Expert Advice

How Does Your Addiction Affect Your Kids

By admin on Expert Advice, Substance Abuse

Your drug addiction is bound to leave a permanent mark on your life. Of course, you know that. Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there. Your addiction will suck up the life of everyone in your family including your kids.

Like a spouse, the children too are introduced to a world where a parent is battling an addiction that makes him or her emotionally unavailable when they need them. The relationship takes quite a hit and results in profound psychological abnormalities in the child forever.

We Take A Look The Symptoms That The Child Might Show Growing Up With A Parent Who Is An Addict:

Responsibilities

A lot of kids see their father as a hero. However, when the child is forced to witness the father passed out or go through irrational mood swings, things change considerably. A parent, who needs to be responsible for the kids, might not be able to cater to their needs. This might force the kids to be responsible for themselves as well as the parent.

Getting the younger siblings ready for school, fixing them lunch along with helping the addict parent out become daily tasks.

Stunted Emotional Growth

What the children witness in their homes while growing up is also reflected in their personalities as adults. Since they are afraid of the uncertain, they tend to take things in control which might leave very little room for their healthy emotional development. Another classic example can be their relationships being totally co-dependent. They do not know the concept of unacceptable behavior and naturally forget to draw the line.

Critical Of Themselves

Domestic violence is common in homes of addicts. Once the communication between a parent and a child is broken down and the roles are blurred, chances of physical and sexual abuse increase manifold. These kids grow up with low self-esteem and are constantly critical of themselves.

Research suggests that such kids are more likely to involve with substance addicts again which might lead to more physical and sexual abuse. This leaves a permanent mark on the personalities of these kids who tend to lose trust in further relationships.

Fear

Once things start getting bad at home, it is only a matter of time when the world outside gets a hint of that. Fearing this, the kids naturally keep away from bringing friends home or making friends entirely. They are afraid of their image to the outside world.

Another worry that always drives them is to be taken away from their homes. They fear someone might find out and call Child Services and they will be taken away from their parents.

Higher Risk Of Anxiety Or Depression

Kids with an addict parent that have been subjected to physical or sexual abuse may witness sleep disorders, flashbacks, anxiety or even depression. Eating disorders and suicide attempts were found to be much more in common in the children of addicts than the rest of the population.

Even something as witnessing abuse can be harmful to their brain which can permanently cause behavioral problems. Since the ability to parent in an addict is considerably affected, the children remain to be emotionally vulnerable even after they grow up.

More Likely To Develop Addiction

Remember things can always get worse. Carrying the baggage of growing in an emotional void, the children of addicts are unlikely to form strong relationships and might turn to a bottle instead of a friend in the time of need.

Even after keeping the genetic factor aside, these kids are at a higher risk of developing an addiction than the rest of the world.

It is evident from these points that your drug addiction will have severe life spanning effects on your children. Their personalities are damaged due to constant behavioral problems which eventually also take a toll on their relationships. If they take up alcohol or drug addiction too, the third generation of your family might be looking at the same risks that your child had to go through. It is crucial for your kids along with your spouse to be a part of your rehabilitation program to ensure they overcome the effects of your addiction effectively.

Tips For Early Recovery That Work Wonders

By admin on Expert Advice, Substance Abuse

Drug rehab is a difficult process, and rehab is just one small part of it. The real battle starts once you’re out in the real world all on your own, back to your routine. The early days after rehab are indeed the most difficult and can take a toll on you emotionally.

Since you are back into your world that got you in rehab in the first place, significant changes need to be made to your lifestyle to ensure you stay on the right track. A couple of other things that seem crucial otherwise might take a back seat while the recovery takes most of your attention.

Here are several tips that work wonders for an early recovery:

Recovery Is Priority

You might be a workaholic having grand aspirations or a full-time parent that needs to tend to their kids. Once you are on the road to recovery, it shall become your priority. Make sure you do not stress yourself at work or work long hours to catch up on the lost time.

Leave enough mental and emotional strength for yourself to fight your urges in the early stages of recovery.

It Is Quite A Bit Of Work

The early days of recovery are never easy and might be emotionally challenging for a few. You would be mistaken if you think just stopping drinking will get you back on the track. It requires more work than what it looks like on the surface. You need to have a proper routine with ample exercise and efficient sleep cycles to take on addiction. Your diet and nutrients will play an equally significant part in the process.

Meetings Are Important

There is no easy way to stress this, but it is essential for your healing process that you remain in touch with people who are battling the same problems as you. This will help keep you grounded. Listening to other people and their ways of coping with their urges will motivate you to stick to your path.

