Influential Women Who Got Sober

A woman with white hair and black shirt

 

Fame: a blessing and sometimes a curse. Celebrities in the spotlight have the great gift of being able to use their voice to influence people but can also feel like they are under a microscope. With society watching their every move, it can be difficult to admit they have a problem with substance abuse because everyone expects them to be perfect. But addiction doesn’t discriminate, influential women suffer from addiction as well. Below are ten beloved influential women who are sober.

Oprah Winfrey

Many people are surprised to hear that Oprah Winfrey is in recovery. She’s admitted on her talk show she struggled with cocaine addiction in her early 20s. She has since sought sobriety and has been living in recovery ever since.

Jamie Lee Curtis

Jamie Lee Curtis starred in many notable movies such as Halloween and The Fog. She is also known as one of the original Scream Queens. Throughout her career, she managed to succeed in genres outside of horror unlike many of her colleagues. During her career, she also elected to undergo plastic surgery. Painkillers are commonly prescribed to patients after surgery and ultimately were the catalyst for her addiction. She’s been quoted saying once she saw how her drug use affected her daughter she decided to get sober.

Jada Pinkett Smith

As far as the public is aware Jada Pinkett Smith has it all: a tight-knit family, a strong career, and seemingly ageless beauty. There was a point in time where she was drinking two bottles of wine a night and realized she had demons to overcome. In sobriety, she learned there are other tools to deal with pain.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore grew up in the public eye. She was seven years old when she filmed the movie E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. She started to experiment with drugs and alcohol while in the spotlight during the age of 9-12. She was able to overcome addiction and continues to act to this day while still looking amazing.

Demi Lovato

Within the past few years, Demi Lovato has made tabloid headlines. She publicly relapsed in July 2018 after being sober for six years and has In addition to having bipolar disorder, she battles with bulimia and self-harm. She has been very open with the public about her struggles in hopes her transparency will help others.

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes became the subject of envy when she married Ryan Gosling. In 2008 she entered rehab and opened up about how she recognized she was in a life or death situation. It takes great strength to realize you need to seek help.

Edie Falco

Edie Falco is most recently known as Nurse Jackie, a hospital nurse addicted to painkillers. She also used her own life experience to help her relate to the character’s addiction. With over a century of recovery behind her, she says the support from her family and friends has helped her the most.

Kelly Osbourne

Kelly Osbourne is one of the original reality TV stars. The Osbourne family provided MTV with a lot of laughs but Kelly also spent time watching her father suffer from the effects of drug and alcohol abuse. She became addicted and sought out recovery while her parents were experiencing life-threatening health problems. She has now been living clean and sober for several years.

Nicole Richie

Nicole Richie is the daughter of a celebrity but became famous herself after appearing on a reality TV show, The Simple Life. Experimenting with drugs and alcohol as an adolescent led to addiction in her 20s but she found recovery after being arrested and seeking treatment.

Eliza Dushku

After fighting demons in Buffy the Vampire Slayer she battled her own addiction to drugs and alcohol. It was a harsh wake-up call when her brother told her that she couldn’t see her niece while she was under the influence. Eliza is now sober and openly talks about it to help other people struggling with addiction.Â

If They Can Do It, You Can Do It Too

Newport Beach Recovery Center is dedicated to helping those who struggle with addiction. We believe our gender-specific facility in sunny Orange County is a safe space for women to heal. We hope you find comfort in knowing you’re not alone and help is out there. Please reach out if you or a loved one is battling with substance abuse.

Sober Activities to do While in Newport Beach

 

When people who have struggled with addiction finally break free, it is important to come up with new hobbies and activities that will prevent someone from relapsing to the world of alcohol and drugs. While some people might think that alcohol is a social lubricant that is required to have fun, this is far from the truth. In reality, there are plenty of fun activities in Newport Beach that everyone can enjoy! Take a look at a few of the top activities in the local area that are fun while sober. Then, when people come up with new hobbies, they will have an easier time retaining their sobriety in the years to come.

Explore the Local Area

One of the most important points that people should keep in mind is that it is fun to explore. Exploring the local area can be seen as a metaphor for exploring sobriety. There is so much to life that people missed while they were struggling with an addiction. Now, with that newfound sobriety, people will have the opportunity to experience it. The Surfliner train provides everyone with gorgeous views up and down the coast. It provides easy access to some of the top destinations in the local area. There are plenty of chances to take breaks and explore the area along each and every stop! Think about checking out the piers, beaches, and even the local zoo! There is plenty of shopping to look at as well.

Options for Thrill-Seekers

Many people are looking for a way to get their adrenaline rush even while sober. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to do this as well. Those who live in the local area know that there are plenty of theme part opportunities. Some of the top parks in the area include Sea World, Six Flags, Disney Land, Universal Studios, and more! There are even discounted ticket rates available for those who plan ahead! There are plenty of energetic rides for people of all ages. For this reason, families, couples, and individuals flock to these theme parks throughout the year to make sure they take advantage of everything these parks have to offer. Most of them tend to open up a new ride every once in a while as well!

Sports in the Local Area: Orange County

Sports are a major part of the culture of the local area. Therefore, there is always a sporting event going on that people can catch with their friends. There are plenty of Major League Baseball teams throughout the local area including the San Diego Padres, the Los Angeles Angels, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Of course, there is football during the fall as well as the NBA during the summer. Therefore, there are plenty of sports from which to choose. Make sure to go with a crowd and take in the sights! These stadiums also tend to host major concerts throughout the year. Take a look at the schedule ahead of time and make a plan to take advantage of everything these large venues have to offer.

Get Outside and Explore Nature

It is also important for people to get in touch with nature. This is a great way to do some soul-searching while also enjoying the local wildlife. While the beach is a great way to explore the marine life and relax, there is also hiking available. The warm California sunshine offers bountiful hiking opportunities throughout the year. With a great pair of hiking boots and a compass, people will be shocked at the beauty of nature in the local area. Get outside and check out some of the sights furnished by mother nature.

Give Back to Orange County

Finally, many people love to make philanthropy a part of their sober life. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer with local charities. Many of these charities help kids, families, the poor, and those with disabilities. This is a great way for people to give back to a local community that has helped them find sobriety. Of course, during sobriety, it is just as important for people to help themselves as well. It is important to work with trained professionals to make sure that everyone is on the road to recovery.

Contact Newport Beach Recovery Today to Learn More

Anyone who is looking for professional assistance during the addiction recovery process should contact Newport Beach Recovery today. Newport Beach Recovery is located in beautiful Costa Mesa, CA. They specialize in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction from start to finish. This is a great way for people to come up with a plan for life during recovery. Their professionals are highly trained and experienced in treating multiple types of addiction. To learn more, please visit the website today.

Why it’s Important to Have a Schedule in Recovery


Being able to create and keep a schedule in recovery can make all the difference for those struggling with addiction. While it may not typically be a tactic that is at the forefront of the ideas or methods to aid in recovery, establishing routine can be the part of the process that makes addiction treatment last.

Why Having a Routine Works

·         By having a schedule, there is less time for triggers and temptations. When a schedule incorporates a new way of life, the previous addiction no longer is a part of the day. There is not an opportunity to think about the vice when your schedule is full of activities and events that enrich your life.

·         Establishing routine fosters productivity and eases anxiety. There is nothing better than having a checklist completed. By having a tangible schedule, you can actually see what you have accomplished during the day and look forward to what lies ahead. You can look at the checklist and feel productive. Tomorrow’s schedule eases anxiety since you know exactly what tomorrow will look like.

·         Creating a schedule can encourage positive new habits. There are many parts of a person with addiction’s life that incorporate negative habits. By replacing these old habits with new hobbies and routines, a person can see how their life is positively changed by making their own meals, going for hikes or even learning a new trade.

 What Should be a Part of a Schedule

Besides attending therapy and support groups for recovery, there are other ways to supplement your schedule. Given that your former life was not benefiting you, it is important to create a schedule that gives you time to grow, relax and explore.

