Addiction Treatment and Recovery Options – When Do I Need Help?

According to a 2012 survey on addiction and health in the United States, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, as little as 10 percent of individuals who admit that they are struggling with substance dependence or abuse of some kind have actually received any kind of treatment. This is a terrifying and saddening statistic and is made all the more worrisome when one stops and thinks about the various types of substances people are addicted to.

Lack of Treatment Sought for Addictions

Many people choose to forego any kind of treatment for their addiction disorder because they believe things are not really all that bad and they don’t need any help or treatment yet. They have yet to hit rock bottom or they do not believe that their problem is bad enough to warrant any sort of treatment or intervention. The truth of the matter is: if you’re questioning whether or not you need help getting sober, you likely do. Whether your addiction is related to drugs such as heroin or methamphetamine, prescription medications like Oxycontin or phenylalanines,  or other substances like caffeine or alcohol, it is important that you get treatment for your addiction sooner rather than later!

Understanding Your Addiction and Its Severity

If you are beginning to have problems with your personal life, social interactions, relationships, work or school life, and any other areas of your life because of your substance use, then you probably have an addiction. Addiction is diagnosed on a spectrum and there is a range of various criteria that will be used to determine how bad your addiction is- mild, moderate, or severe. Medical and mental health professionals use eleven criteria to determine if someone is addicted to or abusing a substance:

  • Lack of control over when and where and how much the substance is consumed or used
  • The individual has a desire to quit but has been unable to do so under their own power
  • The individual is spending a lot of time, effort, money, and energy to get the substance
  • Cravings for the substance that begin to interfere with normal activities when not satisfied
  • Lack of responsibility in terms of how much the substance is used or while it’s being used
  • Problems with relationships in personal, romantic, social, work, or school environment
  • No interest in doing things that the individual normally enjoyed for the sake of the substance
  • Dangerous use of the substance repeatedly occurring and concerns and warnings not heeded
  • Worsening situations and a visible decline in health, hygiene, mental sharpness, etc
  • Tolerance develops which requires more of the substance to be consumed for desired effects
  • Withdrawal symptoms and cravings get severe when the substance is withheld

Your Addiction Can Get Worse

Because addiction severity is measured on a spectrum, a diagnosis of a mild addiction may be better than a severe addiction, but it is not a reason to be flippant about getting addiction treatment and help. It’s easy to take an it-could-be-worse approach but it is important to remember that addiction is a progressive disease. If it is not taken seriously and if you not get help sooner rather than later, it will get worse and it will get worse quickly in almost all cases. If you’re only a mild case right now, this is the time to act and seek help before the addiction grows and takes an even stronger hold. Think of it like you would a problem with your car- it might be minor now and not be affecting how the car runs or operates; however if left un-fixed the problem could eventually lead to a serious breakdown of the key part of the car and cause a major accident or render the car useless. Addictions can do the same to your mind and body when left untreated!

Get The Help You Need For Recovery

Addiction is not simply a lifestyle choice or a mistake. While most addictions originate from a poor choice or a bad decision that was made at one point and time, the underlying addiction itself is a chronic disease, and truly is no different than other disease people have to deal with their entire lives like asthma, hypertension, diabetes, cancer and so forth. Someone diagnosed with Stage 1 or 2 cancer would seek help to treat and control their disease.  Someone with diabetes and a blood sugar of 200 would work to take steps to control their disease. Someone with asthma would use their inhaler at the signs of a mild asthma attack rather than waiting for it to get worse. You don’t have to hit rock bottom and be out of all other options before you get help for your addiction. Get help before things get worse and take back your life. Call Newport Beach Recovery of Costa Mesa, CA. Learn more about rehab and how treatments can help you beat your addiction once and for all with the finest recovery program in the area!

Signs It’s Time To Stage An Intervention

Dealing with drug addiction can be the hardest thing to do. That is because most of these addicts don’t realize that they are suffering. For a drug addict, all they care about is getting their high, and this can be risky. Firstly, they will spend all their money on drugs without thinking about their basic needs. As we all know, drug addiction is a condition that gets worse with time. If you meet a drug addict miserable in the streets, know that they were once ordinary people with healthy lives until the drugs ruined them.

What does it mean to stage an intervention?

