with almost 1.5 million members in the United States and Canada. But it’s not just about the numbers; it’s about the program. Alcoholics Anonymous has its foundation in service. One of the basic tenets of Alcoholics Anonymous is that you have to “give it away to keep it.” This means that to keep your own sobriety, you have to help someone else get or keep theirs.  By attending meetings regularly, you will build a support network and become a part of the recovery community. In a survey of its members, Alcoholics Anonymous found that roughly one-third of its members have one to five years of continuous sobriety and attend two to four meetings per week. It is this regular attendance at meetings that seems to unlock the benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous. 

What Are Other Ways to Ensure Long-Term Recovery?

Ensuring long-term recovery involves more than just applying the benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous teachings. Long-term recovery requires change at all levels. Many who find their way to recovery see that they must change the people they interact with, the job at which they work, and/or the home they live in. While not all must change everything, the point is to change those things that may trigger you into a relapse. If you associate your friends with using drugs and alcohol, you may need to stop spending time with those friends. Likewise, if you’re living in a home where drug and alcohol use is the norm, you may need to find a place to live that better supports your sobriety. And if your place of employment also happens to employ your dealer, you’ll want to move onto a new job opportunity. The goal is to structure your life and your surroundings in a way that supports long-term recovery. While you can go to several Alcoholics Anonymous meetings each day, you also have to learn how to live outside of the meetings. 

Why You Should Live in a Sober Living House

The Last House is a network of structured sober living homes in the heart of West Los Angeles. We believe in providing our clients with the tools to have a meaningful life and participate in their sobriety.  Activities such as service commitments, sober parties, conventions, dances, and house outings are all a part of helping you learn how to have fun in sobriety.  Composed of active members of the Los Angeles Sober Living community, our staff is familiar with many recovery support groups in the area. So if you’re wondering how to create your sober life, The Last House is here to help. 

What’s Pink Clouding in Addiction Recovery?

What’s Pink Clouding in Addiction Recovery?

by with No Comment addictionmental healthRecovery

Getting sober results in a significant number of changes physically and mentally. After years of numbing yourself with drugs and alcohol, you will begin to view yourself and the world around you differently. Often in the early stages of recovery, you can feel particularly energetic and confident about your ability to stay sober. It’s a bit like how you might feel anytime you begin a new habit or make a significant change in your life. It’s what pink clouding is; the time in early recovery where you are in the honeymoon phase of your sobriety. It’s a great time and you can use the increased energy to propel yourself into long-term recovery. It’s also a time when you need to be aware of the dangers of relapse. At The Last House, we understand the various stages of recovery and we know how to support you as you pass through them on the road to long-term recovery. 

What’s Pink Clouding in Addiction Recovery?

You may hear others in peer support recovery meetings refer to it and wonder what pink clouding is. The early stages of recovery are often referred to as the early abstinence stage, but you may also hear it called the honeymoon or pink cloud stage. Most often, you will hear it come with a warning attached because it’s a stage that won’t last. 

During pink clouding, you have increased energy, intense feelings, increased optimism, and mood swings. However, you may also experience memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and mild paranoia. Sometimes the pink cloud can make you feel overconfident in your recovery, putting you at risk for a relapse. This is especially true if you also have a hard time prioritizing activities in your life or continue to resist the changes needed to stay sober. The pink cloud can be a very happy time in your recovery, but it is crucial to know the risks of relapse during this time. 

Tips to Ensure Long-Term Sobriety

Getting sober and staying sober are two different things and require different skills. If you think of getting sober as the process of physically breaking free of your addiction, then staying sober is all about what goes on in your head. But what’s the pink clouding effect on long-term sobriety? Well, that pink cloud can sometimes take you from confident to overconfident in your sobriety, which can have negative consequences. If you become overconfident, you might start to believe that you don’t need to work at staying sober. You might also begin to think that you can safely be around others who are using. However, long-term sobriety takes work and maintenance. It’s important to know that you will likely encounter something that makes you want to drink or use drugs. Your job is to maintain your recovery so that you can face those triggers without using them. It’s vital to remember that recovery is a marathon, not a sprint. 

