Author: Medical Reviewer | Dr. Deena Manion, PsyD, LCSW

Dr. Deena is the Chief Clinical Officer of Westwind Recovery, an award-winning outpatient treatment center in Los Angeles where she oversees the clinical and administrative program and treatment methods. Dr. Deena is a doctor of psychology and licensed clinical social worker since 1993. LCSW #20628. Originally from the East Coast, Dr. Deena has worked running treatment centers, worked as a therapist in psychiatric hospitals as well as school settings and currently has a thriving private practice in the LA area. Dr. Deena has appeared regularly on the Dr. Phil Show as an expert since 2003. She has also been featured on many other TV shows, podcasts and has contributed to written publications as well as podcasts.

man listening to headphones after learning about what aftercare for addiction is

What Is Aftercare in Addiction Recovery?

Recovery is a complex and ongoing challenge. As much as you want to feel like you are entirely free from addiction, you know you still have the battle to face. Sobriety is a choice you will make each day after completing treatment at an inpatient or outpatient drug rehab center, which is why it is recommended that you take the time to hone your skills with aftercare in recovery.

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couple holding hands and dating after addiction

After Addiction, When Is It Safe to Start Dating?

To be perfectly honest, very few people explicitly look for drug addiction as a perk when browsing online dating profiles. Typically, when someone falls in love with a person struggling with addiction, it is despite their addiction and not because of it. Unfortunately, this does not always go very well. On the other hand, dating a [...]
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Man considers if he is a high-functioning alcoholic

Top Signs You Are a High-Functioning Alcoholic

The classic picture of an alcoholic as a person who always drinks too much and whose life is falling apart only pertains to a portion of people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). A significant number of people appear outwardly fine or even successful, even though they abuse alcohol. Referred to as high-functioning alcoholics, these individuals [...]
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a woman thinks about wilderness therapy for addiction as she takes part in wilderness therapy programs

Wilderness Therapy for Addiction

Wilderness therapy, also called adventure therapy, combines nature and survival experiences with rehabilitation therapy to treat mental health disorders and substance use disorders. The activities in wilderness therapy are designed to foster the recovery process by creating positive learning experiences in nature. Experiential therapies are those that use expressive tools and activities to help clients […]

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a woman experiences the long-term effects of painkillers on the body and considers the signs of painkiller abuse

Long-Term Effects of Painkillers on the Body

The way pain is experienced is through how the body communicates with the brain. When pain is present, the central nervous system sends signals to opioid receptors in the brain, alerting the brain to discomfort. When an individual takes painkillers, two things happen: the central nervous system is depressed, making it harder for pain signals [...]
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a woman suffers from the symptoms of prescription drug addiction and wonders about the signs of prescription drug abuse

Symptoms of Prescription Drug Addiction

Most people acquire prescription drugs legally from their doctor for legitimate reasons, take them as prescribed, and stop taking them when the prescription is out. Too frequently, however, people come to enjoy the psychoactive effects of certain drugs and begin to misuse them. The misuse of prescription drugs involves taking them in any way other [...]
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