When someone is new to using drugs, they will look normal for a while, not knowing that they are a time bomb. When real symptoms start showing, however, even the people close to them will realize that something is wrong. This should be the right time to stage an intervention because the signs of addiction are now too apparent. For those who don’t know stage an intervention is, note that it is a way of helping a drug addict entirely. However, it requires the people close to the addict to come together and plot a solution.

What happens in a stage intervention group?

Usually, the people close to the addict decide to come together so that under the leadership of one of the members. The group first meet to discuss the condition of the patient then begin strategizing on what needs to be done. This is very important because the group needs to work in an organized manner. Drug addicts can be cunning, and without a proper plan, they can play games with you when you are thinking that they are recovering.

After the group is done and ready, the next move is usually to confront the addict. This also should be done with a lot of caution because you don’t want the addict feeling as everyone is fed up with them. The best time to confront the addict is when they are sober at least and can have a conversation. What follows should be according to the plane, and the group needs to stay intact and active until the mission is done.

The good thing with staging an intervention is that the addict gets to be helped by the people who care about them the most. Realizing this will drive them to stick to their addiction treatment because even an addict cannot stand breaking the hearts of everyone around them.

How to know when to stage an intervention

One of the main signs that it is time to stage an intervention is when you notice strange behavior with an addict. These can include a change in their schedule when they started coming home late and exhausted, avoiding everyone, including food. A change in behavior can be considered as an advanced level of addiction. That is because the body system is getting comfortable with the substance and taking control.

Increased tolerance to drugs is also not a good sign. This happens when the addict always wants a little bit more of the drug every time. They will want to have more bottles of beer whenever he or she is out for a drink with friends. This can get to a point where the addict wants to have more bottles of beer even if there is no occasion. That is how someone ends up drinking every day.

Short-term memory loss, is also known as mental fogging is another clear sign that it is time to stop the drugs. At this point, the addict will forget things so fast, and at times, cannot remember what has happened a few seconds ago. Among the worse addiction symptoms, mental fogging is the worst because the addict will no longer be useful to the community.

You can quickly point out a drug addict from the way he or she looks. They usually don’t care about their looks, and in most cases, they are untidy. No one wants to be around a smelly person, and for someone to allow themselves to smell, they must have a mental problem. Drug addicts don’t mind wearing the same clothes for even a week as long as at the end of it all; they have their drug.

Magnified emotions are also a sign of drug addiction. Note that addict is generally rebellious and will not want anyone to come between them with their drugs. They will get emotional when you attempt to stop them from doing what they want and will always be in a bad mood.

Conclusion

Staging an intervention does not entirely mean that the group is responsible for helping the addict out of the problem. Part of the solution can be convincing the addict to go for rehab. However, the group is a vital part of the recovery process because a recovering drug addict needs all the support they can get. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, contact us for help! Addiction is a serious disease and needs to be treated as such. At Newport Beach Recovery Center, we provide everything you need to start on the path to recovery.

The Benefits of a Female-Only Rehab Center

Nearly 20 million Americans, ages 12 and older, struggle with substance abuse, and an estimated 8.5 million of that number (nearly half) also have a mental health disorder. Statistically, women are different when it comes to substance abuse. A woman can take a lower dose of a drug over a shorter time period and become addicted, compared to a man. Their physical and psychological reaction can also be different, with more cravings and a higher likelihood of relapse. But, women are also more sensitive and can be adversely affected by drugs much sooner and at a more serious level in relation to effects to the heart. It’s probably not surprising, then, that women are more likely to suffer from overdose and end up in the emergency room. Approximately 5.2% of women have a substance abuse problem.

What is Women’s Only Rehab? A Brief History

The idea of a Women’s Only Rehab center is not new to addiction treatment. The push toward a better understanding of how substance abuse affects women can be linked to the women’s rights movement in the 1970s, but there was also a drive to recognize how the care for women with substance abuse problems might be different. It’s tied with the drive to understand what social differences and how employment, family, and health are treated differently (with inequality).

Trauma and other stressors can also contribute to panic attacks, depression, and anxiety. One-in-four women are also affected by domestic violence and abuse, which also puts them at a higher risk of turning to alcohol or drugs for coping. Fear and pain are at the core of the substance abuse experience of many women. The idea behind Women’s only (or gender-sensitive) addiction treatment centers around the considerations of the experience of women is different both from a substance abuse point of view, but also in the process of rehab, addiction treatment and their road to recovery.

