January 21, 2020

Boundaries in Recovery 101

If you’re someone that’s in recovery, it’s necessary to set healthy boundaries for yourself and with those around you. You cannot properly learn to recover if you feel like you frequently let people walk all over you or you have a hard time saying no. Without boundaries; you aren’t showing up for yourself and being the best you that you can be. Drawing the line and sticking to it regarding what you think is acceptable is a necessary step to setting boundaries. Of course, these things are going to change from person to person, which is why you must be upfront with your loved ones about what you expect from them and what is and isn’t okay.

Be aware of your triggers

Something is a trigger if it brings up bad memories or makes you want to turn to the substance you know you shouldn’t be using during your recovery. To set boundaries so that you can avoid your triggers as much as possible, you must first figure out what usually triggers you. Of course, avoiding every trigger all of the time is virtually impossible. You can, however, set boundaries that tell yourself and others what is okay and what is not okay, and what you expect from yourself and others in certain situations. Knowing your triggers helps to draw the line when you’re setting boundaries.

Stand up for yourself

Standing up for yourself can be extremely difficult for some people. Many people in recovery often feel like they are a burden to others, and they shouldn’t bring up their boundaries because they will weigh down others or dampen the mood. You have to make sure that other people know what your boundaries are so that they can respect them. You also need to be able to set them down and respect them yourself. Other people won’t know how to act if you are not firm in your boundaries.

Allow yourself to say no

Another tricky thing for many people is learning to say no. Some people get afraid of hurting or offending others by saying no. Here’s the thing: if you aren’t able to stand up and firmly say no when someone has crossed the line, then your boundaries will soon be in shambles. You are allowed to say no. Learn to use the word no as a complete sentence. You don’t have to explain everything to everyone you meet. Be firm in your decision to say no.

Remove the guilt

When you begin to say no, you might notice that there is some guilt attached to the word. That’s okay. However, the more times you can stand up for yourself and your boundaries, the easier it will get to set them the next time You’ll begin to be comfortable with your boundaries and your expectations. Over time, your guilt will start to fade away.

Here is the time where we help give you guidelines so you can begin to set your boundaries. It can be challenging to set boundaries with the people you love; but, the people who love you will still love you after you’ve set boundaries with them. They will learn to respect them and respect you. Boundaries keep you safe, so don’t slack off on them when it’s someone you love! Your non-negotiable boundaries will come from the values that you hold close to our hearts. These are things that you are not willing to compromise.

Figure out what you value

The first step to setting boundaries is to figure out what you value in your life. You must first decide what means the most to you. There are going to be some things that matter more than others, which helps you create your boundaries. If you value something so profoundly, you probably are going to want to set a non-negotiable boundary around that thing. Don’t compromise on something important to you. Remember: you can say no and not give an explanation!

Figure out what you need

The second step to setting boundaries is to figure out what you need based on what you value. Make what you value the center of your life. If you have figured out that you value creative time, you’re going to want to set aside time where you do not have any meetings or obligations. You’re going to use your spare time to be creative because that is what you value.

Find a way to honor these things

The third step to setting boundaries is to find a way to honor the things you value and need. Once you realize that you value your creativity and need more time to be creative, you can honor the promise to yourself by rearranging your schedule to find more time for creativity and less time for non-essential things. Honoring your values and your voice is essential for setting healthy boundaries.

If you or a loved one want to learn to set and communicate boundaries, call us today at 833-801-LIVE.

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It is very common to see a friend pass out after a night of heavy drinking. The Centers for Disease Control says that six people die every day from alcohol poisoning. Instead of assuming that your friend needs to sleep off the alcoholic effects, it is important for you to treat him or her to better save their life from alcohol poisoning.

Reasons People Pass Out When Drunk

Alcohol is a depressant that impacts the central nervous system which consists of your brain and spinal cord. This explains why heavy drinking causes you to make poor judgments as well as having trouble staying alert. Alcohol tends to release a huge amount of dopamine which is what makes you feel good. But the more you drink, the more your body builds up adenosine which makes you tired. Alcohol also affects the neurotransmitter glutamate which affects your brain function where you have trouble with your breathing and heart rate, making alcohol intoxication more dangerous. You could be drunk and hit your head and feel like you are fine to drive until you crash your car and choke on your own vomit.