Additionally, try building a network. Get a sponsor. If not then at least make friends with a few people who can be there if you need someone to discuss your predicament. Going 15 minutes early to the meeting and staying a few minutes after it ends is also helpful since they are as important as the meeting.

Take Care Of Unresolved Issues

Addiction is usually a result of unresolved relationship issues, work stress or behavioral problems. It is essential for your recovery that you tend to these issues that got you into Rehab in the first place. Try talking to your boss about your process and see if they can help you with it.

Try going the extra mile for resolving issues with important people in your life and tend to those loose ends. Seek closure from past relationships and put your mind to rest. You might also need to see a therapist to seek professional help for the same.

Emotional Support Is Essential

For your early recovery, your family and loved ones need to come together to your aid to help you achieve your goal. Your family plays a large role in your healing process and act as your support system when you are down with feelings of guilt, shame, and carelessness.

Realize It Is A Lifelong Process

Though recovery, especially in the early days, can seem to be a battle hard to be won, it does tend to get more comfortable with time. Alcohol or drug addiction rewires your brain in such a way that it immediately starts seeking these substances to cope with strong emotions or stress.

Recovery is all about rebuilding your pathways and have long-term goals in your mind. Keep learning new ways to focus on your journey that will lead you to the liberating life after addiction.

Experts suggest that having a well-crafted plan for your post-rehab period is crucial. Acknowledging these points and including them into your master plan will significantly help in your early recovery. Since the initial days have known to be harder for most, taking the steps in the right direction could help in keeping your long-term goals in check.

What Are The Initial Stages Drug Addiction Recovery?

By admin on Expert Advice, Substance Abuse

Are you going down on the road to recover from your drug addiction?

Well, before you plan on going to that recovery phase, did you know that addiction recovery is a long process and comes as different for everyone?

According to a 2014 research published in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, recovery is defined as a process through which people improve their health, live a self-directed life and strive to reach their potential.

Though there are similarities between the addicted individuals, but each recovery case is still influenced by various social, biological, and physical factors.

As there is no one remedy that works for everyone, here are the initial stages that you will go through during the recovery.

Pre-Contemplation Stage

This stage is characterized by the denial of drug or alcohol addiction habit.

During the pre-contemplation stage, the addicted person is not ready to admit that they have an addiction issue. They avoid the conversations about addictions and also step back from the people who bring them up. The addicts start to blame their substance abuse on various factors like work life, family issues, and even genetic predispositions.

But the most important aspect of this stage is an acknowledgment, which is the transformation from “I’m a heavy drinker” to “I have a drinking problem.”

And this is from where the journey of recovery begins.

Contemplating Getting Sober

Well, awareness and acknowledgment alone are not enough. This is the stage where the conflicting emotions and uncertain thoughts begin to play a huge role.

During the stage, the addicted one has to begin considering the actual possibilities of recovery. There are chances when the addicts remain in this stage for months, as they evaluate the various course of action.

They are planning to make the change, but the fear of treatment; expenses, detox pain, and staying away from drugs stop them from doing so.

To get through this, one thing that you can do is joining a rehabilitation center or seek help from a professional.

Preparation- Exploring The Recovery Options

Moving past the contemplation stage, the addict gets prepared to overcome his addiction problem. This is the stage when recovery of an addict actually begins.

During the preparation, addicts begin to educate themselves about the recovery process and get to know what it actually means to live a sober life. They are quite motivated and start looking for the support that they require for recovery.

Once they commit to following a long-term treatment plan, they are likely to move on it smoothly. But still, it is important to realize that moderating your use does not mean that you are completely in the recovery phase.

Action-Early Recovery Stage

During this stage, either the methods you are trying completely fail or start to fail. At this time, you quit focusing on moderation and seek help to get your life together.

You will learn more about the problem and will work through the issues that may be blocking your growth towards a better life. But make sure you don’t even slip a bit during this stage as you might not have acquired the complete knowledge for a full recovery.

Remember that this stage may last from three to six months.

Relapse and Maintenance Stage

This is the most overlooked and important stage as you are required to upkeep the recovery routine, even after completing the treatment.

While relapse is inevitable, you still have to engage in the habits that will help you replace the addiction habits. You can adapt new dietary habits, make a fitness plan, or surround yourself with the people who remind you of your goal.

Those who fail to take this step, they start exhibiting the negative traits of addiction all over again. This stage will take effort, dedication, and strength, but the results you will get are immensely rewarding.