How is Treatment Different?

Addiction treatment includes many of the same components, but women’s only treatment may focus more heavily on some elements. The goal is to help women work through substance abuse, mental health conditions, as well as other treatment needs. It’s typically a multidisciplinary approach, with a focus on one-and-one support and counseling, mental health treatment, and behavior therapy to address those lifestyle habits and emotional concerns, as well as long-term aftercare support. Women’s only treatment can also incorporate naltrexone to ease cravings, as well as detox, therapy, and social support.

What Additional Considerations Do Women Face?

Women face additional obstacles both in the home and in society, which may make them less likely to seek addiction treatment and rehab. Women tend to be the primary care-giver, so they may feel like they can’t take time off to recover. Women are also more likely to have experienced traumatic events that affected them deeply. Among women who are experiencing substance abuse issues, they also deal with anxiety, depression, cravings, and eating disorders. Addiction treatment will affect women differently, but it can take a lot more for a woman to seek help.

Find a Woman’s Only Rehab Center: Newport Beach Recovery

The good news is that you’re not alone. There are women’s only programs to meet your specific treatment needs. At Newport Beach Recovery, we’re here to offer targeted addiction treatment and care in Costa Mesa, CA.  We’re a gender-specific treatment center, so you can find the care and support you need to face your unique challenges. You can break free from addiction in a relaxing and healing setting with an ocean view.

The power of Music in Recovery

Music is a cross-cultural experience. You don’t have to understand the words or be familiar with the genre to feel the effects of a superior composition. Music’s ability to change our moods, minds, and behavior is well documented in popular culture. However, the power of music during recovery from addiction is still a newer concept.

Music therapy is a comprehensive treatment system that combines listening, theory, and performance. Adding this therapy to an addiction treatment plan helps patients find relief through some of the most difficult points of their journey while also strengthening them for what lies beyond. How does musical therapy help those fighting through addiction treatment feel better, stay stronger, and recover more quickly?

The Physical Effects of Music

The effects of music aren’t just mental. The mental effects of music cascade throughout the body, producing physical results that can aid the addiction treatment process. These include:

  • Improve communication. Listening to and performing certain genres of music have been proven to increase vital mental skills. A study from the Institute of Music and Mind at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada found that those who use their musical skills frequently show increased activity in the auditory cortex of the brain. This area translates sounds into understandable words and phrases and is vitally connected with our communication skills. Playing instruments can make it easier for patients in treatment to communicate with those who are there to help them.
  • Improved memory and learning. The auditory cortex isn’t the only brain structure positively impacted by music. The prefrontal cortex, which is the seat of our sensory processing abilities, is also improved through performing and listening to music. Over time, patients are able to retain long and short term memories better, which helps them learn new ways of coping with life’s stresses without reaching for a substance.
  • Increased dopamine production. Dopamine is a vital neurotransmitter. Substance abuse damages the body’s ability to naturally produce this substance in useful amounts. Music naturally stimulates dopamine production, which helps even moods, relaxes the body, and calms the mind.

The Mental Effects of Music

Everyone knows how a good piece of music makes them feel. Crashing cymbals, twinkling keyboards, and artfully strummed guitars can lift spirits and stimulate a change of mind. During the recovery process, these effects can be used to the patient’s advantage in many ways.

  • During the detox stage, calming music can help patients cope with the physical and mental stress that comes with the experience. Once the acute stage is passed, playing calming music can help patients keep a level of mood throughout treatment.
  • When the urge to relapse pops up, music can inspire patients to stick with their program. In these cases, upbeat and meaningful tunes are the most effective. Many patients enjoy music with spiritual overtones that help them connect to their higher power for aid.
  • Music can connect support groups. Singing and performing together as a group helps members connect on a safe, emotional level. This facilitates group and private talk therapy sessions. When they’re alone, group members can turn to that piece of music to help them when they can’t reach their support system.

Techniques in Music Therapy

How is music therapy used in the recovery process?

