Seeing a loved one struggling with an addiction is heartbreaking and impacts everyone around them, especially family and friends. A loved one’s addiction can cause you to feel overwhelmed, sad, angry, or confused. Sometimes the situation can feel hopeless, and you may feel powerless to help. Fortunately, there are specific steps family and friends can take to help a loved one who is dealing with an addiction. Understanding Their Addiction People begin using substances for different reasons, such as for stress relief, to feel good, to perform better, or peer pressure. They don’t start using a drug to end up with an addiction. Unfortunately, addiction, or substance use disorder, takes over the person’s life, causing significant problems in their everyday functioning. Additionally, the person keeps using the substance despite consequences such as: Losing jobs or failing classes, Damaging relationships with friends and family, Feelings of guilt, shame, or depression about their substance use, Taking unnecessary risks such as driving while impaired, Financial strain, Needing to use more to get an effect, Suffering health problems. Why Stopping Substance Use on Their Own Is Hard Individuals with an addiction may be aware of their problems and want to stop. But, their substance use changes their brain, which can lead to difficulties with judgment, thinking, and behavior control. With repeated substance use, their body develops a tolerance to the drug. They need to use more to feel the same effects and to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Furthermore, changing any behavior takes time and hard work. During this process, your loved one will have to face the consequences of their use, learn new ways to cope, and often need to change their lifestyle. In the early stages of change, they may waver between denying the problem and acknowledging they need to change. This process can be frustrating and confusing for loved ones. Fortunately, there are strategies that can help individuals progress on their road to recovery, even when they are denying having a problem. 5 Ways You Can Help Even If Your Loved One Refuses Treatment At This Time The decision to seek treatment and learn from the process is your loved one’s choice. You can help them by being a source of strength, trust, and compassion. Knowing they have someone who cares can help them start the journey to recovery. Here are five strategies to help your loved one in a supportive and healthy manner. 1. Be supportive and honest. Being supportive does not mean condoning their substance use. It does mean being there for your loved one in a calm, honest, and caring manner. As you build trust with each other, they will be more likely to seek your help and guidance. To help create a supportive environment, try to avoid nagging, criticizing, or yelling at them. Remember, trust goes both ways. Your loved one needs to treat you with respect and honesty. If they are taking advantage of you or consistently breaking your trust, you may need to seek professional guidance. 2. Set clear boundaries. Your loved one needs to take responsibility for their actions. Setting clear boundaries or rules regarding your relationship and expected behaviors is important for maintaining a healthy relationship. If the rules are broken, they must face real consequences, so your boundaries are taken seriously. Setting boundaries can be hard, but it’s important to keep you safe and to keep your loved one accountable for their actions. These boundaries may also provide the motivation they need to change. Some examples of boundaries include: Not allowing your loved one to use any substances around you, Not providing them with money, Not allowing them to borrow your car. 3. Discuss your concerns. Ignoring their addiction doesn’t help. Talk with them compassionately and listen to their concerns. Try asking open-ended questions such as: Do they think they have a problem? If yes, what concerns them? If no, what would be different if they did have a problem? What would that look like? What concerns do they have about treatment? Knowing their perspective may help you better understand them and help them see why addiction treatment may be needed. 4. Research treatment options in your area. You can help your loved one by researching potential treatment options, even if they aren’t ready yet. Addiction treatment options include detox, inpatient, outpatient, and aftercare programs. There also are different therapeutic approaches to fit each individual. 5. Seek professional help for yourself. Addiction impacts the whole family. You can seek counseling and professional support, even if your loved one isn’t ready. Finding an addiction therapist or a support group can provide you with a safe place to process your feelings. You also can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) free, confidential helpline for help.
