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5 Everyday Things to Help Your Recovery from Alcohol Addiction

Leave a Comment / Life in Recovery /

A common misconception that a lot of people have in regards to recovery from alcohol addiction, is that you go to rehab, you get better, and then you move on with your life. In a majority of cases, however, in order to maintain your sobriety, you have to work at it every day, even after you’ve completed alcohol addiction treatment. The simplest way to do this is to have an aftercare relapse prevention plan in place. It is also vital to your recovery to work the steps or do things every day that will help keep you on your path of recovery and ensure long-term sobriety. Here are five things you can do to elevate your recovery. What to do to Aid Your Recovery from Alcohol Addiction 1. Start Your Day with Something That Inspires YouWake yourself up in the morning by doing something that makes you feel like your best self. Yoga, meditation, or even sipping a cup of coffee while you catch up on the news gives you a little time to yourself to be mindful and will fill you up with positive intention to last all day long. 2. Fuel Your Body with Wholesome FoodsEspecially in early recovery, your odd food cravings are going to be off the charts. Alcohol addiction, and more specifically addiction withdrawal, has adverse effects on your mind, spirit, as well as your body. Throughout your entire alcohol addiction recovery, it is so important to fuel your body with wholesome and healthy foods in order to help your physical body recover as close to its original state as you can. 3. Get High in Other WaysJust because you are sober doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways to “get high.” The feelings that you get from using drugs or drinking alcohol have long been associated with feelings of happiness, bliss, euphoria BUT participating in addictive behaviors is not the only way to feel these awesome feelings. Things like running, yoga, meditation, or being creative can give similar feelings and are much healthier positive alternatives. 4. Build a Strong Addiction Support SystemBefriending people who also have the disease of addiction/alcoholism has to become a priority in sobriety. After all, we need a sponsor to work us through the steps. We need to be around other addicts and alcoholics who understand us – people who can help us maneuver this beautiful experience called life. By connecting with people who operate in a dimension of life that doesn’t include drugs and alcohol, you can stay sober. 5. Live Your PurposeWe’ve all pondered the meaning of life and finding your purpose or mission is possibly one of the most gratifying things you can do. Doing all of the above can help you figure out what exactly it is but if you are still not sure what your purpose is, don’t worry. Work toward it each day and keep on going.

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Hope with Treatment

How to Speak to Your Family About Your Addiction Recovery

Leave a Comment / Family Recovery, Outpatient Treatment /

It can make a difference for your addiction recovery when you speak to your family first. Your family can support you. They will be informed about your health and learn about addiction recovery. They can benefit from attending family programs if provided by your recovery center. Or they can join Al-Anon and learn from other members whose situations closely resemble theirs. “Family and friends can play critical roles … The involvement of a family member or significant other in an individual’s treatment program can strengthen and extend treatment benefits.” Don’t be surprised if they tell you they have been concerned about you for some time. Your family will be relieved and grateful you are ready to seek treatment. It’s important for them to know that attending meetings daily can save your life. Your nearest and dearest have been missing your company for some time and now that you are clean, they may expect you home every night. Suggest that they read The Family Afterward chapter in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous for examples of family support and understanding in different situations. Point out p.137: “The family must realize that dad, though marvelously improved, is still convalescing. They should be thankful he is sober and able to be of this world once more. Let them praise his progress. Let them remember that his drinking wrought all kinds of damage that may take long to repair. If they sense these things, they will not take so seriously his periods of crankiness, depression, or apathy, which will disappear when there is tolerance, love, and spiritual understanding.” Explain what you need to your loved ones and they won’t have to wonder or be afraid to upset you and cause you to relapse. You can assure them that you will have new friends looking out for you, giving you rides home from meetings, and staying out late with you to talk or share a late-night snack. Miracles happen every day in addiction recovery. To learn more about Discovery Transitions drug treatment programs and treatment center, contacts us today or call 844.241.8276.

