The Dangers Of Addiction Program Romance

A new romance sparked within an addiction program poses a serious threat to the rehabilitation process. As such, most facilities seek to prevent recovering addicts from engaging in romantic relationships in an attempt to emphasize a concentration on healing and self-reflection.

Addiction counselors are not acting out of prudish ideals against sex and romance, but rather a concern for the patients… mainly the evidence showing how effective a romantic relationship in rehab can be at derailing a recovery.

The reasoning here is simple:

–       Rehab romances are most commonly frowned upon due the fact that most everyone, when involved in a blossoming relationship, place the majority of our focus and attention towards the individual with whom our affections lie. As such, patients involved in a rehab romance are left with less energy and time to devote towards the addiction treatment process and personal reflection. Rehab is one of the few places where the emphasis must be placed on oneself 100%. Distractions will get you nowhere.

–       New relationships cause people to present themselves in a positive light. Showing off favorable attributes is only natural to new love birds, and while this practice is typically harmless in normal society, it presents issues within the confines of recovery. One of the most vital aspects of recovery is a patient’s ability to be open and honest in individual and group therapy sessions. To realize the full benefit of these experiences, it’s crucial that patients feel comfortable being completely honest, with both themselves and others. In this way, patients can best face and deal with their addiction. Throwing on your game face will only serve in hindering your openness, ultimately hindering the recovery process.

–       Many patients transitioning from a long period of abuse may be unable to initiate a sexual relationship from a physical standpoint. Long periods of abuse and addiction are often combined with periods of risky sexual practices. As such, it’s not uncommon for rehabilitation patients to have an undiagnosed sexually transmitted disease, requiring medical attention. Those struggling with the recovery process would be best to limit the complications associated with recovery by avoiding potential health obstacles.

Why The Temptation?

An array of personal and environmental variables make the recovery process seem an opportune time to develop a romantic relationship.

To start, many patients re-energized by the positive rewards of sobriety may feel the process to be a reawakening of sorts. Because drug and alcohol abuse often subdues our emotions and sex drives, it’s only natural to suddenly crave the affection that’s been missing.

Many patients find a spiritual bond easily obtained with those going through similar experiences. Patients will commonly interpret these feelings as love, when in reality, they are still coming to grips with their emotions.

To sum up our discussion:

Friendships = WONDERFUL… romance can wait for another day.

Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers and Making the Change

“The less people tolerated us, the more we withdrew from society, from life itself. As we became subjects of king alcohol, shivering denizens of his mad realm, the chilling vapor that is loneliness settled down, it thickened, ever becoming blacker. So many of us sought out sordid places, hoping to find understanding ,companionship, and approval. Momentarily we did then would come oblivion and the awful awakening to face the hideous four horsemen Terror, bewilderment,  frustration, despair. Unhappy drinkers who read this page will understand.”-A Vision for You pg. 151 from The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

This is a perfect illustration of our lives as alcoholics before we find sobriety. We live in constant fear, resentment, or are just numb to everything. We shut down completely and isolate from the world. As alcoholics we are ultimately face with two decisions both of which have to do with surrender. We either have to choose to surrender to the booze, give up, and make the supreme sacrifice. This leads to an empty meaningless life full of fear, darkness, powerlessness, and loneliness. Then there is our other option which is choosing to surrender to sobriety by perhaps going to places like 30 day rehab programs, or an affordable rehab. Through alcohol addiction help and recovery life will take on a new meaning, we will know a new freedom and a new happiness. For there exists a fellowship among those who have recovered from this disease that is full of love, happiness, hope, laughter, and light. Many of us do not get help in time and therefore never get the chance to experience the amazing life that comes from getting sober but it is available to you if you are willing to do the footwork.

Affordable Rehab: When You’ve Given up Trying to Manage Your Drinking

“Each person is like an actor who wants to run the show; he is forever trying to arrange the lights, the ballet, the scenery and the rest of the players in his own way. If his arrangements would only stay put .if only people would do as he wished, the show would be great. Everybody including himself would be pleased.” How it works – pg.60 Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

This is very much the alcoholics’ life. He is always trying to manage and control every area of his life so he can have a sense that things are manageable. Our lives become so chaotic that we begin grasping for any sense of stability .often times we also go through the blaming phase. If only so and so would do this or if that person would just be a little more understanding then maybe we could all be happy. We deflect responsibility for ourselves and others welfare by putting it off on other people we blame other people for our unhappiness shortcomings. We have high expectations that are often times impossible to meet. We become restless, irritable, and discontent. As a result selfish thoughts and behaviors run our lives. This can carry on into our sobriety until we take responsibility. Once we admit we are powerless and our lives are unmanageable we can begin to recognize our parts in things and be free of past wounds and harms. We can recognize we have a problem and begin to heal .if this rings true for you or you or a loved one are at the point where you are ready to get help then there are several solutions available such as drug rehab blogs, an affordable rehab, AA, and 30 day rehab programs along with many other sources. May you find the help you are looking for and may this be the first day of the rest of your life!

