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Recovery is a beautiful and miraculous process. Over the course of just a few months, family members can watch their loved one transform from the picture of desperation to an example of hope. Through recovery, people learn how to change their lives, live differently, and find new meaning. Recovery is not easy in the beginning. Indeed, life is not always easy. Living without the proper coping mechanisms can make life feel like an endless struggle. For many, the ability to get through that struggle doesn’t seem to come. They don’t practice using the tools they’ve been given. Most problematically, they lose their sense of meaning in continuing to try. One of the gifts of recovery is gaining new friends. Growing up in a fellowship surrounded by peers who are in the same phase of recovery is an unparalleled experience. Tragically, one of the realities of recovery is this: not everyone makes it. Drug overdose and death related to alcoholism occurs every single day. A consideration portion of those lives lost are people who were recently in treatment or have been in recovery at some point in their lives. For a loved one in the treatment process or living a new life of recovery, losing close friends and acquaintances is an unfortunate part. What Comes Up Losing a friend to a shared illness is deeply unsettling. When your loved one’s friend passes from the disease of addiction, your loved one will be reminded of how serious recovery needs to be taken. What it is that causes one person to relapse but inspires another to stay sober is a mystery. Some call it luck while others call it willingness. Remind your loved one they are doing a magnificent job in their program. Tell them how inspired you are by their dedication to their sobriety and about your faith in their ability to maintain lifelong recovery. How to be supportive The truth is, unless you are in recovery from addiction as well, there is no way for you to know. Working through treatment to gain a better understanding of oneself so as not to relapse and potentially die and alcoholic or addicted death is a unique journey. Support your loved one by honestly telling them you can’t imagine what they’re going through. You have, likely, lost someone in your life before. Show sympathy and compassion to your loved one by letting them know the pain of grief is universal. Offer to take them to sober support meetings, accompany them to services, and be available to talk whenever they need. Avalon By The Sea offers aftercare and an alumni program to graduates as a way to keep in touch and stay supported. Ongoing accountability through program participation helps ensure long term sobriety. For more information on our long term methods of care, call 1 (888) 958-7511.

Should you stay in contact with an ex-partner when entering treatment for mental health or substance use disorder issues? For most the immediate answer is a resounding, “NO.” Many come to terms with their need for treatment on the tail ends of a recently ended or ending relationship. Different mental health disorders can treat relationships in different ways. From codependency, to dependency, to avoidance, to abuse, relationships can cause both positive and negative effects. Treatment is a time to focus on taking care of yourself and primarily your relationship with yourself. A relationship with a partner might be over for good. Treatment is the perfect time to work with individual and group therapists to process the breakup and relationship. Treatment is not the time to try and focus on getting back together with someone who is unhealthy, abusive, or encouraging of you to continue using drugs and alcohol. Once cell phone privileges are restored, it can be tempting to engage in “exting”. Exting is texting an ex-partner for a myriad of reasons. Before pressing send, try this mindfulness practice to check your motives. Pause. Close your eyes. Breathe. Before doing anything, take a moment to center and ground yourself in the present moment. It’s easy to get swept up in nostalgia for the past or desires for the future. Finding yourself in the present moment will help you better analyze what your true initiative is for reaching out to your ex-partner. Do A Self-Check. Ask yourself, am I feeling lonely? Am I uncomfortable because I am feeling lonely? What are my expectations for my ex-partner’s response? Am I expecting the to make me feel better? If you are in a new relationship, or even examining the status of your new relationship with yourself ask how that relationship is going. A struggle might indicate why you’d seek out something familiar. Evaluate Their Life. Have they moved on? If they are in a new relationship has it gotten serious? When your relationship ended, did they make it clear you weren’t to speak again? Have all your physical needs been settled (i.e. separating of stuff, paperwork, etc.)? Would it be disruptive to their lives to start communicating with them? Some relationships need mending. For relationships that haven’t ended, couples counseling and relationship counseling can be beneficial. When one partner enters treatment, the other often enters their own kind of recovery. Together, through emotional, spiritual, and therapeutic work, a whole new relationship can be born. Avalon By The Sea offers relationship and couples therapy as part of both our mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs. Getting over a relationship and getting through a relationship are both hard challenges to overcome alone. Our trained and qualified staff provide evidence based therapy methods for working with couples and helping you build a new relationship with You. Call us today for a confidential assessment and more information on our treatment programs, 1-855-464-8492.

