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What Does Comprehensive Care Mean?

Written by Enlightened Recovery on . Posted in Recovery.

Receiving care for any health condition does not end with a single diagnosis. Instead, treating the whole person is necessary. Understanding a person’s nutrition, gut health, physical health, mental health, and spiritual health is critical to helping a person recover. Recovery requires comprehensive care in multiple facets of one’s wellness journey and treating as many of the person’s needs as possible.

There are multiple components of wellness, and balancing those components takes time and effort. Comprehensive care focuses on social, spiritual, physical (nutrition and movement), mental, and emotional well-being. Having balance is critical to your recovery as well. Once you have achieved balance in various areas of wellness, you can effectively achieve balance in other areas of wellness.

Comprehensive Care: Treating the Whole Person

According to Frank Lipman, MD, in his book, How to Be Well, comprehensive care treats an individual with a “unique constitution metabolically, psychologically, and emotionally.” He further explains how when one part of your wellness gets “off track,” your total wellness is compromised, reducing your resilience and ability to recover – both physically and emotionally.

You are an individual, not just a diagnosis. Finding your way to complete wellness is a journey best undertaken with comprehensive care in various aspects of wellness. Your physical health requires movement and a solid, healthy diet focused on organic sources of produce and reliable sources of protein. Your psychological health requires positive and reliable support, as well as a spiritual component. You cannot expect total recovery without a focus on the multiple facets of your psychological life.

Total Wellness Helps You Build a Healthier Life

According to SAMHSA, in their guide, “Creating a Healthier Life,” all aspects of wellness determine the quality of your life. SAMHSA further explains how everyone’s path to wellness differs, which is why comprehensive care and a focus on your individual needs are critical to achieving recovery and a fulfilling life.

Wellness Requires Balance

Balance appears differently for each person. While one person may engage with movement by running, others may engage with movement through yoga or gymnastics. Healthy eating may be a keto, paleo, or completely vegan diet. Your social wellness can mean work, play, community engagements, or even just quality time with family. No matter the perspective one has on balance, remembering the importance of balance in your recovery increases the possibility of living the life you want and deserve.

One key characteristic of a balanced life involves engagement. At Enlightened Recovery, we engage our clients with as many aspects of wellness as possible. We encourage physical, social, mental, emotional, and spiritual processes to achieve balance. We do not judge you on where you are in these areas but recognize every person has their own journey in developing total wellness.

Balance can never be achieved overnight. Having a solid sense of your needs and wants takes time and requires a comprehensive look at where you are in your life. You might be in the beginning stages of recovery and need to experience detoxification from alcohol or other substances or behaviors. Or you may be several months into recovery but need help in outlining your goals for recovery and the life you want. No matter where you are in recovery, comprehensive care will assist in achieving your life worth living.

Comprehensive Care Helps Build Good Habits

Developing healthy habits takes time, effort, and encouragement. In most support groups, having an accountability partner and/or sponsor helps you achieve wellness more quickly. Receiving support from others helps you gain the confidence you need to achieve whole health.

In a comprehensive care setting, you will receive support from health professionals and your peers. You will learn that you are not alone in your struggles with addiction. You will see the possibility to change and have the necessary encouragement and guidance to develop positive and healthy habits, which will enable you to live a more satisfying life.

Building habits means changing your mindset relative to old behaviors. Through comprehensive care, you discover how you can cope without old behaviors. Suddenly, you will recognize the strength you have within to cope with challenging circumstances without using alcohol or other substances.

Comprehensive Care Helps You Recognize Your Ability to Change

When you enter recovery, you may not see yourself as capable of living the life you want. Instead, you may belittle yourself for entering treatment. You may also have spent time in self-loathing for your history of behaviors and how those behaviors impacted your life and the lives of your loved ones. Entering treatment and receiving comprehensive care gives you the freedom to see yourself as a person again.

You are an individual with unique strengths and struggles. Your struggle does not define you. Comprehensive care will enable you to move forward and see yourself as a person with untapped potential. You can live the life you always wanted, and comprehensive care can help you achieve that life.

You deserve a chance to live your best life. Comprehensive care can help you achieve balance in all aspects of wellness. At Enlightened Recovery, we offer multi-faceted care to ensure complete health in each of our clients. We recognize our clients are individuals with unique needs, struggles, and strengths. We do not use a singular approach for any of our clients. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to alcohol and/or other substances or behaviors, we can help. We provide inpatient, residential, outpatient, and sober living for a variety of addictions. We recognize the need for balance in life and want to help you achieve a life worth living. You need not struggle any longer. Reach out to us at Enlightened Recovery and call (833) 801-LIVE to learn how we can help. You can find recovery from addiction.

Why Is Eating Organic Food Good for Me?

Written by Enlightened Recovery on . Posted in Recovery.

In Unlocking Eden, Joe Horn and Daniel Belt explore the idea that man needs elements from the earth to survive. We must understand that the earth provides us with incredible nutrients to ensure our health and total well-being. The closer our intake comes from natural resources, the more nutrition we receive. The more nutrition we put in our bodies, the more capable we are of healing from sickness and overcoming stress.

Food can heal us or create dysfunction in our bodies. As you enter recovery from addiction, whether it be from alcohol or other substances, you will need to detox your body and reprogram yourself to live your life in total health. One part of developing complete well-being is eating healthy foods. Healthy foods do not include chemicals.