Getting Addiction Help When Drinking and Using Doesn’t Work Anymore

“The old pleasures were gone. They were but memories. Never could we recapture the great moments of the past. There was an insistent yearning to enjoy life as we once did and a heartbreaking obsession that some new miracle of control would enable us to do it. There was always one more attempt and one more failure” -pg 151 from the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous: A Vision for You

As it says in the big book, “no person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows.” Therefore, it is not surprising that we constantly try to make drinking work for us, or that we have a strong desire and drive to drink like we use to be able to in the beginning. It truly is a heartbreaking obsession to try to do something and yet know it will never work for us again. Many of us follow this obsession into the gates of insanity or death. When we pick up the bottle we generally are only thinking about the times it did work for us or the hope that it will again. It’s a vicious cycle that destroys many peoples’ lives and families. However, there is hope through Alcohol addiction help and support for family of addicts. Many people have the opportunity to recover, patch up their lives, and repair relationships. The cycle can stop. If you need help there are several places available, a couple of them being; rehabs that take insurance, AA, and other 12 step rehab facilities. While it is true that the old pleasures are gone, you will find many new pleasures in living a sober and happy life.

Family Involvement In The Addiction Treatment Process

The addiction treatment process poses a great deal of difficulty to an addict’s loved ones. Friends and relatives often attempt to aid the addict through practices that ultimately serve to heighten the addiction rather than reduce it. Because many families rely on members for support, guidance and assistance, involvement and education of family members throughout the recovery process is a vital aspect in ensuring the successful rehabilitation of the addict.

Benefits

Recent studies show a direct link between family and social support and relapse tendencies and behaviors in addicts new to the recovery process. Most experts agree that the family’s involvement throughout the recovery is necessary to a successful result during and following the initial rehab period. Families who make a concerted effort to involve themselves ultimately garner of number of life benefits, both socially, monetarily and personally over time. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that addicts lacking family support throughout the recovery process are much more likely to return to their old habits.

Compliance

The involvement of a family serves in promoting the addict on a compliance level regarding their addiction treatment. Those who show little to no sign of motivation or enthusiasm are able to take from family members who believe in the process, thus helping to ensure a productive and long lasting recovery. In many cases, it is family encouragement that works to stabilize the patient long enough for the treatment to take effect. Over time, the addict learns to live life in a drug-free manner while commitment levels heighten. Educated families can effectively warn recovering addicts of potential relapse signs and encourage them to seek help before a problem arises.

Self Expression

It’s natural for family members of an addict to experience various emotions throughout the recovery process. Common feelings include anger, fear, mistrust and resentment. A family’s involvement in the recovery process enables members to deal with these emotions in a positive manner, while learning how best to support the addict in their rehabilitation. Often times, it is the family who is able to first point out potential issues and relapse symptoms, and as such, their involvement in vital to the success of the individual’s substance abuse rehabilitation experience.

Denial

Through the process of relating various details regarding the addict’s drug use behavior, family members can effectively break down the walls of denial in the addict found so commonly associated addiction. Once an individual is forced to face the seriousness of their addiction, they will be much more likely to gain a personal commitment to sobriety early into the recovery process.

Support

Family members who place an emphasis on addiction education will learn how to focus their attention on their own needs, rather than those of the addict. In this way, both the addict and family members can enter into a new and happy life chapter with a fixation on progress, love, support and accountability. If you’re interested in learning more about your available options, help for parents of addicts can be obtained by contacting a local addiction treatment facility.

CA Rehabs and Accepting Your Alcoholism: The Beginning of Change

“Despite all we can say, many who are real alcoholics are not going to believe they are in that class. By every form of self deception and experimentation they will try to prove themselves exception to the rule, therefore non-alcoholic.  If anyone who is showing inability to control his drinking can do the right about face and drink like a gentleman are hats are off to him.” pg 31 Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

