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.

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.

Alcoholism and the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde Effect

“He does absurd, incredible, tragic things while drinking. He is a real Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”-pg 21 from the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous

This is usually the sad truth behind alcoholism. Alcoholism robs people of pretty much everything good in their lives such as their jobs, families, friends, homes, and happiness and it doesn’t end until the alcoholic either surrenders and gets sober or until there are jails, institutions or death involved.

There’s no reason for alcoholism to have to end in jails, institution or death when there are rehab programs in California as well as Los Angeles rehabs that can help.

There is also support for family of addicts. There’s Al-Anon, and plenty of treatment centers willing and able to work with families to rebuild a broken relationship. When were in the midst of our disease it can seem nearly impossible to find a way out especially when the life of an alcoholic seems to become the only normal one to them. However many people have recovered from this thing that holds us hostage. There are several tools to aid us in our recovery. Through them we can be freed from the bondage of self. We can mend our broken relationships, make right what was once wrong, learn to forgive, love ourselves, our lives, and trudge the road of happy destiny.

Regardless of what we have done or how powerless we think we are there is hope for all of us if we reach out and ask for help and take it one day at a time.

The Benefits of Relaxation During Alcohol and Drug Detox

Unsurprisingly there are a lot of benefits from relaxation during alcohol and drug detox.  “The adrenal hormones, glucocorticoids, which increase the sensitivity of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurones to drugs, seem to be one of the biological substrates of the effects of stress on the propensity to develop drug intake (Piazza and Moal, 1998)”. “The cyclical nature of chronic drug use, involving periods of drug abstinence and subsequent relapse, highlights the presence of this disease throughout the lifetime of an individual” (Hyman , Malenka -2001).

In terms of economic and health care costs, drug abuse is among the top three health problems.  “The stress response is mediated by a highly complex, integrated network that involves the central nervous system, the adrenal system, the immune system, and the cardiovascular system. Stress activates adaptive responses. It releases the neurotransmitter norephinephrine, which is involved with memory. This may be why people remember stressful events more clearly than they do non-stressful situations. Stress also increases the production of a hormone in the body known as corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). CRF is found throughout the brain and initiates our biological response to stressors. During all negative experiences, certain regions of the brain show increased levels of CRF. Interestingly, almost all drugs of abuse have also been found to increase a CRF level, which suggests a neurobiological connection between stress and drug abuse” (Hanson-2009).

All this jargon means that when you are stressed out your mind craves something to help relax you. For some people this can take the form of getting more sleep or finding time to exercise, and sometimes this thing can take the form of drugs and alcohol. So finding a residential treatment center in California that chooses relaxation as one of the key components of rehabilitation is essential. Through this period, one can learn how to incorporate time for the self in their future sober living.

 

Tips for Sober Living in CA For Valentine’s Day!

California alcohol rehabilitation centers know that Valentine’s Day can be a hard time to not indulge in  wine with your honey,  and that it can be lonely  for those without a special someone. So here are some ideas that can help in finding (and planning!) a sober holiday that is also fun.

For Couples:

Looking for something fun to do with your special someone?  Why not take the day off and plan a romantic picnic in the park, or a boat ride for 2?  Planning time in the sunshine is a beautiful way to have fun and be less conventional about your love.  Take an Active role in your life together and get out to do something. If you can’t afford the time off, or are not in the mood for outdoor time, spend some time indoors cuddling and getting to know each other better.

For Singles:

It’s not a bad thing to be single, make Valentine’s day a day to get to know yourself better, to treat yourself kindly. Make it a spa day, a get out and enjoy yourself because you are you day, or even a lazy day. Be kind to yourself. Or if you want more human contact, plan an outing with your single friends to enjoy yourselves and love being who you all are as independent people who love each other in the bonds of friendship. Maybe spend some time with family; they are a great support for addicts. Valentine’s Day is for all types of love, not just romantic.

If these suggestions aren’t quite your cup of tea, just remember that there is love for you in this world so don’t tempt yourself with situations that aren’t healthy for you. As many addiction counselors will say there are 3 important things to improve mood and your way of life: sunshine, exercise, and nature. So get out there and treat yourself right on Valentine’s Day.

 

Recovery Stories on Drug Rehab Blogs

As our sobriety continues and we begin to feel better, we may see our lives rebuild in a material fashion.  They may even be re-upped or improved upon with the things we lost while we were getting loaded; be it car, house, job, partner, etc.  There is also the distinct possibility these things may not come our way.  We are guaranteed nothing in the material.

