AToN Center Addiction Treatment in San
Diego, CA |addiction recovery

Talking About Substance Use

When our lives spin out of control, it can be challenging to know what to do. Sometimes, what is even more challenging is to know what to say. While it is not necessary to broadcast personal details about our lives, it will likely be necessary to talk to our families, friends, and possibly employers about our substance use.

Because there is so much stigma still surrounding substance use, talking about it can seem much more difficult. Combine that with the self-confidence that is often damaged by our behaviors, it is difficult to even think about talking to the people who matter in our lives. However, it does not need to be traumatic. We can communicate openly and with courage and not only share our experiences but help to break down stigma at the same time.

Honesty is the Best Policy

When we start to talk to others about our experiences with substances, it is important to have the willingness to be open and too completely honest with them, particularly those closest to us. In order to do that, however, we need to be willing to be completely honest with ourselves.

We need to be willing to look at our substance use realistically: Have we acknowledged to ourselves how much control we have given to our substance use? How has our drinking or drug use impacted our lives? Who are the people that we have affected with our substance use? What are the areas in our lives that we need help with? When we are completely honest with ourselves about these questions and more, we can be completely honest with others, too.

Family

Our family is perhaps the most aware of our drinking and/or drug use. They are the most likely to have been impacted by our behaviors, too. This can make it seem more difficult to talk to them. Yet chances are that they also love us the most and will want us to be open with them about everything we have been going through. These are the people we will need to lean on most during our recovery, too, so we need to be willing to ask them for their strength and encouragement.

Spouses, siblings, and parents deserve to know how we are feeling, what it is like to have an addiction, and what we are doing to make changes in our lives. They deserve to know our emotions, and they deserve to have authentic and heartfelt apologies if we have hurt them. Look them in the eyes, and talk about your pain and your struggles. Have a real conversation with them. Share information with them about addiction and why it is not just a simple choice we make. Be honest, be straightforward, and be informative.

If there are children, use age-appropriate language when explaining your feelings. Be very honest with them about addiction and substances, but at a level that they can understand. Be loving and reassure them that you still love them, even if your behaviors in the past may have been confusing to them. Children are resilient, but they also know if you are condescending or not telling them the truth. You can empower them and help them to grow up as empowered adults when you are willing to be honest with them.

Friends

Your conversations with your friends may be similar to your conversations with your family, depending on how close you are with them. You will obviously want to ask for their support as well. You know who you can really lean on, and you also know the friends you may need to wean out of your life if they have been part of your substance use. Those conversations may be difficult, but they are very important.

Friends who are not as close may not need as much information or any information at all about what you are going through. If you suspect the gossip cycle to impact them, you may choose to tell them first person about what you are going through rather than wait for them to hear it from someone else. Then you control the conversation, and you can educate them about what addiction and recovery actually are. When you show people what substance use and recovery look like from an authentic point of view, you are breaking the stigma.

Employers

Employers and co-workers can be more of a delicate situation. Your human resources department can help you to determine how much information needs to be shared and with whom. Obviously, you will need to discuss a leave of absence for your treatment. Beyond that, this is a private, medical issue, and you can determine how much if any information is shared.

Substance use can make us raw, and it can feel difficult to face the people in our lives. However, when we use our voice to share our experiences from the heart, we begin the healing process and we break stigmas and empower other people to help us and others. Don’t look at this as a dreaded task, look at it as an opportunity to free your heart and clear your mind with the people in your life. You cannot control their reactions, but you can empower and inform them. Be brave. Be powerful. Be you.

Talking about your recovery can seem frightening, but your voice is powerful. Call AToN Center at (888) 813-5928 now to start your journey of empowerment.

Can I Be Whole Again?

Imagine waking up in beautiful, peaceful surroundings. Your mind is clear, your body well-rested. You don’t have a hangover, and there is no evidence of alcohol or drugs around you. Yet there is not that nagging, unforgiving need for a drink, either. And that pain – the empty, hollow, relentless pain – you don’t notice that, either. You feel somehow strange, at peace and content. This may sound like an impossible dream for you. It may be difficult to even imagine it. You have been through so much, but sometimes you wonder, can I ever be whole again?

The answer is actually in your hands. That scenario could be closer than you think. AToN Centers are luxury residential treatment centers located in beautiful San Diego, California. In addition to the on-site chef, pools, saunas, spas and other amenities, they offer methods and curriculum for you to find that peaceful, substance-free life you imagined. AToN offers you the chance to make yourself whole again.

Holistic Treatment

Perhaps you have tried to quit using substances on your own before. Maybe you have even lived sober for a period of time. However, refraining from drinking or drug use is only treating the symptoms of substance abuse. The reasons for your continued substance use are deeper and need to be addressed before healing can begin.