At Enlightened Recovery, we know you need to detox from all harmful substances, including the pesticides found in most fruits and vegetables as well as the harmful effects of hormones and other additives found in processed foods. True healing comes from the earth and its natural resources, which include organic food. Organic produce is grown without the use of pesticides or other harmful chemicals. It is important to recognize why incorporating organic food into your diet can change the course of your recovery and your life for the better.

How Can Organic Food Improve Well-Being?

In the article, “The Potential Influence of Organic Food Consumption and Intention-Behavior Gap on Consumers’ Subjective Well-Being,” authors Diana Ismael and Anjelika Ploeger examine the relationship between food and well-being. They found that three dimensions of well-being were impacted by participants’ use of organic food in their diets. The study found participants to have better physical, mental, and emotional health as they ate more nutritious foods.

An aspect of eating “organic” is the likelihood that you may adopt a healthier lifestyle. Not only are you eating foods that are more nutritious, but you are also more likely to treat your body better and have more respect for yourself.

Relative to overcoming addiction, using whole foods while detoxing will improve your success in recovery. Avoiding chemicals of any sort during detox will improve your health and better enable your body to thrive, which will improve your outlook on life and push you into optimal well-being.

What Is Optimal Well-Being?

Optimal well-being is the ability to thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally. As you decrease the chemicals you put into your body, you are better able to develop resilience and withstand the pressures and stresses of daily living. As you battled addiction, you might have also been battling malnutrition. You may have stopped eating, or you may have just been eating to keep going, supplementing your energy levels with quick fixes of sugar and caffeine, which resulted in “crashing” and struggling to keep going. In short, your body was not at its best.

Organic food does not facilitate “crashing” as the substances wane in your body. Instead, organic food lasts and provides you with essential nutrients as you go about your day. This lack of “crashing” enables you to avoid using substances to keep yourself going. Organic food helps you develop good health patterns and helps you continue to choose a healthy lifestyle.

Good Nutrition Enhances Confidence

At Enlightened Recovery, we know the better you physically feel, the more engaged you will be with your life and your recovery. Engagement with life may have been difficult as you were struggling with addiction to alcohol and/or other substances or behaviors. You may have been hiding from the stress of life, trauma, or other health conditions. As you press into recovery, you will learn how to balance your life, but first, you must learn to help your body find balance – and that comes with good nutrition.

Good nutrition creates the ability for your brain to function at its best, which allows you to process your emotions and address your needs. Being able to process your emotions, needs, and wants is essential in recovery. When you deny yourself nutrients, you deny yourself a life worth living and inhibit your confidence.

Having a life worth living involves integrating your emotional self-care with physical self-care. You cannot expect to have your best life unless you are caring for all aspects of who you are. The beginning of self-care begins by taking care of your body, which means proper nutrition, exercise, sleep, and good hygiene.

At Enlightened Recovery, we want to see you achieve your best life, which is why we focus on holistic healing and have nutrition and wellness groups. We know you have struggled. You deserve your best life.

The time has come for you to begin your best life. Eating whole and organic foods can improve the outlook of your physical, mental, and emotional health. At Enlightened Recovery, we provide holistic care for your whole being. We provide nutritional support and want you to experience whole-body healing. We know detoxing from alcohol and/or other substances can be difficult and want to give you the tools for success and help you develop long-term health, avoiding all chemicals in your food, which is why we offer organic farm-to-table food. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction to alcohol or other substances, the time has come to find whole-body healing. At Enlightened Recovery, we are ready to help you build your best life – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Contact us at (833) 801-LIVE and learn how to start eating and living in total health. 

Gardening: A Little Dirt Won’t Hurt

Written by Enlightened Recovery on . Posted in Recovery.

Do you have a green thumb? It is the time of year for planting and growing. Maybe you look forward to this season, or perhaps you would rather do anything other than spend time weeding, planting, and harvesting. It does get a little dirty, after all.

You may feel intimidated by gardening, having little experience or exposure to plants. The truth is, anyone can reap the benefits of gardening and caring for plants, green thumb or not. It just requires a willingness to dedicate a little time to interact with nature and the desire to learn.

Gardening, while it seems simple, can actually be very therapeutic. Believe it or not, this theory dates back to the late 1700s, which is when gardening was first considered to be a form of therapy used to benefit individuals suffering from mental illness. Since then, horticultural therapy has evolved and become more widely utilized in various clinical and treatment settings.

Horticultural Therapy Defined

Horticultural therapy is defined as the use of gardening or plants to improve one’s mental or physical health. Methods can vary depending on the population being served and for what purpose. Strategies could include caring for plants, viewing plants or nature, or harvesting food from plants. This form of therapy can be used in many different settings such as hospitals, treatment facilities, and even prison systems. Studies have shown vast improvements in both mental and physical health of individuals who were exposed to or engaged with gardens or green spaces during times of need.

Benefits of Horticultural Therapy

The therapeutic effects of gardening result from several different components of the activity. In summary,  gardening combines physical activity with social interaction and exposure to nature and sunlight. Gardening typically takes place outdoors in an esthetically pleasing setting. Various studies have been conducted on the benefits of spending time in a green space, and what could be greener than a garden? Regular interaction with nature has been shown to improve healing and reduce stress and anxiety. Even viewing trees or plants can help improve your mood and promote positive change. Engaging with nature results in even better outcomes.