If you or your loved one is struggling with the addiction, it’s time that you help them recover faster. At Prominence Treatment, we give you the tools to rise above the addiction and work through the recovery issues so that you can start your new life. Contact Us today to learn more about our treatment programs and how they can transform your life for better.

Finding Success in Your Recovery

By admin on Expert Advice, News

Coming to terms with addiction and completing a rehab program is a significant step toward living a fuller, happier life. However, transitioning from the protection of inpatient rehab to living independently in the “real world” is going to present challenges. At first, there will be a whole host of feelings, like excitement, hope, insecurity, and anxiety. All the emotions that you experience are expected or reasonable, but they shouldn’t be allowed to direct your behavior in all cases.

There are a few things that you should do, and a few that you shouldn’t, to find lasting success in recovery:

Eat right

Extended use of drugs or alcohol causes physical deterioration that continues long after getting sober. Eating well after rehab repairs some of the damage and when you eat better, you feel better. If you give your body the right fuel, your energy level increases, your mood and mental focus improve, and you can be more productive. A healthy diet including lean meat and fish, nuts and seeds, and fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens is essential for everyone but of particular importance to those new to recovery.

Exercise

Drugs and alcohol inhibit your brain’s ability to produce necessary neurotransmitters. Some in recovery may experience post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) that may include fatigue, anxiety, depression, and problems with concentration, among others. Regular exercise helps release essential brain chemicals that naturally elevate your mood, improve motivation, reduce stress, and improve sleep quality.

Engage in forgiveness

Part of the recovery process will involve looking at the past and making amends to those you may have hurt, as well as yourself. Resentment is a poison and forgiving yourself and others will be one of, if not the most powerful step that you will make in recovery.

Connect with thriving people

It is necessary to re-engage the healthy relationships that you may have disconnected from during active addiction. People from your past that believe in you and lead happy, productive lives can be a remarkable influence on your future success. A robust support system is vital to your progress. Spending time with new friends that are thriving in sobriety is also a powerful motivator.

Practice gratitude

The reality is that the mess that we make when we are active in addiction needs to be cleaned up and it is very rarely an easy task. It can work for the newly sober to find the good in things. A daily effort to acknowledge and focus on the things that you are grateful for will help set your mind on a positive track.

Help others

Helping others is a fantastic way to find gratitude. Random acts of kindness, helping a neighbor, anything that you can do for someone in need will make you feel good and help you to appreciate your own blessings. After some time you will be able to encourage and inspire others that are new to recovery.

Have a plan

You need to create a purpose, define your goals, and make an action plan detailing how you can achieve those goals. This plan doesn’t have to be earth-shattering. Keep it simple, but give yourself a direction and have concrete ideas about what your day should look like to make progress. A little progress is still progress.

Meditate

Of all of the things that will contribute to your success in recovery, this may be the most intimidating. The thought of silencing your mind may seem impossible. There are a lot of online resources that can guide you in a practice. However, perfection isn’t the goal. Just giving yourself a bit of time every day in a serene place to enjoy the quiet and be in the moment will do wonders.

Journal

Having a daily journal is a great way to reflect and track your progress. Your journal is only for you and allows you to express yourself in any way that you want without fear of judgment. Addiction and early recovery involve chaos. Giving yourself ten minutes every evening to put all of the day’s thoughts on paper can be cathartic. Eventually, your journal will become the source of inspiration for new goals for the future.

Don’t underestimate your addiction

This can be tricky. You are eating right and exercising, getting along well with your family and friends. You feel good. Things are good. This could be when you let your guard down and think that you can go back to some of the old people and places and be ok. Always stay vigilant in avoiding potential triggers, especially when you feel great.

The Non 12-step approach to treatment and recovery that is employed by the specialists at Prominence Treatment Center allows for a gradual re-entry into your old world with newfound independence. After inpatient treatment at Prominence, you can take part in day programs, or a less structured live-in transitional program, and when it is time to move on you will have the tools for relapse prevention but can count on continued care and support.

6 Mistakes Families Make That Can Sabotage Addiction Intervention

By admin on Expert Advice

Interventions are one of the best ways to encourage your loved one to take action and get the help they desperately need regarding addiction abuse. Family interventions are a great way to confront the individual and let them know how many people love and care about them. They’re a non-threatening tool to get the addict to agree to go to rehab. The main goal of an intervention is for the addict to listen and accept treatment. Before your family begins planning or staging an intervention, you’ll want to be aware of some common mistakes so you can help make sure the situation doesn’t spiral out of control. Here are 6 common mistakes families make that can sabotage the intervention:

Waiting Too Long

Many people believe they need to wait until their loved one has hit “rock bottom” before performing an intervention. However, it’s best to address the person as soon as you notice signs of problem behaviors. If you’re noticing odd behaviors such as stealing money, missing work, or hanging out with the wrong crowd, early action can help and they will likely be more open to listening to you. If you wait too long, they may be completely against rehab options.