If you spend time with someone who drinks four or more drinks in one sitting, you should inform them about how many drinks can result in a dangerous blood alcohol count. A standard beer is 12 ounces, wine is five ounces, and 80 proof spirits like rum or tequila is 1.5 ounces. Keep in mind how much your friend has eaten and how your body metabolizes alcohol.

What to Do If Your Friend Does Not Wake Up

It is easy to wake someone up if they are simply sleeping off their alcohol. Someone unconscious as a result of the alcohol can be harder. Susan Stoner, Ph.D., a research consultant at the University of Washington Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute, says that if calling your friend’s name and rubbing their shoulders does not work, rub their sternum with your knuckles or pinch their earlobes to cause a little pain to wake them up. If they are still not responsive, they are most likely unconscious and could be at risk of death.

Other signs that your friend has overdosed on alcohol and needs medical attention is if they have clammy skin, confusion, pale skin, low body temperature, seizures, vomiting, trouble breathing, pausing for ten or more seconds between breaths, and reduced physical responses like the lack of a gag reflex that prevents choking. Do not take too long to decide whether or not to call 911 as not doing anything can increase your friend’s chances of death. Check for if your friend is breathing or able to respond to any of your attempts at waking them up. If your friend is vomiting while unconscious, turn your friend to their side or forward so that they do not choke. When emergency responders come, tell them everything that they need to know about your friend such as how much they drank, the kind of alcohol, any other drugs, a certain medical condition they have, and anything else that can be helpful for medical professionals to treat your friend.

The Rest of Your Life Starts Now

Start the Path to Recovery at Englightened Recovery in New Jersey

Taking the first step toward change can feel uncertain, yet the right environment can provide clarity and direction. At Enlightened Recovery, each person is met with compassion, respect, and guidance tailored to their unique needs. Our team works closely with you to create a plan that supports both immediate stability and long-term progress. Reach out today to begin building a healthier, more grounded future.

Look After Your Friend

Alcohol is going to continue to leak from your friend’s stomach and small intestine into their bloodstream, causing their blood alcohol level to rise even after they have stopped drinking. If you think that your friend is simply sleeping off the alcohol, you may return hours later to see that your friend has stopped breathing or has choked on their own vomit. To see for sure if your friend is suffering from alcohol poisoning, check if they have impaired speech or motor skills, cannot drive, poor decision making, blacking out, vomiting, or losing consciousness. As soon as you notice these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

You should also make sure not to leave your friend alone. If this is happening at a party with a lot of people, you want to make sure that someone is not going to come along and take advantage of your friend through sexual assault. Do not be afraid to take you and your friend away from the situation by driving your friend home. If someone dropped you off to the party, call your ride or call a Lyft or an Uber to pick you and your friend up. Make sure that your location settings are on and to always have your phone charged.

How to Avoid Passing Out From Alcohol

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Dietary Guidelines says that drinking in moderation means that women should be drinking no more than one drink a day and no more than two drinks for men. In order to stay as safe as possible from passing out drunk, you should switch between an alcoholic beverage and a glass of water. The same goes for food as you should not have only alcohol in your system. Eat before and while you are drinking so that you do not absorb the alcohol too quickly. Only have no more than one drink every hour. You should also make sure that you communicate with your friend of how many drinks should be the limit. If you are both aware of what your body can and cannot handle, do not increase the number of drinks. By not leaving your friend alone and calling 911 if your friend passes out, you could be saving a life.

Alcohol Detox and Rehab in New Jersey

An alcohol poisoning emergency may also reveal a larger pattern of dangerous drinking. If your friend regularly drinks heavily, experiences blackouts, cannot control how much they consume, or continues drinking despite serious consequences, they may be struggling with alcohol abuse or alcohol use disorder. Once the immediate emergency has been addressed, encourage them to speak with an addiction treatment professional. They should not attempt to stop drinking suddenly without medical guidance, since alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures, hallucinations, delirium tremens, and other life-threatening complications.