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4 Ways to Find Support in Recovery (When Your Family is MIA)

4 Ways to Find Support in Recovery (When Your Family is MIA)

Leave a Comment / Addiction in the News /

One of the most important factors in staying sober is support in addiction recovery.  Support helps to cement the ideas and values that we hold and acts as a safety net, helping to ensure that addicts don’t fall back into old patterns. Unfortunately, some people in recovery don’t get the support they need from an important source – their families.  Even after they’ve explained why it’s important that they stay sober, and need their support, some families may not grasp the importance of encouraging a recovering addict not to stray from their new lifestyle.  We shouldn’t dwell on the support we’re not receiving but instead, we should focus more on the positive energy and support we are receiving from other groups or individuals in our lives. 1. Find Support from Your Friends The next logical step of support outside of our families is our friends who may even be closer to us than our own families.  We can use the support of our friends to discuss more personal problems we’ve been having.  Getting these thoughts off of our minds can make recovery as a whole much easier.  Our friends can offer a more relaxed, less stressful support  because they know more about us than anyone else.  Just being in the company of friends may be enough support to help an addict from destroying all they’ve worked for. 2. Find Support from Your Sponsor If you don’t have a sponsor, that’s okay.  Some people find sponsors more useful than others.  In this situation, when you are looking outward for other means of support, we’d recommend looking into getting a sponsor.  How do you get a sponsor?  Just ask.  Many ex-addicts who have been sober for a long period of time after completing recovery are very receptive to being a sponsor.  A sponsor can aid in giving suggestions that worked for them while they were finishing their recovery and a sponsor’s tales of recovery may provide us with the support we need. 3. Find Support in Addiction Recovery Support Groups An obvious choice for alternate support for your sobriety is a sober support group.  With 23.5 million people in the United States who need treatment for addiction of some sort, you best believe there are lots of support groups all over the country.  There are even online support groups  so you can always be connected to other individuals who are also struggling with the same problems as you.  Support groups are great for getting a narrative started, and sharing ideas and thoughts that benefit the entire group.  Having the support of multiple people really can assist in staying sober as you are able to rely on these people as you are racing towards a shared goal as a team. 4. Find Support from Other Recovering Addicts Sometimes the best people to talk to are the people who understand exactly what you’ve been going through.  One on one conversations with other addicts in recovery can be a great resource because they understand why staying sober is so important, and can be a great outlet for stress.  In addition, you may be able to help and support them in their efforts to stay sober and reach long-term recovery.  The sharing of knowledge is an important variable in staying sober.  Sharing accomplishments between each other is another great way of maintaining a sober lifestyle. In the end, you may find that these support channels are in fact better than those that weren’t backing up your lifestyle.  Remember, no matter what, here at Discovery Transitions, we can help you in staying sober. If you or your loved one need additional tips or information on resources available to build a strong support system, call Discovery Transitions today at 844.241.8276.

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Addiction Recovery and Good Health: A Better Kind of Buzz

Leave a Comment / Life in Recovery /

Once a person with a substance use disorder is successfully able to manage the disease of addiction, they often discover that feeling healthy in body and mind is an incredible buzz unlike any other. People may gravitate to alcohol and drugs for a wide array of reasons, but these substances invariably detract from one’s health, psychological well-being and other important aspects of life, such as school, jobs, and family. Comprehensive drug treatment promotes a path to recovery that addicts can follow in order to maintain long-term health and a life free from substance abuse. Trust in Addiction Recovery: A Great Natural High When people trust you, it’s a great feeling, but believing that you can trust yourself is a high that becomes a cornerstone of life in recovery. It is not uncommon for people that are addicted to feel as if they’ve lost the trust of their loved ones and friends. They may even feel as if they can’t trust themselves to refrain from using alcohol or drugs. Yet once they begin drug or alcohol treatment and learn about the physical and psychological dependencies associated with addiction, their newfound understanding of the disease and the recovery process can help them recover the trust that was depleted by their substance abuse problems. The Full Wallet High No matter how modest your means are, you’ll probably find that you have more money now that you aren’t spending it all on drugs or alcohol. Moreover, when you aren’t preoccupied with obtaining and using a substance, you can focus on finding a job or spending your money more wisely on education, both of which can enhance your well-being and the long-term recovery process. The Happiness Mirror You’ve probably heard the saying that the mirror doesn’t lie; when it comes to recovery from drugs or alcohol use, you’ll see a noticeable, positive change in your reflection. The fact is, drugs and alcohol age you and speed up the deterioration of your looks along with your health. When you maintain your recovery, you’ll discover that you feel better and will doubtlessly look better, too. Don’t believe it? Take a selfie before you enter treatment and then another three months, six months after. There’s happiness for you! New Friends in Addiction Recovery: A Better Buzz Friends who abuse drugs and alcohol may be people you care about, but you must remove yourself from their negative influence. Your life depends on it. If you are a recovering addict (and many experts will tell you that recovery is ongoing; addiction cannot really be “cured”), your recovery and well-being are delicate and you are incredibly vulnerable to triggers. Spending time in settings where drinking and drug use occur is off limits for the sober addict. However, new friends are waiting for you in sober living communities, at your drug treatment center and in programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Be open to building new relationships that will enhance your life and respect your goal of long-term recovery. When you trade in those momentary substance highs for the long-term pleasures of addiction recovery, you’ll feel the benefits of this trade-off in your bones, in your circumstances and in your smile. Don’t wait any longer to discover the pleasure that sober living can offer. No life, even a substance-free life, is perfect, but recovery will foster good health, an improved mental outlook and the opportunity to attain real happiness. Discovery Transitions is Here to Help If you or someone you care about could benefit from outpatient addiction treatment, contact Discovery Transitions today at +1-(866) 916-3211 to speak with an addiction counselor. We can provide information about the treatment programs at our intensive outpatient addiction treatment center and answer any questions you might have about your addiction and recovery.

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The Top 5 Ways to Find a Job After Drug Rehab

Leave a Comment / Life in Recovery /

As kids are heading back to school you might be feeling ready to head back to work after your time in drug rehab. But with your history of addiction, how can you take advantage of the expanding job market when you have those awkward gaps in your resume? Work After Drug Rehab: Where to Start Thankfully, there are resources available to help you find that job which will support you while you continue on your path to lifelong sobriety. America in Recovery A free service, America in Recovery is a non-profit organization that encourages employers to hire recovering drug addicts and alcoholics. The group puts together those in recovery with employers who understand that recovering substance abusers work harder and have a better attitude because they are grateful for the opportunity to support themselves and their families. For more information, visit www.americainrecovery.org. The National H.I.R.E. Network The National H.I.R.E. Network is a training and technical assistance provider to and organizer of agencies working to improve the employment prospects of people with criminal records. Although set up to assist those with criminal records, they offer a comprehensive state-by-state directory of local employment programs that may also be helpful to those in recovery. They specialize in providing job-related assistance and offering referrals to other useful organizations. To find out more about how The National H.I.R.E. Network can help you find work, visit www.hirenetwork.org. Career One Stop/American Job Centers American Job Centers (or AJCs) provide free help to job seekers for a variety of career and employment-related needs. Career One Stop’s website offers information, tips, and resources to help people with criminal convictions overcome barriers they might face in their job search. The Department of Labor urges those in recovery and looking for work to get into contact with their nationwide network of career centers by visiting www.servicelocator.org. Create your own opportunities If you aren’t qualified for the job you want, then get qualified by upgrading your education or looking for job training programs offered at your local employment center. Register with your local temp agency and try just about anything they offer you. Employers seeking temporary labor may not care as much about the background of prospective workers. Consider a paid internship or apprenticeship. The Department of Labor runs an apprenticeship program that matches people looking to train for a trade with over 25 000 employers ready to offer training and labor to those willing to apprentice. If no one else will give you a job then hire yourself by creating your own small business. You don’t necessarily need thousands of dollars to get started either… think dog walker, handyman, babysitter, lawn mower, etc. Or if you can write, design, program, have fine art or photographic or video skills, you can find work online. Since you’ll be working in a freelance capacity, your personal history will mean nothing to a prospective client. Network through your support groups Most job seekers these days find that many of their leads come to them through networking. Consider that anyone you meet may have a positive job lead or know someone who can help you. Communicate your desire to find a job to friends and family and by all means, network with the recovering members of the support groups and counselors at your rehab facility or attendees at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Most of all, don’t get discouraged. Finding work takes time, commitment and patience for everyone. If there are difficulties, discuss the situation with members of your recovery team. Many corporate executives have discovered that giving recovering addicts a second chance at success is more than charitable outreach to a disadvantaged group; it’s just good business.