Music is arguably one of the best non prescription medications in the world. We identify with the sounds, the words, the tempos. Music speaks a language that is recognized from the very cellular makeup of our being. We listen for what we like in music. Often, we escape. Music is listened to most often as a whole, rather than for its individual parts. The brain is relatively lazy, not paying attention to what it doesn’t have to. However, bringing mindfulness into music listening can create a whole new experience. Here are some tips for mindful music listening

How Do I Know If My Loved One Is Using Kratom? Kratom is not a new substance, but its mention in the treatment industry for substance use disorders is recently popular. What is Kratom? Kratom is a naturally occurring plant used as a remedy for pain. Similar to coffee, Kratom has properties similar to opioids and stimulants. Kratom can be taken in pill form. Popularly, kratom has been used in beverages meant for extra energy or for relaxation. Why is Kratom So Controversial? Making the adjustment to total abstinence in sobriety is hard for someone who has been chemically dependent on mind altering substances for many years. Dealing with cravings or symptoms of withdrawal in early recovery can lead many to finding a replacement or substitute substance. Though Kratom is currently being tested and advocated for in opioid treatment, many others are suggesting it acts the same and is harmful for sobriety. Does Using Kratom Count As A Relapse? Kratom has not yet been scheduled as an illegal substance in the United States. Typically, any Schedule I or II drugs are considered relapse drugs, or illicit drugs of choice which have the potential for abuse. Kratom is not considered a primary drug of choice, though it is being compared to medically assisted treatment drugs like suboxone. Due to the side effects of Kratom, which are similar to opioids, Kratom is being tested for in treatment facilities and frequently considered a relapse. What are the Signs of Kratom Use? Kratom can produce effects similar to stimulants and opioids. Kratom in occasional doses will not cause signs of use outside of stimulation and/or relaxation. If someone is abusing kratom frequently in high doses can cause rapid weight loss, tremors, and even psychosis. The most important and telling sign of Kratom use is symptoms of withdrawal. Withdrawal from Kratom can be indicated by:

Therapy doesn’t help everyone. For some, taking action is more effective than words. For others, “talking it out” is the most beneficial practice. Pharmaceutical treatments like anti anxiety medications can help in staving off symptoms; unfortunately, they are not preventative treatments. Therapeutic methods are evidence-based, meaning they have been found evident to effectively prevent the onset of anxiety. The work doesn’t end in the therapist’s office or when you leave the didactic lecture in treatment. Evidence based treatment methods require daily practice and committed work. Doing the work provided by therapeutic methods is more than emotional, it is neurobiological. Through incremental changes on a daily basis, you can actually reprogram the way your brain functions, including anxious reactions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT has been a highly acclaimed practice for mental health recovery treatment since its foundation in the 1980’s. How CBT works is explained in its name. Seeking transform cognitive activity and function, CBT is a process of noticing one’s thoughts and taking action to reframe them or repurpose them. For an anxious thinker who is usually in a doomsday cycle of thinking this can be incredibly beneficial. Watching your own cognitive behavior, you learn to notice the onset of anxiety, eventually being able to pinpoint the triggers which cause it. Anxiety is full of assumptions, usually assumptions indicating the worst. Through CBT you are able to change the directions of those thoughts from hopeless to hopeful. Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy are similar in that both include the noticing of thoughts in order to change them. While CBT takes a more proactive approach to evaluating and changing thought processes, MBSR is simply about noticing the thought. When anxiety gets going, it can feel like it’s running a thousand feet per second. Feeling and thinking so much at such a rapid pace can be overwhelming. Feeling out of control of one’s own thoughts only makes anxiety worse. Acknowledging each thought or even each stream of thought as just that- thought- helps create calm. Separating fact from fiction, perception from the possible, MBSR helps to see each thought as a passing experience rather than a defining realization. Anxiety disorders can feel like being on a train with no breaks. Learning to manage your emotions and thinking is just one part of recovery for mental health. Avalon By The Sea of Malibu is one of California’s premiere treatment centers offering mental health treatment for primary psychiatric diagnoses. Our comprehensive program combines therapeutic methods with mindfulness methods and more. For a confidential and professional assessment, call 1-855-464-8492.