It`s Time to Recover and Start Your New Chapter

Skipping the Rehearsal

Before you have the actual intervention, it’s important to stage a rehearsal ahead of time. Everyone who is invited will sit down and talk about what will be covered and the timeframe of the intervention. Details to discuss include who will talk, what will be said, treatment plans, how you’ll get your loved one to the intervention, and the best day/time to do it. Having all of the details worked out in advance will make for a much smoother intervention.

Not Inviting the Right People

Successful interventions require the people who matter most to be a part of it. Whoever’s opinions and feelings matter most to the addict should be present. Avoid having too many people, since it will come off as overwhelming. Focus on inviting the core people who respect and care about the addict the most. Having those people there will make the addict feel comfortable and loved, which is the overall goal.

Attacking the Addict

Interventions are emotionally charged events. It’s very easy for the situation to get out of hand if you aren’t properly prepared for it. If the intervention isn’t going well, it may be tempting to use a harsh tone or use keywords that may make your loved one feel directly attacked. Placing blame for situations or accusing them nonstop will make them shut down. Focus on how you feel about their current habits, talk about their well-being, their future, and express all of your genuine concerns. By focusing on how worried you are and how much you love them, you’re much more likely to get through to them.

Offering Too Many Rehab Options

Families may feel like they’re doing the addict a favor by offering options, but this usually ends up creating more stress and overwhelming feelings. Addicts typically aren’t capable of making major decisions while they’re under the influence, therefore the family should research options and choose the number one program suited for the addict.

Start Feeling Better Now

Giving Them Money

If your loved one has (hopefully) accepted treatment at the end of the intervention, it might be tempting to send them on their way with money. Your loved one is in a very raw, vulnerable, and emotional state right now. Giving them money gives them an option to use, and in most cases, if they have the funds they will find a way to get their drug of choice. A lot can happen between now and the hours until rehab. If you must give them money, only give them enough to get them from where they are to the treatment facility.

If your loved one is struggling with an addiction, consider holding an intervention to help get them on the right path. You can help change their life and make their future that much brighter.

Prominence Treatment offers customized treatment plans to bring your loved ones back into a fulfilling sober lifestyle. Contact us today for more information, we’re ready to help.

Am I being selfish for putting my recovery first?

By admin on Expert Advice, Uncategorized

It’s an interesting and seemingly contradictory truth, but selfishness can accelerate our addiction, or accelerate our recovery. It all depends on the way you define “selfish,” and it can make all the difference in how successful you are in recovery.

Redefining “selfish” in recovery

Merriam Webster defines “Selfish” as:

1: concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself: seeking or concentrating on one’s own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others

2: arising from concern with one’s own welfare or advantage in disregard of others

Notice that it says without regard for others. As recovering addicts seeking to create a more empowering definition of “selfish,” the first thing to realize is putting our recovery first is actually in the best interest of others, not just ourselves.

The primary goal of recovery is to get and stay sober, in a well-rounded way that can ideally help others as well. This means that whatever you have to do in order to stay sober, should come first, and it is selfish only in the sense that it puts you first, but it is in order to benefit yourself and others, not without regard for them. Viewing this in a big picture way is valuable, because otherwise guilt may accompany our recovery efforts, and guilt won’t help our cause.

It`s Time to Recover and Start Your New Chapter

Selfish vs. Selfless

Why is it important to be selfish, and put our own recovery first? Isn’t recovery about being “self-less?”

Great question.The answer is, there is a time for everything. While we may be able to be of some service to others early in our recovery, this will only be in certain capacities, and the scale will be tilted towards receiving help from others at this time. And this is only natural. The fact is being selfish in recovery, and caring for yourself enough to put a goal that is larger than yourself first, is the first step towards being selfless in more meaningful ways down the line.

Living with others

A number of problems may come up when you take this healthy stance of selfishness early in recovery.

Some people will see it as a sign you haven’t changed, and will use this as an opportunity to say you need to change further, even though what they’re suggesting could endanger your recovery, and actually is only to benefit their own selfishness. Remember, it is not selfish in the negative sense, to not give in to other’s selfishness! If they’re not putting your recovery first as well, then what they expect of you comes from their own agenda, and not your best interests.