Maintaining a garden requires care and attention. This level of dedication has tremendous benefits for those experiencing hardships. Gardening can serve as an outlet, something positive to focus on during treatment. Many battling drug or alcohol addiction feel as though they have lost control of their lives. Maintaining a garden offers a sense of control and responsibility for something that feels manageable.

Reduces Stress

Gardening has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, which, in turn, reduces stress. What about gardening specifically reduces stress, you may ask? Spending time caring for plants or even pulling weeds distracts your mind from other, more burdensome thoughts and directs your attention to the immediate task you are completing. Spending between 20-30 minutes in nature or caring for a garden significantly reduces levels of the stress hormone, resulting in a more calm and peaceful mood.

Encourages Productivity

There is nothing quite like getting to watch and enjoy the fruits of your labor. By growing your own food, herbs, or even flowers, you are able to see the product of your hard work. Caring for plants and feeling responsible for them can create a sense of purpose. This can be very rewarding and even empowering during a time when you may feel powerless in many aspects of your life.

Promotes Physical Activity

If you have ever worked in a garden, you know it can be hard work! There is quite a bit of bending, digging, and movement involved. Gardening is a great way to squeeze in a little physical activity that feels less like exercise and more like a hobby. Growing your own food also encourages healthier eating. You are more likely to eat healthy foods when they are easily accessible. What area is more accessible than your backyard?

Gardening During Treatment and Recovery

Spending time caring for plants or a garden during treatment and throughout recovery can serve as an excellent therapeutic outlet. As mentioned, gardening can help ease the negative thoughts and burdens you may be carrying by directing your focus to the present. The environment alone can be uplifting, and feeling the responsibility to care for something and succeed in that task can be very rewarding.

Health and wellness are incredibly important during treatment and throughout recovery. Gardening promotes healthy eating and physical activity and encourages frequent exposure to nature. Each of these components is important to good mental and physical health. Experiencing nature is encouraged throughout treatment and recovery, so time spent getting your hands a little dirty in a garden is time well spent.

Gardening is a hobby for many, but for others, it can also be very therapeutic. Caring for plants or a garden produces a sense of purpose, pride, and responsibility. When these efforts are successful, and you are able to see the outcomes of your work, it can be very rewarding and empowering. Spending time in nature has been proven to have healing benefits and improve mental and physical health. Gardening encourages physical activity, outdoor exposure, and healthy eating, all of which work together to promote overall well-being. Enlightened Recovery incorporates gardening as part of the treatment experience and encourages frequent interaction with nature. Allow us to help you discover a more fulfilling life by offering programs designed to give you a healthy and fulfilled life. If you or someone you care about is battling substance abuse, call Enlightened Recovery today at (833) 801-LIVE. 

Take a Hike! Why Is Nature Important to Health?

Written by Enlightened Recovery on . Posted in Recovery.

Nature is our life-support system. According to the World Health Organization’s report, “Ecosystems and Human Well-Being,” nature is “indispensable to the well-being and health of people.” The first element of a person’s needs, according to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, begins with one’s environment: food, water, and shelter.

Our environment sustains us, both emotionally and physically. Without nature, we would have nothing. As the world becomes increasingly urban, finding options for natural experiences becomes limited. Our ability to live well and eat well is determined by supermarkets and screens. We often opt for quick fixes for our attention, cognitive well-being, and wellness. However, the best fix for what ails us can be found in green (parks, trees, and fields) and blue (water scenes, oceans, and rivers) spaces.

Our health relies on how we feed our minds and bodies. When one considers this, the option of farm-to-table eating becomes more necessary than before.

What Is Farm-to-Table?

Farm-to-table was developed in 1915 by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. He believed the ability of farmers to sell directly to consumers and that individuals growing their own food was more beneficial than over-commercializing the process of getting food to consumers. So, farm-to-table was born and encouraged local produce to be delivered to more localized areas, improving residents’ health outcomes. When food is grown and produced locally, it offers a surplus of personal and environmental benefits.

For example, when grown and consumed locally, honey protects consumers from local allergens. Local meat and vegetables grown by individual farmers have greater nutritional content than those grown on large corporate farms. Sustainable and conscientious farming occurs more often at the local level than in larger corporate farms. Also, when using a farm-to-table focus, food is delivered safely with less waste and more focus on consumer needs.

Healthy eating is just one benefit of nature. This nature intervention benefits our physical well-being through food, but there are other benefits to be derived from nature.

How Can Nature Help Our Mental Health?

Research shows that various experiences with nature are associated with improved mental health status. Experiences in nature can have a positive effect specifically on our cognitive well-being, including functions related to:

  • memory
  • attention
  • impulsive inhibition
  • imagination
  • creativity

As a society growing more and more fixated on screen time, we ignore the many benefits that nature offers. There was a lower incidence of mental and physical health problems in years past since people more readily engaged with nature. Also, there was less urban development, meaning more nature was available to the public at large. As opportunities to engage with nature declined, stress increased, and positive well-being decreased.

Mental health is critical to the development of self-esteem, creativity, and one’s ability to withstand stressors without resorting to behaviors that can cause long-term problems. Nature provides a means of developing positive well-being, either by actively engaging with it or simply observing it.

How Can Nature Impact Our Physical Health Beyond Food?

While eating a healthy diet from locally grown food can benefit our bodies, another benefit to our bodies comes from experiencing nature. Being in nature is known to:

  • Improve cognitive functioning related to:
    • concentration
    • memory
  • Increase productivity
  • Increase sense of community
  • Improve self-esteem, mood, and relaxation
  • Improve heart health

In an article published in the Health Place journal, researchers explain how everyday contact with nature can improve quality of life and reduce the impact of disease in multiple populations. Overall, there is growing evidence of the positive impact of nature on one’s physical well-being. This impact should not be overlooked.

