Addiction Glossary – Addiction Terms and Definitions
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12 Step (Twelve-step | 12-step) – derived from AA guidelines, the 12-steps can be used to heal and recover from all forms of addiction and can be revisited later in life.
A
Alcoholism – addicted to consuming alcohol and liquor and/or mental illness/compulsivity coming from the dependence of alcohol.
Anxiety – the feeling of uncertainty, constant worry, uneasiness or nervousness of an upcoming event or possible unpredictable outcome.
Assessment – used to evaluate an individual’s current and past mental issues, substance abuse and health conditions prior to treatment. Choose a Prescott House Quick Assessment
Avoidance – disengagement from emotion and/or connection to a partner, friend, or loved one.
B
Boundary Development – developing acceptable, reasonable and safe ways of allowing others to treat oneself, with the understanding of positive personal response and reaction when these limits are crossed.
BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) – measurment taken from blood to analyze the percentage of alcohol in the blood stream
BHPP (Behavioral Health Paraprofessional) – dedicated to the safe operation of services and activities for individuals in parallel with the program philosophy. Maintain communication with treatment staff while upholding clinical education and abilities that are dedicated to assessing and treating behavioral health disorders.
BSP (Brainspotting) – a therapeutic tool utilized to identify underlying and unidentified trauma that can lead to behavioral and mental health conditions.
C
CAADC (Certified Advanced Addiction & Drug Counselor) – certification to establish consistent standards to substance abuse, mental health, and behavioral health counseling and treatment.
Chemical Dependence – habit of desire and/or necessity, physically or mentally for drugs and/or alcohol to dictate mood or mind-state.
Chemsex – also referred to as “party & play” or “P and P” generally involves the use of some form of arousal enhancing drugs during extended sexual encounters.
Codependency – overly reliant on helping or being involved with others needs for the feeling of self-worth.
Compulsive Gambling – the inability to stop or control the urge to take financial risks no matter how dire the consequences, the internal-pressure generally only satisfied by more financial risk and/or gambling.
Compulsive Sexual Behavior – also known as hypersexuality. Having difficulty controlling sexual urges and constant fantasizing that can cause issues with work, health and in relationships.
Compulsivity – repeated behavioral responses based on learned application or social “norm”. Most often there is no real purpose or result from these actions.
Condition – a unhealhty state developed by either mental disorder, disease, injury or illness.
CSAT (Certified Sex Addiction Therapist) – Training developed by Dr. Patrick Carnes, a CSAT receives a unique set of recovery tools specifically tailored to those dealing with sex addiction.
D
Depression – a disorder that affects the mood by extreme feeling of sadness, extended sleeping periods, problems concentrating and/or eating too much or too little.
Disorders – abnormal state of physicality or mentality that prevents positive functionality.
Dissociation – a mental effect caused from past traumatic events in which the person disconnects from one’s senses to avoid fear of the current reality.
Dependency – development of substance necessity due to repeated use. Only feeling normal when on drugs/alcohol and experience physical issues during withdrawal.
Dual-Diagnosis – (also known as co-occurring) affliction of two separate, yet ongoing mental and substance abuse illnesses which require two individual treatment plans.
E
Eating Disorder – obsessive diet and nutritional habits that negatively impact one’s health.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) – award-winning psychotherapy established by Francine Shapiro to assist in the treatment of trauma patients by using a series of eye actions.
Entitlement Issues – a relationship strain caused by the desire for specific things or outcomes, where the entitled party won’t willingly accept otherwise.
F
Family of Origin Issues – a set of learned traits and comping mechanisms derived from parental tendencies, sometimes leading to neglect in current relationships.
G
Gambling Addiction – the compulsive urgency to continually gamble no matter the destructive results.
Gaslighting – to manipulate a person in order to alter their perception of situation(s), past or present.
H
HBP (High Blood Pressure) – health condition related to the bloods force upon the artery walls
I
Intravenous – injecting (a drug or substance) into vein/veins.
Isolate – distancing oneself from other people or places.
L
Life Skills – strengthening the response to the stress of daily life by utilizing developed skills, generally in communicating, time-scheduling, critical-thinking and making sound decisions.
M
Mania – mental illness that causes over-exciting activity and delusional euphoric episodes.
Medication Management – monitoring current medications to comply and deter potential complications of interactions with different drugs.
Mental Illness – continued mood and behavior issues that disrupt daily activities and involve a psychological medical diagnosis.
Methadone – a synthetic opioid used in Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) and/or withdrawal maintenance (“detox”) facilities.
N
NoFap™ – internet community focused on helping those with sexually compulsive behaviors that are caused by pornography addiction.
Nutritional Wellness – mainting a healthy and bountiful diet to promote a positive physical and mental state.
P
Paraphilic – unorthodox sexual practices with stimulation from inanimate or unusual objects.
Partnership – a team effort in a relationship, dedicated to reaching the same goal.
PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) – in-person regimented therapy appointments to provide intense personalized diagnosis and treatments to maintain sobriety, mental health maintenance or criminal acts prevention.
PIED (Porn-Induced Erectile Dysfunction) – mental and physical desensitization to sexual arousal caused by the exposure to pornography.
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) – a mentally triggered condition that occurs after a horrific life experience.
R
Recovery Support Tools – the implementation of a set of skills, generally developed with a primary therapist, to continue the path of successful recovery.
S
Self-esteem Building – developing a positive inner dialogue allows oneself to be at peace with personal qualities and achievements.
Sexual Addiction – the compulsivity towards erotic acts and thinking, generally involving a distorted view regarding intimacy and sexual relationships, which lead to addicted sexual behavior.
Sexual Compulsive Behaviors – acting out excessively through habitual sexual acts that are life hindering due to their obsessive nature.
Side Effects – an undesired response from a individuals health or nervous system, generally from drugs and alcohol.
Slamming – shooting up drugs intravenously between multiple sexual partners.
Sobriety – not being under the influence of any not prescribed drugs and/or alcohol, zero intoxication.
T
Trauma Resolution – dedication to the resolution of past trauma and memories which do not provoke negative reactions moving forward.
W
Withdrawal – physical and emotional issues that occur in response to the discontinued use of a dependent/abused substance.
Workshop – educational group and discussion that addresses specific topics, e.g., drug addiction, trauma, healthy sexuality, eating disorders, led by a therapist or specialist in the field.