Ch-Ch-Changes

As a recovering addict, you’ll likely go through a number of changes that others might interpret as selfish, or that you might even wonder about yourself.
Is it selfish to get a different job if my current one is too stressful?

Is it selfish to break out of a relationship if I know it’s toxic (particularly if they’re still using)?

It’s not a bad thing that you want to know if your decisions and actions might be hurting others. In fact, it’s great you’re thinking about others altogether. But now is the time to revisit the number one priority we set out in redefining “selfishness,” and ask ourselves the most important question:

Will making this change give me a better chance at successful recovery?

If the answer is ‘yes,’ you know what you should do. You also know this type of selfishness is perfectly fine, and includes benefits to others along with it.

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Why is all of this important?

By making choices that support your recovery first, you not only give yourself the best external situations for success, but you send a signal to yourself about your own changed priorities. This is important because you need as many things working in your favor as possible for successful recovery. You can think about the ways that both you and others will benefit from these healthy decisions to be selfish, by thinking about the damage that was done to yourself in others during your addiction. The end of this damage alone is beneficial, but you can also add to it by taking this time to nurture yourself. Then, what you have to offer on the other side of recovery makes it obvious why you took the time you needed.

Looking at the long-term

A number of lifestyle changes may be needed in order to achieve sobriety, but making it your number one priority, and doing anything needed to achieve this, will make the decisions along the way much easier. These changes might include changing jobs or leaving relationships as mentioned, or something exciting like going back to school, or moving into a new living arrangement. Luckily, as you redefine your internal compass based on beneficial values and priorities, it will point the way towards a destination worth heading to.

Contact us today to learn more about why being selfish is the best thing you can do for both yourself and others.

Enjoying Life after Addiction

By admin on Expert Advice, News, Substance Abuse

photo-1489525655354-27d7ef86c6f0 Now that you are sober, life probably looks a bit different to you. That is entirely true of all who are now living without addiction. But today is the time to do some things that you have never done before. It is also the time to have some fun, be active, take care of yourself, and renew your mind, body, and spirit. If you’re like many who are in recovery from addiction, you may have forgotten what “fun” means, let alone what taking care of yourself means. So, let’s take a look at some wonderful ways to get that “me time” you’ve been putting on the back burner for so long.

Get a New Hobby – You’re probably saying that your wallet is not full enough to pay for hobby supplies, tools, or materials. If you are, then you have never visited Pinterest. Most of the artsy crafty pins are simple and use what you already have in the house. Other sites that have ideas for fun projects are Instructables, eHow, Hometalk, and DeviantArt. A few examples of the types of things you could try are:

woodworking
making DIY furniture
learning origami
teaching a class yourself

Hobbies are an excellent method to structure your time. If you are feeling bored or unproductive, hobbies can help you stay on track during your recovery time. Hobbies can also make you as a person more interesting. It is a solid connection to others who have the same skills or like the same free-time activities. Connection is critical for healing. And teaching a class yourself will certainly improve your self-esteem, ego, self-image, and courage.

It`s Time to Recover and Start Your New Chapter

Volunteer – Doing something for others is one of the top ways to get happy. But those in recovery need to take an extra step. Make what you do for the world something dynamic and unexpected, such as:

tutoring a child
joining a charity organization
raising money and collecting personal items for the homeless in your city and delivering the items in person

Loneliness is one of the major triggers when it comes to sobriety. Loneliness and social isolation are affecting a vast number of Americans today. Volunteering takes you outside yourself and builds your social network.

Try Something New – This is where you are going to be asked to get out of your comfort zone and do something that is a little scary to you. When such a task has been achieved, the inside you gets braver, calmer, and more centered.

try skydiving
ride in a hot air balloon
consider rock-climbing
take swimming lessons if you have never swum
learn to dance
see the aurora borealis

Trying new things makes a person more able to retain positive emotions and ward off negativity.

Do Something You Have Never Wanted to Do – This suggestion is not meant to cure any phobias you have but is asking you to once again step outside the boundaries and see if you do or don’t like a certain option.

with supervision, hold a tarantula
attend a church service of a denomination you have never before visited
go to an opera if you never have before
leave a particularly nice tip anonymously
run a marathon

Attempting something you have never done before takes courage. Most folks in recovery are quite cognizant that fear is their enemy. Trying something new on a fairly regular basis is one way to hone your bravery skills.

