Healthy Living

When we’re talking about substance abuse, nutrition is rarely the focus of the conversation. A few simple drinks after work hours can easily translate into several more drinks at home every evening. Similarly, occasional drug use with friends can eventually turn into nightly intoxication sessions. At the time that it’s all happening, it could feel completely harmless. However, when you’re not paying attention is often when bad habits can develop. These bad habits can, eventually, take over your life.  If you’re in recovery for addiction, you can probably recognize that it’s been harder for you to focus on your health and nutrition because substances have taken up so much time and energy. It might be difficult to go shopping for healthy, nutritious foods and to schedule time each week to exercise when our brain has become wired to crave substances, even if we’d rather work against it. If you feel like you’ve got a long way to go, don’t feel discouraged. Just as your brain and body became trained to crave substances, you can retrain them back towards healthy living by working hard in treatment.

Many Americans have begun exercising because they’re starting to realize the benefits that exercise can have on a person’s daily life and longevity. Exercise isn’t just for the typical athletic, high energy, health fanatic – in fact, practically anyone can exercise. The key is finding what kind of physical activity works best for you. Those who want to take proactive and preventative measures to health will find that exercise helps maintain this ongoing goal. Individuals in addiction recovery may find physical fitness especially helpful, utilizing consistent exercise routines to help them become stronger mentally, physically and spiritually.

Massage therapy has been used for centuries to help treat a number of health conditions and to improve wellness, including for those pursuing addiction recovery. Massage therapy can become an excellent addition to addiction recovery, as the mind, body and spirit work to heal and rejuvenate from the negative effects that substance abuse can cause. One type of massage therapy in particular - Thai massage - can be incredibly relaxing in several different ways. It’s a bit different from traditional massage therapy approaches in that it involves the client laying on the floor on a padded mat, in which a masseuse then manipulates their body in different positions.

If someone were to tell you that you’d be able to get acupuncture right now, how would you feel? Would you be excited, or nervous? For many Americans, acupuncture seems like a terrifyingly painful experience – just the thought of a bunch of small needles poking your body is enough to make most people cringe. A popular practice in the Eastern world, the Western world is still learning to become more open to holistic treatment methods like acupuncture. Countries such as China have used acupuncture for preventative health measures for so many years – and the biggest difference between countries like China and countries like the United States, are all based on approach. Western practices consider medicine to be used as a cure or relief to certain issues or illnesses, while Easter tradition utilizes medicine as a means to practice health and wellbeing.

After a traumatic event has occurred – even years after it’s happened, it’s not uncommon for a person to struggle with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For many people, it’s a recurring experience that involves waking up from a terrifying dream, while having been sweating and their heart racing quite fast, then unable to fall back asleep because their nightmares shook them so much. The person who experiences this could range from an older man who’s served in the military, to a young woman who’s experienced a traumatic situation. Trauma and PTSD truly don’t discriminate – but this can make it incredibly difficult for a person to recover if they don’t seek help. Unfortunately, nightmares can occur for many people with PTSD; as the mind and body are trying to recover, those terrifying moments of the traumatic event are stored in memory and all senses can find themselves emerging again the minute the mind recollects the memories of the event – even suddenly. Those who’ve been diagnosed with PTSD tend to experience a wide range of other symptoms alongside their disorder, such as:

Many Americans explain yoga as something that you “do”, but this isn’t quite the case. As it was originally developed into, yoga is a natural state of being – it’s a spiritual discipline that involves breath control, simple meditation, and the incorporation of certain bodily postures to promote health and relaxation. So many people throughout America are practicing the art of yoga each and everyday, and for a number of reasons: flexibility, general conditioning, stress relief, improvement of overall health, and physical fitness. If you’re currently in addiction recovery but are contemplating yoga and are nervous to get started, the reality is that so many other people can do it: why can’t you?  Perhaps you’re in addiction or mental illness recovery, and you’re questioning your flexibility. You may think you’re too big, too old, or “too much” of something to be able to practice yoga – if this is the case, you need to immediately push those thoughts aside because they’re not true. Unless you’ve got a serious health condition that could cause you harm, anyone can practice yoga. The best part is that there are many types of yoga, such as:

Before the ball drops, many people hold deep within themselves these wishes and goals that they’d like to achieve for the upcoming year – goals associated with career, personal growth, relationships and more. Some may reflect on their last year’s goals and feel disappointed because perhaps they didn’t meet the goals they initially set out for. Goals for the next year may include losing weight, drinking less, smoking less, traveling more, spending more time with family, and others – but no matter how much a person wishes to achieve these goals, that doesn’t always mean that they work out. As this new year begins to unfold, it’s time to think realistically. Truth be told, many people don’t achieve their resolutions because they make too many resolutions without focusing on their goals one step at a time. Habits are difficult to break because they have become conditioned behaviors – we have learned to act without thinking. When this happens, we automatically hold back from making any change because we continue to do what we have always done. It becomes so much easier to follow pattern than to create a change in our lives, and that’s why many goals fall by the wayside. Deep down inside, many of us fear failure. We are afraid that if we try to make the change, we may prove to ourselves that we truly aren’t “good enough” or “strong enough” or “dedicated enough” to make our goals happen. For many of us, these fears lie deep down within – and it’s incredibly hard to acknowledge or even recognize. These deep beliefs and fears withhold us from our true potential and cause inner conflict, which then seeps out into other areas of our lives. If you are going to make a New Year’s resolution, don’t commit yourself to an entire year right away. Focus on that week or that month. Slowly work your way into a healthier habit.

So many things happen on Christmas. Parties, dancing, food, music, games – with so much going on, it’s easy for those in addiction recovery to feel overwhelmed. While Christmas time can be a wonderful time to spend with friends and family, there are many physical and psychological risks that can take place. By remaining aware of how you’re feeling, what you’re thinking and what it is you need, you’ll be able to ensure that you have an excellent holiday. Keep the following reminders in mind:

For millions of Americans across the nation, the holidays bring about added stress. So many people feel pressure to make the “perfect” dish, to “impress” others with latest achievements, and to overall “look” the part that is portrayed in media – but naturally, these high expectations can’t always be met, and this can cause considerable anxiety for people as they try their best to go above and beyond. If you’re struggling with anxiety on top of recovering from addiction, it can definitely be a nerve-wracking experience. Here are several wonderful tips for handling anxiety during the holidays:

The holidays are often filled with friends and family talking, playing games, eating and more. While spending time with friends and family can be fun, it can easily get out of hand for someone who is working on their sobriety. Many people drink during the holidays to celebrate, relieve stress, socialize and unwind; unfortunately, this line of thinking also causes people to spend too much money, argue more frequently with their significant other, get in accidents because they weren’t paying attention, become more stressed or anxious, and otherwise avoid real connections with loved ones because of the materialistic nature that consumes our society today. It can be hard to remain sober when loved ones ask us to drink, but here is what we can say:

With Thanksgiving and other holidays coming up, it can be a difficult time for anyone in recovery. Around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays, movies and commercials start to appear that are focused on family, friends, and being together – if a person in addiction recovery is currently not in close quarters with their loved ones, it can feel beyond depressing. These depictions of family around the holiday seasons can make us feel like we have to have this “picture-perfect” holiday if we’re living life the way it’s “meant” to be lived – otherwise, many people feel left out, hopeless and not worthy of love. If this is how you’ve been feeling lately, it’s time to recognize that the myths of family togetherness during the holidays are not always true. Holidays are just days – and just like any other day, they come and go. Not only that, but there are so many people out there who are struggling to get along with family members, or who too are working towards their recovery – so if you find yourself home alone this holiday season, do not be discouraged.

Many people with mental illness are limited in their ability to experience a meaningful life because the symptoms of their illness hold them back from pursuing new opportunities, making connections with others and more. When it comes to recovery, it’s important for people to open up their world to finding greater meaning in daily life. If you’re looking for a program that will help you strengthen your mind, body and spirit while exploring your passions and purpose in life, seek out Avalon Malibu. Previous studies have explored just how beneficial it can be to relax and do nothing. The main question is, what exactly is “doing nothing”? Of course, this can mean something different depending on the person, but most people describe relaxing as getting involved in recreational activities, running, quilting, volunteering, storytelling, and more. Studies have found that doing “nothing” and relaxing, along with pursuing hobbies here and there can actually help make life more enjoyable. A person who engages themselves in these things tends to find that they’re more easily able to socialize, enjoy traveling, and being around positive people who contribute to their daily lives. In addition to this, those who relax and partake in fun activities tend to be more calm and focused on their addiction recovery because they’ve identified healthy outlets that allow them to be themselves as they naturally are. For people who experience troubling emotions, hobbies can be a great form of relaxation because it still gives them something to do while also enhancing their mood. Lastly, relaxation builds friendships and fosters positive emotions because it helps a person focus more on the present moment, which is hard to do otherwise. If you’re ready to seek help for mental illness and/or addiction recovery, speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu today. It’s never too late to seek help.