AToN Center believes in the holistic treatment, which addresses all aspects of your mind, body, and soul. Programs like SMART Recovery are offered which address more than just abstinence from substances. They address the mental, physical, and emotional sources of addiction, and offer a myriad of tools for you to choose from to navigate your own healing process. They give you the tools, you forge your own new path. This holistic and empowering approach gives you the best opportunity for success and can help make you whole.

Comprehensive Healing

Anyone who has ever had a serious illness or disease and then been made whole knows the power of healing. Healing from addiction may differ in that there are no MRIs or tests that show disease or injury. However, if there were, tests would show that addiction impacts our whole lives, mind, body, and soul. Therefore, healing must address all components of our lives, too.

For comprehensive healing to happen, you need to find a group of methods that address your whole being. For example, yoga helps to heal the mind, body, and soul simultaneously. Good nutrition and exercise address the body, but can also heal the mind. Various forms of therapy can heal the mind and the soul. There are so many different methods to choose from. The important part is choosing the things that will specifically help you.

Often the source of our substance use stems from some sort of trauma in our lives. In order for us to be whole, we need to address that trauma and heal from it. If you have childhood trauma or PTSD, you will want specific trauma therapy, which may include the use of a therapeutic technique called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR. If you have suffered grief or loss, you will want to specifically address grief within therapy and find peace and healing. Working with trained, licensed professionals on an individual basis will bring healing and closure.

Turning Weaknesses to Strengths

As you work to heal yourself and learn new skills, you can see your weaknesses become strengths. As you heal the deep underlying pain that inspired your substance use, you have less need to self-medicate or numb the pain. If you have been neglecting your body during substance use, you might find particular joy in regular exercise and healthy eating habits.

Even in sobriety, you will still have cravings from time to time. But because you are now practicing mindfulness meditation, you are able to cope with the cravings and stay true to yourself. When at one point in time, your biggest fear was relapsing, you know have tools and knowledge to prevent relapse. Where there was fear, now you have knowledge. And what once were weaknesses are now strengths.

Finding Balance

One of the keys to the feeling whole is finding balance in your life. In the beginning, you will be juggling a lot of new habits and knowledge. It may even seem a little overwhelming at first. But you can find what works in your life, building your own daily routines and self-care. Finding and maintain balance may seem impossible, but as you heal you will realize that it is not only possible but that you can make it happen for yourself. As you remember the holistic methods of addressing mind, body, and soul, you will find a balance for your own lifestyle. With so many tools at your disposal, you can adapt at any time based on your needs and environment.

Feeling Whole 

When you seek holistic healing for your substance abuse, you can address all levels of your addiction and find healing for pains that may have eaten at you for years. Feeling whole happens when we make daily conscious choices that give us health. When you call AToN Center and begin your healing process, you can actually find that health and peace within you. That image of waking up well-rested with a clear mind in beautiful surroundings is a dream that you can make come true. It’s just a phone call away.

It’s time for you to feel whole again. Call AToN Center at (888) 813-5928 to start your personalized healing process.

How Can I Overcome the Stigma of Addiction?

One of the most unfortunate components that society adds to addiction is the stigma. Despite so many advances in medicine and learning about all facets of addiction, people cling to outdated characterizations and ignorant belief systems that distance them from the people who are struggling with substance abuse. As with all walks of life, when education and compassion replace fear and ignorance, everyone is better off. But how can someone who is struggling with substance abuse overcome the stigma that too often accompanies the conversation about addiction?

History

Unlike many medical issues, the public perception of addiction does not match the actual definition. Throughout history, addiction has been viewed slightly differently based on the culture and the drugs ingested. According to one scientific report on the history of drugs and addiction, in our current society, alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine are all substances that are mainly used by “normal” people, as opposed to illicit “hard drugs.” This perception is flawed, but then again, stigma itself is not based on facts or the scientific method.

While the stigma surrounding those who use recreational or illicit drugs is also similarly perpetuated in the media, addiction to alcohol is not portrayed as “normal,” either. Despite so many advances in acceptance and tolerance, our society still condemns and judges those with addiction far too often. They are portrayed as somehow less than human, yet those who struggle with addiction are everyday “normal” people. They could be a mother, a teacher, our boss, or a celebrity. They could drink alcohol, be addicted to painkillers, or it could be crystal meth. The truth about addiction is that no one is immune, and the drug choice doesn’t matter as much as human suffering.

