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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.

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.

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:

Anyone who suffers from an addiction knows that recovery is a challenging, lifelong process. We must constantly be aware of our stressors and triggers to note if we are in a situation where we feel the need to repeat old negative patterns of behavior. The beginning of our recovery journey can be particularly difficult, because relapse can be a terrifying concept to grasp. When someone relapses, it disrupts their recovery process by involving a temporary lapse in addictive behaviors. Many people who are afraid of relapsing or who have already relapsed are afraid that they’ve failed themselves, their loved ones, and their recovery – but it’s important to note that relapse is an opportunity for those in recovery to learn more about what they need to heal.  There are three main ties to relapses – physical, mental, and emotional.  Emotional relapses may occur in a person and while this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will go right back to their old addictive habits, it is the first stage of the relapse process and could be a tell sign that they might relapse soon. Strong emotions, like jealousy, hatred, anger, sadness and more can all lead a person to begin thinking and feeling emotions that could eventually lead ot physical relapse. Mental relapses occur when a person is at war between using the drug/substance and staying sober. At this stage of relapse, a person has fleeting thoughts of using and it’s hard to keep these thoughts at bay. A few characteristics of this may be lying to the people closest to them, romanticizing using the substance/drug in the past, dwelling on people, places, or things that tie directly to the addiction, and hanging out with people whom they’ve abused substances within the past. Physical relapse is the actual act of relapsing – the person uses substances for a period of time, and this is when they must go back into recovery mode and find out what they can do to strengthen their 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:

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:

Addiction takes a person away from embracing the present moment. When addiction is present, it becomes much easier for a person to go on this endless chase of substance abuse, losing sight of close connections, financial health status, physical health status, career aspirations, goal setting, hobby exploration, and more. Thoughts become centered around using rather than about anything else, and with that, a person’s priorities change. Hobbies, friends, family, work projects, and more can all fade away as addiction takes over, and recovery is all about bringing these things back.

Throughout the course of a relationship, a number of trials and tribulations can arise. If you’re with a significant other who has been struggling with addiction, you’re both bound to experience some major ups and downs – some of which can cost you your relationship, either purposefully or not. By recognizing some of the main obstacles you’re both facing, you will be able to work through them more effectively in therapy sessions at Avalon Malibu; addiction recovery can take a major toll on the relationship but by being proactive and learning about what you’re each going through during this extremely challenging time, you’ll both be better prepared to work together through this.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is experienced by many adults – and children – throughout the United States. OCD is considered a mental health disorder that includes obsessions (unwanted thoughts) and compulsions (repeated actions). Oftentimes, television shows try to depict OCD in certain ways – such as a character knocking on the door a certain number of times or needing to wash their hands a certain number of time before being able to move on. However, it’s important to note that obsessions of OCD can be much different from what tends to be depicted.

Addiction is a complex disease that brings about compulsive behaviors to use, and with this comes great vulnerability in finding other things to become addicted to in recovery – even if a person has no intentions of this happening. For many people new to recovery, it’s a process of learning how to live life without substances; it’s hard to break habits, and over time, the mind and body become acclimated to having a drink or using drugs during certain times of the day, around other people, or in certain situations. For those in recovery, it’s about “re-learning” how to live life without certain substances – and learning how to not pick up new addictions in place of the old ones.  Experts have found that those in addiction recovery need to give incredibly careful consideration to what they consume, especially if they have addictive potential.

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: