Substance addiction may bring on several negative effects, including emotional flatness and social isolation. Since many people with addiction tend to hide their actions from family and friends, these relationships may gradually disintegrate. Deception and lies also erode interpersonal trust.

A lifestyle of addiction is characterized by a disconnection from meaningful relationships. For individuals going through recovery from addiction, re-establishing a connection with others can be a challenging task, as one needs to face past mistakes and invest in these strained relationships. However, these connections in a support system, including a connection with yourself, are necessary steps toward long-term recovery.

Connecting With Yourself

People with substance addiction often suffer from low self-esteem and may even harbor self-hatred. They are generally not able to connect with themselves in a healthy way. This deep-rooted sense of self-alienation contributes to many mental health issues.

Recovery means reconnecting with yourself in a healthy way. If anything, your painful past of addiction should have taught you about how vulnerable you can be. In recovery, you get another chance to explore your desires, needs, and things that bring you joy. With the help of health professionals, you become more aware of your own emotional pain by identifying the root causes.

In addition to common methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), meditation and mindfulness can also help you achieve a higher level of self-awareness. You will begin to feel more awake, emotionally stable, and balanced in your thinking patterns. Self-awareness can improve your coping skills such as problem-solving, memory retention, and concentration.

As you reflect on how your addiction has impacted family and friends, you also learn about how much your very existence means to them. Now is the time to learn how to repair those relationships that ground you deeper into who you are. Your symptoms of depression will decrease, allowing you more time to focus on the positive side of life.

Connecting With Family Members

In recovery, you may begin to feel the need to reconnect with concerned family members. This shows that you are gaining control of life. By repairing relationships with your significant others, you show them that you want to face the past. This is a necessary step to move forward. Although there has been emotional pain in the past, your family will surely commit to supporting your recovery.

Research shows that family support can significantly boost one’s chance of recovery from addiction, especially for young people or young adults. However, a strong and recovery-supportive family does not happen overnight. There might be relationship dynamics that can potentially trigger stress and relapse. Some recovery facilities offer family-based services to help with these issues while coaching family members on recovery-supportive techniques at home.

The Benefits of Social Connection

Since infancy, human beings have thrived on love and belonging. Having meaningful relationships with others indicates a healthy and happy life. Social connection boosts physical, emotional, and mental healing because we are given the opportunity to share and grow with each other. Sharing our pains and joys can be extremely affirming and fulfilling.

This social connection may happen through physical touch, conversations, shared interests, or community involvement. These experiences help us temporarily jump out of the loop of negative self-talk that happens so often when we are isolated.

In the recovery community, we embrace an uplifting ethos that is bigger than ourselves. Across age groups, strong social relationships can alleviate stress, strengthen the immune system, and enhance self-esteem.

Rebuilding a Recovery-Supportive Connection

In early sobriety, choose activities, social contacts, and locations with intentionality to avoid triggers. At this stage, you cannot handle high-risk connections or events. These include friends that still use substances and occasions that might present potential substance use.

Meanwhile, you can explore new healthy hobbies and new friends who live a sober and balanced lifestyle. Experiences of successfully navigating new friendships can boost your self-esteem in a time of social re-entry. Try to apply healthy boundaries to these relationships by avoiding, for example, showing too much attachment.

You should also consider joining a 12-Step group and deepening connections with other recovering individuals. Peer groups in a strong recovery community can provide you with great support. Another way to build a social connection is by getting involved in community services. You may find opportunities in such work to help others and make new friends.

To deepen the connections with your family and friends, you need to work on these relationships according to the principles of honesty and intentionality. Invest time in bonding with them during family activities. While doing these, remember to practice self-care by tending to your own emotional needs.

People who live a lifestyle of addiction dwell in a reality of disconnection from meaningful relationships. When going through recovery from addiction, they are faced with the task of re-establishing a connection with others. That can be very challenging, as one needs to confront past mistakes and invest in these strained relationships. However, these connections in a support system, including a connection with yourself, are necessary steps toward long-term recovery. At Capo Canyon Recovery near Mission Viejo, CA., we have experience helping recovering individuals rebuild their social life. We also coach people on how to re-connect with themselves through self-care methods. You can benefit from both our inpatient residential care and outpatient long-term care programs. With an in-house chef, luxurious beds, and an onsite organic garden, we’re here to help you reintegrate into your family and social circles. Do not delay treatment. Reach out now. Call us at (800) 804-8714 today. A new beginning is here.