Enlightened Recovery provides alcohol detox and rehab programs in New Jersey for individuals who need professional support to stop drinking and begin building a healthier life. The appropriate level of care depends on the person’s drinking history, withdrawal risk, physical health, mental health symptoms, home environment, and previous treatment experiences.

Medical alcohol detox offers a supervised setting where trained professionals can monitor withdrawal symptoms, help manage discomfort, and respond if complications develop. Detox gives the body time to stabilize, but it is only the beginning of the recovery process. After completing detox, clients may transition into residential alcohol rehab or another appropriate level of care for continued treatment.

Enlightened Recovery’s alcohol rehab program combines evidence-based therapies with holistic healing and recovery-focused support. Treatment may include individual counseling, group therapy, relapse-prevention education, family involvement, mental health services, and practical strategies for handling stress and alcohol cravings. When alcohol abuse occurs alongside anxiety, depression, trauma, or another mental health condition, integrated treatment can address both concerns as part of the same recovery plan.

Located in Southern New Jersey, Enlightened Recovery offers a supportive environment where individuals can step away from the people, places, and pressures associated with drinking. The goal is not only to help clients stop using alcohol, but also to help them understand the factors contributing to their drinking and develop skills that support lasting recovery.

If you or someone you care about needs help for alcohol abuse, Enlightened Recovery is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call our admissions team to learn more about alcohol detox and rehab in New Jersey, discuss available treatment options, and begin the admissions process.

If someone is unconscious, breathing abnormally, having a seizure, or showing signs of alcohol poisoning, call 911 immediately rather than attempting to transport them yourself.

Searching online for addiction treatment can quickly become overwhelming. A search for “drug rehabs near me” may return dozens of programs, directories, advertisements, and treatment centers that appear to offer similar services. However, the quality, clinical approach, environment, and level of support can differ significantly from one facility to another.

When comparing drug rehabs near you, look beyond the photographs and general promises. The right program should be properly credentialed, provide an appropriate level of care, address your individual needs, and help you prepare for recovery after treatment ends.

For individuals and families in New Jersey, location may also influence the decision. Treatment should be close enough to remain connected to important support systems but far enough away from daily triggers when greater separation would be beneficial. Here are the most important factors to consider when comparing drug rehabs near you.

Confirm That the Facility Is Licensed and Accredited

Credentials should be one of the first things you investigate. A reputable drug rehab should be transparent about its state licensing, professional staff, and any independent accreditations it has earned.

Accreditation indicates that an outside organization has evaluated the facility according to established healthcare quality and safety standards. The Joint Commission, for example, evaluates healthcare organizations using standards related to patient safety, quality of care, clinical practices, and organizational performance.

Enlightened Recovery’s drug and alcohol rehab campus in South Jersey is Joint Commission accredited. This provides individuals and families with an additional point of reference when evaluating the program’s commitment to safety and quality.

You should still ask a treatment center direct questions:

Is the facility licensed to provide the services being recommended?
What credentials do its clinical and medical professionals hold?
How frequently are treatment plans reviewed?
How are medical or psychiatric emergencies handled?
Is the facility accredited by an independent healthcare organization?

Credentials cannot guarantee a particular outcome, but they can help distinguish established treatment providers from programs that lack adequate oversight.

Look for an Individualized Clinical Assessment

A drug rehab should not recommend the same program to every caller. Before treatment begins, the provider should evaluate the person’s substance use, physical health, mental health, previous treatment experiences, family circumstances, and current living environment.

This assessment helps determine which level of care may be appropriate. Some people need medical detoxification before entering another program. Others may need a structured residential setting, while individuals who are medically stable may be suited to a partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, or standard outpatient program.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse’s principles of effective treatment emphasize that no single form of treatment is appropriate for everyone. Effective care must respond to the individual’s substance use as well as related medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal needs.

When comparing drug rehabs near you, ask how the facility decides which services a person needs. Be cautious if a program recommends admission before obtaining meaningful information about the prospective client.

Determine Whether Mental Health Is Treated Alongside Addiction

Depression, anxiety, trauma, bipolar disorder, and other mental health concerns can affect substance use and recovery. If both conditions are present, treating only the addiction may leave significant symptoms and relapse triggers unaddressed.

