Recovery

“Instead, it’s transformative. The trauma becomes a dividing line in survivor’s lives. They are different after the event. Sometimes that change is negative – the post-traumatic stress symptoms that have received so much attention. But the change doesn’t end there. Trauma survivors are often pushed by a brush with their own mortality, by the depth of their hardship or even the suffering of others, to find more meaningful and fulfilling ways of understanding who they are and how they want to live. They struggle, but they also change for the better.” Jim Rendon, author of an online book titled The New Science of Post-Traumatic Growth, provides a hopeful and encouraging aspect of post-trauma life. His book is focused on how post-traumatic growth propels us into self-improvement and success rather than destruction. While he addresses the pain and suffering caused by trauma, he aims to promote a more positive perspective for survivors to hold; one that can uplift and inspire. Lorna Collier, writer for The American Psychological Association, stated last year that resiliency and post-traumatic growth (PTG) are two separate entities. Resiliency is a person’s natural tendency or personal attribute to bounce back from challenging events. PTG, on the other hand, refers to someone who has difficulty bouncing back and experiencing a traumatic event that shakes their core psychologically and then ultimately finds a sense of personal growth. This process takes time, energy, and struggle – but it is possible and it’s worth it. The Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, developed by Tedeschi and Calhoun in 1996, seeks positive responses in five principal areas:

Whether we like it or not, change is inevitable. From the time we are born, we are constantly changing, growing, learning. When we are younger, these changes don’t seem so scary because we are excited to try new things; we are ready to become adults and venture out into the world. But suddenly as we get older, we feel that we have grown all that we can. We try to hold onto who we are and what we have; we try to remain in our comfort zone because change could mean that we might fail, that things could go wrong, and that unknowing feeling is just too much for us. As scary as we let change seem to be, it’s imperative that we learn to accept it -even better if we can learn to love it. Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert further confirms this truth by stating, “We all know we will change. But we think fundamentally the people we’ve become…. will remain relatively stable in the future. And in that, we’re wrong.” To deny change is to try and deny the inevitable, which will make things even harder for us because we are resisting the very thing that will happen anyways. Ada Calhoun discusses this regarding marriage, as she explained earlier this year for the New York Times that she has essentially had 3 marriages with her husband, what she claims to be their “partying 20s, child-centric 30s and home-owning 40s”. Contributor Chrissy Scivicque explains change in the workplace as constant, because businesses are ever-growing and mergers, acquisitions, etc. are always taking place. Change is in everything – even in recovery. Alcohol Rehab notes that those entering recovery must be willing to accept the unknown – to gain courage and change their old habits into healthier, more positive ones. When we take the leap towards bettering ourselves, change must happen. There are many plausible reasons why change is good:

Intensive outpatient therapy (IOP) is a form of treatment often used by individuals who do not need immediate detoxification. Others may use this form of treatment after they have detoxed. This form of therapy provides more structure and intensive care than a standard outpatient therapy would. This allows the person to still maintain home and work obligations while working closely with a healthcare team.  People who use IOP can generally schedule days and times to come in that works best for them, but they typically meet 3-4 days a week for 2-4 hours each day. In a study conducted by McCarty and colleagues (2014), they found that patient outcomes of IOP were like those who used residential treatment, meaning that both sets of patients reduced alcohol consumption. However, IOP’s and residential treatment centers both serve to provide relapse management and coping skills. IOP may involve group therapy, family therapy, individual therapy, medication management, detoxification, and the matrix model, depending on the center. The Matrix Model is a therapeutic intervention used to treat addiction. A therapist works as both a coach and teacher to empower the patient to their recovery. If you are considering using an intensive outpatient program, here are some characteristics that you will need to have:

There are so many important aspects to recovery. Whether you are recovering from addiction or mental illness, the best way to optimize your recovery is to focus on all aspects of being, because essentially addiction and mental illness effect every aspect of our lives. It can make us feel broken, lost, and hopeless. The following is a breakdown of how each of these components can be impacted: Mind: Addiction and mental illness can change the way we perceive everything. According to Negative thoughts can become more abundant. Richard Zwolinski, author of Therapy Revolution: Find Help, Get Better, and Move On Without Wasting Time or Money stated earlier this year for Psych Central that addiction causes dysfunction in the brain circuits, leading the person to pathologically pursue reward and/or relief by addictive behaviors. The Treatment Center in Florida notes that dual diagnosis, or having an addiction and a mental disorder at the same time, can also both be treated at a holistic, integrative facility. Body: Detoxification is the first step towards healing the body. After that, treatment, nutrition, and exercise all lend itself towards rejuvenating the damage caused by addiction or self-harm, abuse, injury, etc. The body portion of recovery is most known because it’s what people physically can see. Medicine can be used to help people gain more clarity in their thinking or to help ease difficult withdrawal symptoms from addiction. Spirit: Recovery.org states that connecting with nature, reading spiritual literature, and attending spiritual groups can all be helpful to renew the spirit. Many people mistake spirituality for religion, however, and there are key differences. Spirituality focuses on who you are as a person, what your purpose is, what fulfills you, etc. Religion is centered are a God or gods, and typically has a place of worship with rituals. Spirituality is important during recovery because it connects you with yourself again. Mind, body, and spirit are all affected by both addiction and mental health issues, so all three components of our being should be addressed during recovery. If we want to make the most of our time there and transform into a better version of ourselves, focusing on these three are so important. By taking part in a holistic, integrative treatment program we are ensuring our whole self is taken care of.

The similarity between these names suggests that there is a base chemical incorporated into both drugs. What exactly are the similarities and differences, though? While both drugs do have something in common, they each create different results in the body and mind. Drug Rehab notes a few distinct differences:

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a form of treatment in which bilateral eye movement reduces the emotional stress of negative memories. This type of therapy is often used to treat addiction, self-esteem issues, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and more. When a person undergoes this form of therapy, they will be asked to recall a traumatic memory – for someone who suffers from an addiction, they may recall triggers that causes them to feel anxiety and a craving to “use” again. When the therapist incorporates eye movement desensitization, the person typically feels less anxious about the triggers, ameliorating the effects of their trigger on them.

For people beginning their recovery journey, relapse seems like a scary, haunted force that should be avoided at all costs. Although it may seem like a contradiction to recovery, there are some valuable lessons that can be learned if you relapse. Addiction.org, a website aimed at provided rehabilitation information, has provided several important lessons to be gained from relapse:

Massage therapy is defined by Northwestern Health Sciences University as the manual manipulation of soft body tissues such as the muscle, connective tissue, tendons and ligaments, to enhance a person’s health and well-being. There are two primary types of massage therapy: relaxation massage and rehabilitation massage. In rehabilitation, this also consists of deep tissue, medical, therapeutic or clinical massage, often practiced in medical settings and rehabilitation centers. Relaxation massage, also known as the Swedish massage, is most often practiced in wellness centers, spas, and massage practices. In a pilot study International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, patients who suffered from multiple sclerosis were given massage therapy treatment for 6 weeks. By the end of the 6 weeks, the patients saw significant improvement in their feelings of fatigue and pain. In addition to the assistance with multiple sclerosis, massage therapy is most often used for: anxiety, digestive disorders, fibromyalgia, headaches, insomnia related to stress, myofascial pain syndrome, soft tissue strains or injuries, sports injuries, temporomandibular joint pain and more. Another, Journal of Depression and Anxiety, found that therapeutic massage, thermotherapy, and relaxing room therapy benefitted 68 patients with generalized anxiety disorder over the course of 12 weeks. The American Massage Therapy Association states that massage therapy helps people relieve stress, manage low-back pain, reduce anxiety, relieve post-operative pain, improve balance in older adults, promote relaxation, lower blood pressure, improve quality of life in hospice care, decrease stress in cancer patients, improve cardiovascular health, increase range of motion, and more. Massage therapy helps decrease nerve compression and increase joint space, which helps achieve many of the benefits above. While there are many benefits, some people should not use massage therapy. For example, people who suffer from bleeding disorders, burns, deep vein thrombosis, fractures, severe osteoporosis and more may not be eligible to receive this form of treatment. If you are considering using massage therapy to help you relieve stress, anxiety, or other health issues, speak with a doctor today to determine if massage therapy is appropriate for you.