If you or your loved one is considering treatment for substance addiction, choosing a suitable inpatient treatment facility and program is a critical topic. There are many factors to consider, such as treatment approach and accessibility to supporting programs. Maybe there are many treatment facilities near where you live. What criteria should you use in order to choose the right one?

Criteria of Effective Treatment

Good treatment programs offer individualized assessment and treatment plans. They need to have a diverse team of staff members trained to assess your physical, emotional, and mental health issues related to substance use. Because addiction often co-occurs with other disorders, effective plans address them simultaneously.

You also want to choose a facility with a range of evidence-based therapies that match your type of drug or alcohol use history. Ideally, a treatment facility should offer medically-assisted intervention, behavioral therapy, individualized counseling, group therapy, and coaching on coping skills.

Having aftercare or continuing care programs in place also adds value to a treatment center. This means that the facility has a full continuum of care, including inpatient and outpatient programs. If a local treatment facility has a strong alumni program, that is also a significant factor to consider. Intensive, short-term detox treatment can help you achieve sobriety, but a strong support system is needed for long-term recovery. The alumni network can provide you with that kind of peer support.

Benefits of Community-Based Treatment

You may know of a good treatment facility, but it is not within reach. Is it still an option? There are certainly advantages of seeking treatment close to home. First of all, locally-based or community-based treatment centers are often more affordable. Second, because distance and the cost of travel time remain barriers to addiction treatment, researchers find that people who travel less than one mile for treatment are 50% more likely to complete treatment programs.

Choosing a high-quality locally-based treatment center can also increase participation in aftercare services near where you live. Proximity can also allow for more family engagement which is essential for sustainable recovery. When treatment is close to home, it is easier for family members to get involved, including accessing coaching about relationship skills.

Locally-based treatment programs also effectively encourage people to use their new skills for long-term recovery. For example, some outpatient programs offer coping skills training and relapse prevention techniques. If an alumni lives close to the treatment center, that facility can serve as a rescue line in the event that relapse or overdose happens.

Online Resources for Locating Local Programs

Many resources on the internet help people find local treatment centers that best address their particular needs. For example, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) maintains a website that shows the location of residential, outpatient, and hospital inpatient treatment programs for addiction throughout the country. Other online resources include the following:

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America (MHA) have state and local offices across the country and can help people find treatment options.
• The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has a nationwide directory of addiction medicine professionals on its website.
• The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provides information on the localized treatment of alcohol-related problems.

Entering a Locally-Based Treatment Facility

If you have decided on which local treatment facility to enter, there are still expectations you should manage. Expectations guide your progress towards long-term recovery, and unrealistic expectations can set you up for failure. Some common misconceptions include expecting to immediately feel better in treatment, expecting it to be a quick process, and thinking you can handle detox on your own. When you operate with unrealistic expectations, disappointments and relapses can follow.

Some local treatment facilities are good at explaining the process to you and helping you prepare and adjust your expectations. This helps avoid surprises, reduces the stress around uncertainty, and begins a trust-building relationship between the client and medical staff. At this point, you should ask as many questions as you can think of. This is an excellent way to clarify expectations and show your active participation.

Treatment is a journey of learning and unlearning. You should expect local treatment centers to coach and teach you how addiction affects both the body and the mind and how to design recovery and prevention plans according to your personal journey. It would be wise to set realistic goals that help you stay on track on a day-to-day basis. When you feel stressed about uncertainty or lack of clarity, you should always ask for help.

Did you know that the distance between your treatment facility and where you live matters? Researchers find that people who travel less than one mile for treatment are 50% more likely to complete treatment programs. Therefore, it may be in your best interest to look for a high-quality locally-based treatment center. At Capo Canyon Recovery near Mission Viejo, CA., we have experience treating addiction and can help get yourself or your loved ones through drug or alcohol detox. We are invested in the long-term recovery and well-being of our clients. That is why we do not give up. You can benefit from both our inpatient residential care and outpatient, long-term care programs. With an in-house chef, luxurious beds, and an onsite organic garden, we’re here to help you on your journey to sobriety. With Capo Canyon Recovery, you can rely on us to help you achieve long-term sobriety. Call us at (800) 804-8714 today.

