sober lifestyle

Finding Freedom In Sobriety

May 20, 2018 // by Aton Center

Early recovery over 30 days at a residential treatment center like ours, affords the individual the structure, guidance and practice to regain their personal freedom.

Virginia Woolf spoke to the topic of freedom, “To enjoy freedom we have to control ourselves”. 12 Step and SMART recovery programs help the individual make positive, healthy, safe choices. In effect, the recovering individual learns how to cope with cravings, monitor their thinking and take responsibility for their actions. In short, sobriety helps the individual to take back control of their lives and to enjoy this new found freedom.

Chris McDuffie, MA RRW
Chemical Dependency Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Balance Your Life

March 28, 2018 // by Aton Center

One of the six foundations of recovery as taught at AToN Center is to Balance Your Life. Having balance and a healthy lifestyle includes having fun! Whether it be a creative outlet, the great outdoors, playing sports or just hanging out with friends, many people in recovery find it helpful to develop (or rediscover) hobbies.

It’s natural to consider the activities that you liked prior to recovery, although for many people these activities are laden with triggers due to being tainted by previously participating in the activity while using. Often it is difficult to un-pair these associations.

We make it a point at AToN Center to help residents begin to have fun again without substance use. We do so by incorporating play/fun into our program via hiking, paddle boarding, bowling, mini-golf, the zoo, playing music (Rock To Recovery), playing games like ping pong, and many other outings and activities.

Often the key to actually having fun is to participate in activities you enjoy with like-minded people. Many individuals who love music and concerts often have strong associations with drinking and drugging while they saw live music in the past. In fact, for many bands and music festivals there is a well-known culture that normalizes excessive drinking and drugging. These types of events are particularly difficult for those in recovery because there is such an emphasis on drugs and alcohol. For the newly sober, and even the more seasoned, a music festival would be a high-risk activity. It is good to know that recently there is more of a sober presence at music festivals such as Bonnaroo and even at Phish shows!

There’s even a growing sober club scene! These exciting opportunities do not completely negate the risk involved in these activities but they provide support for those who do want to participate. Find more on sober clubbing here.

Dr. Sanders
Program Director
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Tips for Staying Sober During the Holidays

November 28, 2017 // by Aton Center

One of the joyous aspects about recovery is that you get to redesign your life in a way that beings you the most peace and happiness. The holiday season can throw a lot of wrenches into the works and we want you to be as prepared as possible!

Remember why you decided you wanted to make this change – and focus how you can make your holidays even better now with this new life of yours. Here are some tips to help you through:

Remember that you are creating new traditions! Scour the internet for local sober events and get some supportive friends and family to go with you. Make enjoyable sober plans and focus on what you can do. You may be surprised at how much fun you will have!
Limit stress as much as possible! This includes not only maintaining a healthy routine, but also taking care of yourself by saying “no” to stressful friends and family.
You don’t have to attend every event that you are invited to. Be careful in deciding which events you will attend – often the barrage of invitations is stressful enough. Be choosy and go to the events that you will be sorry you missed out on! It’s also important to have the means to get home and an exit plan if you find yourself in a sticky situation.
If you are attending an event where there will be drinking, you may consider having a sober buddy come along with you. It also helps to have a non-alcoholic drink in your hand already so people don’t continuously offer you a drink. Have nonjudgmental, but firm “refusal statements” ready to go as to why you are not drinking (if someone is pushing it). It may also help to “bookend” events, meaning you can go to a meeting before and after an event if you feel you need the extra support.
Speaking of drinks – find a new favorite nonalcoholic drink – there are so many to choose from! Feel free to bring your own beverage to events.
Get into the habit of checking in with yourself about your relapse warning signs on a daily basis. We all know that there is a point of no return, the goal is to catch yourself before you get there. Don’t feel like you are “failing” or “weak” if you are having relapse warning signs. Be honest with yourself and use them as feedback to help you make healthy changes and get back on the right track.
If you are traveling, know what meetings are available in the area beforehand and make plans to attend, regardless of whether you feel you need it or not. The extra support when you are out of your comfort zone can make all the difference!
Finally, think about how you will feel when you’ve navigated such a hazardous time of year!

Happy Holidays from all of us at AToN Center!

Cassandra Cannon, Ph.D.
Clinical Director
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Sometimes It’s The Small Things

November 25, 2017 // by Aton Center

Often times, treatment for substance and alcohol abuse can focus on big picture issues. This can include working on a marriage strained under the pressures of addiction, the need to change an unsustainable work environment, deciding that one can no longer stay sober and live in their home, and many others. These issues are very important and need their due attention, but at times, one may take comfort in focusing on the small things:

This can mean stopping everything for a cup of tea.

This can mean calling an old friend and making them laugh.

This can mean listening to your favorite song or album, laying on the carpet and breathing deeply, or doing a few minutes of yoga.