Addiction is one of the most pressing issues facing the modern healthcare system today. When someone is looking for an effective treatment of addiction, this can be a challenging process. There are a lot of questions that people have about the search. Some people might not know what happens during rehab and others might not know exactly what they are looking for. This is where a guide to the rehab process can be helpful. An Overview of the Structure of Rehab Programs Typically, rehab programs are designed to last a least a month. There are both inpatient and outpatient establishments. An inpatient program can last anywhere from 30 days to 90 days with plenty of other lengths of stay in between. There are several factors that the doctor or therapist is going to think about when deciding how long someone needs to stay. In some cases, the length of stay is determined by the type of addiction. In other cases, it might be determined by the severity and the individual’s past history. Other people have mental health disorders that might lengthen the required length of stay. When someone is at a treatment center, the professionals are going to take into account the person’s emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual requirements. There are multiple types of treatment programs. Some people invest in a private office rehab program whereas others might be looking for a residential facility or a hospital. Access to Electronics at the Facility One of the most common questions people have is about their access to electronics. This time is meant for people to focus on their recovery process. Therefore, electronics time is often limited. Furthermore, most people’s use of electronics is going to be monitored by a trained professional who works there. As far as electronics people can bring with them, they typically are not allowed; however, some people are more accustomed to working with trained professionals who need to keep up with their work. In that setting, there are typically exceptions or alternative arrangements made so that people can log in and keep up with their work. It is important for everyone to clarify these arrangements before agreeing to attend a certain facility. Phone and Internet Access When someone is a client at a residential inpatient facility, there will be limited phone and internet access during the week. This is meant to give people an opportunity to interact with family members and friends in the outside world. Once the detox process is complete, it is important for people to reach out and interact with family members and friends. Sometimes, family members will even be able to come and visit people at the facility. Loved ones will be able to receive guidance from trained professionals during this process so they can heal as well. Entertainment During Inpatient Addiction Treatment Some facilities provide resources such as DVR, cable TV, satellite TV, and even Netflix. Other facilities are a bit stricter and might not even provide WiFi. If someone is interested in these added benefits during their inpatient stay, they need to ask about it. Some residential facilities have multiple plasma TVs that offer a variety of programming that people can enjoy while others are far more limited in what they offer. It is crucial for everyone to inquire about this before they agree to attend. Getting Ready to Leave When someone is getting ready to leave the inpatient facility, it is important to make arrangements on the outside. In order to prevent a relapse from happening, it is important to make changes in someone’s social habits and social history. This will take a lot of time and energy to develop healthier behaviors and habits that will be able to replace the ones that led to addiction in the first place. Inpatient rehab is only the first step or many on the road to recovery. A strong aftercare plan is going to be critical for maintaining the progress that was made on the inpatient side. With a solid plan that has been tailored to meet someone’s individual needs, a new, sober life awaits someone on the outside world. This also requires the support of family members and friends. Trust the Team at Recovery Revelations in Los Angeles Recovery Revelations is a specialized detox program that specializes in inpatient residential addiction treatment services in the Los Angeles area. We take a lot of pride in the services we provide and our ability to get individuals and families back on their feet following a battle with addiction. We invest in the latest technologies and treatment options in our field to provide only the best care to all of our clients. To learn more about our services, please call us today. We would be honored to help you.
The approaches for addiction treatment and rehabilitation generally fall into two categories: inpatient and outpatient approaches. Both are designed to help a patient heal and recover with different strengths and weaknesses, depending on the particular case and situation. Some work better than others on the person affected. Because of the differences, outpatient and inpatient services are applied in gradations, with less serious cases typically receiving outpatient style treatment and more serious cases the other. The difference has a lot to do with the patient as well. Unfortunately, because these two categories of treatment are elective, i.e. unless ordered by a court people can choose which one to take, patients can easily be put into the wrong program for their situation. Families, spouses, and friends as well as the patients themselves often have misunderstandings as to what exactly is needed in their individual situation and choose blindly based on what seems convenient. Understanding the differences between the program approaches helps tremendously in matching the right treatment to the addiction situation. Inpatient Treatment The most distinct part of inpatient treatment is the fact that the patient is kept physically within the program confines. Once checked in, the person stays onsite until the addiction physical withdrawals are broken and the patient has had enough time for treatment to take effect, based on the professional evaluation. The medical treatment and attention is 24/7 within the facility, dealing with withdrawal symptoms right away and providing both monitoring as well as adjusted treatment as needed during the stay. This level of support is the highest approach possible under typical treatment conditions. Because inpatient treatment involves such a serious commitment, a person is going to be separated from normal life and routines for an extended period. It may be a few weeks or a couple of months. That means one needs to make arrangements