We may hear stories on drug rehab blogs or from people in 12 step program addiction groups who have received everything they lost and then some.  There are times when, while listening to someone sharing and/or a speaker in a meeting, we may hear that person say they live a life beyond their wildest imagination, all the while delivering a message that is only connected to the physical items they now have.  Perhaps after the statement regarding “A life beyond… imagination.” they relay their tales of material acquisition without covering what brought them there.  They may have left out the important details of how they got to that place in their life and focus solely on all of the seemingly fine and fabulous things they now own.

It can be frustrating and maybe even feel near-deceiving when we don’t have those same results.  Perhaps we’re thinking we are supposed to have those very same things, on a similar timeline, to whomever we’re listening.  Maybe then we begin to think the program isn’t working.  We cannot understand why we feel like whatever program to which we are affiliated isn’t doing what we think it should.

The fact of the matter is participating in a program is not an insurance policy regarding acquiring “things” we may want to have.   If worked as instructed by the suggestions in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, we are given the ability to connect with our Higher Power, who subsequently allows us to match calamity with serenity.  That ability is a gift that far outweighs any material item.

What are You Looking For in Drug Rehab?

Taking the first step to recovery is a step forward to a positive future. Above It All Treatment Center provides that service. Addiction is a disease that can be cured and the importance of that is the patient will be educated to the addiction itself. Education is a plus and is well used and practiced. Above It All Treatment Center wants each patient to be aware of his or her addiction. The professional staff at Above It All Treatment Center wants their patients knowing everything so that their patients will be able to absorb and process what drug treatments they are receiving. This is why Above It All Treatment Center is known for being the most effective luxury drug rehab center when compared to other drug treatment centers.

Conquering and dividing a drug addiction is impossible without attending treatment. Above It All Treatment Center has committed drug treatment professionals waiting to help. It is vital that the patient is committed in wanting to make this happen. By enrolling in a luxury drug rehab, the patient just took the first step in changing its future on a positive step. Above It All Treatment Center has much success of previous patients that have conquered this once leaving drug treatment.

There is an abundance of Drug Rehab facilities promising recovery. Commercials for Drug Rehab facilities run endlessly on daytime TV and their messages are all essentially the same….”I was a drug addict, now I’m not…learn how I did it”.  They sell you their books and make promises of a new life. They make Recovery Seems So Simple! Despite the promises, recovery from addiction is never simple!

Drug addiction is most often the symptom of an underlying psychological or neurological disorder. Recovery from drug addiction is a complex combination of assessments, accurate diagnosis, neurologic imaging and testing, individualized therapy, highly trained doctor teams, monitoring and measuring the effect of therapy and on-going support.

Another part of drug rehabs in California is to treat the emotional and psychological stress that may have come as a result of the drug abuse or what may have caused the addiction in the beginning. A patient may feel more at ease when talking one on one with a therapist of the same sex. For example women may feel that other women understand their needs more than a male therapist would. Consequently they may open up and reveal the deep things inside that may have contributed to their addiction. It may be childhood physical or sexual abuse by a trusted adult that sent them over the edge. The same can apply to a man of course.

Outpatient, residential, extended care, men’s or women’s, Christian, faith based, outdoor wilderness, dual diagnosis, mental health, behavioral health, detox and long term care are available to you in California.

California is known for the widespread epidemic of meth (ice, crystal, glass, crank, methamphetamine, and tweak.) Treatment and detox for meth is becoming more and more popular in recent years. If you or someone you know needs help finding rehab or detox for meth, be sure to fill out our rapid response form on any page of this site. We are dedicated to the fight against meth. Meth is a dangerous drug that brutally kills people and ruins lives.

Call Above It All Treatment Center today at 1-888-971-2816 to find out how we can help you with a personalized treatment plan to start you on the road to a drug free life.

New Year’s Resolutions to Support Sober Living CA

Connect to a support group.

If you attend regular 12-Step program addiction group meetings, commit to a home group. Become an integral part of a community that you can rely on, and vise-versa.

Keep learning

Resolve to learn as much as you can about addiction and recovery strategies. Build your own recovery library, and share it with friends and family.

Remember the Golden Rule

Refuse to play the victim or get caught up in anger. Reflect on how you’d like to be treated and find a way to treat others that way.

Develop friendships with other sober people

We’ve all lost friends along the way in our journey towards recovery. Refuse to live in isolation. Take time to meet others who are in recovery or abstain from drugs and alcohol. Gym memberships, civic events and church groups are all great ways to meet healthy people who are engaged in sober living CA, and don’t need to depend on the crutch of drugs or alcohol.