How Can You Best Interact With Nature?

While society has moved away from wide-open spaces, finding a means of experiencing parks, trees, and open fields will improve your mood and other health outcomes. The same can be said for walking along waterways and seeing rivers, oceans, and streams. Any form of nature exposure will help improve your outlook on life and help you develop positive coping skills for dealing with difficult situations.

However, for those that live in urban areas, finding opportunities to explore and experience nature may be difficult. So, viewing photos and videos – and even imagining being in a natural setting – can improve your mental health and reduce the risk of physical problems.

At Enlightened Recovery, we recognize the value of engaging with the natural world. We provide access to Hope Farm and other natural resources, which enable our clients to enjoy local trails and local produce. We believe in the power of nature to improve well-being both physically and emotionally. We believe in holistic care and treating the individual’s whole self: body, mind, and spirit.

Experiencing nature is critical to beginning the process of recovery and becoming your best self. At Enlightened Recovery, we recognize nature as an important component in healing from addiction to alcohol and/or other substances or behaviors. One’s well-being in recovery is dependent upon a variety of factors, not just overcoming addiction, which is why we focus on helping the whole person and offer holistic therapies. We follow 12-Step programming and encourage our clients to pursue complete recovery in all aspects of their lives. We offer a variety of services beginning from detox to outpatient care and believe in your ability to recover. Our caring, professional staff are ready and able to help you. Reach out to us today and learn how we can support you in finding your best life. Call Enlightened Recovery at (833) 801-LIVE and begin the process of recovery. You are worth it. 

How to Process Grief in Addiction Recovery

Written by Enlightened Recovery on . Posted in Recovery.

Grief is something we all experience at some point in our lives. Some may experience this feeling more than others. Grieving during addiction recovery comes with an additional set of struggles. Grief can tend to leave us more vulnerable to temptation as a fix to ease the pain we are feeling. This being the case, it is imperative to seek help in the form of therapy and accept support from addiction recovery communities during this time.

5 Stages of Grief

Grief, as we experience it, comes in five separate stages. Each stage encompasses its own perspective, symptoms, thought patterns, and reactions. These five stages include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages may be experienced in no particular order and the length of time spent in each stage can vary from person to person.

#1. Denial

The denial stage is one most spend the first few days, or even weeks, experiencing after the onset of grieving. This stage involves living in a state of preferred reality as opposed to actual reality. Instead of processing what is really occurring, you may be thinking and responding as if circumstances were different. Many describe a feeling of numbness during this stage. This can sometimes serve as the body’s first line of defense, allowing for a less impactful reaction to the situation.

#2. Anger

The feeling of anger and rage tend to follow the denial stage. At this point, reality has set in, and you may be feeling extremely angry at the reality of the situation. You may be wondering why this has happened to you or feel as though you have been dealt a bad hand in life. Blaming others can be a common response during this phase, as you may be desperate to assign responsibility to someone. It is important to allow yourself time to feel angry and accept these emotions. Anger opens space for coping and healing to begin.

#3. Bargaining

The next stage involves the “what if” scenario. If this one little detail had been different, would the outcome have been the same? While there may be a million different if/then scenarios, the reality does not change. During this phase, you might find yourself trying to negotiate with God or a higher power to reverse what has occurred.

#4. Depression

After throwing in all of your chips and coming to terms with the inefficacy of your negotiations, you may begin to feel empty, hopeless, or withdrawn. The symptoms commonly associated with depression creep in once you have exhausted every effort to avoid, assign blame, or change the outcome of the situation. This may leave you feeling very overwhelmed by life in general or even numb.

#5. Acceptance

The final stage of grief is acceptance. This involves re-entering reality and facing it head-on. While you are not OK with the circumstances, you understand that life will go on, and you will be OK. The stage can include good days and bad days and some days that fall somewhere in between. This is a period of transitioning and adjusting to life as it is now.

Grief and Addiction

Unfortunately, studies have shown a correlation between grief and addiction. Grief can often serve as the trigger for the onset of substance abuse or can be the reason for relapse. As a result, experiencing grief during treatment or in recovery can be especially devastating.

Seeking support during a time of grief is important for everyone. If you are or have battled with addiction, feeling supported and receiving guidance throughout the grieving process is vital. Grief can bring about intense negative emotions, some of which you may feel the need to avoid or escape. This can make it tempting to fall back into bad habits or look for a temporary fix to help ease the pain. Seeking and participating in various forms of therapy, support groups, and engaging with the addiction recovery community can be very beneficial.

Therapy

There are various forms of therapy that can be helpful in coping with times of grief. These can include group therapy specific to your situation or individual grief counseling. Additionally, holistic therapies such as sound or art therapy can be very beneficial to the healing process.

Community

During treatment, you learn to lean on your community in times of need. If you are grieving, this qualifies. Engaging with others who may have a similar background and are going through or have been through similar situations can be an excellent tool for healing. Feeling understood and supported by others during such a difficult time can promote healing and help you move forward.