A dual diagnosis program is designed to address substance use and mental health concerns within an integrated treatment plan. This may include psychiatric evaluation, medication management when appropriate, individual therapy, group therapy, and evidence-based therapeutic approaches.

Ask whether the facility can evaluate and treat co-occurring mental health conditions. You should also find out whether psychiatric care is available directly through the program or requires an outside referral.

Even when someone has never received a formal mental health diagnosis, a comprehensive assessment can identify symptoms that may need attention during treatment.

Compare the Full Continuum of Care

Recovery needs can change over time. A person may begin with a highly structured level of care and gradually transition to programs that provide more independence. Choosing a provider with access to multiple levels of care can make those transitions more coordinated.

Ask each drug rehab what happens before, during, and after its primary program. Important questions include:

Is medical detox available when clinically necessary?
Does the organization provide residential and outpatient options?
How are clients transitioned between levels of care?
Is supportive recovery housing available?
What happens if the person needs more support than originally expected?
How does the team coordinate continuing care?

Enlightened Recovery provides a connected recovery network in South Jersey rather than treating admission as an isolated episode. Its Egg Harbor City campus combines clinical programming with supportive recovery residences and opportunities for clients to remain engaged in a recovery-focused community.

Evaluate the Treatment Environment

Clinical quality should remain the priority, but the treatment environment also matters. People may find it difficult to participate meaningfully in therapy when they feel unsafe, confined, distracted, or disconnected from their surroundings.

When touring a facility or reviewing its website, consider the condition of the campus, the amount of outdoor space, recreation opportunities, sleeping arrangements, and overall atmosphere. Ask whether the photographs accurately represent the location where treatment will occur.

Enlightened Recovery’s 400-plus-acre Egg Harbor City property provides room for both structured treatment and restorative activities. Campus features include a state-of-the-art gym, putting green, and three hiking trails. These amenities are not substitutes for clinical care, but movement, recreation, time outdoors, and daily routine can support a more balanced treatment experience.

The campus is also connected to Enlightened Farms. Through its Solid Roots program, people in recovery can participate in structured farm work that encourages responsibility, purpose, and accountability. Organic produce from the farm is also used in the treatment center’s kitchen.

Ask About Family Involvement and Long-Term Recovery

Addiction rarely affects only one individual. Family members may experience broken trust, communication problems, fear, financial stress, and uncertainty about how to help. When appropriate, family education and therapy can help loved ones understand addiction, establish healthier boundaries, and prepare for the person’s return home.

You should also compare each facility’s discharge and alumni support. A strong continuing-care plan may address outpatient therapy, medication, recovery housing, peer-support meetings, family involvement, transportation, employment, and strategies for managing triggers.

At Enlightened Recovery, the broader philosophy extends beyond short-term stabilization. Programming emphasizes community, accountability, purpose, and lifelong recovery. Alumni opportunities, including weekly meetings and wellness-oriented activities, give former clients ways to remain connected after completing a formal program.

Understand Insurance Coverage and Costs

Do not assume that a treatment center accepts your insurance simply because an insurer’s logo appears on its website. Coverage depends on the specific policy, network status, medical necessity requirements, deductible, coinsurance, and authorization rules.

Ask the admissions team to verify your benefits and explain the results in understandable terms. Request information about estimated out-of-pocket expenses, services that may not be covered, and available payment arrangements before admission.

You can also use the SAMHSA treatment locator to identify substance use and mental health treatment providers and compare options by location and service type. A directory can help begin the search, but it should not replace a direct conversation with each facility.

Consider Whether “Near Me” Means the Best Fit

The closest drug rehab is not automatically the right one. Staying nearby may make family participation and continuing care easier. However, receiving treatment a short distance from home can sometimes provide helpful separation from familiar triggers, substance-using relationships, or unstable living conditions.

For residents of Atlantic County, South Jersey, the Jersey Shore, and the greater Philadelphia region, Enlightened Recovery’s Egg Harbor City campus offers a New Jersey treatment setting that remains accessible without placing clients directly inside their everyday environment.

The goal is not simply to find the nearest open bed. It is to find a program whose clinical services, environment, philosophy, and continuing-care resources match the person’s actual needs.

Compare Drug Rehabs Near You With Confidence

When comparing drug rehabs near you, focus on the factors that influence safety and long-term recovery: licensing, accreditation, individualized assessments, appropriate levels of care, dual diagnosis treatment, qualified staff, family support, insurance transparency, and planning for life after treatment.

Enlightened Recovery offers addiction treatment within a spacious, recovery-focused campus in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey. Our approach brings together clinical care, supportive housing, community, wellness, purposeful activity, and ongoing alumni connection.

If you are comparing drug rehabs near you in New Jersey, contact Enlightened Recovery.

Our admissions team can answer your questions, discuss your current needs, verify available insurance benefits, and help you determine whether our program may be an appropriate place to begin or continue your recovery.

Yes, you can often go to rehab if you take psychiatric medication. Taking medication for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, or another mental health condition does not automatically prevent you from entering addiction treatment. In many cases, continuing appropriate mental health care is an important part of creating a safe and effective recovery plan.

However, every medication and treatment program is different. Before admission, the rehabilitation center will typically need to review your prescriptions, medical history, mental health symptoms, substance use, and current level of stability. Certain medications may require additional evaluation, monitoring, or coordination with the prescribing provider.

If you are considering drug rehab in New Jersey, do not stop taking psychiatric medication simply because you are preparing to enter treatment. Instead, tell the admissions team exactly what you take and work with qualified healthcare professionals to determine the safest next steps.

Will a Rehab Let Me Continue My Psychiatric Medication?

Many rehabilitation programs allow clients to continue psychiatric medications when they are medically appropriate and properly prescribed. This decision should be made individually by the program’s medical or psychiatric professionals.

The treatment team may need to confirm:

The name and dosage of each medication
Why the medication was prescribed
How long you have taken it
Whether it has been effective
When you last took it
Whether you have experienced side effects
Whether you have recently changed the dose
Who currently prescribes it
Whether it has been taken exactly as directed

Being honest about your medication use helps the treatment team avoid dangerous interactions, distinguish medication effects from withdrawal symptoms, and maintain continuity of care.

Some facilities have policies regarding how medications are brought in, stored, administered, and refilled. You may be asked to bring prescriptions in their original pharmacy containers or provide contact information for your pharmacy and prescribing provider. The admissions team can explain the specific requirements before you arrive.

Should I Stop Taking Medication Before Rehab?

You should not discontinue psychiatric medication without speaking to a qualified healthcare professional. Suddenly stopping certain antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, mood stabilizers, or antipsychotics may cause withdrawal effects, a return of symptoms, or other medical complications.

The National Institute of Mental Health advises people not to stop prescribed mental health medication without the help of a healthcare provider. When a medication needs to be discontinued, a provider may develop a gradual plan that allows the body to adjust more safely.

Entering rehab does not mean that every psychiatric prescription must be changed. A clinical team may recommend continuing the existing medication, adjusting it, monitoring it more closely, or exploring an alternative. That decision depends on the medication, diagnosis, symptoms, substance use history, and overall health of the individual.

If you believe a medication is causing problems or contributing to substance misuse, disclose that concern during the admissions process. Do not attempt to resolve it by abruptly stopping the medication on your own.

What If My Prescription Has the Potential for Misuse?

Some psychiatric medications require closer review because they can cause physical dependence or have the potential for misuse. These may include certain medications prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, or ADHD. Taking one of these medications does not necessarily mean you will be denied admission or required to discontinue it.

Addiction treatment is not what it was 20 years ago. As the understanding of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders has improved, many modern treatment centers have moved away from an abstinence-only approach that automatically removes every potentially habit-forming medication. Clinicians increasingly recognize that abruptly discontinuing an appropriate psychiatric prescription may destabilize the condition it was intended to treat and potentially interfere with recovery.

Instead, the clinical team will typically review the medication, diagnosis, dosage, treatment history, and potential risks. With your permission, clinicians may also coordinate with your prescribing provider to better understand why the medication was prescribed and how it should be managed during treatment. Depending on your needs, the team may recommend continuing the prescription, monitoring it more closely, adjusting the dosage, or considering a clinically appropriate alternative.