Transparency

Removing stigma is difficult, but change is possible. One of the best ways is to be transparent about our own addiction to those around us. Do we risk judgment? Yes. Is there discrimination or perhaps other consequences we might face? Perhaps. But none of that will change until more people are willing to speak up about their addiction.

Stigma is a vicious cycle where societal condemnation breeds fear and hiding for those who suffer. The secretive nature of hiding feeds the stigma, which then feeds the condemnation, and so forth. To break this cycle, people need to stand up and stop hiding addiction like it is a dirty secret. By being transparent and showing that we, “normal” people, are suffering from this condition, we can change the vicious narrative that feeds this cycle.

Education

Education is another powerful tool in changing the public perception of addiction. Teaching people that addiction can be both learned and genetic, for example, opens minds to the idea that addiction might not be a moral weakness like many believe it to be. Rather it could happen to a neighbor, a family member, or a religious leader. It could happen to any of us.

By the same token, that friend from school who got straight A’s and was a “model citizen” did not wake up one day and decide it was a good time to shoot heroin. No, it would help perception so much to know that maybe he had an accident and had back surgery, his doctor gave him pain medication, and he became addicted, eventually graduating to heroin.

Educating the public about addiction, the types of substances that are addictive, and that people from all walks of life, economic status, cultures, and more are susceptible to it can help break down the barriers of perception and judgment. Addiction isn’t some media-fueled subhuman with moral weakness. Addiction is you. It’s me. It’s all of us.

Changing the Conversation

Removing shame from our own perception of addiction can help us change the conversation. Being authentic and open and honest with ourselves and with others is how we change perception and discussion about addiction. When we exude confidence rather than shame, it is more difficult for others to put shame on us. We can be an example of someone who is “normal” and also struggles with alcohol and drug use. When we do that, we change the conversation, we change the perception of addiction to something that is also “normal.”

Be the Change

The best way to overcome the stigma of addiction is to overcome addiction by choosing recovery. We can change the way we respond to substances, we can change our thinking and our behaviors. We can change our lives. When we change our lives, others will see the change, and it will, in turn, impact their perception of what addiction is and who it looks like. When we choose healing and recovery, we are a catalyst for change in others. We could affect change in the stigma surrounding addiction, or be an inspiration for someone else to change their lives. Recovery is empowering and could have a lasting impact on more than just our own lives.

Fear of stigma is more crippling than the actual stigma itself. Don’t let fear keep you from changing the conversation around addiction. Overcoming stigma surrounding addiction starts when you choose to make a change. AToN Center is a relaxing and non-judgmental facility in a luxury setting. We are prepared to help you change your own addiction conversation and empower your life and your future.

Be a force in removing the stigma and change your life. Call AToN Center (888) 813-5928 to inspire change.

Putting the “Power” in “Empowerment”

There is a saying that goes “If you keep doing the same things you have always done, you will keep getting the same things you have always gotten.” This applies to our thinking, as well. The thought processes we used which led us to substance abuse will naturally lead us back there unless we are willing to change them and try new ways of thinking and looking at the world. By changing the very way that we think, we are taking back our power. And that will help us to put the power in empowering.

The Power of Recovery

Recovery is more than just becoming sober. Recovery is re-training our minds and our bodies to live in a healthy, more fulfilling, and balanced way. We can do this by educating ourselves, learning new skills, and changing the way that we think. By changing the way that we view ourselves, the world, and addiction, we can be empowered to not only stop our substance use but to live more powerfully and effectively.

The Power of Multiple Modalities

Within recovery there are different methods, or modalities to promote change and healing. The ideal is to have access to as many different methods as possible. This gives the individual the ability to take what works and personalize recovery. When we take such a personally tailored approach to recovery, it increases our chances of success.

Below are a few of the methods available at AToN Center to power a personalized recovery:

  • SMART Recovery is a holistic approach to recovery that uses a 4-point plan to change thoughts and behaviors and embrace positive change to enjoy a healthy and balanced lifestyle with complete abstinence from drugs and alcohol.

 

  • 12-Step Recovery is the traditional recovery program involving 12 defined steps that are largely dependent upon surrender to a higher power in order to overcome addiction in which there are regular meetings and support in the form of a sponsor.

 

  • Individual Therapy helps to talk with a trained professional about the emotions, beliefs, struggles and more during the recovery journey. Because therapists are trained and licensed, they can offer other specific forms of therapy as well, such as CBT, DBT, and EMDR.

 

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a problem-specific, goal-oriented therapy method of changing thought patterns to empower new behaviors and lifestyles. CBT can be used in a group or individual therapy setting.

 

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) focuses more specifically on emotional and social thought processes and behaviors with the goal of achieving balance. DBT may be used in individual or group therapy.