  • Performance. Singing and playing instruments is a physical experience that helps patients work out stress in a healthy way. Keeping your hands and mind busy is a great way to fight the urge to relapse.
  • Meditation. Quietly listening to inspirational tunes while alone is another successful therapy tactic. The right selection can lower blood pressure, relax tense muscles, and help patients cope through difficult stages.
  • Exercise aid. Physical exercise is a well-known technique for resetting the body after detox. Add music to a workout to stay inspired, engaged, and joyfully active through the sweat session.

These techniques can be effective in group or private sessions. Music therapy is also easily adapted into a home practice to support the work outpatients do with their therapists.

Music is more than a pastime. When used consciously and purposefully, it can help those fighting addictions by providing a healthy outlet for many of the negative emotions that can come along with the healing process.  Talk to your addiction treatment specialist about adding music therapy to your program.

Why You Should Run in Addiction Recovery

Running Can Help Support Your Recovery From Addiction

Addiction is a difficult condition that requires careful evaluation and a treatment plan that includes a variety of methods to help the individual manage both physical and psychological issues. Running has been found to be a valuable tool for dealing with a number of issues involved in substance abuse and recovery. At Newport Beach Recovery Center in Costa Mesa, CA, we incorporate running to help manage symptoms and support our patients’ return to a healthy lifestyle.

Physical Benefits of Running

Individuals who have been abusing substances for a number of years may be faced with a number of health issues that need care. Running is a good way to build up overall health, improve cardiovascular function, enhance lung function and strengthen muscles in the back, chest and lower body. Running helps tone the body in general and improves circulation. Individuals who run are more likely to engage in other health-promoting activities like eating a healthy diet and avoiding alcohol and nicotine. Studies show that even a moderate amount of exercise can provide big benefits to your health, and running is one of the easiest ways to achieve and maintain a better physical condition.

Psychological Benefits of Running

If you’ve ever wondered about those people you see running along the street in all kinds of weather, there’s a reason they are so dedicated to their exercise regime. Running also provides emotional benefits, releasing pleasure-giving dopamine into their bodies, to help them feel more upbeat and in control. This effect can be especially important for individuals recovering from addiction, who may experience depression as a result of withdrawal from the substance. Anxiety can also be a problem for those in recovery, and running can also help with related symptoms. Running can also help to reduce fatigue and feelings of anger that many individuals deal with during their recovery from substance abuse. The feeling of being in control and power that running provides are of immense benefit to individuals in recovery, to counteract the frustration that often occurs when learning to overcome the consequences of their past behavior.

Special Benefits During Addiction Recovery

Addiction specialists understand the benefits of exercise during treatment and in the entire recovery process. Maintaining sobriety and rebuilding your life can be a difficult process, full of stress and moments of doubt. Exercise helps to manage stress and improve emotional well-being, which can be a critical help for individuals recovering from substance abuse. Medications used to manage psychological conditions found in dual diagnosis situations can have the side effect of weight gain. Running helps individuals to manage their weight better, while boosting natural body chemicals that regulate mood. In addition, running also promotes connecting with others who engage in healthy lifestyles, which is an important factor in maintaining sobriety over the long term.

Running Is A Good Exercise Choice

Running is easy and does not require specialized training. You don’t require specialized equipment beyond a good pair of running shoes. Running can be adapted to your level of physical condition. You can start slowly and build your endurance. Running can be done with a partner for encouragement and healthy competition. It provides reliable results that can be implemented whenever a difficult period or “trigger” presents itself. For these reasons, a running regime can be easily incorporated into any individual’s plan for sobriety maintenance after treatment.

Newport Beach Recovery Center Utilizes A Variety of Methods To Support Recovery

Because each person is different in their physical and psychological makeup, we understand that one method may not work as well for one person as it would for another. That’s why we employ a wide range of therapeutic modalities to help our patients discover the most successful ways to recover from substance abuse. We offer support during detoxification, inpatient treatment, and outpatient programs. Call Newport Beach Recovery Center today at 949-577-8757 to learn more about the benefits of running and other methods to support your recovery as you rebuild a normal life after addiction.

How Meditation Is Beneficial In Sobriety

Recovering from addiction is a time of healing. As you make your journey from addiction to sobriety, you will start to find healing and a sense of inner peace that may have been lost throughout years of hardship. While the overall Recovery is a positive journey, there are moments where Sobriety can come with its own challenges. One way to help yourself face this is Meditation. The process of stopping yourself for a moment and clearing your mind can go a long way to keeping your recovery on track. Here’s 5 ways meditation can help with your recovery.

