Outer Banks

Hope – February 2016

April 6, 2020 / 12 Steps, Addiction Science, Art Therapy, Chicago, Dream Journal, Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Intensive Outpatient, Mindfulness, New Orleans, Outer Banks, Outpatient, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics

Dream Journal Volume XXXVI / February 2016 Note From Dr B. Hope is the driving force behind recovery. You can see it in the glowing smile of the elderly man who finally made it through a full year without a drink. You can feel it in the bouncing step of the middle-aged woman whose regular physical therapy sessions have caused her pain levels to decrease. You can hear it in the proud applause of parents watching their now drug-free son walk across the stage to receive his college diploma. You can taste it in the glass of water that the teenage …

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What are the Benefits of Antioxidants?

April 7, 2020 / Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Medical Consequences, Nutrition, Outer Banks, Prevention

Substance-use exerts a large amount of physical stress on the human body. Drugs take precedence over basic necessities during active addiction, so health often falls by the wayside. Malnourishment, for example, causes the body to function improperly due to a lack of essential nutrients. Some drugs create the illusion of “fullness” so the body doesn’t convey to the brain that it needs sustenance. Some drugs nurture such a strong dependence that users forget to eat or simply aren’t motivated enough to find nutritious food options. Poor diet can cause damage to the digestive system, resulting in indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, etc. …

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Honesty – January 2016

April 6, 2020 / 12 Steps, Addiction Science, Art Therapy, Chicago, Dream Journal, Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Intensive Outpatient, Mindfulness, New Orleans, Outer Banks, Outpatient, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics, Tobacco/Nicotine

Dream Journal Volume XXXVI / January 2016 Note From Dr B. The idea of making a “New Year’s Resolution” is appealing to individuals across the globe, but it also adds a great deal of pressure to the actions of the upcoming year. People oftentimes make unrealistic promises (ex. I will exercise every single day from now on) and end up disappointed when they are unable to live up to the standard of perfection they set for themselves. So, as a means of relieving ourselves of this unnecessary stress, I propose that we all strive for progress in this upcoming year instead …

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Using a Holistic Approach to Treat Addiction

April 7, 2020 / Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Nutrition, Outer Banks, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics, Sleep Hygiene

It used to be, if you visited a physician for a medical exam, he or she would most likely ask you few if any questions at all about your lifestyle: what kind of food you ate each day, how well you slept each night, and whether or not you incorporated exercise into your life on a regular basis. Today, it’s standard practice for many healthcare professionals to use a holistic approach in treating their patients. And most likely, when you step into your doctor’s office for a visit, your physician will not only pull out his or her stethoscope, he’ll …

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December 2015’s Dream Journal

April 6, 2020 / 12 Steps, Addiction Science, Art Therapy, Chicago, Dream Journal, Heroin and Opioids, Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Intensive Outpatient, Medical Consequences, Mental Health, Mindfulness, New Orleans, Nutrition, Outer Banks, Outpatient, Prevention, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics, Sleep Hygiene

Dream Journal Volume XXXV / December 2015 Note from Dr. B. The holidays can be a difficult time for individuals in recovery: frustrating family members, crazy Christmas parties, stressful shopping trips, etc. You don’t have to let the season get you down though! There are plenty of ways to stay centered and sober during the winter season. Make sure to listen to your body and avoid letting yourself get hungry. Maintain a regular meal plan full of nutritious fruits and vegetables. Eating a plateful of cookies may seem like a good idea when you’re at an event, but the inevitable …

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November 2015’s Dream Journal

April 6, 2020 / 12 Steps, Addiction Science, Alcohol, Art Therapy, Chicago, Co-Occurring Disorders/Comorbidity, Criminal Justice, Dream Journal, Drug Testing, Drugs and the Brain, Heroin and Opioids, Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Intensive Outpatient, Intervention, Medical Consequences, Mental Health, Mindfulness, New Orleans, Outer Banks, Outpatient, Pain, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines, Prevention, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics

Dream Journal Volume XXXIV / NOV 2015 Note from Dr. B. The ongoing opioid overdose crisis has prompted the CDC to take action in the form of developing new guidelines for qualified prescribers. First and foremost, the CDC stresses that opioid therapy should be utilized only if all other treatment options have been exhausted. Opioids can vastly improve functionality and quality of life, but the benefits must be weighed against the risks of tolerance, addiction, overdose, etc. If opioids are absolutely necessary, the prescribing physician and patient should work together to formulate a safe plan of approach and establish realistic treatment …

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Reverence and Respect – October 2015

April 6, 2020 / 12 Steps, Addiction Science, Alcohol, Art Therapy, Chicago, Co-Occurring Disorders/Comorbidity, Criminal Justice, Dream Journal, Drugs and the Brain, Heroin and Opioids, Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Intensive Outpatient, Medical Consequences, Mental Health, Mindfulness, New Orleans, Outer Banks, Outpatient, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines, Prevention, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics, Women and Drugs

The Dream Journal Volume XXXIII / October 2015 Note from Dr. B. The Walk on Washington was a great success! The Two Dreams staff gathered in Washington DC on October 4th in a collective effort to support policies that will improve addiction recovery and end the stigma against those with the disease. Major media networks covered the event, so our voices were heard all across the nation. Fall is a time of transformation, and we look forward to affecting more change as we move towards the end of the year. Monthly Tradition “Tradition Ten – Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on …

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Keeping it Simple with Service – September 2015

April 6, 2020 / 12 Steps, Alcohol, Art Therapy, Chicago, Dream Journal, Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Intensive Outpatient, Mental Health, Mindfulness, New Orleans, Outer Banks, Outpatient, Prevention, Recreation, Young Adults/Teens/College-Aged

Dream Journal Volume XXXII / September 2015 Note from Dr. B. September is National Recovery Month, a time to celebrate healing and to speak out against the stigma surrounding addiction. The Two Dreams staff members stayed busy this month, especially on the 26th. Clients and staff alike attended the 6th Annual Walk Against Addiction in North Carolina, which was designed to raise awareness of the epidemic that addiction is becoming in America. Our Clinical Director for Two Dreams Outer Banks, Brett Dunning, was a featured speaker at the event. He spoke out against the stigma that patients experience, and emphasized that …

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Lose Interest in Selfish Things – July Dream Journal 2014

April 6, 2020 / 12 Steps, Addiction Science, Alcohol, Dream Journal, Drugs and the Brain, Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Medical Consequences, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Nutrition, Outer Banks, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics, Sleep Hygiene

Dream Journal Volume XIX / July 2014 Note from Dr B. It gives me great pleasure to announce that I have been featured in the current issue of Addiction Professional Addiction Professional. I emphasize in the article the call to come together as treatment providers and programs and set aside our differences. This message parallels our theme for this month, which is about losing interest in selfish things and gaining interest in our fellows. The disease we face is complex and relentless, and to keep evolving as a community we must face it together. Monthly Promise #7: “We will lose interest in …

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Become Unmanageable – July Dream Journal 2013

April 6, 2020 / Alcohol, Dream Journal, Inpatient, Methamphetamines, Nutrition, Outer Banks, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics, Young Adults/Teens/College-Aged

VOLUME VII / JULY 2013 Two Dreams is a wellness program led by Andrea G. Barthwell, MD, FASAM that provides individualized care for those who dream of recovering a healthy lifestyle. GUEST COLUMNIST We also admit that, “Our lives having become unmanageable”. There are two distinct types of unmanageability we experience: outward and inward. We all experience the outward effects of our behavior. If we drink we can get DUIs and suffer through hangovers; if we over-eat, we gain weight; if we gamble we lose money we need. These effects cause setbacks, and hurt the ones we love the most. …

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