Recovery is a lifelong process. Though some may consider themselves “recovered” recovery is a term that is fluid in time. Meaning, no matter how much sober time you have, you are always in recovery. Getting through the beginning phases of recovery, often called “early recovery”, is the most challenging part. Within just weeks of your last drink or drug, or mental health episode, the memories are still fresh. For addicts and alcoholics suffering from substance abuse, their bodies will still be chemically dependent upon drugs and alcohol. Going through withdrawals, surviving detox, and learning to manage the cravings all make for a vulnerable time. The first few weeks of recovery from drug and alcohol addiction are usually the highest risk for relapse. For those entering recovery for mental health and psychiatric issues, the early recovery stage is also high risk. Medication is just starting to help with stabilization and it can be hard to adjust to a new way of life. Recovery, for everyone involved is possible. However, it isn’t always easy. Recovery takes commitment, work, willingness and open-mindedness. Follow some of these suggestions as extra inspiration and guidance: Positive Affirmations Thinking positively has been scientifically proven to change the way we think. Brains are very sensitive and easily influenced. The brain is actually trained to notice and pay more attention to negativity than positivity. Pushing positive thinking isn’t always effective. Integrating daily positive practices is. Start each day with a positive affirmation and hold onto it throughout the day. By bedtime, reflect on how that positive affirmation came true or was present throughout the day. Set Realistic Goals In recovery, it is all about “progress not perfection”. Perfect is an illusion and an unobtainable goal. Rather than trying to do everything perfectly all at once, settle for small, tangible goals every day. Small goals equal small rewards. Overtime, they can become habits and positive parts of a routine. Try setting a goal to make the bed, practice good hygiene, and eating enough food. Be Graceful Graceful doesn’t mean swooshing through life like a ballerina. Living with grace means living without entitlement. Sometimes, recovery can evoke a sense of entitlement. Looking down upon the peers and staff members supporting a treatment program, it is easy to expect the work to be done by someone else. Rather than assign responsibility, take accountability on face forward. Nestled in the seaside cliffs of iconic Malibu, Avalon welcomes substance abuse and mental health patients to our two facilities. One of the only treatment centers to offer mental health and psychiatric issue treatment as a primary diagnosis, Avalon provides a luxury and private setting to addressing each individualized need. For more information on our programs of treatment for dual-diagnosis and co-occurring issues, call 1-888-958-7511.

Depression is a leading mental health condition globally. The World Health Organization estimates 350 million people are affected by depression. Depression is more than the average case of sadness or even grief. Enduring symptoms of low emotional states can lead to health problems, substance abuse, and in extreme cases, suicide. 800,000 people die from suicide worldwide each year. Depression is a leading cause. In some countries, WHO reports, less than 10% of those affected by Depression receive any treatment for it. Many cases of depression are treated with a combination of psychotherapy and pharmaceutical treatment. SSRIs and antidepressants are leading methods for pharmaceutical treatment of depression. However, each case of depression is incredibly unique. So far there is not one pill to cure all depression. Depression could be seen as a worldwide public mental health epidemic. For the hundreds of millions suffering around the world there are only few treatment methods available. In response, the scientific community is dedicated to finding new and effective methods for treating depression- some of which might seem out of the box. Recent years have seen claims for using psychoactive drugs to treat depression. MDMA, also known as ecstasy, is a club drug known for heightening sensations, creating a state of euphoria, and enhancing feelings of happiness as well as love. The FDA has hinted at a prescription grade MDMA to be available for public use in the near future, but developments have not been reported to have continued thus far. When psychedelic drugs were taking the world by storm in the 1960’s, doctors saw positive results in the use of psilocybin, also known as “magic mushrooms”. In controlled doses and under controlled conditions, doctors can use the “mind opening” drugs to help depressed patients experience the world in a different way. Most recently, doctors are claiming that Ketamine might be an effective treatment for depression. Popular in asian countries, especially in the nightclub scene, ketamine is a dissociative drug. Falling into the “k-hole”, recreational users of the drugs experience a detachment from their physical and psychological selves. Ketamine has “basically revolutionized how we think about depression,” claims Christine Denny, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Columbia University in an interview with Business Insider. Rather than using ketamine to directly treat depression, it is being used as a preventative treatment. States the article, “protecting against depression or potentially stopping other stress-related disorders in the first place is a whole new thing and could have profound, long-lasting effects.” Avalon By The Sea is one of California’s only treatment facilities licensed to treat psychiatric mental health disorders as a primary diagnosis. Providing exceptional quality care, Avalon provides comprehensive treatment in a luxury and relaxing environment. For a confidential and professional assessment and more information on our programs of treatment, please call 1-855-464-8492.

