VistaTaos

Getting treatment for substance abuse is the first very important step. But how do you maintain recovery? That’s what relapse prevention is all about.

During recovery you learn to recognize the thought processes and the actual expressed excuses that are typical of addicts.  Anticipating a return of those negative attitudes is the first step in relapse prevention. It’s easy to fool yourself into thinking that you’ll never have those kinds of thoughts again, but everybody does.   

Defeatist rationales are better known as “stinking thinking” within the 12-step community. Learning the language of relapse arms you against the dangers it presents. Here are some of the typical warped justifications that lead people down the dark path:

• I’ve really put a lot of work into recovery. Nobody will blame me if I just take a break from it.
• I’m doing so well that I really believe I can handle just one drink.
• If I’m going to be accused of drinking, then I might as well go ahead and do it.  

These types of thoughts occur in the person who thinks he has totally beaten his addiction:

• I know what my weakness is now. I’ll avoid that substance and use this one instead.
• I just want to test myself.
• I don’t really have a need to use, but since I’m with my friends I’ll just have a hit.

Many people find it easy to justify a decision to use again. Everybody, and that means everybody, has made a resolution to stop doing something—spending, eating, using bad language—and then justified a reason to break that resolution. Someone might blame it on his partner or the group of friends he’s hanging out with that day.  It’s natural, because when someone has only a short amount of recovery time under his belt, he is actually going through a healing process, just like a person recovering from a physical injury.

The person who has just begun treatment feels the effects of all kinds of hurtful emotional baggage and negative behaviors that were part and parcel of his substance abuse.  Even when he’s abstinent, he remains vulnerable to having those feelings return and overwhelm him.  The person becomes crushed by the weight of his emotions, often suffering from anxiety, irritability, and depression. Some people experience sexual dysfunction or lose interest in their love life. For others, it’s more about boredom.

These emotions can build to an overwhelming crescendo, and it’s quite understandable. After all, with all the work that somebody puts into recovery—accepting the need for treatment, examining his conscience, resisting temptation—feelings can run pretty wild.

These are some examples of the common relapse justifications—the lies—that people tell themselves:

• My parent/spouse/sibling died. Nobody would expect me to stay sober today.
• I just got fired. Why shouldn’t I use?
• My mortgage is going into foreclosure. I really need a drink!

Other times, people shine on with some seriously silly logic to justify using, for example:

• Look at the weight I’m gaining! If I drop some speed, it’ll curb my appetite.
• Sex is no good without drugs.
• I have to give a presentation at work, and I’ll function better if I just take this first.

Emotions often get the better of someone who is trying to stay sober. He is not yet experienced in turning his thinking around. He may be dealing with the following thoughts:

• I’m so depressed, I don’t care what happens to me.
• She made me so angry that I’m not responsible for my actions.

Here’s What to Do:

Never take your recovery for granted. Addiction is a medical diagnosis, like diabetes. Just like a diabetic, you will have to manage your illness for your entire life. You must always be prepared to handle thoughts about using, because they will always be with you. But you can beat them! Consider the variety of excuses you’ve read here, which ones apply to you, and how you would fight them. Whether you get out your Big Book, call your sponsor, or go to a meeting, your job is simple: Never give up.

Does a person with a mental health diagnosis become an addict because of the medication he needs to help his illness? Can an addict be the victim of medications with side effects that go awry and spark mental health problems? The answer to both questions can be yes. Addiction treatment specialists are looking at the very real challenges of addressing co-occurring diagnoses of mental health problems and addiction.

You’ve Heard About the Chicken and the Egg…

Even with everything that addiction specialists know today, they still cannot agree on what comes first—addiction or mental health problems. Sometimes there is a clear timeline that allows doctors or counselors to recognize that a person suffered from emotional disorders long before he was abusing drugs, but often there is no unambiguous distinction.

Possibly someone with an underlying mental health disorder begins taking drugs to make himself feel calmer or happier. Maybe a person functions well with no obvious problems until his experimentation with drugs brings to the surface the symptoms that he was genetically in danger of developing. In many cases, nobody really knows for certain.

Unfortunately, both of these problems frequently co-exist or co-occur. Politicians, insurance administrators, and people involved in the legal system insist that they are separate issues, and so mental health and addiction treatment specialists are stymied in their attempts to formulate coordinated treatments for affected individuals.  

When Drugs Come First

People who use drugs experience a wide spectrum of mental health symptoms even if there is no underlying mental health problem. For drugs as commonplace as cocaine and amphetamines, symptoms can range from paranoia to anxiety and agitation to aggression. Sometimes a person will see and hear things that aren’t there. Drug-related psychoses come into play when you consider that methamphetamine users often report hearing voices and seeing things. Even with marijuana, now approved for recreational use in Colorado and Washington, scientists are connecting the dots between a gene variant (catechol-o-methyltransferase) and schizophrenia.

Specialists do know that when someone is predisposed to develop mental health problems such as manic depression or even schizophrenia, once he begins to take drugs the symptoms of the mental health disorder will come to the surface sooner had the person not used drugs.  An older person might accept a warning that he should avoid drugs for that reason, but somebody who is in his teens or early 20s figures that he’s invincible and he will typically scoff at any warnings.