When it comes to trauma, you might think that it only happens to a small percentage of the population. The reality is trauma is more prevalent than you think, especially among vulnerable groups such as women, children, and ethnic minorities.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four children in the United States experiences trauma or adverse childhood experiences. Abuse and violence have been prevalent among other groups, such as women and the elderly. This requires the medical community to adopt a trauma-informed approach to care.

First Steps Towards Trauma-Informed Care

Often people are oblivious to how common trauma is in our society. The first step is to understand that every individual who struggles with mental health issues or substance addiction may have experienced severe trauma. This knowledge needs to be applied to the processes of diagnosis and treatment with a high level of sensitivity. Medical professionals need to know that to someone who has experienced trauma, the hospital or a doctor’s office can trigger fear or anxiety.

Medical professionals also need to know that trauma comes in many different forms. Often, we associate past traumatic experiences with sexual violence or abuse, but trauma can also take the form of fearing hospitalization or simple routine medical exams. Everyone has a history that impacts their encounters with the medical system.

The Presence of Trauma Symptoms

Trauma-informed care is an approach that assumes that an individual is more likely than not to have traumatic experiences in their personal history. It acknowledges the role trauma may play in one’s life.

Symptoms of trauma include flashbacks, heightened fear, and anxiety attacks. When responding to someone with these symptoms, medical professionals should ask the trauma-guided question: “What has happened to this person?” That personal history can inform how to care for the client.

Negligence of trauma in an individual may result in re-traumatization, which places the person in a situation that resembles past trauma, sometimes symbolically but still powerful enough to trigger intense emotions and reactions associated with the original traumatic experience. Both medical staff and the medical system may present sources of re-traumatization. This is why extra sensitivity is a requirement for trauma-informed care.

Understanding How Trauma Affects the Whole Person

When trauma occurs, it may affect all aspects of a person’s living experience, including one’s sense of self, safety, trust towards others, and beliefs about the world. The effects of these wounds may directly hamper an individual’s capacity to connect with others.

Trauma-informed care realizes the lasting and all-encompassing effects of trauma on a person. It rallies all aspects of services and trains staff to recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in order to avoid re-traumatization. The goal is to restore a client’s sense of safety, self, and trust towards others.

Principles of Trauma-Informed Care

There are some guiding principles for how service providers not only reduce the risk of re-traumatization but also help clients heal from past trauma.

First of all, it is essential to ensure that an individual’s physical and emotional safety is addressed. Secondly, they need to know that they have control over their decision-making. Thirdly, it is vital to establish trustworthiness by holding consistent boundaries and clarity over expectations. Fourthly, individuals need to be empowered by going through coping skills training. Lastly, medical professionals need to collaborate by sharing power with the individual. The CDC also adds that peer support and cultural, historical, and gender issues need to be incorporated into trauma-informed care.

Applying these principles to trauma-informed care means:

• Creating a physically and emotionally safe environment
• Establishing trust and boundaries
• Supporting a client’s autonomy and choice-making
• Creating collaborative relationships
• Encouraging clients to participate in training that increases their resilience and power in life

Building a Trauma-Informed Support System

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), medical organizations and systems need to create a trauma-informed environment in the following areas:

• Governance and leadership
• Policy
• Physical environment
• Engagement and involvement
• Cross-sector collaboration
• Screening and assessment
• Treatment services
• Training and workforce development
• Progress monitoring and quality assurance
• Financing
• Evaluation

Another critical aspect of systemic improvement involves dismantling the stigma associated with personal traumatic experiences, such as sexual violence and abuse. Society as a whole has failed to support trauma victims by offering compassion and understanding. Instead, the effects of trauma have been often compounded by victim-blaming, silencing, and stigmatization. The harmful consequences are seen among children and women who suffer from adverse experiences.

The general public needs to understand more about the ramifications of trauma and how social stigma adds to that harm. To trauma victims who later develop substance addiction, a compassionate, trauma-informed approach is needed more than ever. Some people might have used substances as a survival method against past trauma. When considering that perspective, medical providers can also provide practical help to address both the trauma and other health conditions.

