Treatment

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) emphasizes that addiction is a complex brain disease – and not one single form of treatment can work for everyone. Even after formal treatment has been completed, aftercare is crucial to ensuring a smooth transtion from treatment to home life. In many cases, aftercare is an emotional yet satisfying period of a person’s recovery, because they’re able to take what they’ve learned in treatment and utilize those strategies in their everyday lives. Whether it’s you or a loved one who has recently completed treatment, it’s important to begin considering what aspects of aftercare are needed for a smooth transition – and what will set you or your loved one up for the most success in long-term sobriety. At Avalon Malibu, support is provided on a complete continuum of care. Aftercare is built into all treatment programs, and clients are easily able to remain integrated in addiction recovery support groups even once formal treatment has ended; in fact, many people find that they’re easily able to adapt to home life while attending these types of programs in the evenings throughout the week. Transitional guidance is provided in a number of areas, such as:

Our lives are entirely complex, filled with thousands of thoughts, feelings, moments and more. All of these impact us not only on a daily basis, but also in the long-run – in the grand scheme of our lives. True health and well-being is based in three primary areas that tend to cover nearly every aspect of living: mind, body and spirit. Part of addiction recovery is working on emphasizing these three areas of life – because addiction in and of itself can take away from these areas more than we realize.

We all need a strong reason for why we want to improve our lives or make positive changes, and addiction recovery isn’t any different. Everyone’s reason for pursuing a life of sobriety is different – but that reason is incredibly important, because it’s what keeps us motivated. Writer Kendra Sebelius explained for Healthy Place, a website that publishes relevant information related to a variety of health conditions, that motivation is what helps us push through despite the struggles. In every journey, there will be obstacles to overcome – and if we can keep our eye on what matters to us in the long run, we’ll be more likely to achieve our recovery goals

In 2017, a young woman’s story was published via the U.S. News; at 11 years old, she had her first blackout as she was partying with her cousin. She explained, “I thought it was really insane…it’s like the brain suffers a mechanical failure. The problem with all this is that it’s funny in some ways and horrible in others.  Drinking too much and too fast can cause blackouts, and they’re incredibly common – especially in a culture that supports excessive drinking. If blackouts are occurring frequently in a person’s life, this could be a sign that they’re battling alcoholism – but in many cases, individuals don’t even know this because it’s considered quite a “normal” experience. Healthline, a website that publishes information related to a variety of health conditions, notes that as a person’s blood alcohol level increases, the rate and length of a person’s memory loss will also increase. The ”day after” or the “morning after” are often situations filled with humiliating details, but the after-math effects are serious; along with not remembering what a person is doing while experiencing a blackout, they may also have: impaired vision, impaired judgment, difficulty standing, walking and more. For those who understand the severe impact of alcoholism, recovery is about understanding not only the harmful effects that these behaviors can cause to our body and to those around us, but also understanding the mechanisms for how alcohol directly affects the brain.

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) gets the brunt end of many jokes, as people tend to throw the term “narcissistic” around way too easily. Individuals who simply appear vain or self-conceited may be considered to have NPD by the general public, by there are specific diagnostic criteria that need to be met in order for a person to genuinely have this disorder. In fact, everyone has narcissism – if we didn’t, we wouldn’t have enough confidence in ourselves to pursue jobs and other opportunities. Even with the bad reputation that often surrounds NPD, the truth is that those with this disorder deserve more support – because just like any other mental illness, people with NPD have underlying concerns that need to be respectfully addressed. Medical News Today recently explained that NPD is a dramatic personality disorder; those who are diagnosed with this tend to have a preoccupation with success and power, as well as an excessive sense of superiority. On the outside looking in, it may seem as though people with NPD have all the self-love in the world – but in reality, there’s often an underlying blanket of insecurity and lack of self-esteem. Earlier this year, writer Katie Heaney shared the story of a man with NPD whom she interviewed via The Cut, a website that publishes information and stories related to style, self, culture and power. The man explained: “People judge narcissists’ actions, and they have no clue whether it’s narcissism or not…people get almost everything wrong about narcissism because they confuse it with psychopathy.” Those with NPD tend to not realize that they’re defending themselves in ways that harm others; in fact, most people with NPD only want to feel genuinely worthy. If you or a loved one are struggling with signs of NPD, speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu today. Holistic care can provide many options for treatment, and with a team of people there for support, recovery is possible.

The American Holistic Health Association (AHHA) explains that holistic health is an approach to life. It emphasizes the connection of the mind, body and spirit – and with this approach, we’re all responsible for maintaining our own levels of wellbeing. Holistic practices in addiction recovery are used to help restore the balance of a person, and they’ve become increasingly popular as Western societies have begun realizing just how much of an impact these practices can have on a person’s wellness. Susan Walter, MBA and current president of AHHA, explained that holistic health is based on several truths:

For many years, there has been much debate over the benefits of 12-Step programs – but as more programs have been developed, there are now other options to compare to as well. Recovery is different for everyone, and it truly all depends on one’s personal approach. Holistic healing is about the mind, body and spirit – and taking the path that suits the individual is key. If you’re at the beginning of your recovery journey, it’s worth considering some of the benefits – and differences – to each type of program, so that you can make an informed decision before moving forward with either one.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective forms of treatment for addiction recovery; with various approaches to recovery, numerous studies have shown time and time again that CBT can help individuals replace old, negative thoughts patterns with newer, more productive ones. If you’re currently in the beginning stages of recovery, it’s important to note that substance abuse often serves as a “solution” to the pain that we’re experiencing – but by developing healthier coping mechanisms, such as through CBT, we become better equipped to deal with challenging life circumstances.

Whether you experienced a car accident, an attack or some other painful event, there’s no doubt that injuries take a long time to heal. The psychological wounds left over from traumatic incidents can take a long time, and the physical component of healing can be a treacherous journey. When we experience an injury, we discover that we’re no longer able to do some of the things we used to – and, in many cases, the pain and discomfort can weigh heavily on us. For many Americans, the road to healing from injury is a long, challenging one – especially when certain medications are involved. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published the story of a young woman named Brenda, who went through a car accident on her way to the grocery store. After seeing many doctors and nurses for the injury, she was given prescription medication for pain relief – but after long, she began taking more than she originally intended, and that’s when addiction began to sink in. “She felt lonely and isolated, and was suffering. Everything else took a backseat in her life, including her friends and family. Brenda became addicted to heroin, a point that she never thought she would reach.” The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains that while greater screening procedures are in place to help stop people from abusing medications, it still continues to take a heavy toll on people around the world. What originally begins as a opportunity for healing eventually transcends into a need for relief – and, over time, it becomes easier to transition to greater drug use. The longer addiction is active, the greater damage that can occur to a person’s mind, body and spirit; once help is sought, the path towards rejuvenation can take place. If you or a loved one have begun abusing prescription medications, speak with a professional from Avalon Malibu today. The sooner you seek help, the better.

The term ‘supervised detox’ sounds a bit terrifying, but what exactly does it mean? We know that for many people in addiction recovery, they undergo severe circumstances in which they can’t face alone. Quality treatment is about providing optimal mental, physical and spiritual care so that clients can feel safe and secure while healing; a publication by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) explained that supervised detox may prevent, “…potentially life threatening complications that may appear if the patient was left untreated”. Far too often, those who struggle with addiction attempt to heal at home – and this can be incredibly dangerous, specifically as the mind and body require steady decreases in substance doses to help detoxify a person without sending their body into shock. With supervised detox, a qualified healthcare team is there to support a person 24/7 – which not only ensures that they’re on the right path towards healing, but also ensures their safety as well. As the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) emphasizes, however, supervised detox won’t work as a one-step form of treatment. Those seeking recovery undergo supervised detox as a first step towards health and wellness – from there, it’s time to work towards recovery. Long-term abstinence is best achieved when a person has a “clean slate” – in other words, has gone through detox and is able to start making daily choices that benefit their mental, physical and spiritual wellness. At Avalon Malibu, there are a variety of recovery-related activities that can propel a person’s success in recovery, such as through individual and group therapy, massage therapy, yoga, meditation, art therapy and more. Supervised detox may last a few days, and while it may seem a bit frightening, it’s much less frightening than the prospect of losing your life – or your loved one – to unsafe detoxification practices. Don’t wait any longer to begin the path towards healing. There is an entire team here ready to help you overcome addiction and onto your journey in recovery.

Earlier this year, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Insitute (NIH) explained that sleep is a core function of the human body – and without it, we may experience mental and physical health issues, injuries, loss of producitivity on the job, and greater risk of death. When substances are actively involved in our lives, our sleeping patterns may shift and become less stable because alcohol and other drugs can change the structure of our brain. This means that in active addiction, we’re likely receiving a lot less sleep than what is truly needed – and in recovery, sleep becomes more important than ever before because our mind, body and spirit need that resting period to rejuvenate. There are two basic types of sleeping movement that we all go through: rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM. The first is the stage that we’re in when we’re dreaming – and the latter describes a phase in which we’re experiencing deep sleep or slow wave movements. The Fix, a website that regularly publishes information related to addiction and recovery, explains that sleep disturbances are quite normal for those in early recovery. In fact, other studies have shown that those in addiction recovery are more likely to also have a sleeping disorder – and it will take some time to restore this process, but our daily habits can have a significant influence on our progress. Therapist Austin Brown stated, “I think at the most basic level, the stuff that keeps us up at night early in the recovery process is the same fears, anxiety, trauma and regret we used over...It isn’t until we begin settling some of those outstanding emotional balances through recovery work and therapy that we’re able to find general peace.” As you can see, sleep and addiction recovery go hand-in-hand; it’s important that we work hard to restore the mind, body and spirit so that we can also achieve sleep that will help us rejuvenate.

There are many types of approaches that can be taken to addiction recovery – and it all depends on what works best for the client. Holistic, comprehensive treatment is about assessing an individual’s needs and getting an understanding of who they are, including their medical history, their family history, major life stressors, mental health report and more. Put simply, recovery should consider a person’s mental, physical and spiritual wellness – and in some cases, didactic group therapy could be an excellent addition to a person’s program.