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Alcoholic Bar

Intensive Outpatient Program: What You Need to Know

Leave a Comment / Outpatient Treatment /

An intensive outpatient program, commonly called IOP, is typically recommended for those who are not in need of a medically-supervised detox treatment.  This will be determined by an assessment counselor when you seek addiction treatment.  If detox is recommended, an intensive outpatient program may be the next step. There are many benefits of an intensive outpatient program: The freedom to remain in your current environment surrounded by family The ability to continue working or going to school Being able to apply recovery skills as you learn them instead of waiting until returning from a rehab facility Establishing long-term recovery support in your home and community early on in the process Services Offered at Intensive Outpatient Program Typically IOP services are given through small group counseling and therapy sessions. However, individual and family counseling is available as well. Family involvement in the recovery process is highly recommended and may be mandatory. The American Society of Addiction Medicine suggests attending therapy at least 9 hours per week. Typical intensive outpatient programs consist of three meetings per week lasting three hours each for four weeks. Meeting days/evenings, times, and duration varies with program location. Depending on the treatment center and your needs, meeting topics may also vary and may include: Orientation and intake admission Custom treatment plans and review Vocational training or employment search assistance Introduction to the 12-step program Substance use monitoring Transition management and individual discharge plan Relapse prevention skills Introduction to community based support groups Psychiatric exam and psychotherapy Adult education Transportation to and from meetings Licensed child care during meetings Smoking cessation classes and/or treatment Parenting skills classes Social activities Healthy lifestyle skills Problem solving skills Stress management The Cost of an Intensive Outpatient Program The American Medical Association recognizes substance abuse and addiction as a disease; as a result most major health insurance providers cover intensive outpatient program costs, including Medicare (Part B).  Intake counselors will be able to assist with determining cost and coverage. Take that first step toward recovery. Contact a treatment center for an assessment to see if an intensive outpatient program is right for you.

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3 Things Recovering Addicts Wished you Knew

3 Things Recovering Addicts Wished you Knew

Leave a Comment / Outpatient Treatment /

If you’ve been caring for a drug or alcohol addict, or if a member of your family is an addict, you must be wondering how they feel inside. Do they even know they pain they are causing the family? Well, the truth is that even addicts have feelings. For recovering addicts, they will have discovered what it really means to be an addict and what is needed to get back to normalcy. They have things they wish you knew about recovery. Here are 3 things a recovering addict might not tell you but which they wish they could. They don’t want to hurt you We tend to fear addicts. We always associate them with negative influences. We think that if someone smokes cannabis then they must be incapable of making positive life choices. The truth is that addicts feel ashamed about such behaviors. They feel like outcasts and lose self-esteem. It makes them feel powerless and hurts their chances of recovery. They don’t enjoy the know-it-all attitude Addiction recovery can be very difficult, even painful. There will be a lot of failure and know that recovery isn’t a race you win at some “finish line.” Then you come in with a know-it-all approach thinking you can fix things in a flash. Recovering addicts want you to understand that they really want to get over the addiction, just that they can’t do it on your schedule. That they need you It’s very difficult for an addict to tell you that they need you. But they sure do. They would really want to talk about how things happened but many times they have no one to share with. If your loved is recovering from addiction, do not wait for them to tell you how much they need you. Be the shoulder they can lean on and you will see how much they appreciate it. We need to understand that addicts are human just like the rest of us. This is the only way we can help them achieve quicker and smoother recovery.

