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First Year in Recovery

Written by Enlightened Recovery on . Posted in Addiction Recovery, Sober Living. No Comments on First Year in Recovery

The first year in recovery is a fragile time. Starting from day one, the people must start following direction and taking suggestions of those who have their best interest at heart. The clinical staff and sober support will have a large part in helping get back on their own two feet. It’s a humbling experience and it takes a whole lot of acceptance from the beginning. Admitting the lack of control over alcoholism, addiction and/or mental health is crucial. This is when people begin to realize the unmanageability of life as it was in the disease. Once there is a willingness to do what it takes to become sober there will be many commitments to be made.  There might be some resistance, but when the person pushes through, the transformation is being made.

Entering a treatment facility is optional but recommended for those who have lost the choice to drink. Patient’s are on voluntary lockdown with no drugs or alcohol. While in different therapy groups, the patients can begin to let go of the painful past. In order to move forward, there must be change in the way things had been done previously. It is suggested to attend 12-step meetings and begin to work on the 12 steps with a sponsor. The footwork must be a priority before the miracles of sobriety can take place. The miracles may be small or large, but they are present every day.

Upon completing rehab, people can step down into a an after care program and/or sober living. This will give patients a safe environment and while staying accountable. They  should always stay away from old behaviors and preventable triggers. While doing the recommended steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, it’s essential to find the higher power from within. This will help in guiding those who are recovering to do the next right thing in a difficult time.

If the person can help it, it’s suggested to not make any huge life decisions at this time. This time should be selfishly based around sobriety. Sobriety should never be thought of as a sentence, rather a beautiful gift from their Higher Power.

Enlightened Recovery clinical, holistic, and 12-step approach to recovery is a phone call away from taking back your life. Don’t let substance abuse control you anymore. For more information please call today: 833-801-5483.  

Making Lifestyle Changes

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Making lifestyle changes during treatment will contribute to the success of your recovery. When you decide it is time to get help for your drug or alcohol problem, you need to make a lot of adjustments in your life. Living substance-free will liberate you from the grip of addiction and allow you to enjoy everything that life has to offer.

During treatment, you will receive guidance and advice from therapists and counselors who really want to help you get better. Very often, these compassionate professionals have gone through treatment and are recovering from a substance addiction so they understand what you are going through.

Lifestyle changes are necessary to maintain a successful recovery. Friends or people you know who are associated with your drug or alcohol use need to be avoided. By going to group therapy, you will develop new sober friendships with people who will be supportive and encourage you through recovery. People in group therapy want to live substance-free and can help you during challenging times when cravings are intense. Drugs and alcohol are not needed to have fun, healthy relationships.

When you are in recovery and free of toxic substances, you will learn a lot about yourself. Drugs and alcohol once controlled you, but now you can discover your interests in healthy activities. There will be more time to spend with family and participate in family events or get-togethers.

Keep going to group therapy and stay in contact with a sponsor or someone who is sober and can help you when you are in a situation that can lead to relapse.

Staying away from drugs or alcohol will give you more time to develop interests in new activities. The time once spent on using toxic substances will allow you to focus on things you can do. It is easier to relapse when there is a lot of time doing nothing. Boredom can influence you to take drugs or drink because there is more time to think about using again.

Keep a journal and write daily. Write about your feelings, temptations, mood, and success. By writing, you can refer back to how you felt or what made you feel like using. Also, you can go back and see how far you have come in recovery, which will encourage you to stay sober. Staying sober can be very difficult, but is possible and you will be healthier, happier, and enjoy more in life when living substance-free.

Recovery begins with you. You have to make the decision, now, to call and ask for help, get to treatment, and start a transformational, life-changing journey. The power to heal is yours. Let Enlightened Recovery Solutions show you the path of holistic treatment, bringing together the best practices of evidence-based clinical care, proven alternative healing practices, and trusted 12-step philosophy. Call 833-801-5483 today for information on our partial care programs.

 

4 Ways to Stay Clean and Sober

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After treatment, you need to make a lot of adjustments and lifestyle changes for recovery. There will be many challenges that put you at high risk for relapse. Plan a strategy in advance to avoid difficult situations that may tempt you to use.