How The Last House Can Help You or a Loved One Today 

If you or a loved one have been using drugs, you’ll find many options available for the road to recovery. The Last House is here to help keep you or them on that road. We are a network of sober living homes in the heart of West Los Angeles. We believe in providing our clients with the tools to have a meaningful life and participate in their sobriety.  We understand all about the pink cloud and the other stages of recovery. Activities such as service commitments, sober parties, conventions, dances, and house outings are all a part of helping you learn how to have fun in sobriety. So if you’re creating a sober life or supporting someone who is, The Last House is here to help. Contact us today. 

The Negative Effects of Long-Term Alcohol Use

The Negative Effects of Long-Term Alcohol Use

by with No Comment addictionmental healthRecoverySuccess Storiestreatment

Whether you’re actively drinking or are sober, you may wonder about the effects of alcohol on your body. The ads for alcohol suggest that those drinking alcohol are in the best shape of their lives. However, those who have consumed alcohol for an extended time know that the effects of long-term alcohol use are anything but healthy. Alcohol affects every part of your body. 

Long-term alcohol use leads to chronic diseases, injuries, and even death. It impacts more than your physical health too and can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. The Last House is here to help you learn more about how to help your mind and your body heal from the effects of long-term alcohol use. 

Is Alcohol Addictive?

While many debate whether alcohol is addictive, the facts are that the body does become dependent on it with regular use. Your body strives to keep itself in balance. When you drink alcohol regularly, the balance is shifted, and your body changes things to adapt. You don’t realize it as it’s happening, but if you stop drinking alcohol, your body will let you know. If you drink alcohol daily and stop, you will feel like your body is punishing you for stopping. Your symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, headache, sweating, anxiety, and even seizures. Your body is not punishing you, but it is trying to learn how to function without alcohol. In addition to the physical effects of long-term alcohol use, the pathways in your brain are also impacted. It can take months for your brain to return to its pre-alcohol functioning. Knowing this can help you understand why the first several months of sobriety can feel like an emotional roller coaster. 

What Are the Effects of Long-Term Alcohol Use on the Body?

Alcohol is the bad party gift that just keeps on giving. Short-term alcohol use increases the risk for motor vehicle accidents, violence, risky sexual behaviors, and more.  Excessive alcohol use led to about ninety-five thousand deaths and nearly three million years of potential life lost from 2011-2015. Almost everyone knows that regular alcohol use can damage your liver, leading to cirrhosis or other chronic illness. But it doesn’t stop at your liver; the effects of long-term alcohol use may be seen in nearly every part of your body. Your pancreas and alcohol are not friends. 

Regular alcohol use impacts how your pancreas functions and can lead to chronic pancreatitis and diabetes. It can also damage your stomach leading to ulcers, colitis, and other gastrointestinal chronic diseases. Alcohol can damage your heart and increases your risk for chronic heart disease, heart failure, and heart attack. It can also lead to cancer, especially cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and breast. When you drink alcohol regularly, your immune system cannot work correctly, and you are at a greater risk for infection and general fatigue. The frightening fact is that these are just a few of the effects of long-term alcohol use. Your body and alcohol are not friends. 

Sober Living at The Last House

The Last House Sober Living is a network of structured sober living homes in southern California. We believe in providing our clients with the tools to have a meaningful life and participate in their own sobriety.  We’ll help you learn how to live and have fun in sobriety through service commitments, sober parties, conventions, dances, and house outings.  Our experienced staff is composed of active members of the Los Angeles Sober Living community. If you’re wondering where to start to create your sober life, The Last House is here to help you build a life in recovery.

Long-Term Recovery: AA and 12 Step Programs

Long-Term Recovery: AA and 12 Step Programs

by with No Comment addictionRecoverytreatment

In early recovery, you will focus on how to get sober and get through early sobriety. As you continue, your attention will shift to creating a life in long-term recovery. If you got sober in rehab or resided in a sober living facility, you may have already begun to develop a circle of friends who are also in recovery. Whether you have or have not, you may also want to explore attending AA 12 step program meetings to enhance your recovery program and extend your support network. 

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 12 step program meetings can be an essential part of your recovery. Attending AA meetings regularly is a vital part of a solid relapse prevention plan.  At The Last House, we understand the critical nature of finding the right mix of recovery-related activities to sustain your long-term recovery. We are happy to help you explore attending peer support recovery meetings such as AA. 