for extended absence from work, school, and family. In addition, family and loved ones frequently need to make adjustments to accommodate the stay. That can be a ground-shaking impact, even causing a loved one to have to go to work in some cases if the patient is the sole income earner. Patients usually need and require extended family support to help them and loved ones get through the process successfully. Study after study supports the conclusion that for serious addiction treatment and recovery, the inpatient treatment approach provides the highest rate of long-term success, allowing a patient to break the addiction cycle, achieve getting past the harsh withdrawals, and responding to counseling and treatment. Most importantly, the 24/7 support helps the patient build confidence to maintain the break from addiction which then reinforces recovery. The Weakness of Outpatient Treatment As an alternative option, the outpatient approach allows the patient to still maintain contact and regular involvement with life’s responsibilities while still obtaining treatment. This approach can be coupled with both medical treatment as well as counseling and therapy. However, unlike the inpatient approach, the outpatient treatment has a significant difference – unrestricted ability to be on one’s own. This also means that the patient doesn’t have access to 24/7 response, monitoring and support as well. As a result, the risk of the treatment not being entirely clear of distraction and exposure to the issues and causes of addiction can be a challenge. And for those who are deep in addiction, it may very well be too much to resist, falling back into relapse again and again. Intensive Outpatient Treatment as an Alternative However, an intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) is a midpoint between the traditional outpatient method that can be too liberal and the inpatient model which can be too disruptive in some cases. Objective studies have also found the IOP as a viable method of addiction treatment with a high rate of performance. It provides a rigid and proactive approach towards monitoring but the patient still has the ability to attend school or work and be at home with family. The approach has a far higher success rate because of the attention and constant encouragement of the patient versus just assigning the person to show up for the next appointment. With careful scheduling, monitoring and family involvement, intensive outpatient treatment can be a very effective alternative to a full institutional commitment. Deciding What Matters the Most In the end, the best addiction treatment is what works best for you. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, contact us today! Recovery Revelations is here to help you.
Everyone around you knows that you have reached the bottom of the barrel in life due to your addiction. You are even aware that things have never been this bad. You want to seek addiction treatment so that you can be on the other side of this condition that has ruined your life and the lives of those you love the most. There is, however, much about addiction recovery that remains a mystery. What should you do when you have reached rock bottom with your addiction? Reading this article is the first step in the right direction. You know that your addiction is bad Many who are addicted to drugs and alcohol convince themselves that they are still in charge. “I can quit whenever I get ready,” some say. “This is only to get me through a rough patch,” others may reason. The reality is that drug and alcohol abuse changes the chemical makeup of the body. You, in other words, cannot quit on your own even if you had the strongest of wills. Understanding that your addiction is bad is the first step to getting the help that you need. It is not until you are willing to admit that you have a problem that addiction treatment can be effective. Of course, knowing that you have a problem is not enough to get you to the other side, which is addiction recovery. You also need a plan that helps you move beyond your present state and into a better life. Consider your treatment options There is no fix-all when it comes to addiction and treatment. Every individual is different and, thus, the measures of treatment must vary. Some patients benefit greatly from drug detox. In such a program, the individual is stripped of the addictive substance to break the cycle of chemical dependency. Some are afraid of drug detox because of reports of severe withdrawal symptoms. The reality, however, is that withdrawals are manageable as long as there is a skilled professional to help you through the process. Many patients enter support groups that keep them accountable after going through drug detox sessions. These groups are not meant to shame those in recovery but, rather, designed to encourage patients to keep striving towards sober living. Some believe that support groups are highly effective because of the sense of community that individuals feel. It is not always difficult to let yourself down during the beginning stages of recovery. Disappointing a group of people who are cheering for you to re-establish your life, however, may not be so easy. Such is especially true when these individuals have gone through addiction recovery as well. The mere fact that they are on the other side provides a boost of encouragement. Ask for help Of course, you can admit that you have a problem and need help. You may even call rehabilitation centers to ask questions about their programs. It is not until you actually ask for help, however, that you can receive the addiction treatment needed to get you on the path of sober living. Asking for help may seem like the easiest part of the process. There are many suffering with addictions who never take this step, though. Seeking assistance with your addiction means that you are going public with your struggle. You are bringing strangers into the situation who are not necessarily concerned with the false rhetoric of you have it all together. Skilled specialists know that you need help and are willing to go beyond the barriers that you present to give you the assistance needed. There is certainly a level of vulnerability involved when you ask for help. Taking the much-needed step, however, is the only way to start taking steps towards addiction recovery. The staff at Recovery Revelations understand the difficulty in asking for help with your addiction. They also know what it means to be at rock bottom because of substance abuse. Recovery is dedicated to helping you find your way down the path of sobriety so that you can do greater things with your life. Call us today to get the help you want and need!