 

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an interactive form of therapy in which traumatic or painful events are reprocessed quickly, allowing healing from childhood trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and more. 

 

  • Mindfulness Meditation is the practice of using relaxation and breathing to achieve focus and develop other mental skills that help us to be present and non-judgmental. Through consistent meditation, resiliency and strength are developed within the mind, which can help decrease cravings.

 

  • Yoga involves breathing and basic meditation while moving the body into specific poses. This practice is powerful for both the body and the mind. More specifically, it has been associated with reduced cravings and better self-regulation along with improved physical health.

Other Recovery Powers

There are many facets to the recovery process, many skills we can learn to empower us. For example, we learn new communication techniques, including techniques to become more assertive. These skills are important as we learn about family dynamics. Many people with addictions to substance began abusing and/or continue to abuse their substances due to family dynamics and dysfunction. When we learn about family dynamics and are equipped with new communication skills, we are empowered to make positive changes in all of our relationships.

Because we are making holistic changes in our thinking and behaviors, a lot of things may come up within recovery. Grief processing helps when emotions come up surrounding a past or recent loss of someone. Grief is often intertwined with substance abuse, as the loss of someone important can lead to drinking or using drugs to cope. However, without even losing a person, many experience grief in recovery due to the loss of their substance use and lifestyle. Processing these powerful experiences and emotions empowers us to shed the weight of grief and move forward.

Last but certainly not least, we can learn about coping with cravings. Once we have completed detoxification, our bodies will still experience powerful cravings. We can learn methods to cope with them so they do not catch us off guard. Likewise, we can learn how to fortify ourselves against relapses. The hard work we do to make holistic changes within our lives should be protected with vigilance against relapse. That is why we are empowered during recovery with education and skills to prevent relapses.

We know where we stand with our lives right now. Continued substance abuse diminishes the power we should have in our lives, and ultimately puts our lives and the lives of others at risk. AToN Center can help you take your life back and empower you to live a more balanced, joyful, and fulfilling life. Discover how to put the power in empowering within your life.

 

AToN Center can help you navigate your life with power. Call (888) 813-5928 today to begin your new journey.

Rising Above Shame

Society is quick to place labels on people. We are judged by people for both things that we do and do not have control over, judgment is never politically correct. Along with judgment comes shame, regret, and remorse, particularly when it comes to alcohol and drug abuse. We can choose to wear the label and live in shame, or we can choose to live our lives authentically and rise above the shame.

Social Stigma

For generations, drug and alcohol use has been portrayed negatively and mercilessly. Think of movies or shows with characters portrayed as useless or “washed up.” These judgments are so ingrained within our society that they are often immediately associated with alcohol or drug use. People are shamed and condemned by implication instead of taken at face value.

The truth is, in the United States, one in eight adults could be labeled as “washed up,” based on the criteria for alcohol use disorder. That would be a lot of “useless” people. So clearly, the stigma related to alcohol abuse is severely antiquated and irrational. Labels do not serve anyone, both those who judge and those who are judged are sold short.  So why do we place so much weight on judgment and stigma?

How We See Ourselves

We cannot control how others see us, but we can control how we see ourselves. It can be frustrating to hear labels and negative words from others. It is difficult if we try to think about what others might be thinking about us. But the only thing that truly matters is what we are thinking about ourselves.

Whatever has happened in our lives in relation to substance use has happened, and we cannot change it, no matter how hard we wish we could. What we can change is who we are and how we behave going forward. We can change what we think about ourselves and what we think about what has happened, and we can change how we view ourselves now based on our past and present. We are the ones who have control over our shame.

What is Shame?

Shame is a label that we give ourselves. The Oxford dictionary defines shame as “a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.” As we become aware that society may view what we have done as wrong or foolish, it causes us pain and humiliation. We might convince ourselves to feel shame.

Sometimes the shame is real. People have said things to us, used labels or even publicly shamed us. But more often than not, it comes from within us. Our fears and inadequacies, coupled with labels and expectations from society, smother us in shame. No matter how reinforced our shame is from the outside, we are the ones in control of whether or not we have shame. We can accept the labels from society, we can choose to wear the label, or we can choose acceptance and peace about who we are.

Living without Labels

There are both positive and negative labels. However, even positive labels can impact us negatively. For example, celebrities and athletes and others in the public eye are often given so many positive labels that it is impossible for them to live up to them. One mistake, one moment of weakness, and it all comes crashing down on them. The unrealistic expectations set us up to fail. On the other side, negative labels often weigh us down, and sometimes we even end up becoming those things.