What Is AA?

Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, is a peer support recovery group based on recovery from alcoholism by completing AA’s twelve steps. AA was established in 1935, and its basic principles have remained constant since that time. The only requirement for membership is “a desire to stop drinking.” 

The AA 12 step program encourages reliance on a Higher Power, referred to as God in AA literature. The success of AA is in the concept of mutual aid, with alcoholics and addicts supporting each other in getting and staying sober. Meetings are held in multiple countries and, in many cities, are held twenty-four hours a day. Over time, other 12-step groups that focus on other substances have emerged. These groups are patterned after AA and include Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous, Heroin Anonymous, and more. Additionally, groups such as Al-Anon, Alateen, and Adult Children of Alcoholics were created. While these groups focus on the loved ones of the alcoholic, they are also patterned after the AA design. 

How Does AA 12 Step Program Promote Long-Term Addiction Recovery? 

Alcoholics Anonymous is rooted in fellowship. The AA 12 step program is made up of people from different walks of life who might not typically meet but all share a common problem with alcohol. It is nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. Many who attend AA will explore different meetings until they find one or two that suit them best. Each AA group has its own personality, and you may participate in several before you find the ones that fit your best. As you explore different meetings, you will find that you are greeted warmly and begin making friends at the meetings. As you build your circle of support and attend meetings more regularly, you will find yourself connecting with others at the meeting. Rather than sitting in a room full of strangers, you will begin to make friends. These connections will help you to realize that you are not alone. You will collect phone numbers and find yourself going for coffee and meals with people you meet at meetings. All of these connections will begin to weave themselves into a recovery safety net that will help you keep your recovery on track. When you feel the urge to drink, you will have friends to call, meetings to attend, or places to go. You will only be alone in your recovery if you choose to be alone in your recovery. 

Sober Living at The Last House

The Last House is a network of structured sober living homes in the heart of West Los Angeles. We strive to provide our clients with the tools needed for a meaningful life. We encourage our clients to take ownership of and participate in their sobriety.  Activities such as service commitments, sober parties, conventions, dances, and house outings are all a part of helping you learn how to have fun in sobriety. Our staff is made up of active members of the Los Angeles Sober Living Community and is familiar with many AA meetings in the area.  If you’re wondering how to create your sober life, The Last House is here to help. 

What is the best way to resolve trauma

The Best Way to Resolve Trauma: Get Help at a PTSD Treatment Center in Los Angeles

by with No Comment addictionmental healthRecoverySuccess Storiestreatment

While many may think that surviving a trauma ends when the trauma itself has ended, you know the reality. Trauma doesn’t end the moment the event ends. Instead, your surviving trauma may be a lifelong endeavor. Whether you have survived war, abuse, a natural disaster, or other trauma, you know that the trauma stays with you. You also understand that it can rise to the surface at the most unexpected times and leave you feeling as if you are reliving the events over and over again. 

Getting help at a PTSD treatment center in Los Angeles can help you begin to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Without professional help, you can start to feel as if the walls are closing in on you, and you will find yourself seeking all sorts of ways to self-medicate.  At The Last House, we understand the lasting effects of trauma and why you will try to escape them. We are here to help you learn more about treating and living with PTSD. 

What Is PTSD?

PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, develops in some individuals who have experienced shocking, frightening, or dangerous events. Some examples of events that result in PTSD include:

  • Childhood trauma, 
  • Seeing a dead body
  • Being injured
  • Living through and/or fighting in a war
  • Losing a loved one unexpectedly
  • Witnessing another person being killed or hurt
  • Experiencing horror, helplessness, or extreme fear
  • Being the victim of a violent crime
  • Surviving a natural disaster such as a hurricane, tornado, or flood

While many people will experience short-term PTSD symptoms, some will develop chronic PTSD. Treating PTSD early on at a PTSD treatment center in Los Angeles can help manage the symptoms better and provide you with coping strategies. It’s important to note that PTSD does not always occur immediately after the events and can arise months or years after the events. 