The first step in recovery is detoxification, a process in which the body naturally dispels any toxins that were inhibited from addiction. Detox can seem daunting, especially if you are unsure of what you will be experiencing. Knowing what to expect can provide you with a sense of relief, and knowing that you will have a team of health care professionals that support you means that you will be provided with optimal care. Rehab International, an online treatment center directory, has noted that detox care begins with completing assessment paperwork. With this intake assessment, you will inform your healthcare team of your health issues, addiction history, and more. Transparency is incredibly important to ensure you receive the best care possible. From there, a brief physical assessment may take place as well as a tour to help you feel more comfortable. Many people who enter recovery fear the pain of detox. However, the detox process is designed to be a painless as possible. WebMD notes that you may be given medication to assist with any unwanted withdrawal symptoms as you go through detox. There are several symptoms that you may experience from detox:

A relatively recent study published in Journal of Experimental Social Psychology stated that humans prefer comfortability and predictability rather than change – students interviewed from the study indicated preference towards their current university layout than a newer one, and participants viewed acupuncture more favorably when told that it has been around for 2,000 years as opposed to 250 years. From the time we are born, we are changing. We learn to walk, talk, make connections with others, develop hobbies and interests, etc. If change were not necessary, we would never make advancement past birth. Adapting is crucial to our health and well-being – the more that we work with the change, the less we work against it, thus experiencing less negative feelings such as anger, depression, anxiety, and more. Although we crave the security, change is very constant – and we need to learn to adapt to this change to become more capable human beings. The first step that we can take towards adapting to change is recognizing that we are trying to resist it. By acknowledging this, we can make decisions that place us in a position to work with the changes around us. The next step is for us to keep this knowledge in mind and remain open to whatever the world offers us. Whatever path appears, we are safe in knowing that our path is purposeful. Either we take on a path that provides us with bountiful rewards and experiences, or we take a path that teaches us many lessons and gives us the opportunity to grow. Either way, it’s a “win-win”. Lastly, we can choose to walk towards change, rather than away from it. If there are opportunities for new discoveries to be made, learn to approach the change with curiosity and excitement. Begin this new journey with an open heart and mind, and become elated by the numerous lessons and possibilities that may arise from this new direction. Change can be incredibly difficult for most of us to appreciate – but the reality is that without change, we would never learn and grow. Change is a wonderful gift that enables us to find something more beneficial for us, to grow from the ashes of the past and to rebuild our foundation with bricks that are stronger than they were before. If we can learn to accept change, then we are setting ourselves up for a much easier, more workable way of living.   Residential treatment programs give you the time you need to focus on healing. Avalon Malibu is one of California’s only certified primary mental health treatment facility providing trusted programs with trusted results. For a confidential assessment and more information, call us today: 888-958-7511

Between learning about one’s addiction or mental illness, building a support network, working through deep-rooted issues, and optimizing one’s health, recovery can make anyone feel a slew of emotions. We may feel a sense of hope, but also fear. Dedication, but also exhaustion. Recovery is a notable journey to embark on, but knowing which emotions can slow down our success is important. The Addiction Recovery Network, a health information website, notes 4 main emotions that can hinder our success in recovery:

Most likely, we all know someone who suffers from addiction or a mental illness. It can be challenging to see our loved ones go through this – we want to see them happy, healthy, and on their way to success. Some of us have known that our loved ones have suffered from a malady for quite some time now, and we may have even helped them during rough times by being there for them, giving them a little bit of money, or even letting them stay with us for a while. Others may just now be finding out that their loved one is suffering – and this can sometimes be surprising, upsetting news. Either way, mental illness and addiction are tough topics to support if we do not know much about them. Here are some of the best tips to ensure that we are providing the most love and support to those we care about: