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Perfectionism is a trait that is heavily associated with other mental health disorders but can exist on its own. With perfectionism, people have unrealistic expectations for themselves, and they focus on achieving perfection. When they fail to meet perfection, it can result in poor self-esteem, obsessive thinking, and self-criticism. In this way, perfectionism can often lead to substance abuse. What is Perfectionism? Perfectionism is a trait that can manifest as having unrealistic expectations for yourself and other people or as having a need to be or appear perfect. This can take three main forms: While striving to do well is perfectly fine, a personality trait of perfectionism can lead to harmful traits, including: It is not uncommon for people who struggle with perfectionism to have other mental health issues like OCD, anxiety, or depression. Those who struggle with perfectionism often have high standards for themselves, and if they fail To meet those standards, they are highly critical of themselves, which means that they are continually driven by fear and the fear of failure in a perpetual cycle.  How Perfectionism Leads to Substance Abuse How perfectionism leads to substance abuse has a lot to do with this cycle. Negative Self-Talk People who struggle with perfectionism are often self-critical and highly critical at that. This leads to a great deal of negative self-talk. So, how perfectionism leads to substance abuse, in this case, has a great deal to do with setting unrealistic goals and then dealing with the negative mental health consequences that result from failure to meet those goals. Let’s look at an example: Stephanie is a perfectionist. She committed to taking on more work than she has time to complete not just through her job but through two volunteer projects, one for a community development project and another for a church project. When she realizes that she can’t keep up with the work, Stephanie starts to feel like she isn’t good at her job, and she isn’t worthy of being part of those two projects. In Stephanie’s case, she regularly overcommits and then regularly fails to get everything done, after which she regularly deals with low self-esteem and poor life satisfaction because of the ongoing negative self-talk and self-criticism that result. So, she might turn to drugs or alcohol to try and deal with the emotional toll that this takes. Relapse How perfectionism leads to substance abuse doesn’t just apply to those who haven’t sought help. It also applies to those who have. People who struggle with perfectionism in their recovery don’t allow for mistakes. Unfortunately, mistakes are a learning opportunity and a regular part of the recovery process, so in these scenarios, the people who have a rigid approach to their recovery are more likely to be overwhelmed by single mistakes. This means that the negative self-talk is continually reinforced, as well as self-criticism or individuals tell themselves that they’re simply not capable of change or they will never succeed. Without identifying the underlying sources of these feelings, those same individuals are more likely to relapse for all the reasons that brought them to Addiction in the first place. Getting Help with Substance Abuse With Peninsula Health Center, you can start a holistic drug rehab program to tackle substance abuse and learn to overcome perfectionism.  At our facility we can help you investigate the sources of your perfectionism, what has led you to place that pressure on yourself or on others. Eventually, you’ll be able to work on letting go of unrealistic expectations and building your self-esteem while learning from your mistakes. All of this works toward supporting a lasting recovery and helping you improve your overall mental health.  Overall, perfectionism has a strong correlation to the development of substance abuse. Perfectionism can take many forms, but no matter the form, it can lead to significant problems with personal perceptions of failure, negative self-talk, and relapse. However, the right treatment program can give you insight into changing your adaptive behaviors in response to perfectionism and using the right coping skills. Reach out to Peninsula Health Center today to see how we can help you.