Grief can be very difficult to cope with for anyone but can be especially tricky for those in treatment or recovering from substance use disorders. Grief comes in five stages, and most experience some form of each stage before they are able to move forward and carry on with some version of life as usual. Seeking support during each stage of grief and learning how to cope with the feelings that may accompany each stage can be vital to remaining on track with treatment and in recovery. You do not have to experience and cope with grief alone. At Enlightened Recovery, we offer a variety of therapeutic options to promote healing and teach coping strategies. We provide a recovery-focused community and take pride in our whole-person treatment approach. If you or someone you love is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, give Enlightened Recovery a call today at (833) 801-LIVE. 

Why Is Community Building In Recovery Important?

Written by Enlightened Recovery on . Posted in Recovery.

We are our best selves when we surround ourselves with people who care about us and desire for us to achieve our goals. Recovery is challenging work and is best managed when we have the loving support of others in our lives. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) explains that there are ten components in recovery for mental health and addiction issues. Of those components, three are focused on community: relational, peer support, and person-driven. These three aspects of recovery signify the importance of community and force the recognition of recovery requiring a community of support.

Recovery Does Not Occur in a Vacuum

Our recovery impacts more than our own lives, just as our disease impacted more than ourselves. The beauty of recovery is not only in our ability to focus on living our best lives for ourselves but also in our willingness to invite others into our lives and help them as they help us.

Recovery happens best when we allow others to help us. Most recovery programs involve the development of a support system, whether it be from friends and family or from others who are also striving for their own recovery. One important thing to remember as we push toward recovery is that we need help, and we cannot recover on our own.

Why Have Community?

Having a community or a healthy support system enables people to live their best lives and be their best selves. Having a healthy support system is having a healthy community. While every member of the support system may be struggling with different problems on different days, there remains the possibility of support for that person and for yourself through the different members and allies in your support system.

When you are struggling in recovery from addiction to alcohol and/or other substances or behaviors, having a friend who can hold you accountable can enable you to succeed in recovery.

Finding Community

The most beneficial aspect of community as you press into recovery is the solid realization that you are not alone.
Addiction robs us of our dignity and our lives. As we progressed in our disease, we felt increasingly alone, escaping from our support systems and hiding our behaviors. Choosing recovery means choosing life and choosing to engage with those we love, opening ourselves up to being loved.

Recovery involves choosing people over behaviors. This choice suddenly helps us find community and the impressive knowledge that we are no longer alone.

Why Is Recovery Relational?

As SAMHSA explains, “Recovery is supported through relationships and social networks. A crucial factor in the recovery process is the presence and involvement of people who believe in the person’s ability to recover.” Support systems are essential to recovery. Having a support system can be a defining factor in the success or failure of one’s recovery. Having people who believe in your ability to overcome addiction to alcohol and/or other substances and behaviors can be the catalyst for change in your life.

Your support system needs to have people who do not stigmatize you based on your disease. You are not your disease, and having a support system consisting of people who see you beyond your diagnosis and past behaviors is critical to your success.

Many people care about you. You may not realize that, but as you progress in your recovery, you will find yourself surrounded by people who care about you and want to see you succeed.

What Does Peer Support Mean?

Peer support involves your allies in recovery. While there are people who think support comes best from those who understand the disease, such as health professionals and/or others who have struggled, in truth, support can come from anyone. Your allies in support are your friends, neighbors, family, faith leaders, and community members – those with whom you are willing to share your struggle and ask for help.

Another valued aspect of peer support is your helping others. Do not believe any internal dialogue suggesting you are incapable of helping others because of your own struggles. Instead, recognize how, because of your life experiences, you can offer unique insights into the struggles of other people. You play a role in your support system. You can help others too. By helping others, you are helping yourself.

Quality of Support

You have the right to recover. A diagnosis does not define you. You have the right to live your best life. As such, you need to be surrounded by people who believe in you and are willing to help you engage yourself to your highest potential.

As an individual navigating recovery, you have the right to choose your support system. You are empowered to know what you need and who is best able to support you as you push into a life of recovery. Developing a support system is not just about having a certain number of people ready to support you. Remember that quantity of persons able to support you does not equate to the quality of support.

Your Community Is Vital

As an individual, you have the right to recover in your own way, choose those in your support system, and ask for help. Asking for help is critical to your recovery, which is why a support system is so vital for your recovery and overall wellbeing.

Understanding that you are not alone in your pursuit of recovery is the basic building block of a successful recovery. At Enlightened Recovery, we recognize your need to have a solid support system, which is why we have an integrated approach to recovery in all of our clinical settings. As you pursue recovery, Enlightened Recovery provides resources for you and your family to help ensure your success. Our clinicians come alongside you as your allies in recovery. The most important thing we want you to realize as you pursue recovery is that you are not alone. We are ready and willing to help you take the next steps toward your recovery. Contact Enlightened Recovery and learn how we can help you begin building your best life and become your best self. Call us at (833) 801-LIVE and choose a life of community and growth.  

Yoga: A Physical and Mental Experience

Written by Enlightened Recovery on . Posted in Recovery.

What comes to mind when you hear the term “yoga?” Do you envision a group of women in their mid-twenties wearing designer outfits pushing through the session just to call it done and get brunch after? The truth is, yoga can be a social experience and is very “in” right now, along with other forms of group wellness techniques. Despite its modern appeal, yoga has been around for thousands of years, and there are great reasons for its continued prevalence in the health and wellness space. Yoga has been proven to provide various physical and mental benefits to those who practice regularly.

Physical Benefits

There are several physical benefits of yoga. Yoga encompasses flexibility, strength, and balance. Improvements in any of these areas can make daily life easier and more enjoyable. For example, better balance can mean an easier time walking or engaging in other exercises. It can even make getting dressed each day a bit simpler. Have you ever almost lost your balance while trying to pull on your pants? I think we have all been there. Having better strength and flexibility allows us to stay mobile and have less of a struggle with things like carrying in the groceries or doing laundry. Yoga is an excellent addition to an existing workout routine or a great place to start if you are looking to begin exercising.

Yoga is low impact, meaning it is more gentle on joints and the overall body than many other forms of exercise. This benefits you physically in that you are better able to maintain practicing yoga long-term, and you can practice more frequently, with it requiring less recovery time. This aspect also makes yoga an excellent choice for older adults, those who may have injuries or have had injuries in the past, or someone just beginning their fitness journey.

Yoga is known to have cardiovascular and digestive benefits and can improve musculoskeletal and nervous system functioning. Basically, it is a one-stop-shop for physical health perks. After battling addiction, your body may not be at its healthiest.; incorporating yoga into your routine can help get things moving in the right direction.

Mental Benefits

Like many other forms of physical activity, yoga can have tremendous benefits on mental health. Just as walking or weight training releases endorphins to improve mood and energy, yoga has a similar effect. However, what is different about yoga is that it encourages you to connect with yourself. This can help bring more self-awareness and introduce useful coping strategies to be utilized beyond just your yoga practice.

Additionally, yoga has a very relaxing effect on the mind. You are encouraged to focus only on the present moment, removing any distractions, worries, or burdens you may be consumed with. Practicing yoga can help reduce stress resulting in better sleep and overall daily functioning. Research suggests that yoga can be beneficial in navigating stressful life situations and can be helpful in easing some symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Body and Mind Connection

Yoga encourages a mind and body connection. While other recreational activities may require this skill as well, few are as intentional in encouraging this relationship. This connection makes yoga so unique and, in many cases, healing. Seeing this connection grow stronger with practice can be very empowering and can transfer into other facets of life.

During yoga, you are encouraged to focus on your breathing and the ways in which your body is moving throughout the exercise. This establishes skills that can be useful in other situations as well. For instance, you can become better equipped to handle stressful situations as they arise by controlling your response to the stress. Additionally, you can become more in tune with your mind and body and, as a result, become better able to identify and understand your own needs.

Yoga has been proven to enhance overall health and well-being and, as part of a treatment experience or throughout recovery, can be instrumental in promoting success. With an emphasis on learning breathwork, practicing focus, and centering, you are better able to cope with the stressors and obstacles you may face throughout your journey to recovery.

The mental and physical benefits presented here are just a few of the advantages yoga can have on your quality of life. Learn more about the benefits various forms of yoga can have on specific substance use disorders (SUDs) here. By choosing to incorporate yoga into your plan for treatment, you are benefitting your mental and physical well-being in a way that is sustainable long-term.

During treatment, addressing and focusing on the whole person is imperative. Part of this approach includes considering physical and mental health. By assessing the status of each individual at intake, clinical staff at Enlightened Recovery are able to select treatment strategies that are most appropriate. This includes encouraging consistent engagement in activities to promote improvement in each area of need. Enlightened Recovery walks the walk of a holistic treatment approach by prioritizing the individual needs of each client and targeting each area of improvement to ensure the best possible outcome. By incorporating various forms of non-traditional therapies and treatments into our curriculum, we guarantee an experience unlike any other. Allow us to create a plan tailored to your needs and situation, and support you in becoming a better version of yourself. If you or someone you love is battling drug or alcohol addiction, call Enlightened Recovery today at (833) 801-LIVE.

The Inner Workings of Rehab

Written by Enlightened Recovery on . Posted in Addiction, Addiction Recovery, Recovery, treatment. No Comments on The Inner Workings of Rehab

Recovery from alcohol or drug addiction isn’t easy. Overcoming addictive behaviors and staying sober requires motivation, support, and expertise. Rehab centers offer just this. They offer evidence-based treatment approaches under the guidance of professional staff and provide compassionate care to help you develop the skills to overcome your addiction and remain committed to sober living.

What Is the Difference Between Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab?

There are two types of rehab centers – inpatient and outpatient. Outpatient centers offer part-time programs that fit in around your daily life. Programs may offer 10-20 hours of treatment each week so you can continue to work and fulfill other obligations.

Inpatient programs are intensive, residential rehab programs where you stay in the treatment facility. Programs vary in length but most last at least thirty days. Inpatient programs offer a safe and controlled environment with twenty-four-hour medical support. They tend to be more effective than outpatient programs for more severe cases of addiction. 

What Treatment Options Do Rehab Centers Offer?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the most effective treatment programs offer a combination of different treatment options tailored to match each individual’s needs. Everyone’s experience of addiction is different, and no single treatment approach suits everyone. Rehabilitation programs tend to offer a variety of different therapies and holistic healing approaches to provide a treatment experience that works for you.

These treatment options may include:

  • Individual therapy
  • 12-step program
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Dialectical-behavioral therapy
  • Group therapy and support groups
  • Experiential therapies such as music therapy and art therapy
  • Dual diagnosis
  • Family therapy
  • Yoga and meditation
  • Medically assisted detox

Addiction treatment programs help you identify the causes of your addiction and develop the skills to overcome them. This may involve learning what your triggers are and how to avoid them or developing coping skills to deal with triggers in healthy ways. 