Grow

·         Learn to Cook

·         Learn a Craft (knit, crochet, sewing, woodworking, etc.)

·         Create a Cleaning Schedule

·         Take Classes (GED, College, Languages, Exercise, etc.)

·         Volunteer

Relax

·         Read a Book

·         Take a Nap

·         Get a Massage

·         Call a Friend

Explore

·         Go on a Hike

·         Try a New Restaurant

·         Go to a New City

What Should NOT be a Part of a Schedule

Establishing a schedule is important for recovery, but there are some activities that should not be a part of this new lifestyle.

·         Do not allow time to think about past habits. By incorporating an opportunity to crave what you have worked so hard to recover, you are eliminating the good things that come from creating a schedule. While you do have time to relax, make sure it allows the mind to be occupied.

·         Do not become a slave to the routine. On the flip side of the previous point, do not be afraid of straying from the schedule on occasion. If someone asks to go to dinner or to a movie, do it. If you are not feeling well one day, take the day to recover.

·         Do not be alone. Having a person to help you not think about your previous habits is a great way to ensure recovery. However, being alone too often gives you the chance to let your mind wander. With that in mind, do not go anywhere by yourself either in case you feel the urge to drive back to what lead you to recovery in the first place.

·         Do not incorporate “friends†who were a part of your addiction. Hanging out with people that encouraged or created your previous habits cannot be a part of your new schedule. While you might think of them as friends, if they are not going to be a beneficial part of your recovery, they are not your friends right now.

At Newport Beach Recovery in Costa Mesa, we will provide the tools to create a schedule and help reclaim the lives stolen by addiction. Come see us today.

12 Fun Things You Can Do Now That You Are Sober and Living Life in Recovery


Once you have fought your inner demons and come out victorious you can announce with pride that you are now sober!  But what happens now? What can you do to fill up the time you now have available? It is important to stay active and find new things to do with yourself so you are not tempted to fall back into old habits and old ways. Here are twelve fun things you can do to celebrate your new sober lifestyle and keep your focus on your life in recovery:

1. Go for a Walk at the Park

Exercise is good for the body and the mind and going for a walk at your local park or track is a good way to stay active and to also get out and engage and interact with other people in a fun and positive way!

2. Relax at the Day Spa

Spas are not just for the ladies and whether you are going alone, with your significant other, or a group of friends, relaxing at the day spa is a wonderful way to spend some time rewarding yourself for all of your hard work.

3. Movie Night With Friends

Now that you are sober you will have more fun with friends and hanging out at the movies is a great way that you all can celebrate and find positive encouraging ways to spend time together making memories.

4. Volunteer in the Community

Many people say that after their fight to reach sobriety they feel a strong desire to help others who are in need so finding volunteer opportunities in your local area can be a great way to spend your time.

5. Weekend Beach Trip

The beach by its very nature is calming and healing so it is a popular destination for friends and family members to gather and celebrate life and all of the good things that are happening in their lives!

6. Plant a Backyard Garden

Whether you have a green thumb and want a huge backyard paradise or you are a novice and are happy with a few potted plants, gardening is a great way to focus your energies on something positive.

7. Read A Brand New Book

Reading is a wonderful way to relax and unwind and can be especially helpful for dealing with the everyday stresses of life and is a good way to destress at the end of your workday.

8. Call Family and Talk on the Phone

Oftentimes addiction causes us to distance ourselves from those we love so calling family and having a nice phone call is one way to reconnect and reclaim your life now that you’re sober.

9. Visit a Museum or Art Gallery

For the loner at heart, or when you just want a little alone time, taking a trip to a local museum or art gallery can be a fun way to pass the time and have a quiet afternoon all to yourself.

10. Have Alcohol-Free Game Night

So long as everyone agrees to the no alcohol terms, there are few things that are as memorable as game night with friends, family, food, and fun so bring out the games and celebrate sobriety!