When we put a value on the labels, then they stick. If we associate the things we see in the entertainment world or social media with our own lives and actions, then we may be labeling ourselves, even subconsciously. However, if we are able to differentiate between society’s voice and our own truths, then it will be easier for us to accept ourselves as is. We can learn to live without labels and be wary of labeling others, too. By doing so, shame has no place for growth and no place in our minds.

Rising Above Shame

We are all human, and as such, will not be perfect anytime soon. Some of our actions and behaviors of the past may have been wrong or hurtful to others. But we do not need to live in shame for our past.

To rise above the shame, we need to learn new ways of thinking and living to ensure we do not repeat our previous mistakes. As we stop using substances and start to heal from addiction, we can become more self-aware and more motivated to live powerfully and successfully. Using tools like therapy, meditation, and more, we can erase the labels and remove the shame from our lives. We can learn new ways of thinking, new ways of looking at ourselves, and empower ourselves to rise above shame. In doing so, we free up our hearts and minds to live more authentically and powerfully and achieve our goals and dreams.

AToN Center is a secluded, judgment-free setting where those who are looking to recover can do so by learning new ways of thinking, finding their own path, and above all to rise above the shame. Leave the labels behind, and free yourself from the unnecessary pain of shame.

Call AToN Center now to begin your journey at (888) 813-5928 to free yourself from shame and forge a new path to well-being.

Finding Balance in Your Life

Keeping a balanced life can be difficult. It becomes even more difficult when substance use begins to interfere with professional life, personal relationships, and more. What may have begun as simply social or fun experiences, as a coping mechanism, a medical necessity, or as an escape from life has taken control of everything else in our lives. Help is difficult to ask for, but when life is so far out of balance, it is time to find the balance again.

First Step to Finding Balance

 The first step in finding balance is to admit that balance is missing in our lives. This can be very difficult. For all of the successes in life, dependency on alcohol or drugs can skew life and draw attention away from our family, relationships, career, and more. People are quick to place labels and judge behaviors, but that does not need to define who we are.

The first step in taking control back and achieving harmony in life is to look in the mirror and see that dependency is pulling us off the path to our success. It is interfering with our relationships and harming those that we love. We can take back our lives, we can find that balance again, but we need medical help to rid ourselves of the dependency, and professional therapeutic help to help us keep that balance.

Cleansing the Body

Chemical dependency can take its toll on the human body. Going through a period to detoxify our bodies and purify them can create the physical foundation for balance and wellness in our lives. In addition to detoxification, our bodies can be further strengthened and balance restored through holistic treatment methods such as massage and acupuncture. These treatments help to improve physical health and balance as well as improving overall balance in our minds as well.

Cleansing the Mind

When chemical dependency pulls our lives out of balance, the mind is impacted both physiologically and emotionally. It becomes necessary to cleanse the mind both in a physical sense of becoming sober and abstaining from substances, and also to cleanse the mind from an emotional standpoint. Looking at why we became dependent in the first place can help us to find the balance we need to stay on our path to success.

Once our bodies are clear of substances, there are many tools available to help us find and achieve balance in our minds. Daily personal therapy helps us to explore our minds and empowers us to find new ways of thinking. Therapists can use effective and proven methods, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(CBT,) biofeedback,  Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR,) and other best practices for recovery. Working with certified and trained professionals will allow us to heal and reach our fullest potential as we seek our own path in life.

Additionally, there are programs such as 12-Step or SMART Recovery programs that help empower us and give us valuable tools as we learn to take control back of our lives and become balanced again. Within these programs, we can personalize our journey and find the methods that work for us as individuals.

Balancing the Body

As important as it is to cleanse our bodies, it is also important to allow them and find positive outlets that will help maintain balance. This can include playing sports, swimming, working out in the gym, doing yoga, or many other activities. While recovering from substance use, moving our bodies and using them regularly helps us renew or create new physical habits and discipline which in turn creates harmony in our lives.

What we put into our bodies determines what we are able to do with our bodies. Eating healthy is an important component of achieving balance. Eating well-proportioned, balanced, regular meals allows our bodies to heal and to be more productive. Combined with physical exercise, good nutrition allows our bodies to support what we want to achieve mentally and emotionally.

When our minds are cleansed of substances and medical and therapeutic methods are facilitating our healing, we can achieve new levels of balance in our mind through practices such as meditation. When we meditate, we learn to balance our thoughts, negative and positive. We learn to be centered and live in the present. This helps us to achieve an emotional and mental balance that supports happiness and success in all areas of our lives.