Relax – This advice is based on the biography of Sophia Loren, an Italian movie star from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. She advised that every week everyone (men and women alike) should, “Take a Sophia Day.” By that statement, she meant:

stay in your pajamas all day
stay in your bed if you like
take no visitors
stay off the phone (but now she would add your tablet, computer, television, and smartphone)
eat what you wish
read
meditate on only good things

The opposite of stress and anxiety, both of which are toxic for those with addiction backgrounds, is relaxation. Scientists have discovered that relaxing actually decreases the effects of stress and anxiety on both your mind and your body.

Plan a Trip – Take a trip with a friend or a significant other to the nearest festival coming up on the calendar. The experience of planning something fun with another person always lifts the spirit, and then, there’s the festival itself. Try to learn something you did not know. Play games on the way.

find the nearest festival
put the date on your calendars
decide what you’ll wear
take a picnic lunch that you make yourself

Looking forward to and experiencing a trip builds creativity, relieves stress, increases happiness, and helps make and maintain close bonds.

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Plan a Party – Don’t plan just any party, but one that is highly unusual, festive, and personal. Let’s use a friend’s birthday party as an example.

have a crown ready for your friend
make mustache props for your selfie photo booth
make all the decorations and the cake on your own
plan games to play
do things that are only done at children’s parties like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, a piñata, favors, do the limbo

The benefit from this suggestion is fairly easy to figure out. Naturally, being around your friends is stress-relieving, increases your social activities, and ups your happiness factor. (Sober partying, of course.)

Take Care of Yourself – Get a massage, a new haircut, a pedicure, a new running suit, some sleep. Take a long, hot shower, exercise, try laying off sugar for a week, read a book you’ve wanted to start, consider meditation. In other words, do what you want to do with no guilt or fear.

Self-care is especially relevant for those in recovery. After you have entered recovery, you will find that taking care of your emotional, spiritual, and physical health is what predicts whether you continue in your new wellness state.
Laugh – Hard to get a good laugh these days? Here are some laugh-filled suggestions:

watch a good old sitcom you think or know is funny
call a funny friend and bring up a hilarious situation you were in together
catch up on some of the most hysterical viral videos

The statement “laughter is the best medicine” is most certainly accurate. It stops distressing emotions; helps you relax; shifts emotions, and improves your connection to others.

Consider a Pet – Not everyone possesses the resources to have a pet, and, unquestionably, not everyone is a pet person. But the choice to bring a pet who needs a home into your space is one that, in most cases, you will never regret. Maybe you could start with a small iguana or some fish?

Pets can improve your health and increase beneficial emotions. Pets can:

build your social network
ease you out of isolation
assist you in beginning a conversation with another human
raise your levels of serotonin and dopamine without taking any harmful drugs

What you do to make yourself happy, in the end, really depends on you. Take the first step and let it grow from there. Those who have done this will tell you that you will never regret it and your continued recovery will be smoother. Contact us now to learn more about various addiction treatment & rehab options.

The Top 10 Apps to Support Your Recovery Journey

By admin on Expert Advice

nordwood-themes-469906 When you’re recovering from drug or alcohol addiction, you need the support of your friends and family, including the new ones you’ve met along the way. At the same time, you also want tools that will enable you to support yourself. There are plenty of apps on the market that can make it easier to face your challenges and overcome addiction, including these top 10 recovery apps.

1. Quit That!
With any bad habit, part of the process is looking back and learning how far you’ve come. Quit That! isn’t just for addiction recovery. It’s an excellent app for any bad habit that you need or want to break.

2. Big Book
AA’s Big Book app offers all the advantages of having The Big Book right there in your hands as well as additional stories of addiction recovery, podcasts, meeting finders, and more. This app allows you to carry your reminder with you wherever you go.

3. Cassava
Recovery isn’t just a one-step process. It’s one that incorporates many different aspects: what you’re eating, your stress levels, how you’re sleeping, and more. Cassava will help track all of those elements to help you toward a more comprehensive recovery.

It`s Time to Recover and Start Your New Chapter

4. Sober Grid
Sometimes, you just need to talk to someone who’s walking the difficult journey to recovery with you. With Sober Grid, you can easily connect with a wide range of individuals. Want to remain anonymous? The app permits you to continue chatting without needing to share any personal information.

5. Squirrel Recovery; Addiction
This app takes your support circle to the next level. With the ability to add as many as ten people to your circle, it doesn’t just connect you with the people who are supporting you on your journey to recovery. It also knows what your trigger times are and will send you notifications and questions during those times, making it easier for you to check in on each other when you need it most.

