Recovery

After leaving a treatment facility, early recovery can be a confusing and challenging time for many in recovery from addiction. They have to take the skills and healthy behavioral habits learned in treatment and practice them outside of a facility. In addition to maintaining these newly learned habits, they must also deal with the complications…

Those seeking treatment for an addictive disorder will soon find themselves on the receiving end of a barrage of recovery acronyms, slogans, and phrases. The applicable phrases, such as “This too shall pass,” “One day at a time,” and HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired), will prove tolerable enough while others carry more of a potential…

Chronic relapse occurs when individuals have managed to abstain from an addictive substance but have yet to address the psychological motivators that perpetuate their substance misuse. This involves those in recovery who achieve and maintain a sober lifestyle for an extended period, only to relapse repeatedly with little to no change in outcome each time.…

Recovery can be taxing on the body and mind as clients heal from years of repeated substance misuse. As clients prepare for leaving treatment, the physical healing process should be well underway. They often report drastic improvements in overall mood and physical well-being within the first three months of sobriety. The cells in the brain…

Each addictive disorder will be unique to the individual, and therefore, the treatment methods will also need to be tailored to each patient’s unique addiction. In addition to the variation among addictive disorders and co-occurring mental health issues, each person will also respond differently to the variety of treatment modalities that are offered to them,…

Many addiction programs have adopted dual-diagnosis treatment for clients diagnosed with mental as well as addictive disorders. For the uninitiated, this type of medical terminology can be slightly confusing. In more pedestrian terms, dual-diagnosis is simply referencing a rehab program that is willing to offer an all-encompassing treatment approach to addictive disorders and treat any…

Forgiveness is the practice of choosing not to be angry any longer by letting go of past pain and hurt. Those in recovery can further begin the healing process by not wasting energy and time self-perpetuating past pain. In this frame of reference, the practice of forgiveness is easily viewed as intricately linked to the…

Completing an inpatient treatment program is a significant achievement in its own right worthy of praise. Unfortunately, as clients and their loved ones will soon learn, there is not much time for celebration when it comes to recovery. Success should always be acknowledged, but after a quick pat on the back, the next steps of…

The constant misuse of alcohol and drugs in the pre-treatment phase for those with addictions can wreak havoc on the body and mind. For those who have struggled for a longer time with substance use disorder (SUD), serious illnesses such as diabetes, liver disease, hypertension, and heart disease are relatively common. Not only can patients…