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Why Outpatient Drug Rehab Is a Good Idea

Why Outpatient Drug Rehab Is a Good Idea

Leave a Comment / Outpatient Treatment /

After all the hard work put into your recovery during residential treatment, making the intentional choice to participate in outpatient drug rehab just makes sense. A tremendous amount of beneficial change can be brought about in residential drug and alcohol addiction treatment. The body becomes free, perhaps for the first time in a long time, from mind-altering chemicals. Physical health is nurtured, psychological issues are addressed, and quite likely an introduction is made to spiritual principles. Through group and individual counseling, the newly recovering addict begins to see with clarity the hopelessness of addiction, and the inevitability of its progression if left unchecked. He or she develops a sense of camaraderie with their fellows in recovery. Life seems to offer new possibilities and new hope. The fact is, all the valuable work done in residential treatment can go out the window in a minute if the things learned there aren’t put to use and  reinforced by continuing to strengthen your foundation in recovery. And then it’s time for the real world. Check out of drug addiction treatment and go home, face life, go back to work or find a job—no matter how much preparation you do, life on life’s terms can be challenging. Frustration, old friends who are still using, and tensions with loved ones or associates can all lead to relapse. Money problems, mood swings, and anxiety can make a drink, a pill, or a hit off a joint look like a welcome and innocent relief. The fact is, all the valuable work done in residential addiction treatment can go out the window in a minute if the things learned there aren’t put to use and reinforced by continuing to strengthen your foundation in recovery. An outpatient drug rehab program can be the crucial missing link to long-term recovery—a bridge to living an independent, drug-free life. As our life situations require an entirely new set of responses, we bring them to our outpatient drug rehab program and apply what we learn there. The things we learned in residential drug addiction treatment now become habits that anchor us in a new mode of living, not only free from drugs and alcohol but also happier and more productive.

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Panic disorders and Addiction

5 Important Stages of Drug Addiction Recovery

Leave a Comment / Outpatient Treatment, Recovering Addict /

Overcoming a drug addiction takes time and professional support, from the early stages of intervention and detox through to the later stages of maintenance and aftercare. Whether you’re struggling with alcoholism, prescription drug abuse, or illicit drug addiction, each phase of treatment has an important role to play. If you or anyone you know is struggling with substance abuse and addiction, it’s important to contact a specialized treatment center as soon as possible. 5 Important Stages of Drug Addiction Recovery Detoxification programs are often initiated at the outset of the treatment process, followed by inpatient or outpatient drug rehab and aftercare support services. 1. Drug Abuse Awareness and Early Acknowledgment Drug addicts are often in denial about the existence or extent of their drug problem, with secretive behavior and lies also common. Before effective recovery can take place, it’s important for people to develop awareness of their situation by acknowledging the negative consequences of their compulsive and impulsive drug habits. A crisis intervention may be needed to instigate this process, with direct confrontational and indirect invitational methods both available. 2. A Shift From Awareness to Action in Drug Addiction Recovery The next stage of recovery involves active preparation as awareness shifts into action. While being aware of your drug problems is a great start, recognition is not enough in isolation. There are many ways to act when faced with drug addiction, including talking to friends and family, enrolling in 12-step support programs, and researching rehabilitation centers. It’s important to speak with a professional counselor and research your options before enrolling in a drug treatment program. 3. Exploring Drug Addiction Recovery People react to drugs and alcohol in very different ways, with the substance and extent of addiction greatly affecting the treatment provided. For example, physical drug addictions often require medical intervention, including medical detox and long-term pharmacotherapy. In contrast, psychological drug addictions can often be treated through behavioral and cognitive measures alone, including counseling and behavioral therapy. Before starting a treatment program it’s important to explore all recovery options available to you. 4. Early Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery The early stages of recovery are very important because they lay the foundations for the entire process. Depending on the nature of addiction, medical detox may be needed to help the patient stop using drugs and manage associated withdrawal symptoms. This is especially the case for central nervous system (CNS) depressants such as alcohol, opiates, and prescription sedatives. Patients who are unlikely to experience physical-somatic withdrawal symptoms are often admitted directly to rehab, including people addicted to marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine. 5. Active Recovery and Maintenance While detox helps people to stop using drugs in a safe and supportive medical setting, it does little to address the emotional and cognitive issues underlying addiction. Psychotherapeutic treatments are also needed in the weeks and months that follow drug discontinuation, including family therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy among others. Aftercare support programs also play an important role in treatment, including 12-step support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and counseling programs such as SMART Recovery.