6. Daily Recovery
The Daily Recovery app, which is designed to complement 12-step programs, provides you with mindful quotes and encouragement every day. Users agree that Daily Recovery helps keep them focused on their goals and moving forward towards recovery.

7. Sober Tool
There are plenty of thoughts that can quickly send you back toward your addictive cycle. Sober Tool, however, helps identify those thoughts and replace them with healthier, addiction-free thoughts so that you can continue on your journey toward recovery.

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8. Touchstones
Touchstones is a one-year walk through mindful recovery. These meditations are specifically designed for men who are walking through the recovery process, giving you a daily touchstone that will help support you throughout the process.

9. Pear reSET
Pear reSET is a unique app that is available by prescription for individuals over the age of 17 who are on the road to addiction recovery. This app follows the 12-step recovery process, guiding the user through 12 weeks of lessons that are designed to help aid them along the way.

10. recoveryBox Addiction Recovery
This unique app doesn’t just walk you through the 12-step process or provide you with check-ins and support. It allows you to gauge your progress each day with a simple system. Green means that you’re doing well; yellow means that you’ve engaged in risky behavior; and red tells you that you’ve done something counter to your recovery process.

With so many apps available on the market, it’s easier than ever to get the support you need to recover from addiction and start to make steps of your own. By working with these apps, you can increase mindfulness, learn more about your triggers, and increase your odds of sobriety every day.

Slip Versus Relapse: Drawing That Fine Line

By admin on Expert Advice, Substance Abuse

ayo-ogunseinde-202302 When people describe their addiction and recovery process, it’s common to use the terms ‘slip’ and ‘relapse’ in different ways, sometimes interchangeably. That’s because each individual’s experience with addiction and the life-long recovery that follows is a deeply personal one. Addiction counselors and other mental health care professionals, on the other hand, distinguish between the two terms, and recognize the fine line between a slip and a relapse. Read on to determine how to draw that fine line, and what to do when you find yourself on either side of it.

Slip versus relapse: The fundamental difference

The basic difference between a slip and a relapse ultimately has to do with how long it takes for the individual to get back into recovery. For instance, a person who goes to a bar with a group of friends with the intention of just drinking water may slip into old patterns that night. Someone hands them a drink, which eventually leads to many more. The next day, they immediately return to sobriety and have experienced a brief slip. On the other hand, if they continue consuming alcohol, they risk going into relapse.

The same thing goes for drug usage. Suppose a person accidentally consumes a brownie that has marijuana, which then leads to more drug consumption that night. If they are able to return to stop usage the next day and return to treatment, what happened the night before is a slip. However, as days, weeks, or months go by and they have fallen back into their old patterns of addiction, they are experiencing a relapse.

The bottom line:

A slip is temporary, unintentional, and may even occur accidentally. If you intentionally and repeatedly return to your old addiction habits as time passes, you’re in relapse.

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How a slip turns into a relapse

When a person has a slip, it can be a terrifying experience. There is the real possibility that the slip could turn into a permanent relapse from which they may not be able to recover. The thought of this possibility, compounded with feelings of shame and guilt, can cause a paralysis and a sense of hopelessness that draw them further into their old patterns.

Dealing with a relapse

If you find that you are returning to your old behaviors — intentionally and repeatedly consuming the alcohol or drugs — you’re probably in relapse. When this happens, how you feel about your relapse and what you do about it is crucial to finding your way back.

1. Manage how you feel.

Know that many people in recovery for alcohol or drug addiction, if not most, experience at least one or two relapses. It’s vital that the individual understand this so that they don’t allow themselves to become overwhelmed by guilt and a sense of hopelessness.

2. Learn from your relapse.

Use your experience instead as a way to figure out what went wrong. And reach out to peers, family, and professionals for support and to help you examine at the triggers that caused your relapse.

3. Change your routine.

Change the parts of your routine that left you vulnerable. Avoid the people, situations, and contexts that triggered the return to substance use.

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4. Most importantly, take action.

The first step to returning to recovery is reaching out for help. When a person experiences a relapse, it can feel almost impossible to face the journey back to sobriety alone, and they need to start or return to a trusted rehabilitation program.

If you have relapsed, know that you’re not alone. Prominence Treatment Center of Malibu is a leading rehabilitation center that combines evidence-based treatments with holistic health service to address the underlying causes of addiction. Let the expert staff at Prominence Treatment Center help you rise above addiction.

