Recovery

Even the most hardworking people in addiction recovery find themselves in sticky situations, including relapse. There will be moments in life where it feels like a relapse isn’t as pressing as it really is – and then, when it happens, those in recovery quickly realize that they’ve gotten off track.   Those that are in recovery and take their addiction seriously can also find themselves struggling for sobriety in moments when it feels like everything is falling apart, and, in some cases, even when everything is going really well. Studies explain that relapse occurs when a person stops working towards achieving their goal of reducing substance use or of sobriety, and so they return to using again.   If you’re at the beginning of your recovery journey, or even if you’ve been working towards sobriety for some time, it’s important to understand that relapse can occur – but with the right tools and resources provided at Avalon Malibu, you’ll find yourself back on the road to recovery.  Addiction is a brain disease, and to those on the outside looking in, the issue seems simple: if a person has an addiction, they should simply quit. One of the most debated questions in addiction recovery is whether or not relapse is a personal moral failure or just a part of recovery. The reality is that drugs and alcohol affect the brain’s reward center, which involves dopamine, a chemical that, when released in excess amounts, leads to feelings of euphoria. From there, the addiction directly changes the brain’s chemical structure, and even in recovery, the brain will still try to revert to the behavior it had when a person was still abusing substances. Even on a basic human level, changing habits of behavior is hard. There are so many self-destructive behaviors that humans get into, such as eating unhealthily, not exercising enough or over-exercising, smoking and much more. All too often, humans tell themselves they’ll stop pursuing a dangerous habit, only to find themselves doing it again within a few days. Change is hard – and that’s part of why relapse can happen sometimes.   For those in recovery, a relapse often happens when a period of that uncontrollable urge arises; relapse is truly a normal process because the mind, body, and spirit are adjusting and it will take some time for a person to become used to what’s happening. Take a look at the stages of change that tend to coincide with addiction recovery and relapse: Stage 1: Precontemplation – It’s hard for a person to comprehend that they have a problem, and they really don’t feel the need to seek out help. Stage 2: Contemplation – a person is ready to stop feeling so “stuck”, but they’re having difficulties understanding the causes of the problems they’re experiencing. This is when a variety of emotions may arise, such as fear, excitement, etc. Stage 3: Preparation – when a person is at this stage, they’re starting to feel ready to make a change, and they’re talking about it with others. Stage 4: Action – at this point, the greatest commitment of time and energy take place and changes are more visible in that person’s life. Stage 5: Maintenance – those who’ve completed official treatment but continue to take part in recovery-related activities will find that maintenance is needed in order to remain sober.  Stage 6: Relapse (optional) – devastating situations in a person’s life, along with various periods of over-confidence, depression and other difficult moments can cause a person to fall back into old patterns of addiction. If you’ve recently relapsed, it’s better to approach the situation with a sense of positivity. Relapses can provide a lot of lesson learning and there is so much that you can gain from this experience; in many cases, it’s an opportunity to learn and strengthen healthy coping mechanisms. A part of healing could be identifying what led to the relapse, including what people, places, and emotions cued for it to happen. Once we learn of what caused us to have this urge, we can start taking proactive steps to ensure that those things do not affect us as heavily next time.  At Avalon Malibu, individuals can speak with a therapist to explore different reasons for why their relapse occurred, or can even discuss relapse in group therapy; for those in addiction recovery, this mode of treatment can help people to not only talk about their lived experiences but can open up the platform to learn from others, too. From there, a specialized treatment plan can be created and the risk of relapse can become minimized as more tools are provided that treat an individual’s specific needs. There are several other areas of recovery that can help a person recover from relapse, too:

Recovery is a difficult road to process without proper support. In addition to this, it can be incredibly difficult to thrive and succeed in recovery when there are so many resources and so much knowledge out there that we’re not quite aware of yet. During the first few months – and even in the first year – of recovery, you’re going to find what propels you in addiction and what holds you back. You’ll likely hear a lot of tips from those who’ve been in recovery for a long time, as well as some advice from those who are also new to recovery but have learned from personal research or from others what helps people to succeed. No matter where you’re at in the recovery process, you must carefully consider the decisions that you make – and don’t make – to see how it affects your health and wellbeing during this time. One mistake that many people make in addiction recovery is consuming too much sugar. This becomes what is called “transfer addiction” where a person, for example, replaces a substance like cocaine for sugar. Sugar activates the reward system in our brain in the same way alcohol, drugs and other addictions do – and by consuming too much sugar, you’re really setting yourself up for a transfer addiction.  Another mistake that can occur in addiction recovery is spending too much time alone. There are several reasons for while people do this, such as: 1) to keep their “mask” on, 2) in an attempt to deal with all the changes that are taking place, 3) to avoid pain, and more. Isolation happens because we’re not sure how to make sense of our lives at the time – but the key is to remain patient. Lastly, coffee is harmful to recovery. Coffee has caffeine, which actually increases our stress and anxiety. When we drink coffee, our adrenaline increases, which can also worsen our anxiety. Keep this in mind if you’re consuming too much coffee.

When it comes to addiction recovery, there are many methods of healing that can be pursued. For many people, holistic massage therapy provides a safe space for healing and restoration. Holistic massage therapy at Avalon Malibu is tailored to each client’s unique needs, and considers their mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. Holistic modalities of massage can include shiatsu, traditional Chinese medicine, hand and foot reflexology, acupressure, energy work, rocking and shaking, and Thai massage – and you can discover what type of holistic massage therapy treatment works best for you. As you can see, these forms of massage take a more Eastern approach as compared to Western approaches, which include hot stone massage, aromatherapy, prenatal massage, deep tissue massage, and more. Sore muscles, increased circulation, increased nerve flow, lower blood pressure, improved immune system, ease of depression and anxiety, increased flexibility and mobility, and reduced inflammation are several of the many benefits that holistic massage therapy can provide those in addiction recovery:

Whether you’re hosting, attending, or neither, New Year’s can bring about stress. On top of cooking or hosting a party with friends and family that you may not have seen for a long time, it can also be stressful to think of all the goals that you’d like to accomplish this upcoming year – especially if you have anxiety and a fear of failure. With the right mindset however, anxiety and stress does not have to hold you down at the start of this next year. Here are several wonderful tips that you can use to get through it and stay focused on your addiction recovery:

Whether you’re in recovery or not, you may be trying to figure out what you’re going to do for Christmas or New Years. Both of these holidays can bring about a lot of stress and anxiety if you hold certain expectations about the holiday and how it should go. Many people enjoy going out to eat with their friends or significant other, while others may decide to host something at home or even make themselves dinner at home and relax. No matter what you decide to do for the holidays this year, make sure you boost your recovery by incorporating the following foods into your diet:

Many people who’ve battled with mental illness and addiction have been neglected or forgotten by their loved ones because they were deemed “too hard to deal with”. As humans, we all experience painful situations and moments in life, but it can be particularly destroying to feel as though we’re not being loved unconditionally by those who matter most to us. A treatment center should not be a place that perpetuates these feelings – it should be a place of love, acceptance, and nurturement so that a person can thrive in recovery.  In many cases, both addiction and mental illness have developed out of painful situations from the past or even difficult emotions. Treatment programs that focus strictly on changing outward behavior, or ones that only provide support only for what’s seen on the physical side cannot truly provide their clients with unconditional love – the parts that make everyone human cannot be recognized. The reality is that addiction and mental illness involve more than just themselves; they involve finances, health, relationships, nutrition and so much more, and all of these aspects of living need to be tended to as well. You deserve to have full support throughout your recovery. Not receiving this could be very detrimental to your success in recovery; unfortunately, too many people are discharged from treatment and come back over and over again, not achieving their desired results because they weren’t given the proper love and care to begin with. This case, as well as previous research, underlines the importance of full love and support as you work to better yourself in recovery. You should feel that your voice is heard and that your preferences – if they are in line with what you need – are met.  If you’re ready to meet with a treatment center that truly cares about your mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing, speak with a. professional from Avalon Malibu today.

Along with the holidays comes planning gatherings, cooking meals, buying gifts for friends and family, decorating the house, getting together with loved ones, talking about daily lives, driving to and from places, and much more. Many aspects of the holidays can be stressful; if you’ve recently lost ties with family members because of addiction, or if you’re in addiction recovery and find it hard to celebrate with friends and family for Christmas as you usually do, the stress and anxiety can really pack on. Mindfulness is a wonderful technique that can help you stay grounded, focused, and relaxed – try these mindful tricks to help you through the holiday season:

While the topic of addiction tends to revolve around loved ones who are battling with this dangerous disease, families have a foundation that can be significantly disrupted when a loved one is involved. Personally, family members tend to experience a rollercoaster of emotions that can affect the way the family functions as a system overall, and, if not resolved in a healthy manner, family members may break to the point of miscommunication and, ultimately, severed ties. If your family is currently in recovery from addiction, it will be long process – but with the right tools and resources from Avalon Malibu, you’ll be just fine. Self-care is needed in order for a person to feel mentally, physically and spiritually fit. It is defined in deliberate actions, and truly depends on what a person feels they need to heal and recover. Family members – both individually and as a whole – need to be implementing self care on a daily basis and as soon as possible in order for the healing process to jumpstart; of course, self-care and healing truly take place when a person is personally ready for it. Family members who have hope, who practice healthy coping skills and who are ready to change tend to experience the greatest effects of healing in recovery. During this vulnerable time, family members can practice a range of other self-care activities, such as:

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:

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.

Massage therapy is used to help manage health conditions, as well as to help enhance individuals’ wellness. With massage therapy, muscles are manipulated in a way that eases pain and reinforces healing; for many people, massage therapy is an excellent addition to treatment at Avalon Malibu as the mind, body and spirit work to heal and rejuvenate from the negative aftermath of substance abuse. One type of massage therapy in particular - Thai massage - can greatly help a person relaxes and provides many benefits. It’s a bit different from traditional massage therapy approaches in that it involves the client lying on a padded mat on the floor, in which a masseuse guides and manipulates a person’s body into yoga positions and stretches.  Some clear benefits are Thai massage are lowered stress, boosted energy levels, experiencing greater relief from headaches, enhanced circulation, improved range of motion and so much more.Thai massage can assist with all types of back pain as well, including upper and lower back pain, neck and shoulder issues, osteoarthritis of the knee, headaches and other conditions. For those in addiction recovery, the pain experienced from withdrawal and general healing can really wear a person down physically and mentally. Massage therapy, such as Thai massage, can gently help a person improve their mental, physical and spiritual health while promoting sobriety in their recovery journey. Alongside receiving Thai massage, it can be helpful for those in recovery to practice daily breathing and stretching exercises. For those who are more comfortable staying fully clothed, Thai massage can also be a great opportunity for staying relaxed without having to take off clothes. If you’re ready to explore Thai massage, along with a variety of other holistic practices aimed at benefiting your addiction recovery journey, speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu today.