If you have a problem with alcohol or drugs, reaching out for help can be hard. You’ve probably tried several times to handle this by yourself, but the problem is just too big to tackle without help. The phone seems impossible to pick up and you don’t want to burden your close friends and family members with your problems. Keeping the details of your illness private is also important, as you don’t want people you know talking bad about you and your family. Who do you ask for help to find sobriety? When you are ready to seek help for your addiction, here are some ways to reach out: Ask your doctor or therapist Medical professionals are trained to deal with addiction and will keep the information you share confidential. They can offer a listening ear and provide recommendations for treatment. Don’t be embarrassed about your story, as they have heard it all, and there is nothing shameful about addiction. It is a medically recognized disease and treatment is effective and available. Be honest with your doctor about how you are feeling and what has been going on, as this is the first step to dealing with your problem. Call or go online for help If you prefer a more anonymous way to reach out, you can contact hotlines or other emergency resources online. If you are in a medical crisis, you need to call 911 and get help immediately. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has an emergency number for those suffering from mental or substance abuse issues that is available 24/7 and 365 days a year (800-662-HELP). Or you can text an international crisis line. Look online for other local resources such as hotlines or mental health resources. Write a letter or an email Sometimes writing things down can be easier than talking to someone face to face. Write your struggles in a letter or an email to a friend or loved one, then send it or leave it where they can find it. Organizing your thoughts and getting your struggles down on paper can be a relief. Knowing that someone else shares in your problems can assist you in making the decision to get help. Keeping everything a secret only makes us sicker. Sometimes the act of sending something takes the solution out of our hands, and that can be a relief. Talk to someone you trust Reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or acquaintance, someone who will keep things confidential. Sharing your problems makes them lighter, and another person may know about options you can’t see right now. You never know when the person you share with might have struggled with the same issues. Or you may want to try talking to your employer’s Human Resources department. Many companies offer addiction treatment to their employees as part of their benefits package. Go to a meeting Look up Alcoholics Anonymous, Marijuana Anonymous, or Narcotics Anonymous online and find a local meeting to attend. There are also online or phone meetings available if you can’t get out. You will find people in these groups who have been where you are and can help you find your next steps. In hearing others talk about their addictions you will learn that you are not alone and that many have gone before you. Seek out those who have what you want and ask them how to get it. Contact a Treatment Center Find a treatment facility near you and ask for help. Treatment centers can offer medical treatment for withdrawal, counseling, nutrition, exercise, education, and a chance to restart your life sober or clean. Most accept health insurance, so your cost will be minimal. Whatever you choose to do, the key is to do something. One movement towards seeking a healthier life is a giant step in your recovery. Addiction is not a lack of willpower or a sign that you are a bad person. It is a medical illness and nothing to be ashamed of. Treatment is possible, but no one will get you there or do the work except yourself. Reach out, in any way you can. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, Recovery Revelations is here to help. Contact us today to speak to an addiction professional.