Mindfulness: How Practicing Meditation Can Change Your Brain During Recovery

By admin on Expert Advice, News

Pleasure at leisure During recovery, many different changes happen. But you may not be aware of all of them. In fact, you may be surprised to know that most alcoholics experience a loss of mental functioning, along with a smaller brain size and even changes in the way their brain cells communicate after a battle with addiction.1

This type of brain change and loss of mental power is partially due to the amount of time an addict spent using. However, that doesn’t mean that the changes are permanent. According to Dr. Rachael Lazar, a neuroscience research clinician at Harvard University School of Medicine, you may be able to change the part of your brain that connects the left, and right hemispheres after just 20 minutes!

How? It’s called mindfulness meditation, and you can get it done in just one week to gain the brain boosting benefits. Just think of doing mindfulness meditation as teaching an old dog new tricks. During recovery, it can make a BIG difference in the way you take on that next step. Take it one day at a time, and remember that scientists now know that you can change the way your brain works in as little as 7 days!2

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What Does the Science Say?

Do you believe that in just a few minutes a day you can change the way your brain works? It’s true! But it may be hard to absorb all at once. Here are just 3 more ways science says, “Go meditate!”

It Slashes Stress. Researchers have shown that mindfulness is able to lower stress levels, even in those with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).3
It Triggers Brain Changes. Mindfulness is shown in clinical trials to change the brain in a protective way against mental illness. This may result in better signaling between connections in your brain, known as axonal density.
It’s Calming. Did you know that by practicing mindfulness you may be able to benefit your ability to process emotions? One study showed that even when you are not meditating, your brain could process emotions differently due to changes in grey matter of the hippocampus region.

How Can I Practice Mindfulness Meditation?

There are many types of mindfulness meditations that you can do – in just minutes!

Try a Breathing Meditation. Breathing mindfulness is also known as Pranayama. And all you have to do to become more aware of yourself, for smoother sailing through recovery, and real brain changes to help you along the way is – BREATHE. Here’s how to do it!

Alternate Breathing (Nadi Sodhan):

Sit in a comfortable position with your spine straight, and facing forward. Close your eyes gently if you can. And then place your hands, with the palms open on your lap.

Take your left hand and place the soft pad of your index finger on the left side of your nose. Press the fingertip in gently and plug your left nostril closed.
Then, take a long, deep breath inward. As you inhale, fill your belly all the way with breath. Then, exhale out of your mouth. Repeat this breathing cycle for 2 minutes, (about 20 breaths).
Take your right hand and place the soft pad of your index finger on the right side of your nose. Press the fingertip in gently and plug your right nostril closed.
Then, take a long, deep breath inward. As you inhale, fill your belly all the way with breath. Then, exhale out of your mouth. Repeat this breathing cycle for 2 minutes, (about 20 breaths).
Then, place your hands back on your lap in an open-palm position. Finish the breathing cycle for 2 minutes, inhaling through both nostrils, and exhaling out of your mouth.
For the final minute of this 7-minute mindfulness breathing meditation, repeat this mantra silently in your mind as you exhale, “One day at a time.”

Find Your ZEN. The Latin word meditatio, means “to think with healing intention.” It is the basis for zen meditations. Find your zen as you practice mindfulness any way you like. Use breathing, or just focusing on yourself from moment-to-moment with awareness. Using mindfulness can happen any time you want it to, anywhere, so don’t worry about “meditating.” Just find your zen.

Your breath is a great place to start (prana), and you can then continue the traditional Buddhist tradition of Vipassana, or insight meditation.

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Get Bliss. Anything that you love to do is your place of bliss. So go there! Go to the movies, or for a long hike, to the dog park, or to a restaurant, to an art gallery – whatever! Just do something that makes you feel good all over. That is your bliss. Go get it.

During recovery it is important to develop new hobbies, so explore new options and find something that you love to do. It could be your next place of pure bliss.

A Final Note on Mindfulness

Mindfulness meditation is simply a way of learning how do live your life in a different way. And there are so many ways that you can be mindful! Scientists say that practicing mindfulness is one of the best ways to change your mind after addiction, as it literally alters your brain. So, why not give it a shot? All you have to do is breathe.

References:

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism No. 53, July 2001.
How mindfulness can change your brain and improve your health. Harvard medical School. March 8, 2016.
Elizabeth A.Hogea, Eric Bui. The effect of mindfulness meditation training on biological acute stress responses in generalized anxiety disorder. Psychiatry Research 26 January 2017.