If you’ve suffered from traumatic experiences in life which contribute to the later development of substance addiction or mental health issues, it may be best to seek trauma-informed care. Not every treatment facility takes a trauma-informed approach. However, at Capo Canyon Recovery, we have experience treating clients with traumatic experiences, substance addiction, and co-occurring mental health disorders. Our treatment center near Mission Viejo, CA, is staffed with compassionate medical professionals trained to implement trauma-informed care. We care about the holistic well-being of our clients and their long-term recovery. We value personal history and manage each case with sensitivity and intentionality. Most importantly, we do not give up. If you or a loved one needs trauma-informed care, both our inpatient residential care and outpatient, long-term care programs can be helpful resources. With an in-house chef, luxurious beds, and an onsite organic garden, we’re here to help you on your journey to wellness. Call us at (800) 804-8714 today.

The traditional treatment model for substance addiction tends to emphasize time-limited intensive medical supervision followed by outpatient care. In recent years, more and more medical professionals in the addiction and recovery field recognize that the chronic nature of substance addiction and high risks of relapsing conditions call for another type of continuing, long-term care.

The Nature of Continuing Care

Continuing care for addiction includes a range of medical interventions, including routine assessments and customized treatments. These are built into a longitudinal and systematic medical monitoring and treatment structure. The intensiveness may shift in accordance with the severity of the client’s addiction. Clients also receive self-management training that includes social skills that help to ensure strong community support.

Compared to traditional treatment, continuing care is a period of lower-intensity treatment which may follow a high-intensity initial detox in residential care. Sometimes this is referred to as “aftercare.” The goals of continuing care involve maintaining the progress of sobriety and establishing abstinence more solidly in the client’s life. More specifically, continuing care builds on earlier efforts of addressing relapse and developing coping strategies used throughout recovery to reduce the risk of relapse.

Different Models of Continuing Care

In the past decade, there has been significant growth of continuing care models in the field of addiction and recovery. The most common types of continuing care include partial hospitalization programs, outpatient therapy, and other aftercare programs.

Motivational enhancement therapy and motivational interviewing are some more common approaches. The goal is to provide the client with more peer and medical support when leaving a residential facility. However, there are also newer forms of continuing care, including:

• Mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP): MBRP integrates mindfulness practices with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for relapse prevention. Clients who complete the first phase of detox treatment may continue with MBRP for twelve months. Research suggests that MBRP may be as effective as traditional aftercare programs such as 12-Step groups and psychotherapy.
• Telephone-based continuing care: Clients who complete detox treatment may participate in continuing care through regular telephone monitoring and counseling for over twenty-four months. Similarly, recovery management checkups are part of a long-term intervention program that uses standardized methods to provide in-person clinical assessments every three months.

Mobile Continuing Care

The latest development of continuing care has involved the use of mobile health technology, such as the internet, smartphones, and texting programs that deliver continuing care. These technologies can be used in conjunction with other behavioral interventions.

They are also efficient in conveying information on a client’s status back to the health provider. For example, the Addiction-Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (A-CHESS) app is a program for smartphones with many supportive functions that clients can access at any time.

Benefits of Continuing Care

The advantages of new continuing care models – as compared with clinic-based traditional treatment programs – lie in their ability to aggressively stay in contact with the client for extended periods of time, their systematic monitoring of treatment responses, and their integration of adaptive algorithms to guide ongoing treatment. Simply put, continuing care programs that are accessible and attractive to people may serve as more effective interventions.

New models of continuing care also allow clients to incorporate other therapeutic supports. They are better platforms for providing these components of support than formal treatment. This, of course, requires a higher level of self-management skills for the client. If appropriately implemented, continuing care can help prevent the frequent situation of fragmented care with life-threatening consequences.

Continuing Care Predicts Long-Term Sobriety and Recovery

There are some common factors that predict a recovering individual’s chance of long-term recovery. They include strong support from family and friends, high-quality care, and community support. If care is not continuous, a clients’ recovery may become less of a priority. This can take the form of discontinuing treatment or relapse after reaching sobriety.