Rehabilitation also aims to improve your mental and spiritual well-being. It is a chance to find joy and inspiration in sober life and commit to your recovery journey.

What Is Dual Diagnosis and How Does It Help Treat Addiction?

Almost 50% of people with a substance use disorder also suffer from another mental health condition. Co-occurring disorders like anxiety and depression can be the driving force behind addiction. If ignored, they can cause addictive behaviors to resurface, even after years of sobriety.

Dual diagnosis programs treat co-occurring disorders alongside addiction. They offer a holistic healing approach that aims to treat the entire person. Dual diagnosis helps you overcome the underlying causes of your addiction so you can maintain sobriety in the long term.

What Are The Different Stages of a Rehab Experience?

A recovery program usually begins with an in-depth assessment of the nature of your addiction and your circumstances. This allows therapists, medics, psychologists, and other staff to design a treatment plan to suit you.

For most people, the next stage in the recovery process is detox, to remove all traces of the substance and its toxins from your body. Rehab centers typically offer medically assisted detox to ensure that withdrawal is as safe and comfortable as possible. 

After detox, the main part of the treatment program begins. You participate in therapy sessions, support groups, and other treatment modalities over several weeks or months. During this time, you learn and develop the skills you need to overcome addiction.

The final stage of rehabilitation is aftercare. Recovery is a lifelong process that requires continued support and commitment. Rehab programs may connect you with support groups in your local area, provide you with a sober companion, or offer guidance to family members. 

Aftercare programs help you to stay supported and motivated once you have left a rehab center and guide you to lifelong recovery.

If you are struggling with addiction or substance abuse, recovery can seem scary or even impossible. However, with the proper support, anyone can recover from addiction. 

At Enlightened Recovery, we offer our clients a variety of evidence-based tools to assist them with moving forward in their sober journey. We focus on healing the whole person and not just treating their addiction. Our world-class treatment program is rooted in the 12-step philosophy and offers each client an individualized recovery plan.

We offer a range of advanced treatment modalities, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), family constellation therapy, art and music therapy, yoga and meditation, massage, acupuncture and chiropractic care. Our location near the southern shore of New Jersey offers unparalleled healing and relaxation.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, please call us at (833) 801-5483 for more information.

 

 

How To Avoid Alcohol Relapse

Written by Enlightened Recovery on . Posted in Recovery. No Comments on How To Avoid Alcohol Relapse

What is Relapse?

Once you leave an addiction treatment facility or outpatient program, the work doesn’t end there. You have most likely heard about the risk of relapse as something that can undermine the recovery process; however, it doesn’t have to. Understanding relapse, its causes, and how to avoid it is a key part of remaining substance-free and maintaining abstinence in the years to come.

Addiction relapse refers to a return to drug use after an attempt to stop and is a well-chronicled risk with any substance use disorder. In the case of alcohol use disorder (AUD), it refers to any time you drink alcohol after an intentional, sustained period of abstinence.

Relapse has three stages, and each stage has distinct characteristics:

Stage One: Emotional

The first stage of relapse can find the person isolating from others and missing 12-step meetings. They may find that previous mental health concerns begin to resurface, and they start to neglect their personal appearance and self-care.

Stage Two: Mental

This stage of the process presents with mental health changes; glamorizing or fantasizing about past drinking, internally negotiating over drinking and re-engaging with friends they used to drink with. They may also start to plan how they can drink again.

Stage Three: Physical

This is what most people imagine when they think about relapse; when a person in recovery starts drinking again. It is the hardest phase to fight back against and usually only occurs following an unmanaged period of emotional or mental relapse.

Causes of Alcohol Relapse

Many situations can trigger an urge to drink again. Some common occurrences that might lead to relapse include:

Sudden Changes or Crises in Personal Life

Many different things can upend a person’s stability. Job loss, grief, breakup, and changes in housing all put us under a great deal of mental stress. When this happens, coping mechanisms come into play. An effective treatment program will help build strategies for emotionally taxing situations, but these habits need to be maintained; otherwise, the temptation to return to the old crutch of alcohol may re-surface.

Return To Old Routines

Old situations, places, and people that used to trigger binge drinking are usually still accessible when someone is in recovery. If a person starts to go back to the routines and interactions of pre-recovery life, it’s likely to accompany a step back into an addiction mindset.

Untreated Mental Health Challenges

Substance use disorder often occurs at the same time as mental health or mood disorders (e.g. anxiety, depression, or PTSD). When someone in recovery suffers from these conditions without treatment, they can hinder an attempt to stay sober.

Negative Thinking Cycles

When negative thoughts arise and aren’t understood or managed, they can begin a cycle that leads addictive thinking to return. Thoughts can include negative self-labeling (I’m an addict), all-or-nothing thoughts (I thought about drinking, so my recovery has failed), catastrophizing obstacles (I can never overcome this upcoming challenge), or just be as simple as a total fear of change. Thinking like this can be managed, but it can break down our confidence and undermine our sobriety when it is left unchecked.

Isolating From Support Structures

When someone stops scheduling meetings with their sober partners or attending AA meetings, they isolate themselves in two ways. Firstly, these meetings provide a structured space to connect with the emotional side of recovery and offer the opportunity to talk and help each other through the challenges of remaining abstinent. Secondly, disengaging removes any accountability – something that can be used as an effective tool against relapse.

Relapse prevention is a core goal of effective addiction treatment. These setbacks can typically be overcome with effective coping skills, planning, and reflection. It is also essential to keep up with one’s community of support. Engaging with family and friends and allowing them to actively take part in the recovery journey makes the road a lot smoother.

Not everyone experiences a relapse, but it is not uncommon and can certainly be overcome. Avoid enabling. If you or someone you love has relapsed, understand that this does not mean returning to square one. This is a moment to figure out what extra support may be necessary and what areas of life have contributed to the relapse, then working out coping mechanisms to help prevent it from happening again.

We Can Help

At Enlightened Recovery, we offer clients the tools and techniques they need to overcome these obstacles and live a happy, sober life. Our therapeutic treatment is rooted in the 12-step philosophy and is designed to help you heal and stay sober long-term. In addition to talk therapy, we offer a range of holistic treatment modalities, including meditation, art and music therapy, and family constellation therapy. If you or a loved one wants relief from alcohol addiction but is struggling with relapse, please call us today at (833) 801-5483.

Understanding MAT

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Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is an effective approach to addiction treatment. As the name implies, MAT uses medications to help those struggling with addiction overcome their condition.

SAMHSA defines MAT as ‘the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a “whole-patient” approach to the treatment of substance use disorders.’

Medical intervention is one aspect of a broader approach used in addiction treatment. Medication helps clients manage their problematic symptoms. As a result, they can engage more in other parts of treatment. Clients in addiction recovery programs receive intensive psychotherapy, behavioral therapy and counseling, as well as life coaching and skills building alongside medical support.

What Does MAT Treat?

MAT treats clients struggling with:

  • Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
  • Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)

The medications used in MAT promote healthy brain chemistry by rebalancing the hormones and chemicals in the body that have become out of balance due to alcohol or opioid misuse.

Some MAT medications block the effect of alcohol and opioids on the brain. This serves to reduce cravings and helps clients get through the withdrawal stage of recovery. 

Other medications prevent the body from becoming overwhelmed by abstinence from a given drug. For example, sudden cessation of opioid use can be dangerous if the client has a physical dependence. As such, MAT would involve substituting the client’s substance of misuse with a safer, controlled substance, such as methadone. 

What Are MAT Medications?

Methadone

Methadone is an effective medication used in opioid addiction treatment. Methadone treatment aims to ease the withdrawal symptoms that occur when a client stops using opioids. Withdrawal is one of the leading causes of relapse. Methadone helps clients get through withdrawal safely so they can start the rest of their recovery.

Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine reduces cravings for clients struggling with OUD. Similar to methadone, Buprenorphine is a partial agonist which means it activates the opioid receptors in the brain, but to a far lesser degree than a full agonist. Buprenorphine, unlike methadone, does not produce a high. 

Naltrexone

Naltrexone is prescribed under the brand name Vivitrol. Naltrexone reduces cravings and lowers rates of relapse in both OUD and AUD. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, which means it blocks the brain’s opioid receptors. As such, it becomes impossible to achieve the ‘high’ associated with opiate-derived drugs. MAT providers use Naltrexone after the detox stage of recovery, not before or during. 

What Are the Benefits of Medication-assisted Treatment?

SAMHSA reports that MAT helps clients struggling with AUD or OUD achieve and maintain sobriety. MAT supports clients on a chemical level while also supporting their behavioral health through behavioral therapies. 

Addiction treatment programs use MAT to suit the client’s needs. Some medications and therapeutic approaches will be more suitable than others, depending on a range of factors, such as your history of drug misuse and your current health status. MAT’s comprehensive and tailored approach offers a range of benefits to clients. Benefits of MAT include:

  • Increased engagement in rehab and therapy
  • Increased likelihood of completing a rehab program
  • Decreased symptom severity
  • Improved chances of gaining and maintaining employment
  • Reduced risk of relapse

Why Choose MAT?

There are many reasons to opt for MAT if you are struggling with AUD or OUD. MAT is an effective treatment approach for both of these disorders. Delivered alongside counseling and behavioral therapy, MAT is an integrated approach to addiction recovery. It can increase the time a person spends in treatment, which increases their chance of recovery success. 

Some people disregard MAT as substituting one drug for another, but this is not the case. MAT is safe. While MAT involves drugs, the medications used are highly regulated at a federal level and are FDA approved. MAT promotes addiction recovery by keeping the body as safe as possible. It reduces the risk of overdose that might happen if a client were to seek illicit drugs on the street. 

MAT is an approach to addiction treatment endorsed and supported by:

A comprehensive and integrated approach to treatment, MAT is a leading treatment type for both alcohol and opioid addiction. By easing withdrawal symptoms, MAT promotes greater resilience and encourages a deeper commitment to one’s recovery. 

At Enlightened Recovery, we offer our clients tools to use as they move forward in a sober lifestyle.  We focus on healing the whole person and not just treating the addiction. Enlightened Recovery is a licensed co-occurring treatment center. We treat both substance use disorders and the mental health issues that frequently accompany addiction.  Our treatment program is rooted in the 12-Step philosophy and provides each client an individualized recovery plan. At Enlightened Recovery, we offer a range of treatment modalities, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), family constellation therapy, art and music therapy, yoga and meditation, massage,reiki, acupuncture and chiropractic care, and equine-assisted therapy.  Our facility near the picturesque southern shore of New Jersey allows us to provide optimal healing and relaxation. If you struggle with addiction, or if someone close to you does, please call us at (833) 801-5483 for more information.