Drug Rehabilitation Explained

If you’re trying to quit using drugs, you know how arduous the task can be. Drug rehabilitation can be a wise option if you are struggling. Our guide helps you learn more about the process and answer common questions associated with rehab. 

What Happens in Drug Rehabilitation?

While each program might be unique in structure, the outcome is always the same: helping you refrain from using drugs. On this note, some programs require residential care. While it might seem overwhelming to be away from home, family, and friends, you receive care 24 hours a day–a vital help as you go through detox. 

Detox

Detox can be difficult, as you quit using drugs. During this time, your body might experience withdrawal symptoms. However, many programs offer medication to offset these symptoms while allowing your body to heal from the drugs it absorbed. Being in rehab also grants you access to trained medical professionals, who can help you with any struggles you might encounter. 

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

It is common for people using drugs to have underlying mental health illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, and other disorders. Therefore, our team unearths the root causes of drug use and treats these illnesses. Doing both allows you to focus on recovery by having medications, cognitive-behavioral therapies, and other treatments to put you on the road to recovery.

Daily Structure

One of the most vital aspects of recovery is developing a daily structure that helps you confront the causes of drug use and employ coping techniques when temptation strikes. Our team outlines daily schedules complete with group therapy, individual therapy, family days, nutritional therapy, relapse recovery, mentoring, and much more. Our goal is to equip you with the behaviors and mindset needed to live a healthy, drug-free life once you complete drug rehabilitation.

12 Step Program

We rely on the 12-step program as part of the recovery process. You can complete this through our residential program or attend our outpatient treatment. If you do not want to go through the program, we offer an alternative. It includes group and individual therapies. You’ll also learn coping techniques to tackle your challenges head-on. 

How Long Should I Do Drug Rehabilitation?

Most people need at least three months of care to lead to more positive outcomes. When considering residential care, note some of the many positives you’ll receive:

• You have the time and space to heal without the temptation of drugs
• You have medical professionals standing by 24 hours a day to assist you, which is essential during detox
• You undergo group and individual therapy sessions
• You learn therapies to help you cope with your addictions
• You have structure with a daily schedule you can incorporate into life after rehab

Where Do I Learn More?

If you’re ready to quit using drugs, our team offers you the caring guidance you need. Contact us today to learn more about all the options available to you. 

List of Resolutions for the Newly Sober

As you embark on being newly sober, you know how vital it is to set realistic goals. And with the start of the new year upon us, now is a wise time to set resolutions to help you remain on the road to recovery. 

What Realistic Resolutions Should I Set?

Below are some considerations when planning your resolutions:    

Take Things as They Come Daily

Life can present overwhelming challenges, making you susceptible to revert to old behaviors, such as drinking or using drugs. One way to make things less stressful is to focus on setting small, realistic goals you can strive for daily to retain your sobriety. You should also practice the coping techniques your therapist recommended--if applicable. That way, when a trigger presents itself, you know how to tackle the challenge. Overall, setting small goals empowers you to control and adjust your everyday behaviors, which charts a course for remaining sober.  

Avoid Old Behaviors That Could Challenge Your Sobriety

An important part of remaining sober is to continue to set behaviors that help you avoid old routines. In some cases, it might mean disassociating with people from that life, especially if they do not understand or are not supportive of your journey. You should reflect on the routine that prompted your old behaviors and make adjustments as needed. It might mean avoiding work parties, taking different ways home, or learning new activities.   

Develop Self-Care Habits

Being new to sobriety means you’ll have great days and challenging ones. It is why you need to prepare for the ones testing you. One effective way to do this is to develop self-care habits that can help you feel better about yourself, help you achieve positive self-esteem, and manage stress better. You can do this by:

• Setting aside some time each day to focus on something you enjoy doing. Read a book, take a crafting class or something else you like. The emphasis is on distancing yourself from the noise of every day and have some quiet time to refocus and recharge.

• On this front, you could try meditation or yoga. Both can help you learn to manage stress and help you relax. 