How many times have we tried to prove to ourselves and others that we were the exception and therefore not an alcoholic?  Nobody wishes to admit defeat.  Nobody wishes to admit that we are bodily and mentally different from our fellows.  In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous it talks about the lengths we go to try and prove everyone, mainly ourselves, wrong.  Perhaps we try to control our drinking by not drinking on weekdays, cutting back or by only drinking wine.  We might even swear off drugs and alcohol all together.  Is this not an attempt to prove we are normal?  Are we not trying to control and enjoy our drinking when the best we can hope for is to be able to manage it for a little while?  This is the insanity of this disease of alcoholism.  We try to make things work that don’t.  We try the same thing over and over again expecting different results.  We try different approaches hoping it will work.  If when you drink you can’t stop, you don’t know where it will take you or you know exactly how it will go but you still do it there is a good chance you are a alcoholic.  If you try controlled drinking for awhile and you find you can’t stop or have and enjoy just 1 that’s probably a good indicator as well.  Nobody can declare you an alcoholic besides yourself but if you find you are at the breaking point and you want help, here are good places to start…Find local AA meetings, look up drug rehab blogs, research drug rehabs in California, or rehab programs in California.  Whenever someone searches for help there is no bad choice to make for starting the recovery process besides no choice.

Life After Rehab – Sober Living CA

Sober living CA homes are drug and alcohol-free spaces offering recovering addicts a positive environment for integrating back into normal society. Though these facilities are not acute treatment or detoxification centers, they are run in accordance to strict guidelines and quality assurance standards. In the following entry, we will provide you with a general outlook regarding what to expect from a sober living facility.

Zero-Tolerance:

Above all else, the single most important guideline in a sober living facility is a zero-tolerance policy in regard to alcohol and drugs. This includes use both on and off the facility premises. Most sober living Los Angeles homes even extend this prohibition to over the counter items, such as high-proof mouthwash and certain cold medicines. In addition, many facilities will also incorporate random drug tests and room searches to ensure the property and residents remain clean and drug-free. Resident who refuse to participant in tests or provide search consent will typically be discharged from the program.

Chores & Health:

Most sober living facilities also keep to a strict line of rules regarding personal hygiene and daily chores. Residents will be placed on a rotating chore system of daily tasks, while assuming responsibility for the home’s continued cleanliness. Residents are also required to bathe daily, wear clean clothing, and wash their bedding regularly.

Financing:

Residents in a sober living community must be self-sustaining, including food and clothing purchases. Rent must be paid on time each month, with failure to meet these payments resulting in eviction. Rent varies according to the home’s location, the number of occupants, and special services that may be included with the residency package. Additionally, sober living communities will also require their residents to gain steady employment or enroll at an accredited educational institution.

Safety & Order:

Disorderly conduct is strictly prohibited in a sober living community. As such, residents are required to conduct themselves in a calm and positive manner at all times, avoiding any behaviors that might potentially jeopardize the structure and safety of the environment.  Threats or acts of violence, theft, fighting, property damage, harassment, unexcused absences and curfew violations will hold varying degrees of consequence, up to and including expulsion. Residents are also required to interact with one another in a respectful manner, adhering to privacy, light, noise and attire standards. Unlike residential treatment centers, these types of facilities work in creating structured real-world home environments where the relationships between residents reflect that of a family. Residents who do not abide by these standard place themselves as risk for disciplinary action. Those who take advantage of the lessons afforded by sober living facilities stand to benefit greatly in their integration into real-world sober living.

Outpatient vs. Residential Treatment Centers

Once you’ve decided to enter a drug or alcohol addiction program, you must determine which type of facility is right for you. Simplified, your available options come down to outpatient vs. residential treatment centers. Do you feel it necessary to reside at your chosen facility in order to achieve a successful outcome? Would a short-term treatment plan suffice in providing you with the results you’re after? These are questions that must be answered to ensure the best possible outcome. If you’re having difficulty deciding which option best suits your needs, the following entry will serve in outlining the differences between the two.

Residential/Inpatient

Studies show residential/inpatient rehab facilities to be the most effective means in addressing addiction. The first stage, alcohol drug detox, is extremely difficult to complete on an outpatient basis, with the vast majority of specialists recommending a medically monitored withdrawal. Those who are physically dependent to a substance will begin to experience withdrawal symptoms once intake is hindered. To alleviate and minimize these symptoms, patients can opt to enter a medically supervised detox program at an inpatient rehab center.

The second phase of treatment deals primarily with the psychological aspects of the addiction… a stage that is integrated seamlessly into the treatment plan at a residential facility. Patients are provided with 24/7 psychological, medical and peer support, thus increasing the chances of a successful recovery exponentially. In most cases, the longer an addict chooses to remain in rehab, the longer they will remain sober following the program’s completion.

Outpatient

Most outpatient programs will hold patients to a commitment minimum in regard to the amount of time each they must attend on a weekly basis. Typically short-term in nature, this recovery option incorporates treatment education classes, support groups and 12-step meetings into their recovery platform. Some facilities will require weekly therapy sessions as well. Patients are afforded the ability to return home in the evenings. Many people find these types of programs beneficial due to the freedom and scheduling aspects. With this option, patients can continue working and caring for loved ones at a cost far less than what they might pay at a residential/inpatient facility. However, studies find very few patients able to maintain sobriety, as the afforded freedom ultimately allows for easier access to the problem substances.