We can rise above stereotypes and labels and still acknowledge that our lives are not in our control. When substance use has impacted or taken precedence over the most important aspects of our lives, such as family, relationships, and career, then it is time for us to be strong and ask for help. That balance we seek is possible once again, but it is not something we can achieve without professional help from medical experts, or we would have already found it on our own. In order for us to restore harmony in our lives, we must first be willing to acknowledge that we need that help.

The AToN Center is committed to helping you find balance again in your life. With a staff of caring and qualified professionals in our private and luxurious settings, we offer a personalized and holistic approach to recovery from alcohol or drug addiction.

 

Don’t wait another day to achieve the balance you crave in your life. Call AToN Center at (888) 813-5928 to change your life today.

 

The Importance of a Good Drug Counselor

The Importance of a Good Drug CounselorDrug counselors, like the ones at our San Diego rehab are a critical part of a healthy recovery process. A skilled and caring drug counselor, partnered with doctors, nurses, and psychologists specializing in addiction, can make the difference between a stay in detox and a lifelong recovery. People don’t suffer from addiction in a vacuum. Life throws us curveballs, trauma, and a million other challenges. A personal, caring counselor can be the difference between relapse and developing the skills to overcome life’s challenges.

Detox Vs. Recovery

Drugs and alcohol can hijack our brain, making us dependent on these substances to feel normal. As we wean ourselves off these chemicals, we experience cravings and withdrawal symptoms as our brains expect the next dose. Detox is simply the process of clearing our system of these drugs. Depending on the length and severity of the addiction, and what drugs were involved, detox can involve days or weeks of flushing out the chemicals in our body. Usually, symptoms are most severe at the start of the detox and tend to lessen as your brain returns to normalcy. For certain addictions, there are medications such as suboxone that can reduce the withdrawal symptoms. Detox on its own can have high relapse rates, but the addition of counseling makes a significant improvement.

Recovery and counseling mean healing the core of the sickness. Addiction is often preceded by deep-rooted trauma, anxiety, depression, or negative home life. Going through detox and coming back to the same environment is like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. A skilled drug counselor specializes in helping people develop the skills to overcome the causes of their addiction, rather than the symptoms.

The Benefits of Substance Abuse Counseling

Substance abuse counseling focuses on improving the skills that are damaged by addiction and developing the tools you need to overcome addiction in the future. Therapies that focus on improving your own resilience to drugs and alcohol, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), are a strong foundation for recovery. Through CBT a good addiction counselor can help you understand how to read the signs your body gives you, from cravings to stress and anxiety. Using specific techniques, a good addiction counselor can walk you through how to mitigate those negative emotions and focus on feeling better naturally, without drugs or alcohol.

An addiction counselor can also be an invaluable partner in helping you overcome the social barriers that can lead to, or result from, addiction. Many of us lose connection with important friends, family, and loved ones because of trauma, addiction, or the business of life. After understanding your circumstances, a substance abuse counselor can also recommend family therapy to overcome the tension between loved ones, or one-on-one therapy to help you feel more confident and in control.

Finding the Right Substance Abuse Counselor

If you’re looking for drug and alcohol recovery services in the San Diego area, AToN has several skilled and compassionate staff who makes it their life goal to guide you through recovery. We’ve seen fathers, mothers, and their children go through the recovery journey together. Addiction can affect even the most hardworking, determined, and loving people. That’s why we focus on partnering you with a good addiction counselor who can walk you through the healing process while strengthening your bond with those most important to you. Call us at (888) 236-4454 to learn more.

Changes in Ourselves from Day One to One Year

Changes in Ourselves from Day One to One YearIn any aspect of life it might be difficult to measure the changes we make from day to day. That’s why we should always take stock of our progress from day one to year one. If we start working out today, we might not notice a change in our weight or muscle definition the next day, or even the next week. As we continue to work harder, and focus on maintaining healthy habits, however, we start noticing positive changes creeping up on us. These changes slip past us in the day to day, until suddenly you look in the mirror and go “Woah! That’s who I am now?” When overcoming addiction, we often have to go through the same process. The goal is to look back at who we were a year ago, not who we were yesterday.

Recovery is 1 Day at a Time

The unfortunate truth is we have to start the recovery process on Day 1. Just like we can’t learn Mandarin or French in an hour, we can’t overcome an addiction in a single day of abstinence. It’s a steady, linear change within us. Author of Atomic Habits, James Clear, explains it best. He says the most important changes you can make each day are to improve small, daily habits. There are nearly 370 days a year, so if you improve yourself just 1% each day, then by the end of the year you’ll be 3.7 times better at whatever you were practicing.