The foundational belief in continuing care is grounded in the fact that transitioning out of detox treatment is a challenging and vulnerable time. When there is no support in place, a client’s recovery might be in jeopardy. It is responsible for the recovery community to design continuing care, which can become a lifeline for people. In moments of crisis, continuing care can help save lives.

Treatment without continuing care is less effective. Medical professionals should consider the danger of overdose when clients lose a strong support system and fall into relapse. Because substance addiction is a chronic disease, much like other types of chronic illnesses, continuing care should be a built-in part of a client’s treatment plan.

Recovery does not stop when you complete detox treatment. It takes time and patience to rebuild a healthy and balanced lifestyle while learning to cope with stress and cravings. Moreover, the risk of relapse is always there even after achieving sobriety. This is why many people prefer to work with treatment programs that offer continuing care. At Capo Canyon Recovery, we have experience in managing addiction. We can help you get your loved ones through drug or alcohol detox at our treatment center near Mission Viejo, CA. We care about the long-term recovery and well-being of our clients. That is why we do not give up on you. You can benefit from our inpatient residential care and outpatient long-term care programs. With an in-house chef, luxurious beds, and an onsite organic garden, we’re here to help you on your journey to sobriety. Don’t wait. Call us today at (800) 804-8714.

There are many steps to addiction recovery. Detox and inpatient care are only the beginning. For many seeking addiction treatment, clinics offering extended care can provide ongoing support. This support helps people find their way in the world after inpatient care. Extended care programs can reduce relapse and create communities with others who put sobriety first. When looking for recovery programs, the choices can be overwhelming. If you’re struggling to find the right program for you, know you’re not alone. There are extended care programs across the state and right here in Mission Viejo, CA.

If you or a loved one are looking for extended care programs for addiction recovery, call Capo Canyon Recovery today at 833.972.2330 to learn about our holistic services at our Mission Viejo clinic.

What Is an Extended Care Program

Extended care helps those in recovery after they’ve completed an inpatient program. These programs extend care beyond traditional 30, 60, and 90-day treatment cycles. Extended care allows clients to transition back into the world. This transition is an essential stage of recovery. During rehab, clients can’t access drugs or alcohol. Everyone in a clinic puts sobriety first. However, when a client leaves, substances become accessible. Extended care helps clients deal with daily situations where others socially use drugs or alcohol. Through extended care, clients feel supported and are less likely to relapse. Extended care uses many types of treatment to maintain sobriety. Programs may include:

• 12-step programs-These programs are easy and convenient. They walk clients through steps, making sobriety feel manageable. Because these programs are available worldwide, 12-step programs provide a consistent community to support people putting sobriety first.
• Outpatient treatment-This might include support groups and regular meetings with an addiction counselor to support sober living.
• Sober living facilities-For many, transitioning from a clinic to a sober living facility can help maintain sobriety through a structured living environment.
• Individual therapy-Individual therapists trained in addiction treatment can provide individualized comprehensive care and support for those in recovery.

Because recovery is a multistep process, extended care is necessary. Clients can integrate sobriety into their lives by providing support beyond the typical 1 to 3 months of initial detox and recovery. This strategy provides time and space to assess their lifestyle and reduce relapse.

Benefits of Extended Care Programs

Extended care programs can provide solidarity and community. For many in recovery, their family and friends may not understand what recovery takes. 12-step programs and sober living offer a built-in community. These groups can help those in recovery maintain a healthy perspective and put sobriety first. The structure of extended care programs can provide stability for those in recovery.

We also believe that individual therapy is crucial to the recovery process. Most often, addiction stems from childhood or adult life trauma. Sessions with an addiction therapist can uncover, support, and heal these wounds. Individual therapy can also offer the perspective needed to maintain a sober life.

Seek Support at Capo Canyon Recovery

Are you or someone you love on the road to recovery? If you’re looking for extended care for addiction treatment, call Capo Canyon Recovery today. Our holistic clinic treats all phases of addiction. From inpatient to extended care, our luxury facility is here to help. Our therapy programs include:

• ​Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Family therapy
• Group therapy

At Capon Canyon Recovery, we pair comfort and holistic treatment. We have an onsite chef and garden to help clients build healthy habits. There is no shame in seeking addiction treatment or extended care. Recovery is a long and rewarding journey. Don’t wait. Call us at833.972.2330 today for more information on our comprehensive addiction treatments.

The golden state has thousands of detox and recovery resources. Whether you’re a local and looking to recover from substance abuse close to home or a secluded ocean-side clinic, California has a place for you. We know starting treatment isn’t easy. At Capo Canyon Recovery, we offer independently-run detox and rehab facilities across CA that are ready to provide holistic therapy services for those in recovery. Detox and recovery can be the most challenging and most rewarding journey of a person’s life. For holistic, compassionate care, our facilities right here in Orange County are ready to serve. If you or a loved one are looking for holistic therapy in beautiful Mission Viejo, CA, learn more about our detox and recovery programs at Capo Canyon Recovery by calling us at 833.972.2330 today.

What to Look for in a Holistic Rehab Center

Holistic rehab centers focus on a person’s whole life, not just their addiction. These types of centers offer various therapies. They often help clients put life into perspective, find their passion, and put sobriety first. By helping clients build healthy daily routines and focusing on their diet, holistic therapy can transform their lives. Some clients look for a women’s or men’s only facility for a more comfortable recovery. Others prefer co-ed facilities. Whether you know what you’re looking for or not, here are other factors to consider when looking for holistic therapy services:

• Diverse types of therapy-You may want to look for programs offering aftercare support to prevent relapse.
• Trauma-informed treatments-Holistic therapy will address childhood and adult trauma affecting addiction. If you are curious about treatments like EMDR, base your search on these approaches.
• Faith-based holistic healing-Combining spiritual support with traditional therapy offers the holistic healing necessary to overcome addiction. For many, putting faith in a higher power puts addiction in perspective.
• Location-Seclusion and access to nature are often considerations when choosing a clinic. Southern California offers ocean, forest, and desert locations to help clients disconnect from their busy lives and reconnect with themselves.
• Cost-Costs and insurance coverage vary. Some state-run programs and independent clinics take insurance. Check out CA’s government websites for more information and talk to your insurance company to find a clinic within your budget.

There are many factors to consider when choosing a rehab facility. If you or someone you love needs holistic addiction therapy, as your doctor or therapist for reputable recommendations. Never trust a clinic that offers miracle cures. Holistic recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.

Where to Find Local Recovery Resources in Orange County

Orange County is known for Disneyland and orange groves. We are also home to a wealth of services to support recovery. If you’re looking for local resources for holistic therapy, consider local 12-step programs. You can find these group meetings online or ask an addiction therapist for recommendations. Local therapists are also a resource for reputable holistic care. Facilities across the county can offer idyllic landscapes, compassionate care, and post-rehab support to put your life back in your hands.

Begin Your Healing Journey at Capo Canyon Recovery

Whether you’re a Southern California native or looking to recover in beautiful CA, Capo Canyon Recovery is here for you. We know it isn’t easy to take a step towards healing, but we are here to support you along the way. Our Mission Viejo clinic holistically treats addiction and mental health disorders. Our 24-hour nursing care helps clients detox and recover from conditions such as:

• ​​Alcohol addiction
• Heroin addiction
• Opioid addiction
• Opiate addiction
• Benzo addiction

With an in-house chef, luxurious beds, and an onsite organic garden, we’re here to help you on your journey to sobriety. Don’t wait. Call us at 833.972.2330 today for more information on our holistic therapy programs.

When someone has issues with addiction, they are suffering from a disease which can often tear families apart as they try to understand, support, and help their relative. It’s never a case of being just the addict that goes through addiction because everyone else in the family are usually pulled into the situation, even if the addict has moved away. 

Alcohol is distributed around your body by your blood as you drink and even the smallest amount can have a physiological effect. You’ll lose a small amount of alcohol as it leaves your body in your breath and urine but your tolerance will depend heavily on how much you’ve had to eat. Food that is high in fat slows down the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream and it will take longer to feel intoxicated although there are other, more damaging effects of alcohol on your overall health to take into consideration. 

Dependency can be reliance on a substance, activity or person where an individual treats something or someone as more important than themselves.

Dependency can be reliance on a substance, activity or person where an individual treats something or someone as more important than themselves.