It can be difficult to be completely honest with your doctor about drug use. You might be worried about legal complications, about being preached to about recovery, or even about how embarrassing or uncomfortable it might be. But when you speak to your doctor for any reason and you are asked to disclose any history of drug use, being open and honest about this is for your safety. Being honest with your doctor about drug use can ensure that you get effective treatment in recovery, that you aren’t prescribed medications that can have bad reactions with drug or alcohol, and that they know how to best offer preventative measures and services based on physical and mental health complications that you might experience. The Importance of Being Honest with Your Doctor About Drug Use Being honest with your doctor about drug use can seem frightening. Many people who are struggling with addiction hesitate to share anything about their addiction with their doctor for fear of being arrested or facing other consequences, but a doctor is bound by confidentiality in almost all situations. This means that you can share your drug use with your doctor at any point. Doing so offers the opportunity for you to improve your health by finding the right type of treatment. Here are several ways being honest with your doctor about drug use can help you. Referrals If you are struggling with addiction and you are looking for help, you may not know where to begin. It can get incredibly complicated when trying to figure out how much programs cost, arrange travel, and take time off work or school. But if you are honest with your doctor about drug use, they can provide you with detailed information on what treatment is covered by your insurance. Note: Federal law requires that basic substance abuse and mental health treatment be covered by all health insurance providers. If you carry any type of health insurance, you can have some or all of your treatment costs covered, depending on the program. Your doctor can offer a referral for nearby facilities that accept your insurance. More importantly, most insurance companies require that your doctor provide a diagnosis of drug use or mental health disorders in order to qualify for coverage, so you’ll need to be honest with your doctor about your drug use in order to get that. Contraindications One of the reasons being honest with your doctor about drug use is important if you are getting help for any other health issue is the risk of contraindications. Contraindication is a medical term that refers to potential complications from multiple drugs interacting, and this extends to prescription drugs that you are taking illegally or in higher than prescribed doses, as well as illegal drugs. If you get a prescription for a medication and you are not honest with your doctor about what substances you are using, it could have very serious side effects. Prevention and Treatment Each type of addiction comes with unique risks for your physical and mental health. If your doctor knows what types of substances you are using, they can help you with preventative measures by running regular tests or scheduling services that might reveal secondary or tertiary complications. They can also help you get the right type of treatment when you are ready.  Getting Help for Substance Abuse Drug rehab offers a way for you to find the help you need, no matter the substance to which you are addicted or the co-occurring mental health issues with which you might struggle.  At Peninsula Health Center, we believe in holistic care combined with traditional evidence-based practices. For that reason, our clients can participate in dual diagnosis treatment, yoga, mindfulness, and holistic addiction treatment.  More than that, we understand and appreciate how challenging the lifelong pursuit of sobriety can be. That is why we provide several levels of care that clients can move through, back and forth as needed.  With flexible hours, our partial hospitalization programs and intensive outpatient programs are effective treatment options with greater flexibility. As you transition through your recovery, our outpatient and sober living services give you the right level of care and commitment.  Overall, being honest with your doctor about drug use is an essential step in making sure you don’t experience unwanted side effects from other medications. Being honest about drug use can also help you get referrals for the treatment you might want when you are ready. To learn more about addiction treatment programs at Peninsula Health Center, call our team today. 

Peninsula Health Center recently took center stage at UCLA as Dr. Matin Hemmat, a renowned expert in addiction treatment, shed light on the transformative initiatives driving PHC’s mission in addiction medicine. Delving into the complexities of addiction treatment, Dr. Hemmat’s presentation provided a comprehensive overview of PHC’s innovative approaches and the challenges faced in initiating an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). The presentation commenced with an insightful overview of PHC, setting the stage for an exploration into the intricacies of establishing an IOP. Dr. Hemmat promoted the importance of Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs), offering a glimpse into the clinical and general business operations pivotal to their success. Attendees were treated to a deep dive into the clinical operations of IOP, highlighting PHC’s commitment to less restrictive comprehensive treatment. Dr. Hemmat emphasized the importance of continuity of care and support, underlining PHC’s dedication to providing real-time skills training and flexible treatment delivery options. From ambulatory and home detox to the utilization of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and pain management strategies, Dr. Hemmat illuminated the multifaceted approach employed by PHC in addressing addiction. The presentation also touched upon the vital role of Family Programs, Aftercare Planning, and the Outpatient Services offered by Dr. Hemmat and Peninsula Health Center, showcasing the holistic nature of their treatment model. Key to PHC’s success is our emphasis on outcomes comparable to residential services, achieved through a blend of evidence-based practices and personalized care. Dr. Hemmat’s talk underscored the efficacy of PHC’s programs in delivering results while fostering a supportive environment conducive to long-term recovery. We’re thrilled to offer a snippet of Dr. Hemmat’s insightful presentation on our website, providing a glimpse into the groundbreaking strategies driving addiction treatment at PHC. For those eager to delve deeper, the full video and presentation are available for viewing. Join us in celebrating the strides made by Peninsula Health Center in revolutionizing addiction treatment. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to share valuable insights and resources from leaders like Dr. Matin Hemmat.