Can’t Change Ourselves Overnight

The formation of habits can be undermined by our own unrealistic expectations. Too often, we set ourselves up for failure by trying to do too much, too quickly, with too few resources. We try to go from being sedentary to running a marathon at 5 AM every day. We try to go from a pack-a-day to completely cold turkey overnight. This barrier to entry makes it difficult to practice a healthy habit from day to day long enough to make it a part of our identity. A professional recovery provider like AToN can be fundamental for reducing the barrier to entry by making the process simpler, and better orchestrated as well.

Innovate Yourself for Stronger Goals

Your identity is a major part of your day-to-day improvement. Your goals often reflect that identity. Saying we’re a smoker makes it more likely to revert to that bad behavior. If we were to say “I’m not a smoker” out loud every time we reached for a cigarette, it would build a barrier of resistance from smoking. In this scenario, smoking goes from being a simple, easy task to suddenly being an ordeal. We have to lie to ourselves every time we smoke, and that makes smoking less appealing. Practice saying positive affirmations every morning as you wake up. This can help you solidify your revamped identity, whether it’s as a “non-smoker” or an “early riser” or whatever your goals might be.

One Year From Now

If progress on a healthy behavior feels slow or doesn’t seem to be progressing—just remember. The goal isn’t to be sober or healthy one day from now. The goal is to be sober one year from now, and one year from then.

September is Recovery Month

2018 Recovery MonthHaving a Life of Purpose

Our values in life are the things that we hold most dear and have the most meaning in our lives. Without values our lives lack any form of significance. However, when we live in accordance with our values our thinking, choices and decision making will align with our actions.

Some of our core values include:

  • Dependability – the quality of being able to be trusted and being willing to do what others expect of us.
  • Reliability – the quality of being trustworthy and performing consistently well.
  • Loyalty – is someone who is loyal and trustworthy. They are the type of person that will be there for you at any time or any place. Loyalty also includes fidelity and faithfulness.
  • Commitment – involves dedicating yourself to something or someone. It can also be an obligation.
  • Open-mindedness – is a willingness to consider new ideas without prejudice.
  • Consistency – the ability to remain the same in behavior, attitudes or qualities.
  • Honesty – if you tell the truth you possess the quality of honesty
  • Efficiency – the quality of being able to do a task successfully without wasting time or energy.

Addiction takes us away from our values. When we are in the throes of our addiction, nothing is more important to us than getting our next fix or drink. We become self-absorbed and honesty along with our other values goes out of the window.

As our addiction progresses, we drift further and further away from the things we hold most dear. We do and say things that go against everything that we once believed in and the more pain we cause the more unhappiness, regret, guilt and shame we carry around with us. So what do we do? We continue to use so that we don’t have to face our feelings.

When we have a moment of clarity, we start to see how our values and personal goals have been undermined by our addiction and the desire to make changes and try something different starts to increase.

When we work in accordance with our values, success in recovery also increases and when our actions are in alignment with our values, we do better and we feel better about ourselves. However, we must not get complacent because keeping in conscious contact with our values is a lifelong practice.

Recovery is also about investing in healthy lifestyle habits

Staying active is a huge part of recovery as it helps our physical and mental well-being. Some activities might include:

  • Hiking
  • Swimming
  • Cycling
  • Surfing
  • Jogging
  • Walking
  • Working out at the gym
  • Tennis
  • Yoga
  • Acupuncture
  • Meditation
  • Massage

Remember to start slowly and don’t overdo it in the being.

Eating healthy

Some useful tips include:

  • Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
  • Make half the grains you eat whole grain
  • Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk
  • Choose a variety of lean protein food
  • Compare sodium in foods
  • Drink water instead of sugary drinks
  • Cut back on solid fats

Get enough sleep

When you don’t get enough sleep you are depriving your body and this means that you’re starting your day on a deficit. Seven to eight hours of sleep is recommended for most adults.

Proper sleeping habits are necessary for a healthy life. Here are a few helpful suggestions:

  • Avoid napping during the day.
  • Avoid coffee at least 6 hours before going to bed.
  • Avoid alcohol, nicotine and street drugs.
  • Don’t eat a heavy meal before going to bed.
  • Don’t watch TV that will over stimulate your mind.
  • Keep your room dark and have minimal noise in your room.
  • Go to bed at the same time each night.
  • Use some form of relaxation method to help calm you.
  • Take a warm bath.
  • Don’t over exercise just before going to bed as your body needs time to wind down and relax.
  • If you’re having trouble falling asleep or if you wake up in the night, don’t lie in bed thinking about other things or worrying that you can’t sleep, because this will only make you more agitated; get up and do something relaxing until you feel tired enough to go back to sleep.
  • If you sleep problems persist consult a medical professional for help.