Though they may seem small, these brief moments of respite can offer you just enough grace to make it through the challenges that are presented and have one more sober day.

Chad K. Cox PsyD

AToN Center 888-535-1516

Learning Something New

November 11, 2017 // by Aton Center

Many times people in their addiction stay stuck in the cycle of believing, despite ample evidence to the contrary, that things are going well or at least aren’t going that bad. Staying stuck in original or pre-programmed thinking can further exasperate ongoing problems and leave one in a maladaptive position for environmental and social changes. Stubbornly adhering to previous dogma can be eminently enticing.

That being said entering into recovery means stepping outside of previous knowledge and embracing the big “I don’t know.” In allowing one’s self to push aside previous biases and see the world through new a new prism is where recovery starts. Admitting to one’s self that you don’t know everything can be humbling but will open the doors to new wisdom.

Take a minute, take a breath, relax and open your ears to new ideas. It could just save your life.

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

Sobriety Through the Holiday Season

November 10, 2017 // by Aton Center

The holiday season can be fraught with pitfalls and anxiety for the newly sober person. Suddenly holidays may seem depressing or even frightening. “How do I go to my holiday work party and stay sober?” “How do I spend time with my family??” “What do I do on New Years???” Suddenly it becomes much more clear that the majority of holidays cater to the non-sober crowd. Suddenly the way you celebrate holidays has to change drastically (and in many cases – it must – if you want to live to see more holidays).

At first, this can seem like a major “con” on your “pros/cons” list for sobriety. But remember this. A night without drinking and using may mean that you can wake up the next day without a hangover, without shame or guilt, without trying to piece together what happened the night before. Over time, you will realize that you are actually not “missing out” by choosing a sober lifestyle.

Develop your own sober strategies, but here are a few to get you started: have a glass of something non-alcoholic in your hand, bring a sober friend with you, and remind yourself how good you will feel the next day. Begin creating new holiday traditions that bring you joy, and you will find that you will no longer wonder how to manage the holidays sober – you will look forward to them!

Cassandra Cannon, Ph.D
Licensed Clinical Psychologist – Clinical Director
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Food for the Soul

January 28, 2017 // by Aton Center

Sometimes we can look at addiction from the perspective of feeding something that is in us, a need, a desire, a craving… Learning to feed ourselves in a way that is nourishing and healthy can be a difficult task in sobriety.

Feeding the Soul is a good place to begin…

There are two types of food for the soul that help many people in recovery and other communities.

First, understanding for our warped mind. Reading recovery literature and learning recovery tools can be a way of feeding the mind in an area that we have been starving.

Second, incorporating a practice of prayer and meditation. In this sense a way of asking and receiving that in which we have been neglecting can help us to find meaning and purpose in our lives. Both of these methods can soothe many of the uncomfortable challenges ahead in our recovery journey.

Live for today, feed the soul, sobriety is possible!

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

Building Sober Relationships

October 20, 2016 // by Aton Center

At AToN, we tend to get quite a few “first timers” in treatment. Many of these first timers come face to face with many new realizations as they begin their recovery. One major challenge facing many is seriously examining your social circle and identifying who will be an asset to you as you take on this new life.

It’s not uncommon for the realization that this list is a very short list – and this often leaves people feeling hopeless. AToN hopes to assist you in creating a new social network that is supportive of the life changes you are making. While at AToN Center, you will have the opportunity to attend small groups on a daily basis with people who are battling many similar issues that you are – you will have the opportunity to create a new “team” in your life!

You also will have the option to attend differing types of meetings in the community – SMART Recovery, Refuge Recovery and 12 Step meetings are regularly offered. AToN also has a Aftercare Group which meets on Saturdays. These AToN Alumni are happy, fun and wise. Who doesn’t want people like that in their corner? AToN also offers quarterly events for Alumni – and AToN Staff attends as well. The next event is a 6K (http://heroesinrecovery.com/heroes6k/san-diego-ca/) where you will be able to bond with others in recovery – all for a good cause!

If you are looking to begin a new chapter in your life, please contact us! If you are an Alumnus – please join us on November 12th for the Heroes In Recovery 6k!

Dr. Cannon
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

Finding Freedom In Sobriety

January 10, 2016 // by Aton Center

Those suffering from addiction find many, many befits from early sobriety. One of those immediate benefits is regaining their personal freedom. It occurs to those who attend treatment at AToN Center that their drug or alcohol abuse actually made them feel sadder, more depressed, more anxious and more isolated. Early recovery over 30 days at a residential treatment center like ours, affords the individual the structure, guidance and practice to regain their personal freedom.

Chris McDuffie, MA RRW
Chemical Dependency Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

The Joint Commission

Affiliations

Licensure and Certification

AToN Center – Proud Supporter

Drug and Alcohol Treatment for Men and Women