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Why IOP Treatment is the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

Why IOP Treatment is the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

Leave a Comment / Outpatient Treatment /

Intensive outpatient programs – or IOP treatment – are a fantastic alternative for people who do not want or need residential care, providing people with access to comprehensive treatment while living at their regular home address. Why IOP Treatment Is a Good Option For You The drug treatment process includes three separate yet integrated phases: detoxification, rehabilitation, and aftercare. While detox programs help people to stop using drugs and alcohol in a safe medical setting, detox does little to address the psychological undercurrents of drug addiction. Extended rehabilitation and aftercare are always recommended, with inpatient and outpatient programs both widely available. What is IOP Treatment? Intensive outpatient programs provide the best of both worlds, offering intensive structured treatment in a flexible and affordable package. Depending on the individual and substance in question, outpatient programs provide a range of medical and psychotherapeutic programs that tackle all aspects of substance abuse. Medication therapy is often needed to treat physical drug dependencies, including alcoholism, prescription opiate dependence, and heroin addiction. Psychotherapy programs are also initiated to address the emotional and social aspects of drug addiction, including family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational enhancement programs. Benefits of IOP Treatment Outpatient drug rehab is an important aspect of substance abuse treatment. While inpatient programs provide a more comprehensive level of care, they are more expensive and less flexible than comparable outpatient programs. People attending outpatient programs are able to live at home for the duration of treatment, meaning they can carry out their regular home and work commitments while in therapy. This has a number of practical and psychological benefits, with people much less likely to relapse when they have stable employment, stable accommodation, and access to family support networks. IOP is also more affordable than residential care, making it more accessible to people in need. Inpatient vs Outpatient Treatment Before entering a drug rehab program, it’s important to understand the difference between inpatient and outpatient care. Also known as residential care, inpatient programs involve an intensive live-in arrangement for the duration of the program, which can last from a couple of weeks to a few months. There are two primary levels of inpatient care, with residential hospitalization involving 24-hour access to medications and inpatient rehab providing less intensive support. Outpatient care offers a less intensive alternative, including partial hospitalization and outpatient rehab. During a typical outpatient program, the patient lives at their usual domestic address while attending treatment sessions on a periodic basis. Relapse Prevention and Aftercare Relapse is a common outcome of drug addiction, with dedicated measures needed to reduce relapse rates and ensure long-term recovery. Outpatient programs, including IOP, are designed to help people transition between rehab and everyday life. Most aftercare programs attempt to reduce relapse rates through cognitive and behavioral methods, including mindfulness training, trigger recognition strategies, and ongoing family therapy. While most relapse prevention systems are based on psychotherapy, intensive outpatient programs may also help people find suitable employment, training, and accommodation opportunities.

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