Common Symptoms of PTSD

When most people think of PTSD, they think of how it is portrayed on television or in the movies. We think of the Veteran who has returned from war who experiences flashbacks. And while flashbacks can be a part of PTSD, they are not the only symptom. Flashbacks and bad dreams are considered re-experiencing symptoms because the individual is reliving the trauma. However, PTSD symptoms can also include avoidance, cognition/mood, and arousal/reactivity symptoms. Avoidance symptoms include avoiding seeing or talking about places, events, or things that remind you of the trauma. Cognition or mood symptoms show up as not remembering particular details or facts about the traumatic event, distorted feelings, or even loss of interest in activities. Arousal/reactivity symptoms include being easily startled, feeling “on edge,” experiencing difficulty sleeping, and having outbursts of anger.  A doctor is the only one who can diagnose PTSD, but if you are experiencing symptoms like these, it’s time to see help at a PTSD treatment center in Los Angeles. Many who experience PTSD will self-medicate with drugs or alcohol to avoid the feelings created by their PTSD symptoms. While this is understandable, self-medicating will not address the underlying issues. In the end, you may find yourself with PTSD and a substance abuse problem. 

Why You Should Go to a PTSD Treatment Center in Los Angeles 

Seeking treatment for your PTSD will enable you to manage your PTSD symptoms in a way that lets you create a life outside of the trauma. The Last House is a network of structured sober living homes in the heart of West Los Angeles. We believe in providing our clients with the tools to have a meaningful life and participate in their sobriety.  Activities such as service commitments, sober parties, conventions, dances, and house outings are all a part of helping you learn how to have fun in sobriety.  Composed of active members of the Los Angeles Sober Living community, our staff is familiar with many recovery support groups in the area.  If you’re wondering how to create your sober life, The Last House is here to help. 

Are there Los Angeles mental health treatment facilities that help with depression?

Are There Los Angeles Mental Health Treatment Facilities That Help With Depression?

by with No Comment addictionmental healthRecoverytreatment

More than ever, we can all understand what it feels like to feel sad when we are under stress from circumstances in our life or the world around us. But it can be hard to know when feeling down crosses the lines over into depression. Figuring out if you are battling clinical depression can be confusing, and a Los Angeles mental health treatment facility can help you sort through your symptoms. By working with a professional, you’ll receive an objective opinion and, if needed, begin to develop a treatment plan. More often than not, we spend time researching symptoms on the internet and try to diagnose ourselves. If you ever feel like you’re struggling please reach out to a mental health professional.

 At The Last House, we understand how difficult it can be to navigate depression and its treatment. We are here to help you learn more about your mental health and any treatment you might need. 

What Is Depression?

Depression is more than a feeling of sadness, although that can be a part of it. Depression is a mental health disorder defined by loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, a depressed mood, and an inability to carry out daily life activities. Depression is sometimes referred to as a major depressive disorder or as clinical depression. While it can be associated with significant life events such as losing a loved one, this is not always the case. Depression may be brought on by other conditions such as pregnancy, childbirth, or psychosis. In other cases, depression may arise without a precipitating event or factor. Only a licensed medical professional can diagnose depression.

Common Symptoms of Depression to Watch Out For

While sadness is what we think of most when we talk about depression, there are many other symptoms. If you are suffering from depression, you will experience a wide range of symptoms, including anxiety, loss of interest in activities, inability to concentrate, extreme sleepiness, insomnia, apathy, hunger, or lack of appetite. As you assess your depression, think about how long you have been experiencing symptoms and how these symptoms are affecting your life. If you recently experienced the loss of a loved one, a home, or a job, you may have a few weeks of feeling down. However, if the feelings of sadness continue beyond two to three weeks and are accompanied by other symptoms, it might be time to talk to a professional. While some who experience depression also have thoughts of suicide, this is not true of everyone who has depression. 

It’s important to note that depression presents differently in different people; not everyone will have the same symptoms.  While women typically present with feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and guilt, men may exhibit fatigue, irritability, and anger. Older adults may be less likely to admit to their symptoms. Teens may act out and get into trouble. All those affected by depression are at risk of using drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with their symptoms. It is pretty common for those dealing with mental health issues to self-medicate.  