What Exactly is Holistic Treatment? Often, when people hear something referred to as “holistic”, they tend to think that it is some new-age trend or, as it has been called, “quacky mumbo jumbo”. Ironically, a holistic approach to anything is not new at all. In fact, most people’s grandparents or great-grandparents practiced some form of holistic treatment- even if it was simply using herbs from their garden as opposed to buying prescription. Additionally, the word holistic is not as “quacky” as it may sound. It actually means the whole of something- in this case, the whole of the person. Holistic treatment programs focus on the whole person, not just one part, and there is a very simple reason for this: each part of a person affects another part, so to truly treat someone, the whole of that person should be treated. The three parts of a person in this sense refers to the mind, the body, and the spirit. Each of these parts is like a very important piece to a puzzle, and without all of the pieces, the puzzle cannot be completed. For instance, if a person is physically sick, you will likely notice that they do not think as sharply as they might when they are well, or even that they are moody and depressed. If that same person is sad or depressed, their body will often respond. A holistic treatment program for addiction simply means that the treatment will go beyond physical. It will also focus on the mind and body. The holistic approach is intended to treat the whole person because it is believed that treating only the physical part of addiction is like putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. What Does a Holistic Treatment Program Include? Though treatment programs might vary, you will often find activities that include art, yoga or tai chi, nutritional therapy, horseback riding, acupuncture, relaxation techniques, time with other animals, and more. Acupuncture, massage, and herbal medicines are some common practices in holistic treatments. Activities involving nature, such as hiking, might be included, too. It is important to note that a holistic treatment plan does not replace traditional treatment programs. It includes traditional treatment- that is what makes it a holistic program. Benefits of Using a Holistic Treatment Program Using a holistic treatment program is like drawing out a plan of attack from all sides. Addiction is the enemy. You need a plan to surround and conquer said enemy. Instead of coming full force from one side allowing the enemy to flee to a different area, you are attacking from each side. Additionally, it keeps you from focusing too hard on one thing. When you are only facing one area of addiction, you can find yourself too focused on it. And though you want to focus on being treated and recovering, focusing on too much of one thing can be frustrating and discouraging. Lastly, a holistic treatment program often opens you to new ideas and activities. Each of these activities has the potential to save you from relapse. Having multiple tools in your tool belt to help you fight can give you the strength and confidence you need to succeed. How Effective are Holistic Treatment Programs You likely will not find very much research data concerning success rates of holistic approaches, understanding the effectiveness of the activities involved can give you a good idea. For instance, U.S News reports that one study of meditation for 30 minutes a day actually changes parts of the brain- some of which have been diminished and affected by addiction. They also cite a Harvard Medical School report that shows the benefits of yoga on the same stress that often leads to self-medication. The bottom line is that though you may not find much information related directly to holistic treatment, the Internet is full of information on how each of these activities can individually help in the recovery process. When added to traditional treatment, a holistic approach can increase success rates tremendously. Conclusion If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction, do not hesitate to reach out for help. Here at Recovery Revelations, we are ready and willing to help you through the life-changing process of addiction treatment in the best way possible for you. Our traditional methods with an added holistic approach can help increase your chances of recovery success so that you can live a life free from the bondage of addiction.
Recovering from addiction take hard work, dedication, and a lot of strength. Recovery isn’t something that happens overnight, and you are going to need help. Many people who try to overcome addiction without professional help often end up relapsing within a few weeks. Rehab facilities offer a number of services including detox, individual therapy, and group therapy. Many people in recovery find treatment through a process group to be incredibly beneficial. What Is a Process Group? A process group is a form of group therapy that allows you to learn the skills necessary to deal with the stress of recovery, and also how to navigate socially and emotionally. What Happens In a Process Group? There are 5 to 10 people in a process group. In the beginning, the facilitator works with the group so that they can earn each other’s trust. When this happens, and everyone is comfortable with one another, the group will be ready to open up and share their feelings. Members of the group will share their feelings, their struggles, and their story with the group. The other members are encouraged to agree, disagree, offer support, offer encouragement, and give their feedback. Every member of the group can get a lot from hearing the other group members’ stories. Do Process Groups Have Rules? To keep order during a process group meeting, there are rules. The most crucial rule is confidentiality. What is said in the group stays in the group. This is the only way that the group can trust one another. You also need to be honest. If you aren’t, you aren’t going to get much out of the group. You also need to participate in the conversation. You are expected to express your feelings about what you hear openly. You should avoid telling other members of the group what they should or should not do. You aren’t qualified to give this type of advice. Finally, your feedback should be constructive, not harmful. What Are the Benefits Of a Process Group? When you are part of a process group, you can gain feedback from other people who have been in the same situation. You can also help your fellow group members learn about themselves. Self-awareness is an essential part of recovery, and it is something that you can get from a process group. The members of the group can help you gain a better understanding of your behavior, and what led you down that path that led you to drugs or alcohol. It is not uncommon to lose trust in yourselves and others when you are suffering from addiction. While you are in a process group, you can learn how to trust others again. You can also learn how to open up to others again, which is an essential part of your recovery. Finally, setting goals is part of the recovery process. When you are in a process group, you can set goals, and the other members are there to hold you accountable, which will help you reach the goals you have set for yourself. Recovery Revelations is a detox and residential inpatient program located in the Phelan area of Los Angeles. We will help you safely detox, and then we will work closely with you to get to the root of your addiction. We provide you with one-on-one counseling, process group counseling, and family therapy. We also understand the effectiveness of nutrition and exercise, holistic treatment, and spiritual health, and these will be incorporated into your treatment program. When you are ready to be released, we provide after-care therapy as well as a mentor program to keep you on the right path. At Recovery Revelations, we offer all the essential treatments to have you live a clean and sober life. Contact us today if you or a loved one are struggling with addiction.