Empathy is an important human trait because it is one that makes us more human. The greatest illusion in all humanity is the idea of separation. Due to what we are taught, we come to believe that there is something about us that makes us different from other human beings. Worse, in some cases we are taught that those differences make us better than or worse than others. According to whether you are better than or worse than someone else are certain behaviors and mindsets, ways that you should act. One piece at a time, you disconnect yourself from the very thing that connects you to everyone: your humanity. No matter our race, socioeconomic class, mental health diagnosis, substance of choice, past, future, language, or job title- we are all human beings. As a result, we all experience emotion. Most humans will experience pain, suffering, and joy within their lifetimes. Empathy is our way to show one another understanding and share in their emotional experiences with them. Few feelings are worse than thinking one is completely isolated in their experience. Loneliness has been scientifically proven to worsen degenerative disease like dementia and cancer. Some people with clinical psychiatric diagnoses such as psychopathy or antisocial personality disorder, also known as sociopathy, are constitutionally incapable of feeling empathy for others. For the rest of us, however, feeling and practicing empathy is entirely possible. Though it may not be first nature, through a little bit of work, it can become an entire way of life. Be Of Service The more we are involved with other people, the more we can come to understand them. Helping others is a way to connect with another person’s life, life story, and experience. Volunteering to work with other people, children, or the elderly is a way to be of service. Empathy can also be practiced through service in daily situations. Watch for opportunities to help. You might find you recognize more people needing help then you realized. Everyone needs help. Listen More Deeply How many times have we listened to a friend on the phone while thinking about something completely different? We might have more empathy toward their situation if we really paid attention and realized we can relate to what they are saying. The truth is, people are telling us exactly what is going on all the time. Often, we’re too self-focused to pay attention. Actively listen to what someone is saying to you when they speak. Ask them for clarity if you aren’t sure what they are trying to communicate. Avalon By The Sea instills spiritual values like empathy and compassion into the core components of our treatment programs for substance use disorders and mental health disorders. For a confidential assessment and more information on our treatment programs, call 1 (888) 958-7511.

Hallucinogens are a small category of drugs. Most well known are psilocybin, known as magic mushrooms, and lysergic acid diethylamide, known as LSD or acid. There are many other substances that can cause hallucinogenic experiences, usually referred to as a “trip”. Though psychedelic and hallucinogenic drugs have not been classified as addictive, it is possible to abuse them. Preferring the world or reality brought on by mind altering drugs, one might continually use these drugs to stay in that state. Overtime psychedelics and hallucinogens can cause brain damage and weaken physical health. Here is a list of legal substances that, when abused, can cause hallucinogenic and psychedelic experiences. If you are concerned you or a loved one is becoming detached from reality due to hallucinogenic drugs, call Avalon today at 1-888-958-7511. For more information on other harmful hallucinogenic substances, visit The Daily Dot. Salvia Salvia can be purchased in smoke shops around the country. A naturally occurring plant substance, it is usually smoked in conjunction with marijuana. Salvia delivers a powerful twenty minute hallucinogenic experience. Many report experiencing intense visualizations and disturbances of the visual field. Currently, there are no reports on becoming addicted to salvia as the experience is usually too intense for back to back repeated use. Nutmeg Yes, the seasonal spice is a hallucinogenic substance. When abused in large quantities, usually through smoking or inhaling, it can cause a trip similar to mushrooms and LSD. However, there is one caveat to abusing nutmeg- it causes an intense flu like reaction. DXM Dextromethorphan is a psychoactive substance found in most cough syrups and other over the counter drugs found neighborhood pharmacies. DXM is  dissociative drug meaning it not only produces psychedelic effects but completely removes someone from reality. DXM is addicting and can result in overdose, which can be fatal. DMT N,N-Dimethyltryptamine is a naturally occurring substance found in nature. Used in religious practices throughout the word, DMT is often referred to as the spirit molecule. DMT is not abused but used ceremoniously. A DMT experience is said to model the experience of dying and being reborn into the afterlife. The trip is about twenty to twenty five minutes. Avalon By The Sea offers comprehensive care for substance use disorders and mental health disorders. Settled on the iconic coastline of southern California, Avalon offers privacy and serenity for healing. Call us today for a confidential assessment and more information on our programs 1-888-958-7511.

Empathy is an important human trait because it is one that makes us more human. The greatest illusion in all humanity is the idea of separation. Due to what we are taught, we come to believe that there is something about us that makes us different from other human beings. Worse, in some cases we are taught that those differences make us better than or worse than others. According to whether you are better than or worse than someone else are certain behaviors and mindsets, ways that you should act. One piece at a time, you disconnect yourself from the very thing that connects you to everyone: your humanity. No matter our race, socioeconomic class, mental health diagnosis, substance of choice, past, future, language, or job title- we are all human beings. As a result, we all experience emotion. Most humans will experience pain, suffering, and joy within their lifetimes. Empathy is our way to show one another understanding and share in their emotional experiences with them. Few feelings are worse than thinking one is completely isolated in their experience. Loneliness has been scientifically proven to worsen degenerative disease like dementia and cancer. Some people with clinical psychiatric diagnoses such as psychopathy or antisocial personality disorder, also known as sociopathy, are constitutionally incapable of feeling empathy for others. For the rest of us, however, feeling and practicing empathy is entirely possible. Though it may not be first nature, through a little bit of work, it can become an entire way of life. Be Of Service The more we are involved with other people, the more we can come to understand them. Helping others is a way to connect with another person’s life, life story, and experience. Volunteering to work with other people, children, or the elderly is a way to be of service. Empathy can also be practiced through service in daily situations. Watch for opportunities to help. You might find you recognize more people needing help then you realized. Everyone needs help. Listen More Deeply How many times have we listened to a friend on the phone while thinking about something completely different? We might have more empathy toward their situation if we really paid attention and realized we can relate to what they are saying. The truth is, people are telling us exactly what is going on all the time. Often, we’re too self-focused to pay attention. Actively listen to what someone is saying to you when they speak. Ask them for clarity if you aren’t sure what they are trying to communicate. Avalon By The Sea instills spiritual values like empathy and compassion into the core components of our treatment programs for substance use disorders and mental health disorders. For a confidential assessment and more information on our treatment programs, call 1 (888) 958-7511.

Throughout recovery we learn about the importance of communication, articulating our feelings, and asking for our needs to be met. We’re told we, like other humans, deserve to have our needs met. What exactly are these needs? As human beings we have a few basic needs to survive, like food, water, and shelter. If these needs are met regularly we have a better chance at living. There are other needs humans need that come next. Needs like love, support, encouragement, and validation, are needs humans need for development. Many of us grew up without these needs being met by our parents, family members, and other people in our lives. It’s hard to survive without food, water, and shelter. To live without love and support, we turned to other means of survival, like drugs and alcohol or other harmful behaviors. Substances helped us fulfill those needs or feel like we didn’t have them at all. When we let go of the harmful substances in our lives to turn to recovery, we find we have always been in need, that substances never really fulfilled the need, and we are still in need. Reconciling with these needs is challenging, especially when it requires the use of an emotional vocabulary we are just starting to learn. Afraid of confrontation, rejection, or being left without our needs yet once more, we often continue to suffer, shying away from any opportunity to assert ourselves. Look to some of these tips for encouragement and guidance.

Conflict is not always easy to resolve. Indeed many avoid conflict because it is easier to deal with the animosity of a strained relationship than walk through confrontation. Recovery from both mental health and substance use disorders means learning to use practical tools to get through any situation life hands us. If you are experiencing a conflict, look to these suggestions for support. Take Distance, Take Time Sometimes the best we can do when we are in the face of a conflict is take time and distance from that conflict. As opposed to running away or avoiding, detaching is a proactive practice rather than a passive one. Detaching is a way of approaching conflict without immediately getting involved. Instead of diving into conflict and figuring out how you feel in the middle of it, detachment gives you an opportunity to evaluate your position on your own time. Additionally, detachment helps you to remove unhelpful emotions from the situation. Conflict can arouse autopilot reactions or coping mechanisms like ego, false pride, or judgment. In order to resolve conflict in a peaceful, healthy, and mindful manner, it is important to get right with yourself first. Seek Guidance Before Making a Decision Thankfully, we don’t have all the answers. However, conflict that is really conflicting can cause us to jump to some hefty conclusions. Clouded with justification and assumption, we lack the clarity we need to look at a conflict objectively. Seeking guidance can help us gain a new perspective on the situation. If we are in a conflict with a person, an outside point of view can help us to find empathy or compassion. Softening our hearts to what is going on with someone else, we can take ourselves out of the equation and realize everybody suffers; sometimes, we can all act a little out of sorts when we are struggling. Write It Out Before You Fight It Out Journaling or doing a twelve step inventory on a conflict is another great way to get through a conflict. There are times when negative words, accusations, and angry sentiments just need to be expressed. If we are stuck in negative emotional experiences like resentment, sometimes verbalizing that frustration can lead to emotional lethargy. We can quickly access the underlying pain, hurt, sadness, or fear, accompanied by our anger. As a result, we can approach conflict without vengeance. Take Action If all arrows point toward action then it is time to take it. Having processed our position, consulted others, and taken the time to work out our emotions, we can approach conflict with an open and loving heart. In any conflict resolution the worst that can happen is closure and healing. Whether conflict ends positively or negatively, it still ends. Avalon By The Sea of Malibu is a licensed dual diagnosis facility, offering treatment for both substance abuse and mental health disorders. Treating co-occurring disorders and primary psychiatric disorders, Avalon is able to provide a comprehensive program for recovery. Settled in the iconic coastline of southern California, Avalon offers a relaxing and private environment for healing. To receive a confidential assessment or more information of our program, please call 1-855-464-8492.