Reduced Stress

This is the big one and the one that probably already came to mind. As it is, life can be stressful with work, family, and other responsibilities stacking up. Recovering from addiction only adds to the stress. People often think of stress as just some passing annoyance, but stress can also lead to relapse. Meditation helps lower stress and to slow you down and explore the root causes of your stress. It’s also a great way to help bring yourself back to center when the stress of Recovery starts to get overwhelming. Taking a few minutes to focus on your breathing can help put everything back in its place.

Giving Attention to What Matters

When we star the recovery process, we are often in conflict with our past. While suffering from addiction, we aren’t only harmful to ourselves, but also others around us. The weight of that past can be a lot to work through all at once. Meditation reminds us to stay in the present moment and manage only what is before us. Being mindful keeps our energies moving forward through recovery and way from our difficult pasts. The truth is, recovering takes time and a meditative practice reminds us to focus on what’s immediate and not the mental clutter that comes from having addiction in your past.

Better Physical Health

You know the old saying “Healthy body, healthy mind.” The mind and the body are directly linked. Having a clear state of awareness will help you to build up the physical resilience you’ve been missing out on. The physical practices of mediation like deep, slow breathing can help bring your attention back to your body and help motivate you. Meditation is also linked to reduced stress which improves overall physical health greatly.

Build Inner Strength

Regular Meditation changes the way your mind works. These positive effects happen after you’ve been meditating for a while and work to strengthen your inner emotional stability. Over time, meditation helps to keep stress down and help you to handle rough emotional states even easier. Consider this building a life skill. Rather than facing stress unarmed and unprepared, meditation gives you a way to work through it and builds your inner fortifications against it.

Reconnect to a Spiritual Practice

Mediation can help reconnect you to a spiritual practice that was lost to addiction. Entering back into sobriety means reconnecting with the parts of your past that got lost along the way. If you’re looking to explore your spiritual side or even reconnect with a particular faith, meditation can be a great way to start to rebuild those practices before you’re ready to fully commit to them. This is also a great technique to pick up along the way as a means to focus on the spiritual aspects of your life regardless of your faith.

Sobriety is a journey of healing that involves rebuilding not just your body, but also your mind. Meditation can’t cure everything, but it can help get you back on track. It’s a great technique to add to your recovery program and has the added benefit of being able to be done anywhere and at any time. No matter how far along we are on the road to recovery, we all need to clear our heads sometimes. Contact us today at Newport Beach Recovery Center for more information.

Why to Travel to Southern California for Addiction Treatment

Addiction treatment is a nuanced and complicated topic. There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding on the treatment program you are going to commit to. One of the things to consider is whether or not to travel. Travel can help the recovery process in several different ways and traveling to Southern California can be one of the best destinations for people starting or continuing their recovery. Here are five reasons why you should consider traveling for your treatment.

A Change of Scenery

One of the biggest reason to travel to Southern California for treatment is a change of scenery. Addiction isn’t just an isolated phenomenon. It can often be linked to specific places, groups of people, and settings. Staying in recovery long enough to be effective is listed as one of the key factors in success. Sometimes that means a change of scenery. Recovery is a hard process and it can get even harder if you are still in the same area that you struggle with addiction in the first place. Leaving behind that old scene might mean getting away from some of the social pressures that moved you towards addiction in the first place.

 A Fresh Start

As we already mentioned, traveling is a great way to kick of your addiction treatment. Another reason for this is getting a fresh start. Sometimes part of what we need is to break out in some place new. An environment where people aren’t familiar with the old you can be a great place to start, or continue, to heal. Traveling to Southern California for treatment can go a long way to helping you get to a good place in your sobriety. This fresh start isn’t about running away from your problems, but knowing that part of recovery is moving away from your old life and starting something new, sometimes in a new place.

Getting Away from Family

This one might sound a little backward a first. Family is a huge part of recovery and a large motivator for people to stick with their program is getting right with their families. However, there are times in our recoveries were being around family isn’t the best choice for anyone involved. You might decide that you’re early on in your recovery and still need to get right with yourself first. Another reason could be that you’re ready to get back on your feet and striking out on your own is a great way to prove to yourself that you’ve got the strength to do it!

Privacy

For many of us treatment isn’t the most glamorous part of our lives. The added pressure of having family, friends, and coworkers being close to us makes this even more difficult. Traveling to the coastal regions of California can be a great way to get some privacy while you are recovering. Privacy isn’t just about saving yourself from being embarrassed, but being able to focus on your treatment without worrying about any of the social pressures that come with staying in one place for your treatment. Getting to a new location for treatment gives you the clarity you need to get the help you need. The scenery in California isn’t bad either—speaking of!

You Get to Live in Southern California

Addiction treatment isn’t a day spa, but that doesn’t mean you need to suffer through it. In fact, being in a location like SoCal where the weather is uniformly warm and sunny just helps you focus on your recovery all the more. No missing appointments because you got snowed in, after all! Recovery can be an intense process and being in a relaxing and peaceful location, like a stone’s throw from a California beach, can help keep you focussed on getting towards sobriety.  Come join us at Newport Beach Recovery Center in Southern California for the best treatment. Contact us today.

The Importance of 12-step Fellowship

The path to recovery for an addict is one that has many challenges; for the individuals and those close to them. However, it is possible to kick the addiction and lead a healthy lifestyle.  It requires a personal conviction to make the situation better.

No one can underrate the importance of the 12-step fellowship when it comes to helping individuals achieve sobriety. The basis of the program is to give recovering addicts certain steps by which they should live by.

Initially, its application was mainly for those with alcohol addiction. Now, its use has extended to other forms of addiction including overeating, drug addiction, obsessive gambling among others.

The experts also encourage family members to attend the sessions, because it helps to break the co-dependence that addicts and those close to them have.

 What are the 12 steps

The 12 steps are basically guidelines that a recovering addict will use in order to achieve sobriety.  It has been very successful, and even those who have completed the program continue to attend so as to maintain a sober state.

The 12 step program has its basis on religion and God, but people of different beliefs have found an effective way of overcoming addiction using it.  A summary of the 12 steps are:-

  1. Admission –  admitting that you are powerless over the addiction
  2. Recognition – Recognising end  believing that a higher power can help you
  3. Submission –  submitting  to the higher power
  4. Understanding – Making a fearless moral inventory of ourselves
  5. Confession –  admitting  to God,  ourselves and others the exact nature of our wrongs
  6. Readiness –  being ready to have God remove all the defects of character
  7. Humility – humbly asking God to remove the shortcomings
  8. Reparation –  being  willing to make amends with any person you have wronged
  9. Apology –  making amends with any person you have wronged but only if it will not injure you or them
  10. Integrity – continuously taking personal inventory and admitting when  you are wrong
  11. Meditation –  improve conscious contact with God as you understand him through prayer and meditation
  12. Spiritual Awakening – having a spiritual awakening by following the steps above

 Benefits of the 12 Steps to an addict

The reassurance that you’re not alone

The recovery process can be lonely especially if the people around you do not understand what you’re going through.  By interacting with people in a similar situation, you get a sense of belonging.

Group members understand what it is like to live as an addict, and will not judge you in any way.  It also makes it easy for you to share new challenges because you are likely to get good advice from people who have been in that situation.

Fellowship

The fellowship is one of the key aspects of the 12-step program.  Participants encourage each other to succeed in fighting the Demons of addiction.  you have access to additional support by getting a sponsor,  someone who will take you through the entire process by availing themselves to you anytime you need them.

Introspection

Taking an honest look at yourself is a great tool for achieving sobriety.  By admitting that you have shortcomings, and may be making the wrong choices in life,  it becomes easier for you to change.  Introspection will also give you a chance to see how you treat the people who are close to you.  You can then start to rebuild any relationships you may have destroyed during the days of addiction.

Does the program work

 Research around the 12-step program indicates that it can be very effective for those who are willing to go through the process.  However,   anyone who finds themselves in the program due to family Intervention, or through the justice system may not respond well to it.  Just like any other drug treatment program, the rate of relapse in those who are not ready to start the journey of recovery is very high.

Interesting things to note from the research above show that:-

  •  Those who have less religious inclinations tend to benefit more from the program
  •  Older adults and women benefit more from the group sessions
  •  Regular attendance to the program is important for long-term recovery

 Shortcomings of the program

While the success of the program is clear, there are however some people who disagree with it. The program is time-consuming and some people are not comfortable in groups.  There is a heavy emphasis on religion which some people may not agree with.

Others believe that the program encourages the transfer of dependence from family members, to other people in the group including the sponsor.

Final thoughts

The 12-step program will provide a solution for one who is on the path to recovery. there is no use of medication and it, therefore, requires discipline and personal motivation to change.

Family members can also benefit by taking part in the programs because it gives them valuable coping skills of how to live with a recovering addict.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, reach out to us at Newport Beach Recovery Center. We’re here for you. Contact us today.

5 Things To Know When You Hit Rock Bottom In Sobriety

Hitting rock bottom gives you a feeling of hopelessness, despair, and desperation. When at the lowest point in life, you feel like you’re entirely alone, and there’s no way life would ever get better. The crash is painful in every way, and this pain is what makes you take action. Most people hate to feel pain, and they will be moved to act to get rid of the pain.

The pain of being at the rock bottom can ignite your strength and bravery to do that which you thought was initially impossible. So, instead of feeling remorseful about yourself, you can take the negative stuff and turn it into your motivation and propel upwards again. The most crucial thing to do when you are down there is to reach out to people who love and care about you so they can support you emotionally. They’ll lend you a helping hand and a shoulder to cry on whenever you need.

Here are five things to know when you hit rock bottom in sobriety. These lessons will help you to learn what to do through your journey to recovery so that you can start all over again without the pressure that comes from yourself or others.

Disempowering Behaviors and Patterns Manifest

Both men and women suffer from alcohol use disorder (AUD), but women face more significant health risks like accidents, assaults, risky sexual behaviors, and various types of cancers. Hitting rock bottom triggers behavior patterns that were not conducive for your growth.

However, you can break these behavior patterns and start the journey back to your true self as you align your purpose and life back on track.

There’s Hope Even At The Darkest Moment

Rock bottom is called so for the reason that you can’t go any lower than you already are. When most people find themselves at the rock bottom, some dysfunctional behaviors finally manifest. When you find yourself at the lowest point of your life, you may find it impossible to go on in life without turning to alcoholism or turning to some form of addiction to help you go through the tough moments.

Playing under the radar of denial can create a more prominent dysfunction and a harder crash that will be almost impossible to get out from making the situation worse than before. Hitting rock bottom is a stimulus for sobriety that allows you to resolve inner personal conflicts. Many people believe that rock bottom is a prerequisite for getting sober or starting life anew.

You Can Always Learn Again

When you are at the top, say of your career, you assume that you know it all and this could be the reason why you’ve found yourself at the rock bottom. What you need to do is to eat the humble pie, learn what went wrong and learn what you need to do or where you need to make changes. Learn all that you can to move forward.

In those dark moments of despair, you cannot predict or alter what is going to happen, but it’s at this moment of life that you have more clarity of things and start to appreciate what you want in life and how you want your life to look. Just hold to the fact that it can only get better if that is what you truly want in your life.

You Appreciate What You Have

It’s at your lowest moment in life that you realize the most important things in your life. It could be your marriage or a child. Being at the rock bottom will help you to appreciate the things that you have – if you still have anything.

You can find out something that you can be genuinely grateful for no matter how small and insignificant it previously seemed to you.

An Opportunity to Recreate Your Life Again

Rock bottom can be a solid foundation which you can use to rebuild your life again. You can’t possibly go lower, and it’s when you are at the lowest you wake up and see how you’ve continually relied on the externals to make you happy.

If you want to go back on track whether it’s on your morals, your workout regimen, diet or a relationship, you can make use of the moment and make it a springboard from which you can push yourself up to the surface again.

Bottom Line

Rock bottom can mean something different for everyone. To one, it could be a loss of a job, business, a marriage, or recovering from alcoholism. These are moments that have the power to make someone feel incredibly uncomfortable as they try to figure out how to make a change. The good news is that you can get off any addiction the time you hit rock bottom.

You’ll need information, support, and love to overcome and recover. Being at the rock bottom can be a beautiful beginning of starting all over again if embraced positively. Reach out to us today if you or a loved one are struggling with addiction. Newport Beach Recovery Center will be there with you every step of the way. Contact us today.

Understanding Relapse

Addiction can be viewed as a disease, and just like other diseases, understanding one’s health issues and admitting that they need to be addressed and creating a plan for recovery are steps to help overcome addiction. A relapse occurs when an individual who has done the good work of undergoing an alcohol or substance abuse program once again begins using drugs or alcohol. The National Institute of Health notes that although there are now “US Food and Drug Administration–approved treatments for nicotine, alcohol, and opioid addiction, more than two-thirds of individuals are known to relapse after initiating treatment for substance use disorders.”

Some challenges in recovery include addressing past traumas and co-occurring disorders, exploring issues that need to be examined and re-envisioned, modifying behaviors, and developing and implementing stress management techniques.

It’s important to look at relapse as a chance to learn and to grow rather than as a failure. A balanced perspective, patience, and sympathetic overview of the situation can all be aids to personal growth and to re-committing to recovery. Rehab, counseling, and support groups may be quite useful to help to teach new stress management techniques, and help to supply encouragement and feedback while the person working on wellness practices incorporating new techniques in an organic and well-organized way.

Reasons an Individual May Relapse

Relapse is a common fear of people in recovery because committing to giving up drugs and alcohol can be quite challenging. The reality concerning recovery is that it is something that needs to be re-committed to every day, and this is especially true when working through the early period of sobriety. Some common issues that may lead to relapse include:

Early Days: Many people face the challenge of relapse when going through withdrawal and the first year of recovery.

Triggers: Revisiting old environments that the addict spent time in while using, and interacting with acquaintances and friends who are still using drugs and alcohol can provide temptation to give in to addiction.

Challenges: One of the challenges to recovery is of everyday routines, such as returning to work and chores and responsibilities; the previous routines may be overwhelming for some people right out of recovery.

Stressors: Whether moving to a new dream home or facing a lay-off at work, emotionally charged events can cause issues for individuals overcoming addiction.

What to Do If a Relapse Occurs

Re-examine triggers and stressors, such as people, places, events, and anniversaries that may set off a renewed episode of drug or substance abuse. Utilizing this awareness, the individual working through addiction issues can use their own insights or, with the aid of a counselor, develop a plan to avoid falling back into issues of alcohol or drug abuse the future.

A relapse can be an invitation to explore different types of treatment, consider the frequency of treatment sessions, and take into account the occurrence of other health and psychological concerns that may be affecting therapy.

Re-commit to sobriety by drawing up plans to utilize resources. These can be supportive individuals, safe environments, and exploring counseling, therapeutic modalities, and sober living peer programs.

Work with medical professionals to find medications that can help during detox, times of the great pressures, or while learning new techniques to healthy living.

It’s not uncommon for people to relapse a number of times before finally coming to long-lasting sobriety. Research shows that with each effort towards recovery, an individual’s probability of long-term sobriety increases. Many relapses transpire when addicts are still in the early stages of withdrawal. The good news is that the risk of relapse steadily decreases. Consider the viewpoint that relapse is imparting important lessons about what one can do to increase the odds of successful sobriety the next time.

Implementing a Recovery Plan

Awareness: Be aware of the triggers that can challenge sobriety and implement rewards when successfully overcoming them.

Allies: When you are trying a new activity or an old challenge, consider asking for help from an ally if it is possible.

List: Create a list of rewards and things that bring pleasure, such as entertainment, hobbies, engaging in the arts or sports that the person working towards recovery can turn to for inspiration, comfort, and enjoyment.

Celebrate Sobriety Milestones: Whether it’s a day, month, or decade, honor the good work of wellness and recovery.

Preventing Future Relapses

Relapse may be a common part of recovery, yet it’s challenging not to be discouraged by this setback. The recovering addict may feel sad to let down people who are encouraging and helping one work towards sobriety.  People may suffer guilt, embarrassment, and shame at using again, and feel overcome by the challenges of committing to sobriety once more, but this needn’t be the case.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse suggests that treatment address the whole person, with continuous evaluation and modification, just like the approach taken for other chronic diseases.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, do not be afraid to reach out. Newport Beach Recovery Center is here to help. Contact us today to receive more information and to talk to an addiction treatment professional.