As you may already know, rehab is not a “one size fits all” type of deal. Individual rehabilitation programs and facilities offer different approaches, treatments and follow a wide spectrum of methodologies in order to help people beat addiction. Furthermore, the individual needs and experiences between those seeking addiction treatment are going to vary greatly. This is why it is so important to take the time to choose the right rehab for you instead of just jumping into the first one you see. Here are several things that must be taken into consideration when it comes to choosing a treatment program: Identifying Your Specific Needs and Goals For most, the first goal that comes to mind is obviously the primary objective of beating addiction. However, the real key to recovery is not so black and white. Beating addiction is really about changing your life after all, and so it is important to set other objectives beyond successful addiction treatment. For example, do you have the desire to reconnect with friends and family? The goal to move into a new place? Studies show that most of those struggling with substance abuse are young adults, and so outlining new career goals may also be an important course of action. Regardless of your specific desires, it is important to outline your specific goals and needs before pursuing your search for an addiction treatment program. Exploring Different Forms of Treatment Different programs and facilities offer different methods. Some may be more medical based while others focus more on mental therapy. Others are a blend of both. Furthermore, it is important to look at whether a program offers one-on-one therapy and/or group sessions. Many people find that a combination of both is most helpful in their journey to recovery. but not all programs allow them to do this. Another thing to consider here is whether or not the program offers aftercare services that allow individuals to check in following the treatment. Do They Take Insurance? Recovery from an addiction can be a rather urgent matter, but it is important to look into certain details like insurance in order to save a lot of stress down the line. Fortunately, many established programs now take a wide variety of insurance plans. For example, Recovery Revelations in Phelan, California now accepts most major insurance plans as well as a range of others in order to make sure their addiction patients are not compromising on care. Inpatient vs. Outpatient One of the most important decisions of all when it comes to choosing a rehab program is determining whether you are better suited in an inpatient or outpatient environment. An outpatient environment can be tempting to a lot of people because it allows you to still go home at the end of the day (and for some, they can even be a cost-saving measure). However, it has been shown that this kind of treatment works best when the individual has a strong network of family and friends who are actively helping them to beat addiction and monitor them when medical professionals and therapists are not around. There can also be more pressure and stress on the individual if they are still actively trying to detox. Inpatient treatment programs meanwhile tend to provide more care and close treatment that is personally tailored to the individual. This is very important for those who may still be detoxing or who have yet to begin the detox process. However, it is crucial to choose the right inpatient treatment program with experienced caregivers, therapists and medical staff on site. The best inpatient programs also play a role in the individual’s life beyond the active program, helping them to plan out their future and set up check-ins for their time following treatment. The Setting and Environment Last but not least, it is imperative that the type of environment and scenery offered by the treatment program is peaceful and attuned to the individual’s personality and needs. You do not want a setting full of things that will distract you from your goals, but at the same time, it is necessary to find hobbies and other things to engage in. Most importantly of all, you should feel at peace in this new environment and feel encouraged by it to make strides toward addiction recovery. Being in the Right Rehab Increases Longterm Outlook Recovery extends way beyond participating in a rehab program. It is something that must be worked toward every day, though with time it definitely gets easier. When people do not attend a rehab facility or program that is fully in tune with their needs and experiences, however, they run the risk of slipping back into the clutches of addiction. It is important to discuss your goals (both long term and short term) with an addiction specialist both before you decide on a program and after you start. For those in the Inland Empire and San Bernardino areas, there are experienced addiction specialists ready to talk with you.