A rehab’s medication policy should protect clients without treating every prescription as evidence of misuse. There is an important difference between taking medication as prescribed, developing physical dependence, and having a substance use disorder. A qualified clinician should evaluate the full circumstances rather than making assumptions based solely on the medication’s name.

The goal of modern dual diagnosis treatment is not to discontinue necessary psychiatric care simply to achieve abstinence. It is to work collaboratively with you and, when appropriate, your existing provider so that both your mental health diagnosis and substance use disorder are treated safely and responsibly.

Why Mental Health Care Matters During Addiction Treatment

Substance use and mental health symptoms frequently affect one another. Someone may use drugs or alcohol to cope with anxiety, trauma, depression, mood instability, or difficulty sleeping. At the same time, substance use can intensify psychiatric symptoms, interfere with medications, and make it more difficult to determine which condition is causing a particular problem.

When these concerns occur together, they are commonly referred to as co-occurring disorders or a dual diagnosis. Effective care should consider both conditions within the same overall treatment plan.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, integrated care is recommended for people experiencing both mental health and substance use disorders. Addressing both concerns can improve the quality of care and support better health outcomes.

A dual diagnosis approach may include psychiatric evaluation, medication management, individual counseling, group therapy, trauma-informed services, and ongoing assessment. The goal is not merely to remove substances. It is to understand the emotional, behavioral, medical, and environmental factors that may influence continued use or relapse.

What Happens to My Medication When I Enter Rehab?

Medication procedures vary by facility and level of care, but the process generally begins with a clinical and medical assessment. The treatment team may compare your current prescriptions with your symptoms, diagnoses, substance use history, and other medications or supplements.

During medical detox, providers may monitor how existing medications interact with withdrawal symptoms or medications used to support stabilization. In residential treatment, prescriptions are generally managed according to facility procedures rather than kept and taken independently. Outpatient programs may offer greater independence, although clients must still disclose medications and follow treatment recommendations.

A medication review does not necessarily mean the team will make immediate changes. Psychiatric medications can take time to work, and unnecessary adjustments can create additional instability. When changes are clinically appropriate, providers can monitor mood, sleep, behavior, side effects, and other symptoms throughout the process.

What Should I Tell the Admissions Team?

Before entering rehab, prepare a complete list of everything you take. Include psychiatric prescriptions, medications for physical health conditions, over-the-counter products, vitamins, and supplements.

You should also provide:

Your current pharmacy’s contact information
The name of each prescribing provider
Any known medication allergies
Previous adverse reactions
Recent medication or dosage changes
Relevant mental health diagnoses
Any history of hospitalization or psychiatric crisis
Information about missed doses or misuse
Upcoming appointments or laboratory monitoring requirements

This information allows the admissions team to determine whether the program can safely meet your needs. It can also reduce delays associated with obtaining records or arranging refills after admission.

Psychiatric Medication and Dual Diagnosis Treatment in New Jersey

Enlightened Recovery in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, recognizes that addiction and mental health cannot always be separated into different parts of a person’s life. Its continuum of care includes detoxification, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient treatment, and outpatient services.

For clients with co-occurring mental health concerns, care may include psychiatric evaluation and follow-up, medication management, trauma-informed treatment, DBT-based services, family programming, and case management. These services allow treatment planning to consider both immediate stabilization and the mental health needs that may continue throughout recovery.

Before admission, the Enlightened Recovery team can review the prospective client’s needs, current medications, treatment history, and recommended level of care. The admissions process can also include insurance-benefit verification so individuals and families have more information about available coverage before treatment begins.

Because every situation is different, medication approval and continuation must be determined individually. Prospective clients should speak directly with admissions rather than assuming that a particular prescription will either be accepted or prohibited.

Do Not Let Psychiatric Medication Stop You From Asking for Help

Taking medication for a mental health condition should not prevent you from exploring addiction treatment. The most important step is to communicate openly and avoid making medication changes without professional guidance.

If you are asking, “Can I go to rehab if I take psychiatric medication?” contact Enlightened Recovery in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey. Our admissions team can discuss your prescriptions, mental health needs, substance use, and treatment history with you. From there, we can help determine the appropriate next step and whether our New Jersey addiction and dual diagnosis services are a suitable fit. Contact us today to begin your recovery journey.