Here are 4 ways to stay clean and sober:

Join support groups. Keep going to group therapy and support groups during recovery. Many people in these groups are going through the same thing as you. Develop friendships with clean and sober friends who you can call when you feel like you might relapse.

Avoid triggers.

To remain clean and sober you need to identify your triggers and avoid them. This includes any old friends who are associated with your using drugs or abusing alcohol. There might be certain places that remind you of your times using. Stay away from those places. Things can remind you of using such as commercials or programs linked to using or drinking. When you cannot avoid triggers, call on a clean, sober friend who can talk to you to keep your mind from thinking about using.

Exercise.

A great way to stay clean and sober is to put exercise into your daily routine. Exercising will take care of you physically and mentally and is a great healthy activity to participate in.

Keep a journal.

By writing down your feelings, you can reflect on your success and see how your lifestyle has changed. Writing keeps the mind active and you will have less time to think about using drugs or alcohol.

Stay active with interests and hobbies.

Find new activities that interest you such as walking, joining a gym, participating in a book club, playing sports, or you might be creative and join an art class.

Discover activities to keep you busy. Make sure the time you once spent abusing substances is filled with fun, healthy hobbies. This will help you stay clean and sober. Talk to new friends in support groups when you are feeling tempted to use. Rebuild damaged relationships with family and friends. The lifestyle changes will take a lot of time, but you will be able to stay clean and sober and have fun!

If your substance abuse has become a problem, don’t let the problem worsen. The best move to make for recovery from drug abuse is the quickest move by calling and asking for help immediately. Recovery is possible and healing will take place in mind, body, and spirit. Enlightened Recovery Solutions offers a holistic based, 12-step inspired, clinically proven program for alcoholism and co-occurring disorders. Call 833-801-5483 today for information on our partial care programs.

Stressed middle aged man suffering from unhappiness alone at home

New Year’s Resolutions

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It’s the beginning of the year and it’s time for new year’s resolutions. Just like packed gyms with ambitious people looking to better themselves, AA meetings can be the same way. Individuals with addictive personalities can find new goals or resolutions with extreme expectations. Having expectations is a way of trying to control something or someone and that is not suggested. However, if the goal is to take a new lifestyle one day at a time, it’s easier to stay on track. There are a few things to keep in mind while attempting to achieve personal goals.

Be realistic:

Do not attempt to do anything that can be overwhelming. People who have alcoholism, should not say they will never drink again. This can be the manifested but there’s something to be said by starting small. One day at a time.

One thing at a time:

Often times there can be a “pink cloud” or a period of time where there is an intense amount of confidence in early sobriety. This is a wonderful thing, but there should be cautious around doing too many things at once. Getting sober is a huge deal and should be treated so. It’s not recommended to also quit smoking, go back to school, lost 20 lbs, and so on.

Be open:

With sobriety, it’s important to let others know what you are doing. This will help with staying accountable. If family and friends are aware of your goals and resolutions, they will be there to support you at weak moments. If someone is trying to get sober or healthier in any way it should not be kept a secret. Own your new way of life!

Be nice to yourself:

If there are bumps in the road it is important not to dwell on the negative. For example, if someone had begun to live a vegan lifestyle and they had a steak. It’s more helpful to think about what had gone right, rather than slipping. Focus on the positive and let more positive things come. Focus on the negative and more negative

If you are looking to find a new path to recovery for the body, mind, and spirit, help is available. Enlightened Recovery offers a clinical, holistic, and 12-step approach to help patients heal and transform. Begin to make the shift into a hopeful future with us here in New Jersey. Call for more information: 833-801-5483.

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Stay Away From Trigger Drinks

Written by Enlightened Recovery on . Posted in Alcoholism, Sober Living. No Comments on Stay Away From Trigger Drinks

Those with the disease of addiction have many habits that must be broken to move forward in recovery. There may be the need to pick up a non-alcoholic beverage that acts as the replacement to fill the void. This might work at first, but eventually, the void needs to get filled with love and acceptance. However, the mind of addiction has been chemically altered to prioritize drugs and alcohol. As a result, addiction can seemingly sneak around corners to pounce on those with addiction or alcoholism at vulnerable moment. The addicted mind will quickly rationalize and justify an excuse to fall into old behaviors. Those in recovery are suggested to stay away from any practice that gives off any similar feelings which portray old obsessions- namely, self-sabotaging behaviors.

There are beverages such as non-alcoholic beers and wines, which some might find to be a safe option. Although these beverage choices might work for some people, experimenting with them is not recommended. The very action of pouring a glass of beer or wine can be a trigger for the addicted mind. Even if the substance itself doesn’t give the same reaction, the mind begins to act as if it does. This can be the start to a mental or a subconscious relapse- meaning, the brain begins the process of obsessing and craving. If anyone in recovery finds a desire for a faux cocktail, it might be a good time to look at what’s really going on inside. This behavior is too risky in early recovery. Its likely that if this is avoided, there would be less of an urge to partake later in sobriety. Kicking this ritual to the curb will be better in the long run couple possibly give the person more of a chance at staying sober.

Drinks containing 0.5% alcohol are considered to many, to be non-alcoholic. Beverages such as kombucha, have been taken off of shelves and put back on with a 21 and over age limit label- due to this specific alcoholic content. All legalities aside, if there is any trace of alcohol at all in any drink, those with addiction will want to stay away. Any action that allows for the people to act as if they are engaging in addictive behavior can lead to relapse if that person is not well enough equipped to act without relapse.

Enlightened Recovery clinical, holistic, and 12-step approach to addiction can help you! If you are ready to take back your life and understand the root of the cause of addiction don’t waste any more time. Call today for more information: 833-801-5483.

When it is Time to Leave a Relationship Behind

Written by Enlightened Recovery on . Posted in Relationships, Sober Living. No Comments on When it is Time to Leave a Relationship Behind

Patient. Acceptance that addiction has power is vital in understanding the next step in how to execute change. If the enabling remains part of the person’s life with addiction and/or alcoholism, there will be no real reason to get help.

Using friends are the first to go on the path to recovery. Cutting off contact with all bad influences will guide the person away from those who do not and will not support their recovery.

Romantic relationships can be complicated. While it is recommended that there shouldn’t be any big changes in the first year of sobriety, it should be pretty clear when this does not apply. When a relationship is based on the substance, it’s time to go. Unless both parties enter treatment and begin work on themselves, the person attempting to recover could be drawn back into old habits by the person still in the disease. Often times, after sobering up, people in recovery have different perspectives in regards to romantic feelings. It can be painful but for a better future, one must walk away from the past.

Under certain circumstances, the identified patient may only have the option to go back into old neighborhoods and environments. Being sober will be difficult around all of the unavoidable triggers. Becoming involved in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous is beneficial because of the new healthy friendships formed. When times are tough, it’s important to have a sober support network, other than a therapist. As time passes, life will have a brighter outlook and things tend to fall into place.

Enlightened Solution’s holistic, clinical, and 12-step approach is the treatment for anyone whose life is out of control. Begin to heal the body, mind, and soul with our amazing staff here in New Jersey. Don’t wait any longer and contact us today for more information.

Relapse vs. Slip

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The road to recovery will always be a bumpy ride. This is true whether or not the person with addiction or alcoholism has relapses and/or slips during the way. Sobriety is a way of life and there must have a daily reprieve to practice abstinence. Otherwise, the mind will tell people that they can participate in disrupting addictive behavior. When there is vigilance about this fact of life, the likelihood of falling into old patterns will become less and less. Good news is that there are many ways those with addictive personalities can prevent this. It’s important to understand that relapse will be set into motion long before the action has taken place.

When people with addiction and/alcoholism are able to remain sober without using the tools of prevention, it is considered to be a “dry drunk” period of time. This means the mind is essentially still in the disease. The mind still wants to numb itself but cannot. This is not a pleasant way to live life, and it can be quite miserable. The disease of addiction, also sometimes considered the disease of the mind. When the tools are being utilizing at first but then begin to fade the addiction has the ability to swoop in and hijack sobriety.

Old habits and thoughts begin to arise and this is when the subconscious begins to relapse. It’s only a matter of time until the person with addiction and/or alcoholism picks up again. Having said that, it is entirely possible to come back from this moment of weakness and continue down the right path again.

The incidents in which someone is strong in sobriety becomes triggered and has a slip. A slip doesn’t have the period of previously relapsing in the mind and it seems to come out of nowhere. Unlike a relapse, the person can pick up the pieces right away and get back on the right track. Whereas with a relapse, it’s common for there to be a struggle in accepting the disease once again.

Relapses and slips have different consequences for each person. Some might have a slip and receive a DUI, while there may be a relapse that surfaces without a scratch. The fact is, no one knows what might happen once a person with addiction and/or alcoholism give into temptation. Therefore, there must always be a strong willingness to use the tools of prevention to live sober.  

If you are struggling with addiction, alcoholism, and/or mental health, Enlightened Solution’s partial program is waiting to help you. Our clinical, holistic, and 12-step approach reaches each individual’s body, mind, and soul. For more information please call today: 833-801-5483.

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The Four Flower Based Essential Oils You Need For Treating Anxiety

Written by Enlightened Recovery on . Posted in Alternative Therapy, Healthy Living, Mental Health, Recovery, Sober Living. No Comments on The Four Flower Based Essential Oils You Need For Treating Anxiety

Essential oils are not a cure for anxiety. When you notice anxious feelings developing or find yourself in the middle of an anxiety attack, essential oils and aromatherapy can be helpful. By absorbing through the skin, the natural properties of essential oils work into the bloodstream and circulate quickly through the body. As inhaled through the nose, smell, the strongest memory recall senses, immediately alerts the brain to relax. Calming down is one important tool for getting through anxiety. Observing anxious thoughts, understanding triggers for anxiety, and creating a plan for moving forward are equally as important. Until the urgency of anxiety subsides, it is challenging to investigate more deeply into the mind. Here are four flower based essential oils which can help you return to your focus on the breath and create a state of calm during anxiety.

Jasmine Oil

Have you ever walked down a summer street and smelled a sticky sweet perfume that permeates the air? Likely, it was a kind of jasmine. Jasmine is an ancient and potent flower regarded for its perfume and its healing properties. Research has found that jasmine influences the nervous system by causing relaxation and alertness. Though anxiety can feel like being too alert in a hypervigilant manner, jasmine oil can help stimulate mindfulness by becoming alert regarding one’s own anxiety.

Lavender Oil

Lavender is often regarded as nature’s miracle flower. An antiviral, antibacterial, and deep relaxant, it is little wonder as to why almost every product sold for relaxation has lavender in it. As aromatherapy, and essential oil rubbed into the skin, or a scent in any soap or tangible product, lavender is instantly relaxing. Try using lavender in a warm cup of milk, on top of toast, or in any other dish.

Roman Chamomile

Chamomile, like lavender, is synonymous with sensual relaxation. Most popular in a tea from, chamomile is known for being relaxing and soothing. Roman chamomile has been proven to be more potent than regular chamomile as both a tea and an essential oil.

Rose Oil

The smell of roses is sweet and awe-inducing. Nature’s most perfumed product captures millions with their perfect beauty and different scents. As an essential oil, rose oil acts as an anti-depressant and a calming agent, helping to soothe the mind and the body.

Holistic treatments and alternative therapies set the partial care programs at Enlightened Recovery apart by truly focusing on healing mind, body, and spirit. For information on our programs for addiction and dual diagnosis issues, call 833-801-5483.

3 Reasons Why You Won’t Let Yourself Be More Spiritual

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Spirituality isn’t a requirement for recovery, though many find it to be. When entering treatment or recovery, you will hear a lot of talk about the spiritual lifestyle. If you are resistant and closed-minded, these are three common reasons why.

  1. You Believe Spirituality Is Based On Beliefs: Spirituality is a universal experience not associated with any one denomination or sect of religion, faith, or belief. Spirituality doesn’t even have to include a “God” or a higher power. The definition of spirituality is “the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.” Spirituality is a belief of its own, in that you believe it is important to develop beliefs beyond the spiritual world you see around you. Most “mystics” or higher vibrational members of different religions consider themselves spiritual above all else. Spirituality transcends the confines of the visible and obvious.
  2. You Believe Spirituality Takes Work: Spirituality might mean regular work with a spiritual mentor, going to churches and ceremonies, studying ancient texts, or reading through shelves of self-help books. Spirituality certainly can mean those things. However, spirituality doesn’t have to mean those things. Spirituality falls under the old saying you get out of it what you put into it. The more you explore spirituality the deeper your spiritual beliefs and philosophies will become. Understanding the spiritual lifestyle and spirituality is part of the spiritual process. Everything in life takes some kind of work. Practical understandings of physics include exertion and force. Your every thought, movement, and breath requires some kind of work. It took work to develop a chemical dependency. It took work to reach out and call for help. It takes a bit of work every day to continue choosing recovery.
  3. You Believe Spirituality Is A Fake Front: Authenticity is a popular term among people who try to live a more spiritual lifestyle. Being authentic means experiencing one’s own emotions and energy without judgment and a superficial need to be anything other than what and who they are. Sometimes, spiritual people can be very happy- almost, too happy. Other people who are hesitant toward spirituality often believe that spirituality making people happy all the time is a fake front. Authenticity is about embracing all emotions. Spirituality and spiritual practices can help in cultivating and embodying your authentic self, without judgment or comparison to others. Interestingly, judging others for being fake or criticising them as fake is often a pattern of the ego. Spiritual practices often focus on the ego, the idea of self and self-importance, and eliminating or reducing the ego through humility. Spiritual humility is recognizing you are neither greater nor less than any other human being. Everyone is deserving of love, compassion, and empathy.

Enlightened Recovery has created an integrative partial care program for addiction, alcoholism, and dual diagnosis issues which focuses on healing the mind, body, and spirit. Providing compassionate holistic care and proven clinical therapy, our programs help clients create a new life of recovery. Call 833-801-5483 today for more information.

Navigating Difficult People, Not Difficult Situations, In Recovery

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In recovery, we are taught to live life on life’s terms. Yet, we are rarely taught to live life on people’s terms. People are difficult. Life presents us difficult people. A good situation can turn into a difficult situation when we are dealing with difficult people. Recovery in our lives puts us at both an advantage and a disadvantage for dealing with difficult people.

The Recovery Advantage

Compassion and empathy have been shown to us since the beginning of our recovery. We have been shown the way for understanding that difficult people go through or have gone through difficult things. After all, not too long ago, and probably sometime soon, we have been difficult ourselves. Love and tolerance is our code, we are taught through the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous and other programs. Tolerating others while continuing to love them regardless of who they are is something we learn in recovery. However, it is often easier said than done.

The Recovery Disadvantage

Learning to love and tolerate others has been the result of learning to love and tolerate ourselves. We have a common saying in recovery, if you spot it, you’ve got it. Developing an attitude of gratitude, being kind toward others, and maintaining peace in our lives has taken great work. Our lives were in the worst place they had ever been. Through hard work we pulled ourselves out and made the changes. We can’t know what anyone else is going through. As a result we tend to make judgments. It couldn’t be worse than living with a life-threatening addiction or a mental health disorder! How worse or not worse the cause behind someone’s tendency toward being difficult is doesn’t matter. Cultivating empathy and practicing compassion continues to be key

Here are three suggestions for navigating a difficult person in another wise not difficult situation.

  1. Be Kind: Sometimes all a difficult person needs is the loving-kindness of an understanding stranger. Rather than be averse, show them the same kindness and patience which has been shown to you so many times.
  2. Bring Peace: We cannot resolve every situation by being a peacemaker. What we can be is peaceful, which tends to have a peaceful effect. Bring the peace by not creating conflict out of difficulty.
  3. Surrender Control: being right, proving a point, showing someone how difficult they are- these are all wasted efforts for the sake of trying to be in control. We cannot control every difficult person we encounter. We can’t control any of them. Radical acceptance is the practice of embracing the totality of what is, as it is.

Learning to live is the reason we get sober. At Enlightened Recovery, we are showing clients how to live a peaceful, holistic lifestyle. Our programs seek to heal mind, body, and spirit by bringing together the best of alternative healing, holistic therapy, and clinical treatment. For more information, call 833-801-5483.