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How do you view food? Are you someone who is constantly on the go and just grabs whatever is quick and convenient? Maybe you’re someone who carefully plans each and every meal and prepares ahead of time when possible. Or, maybe you are somebody who tries your best to eat a healthy and balanced diet but occasionally gives in to cravings for brownies or junk food from time to time.

Establishing and maintaining a healthy relationship with food is important to your health. Sure, treating yourself on occasion is absolutely alright. Sometimes, tough times or stress can distract us from prioritizing healthy eating. However, consuming a balanced and healthy diet is essential to good mental and physical health and can aid in addiction recovery.

Addiction and Appetite

Addiction can impact your appetite and the way you eat. Some people find themselves eating very little while they are struggling with substance use disorder (SUD). Food becomes a lesser priority than drugs or alcohol and can often be pushed aside or forgotten. Others may find themselves consuming way too much food or all the wrong types of food during their addiction. Certain substances can encourage you to eat more while others can suppress your appetite leading you to eat less or not enough.

Whether your addiction is to benzos, heroin, or other substances, you are likely to possess some poor eating habits. This being the case, you may find yourself either gaining weight or losing weight during the treatment process. During treatment, your body has the opportunity to heal as it learns to function again without drugs or alcohol. By removing these toxins, your body can reset and begin to absorb the benefits of eating good, nutritious food again.

Food should serve as a source of energy, nutrition, and fuel for everyday functioning. You will see and feel your body change as you start to incorporate healthy foods in healthy amounts into your diet. You will sleep better, have better focus, and feel better overall.

Food and You

So, how do you establish a good relationship with food? This can certainly be easier said than done, especially after developing poor habits as a result of your addiction. It’s important to change your perspective on food. Whether you viewed food as an obligation to survive or eagerly awaited each meal, allowing food to serve as a motivator or comfort, it’s time to change how you view it.

As previously stated, food should serve as fuel for your body. In order to utilize food for its intended purpose, you must select the correct foods to ensure you are getting proper nutrition. When you adjust your perspective to consider food as something that should be working for you and not against you, you can begin to alter what you choose to put in your body and the portions you choose to consume.

It’s important to acknowledge when you’re full. It is equally important to acknowledge when you’re hungry. Learning to listen to your body and its cues can help in creating a healthy relationship with food. Our body has a way of communicating with us and letting us know what it needs. By cleansing your body of substances, you are better able to identify these cues, and your body can clearly communicate them.

Organic Eating

You have probably heard the hype about choosing organic foods. There’s hype around this topic for a good reason. Organic foods are free of pesticides and harmful chemicals that often exist in non-organic foods and are often more nutrient-dense and ethically grown.

Organic eating can be more simple than you might think. Growing your own organic produce and herbs could be a great way to ensure you always have a selection easily accessible and available to you. Here at Enlightened Recovery, we grow our own local produce at our farm to create a menu full of nutritious and healthy meals for our clients. We understand the value of eating well and want to share that with those in our care.

In what ways could you change your relationship with food during recovery? Here are a few key takeaways:

View food as fuel
Listen to your body
Choose organic

By keeping these tips in mind, you can successfully change your viewpoint and perspective on food and will be able to make better decisions when it comes to what you put into your body. Healthy eating is essential to your wellness and can support your efforts to maintain good health throughout treatment and addiction recovery.

Food should serve as fuel for your body, providing essential vitamins and nutrients for good health and optimal functioning. Addiction to drugs or alcohol can cause you to develop unhealthy eating habits. At Enlightened Recovery, we prioritize healthy and organic eating and incorporate this value into our treatment program. At our farm, we grow organic produce and herbs that you as a resident can take part in. You will learn about the growing process, participate in giving back to the community, and come to understand how good nutrition can support you in healing your body and mind after battling substance abuse. If you or someone you care about could benefit from our holistic approach to treatment, please reach out. We would love to help you heal mentally, physically, and spiritually and live the life you deserve free of drugs and alcohol. Call Enlightened Recovery today at (833) 801-LIVE.

Trauma is an emotional response to an occurrence that had abundant negative impacts on someone’s life. Examples of trauma could include an accident, assault, natural disaster, and more. There are various types of trauma, and trauma may be perceived and experienced differently by different people.

Trauma is often something people would prefer not to talk about. In the past, it may have been a little stigmatized, implying that discussing your trauma was a sign of weakness. Today, society seems to be embracing the importance of acknowledging and processing trauma as it relates to healing and overall health.

Opening up about trauma can be very difficult. Usually, traumatic events are something people may prefer to avoid thinking or talking about as they can bring up terrible memories. However, trauma that is left unresolved or unprocessed can present issues in all areas of life. Just because you aren’t talking about it doesn’t mean you don’t still think about it, whether it is through conscious thoughts or not. Sometimes, trauma creeps up and affects areas of functioning without you even realizing it. Trauma can impact relationships, affect productivity, and lead to substance use.

Trauma and Addiction

It has been found that trauma and substance abuse can be closely related. For example, many who have experienced trauma in their life turn to using drugs or alcohol to cope with thoughts and feelings relating to their trauma. They may use it as an escape or distraction to avoid thinking about or focusing on unpleasant events of the past.

As mentioned by Lamya Khoury, Yilang L Tang, Bekh Bradley, Joe F Cubells, and Kerry J Ressler in their 2010 article that appears in the Depression and Anxiety journal, “Early traumatic experience may increase risk of substance use disorders (SUDs) because of attempts to self-medicate or to dampen mood symptoms associated with a dysregulated biological stress response.” This can often be what jump-starts addiction. When you realize that something helps take your mind off thoughts or feelings that can be really negative and consuming, you’re inclined to continue seeking that remedy.

On the other hand, those who use substances are more likely to be put in situations where they could experience trauma as a result of their lifestyle. Substance use increases the likelihood of victimization in many different ways. You are more likely to be present in unsafe environments, engage and interact with others who are engaging in unsafe behaviors, and you’re more likely to have your judgment skewed as your main focus is to seek and obtain your substance of choice.

Addressing Trauma During Treatment

A thorough assessment at intake can be critical to identifying any trauma that may be present and needs addressing. As someone goes through the treatment process, it’s important to address any underlying conditions that could be encouraging substance-using behaviors. Understanding what led to the substance abuse and what continues to drive it for each client is critical to their recovery.

Attempting to treat just someone’s addiction if they have experienced trauma in their life would be only a short-term fix at best. Following treatment, that individual would most likely still be impacted by the trauma that led them to use drugs or alcohol in the first place. Essentially, you would only be treating the surface-level issue. Digging deep and understanding what really led someone to make the decision to use substances they likely knew could be risky is important to their recovery success.

Some may not even be aware that their trauma could have led to their addiction. It can be common to suppress memories and negative thoughts and emotions so deeply that they may not even be acknowledged when discussing how addiction began. Therapists and intake specialists are trained to help you identify any trauma that may exist, no matter how historical or deeply suppressed it may be.

Choosing a Facility With a Trauma-Informed Approach

Choosing a treatment facility that prioritizes holistic healing can make all the difference. Staff is trained to address trauma first and help you work through any underlying issues that could serve as a barrier to your growth, success, and healing. They are aware of trauma symptoms and signs as they may present in those with SUD. It’s important to process your own feelings and emotions throughout treatment and understand how to cope with these to avoid relapse in the future. At Enlightened Recovery, we can help you do this.

Confronting trauma can be hard, particularly if it is not something that you have ever really sat with and thought about before. Discovering existing trauma and learning that this could have been the driving force behind your addiction can be incredibly enlightening. You will leave feeling empowered knowing that you are more aware of yourself and are now equipped with the tools to take back control of your life.

Trauma and addiction can be directly related. For many, one may be the cause of the other. Whether you began using drugs or drinking alcohol to cope with trauma or you experienced trauma as a result of substance abuse, there is usually a correlation. Addressing any trauma clients may have experienced as part of the treatment process is critical. This increases the likelihood of long-term success and reduces the risk of relapse. Enlightened Recovery conducts a thorough assessment to identify any trauma that may be contributing to your substance abuse at intake, and develops a plan catered to your specific needs. If you or someone you love is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction and could benefit from our trauma-informed approach to treatment, don’t hesitate to reach out. To begin your journey to recovery, call Enlightened Recovery today at (833) 801-LIVE.

It is no secret that addiction can cause you to lose touch with yourself and the things that you really enjoy. Addiction has a way of stripping you of everything that adds value to your life, forcing you to focus solely on getting the next fix. Many will stop participating in activities they used to really love and lose interest in hobbies altogether.

Treatment often offers opportunities to try new things. Taking advantage of these opportunities is a great idea, as you are likely to need new things to spend time and energy on as you enter recovery. It’s important to stay busy and devote energy to meaningful things. Keeping your mind and body busy and intentional can help reduce the risk of relapse and keep you on track.

Trying new things can often be very empowering and motivating. You may discover that you have skills in certain areas that you were not aware of. Imagine trying something for the first time, such as gardening or paddleboarding, and finding that you really have a talent for it. It can happen!

Some new things that you may try during treatment could be optional, while others may be required as part of your treatment plan and program. Have an open mind. Therapy, group education, and wellness and nutrition groups are incorporated into treatment programs for a reason. At Enlightened Recovery, we offer a variety of activities to our clients to promote skill building, peer interaction, and healing. We encourage certain activities and programs for our clients that we feel may benefit them and enhance their progress.

New Activities During Treatment

Make an effort to try activities that maybe you otherwise would not have. Give an art group a try, or consider trying yoga for the first time. Activities that incorporate a mind and body connection, such as yoga, can have tremendous benefits during treatment and recovery.

Engaging in art or horticulture therapy can be new to many and will often serve as an outlet for stress and anxiety during treatment and recovery. Art therapy promotes healing and relaxation and can bring out creative abilities and skills that you may not have even been aware of. Horticulture therapy offers opportunities to interact with various plants and herbs. Even if you aren’t a plant person, you may be surprised by what you gain from spending some time working in a garden or enjoying nature. Trying new things can be a huge confidence booster.

Group therapy can be a new experience for many. Studies show that there are many benefits to group therapy experiences. Many develop connections and find a sense of community as a result of group meetings during treatment and recovery. Learn more about the benefits of group therapy here.

Self Discovery

How do you know if you’re good at something without trying it? You don’t! You may find that after learning to surf or paddleboard during treatment, you’re actually quite good at it. By picking up a paintbrush for the first time and learning to express feelings and emotions through art, you may discover that you have quite the artistic streak.

By trying new activities during treatment, you can really explore who you are without drugs or alcohol. It can be easy to forget and lose touch with yourself as a result of addiction. Trying new things and discovering new talents and preferences can really boost your confidence and leave you feeling prepared as you exit treatment.

There is nothing worse than feeling unable to answer the question of what’s next. By discovering new interests, hobbies, and goals throughout treatment, you can enter recovery with peace of mind and a plan for how to structure your days outside of residential living.

Life After Treatment

Keep in mind just how much your new hobbies and preferred activities helped you during treatment, and consider bringing them with you as you enter recovery. Of course, after exiting residential care you are likely to resume more of your daily living tasks and responsibilities such as work, school, taking care of family, etc. Don’t let these things distract you from continuing to prioritize your new hobbies and interests.

Continue to try new things throughout recovery as well. Just as you gain confidence, purpose, and joy from exploring new hobbies throughout treatment, you will reap the same benefits from trying new things during recovery.

Consider taking that ceramics class or joining a book club. Take some guitar lessons or try out a new form of exercise. By keeping yourself engaged in positive and meaningful activities, you are less likely to give in to cravings and can focus your thoughts and energy on something positive.

Trying new things takes courage. How often, though, do you regret trying new things? When it comes to exploring hobbies and healthy activities, you are not likely to regret the experience. During treatment, giving new forms of exercise, therapy, and entertainment a try is a great idea. At Enlightened Recovery, we like to introduce our clients to activities that promote healing and growth during and beyond treatment. We place great value in group learning and organic eating and encourage clients to take part in the farming process. This is one example of our many programs and activities designed to introduce clients to fun and therapeutic outlets to practice in recovery. Other examples include art, yoga, fishing, and more. If you or someone you care about is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, let us help. Call Enlightened Recovery today at (833) 801-LIVE.

Habits can be learned behaviors that you develop over time. Typically, they begin without intention. If they are intentional, they often end up being a more frequent or consistent thing than you planned for. Habits can be good or bad. Good habits could include things such as a daily exercise routine or meditation practice. Bad habits could include things like eating junk food daily before bed or spending too much time scrolling through social media.

Substance Use and Habits

When it comes to substance abuse, habits are often formed as a result of this lifestyle. For example, you may have developed a habit of poor eating or stay up way too late. You may have developed a habit of hanging around the wrong people or spending time at places that do not serve you well. Still, substance use on its own can be considered a habit.

Habits can be very difficult to break. Have you ever been a nail-biter or someone who tends to crack their knuckles often? Even the smallest and most insignificant habits can be tricky to discontinue.

When you decide to seek treatment, you may need to break a few old habits. To do so, it can be helpful to incorporate new helpful and positive routines. Filling the void of the old habits with new habits can make the transition a little easier.

You will need new things to do, new people to spend time with, and new hobbies. A few positive habits to adopt during treatment and carry into recovery could include:

Following a bedtime routine
Expressing your thoughts and feelings in a healthy way
Meditating
Spending time outdoors

While this is certainly not a comprehensive list, it does give you an idea of the types of things that could become positive habits. The best part is that these are easy to incorporate into your daily routine and take very little time.

Getting Quality Sleep

Getting enough good quality sleep is incredibly important. Addiction can take a huge toll on sleep quality and quantity, leaving your body sleep-deprived and functioning at far less than its best. By developing new, healthy habits surrounding sleep, you can ensure you are getting the rest your mind and body need.

It all begins with creating a good environment for sleep. This involves making sure you feel safe and feel able to relax. Using essential oils, dimming lighting, or listening to calming music can be great tools. Establishing habits to form a bedtime routine can signal to your mind and body that it is time for rest and help you fall asleep faster and easier.

Building Healthy Expression

Having the ability to communicate thoughts and feelings in real-time and in an honest way can be tricky. While struggling with addiction, it can be common to hide your truth out of fear or shame. Individual therapy and therapy groups can help promote open expression and can provide you with healthy ways to process and express how you feel.

Engaging in Meditation

Meditating has many benefits. Making a habit of meditating regularly has many more. Meditation allows you to check in with yourself in real-time. You are encouraged to focus on the present and what you are feeling, thinking, and experiencing at that very moment.

Meditation promotes better focus and helps you learn to drown out distractions. This, as you can imagine, is key during treatment and throughout recovery.

Getting Outdoors

When was the last time you took a moment to appreciate the earth and all it provides? Spending time outdoors has many health benefits and can serve as a breath of fresh air – literally – when life feels a little overwhelming.

Research has shown time and time again that being in nature can promote healing, lifts your mood, and can even improve sleep quality. With these advantages, why not consider taking a daily walk outside when the weather is nice?

Gardening is another way to get involved in nature and give back to the earth that gives so much to us. Spending a little time planting, watering, or even weeding a garden can be therapeutic.

The difficult task of breaking habits tends to have a negative connotation. However, when you consider healthy habits, this obstacle can be a good thing. Developing healthy habits during treatment and recovery is essential to your long-term success.

By creating routines that support your mental, physical, and spiritual health, you are more likely to avoid relapse and stay on track. Keeping busy with things that are positive and helpful to you and your new lifestyle is key.

We all have habits. Some of our habits may be good, and some of them may be bad. Addiction often brings many bad habits that can be difficult to break. Some may even serve as a barrier to seeking treatment. Replacing the bad habits with new, healthy habits can be helpful. At Enlightened Recovery, we provide an environment that encourages structure and engaging in activities that promote healing consistently. Our program offers healthy strictly organic foods, a variety of health and wellness classes and groups, and many outdoor experiential therapy options to choose from. We believe in our holistic approach to treatment, and encourage those we support to incorporate more holistic-focused habits into their new lifestyle. If you could benefit from developing some healthy habits with us, don’t hesitate any longer. Let us help you begin your journey to recovery today by calling Enlightened Recovery at (833) 801-LIVE.

No two people are exactly alike. You are unique and perceive and experience things differently than everyone else. When it comes to addiction, the same is true. How you respond, experience, and cope with substance abuse is specific to you. The way you process it and relate to your addiction can depend on personality, past trauma, any co-occurring disorders, and many other factors.

While any form of treatment is better than none at all, you will benefit far more from therapy and strategies that are assigned to address every angle. It is important to seek and select a treatment facility that is going to focus on you as an individual and will take the time to discover anything and everything that could have led to and reinforced your addiction. There are many advantages to having a treatment plan designed to address your specific needs.

What Is Individualized Care?

Individualized care refers to focusing on the person or client as an individual and avoiding using generalized strategies or plans for treatment. This is important in all forms of clinical care, as everyone has different needs, strengths, and goals. When it comes to addiction, substances used will vary, childhood experiences and environments will vary, other presenting diagnoses with vary, and lifestyles will vary.

It is so important to focus on a client’s specific situation to ensure treatment methods and strategies are going to be effective long-term. You need to be able to carry skills and knowledge with you after completing treatment and entering back into your life in recovery. Enlightened Recovery is careful to consider everyone’s specific situation upon admission. Our treatment team members meet daily to consistently ensure the best ongoing care for each client. We adapt your treatment plan as you go through the process and grow in your recovery.

Addressing Trauma

We know that trauma can have a significant impact on addiction and can even be the cause of substance abuse for many. It can be common to begin using opioids, benzos, alcohol, or other substances to try to cope with the side effects or memories of trauma. Additionally, substance abuse can increase the risk of experiencing trauma as you are more likely to be exposed to risky situations.

At Enlightened Recovery, all of our therapists are trauma-informed and approach treatment with the knowledge of how trauma can impact addiction and recovery. During your initial assessment, a full evaluation will be conducted to determine whether there is any presenting or underlying trauma that you may have experienced that could be impacting your behavior or thought patterns. It is important to address these issues to ensure you are able to remain sober and stay on track throughout recovery. We provide you with the tools to cope with and process your trauma in a way that supports your recovery. Learn more about our trauma track here.

Addressing Co-occurring Disorders

Another important purpose of a thorough assessment at intake is to identify any co-occurring disorders that may exist. This is important because having anxiety, depression, or any other mental health diagnosis can impact how you respond to treatment and can affect things like mood, motivation, sleep, and more. It is critical to understand how your diagnosis may affect you as you begin to adjust to life without drugs or alcohol.

Co-occurring disorders can be extremely common among those with addiction. Many will choose to self-medicate using drugs or alcohol and attempt to cope with symptoms of depression, anxiety, or mood disorders. Learn more about the relationships between substance abuse and mental illness here. Enlightened Recovery can provide you with the care and support needed to address your mental health while treating your substance use disorder (SUD).

A few of the common disorders that can often co-occur with SUD include:

Anxiety
Bipolar disorder
PTSD
Personality/mood disorders
Schizophrenia
Eating disorders
ADHD

When you decide to seek help and pursue treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, you want to be sure that you are selecting a facility that is going to take the time to really get to know you and understand your needs. Enlightened Recovery makes it a point to focus on every client as an individual to ensure we address the specific behaviors that lead to your addiction and help you learn to avoid them. We utilize various therapy techniques to treat the whole person and create lasting changes to support you and your lifelong recovery. Recovering from addiction is not easy but is very possible with the right support and strategies.

Individualized care for substance abuse is essential to success in treatment and throughout recovery. It is important to learn coping mechanisms and strategies that are applicable to your life and specific situation. It is also important to be aware of and address any trauma or co-occurring disorders that may be present, as these can affect your experience and responses to treatment. Enlightened Recovery specializes in individualized, holistic treatment for addiction. We aim to develop treatment plans for each client that address their needs as an individual. Our clinical team meets daily to assess the progress of each client and ensure treatment plans are appropriate and will continue to be effective. If you or someone you love is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, we would love to help. To receive the best, individualized care for your addiction, or to learn more about your treatment options, give Enlightened Recovery a call today at (833) 801-LIVE.

Detox is usually the first step in any treatment and recovery program and can often serve as a deterrent for many. Most programs require that you go through the detox process in order to participate in rehabilitation programming. Detox is important because it allows your body to reset and reap all of the benefits the treatment can provide.

Some hesitancy or concern regarding the detox process is understandable. It can be a difficult process for many. Detox often symbolizes the first step to changing their life. They know that once they walk through those doors, they will not be able to access the substances they have become so dependent on. While this is a good thing, it can be intimidating.

What Is Detox?

Detox is the process of cleansing your body of all toxins, or in this case, substances, to allow for healing. This process can vary in duration depending on the substances used, how frequently, and for how long.

Detox addresses withdrawal symptoms and can help you cope and remain as comfortable as possible as your body learns to function without substances. Withdrawal symptoms can be pretty significant depending on the type of substance, frequency, and duration. In fact, experiencing withdrawal can often lead people to continue using to ease the symptoms.

While going through detox, you’ll be monitored closely to ensure you are safe and responding well. Symptoms will be managed safely and in a way that supports your path to sobriety. In many cases, pharmacological treatments are used to help cope with severe symptoms and avoid shock.

Why Detox Is Important

In order for you to benefit from all treatment has to offer, you must begin with a clean slate. Getting your body back to baseline, if you will, allows you to re-focus your mental and physical energy and prioritize recovery.

It would be very difficult to focus on participating in therapy, health and wellness groups, and other important activities during the treatment process if you are struggling with withdrawal symptoms. It’s important to address these needs before beginning treatment so that you are most likely to benefit from the program.

Fears of Detox

Being afraid of the detox process is common. If you have experienced withdrawal symptoms before, you will likely want to avoid these at all costs. As mentioned, symptoms can be so severe that you might prefer to continue using to cope with the pain that you experience during withdrawal.

It is important to consider the long-term goal, however. The sooner you go through detox and begin treatment, the sooner you can begin healing. The benefit to going through a safe detoxification process over trying to detox at home would be the level of care and support you can receive. Choosing a facility that offers a calming and soothing healing environment along with 24/7 observation and care can help you get through it.

Choosing the Best Facility

Because detox can often be a deterrent for many when it comes to seeking help, it is important to consider the type of treatment facility and environment that might work best for you. For example, choosing a treatment facility that takes a holistic approach to healing and provides a calming and supportive detox environment can make the process and transition into treatment a little more comfortable.

Just as person-centered and individualized treatment is important, so is individualized detox. Some may have more than one addiction that needs to be addressed during the detox phase. Selecting a facility that prioritizes tailored detox and treatment programs is your best bet.

After Detox

Even following detox you may continue to experience some unpleasant symptoms such as anxiety, symptoms of depression, trouble sleeping, etc. However, it’s important to remember that the opportunities following detox are endless. This is where the real healing begins, and your new lifestyle can begin to develop.

Many begin treatment immediately following detox to ensure there is no time for potential relapse or distraction. This is the model used by most facilities. Depending on your treatment plan established at intake, you may be transitioned to residential living, or you may be on track to begin outpatient therapy. At Enlightened Recovery Detox, counselors will review your individualized program steps and details with you at the appropriate time.

After detox, you will have a clearer mind and cleansed body, and you can begin to consider what might be next for your life. You will start feeling better both physically and mentally and can take full advantage of what treatment has to offer. Overcoming your fears of detox allows you to move forward and begin your recovery journey.

Detox is the first step toward treatment and is a very important process. Many fear detox and allow this to serve as a barrier to seeking treatment. Don’t let the fear of detox keep you from getting the help you need. At Enlightened Recovery, we provide a safe and supportive environment for the detox process and aim to make you feel as comfortable as possible. Following detox, you will have the opportunity to meet with counselors to review program steps and create a treatment plan. Let us help you recover from your addiction and begin healing physically, mentally, and spiritually. If you or someone you care about is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, we can help. Detox can be scary, but we will help and support you every step of the way. Give Enlightened Recovery a call today at (833) 801-LIVE.

How do you take care of yourself? Self-care refers to being aware of your needs and making consistent efforts to meet them. For example, self-care could involve meditating or taking a hot bath to unwind and relax if you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed. To be able to serve others, take care of your responsibilities, and even function at your best, you must prioritize taking care of yourself.

Self-care can look different for everyone. For some, self-care may involve scheduling some quiet time to read a good book. For others, it might mean a daily walk at the park or some time spent playing an instrument or listening to music. Whatever your preferred activity is for self-care, it’s important that you make time to do it.

Self-Care, Addiction, and Treatment

Following active addiction and throughout your recovery journey, it’s incredibly important to engage in self-care. Addiction takes a huge toll on your mental health, physical health, and spiritual health. Whether your addiction was to alcohol, benzos, opioids, or other substances, using likely caused damage in each of these areas. As you begin the treatment process and start to heal, it is critical to ensure that you are taking the necessary steps to maintain the healing and progress that you’ve made. Practicing and prioritizing self-care in recovery can help.

Self-care helps us better manage stress, cope with conflict, and perform at our best. Throughout recovery, the way in which you respond to stressors and adversity can make all the difference. Stress can be a huge reason for relapse, so being well equipped to handle any issues that may arise is essential.

Self-Care in Treatment

What might self-care look like during treatment? Again, self-care can be different for everyone. Throughout your treatment experience at Enlightened Recovery, you may find yourself discovering new hobbies, creative outlets, or interests that you may choose to carry with you throughout recovery. These activities could include new methods of exercise, a new interest in painting, or even yoga and meditation.

Treatment helps you incorporate a variety of activities that benefit you physically, mentally, and spiritually throughout your treatment and recovery experience. By engaging in these activities, you are not only exploring new interests and adding value to your life, but you may find that some of these new hobbies can be very therapeutic. They also may be a great activity for self-care after you return to life following treatment.

Yoga and Meditation

Yoga and meditation have countless advantages. Research supports all the different ways in which yoga and meditation can benefit you physically and mentally. Many find yoga and meditation to be relaxing and calming and find that they can be great stress relievers. As a result of these effects, yoga and meditation can serve as excellent forms of self-care.

Outdoor Activities

Trying new outdoor activities during treatment can enlighten you to many hobbies and interests that you may not have discovered otherwise. If you live near the water, surfing, fishing, or paddle boarding can be an excellent escape from the stressors of everyday life. At Enlightened Recovery, we love to take advantage of the earth around us. By engaging in these activities during treatment, you may find that you really enjoy them. Getting lost in nature and enjoying the sounds of the waves and the fresh air can tremendously impact your mental health. Any of these activities could serve as an excellent form of self-care during and following treatment.

Music and Art

Exploring activities that foster your creativity can be very beneficial during treatment and throughout recovery. You may find that you have skills and abilities in certain areas that you would really like to build upon in recovery. Many find music and art to be therapeutic and soothing. Exploring your interest and abilities when it comes to painting, sketching, working with clay, or even playing instruments can help encourage creativity and serve as forms of self-care.

When was the last time you did something just for yourself, even if it was something as simple as taking 10 minutes to sit outside in the quiet and enjoy your coffee? Self-care is so incredibly important for everyone. For those in recovery, it is essential. You must take care of yourself before you can do anything for anyone else. The healing continues after treatment, and so does the work to ensure you continue to progress and maintain your sobriety. Allow yourself time to unwind, relax, and enjoy the things that lift your spirits and leave you feeling refreshed. Make it a point to prioritize self-care; you won’t regret it.

Self-care is very important to your health and overall well-being. Making time for the things you enjoy and activities that promote relaxation is essential for good mental health and success throughout recovery. Following addiction, you will encounter difficulties, stressors, and challenges that could pose a threat to your sobriety. Self-care can help you respond to adversity in a healthy way. At Enlightened Recovery, we encourage self-care regularly. Our programs and activities can introduce you to different methods of self-care and help you develop routines for incorporating these activities even after treatment. Caring for your mental health through frequent self-care can help you avoid relapse and stay on track. If you or someone you love is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, we would love to help. Make the decision to seek treatment today by calling Enlightened Recovery at (833) 801-LIVE.

Are you up late at night losing sleep because you’re worried about your loved one? Maybe they seem to be acting a little differently lately. Maybe their priorities have shifted, or they’re hanging with a different crowd these days. Whatever the reasons for your concern, it’s never a good feeling to have to ask yourself whether your loved one could potentially be struggling with drug or alcohol abuse.

In this situation, it’s important to know the warning signs and be able to determine when it is time to seek help. Many changes can occur when someone is engaging in substance abuse. There are often physical symptoms and signs as well as behavioral changes you may observe when someone is battling an addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Typically, once addiction becomes severe enough, it is very difficult for anyone to hide the telling signs and symptoms. Things can often escalate quickly, so it is important to be aware and take action as soon as you suspect there may be a problem. Below are a few things to look out for if you are concerned that your loved one may have an addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Behavioral Changes

Usually, those close to you know you best. So, while there are some common signs and symptoms, it’s important to note that your loved one may display signs or symptoms that may not align exactly with some of the examples provided. Some common behavioral changes can include increased frustration or irritability, loss of interest in activities your loved one used to enjoy, a short temper, or seeming withdrawn or distant from family members and friends.

Of course, these behaviors can be a result of other things that may be going on and causing distress. It is important, however, to try to figure out if addiction could be the cause of the behavioral changes you’re seeing. If you are seeing behavioral changes in addition to any of the physical changes listed below, chances are good that substance use may be a factor.

Physical Changes

There are a few physical changes that can be indicators of addiction. Often, addiction interferes with your appetite. This can result in excessive weight gain or weight loss depending on the person and the substance being used. Often, these fluctuations in weight appear to be quite drastic and seem to happen pretty quickly.

Another physical change that could occur if your loved one is engaging in substance use can include changes to the eyes. Many substances can either cause pupils to dilate or shrink. If you notice a change in your loved one’s appearance, specifically in reference to pupil size or eye redness, it may be worth looking into.

Additionally, a person’s level of care when it comes to hygiene and appearance can change with addiction. They may seem a little more unkempt or could possibly be observed dressing inappropriately for the weather. For instance, many heavy users may tend to carry drugs or paraphernalia with them. In an effort to hide these objects, they may wear more layers of clothing or choose clothes with larger pockets.

When to Get Help

Noticing any of the symptoms mentioned above could certainly indicate that there is an issue, but not always. Sometimes, there may be another issue at hand contributing to behavioral or physical changes in your loved one. It’s important to be aware of common signs and symptoms of substance abuse, but it’s also important to trust your instincts. Again, you know your loved one best and know when there is something out of the ordinary going on.

Make it a point to try to confront your concerns and have a conversation about the signs and symptoms you have observed. They may open up about a potential problem with drugs or alcohol, or they may become defensive and deny that there is an issue.

Treatment facilities will conduct a thorough assessment of your loved one and determine the best plan for treatment. They will go through the detox process, helping them to cleanse their body of all drugs or alcohol before entering into treatment programming. They will be taught new, healthy ways of living while healing mentally, physically, and spiritually to ensure the best future possible.

You never want to believe that someone you love and care for has an addiction. While coming to terms with this reality can be extremely disheartening and devastating, it’s important to get your loved one the help they need. Pay close attention to their behavior and appearance if you suspect they may be using drugs or alcohol and could have a problem. Getting help early on can reduce long-term damage and lead to an easier transition into recovery.

Learning that your loved one has an addiction to drugs or alcohol can be extremely tough to process and cope with. There are many common signs and symptoms to be aware of and look out for if you are suspicious that there could be a problem. It’s important to get help as soon as possible if you do discover that someone is struggling with substance abuse. Enlightened Recovery offers excellent options for treatment and provides activities and uses strategies to promote holistic and healthy living. Our therapists aim to identify any co-occurring disorders at intake or contributing trauma that might need to be addressed to ensure complete healing. Let us help your loved one overcome this challenge and find sobriety. If you or someone you love is battling addiction, we would love to help. Don’t hesitate to give us a call today at (833) 801-LIVE.

When was the last time you played around in the dirt? Studies suggest there are benefits to both mental and physical health for those who spend time interacting with and enjoying nature. Why is this the case?

It is simple. Nature provides a calming and sensory-pleasing environment, one that promotes good health, healing, focus, activity, and even social interaction. There is something about taking a walk outside among beautiful trees or flowers that is much less torturous than walking endless miles on a treadmill. You can hear birds singing, smell fresh flowers or herbs, and feel the warmth of the sun.

This multi-sensory benefit of nature is supported in the following statement by Lara S. Franco, Danielle F. Shanahan, and Richard A. Fuller in their 2017 article entitled “A Review of the Benefits of Nature Experiences: More Than Meets the Eye”:

“We have outlined the evidence that viewing nature both in pictures and through windows can improve health and mood; sounds such as birdsong and nature sounds provide restoration and enhance effect; smells provide numerous physical and psychological benefits; taste affects emotion, and traditional, natural diets have health benefits; petting animals can be very therapeutic; phytoncides can have a positive effect on our immune system; negative air ions affect our physical and mental well-being; and microbiota in the gut and the brain influence each other.”

Benefits of Caring for the Earth

The earth provides such a naturally beautiful canvas for any activity. When it comes to treatment and recovery, spending time caring for the earth can be beneficial in many ways. First of all, you are caring for something other than yourself. This allows you to put effort and focus into something larger than just you. You are contributing to the greater good and making a difference with each seed you plant.

At Enlightened Recovery, clients are encouraged to participate in horticulture therapy at our Enlightened Farm. Caring for the earth through gardening or farming also encourages patience. This includes learning to have patience with yourself as you evolve and growing treatment and patience with the earth as it grows and develops as a result of your efforts.

There is also a direct resemblance between the work and regenerative process occurring within those in treatment and recovery and the regenerative process of nature. By working on improving the earth, you are simultaneously improving yourself through that experience.

Nutritional Advantages

Good nutrition is essential to recovery and overall health. By caring for the earth and maintaining a garden, you are able to produce and provide organic produce for the community. Through your efforts, you are enhancing not only your life but the lives of those around you. This can provide a sense of purpose, value, and integration into the community.

Horticulture Therapy

Horticulture therapy is an excellent experience for those in treatment and recovery from substance abuse. This involves interacting with nature in a variety of new and innovative ways to improve mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Benefits can include finding peace and calmness, building confidence, and becoming more environmentally involved and aware.

Employment Benefits

Gaining new skills and experience is an important part of the treatment process. For many, jobs have been short-lived or difficult to manage or enjoy during addiction. Leaving treatment feeling confident and capable of securing employment in recovery can be very empowering. Caring for the earth through programs such as Enlightened Solution’s Solid Roots allows you to develop skills transferable to a variety of jobs following treatment.

Community Service

As mentioned, caring for the earth benefits the community in various ways. You are offering something beautiful to look at and enjoy and producing fresh and local produce for others so they can live healthier lives. Caring for a farm or garden is an excellent way to give back and serve your community.

Volunteering

Community engagement and collaboration are critical and can tremendously benefit those in treatment and recovery. Establishing a sense of belonging and communal effort toward a common goal can offer purpose and direction for those who may otherwise feel lost after battling addiction.

Facilities offering programs at sites such as the Enlightened Farm provide more than just an outdoorsy experience. Such programs provide an outlet for those in need of a break or an escape. They also provide an opportunity to learn new skills in farming, gardening, and horticulture, offering a chance to engage and fellowship as a community coming together for the community’s common good. Lastly, such programs provide healing for those who choose to get involved.

Caring for the earth can provide many benefits to those in treatment and recovery. Gardening and horticulture offer opportunities to really enjoy and appreciate nature, while working on improving yourself and the earth. Enlightened Recovery has incorporated a variety of programs and activities held at Enlightened Farm into our programming. We recognize the value in caring for the earth and the correlation between the regenerative process you undergo during treatment and recovery and the similar process occurring in nature. Opportunities to build new skills, increase confidence, collaborate with peers and community members, and discover new interests are provided at the farm. Let us help you get the most out of your treatment experience and leave feeling enlightened about who you can become as a result of your sobriety. If you or someone you care about is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, call Enlightened Recovery today at (833) 801-LIVE.

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