Develop new hobbies

In early recovery it is important to change up your routine, so developing new interests or hobbies is essential. Here are a few ideas:

  • Join a gym
  • Take an art class
  • Go back to school
  • Take up photography
  • Learn a musical instrument
  • Go hiking
  • Take a cooking class
  • Volunteer your time

By developing new interests it not only gets you out of the house, but it also takes the focus off your problems and you get to learn something new.

Spirituality

Another healthy habit is getting in touch with your spiritual side and this can include:

  • Meditation
  • Yoga
  • Buddhism
  • Mindfulness
  • Breathwork
  • Walks in nature
  • Listening to music

Self-help and recovery support groups

Recovery from alcohol and addiction is an ongoing event and support and self/help groups are essential. These groups provide a sense of connectedness with like-minded individuals from your community.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) www.aa.org

The original self-help meeting was an AA meeting and it was founded in 1935 by a stockbroker named Bill W. and a physician named Dr. Bob. Together they found sobriety by sharing their stories with one another. Today the AA meetings still follow that same format and members continue to share their stories of strength and hope. Connecting with other people who know first-hand what others are going through can help reduce fear, isolation and hopelessness. Meetings are free and there is no membership requirements attendance is limited to people who want to stop using alcohol.

Al-Anon/ALATEEN www.al-anon.org

Al-Anon or Alateen offers hope and strength to families and friends affected by alcoholism.

Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) www.adultchildren.org

Adult Children of Alcoholics is also a 12 Step program for people who grew up in an alcoholic or dysfunctional home.

Cocaine Anonymous (CA) www.ca.org.

Is a 12 Step program for people struggle with cocaine addiction.

Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) www.crystalmeth.org

Is a 12 Step program for people struggle with cocaine addiction.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) www.na.org

Is a 12 Step program for people struggle with drug addiction.

Nar-Anon Family Groups (Nar-Anon) www.nar-anon.org

Nar-Anon is a 12 Step program offers hope and strength to families and friends affected by alcoholism.

SMART Recovery www.smartrecovery.org

SMART Recovery holds face-to-face meetings around the world, and daily online meetings. It also has online message board and 24/7 chat room where you can learn more about SMART Recovery and obtain addiction recovery support. SMART Recovery helps people recover from all types of addictive behaviors, including: alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling addiction, cocaine
addiction, and other forms of addiction.

Refuge Recover https://refugerecovery.org/

Refuge Recovery is a non-profit organization grounded in the belief that Buddhist principles and practices create a strong foundation for a path to freedom from addiction. It believes that all individuals have the power and potential to free themselves from the suffering that is caused by addiction. Refuge Recovery is independent from any other organization or individual and recognizes Noah Levine, the author of the book Refuge Recovery, as one of its founders.

LifeRing Secular Recovery https://lifering.org/

LifeRing Secular Recovery is a secular, non-profit organization, providing peer-run addiction recovery groups. The organization provides support and assistance to people seeking recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. It also assists partners, family members and friends of those in recovery to have a supportive environment.

It is up to you which type of self-help meeting you choose as each one brings its own special qualities. However, it is a well-known fact that active involvement in a support group significantly improves the chances of staying sober.

Facebook – Help for Addiction & Opioid Crisis

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Facebook will begin redirecting vulnerable people to a federal crisis helpline information Facebook will begin redirecting vulnerable people to a federal crisis helpline information site when they search for treatment facilities or inquire about purchasing opioids illegally on the website.

The FDA is holding a summit next week about engaging tech companies, such as Twitter, Google, and Facebook, so they become better allies in fighting against the opioid epidemic. Facebook announced this plan one week before the summit convenes.

A representative said this new feature is the result of months of work by a special policy committee. Facebook said it put together this task force long before the government pushed for tech to assume greater responsibility in curbing the opioid crisis.

The redirect feature is set to go live early next week. They’re hoping the feature will capitalize on people during vulnerable moments and guide them to a helpful resource.

AToN supports this proactive measure by Facebook. Anytime companies and the government seek to help and treat, rather than punish or stigmatize, people are empowered to seek treatment. During a moment of vulnerability and motivation, perhaps the conditions will be right for people to follow through and call the helpline. It is a little concerning that the helpline is associated with the federal government, as people may have a mistrust of the government already due to legal issues or because they are not recognized citizens. Hopefully the government can truly be helpful in the situation and merely offer nonjudgmental and supportive resources.

Speaking of which… we also have nonjudgmental, trained intake representatives answering the phone when you call. We can answer your questions and point you in the right direction.

Sarah Zucker, Psy.D.
Psychologist,
AToN Center 888-535-1516

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