11. Pick Up a Fun New Hobby

An important part of recovery and remaining sober is finding ways to stay busy and avoid temptations so picking up a new hobby can be a fun and very rewarding way to celebrate your new life.

12. Go See Something New in Your Area

For the traveler at heart you can satisfy your wanderlust with a simple trip to see something new in the local area you have always wanted to see before.

These are just some fun and easy things you can do now that you are sober and have reclaimed your life. Talk with family and friends and plan other fun things you can do either on your own or as a group to continue celebrating your new sober lifestyle!  Newport Beach Recovery is a drug and alcohol rehab in Costa Mesa, CA where you can get the personalized treatments you need if you are struggling with addiction. Call today to learn more and to schedule your individual consultation visit and take that first step towards sobriety and living life in recovery.

How to Live Life Without Alcohol

 

Alcoholism is an addiction and it is one of the toughest for people to break. For many people, the realization that they actually haven’t had any alcohol for an extended period of time can be quite the shock. After all, many people with an addiction to alcohol realize quickly that they have lived a significant portion of their adult life with the beverage. There are countless reasons why people start drinking. For some people, it starts by drinking in an effort to make it easier to socialize. Then, it evolves to become a way for people to deal with the bad days during the week. Many people have a beer or a glass of wine as a way to wind down after a long day or to celebrate a big moment in life. Combine this with the peer pressure that many people feel during their young adulthood to drink and the ingredients of addiction are all there.

Breaking the Addiction: Dealing with Social Situations

Gradually, this evolves to become a crutch that people cannot live without. This is where the disease starts to take hold. Without alcohol, many people experience withdrawal symptoms ranging from emotional issues to shakes, sweats, and even seizures. For this reason, the early days of sobriety can be a challenge. In addition to getting past the withdrawal symptoms, many people also face the challenges of situations where they used to drink but no longer do. The social situations are some of the hardest. Showing up to an event where individuals are drinking can be difficult. For the many people who used to drink to help with these situations, it can be hard to find something else to hold in the hand instead. A soda or a glass of water just don’t feel the same. Any thoughts that simply putting the drink down would be “easy†quickly fade away. It is hard to learn how to behave in a social situation without the comfort and crutch of an alcoholic beverage.

Learning that Drinking Alcohol is a Choice

For many, alcohol almost seems like an integrated part of the adult world. One of the most helpful ways to break from this part of the world is to listen to other stories of sobriety. Learning how others deal with challenging situations can help people learn how to live a life without alcohol. Yes, alcohol was, at one point, a big part of life. It is still a major part of society, reflected in stores, on commercials, and in its presence at social gatherings. On the other hand, everyone has a choice. Part of sobriety is making the conscious decision not to drink. It is not only possible, but realistic, that it is possible to exist, live, and thrive in this world sober, despite the presence of alcohol.

Accepting What Cannot Be Changed

In order for people to succeed in this venture, it is vital to place sobriety at the top of the list. Make decisions that will make this process easier. Think carefully about the situations, the people, and the location. People must be placed in a position to be successful. Cut out the things that lead to drinking and accept what cannot be changed. It is impossible to change the past. It is difficult to change the thoughts and perspectives of other people. Simply make decisions that will ensure the decisions of the past will not be repeated. Maintain control over oneself and everything else will fall into place. That should be enough for anyone to find solace.

There Is Power In Saying No

One of the most important steps in early sobriety is learning how to say no. This is simply a must. There are going to be plenty of situations that must be avoided during life in recovery because sobriety is always the top priority. This might be a special event. These could be certain situations. It might even include specific people. This can feel like a major sacrifice but it is a necessity for maintaining sobriety. Those who are recovering need to do what is best for them. This involves saying no.

Honesty With Oneself and Others

Finally, it is very important, to be honest during the recovery process. This means being honest with others being honest with oneself. The ability to share honestly and openly about the addiction, the struggle, and the recovery is a key part of sobriety. There is no shame in overcoming a struggle. In actuality, it makes someone stronger as a person. It feels like a weight that has been lifted off of one’s shoulders. It is this change, this honesty, that often has the greatest impact of all during the recovery process. These are the keys to not only surviving but thriving, in life without alcohol.

Reach out to us if you or anyone you love is struggling with alcohol or addiction. At Newport Beach Recovery Center, we are always available to help!

Why You Should Run in Addiction Recovery

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 have ever wondered about those people you see running along the street in all kinds of weather, there is 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 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 is 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 855-316-8740 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.

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.

How to Find Treatment for Addicted Couples


Close relationships, including family and friends, can also be the first casualties of addiction and substance abuse. A significant other is the one most directly in the line of fire when an addict is under the influence. So, as part of the recovery process, it’s important to understand how addiction has affected loved ones and even destroyed relationships. Then, the next step is to implement support systems, and determine how to repair those broken relationships before it’s too late.

How Addiction Affects Couples

Addiction and substance abuse can destroy a marriage or relationship. It can also be psychologically damaging even if the couple stays together, since patterns of co-dependency and enablement, as well as physical and psychological abuse,  can also be part of the equation.

Secrecy:

One of the devastating effects of addiction is the damage to open and honest communications in relationships. Deception and lies can go hand-and-hand with guilt and shame. A reality of substance abuse is that it can change a person’s behavior, even their personality.

Mistrust:

Even if you’ve been with the person for years, it’s still difficult to overcome the loss of trust. After all the painful episodes where trust might have broken or twisted in the past, it can be difficult for a couple to move forward. It takes a lot of strength and forgiveness to rise above as the history of repeated breaches in trust, even if each of them loves each other still.

Financial Difficulties:

Relationships can be even further destroyed and put in jeopardy when substance abuse and sometimes-erratic behavior leads to financial hardship. Beyond just the cost of booze and drugs, addiction leads those affected to make poor decisions, which in turn can lead to a devastating loss.

Partner Support

A relationship where one of the individuals is in recovery is not easy. Depending on the past history, the couple may be struggling with coming to grips with a partner who is trying to improve, perhaps even trying to change their habits, but it can also be easy to fall back into old patterns of addiction. A committed relationship is difficult, but it can also be one of the best ways to keep on that path toward recovery. A loved one/partner can offer support and encouragement, both in demonstrating love and forgiveness, but also in understanding the personal history that may have led to the addiction. A partner can also help by avoiding those people or places that were most associated with substance abuse.

Beyond just assisting in distraction and avoidance, a couple can support each other in a second-chance for their relationship, but also so their lives. Recovery from alcohol and substance abuse is a wake-up call to many, particularly when health, wellness, and even job and joint relationships hang in the balance. It often comes down to a choice of recovery or a permanent split, and even then, the relationship may be beyond repair.

Tap into Couples Therapy

Whether a couple moves forward with that “lifetime of love†together or not, couples’ therapy is an essential component of recovery. With what may have been years of secrecy, lies, growing mistrust, financial hardship, and loss, sobriety may sound too good to be true. Plus, there were probably other episodes when that road to recovery was attempted, with the only result being a heartbreaking relapse.  That’s why couples’ therapy is so important. After a history of a painful and difficult relationship, it’s important that both partners understand that recovery is a joint effort.

How to Sustain Recovery

Substance abuse affects every part of a relationship, so a couple who is working through recovery together can be presented with both positive and negative results. But there are several very important things to keep in mind:

  1. Change doesn’t happen overnight.
  2. Relapse is possible, even when you love each other.
  3. Time really doesn’t heal all wounds, but forgiveness can help.
  4. Each partner is important to the survival of an addicted couple.
  5. The scars may fade, but it may be difficult to forget.
  6. Therapy really is essential to the survival of a couple dealing with addiction.
  7. Couple revitalization and survival also must involve communication and rebuilding a life back together.
  8. Sobriety is a choice an addicted person must make every day, but so too is the decision to support and stay in a relationship that has been dismantled by substance abuse.
  9. A very real part of the recovery of an addicted couple is also the process of building new habits.
  10. While not fast or easy, the journey toward recovery for an addicted couple can be rewarding.

Ultimately, the direction of your recovery may not end up where you’d anticipated, but we don’t have any really great way of predicting the future of a relationship. Even without drug abuse, alcohol, or substance use, a relationship can be hard. So, allow yourself time and space, and seek out the help you need as you journey toward recovery together.  Contact us today to make the first step on the right path to recovery. Newport Beach Recovery Center is here to help.

9 Tips For Managing Your First 30 Days Out of Rehab


Congratulations!  You have just made it through rehab and are on the way to your first 30 days of recovery.  Now, it is time to return to the real world with all its joys, problems and people. New in sobriety, to make it through, you need a plan. Here are some suggestions:

1.  Make a Schedule

Each day should be completely scheduled to leave minimal time to think about how to leave your sobriety.  This does not mean you can’t change your schedule, but this should happen only for really important matters.  Make sure to include lots of meetings to receive support and to help other people with their issues.

2.  Meetings

Make all meetings a priority.  This helps you fill time and affirm the techniques you learned in rehab.  These meetings will make your recovery more successful and always give you a place to turn besides returning to your addiction.  Put into practice the sobriety tips you learn here.

3.  Doctors

Make all your doctor appointments, even if you have not been as successful as you intended.  These appointments will help you pinpoint where you went wrong and set up on the correct path again.

4.  Religion

Religion is a good help to keep on the right path.  Whether you choose yoga, medication or prayer, spending time each day will keep you centered and help you reach your goals.  Prayer is calming and self-affirming.

5.  Cooking

This is a good idea even if you don’t know how to cook.   Preparing your own food gives you an outlet for creativity and can bring your family and friends together for support.  Start simple.  Don’t expect to make anything perfect on the first go around.

6.  Exercise

Exercise has many benefits for both the body and the mind.  Our bodies were made to move on a regular basis.   The more you exercise, the easier it becomes.  Slowly increase the amount you do during exercise.  You will be proud of your success.

7.  Write a Daily Journal

Each day, take some time to write down what you did during the day, your feelings and successes.  Comment on how your daily program worked, how you related to others and work out how to fix any mistakes you made.  If you need to read someone’s journal to understand how to keep one, take a look at any of Queen Victoria’s many entries.  She left behind volumes of journals.

8.  Learn Something New

The first 30 days is a good time to take up something new.  Don’t choose something that will increase your stress, but if you ever wanted to play the piano, learn how to paint, sew or make clay pots, this is a good time to take this up.  Just go with the flow, and don’t worry about how your results look.  They will improve if you keep up with your new hobby.

9.  Make a List of Goals

Everyone coming out of rehab should have a list of goals.  Keep this list handy and review it frequently.  As your recovery progresses, add new goals to move forward.  If a goal is too hard, look at breaking it up into different parts so that each goal is simpler to meet.  Don’t forget why you are in recovery.

10.  Forgive Yourself

Forgive yourself for your past indiscretions and go on.  No one intends to become addicted and it can happen to anyone under the right circumstances.  It is important to remember, however, forgiving has nothing to do with permission to repeat your mistakes.  Your main purpose is to move forward in your sobriety and form a complete life without the need of drugs to deal with life’s problems.

11.  People

You can’t continue to see people in your past that your main relationship was losing your sobriety together.  You must steel yourself to put these people behind you.  Practice what you will say if you see them, which you will at some point.  Be honest.  Let them know you can’t continue as you were for your health, and you won’t be joining them anymore the way you were.  If they ask, you can explain how you became sober.  But, they must be ready to hear this.  Sadly, this may include close friends and family members.  Keep yourself on track.

12.  Places

You know all the places you went to become addicted.  Don’t go to any of them, not for a long time.  These places may have some good memories that could draw you back into the fold.  The world is full of places where people don’t spend their day under the influence.  It’s those places you need to start spending your life enjoying.

Above all, keep to your recovery and meetings. If you or a loved one is struggling with sobriety, don’t be afraid to reach out. Contact us today to get more information!