• Exercising can also help to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and, most importantly, it can boost your mood. If you do not want to join a gym, consider a hiking group, enrolling in a dance class, or taking a brisk walk in your neighborhood while listening to music or your favorite podcast.

• Getting the right amount of sleep can help you feel more alert and ready to tackle the challenges of living every day with sobriety. 

Maintain a Supportive Network 

As you continue your sobriety, you know the people around you play a huge role. It is why it’s imperative to continue to build a healthy network of supportive loved ones, friends, support groups, and therapists (if applicable.) Doing this gives you people to turn to when the temptation becomes overwhelming. 

Strike a Healthy Balance

As you work on the road to recovery, you don’t want any other compulsive behaviors to arise. To demonstrate, instead of drinking, you use exercise to fill that void. Setting small goals can help you gain structure in your life while also giving you the balance you need to heal from the past and move forward.

Do Not Feel Afraid to Seek Help

Sometimes, you might need professional help to get you through a difficult time. If the temptations of the past become too overwhelming, or you had a setback, know we are here to assist you. We offer personalized solutions that address the root causes. And we provide supportive care to help you back on your road to recovery. Contact us today to talk. 

Sober Definition | What Does Sober Mean?

The dictionary definition of sober is "not drunk or affected by alcohol, free from alcoholism, not a habitual drinker; serious, staid, muted, solemn, and/or sensible." Which is a comprehensive enough definition if your interest is purely scholarly; but if you have personal investment in finding freedom from alcoholism (or any other addiction), it's important to also consider the mindset that makes physical sobriety a normal state of being and not simply a burden to be tolerated.

Let's look at how various aspects of the above definition relate to alcoholism and to finding freedom from addiction.

"Sober" as in "Not Drunk"

Since "drunk" and "not drunk" both refer to immediate conditions, even someone with serious alcohol addiction is obviously sober in this sense part of the time. It's also possible to be addicted without being strictly "drunk" on any regular basis: although that certainly can be a symptom , addiction in the medical sense requires only:

• Regular substance use that interferes with everyday functioning or relationships
• Inability to change substance-use habits even after ongoing best efforts
• Withdrawal symptoms if regular use is stopped or cut back.

"Sober" as in "Not a Habitual Drinker"

Of course, anyone with active alcoholism is a habitual drinker-but, technically, so is someone who has a martini every Saturday evening and never develops an alcohol problem. In any case, alcoholism-related drinking habits come in a variety of patterns, not all of which fit popular stereotypes (for example, some people with alcoholism drink primarily on weekends and would hardly be considered habitual drinkers by those who see them on work days).

"Sober" as in "Not Affected by Alcohol"

This type of "sobriety" may actually be a red flag, as it is more likely to be seen in those with alcohol addiction than in those who (all other factors being equal) drink the same amount of alcohol without having an addiction. One symptom of alcohol abuse disorder is having built up physical tolerance for the drug, thus being able to consume "normal" amounts of alcohol without the "normal" effects. (Note that, even aside from the addiction question, someone who isn't visibly affected may still have consumed enough alcohol to adversely affect performance.)

"Sober" as in "Serious, Staid, Muted, Solemn"

This use of "sober" isn't confined to contexts involving alcohol consumption, but however it's used, too many people equate it with being dull and colorless, never having fun, or even being perpetually depressed. Unfortunately, many people with addiction visualize physical sobriety that way, and they fear that the choice is between the miseries of an alcoholic lifestyle and the miseries of an empty life. This worry doesn't necessarily disappear with physical detox: many former drinkers develop a yearning for alcohol when the sober life gets stressful , and this yearning can easily progress to relapse. To ensure against that happening, addiction recovery should include advance planning and accountability, plus positive understanding of how fulfilling life can be without drugs.

"Sober" as in "Sensible"

While "sensible" has fewer negative connotations than "staid" or "muted," people who enjoy adventure and challenge may nonetheless fear that "sensible" will demand abstinence from all forms of excitement as well as from alcohol. Fortunately, it doesn't have to be that way: when common sense is combined with big dreams, the former is what keeps the latter on track toward worthwhile goals and achievements.

"Sober" as in "Free From Alcoholism"

The key word is "free," which should be considered proactive as well as positive. A long-term lifestyle rooted in the best kind of sobriety means:

• Accepting your circumstances and making the best of them
• Taking responsibility for your life and your choices
• Cultivating and contributing to meaningful relationships
• Taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually
• Discovering your best individual purpose and working to achieve it through your goals, your vocation, and your relationships
• And becoming the best possible version of your unique self, free to live, enjoy, and achieve without any need for alcohol.

Begin Your Sobriety Journey Here

The best first step toward healing from addiction is getting professional help: medically supervised detox, followed by post-detox therapy and treatment for any co-occurring mental health disorders. Hope by the Sea provides all that and more, in an environment where our clients' well-being is top priority. Contact us to learn more. Hope Starts Here!

Holiday Depression | Overcoming Negative Feelings During the Holidays

The holidays usher in a whirlwind of activities and demands from buying presents to hosting family. For others, it can mark a lonely time, where you feel isolated as you see others spending time with friends and loved ones. Our guide identifies some of the sources of holiday anxieties and provides coping techniques when you experience them.

 

What Causes Holiday Depression?

The holidays can produce feelings of anxiety, guilt, dread, depression, and more. If money is tight, having to pay more for gifts, food, and other gatherings adds to the pressures of daily life. If you possess social anxieties, the prospect of being in rooms with larger crowds could make you feel dread-to the point where you do not see the benefit of going.

And then there is fatigue. Life can be hectic enough. When you add in holiday parties, rushing around to shop, hosting family, and other obligations, it can wear you out. It is why it is crucial to take time during the holidays to focus on your peace and well-being.

 

Ways to Cope with Negative Feelings During the Holidays

1. The first is to acknowledge you are stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious. Doing so isn't admitting weakness. It is having the courage to confront the feelings you have.
2. Once you do, reach out to a trusted friend or loved one to share how you feel. Having an accountability partner is crucial, as they can be the ones you go to (and vice versa) when you feel depressed or overwhelmed. If you do not have a friend or family member, consider a therapist. They will work with you to identify the source of your anxieties and create a plan to confront them.
3. Next, you can minimize the feelings of becoming overwhelmed by setting a schedule. It is a wise way to take things in small steps. By setting small, realistic goals each day, you take steps to complete all the tasks you have without having to wear yourself out mentally.
4. Divvy up tasks to make things less demanding for yourself. If you plan to have a Christmas party, make it a pot-luck. If money is tight, consider having everyone draw a name to buy a gift. That way, instead of purchasing many items, you only need to do one. And while others might not admit it, they might be in the same situation financially.
5. Create some me-time . Go for a 15-minute walk every day, carve out some time to work on your favorite crafts or hobbies. The goal is to devote a small portion each day to things that will center and re-energize you.
6. Moreover, it is okay to say no. If you are too tired, anxious, or stressed, then you should not force yourself to do things to please others. Some people are in the same boat as you and will completely understand. And even if they express surprise at you canceling, do not feel guilty about taking time for yourself. You are taking steps to achieve a better, more restful well-being. And that is most important.
7. If you feel lonely during the holidays, consider joining a social or civic group. Many cities have Meetup groups, where you find others who share the same interests. You can also volunteer. There are many volunteer opportunities during the holidays where you can meet other people and feel connected to your community.
8. Participating in 12-Step meetings can be a great way to connect with other people in recovery. Check out the AA Intergroup website to find virtual or in-person meetings to attend this holiday season. By keeping your recovery first, you'll maintain a healthy frame of mind in the hectic days ahead.
9. Most importantly, it is okay to receive professional help. It can be one of the most stressful times of the year, and if you feel discouraged, isolated, anxious, or overwhelmed, it is vital to have someone who will listen to you.

 

Receiving Help During the Holidays

The holiday season can also be a difficult time for people in recovery. Whether you're feeling isolated from your loved ones, anxious about your first sober holiday season, or exhausted by all of your social obligations, we want to help. Contact us to learn more about our residential, outpatient, and extended care programs. Hope Starts Here!