balanced living

Balance Your Life, AToN’s 5th Foundation

May 15, 2018 // by Aton Center

We can strive for balance, looking for middle ground.

We need balance between work and play, between thinking and feeling, between giving and receiving. Caring for our physical health and our spiritual health.

A balanced life looks like paying attention to both professional life and personal life. There are times when we may have to put more effort in at work when the load tends to grow. And when our relationships need more nurturing we may need to place more energy in the direction of our friends and families, as to not lose sight of what is important at home as well.

When we rediscover our values in recovery it is important to make time to create balance.

Whether it’s recovery time, friends, work, love, fitness, playtime, family, education, spiritual time or alone time. Making time to give attention to our needs is important to have balance.

If we get out of balance we will know, we will usually feel it, and can seek within to have guidance to get back to center.

Kristin Colton CADC II, CATC II
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Poem About A Healthy Balanced Trinity

April 16, 2018 // by Aton Center

Who’s this “we” that will rescue me

From beneath this deep dark sea

Not God nor Buddha will help me be

To bring me back to sanity

No, God or Buddha please let me be

I need more time beneath the sea

To find my way to restore me

A healthy, balanced, trinity.

Chris McDuffie, MA CADCII
Chemical Dependency Counselor
AToN Center 888-535.1516

Published from The Fix.

Balance in Life and Recovery

January 20, 2018 // by Aton Center

Trying to keep balance in our lives can be difficult because our priorities are always changing. Your life is balanced if you have a feeling of accomplishment and happiness at the end of each day. This means you are handling your life and you don’t feel pulled in too many different directions.

Having healthy boundaries is essential, and being to say No, when necessary, is essential. We can’t accomplish everything that we want to do in one day, so setting priorities and cutting down on unnecessary tasks helps us to maintain balance. Realizing that you are not a superhero and that you have limitations is also important. We can’t give a 100% of our time and energy to seven different projects all at once, and often less is more.

If you are feeling that you are being pulled too much in one direction try these steps to get back in balance.

Take time to look at your state of mind and how you are really feeling.
Are you eating, exercising and sleeping regularly?
Make a list of daily, weekly and monthly tasks and set a schedule to achieve these goals.
What positive things do you say to yourself to stop self-sabotaging yourself?
What keeps you motivated? Find someone to keep you motivated when you are struggling with your demons.
Disconnect for the weekend and give your brain a rest.
Trim down your schedule if you are feeling overwhelmed.
Focus on life not work.
Avoid burnout, working 60+ hours a week is not healthy.
Seek out a role model.
Pay attention to your health.
Minimize toxic people in your life.
Spend time alone meditating, drawing, doing yoga or just simply relaxing.
Set aside quality time for family and friends.
Treat yourself to something enjoyable, facial, pedicure, movies or a nice dinner.
Take a vacation and explore the states or other countries if you can.
Expand your awareness, go back to school or take a fun class.
Simplify your life.

Laugh, joke, play and have a sense of humor because life is short.

Johnina Noar, CADC-II
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Breathwork is an Active Breathing Practice

December 12, 2017 // by Aton Center

Breathwork is an Active Breathing Practice used for healing stuck energy by moving the breath through physical, emotional or spiritual challenges. It is an ancient eastern breathing meditation that is absolutely mind blowing. The breath bypasses the intellect and takes you on a journey where you are able to experience deep profound transformations.

Addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, shame, and lack of self-love are some of the many challenges that can be shifted and healed with Breathwork.

We are offering group and individual Breathwork sessions at AToN Center and seeing our residents emerging into their true authentic selves.

Kristin Colton, CATC II
Chemical Dependency Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome

November 27, 2017 // by Aton Center

When residents enter into treatment, often they fear the physical withdrawal symptoms and forget about the emotional and psychological withdrawal symptoms that can make long-term sobriety so difficult.

These emotional and psychological symptoms comprise the second stage of withdrawal, called “Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome” or P.A.W.S. There is no set length of time that these symptoms may linger. It depends on variables such as age, length and type of substance misuse, environment, and recovery program.

Post Acute Withdrawal symptoms may include the following:

Lethargy
Anhedonia
Emotional Lability
Stress Sensitivity
Memory Problems
Sleep Disturbances
Physical Coordination Problems

At AToN Center, we teach you how to manage P.A.W.S symptoms by providing recovery study groups, mindfulness exercises and developing healthy habits with emphasis on the following:

Stabilization and Awareness (Mindfulness)
Nutrition
Exercise
Relaxation
Spirituality
Balanced Living

While there is no short- term “cure” for Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome, AToN Center focuses on developing the ability to accept and manage the uncomfortable symptoms. Recovery from addiction is a process that requires learning new coping skills and developing a healthy support group to be maintained long after leaving AToN Center.

Kate Judd M.S., CADC-II
CD Counselor

AToN Center 888-525-1516

CD Counselor

Work Towards Balance in your Life

April 5, 2017 // by Aton Center

So often we tend to go either all in, or all out. All work, no play. All fun, and avoidance of responsibility. Selfishness or selflessness. Moderation is the ability to avoid excess or extremes, either in views or behaviors. Some people might feel like they can’t moderate, it’s just not in their blood.

But what would life be like with complete balance? How would that feel different emotionally, physically, or even spiritually?

Sometimes it can be helpful just to practice!

What makes your life out of balance? What is being neglected? Is it family, your exercise time, a sense of productivity, or alone time? Choose one area you would like to work on, and then ask yourself: what is one thing that you can do to attend more greatly to that area?

Is there something that you need to cut back on in order to free up that time to spend on something more meaningful? Then, try it out! Take that step and just see what happens.

Dr. Kirsten Helgager
AToN Center Psychologist
888-535-1516

4 Useful Steps for Lowering Anxiety

February 23, 2017 // by Aton Center

It may appear difficult to change. For the suffering addict, change is paramount to survival. The following four concepts help to remain calm during times of anxiety. These steps are particularly useful while changing behavior and may even prevent relapse. Those working on their sobriety are encouraged to use these tools to help combat triggers, cravings and personal stressors. Dr. John P. Forsyth and Dr. Georg Eifert’s work, The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety offers substantial help in managing stress and anxiety while practicing and sustaining recovery.

Let’s review Forsyth and Eifert’s work on reducing anxiety and stress while in the recovery process. Following these four simple steps can help when detoxing or preventing relapse:

1. The Observing Self: The individual attempts to extricate himself/herself from irrational, unfair, dishonest and distorted thinking.

2. Thoughts: The individual examines his/her current thoughts to examine if they are positive, negative, helpful or detrimental to staying sober.

3. Actions: The individual observes his/her current thoughts – staying in the moment – to ensure making a positive, safe choice as though “pausing to think” before relapsing.

4. Feels: The individual strategically examines his/her physical sensations, stress level, breathing patterns and cravings at the present moment.

The goal of this exercise is to ensure positive, rational decision-making. The individual is urged to remain mindful while practicing these helpful steps. Asking for help from a therapist or counselor is highly encouraged.

Chris McDuffie

CD Counselor

AToN Center 888-535-1516

CELEBRATE SOBER!

January 29, 2016 // by Aton Center

Sometimes when I am leading a group with the residents at AToN Center we talk about the triggering situation of going to parties while being sober. Learning to be sober means learning how to enjoy celebrations without having to rely on substances and alcohol to be the fun. There are a multitude of coping skills a person could use in these situations. One is focusing on the people. Rather than paying attention to the drinks, try to have conversations with as many people as you can while you are there.

If you struggle with new acquaintances then practice your small talk. Find gentle, innocuous topics you can refer to such as who they know at the party or what they think of the food. Walking around with a non-alcoholic drink in your hand will also prevent other people from wanting to promptly offer you a drink. Also remember, have fun at the activity and remember that tomorrow morning is coming and you have a chance to be fresh and sober for the next day.

Chad K. Cox PsyD
AToN Center 888-535-1516

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