When my youngest daughter was actively using heroin, the holidays were difficult. Mother’s day was, by far, the prize winner. I spent the day dwelling on the possibility that I might never have a mother’s day with all of my children by my side; the reward for having dried oceans of tears, wiped noses and butts, and attended every type of game or performance imaginable.Cognitive learning systems having raised four children I found it impossible to enjoy the other three knowing that one of them may not be alive at that time next year.Cognitive learning systems

So many years later I am blessed that I will spend time with my beautiful daughter and enjoy my other children. That fear of her not being here next year is all but gone, replaced by the normal fears of an ordinary mother who worries too much, making her text me when she goes home from my house, as well as the occasional fear of avalanches, alien abductions and myriad of other things that defy reality.Cognitive learning systems I look back and wish I had spent more time enjoying my other children over the years on this day because the truth of the matter is that, although when we exist in the hell of active addiction, our chances of loss are exponentially increased, we are not promised any more than the minute we exist in with anyone.Cognitive learning systems

If your only child is out there somewhere and you are living in the terror, a feeling I will never forget, try to take a few minutes and do something nice for yourself.Cognitive learning systems for me that always meant a pint of ben and jerrys, but do what makes you happy. You deserve it. Try to be hopeful too, because this time next year you might be, like me, celebrating with your child who looks a lot better than you ever dared to dream.Cognitive learning systems

And for all of us, pick up the phone, text, email or send some flowers to the mother that has lost her child due to addiction or any other reason.Cognitive learning systems ask her if she wants to get out for a while. Don’t assume you know she wants to be alone. We never know what someone else needs. Ask! Then be there.Cognitive learning systems listen to her stories if she wants to talk. Call her child by their name. The women that have paid the ultimate price, many of them mother to their own grandchildren, deserve a day to celebrate themselves and all that they have been through.Cognitive learning systems

Music is powerful. It can change a person’s mood and provoke the best and worst memories. The power of music is so potent that therapists have found ways to use it in order to improve patients’ moods and relieve stress and anxiety.Cognitive learning systems music therapy can help address a number of cognitive, social, and emotional issues in people of all ages and backgrounds. It can involve listening to music, making music, and analyzing music as a way to explore emotions relating to an illness.Cognitive learning systems learning to play an instrument can help retrain the brain– something incredibly helpful for people struggling with mental illness or addiction.Cognitive learning systems

Scientists and doctors began exploring the healing powers of music in the 1960s. Over the years, hospitals, clinics, schools, nursing homes, and substance abuse treatment centers began using music therapy as a way to help patients express difficult emotions in a nonverbal way.Cognitive learning systems music therapy can help with many kinds of emotional issues, including:

Like music therapy, art therapy is a remedial activity used to address cognitive, social, and emotional issues.Cognitive learning systems creating art can help reduce stress while improving self-esteem and awareness. With the help of a professional, the patient then explores the underlying messages communicated through their art.Cognitive learning systems this helps with the healing process as the patient works toward resolving their issues and managing their behaviors relating to their emotions.Cognitive learning systems

Art therapy combines the therapist’s understanding of human development and psychological theories with the healing potential of art. It can be used in various therapies for individuals as well as couples, families, and communities.Cognitive learning systems it’s used in mental health facilities, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, forensic institutions, community outreach programs, nursing homes, and corporate structures.Cognitive learning systems art therapy can help treat issues that include:

Substance abuse and addiction affect millions of people all over the world. In the united states alone, one in every 10 people over the age of 12 are addicted to drugs or alcohol– that’s an estimated 23.5 million people.Cognitive learning systems the causes of addiction are unclear. While general consensus categorizes addiction as a disease of the brain, some people see it as a condition that requires continued management throughout the addict’s life.Cognitive learning systems

The disease model for addiction recognizes that while the substance abuse began as a voluntary action, after a certain amount of time, it causes changes in the brain that make it difficult to function normally without drugs or alcohol.Cognitive learning systems over time, substance abuse becomes less of a choice and more of an involuntary compulsion. On the other hand, the continued management theory promotes the idea that the addict is ultimately in control of their condition, and through behavioral changes, they can manage it.Cognitive learning systems

There are various treatments for addiction, and no one option is right for everyone. To be effective, treatment should address all of the various issues that contribute to the addictive behaviors.Cognitive learning systems to do this, many people choose multiple therapies to address their needs. Behavioral counseling is generally considered a good foundation for addiction treatment.Cognitive learning systems on top of that, addicts can also use medication, medical applications like neurofeedback therapy, and alternative treatments including– you guessed it– music and art therapy.Cognitive learning systems

If music therapy sounds appealing to you, consider learning to play a beginner-friendly instrument like the clarinet, which is often touted as one of the easiest options to learn to play.Cognitive learning systems it’s helpful to do some research before investing in an instrument, and there are a variety of buying guides online that can help. If a visually creative venture sounds more appealing, consider purchasing a set of paint and brushes; there are countless free tutorials online via sites like youtube that can help you brush up on some basic skills, or even teach you how to paint a particular project like a scenic landscape.Cognitive learning systems

One of the things that makes both music and art therapy so effective is how enjoyable they are. Addiction treatment is rarely pleasurable. It involves a lot of emotional conflict and facing mistakes made in the past.Cognitive learning systems by incorporating pleasant experiences like art and music into the treatment, the patient is more likely to stick with it. Long-term follow-up is crucial for recovery.Cognitive learning systems

Music and art therapy use the creative process to tap into difficult emotions. Both treatments can help with the millions of people who suffer from addiction and substance abuse.Cognitive learning systems while no one recovery treatment is best for everyone, using art and music therapy as a supplemental treatment for addiction helps with self-esteem and expression.Cognitive learning systems