Which One Is For You?

While both options can prove effective long-term, the real variant is the patient themselves. Aspects including personal circumstance, abuse history and other exterior factors can all play a part in determining exactly how a patient will respond to treatment.

Those who have only been using heavily for a year or so, are actively participating in a career, still have their family and do not experience withdrawal symptoms when use is hindered may benefit greatly from an outpatient program. However, if you find yourself experiencing withdrawal symptoms, losing friends and family members and are having difficulty holding a job, an inpatient facility may very well be the best option for you.

When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to seek the advice of an addiction specialist with the knowledge and experience necessary to properly assess your condition. Call up a local treatment facility and schedule an appointment to speak with someone regarding your potential recovery options to best determine which course of action is right for you!

Best Practices – 12 Step Recovery Programs

12 step recovery programs were initially created for those suffering with an addiction to alcohol. The first incarnation, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), used the same basic ideas used in many other 12 step programs. The founders of AA found the most effective means in achieving long lasting sobriety was through sharing stories, successes and pain with other individuals going through the addiction treatment process. If you are considering 12 step programs as a way to help combat an addiction, the entry below will provide you with a few tips to help you get the most of your involvement.

Step 1 – Gather any necessary information pertaining to the meetings you will attend well in advance to avoid any obstacles that could possibly keep you from attending. While making the initial decision to attend these meetings is a wonderful step forward, addicts are not necessarily well known for their follow through. A basic online search or community yellow pages should be able to provide you with the information you require.

Step 2 – Call up a trusted friend or relative and ask them to accompany you to the meeting. Determine which meeting best suits your schedule and location, while making any necessary transportation arrangements well in advance.

Step 3 – Attend your first meeting. Though you are not required to participate, first-time attendees are encouraged to stand before the group and introduce themselves. If you find yourself uncomfortable with the meeting you have chosen, it’s never too late to select a different time or location. Locating a meeting that you are comfortable attending is key to your success within the program.  If at first you do not succeed… try, try again.

Step 4 – Once you’ve found a 12 step program addiction meeting that suits your schedule an taste, the next step is getting yourself a sponsor. Sponsors are individuals within the 12-step program who have significant amounts of sobriety time and reflect the type of recovery you are looking for. Your sponsor will act as a sobriety support, and someone you can contact when you’re feeling tempted to use. They will discuss the situation with you, while holding you accountable for your actions. Locating a sponsor takes little more than asking.

Step 5 – Those looking to receive the full benefit of the program must utilize all of the available tools found therein. This includes, sponsors, meetings, phones, and of course, the 12 steps themselves. Those who attend meetings will be provided with contact information for others to call when the need arises. Use these contacts to help alleviate boredom and feelings of isolation that can commonly trigger the want to use.

Step 6 – Keep an open mind. Recovery is a life long struggle for many people. By opening yourself up to the recovery process in a positive manner, you stand the best chance for enjoying the happy, fulfilling and sober lifestyle you’re after.

A Big Change and a Fresh Start in California Rehab

They are restless, irritable and discontent, unless they can experience the sense of ease and comfort which comes at once by taking a few drinks, drinks they see others taking with impunity, after they succumb to the desire again, as so many people do, and the phenomenon of craving develops, they pass through the well known stages of a spree emerging remorseful with a firm resolution not to drink again This is repeated over and over and unless this person can experience an entire psychic change, there is very little hope of his recovery — the doctor’s opinion — PAGE XXIX — Big Book of AA —

This is alcoholism in a nut-shell. Before seeking alcohol addiction help, the alcoholic is obsessed with the drink in one form or another. Whether it be being obsessed with figuring out the right formula so that they could maybe drink normally, or being obsessed with other people’s drinking habits, it becomes their life’s work anyway. They see other people drinking without consequence, but when we try it, it never works out. How could that be? Some might ask themselves: why isn’t it possible for us? Others might feel like we are plagued or that it isn’t fair — that other’s can drink normally, but we can’t. And we continue trying to experiment or figure it out for years. Every time we go out, drink, and end up in the same place we wonder: how this could have happened again? We are full of regret, usually leading us to swear often of booze, one more time. Like it says: this continues until we experience an entire psychic change. But what do alcoholics know about a psychic change? And more importantly, how does one have this psychic change? There are answers and there are people who understand and can help. When you reach out to one of the California rehab centers about a long term rehab or a 30 day rehab programs, you make the start to a meaningful and fulfilling life by stepping off the hamster-wheel and making a fresh start.