Make a list of your goals for the coming year

Jot down the things you want to accomplish in the healthy, sober weeks, months, and years you have ahead. Keep your list of goals where you can see them and work on making them a reality.

Take time to meditate

Make a commitment to daily prayer or meditation. The practice of praying and/or meditation can help get your through temptations or challenges, and also help to deflect toxic stress.

Hold steady your focus on sobriety

When times get tough, it’s important to remember why you sought out drug addiction detox in the first place. Those reasons are still important, and by remembering what led you to sobriety, you reinforce your commitment to recovery.

Stay optimistic

Every day won’t be a walk in the park. Recovery has its challenges, but maintaining a positive outlook is invaluable. There are always two ways to look at life; choose to see the glass as “half-full” rather than “half-empty.” Laugh often, enjoy family and friends and resolve to make the most of life. Celebrate and be humbly grateful for the alcohol addiction help that made it all possible. Happy New Year!

 

On Alcoholics, Addicts and Resentments

“Few people have been more victimized by resentments than have we alcoholics.  It mattered little whether our resentments were justified or not.  A burst of temper could spoil a day, and a well-nursed grudge could make us miserably ineffective.  Nor were we ever skillful in separating justified from unjustified anger.  As we saw it, our wrath was always justified.  Anger, that occasional luxury of more balanced people, could keep us on an emotional jag indefinitely.  These “dry benders” often led straight to the bottle.”  From the Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve & Twelve, pg. 90.

When anger and resentment are the foundation on which a life is built, it is a life most futile.  There is nothing sturdy or sound about that platform.  We seethe, wrapping ourselves in a cloak of what we believe to be justified ire.  However, that is not the plush coat which keeps us safe and warm; instead it is actually a threadbare sheet which lets the wind rip through the fabric of our flesh, tearing at our very soul.

While angry, there is no chance of being present for those around us.  We cannot be accessible and of service to others in that all-consuming state.  This compounding fury, which may have been a minor transgression on the part of someone who wasn’t even aware of doing or saying something wrong in the first place, can lead us to the drink.  As opposed to recognizing a feeling of being wronged yet continuing to work toward the greater good, the potential to get trapped in and obsess about said incident is highly plausible.

How does that lead us to drink?  As we run through that moment in our mind, over and over again, the pull toward needing a release, coupled with the desire for a sense of ease and comfort brought to us by the needed release, grows exponentially.  If we are not staying connected to the world by working with others, we supplant being spiritually grounded and opt for this inflated dissension in the rhythm of our world.  As we continue to dodge being of service then we are not available for anything other than our own self-seeking schemes.  We relive the moment, staying in the past while pretending what we would have said or done actually happened.  Maybe we are fantasizing about the future with what we will say and do next time; our motive of getting even grows larger and larger until it’s the only focal point in our lives.  Where is the relief in that?

California rehab centers teach us that there may be moments where we are uncomfortable yet those feelings are not facts on which to base a life.  We learn that our anger justified or otherwise, isn’t going to serve anyone else.  It doesn’t even serve us.  It keeps us selfish, on that carousel of self-righteous misery, which can only, eventually, be abated by our old behaviors in the search for ease and comfort.  Los Angeles rehab centers show us that even while being uncomfortable the cure for that discomfort isn’t found by putting our lips to the bottle but by extending ourselves to another person.  In these actions of being available for another, we learn to cement our sobriety.

Loneliness in Sobriety

There are times in the beginning of our sobriety when we feel most alone.  We no longer have the crutch of drugs and alcohol on which to lean however we are also without a feeling of support and understanding from anywhere, anything or anyone else.  This can lead to a sense of being lost, as if we are wandering in the desert with no oasis in sight, nary a mirage to even trick us into moving forward.  These feelings are actually far more common than not.

The idea that there is any kind of life waiting for us past the hell that we’ve been in seems difficult to conceptualize.  In the depths of our desperation, we are unable to think that there might be half a chance to live a life of even remote satisfaction, much less a life that is filled with being happy, joyous and free.  These words are as foreign to us as ancient Aramaic was to archeologists.  They are utterly and completely incomprehensible.

Now is the time to trust those around us to see the truth of what can be instead of what we think it should be or actually is.  We haven’t had much luck in following our own thinking at this point so we must put our faith in others to guide us while we remain temporarily blindfolded thinking we are actually never to have sight again.  We need those who can show us what is true and what is not.  While pursuing Recovery in a Los Angeles rehab, the counselors have an intimate knowledge as well as personal experience of what it’s like to move from this inconceivably, vastly empty place toward a life of purpose, satisfaction and that even the opportunity to revel in our destiny of joy only awaits us.  We have begun to arrive.