Get Help With Depression at a Los Angeles Mental Health Treatment Facility

The Last House is a network of structured sober living homes in the heart of West Los Angeles. We believe in providing our clients with the tools to have a meaningful life and participate in their sobriety.  Activities such as service commitments, sober parties, conventions, dances, and house outings are all a part of helping you learn how to have fun in sobriety.  Composed of active members of the Los Angeles Sober Living community, our staff is familiar with many recovery support groups in the area.  If you’re wondering how to create your sober life, The Last House is here to help. 

What do drug stimulants look like?

Stimulant Drug Examples: What Do They Look Like?

by with No Comment addictionmental healthRecoverySuccess Storiestreatment

Not all drugs are the same. Drugs are categorized into different classes, including narcotics, depressants, hallucinogens, and stimulants. Each drug class is made up of various drugs and has different effects. Depressants include benzodiazepines and alcohol and, as the name indicates, depress you mentally and physically when you take them. Hallucinogens include drugs like LSD and PCP, resulting in hallucinations. Stimulant drug examples include methamphetamines, amphetamines, and cocaine. Some stimulants are legal and prescribed, while others are not. As the name suggests, stimulants stimulate you mentally and physically. At

The Last House, we know all about the various drugs that can be taken, their effects, and the resulting withdrawals. 

Stimulant Drug Examples

Stimulants speed up the body and the mind. Someone who has taken stimulants will often talk much faster and appear to be moving much more quickly. Some stimulants such as amphetamines and certain methamphetamines can be legally prescribed. Prescribed stimulant drugs examples include Adderall, Ritalin, Didrex, and Meridia. Illegal stimulant drug examples include crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and synthetic cathinones such as bath salts. While all stimulants act to speed up the body’s systems, the different stimulants can look different. 

Cocaine, only available illegally, will usually appear as a white powder. However, crack cocaine looks like small white rocks. Cocaine has many street names, including coke, crack, crank, flake, snow, and soda. It can be snorted, smoked, or dissolved in water and injected. Most who use cocaine experience a rush of euphoria and will binge on the drug until they run out. Following a cocaine binge, users will typically crash, sleeping for several days until they begin to experience cravings again. Cocaine, in any amount, is very dangerous. Cocaine use can result in irregular heart rhythms, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, stroke, cardiac arrest, and death. 

In its legal form, methamphetamine is prescribed in pill form as Desoxyn to treat ADHD and obesity. In its illegal form, methamphetamines can be taken as a pill or may come as a powder. Created by mixing the prescription drug with over-the-counter drugs, crystal meth is another illegal form of methamphetamine that resembles glass fragments. Methamphetamines and amphetamines can be swallowed, snorted, smoked, or infected. These drugs are highly addictive and have many street names, including speed, ice, tweak, trash, and chalk.  

Like most stimulants, methamphetamines cause increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and breathing rate, as well as agitation, anxiety, and paranoia. Because of their highly addictive nature, many individuals began taking more of the drug to achieve the same high, resulting in convulsions, cardiac arrest, stroke, or death. 

In addition to methamphetamines, amphetamines, and cocaine, there are also designer drugs designed to simulate stimulants. Designer drug stimulant examples include bath salts and khat. Bath salts, which look much like bath salts or crystal meth, mimic the effects of crystal meth. Khat, a stimulant drug made from leaves and twigs, has cathine and cathinone as its active ingredients and can be drunk as a tea, sprinkled on food, or smoked. Also known as oat, qat, African salad, or catha, khat has similar effects to other stimulants. In addition to the expected results of stimulants, it can also result in manic behavior with grandiose delusions, cardiac complications, nightmares, depression, suicidal ideation, and gastric disorders. Designer drug stimulants are often sold online or in smoke shops, which results in people believing that they are less dangerous, but this is incorrect. 

How to Get Help With a Stimulant Addiction

If you or a loved one have been using drugs, you’ll find many options available for the road to recovery. The Last House is here to help keep them on that road. We are a network of sober living homes in the heart of West Los Angeles. We believe in providing our clients with the tools to have a meaningful life and participate in their sobriety.  Activities such as service commitments, sober parties, conventions, dances, and house outings are all a part of helping you learn how to have fun in sobriety.  If you’re creating a sober life or supporting someone who is, The Last House is here to help. Contact us today.