When Mental Health Comes First

Someone who suffers from a mental health diagnosis is at a very real risk of drug abuse. In younger people or in people without a regular family physician, depression or mood disorders may go undiagnosed for years. Attention deficit disorder may be written off as a behavioral problem. The person goes untreated, and he discovers that he feels better if he smokes a joint or takes a pill that he finds in the family medicine cabinet.

Treatment Is Possible

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 26 percent of the general population suffers from some kind of mental health disorder.  Substance abuse professionals realize that just by statistical default, 26 percent of their patients seeking substance abuse help will suffer from a mental health disorder.

Licensed and accredited substance abuse treatment centers, like Vista Taos Renewal Center, can help the person become whole even if he suffers from the dual diagnoses of mental health problems and addiction. Both illnesses should be treated together, but even if relapse occurs the patient should maintain focus on working toward recovery. The counselor will educate the patient so the he understands both of his illnesses and becomes empowered to develop coping skills and strategies. With patience and perseverance, recovery from a dual diagnosis is possible.   Get help today, call 1.800.245.8267 to learn more.

Hopefully, you’ve already read information in this space about the various types of group therapy in which you’ll participate as part of your rehab experiences.  All groups are by nature dynamic, even emotional encounters, and they function generally within a set of guidelines that keep everything on an even keel. Here are the basic “rules” of group therapy for alcohol or drug rehabilitation centers.

It’s Like Vegas…Maybe it’s not; but just like Las Vegas, whatever goes on in group stays in group. The things that are said and the emotions that are revealed belong to the people who participated in the group—the property of the group, if you will. Whatever you say, it’s protected by the confidentiality that everybody agreed to upon entering rehabilitation.

Be a Joiner. It’s not fair to sit back in group and watch everybody else yet hold yourself apart. You are expected to give feedback, including what you see or hear and how you feel. Some group leaders get things rolling by having everybody take turns stating their high points and low points of the day. The more you put into group, the more you’ll get out of it.

Me, Myself, and I. Most people don’t realize that when they talk in the second person—When you do this or When you feel like that—it puts people on the defensive. When people hear you, you, you they automatically think you’re pointing a finger at them. Get in the habit of using “I” statements as a way of expressing yourself. People will apply more focus to what you’re saying without wondering if you’re picking on their behaviors.

Closed Minds Prohibited. Speaking of picking on other people, in group you’ve got to be more tolerant of them. Even if you wouldn’t normally associate with a certain person outside of group, you have to accept the others in the group for what they are—a part of your drug rehabilitation therapy—and listen to what they say. The standard prejudices you carry with you in your everyday life are checked at the door.

Bring In the New.  Along with your new open mind, you should look at group as a time to practice some of the new behaviors you’ve talked about with your counselor. It’s a way to develop the mindset you’ll need in order to succeed outside of group. Think of how you can apply what you learn in group to your real-life situations in the outside world.

No Drama, Mama. While it’s true that sometimes group members might reach a new level of self-awareness as a result of group, don’t sabotage group by dropping bombshells or telling your war stories. Dramatic, shocking revelations made just before the end of group suck the life out of other people’s recovery efforts. They’re simply not fair.

Keep War Stories in Perspective. You’ve probably seen 12-step meetings depicted in movies in which people talk about the baggage of their former lives. Well, the keyword here is movies. In real life, it’s destructive to the group to glamorize your old exploits or adventures. If everything was so great before you entered drug rehabilitation, you wouldn’t be here now.

No Rescuers Needed.  Despite the last couple rules, there are times when someone reaches a level of healing, which can be quite emotional. Respect the person by listening quietly. Do not offer tissues or go over and touch them while they are talking. Sit quietly and listen to them—follow the group leader’s cues. Don’t tell them how to act or what to feel.  The person deserves your attention and respect; if the time comes when you want to open up about something in group, you would want the same respect accorded to you.

Never Apologize. No matter what you say, you never have to apologize about who you are or what you’ve done. You’ve earned your place in this group.

News outlets throughout the Southwest and in fact nationwide are reporting on a new prepaid credit card called the “Next Step” card. It’s a card intended for use by adults in recovery. It cannot be used at bars, liquor stores, beer or wine distributors, pawn shops, or ATM machines.

The company offering the card was founded by a group of three recovering addicts:

• Eric Dresdale has a BA in business management and has worked primarily in real estate. He is also known for his involvement in charitable organizations.
• Louis Fisher is proud of his military background and has since funded and organized a variety of entrepreneurial projects. He also works closely with several charitable organizations that target recovery.
• Ryan Jaffe’s background is in marketing and sales, and he works regularly to help addicts who are crossing the bridge from treatment centers to recovery.

The founders came up with the idea for the card because “cash in hand” typically has been an addict’s trigger for use. A trigger is something that makes someone automatically want to use a substance. For example, give a cigarette smoker a cup of coffee and he will automatically want to light up. With substance abuse, the triggers can be many things, but most experts agree that cash triggers a desire to use.

Others dispute that cash is a trigger. Dr. David Festinger and his colleagues writing for The Partnership at Drugfree.org argue that there is insufficient research to support this theory. While there is acknowledgment that having cash on hand has on occasion brought someone to a point of relapse, they say that most people in addiction treatment utilize their cash funds wisely to pay bills or buy food.

However, many addiction treatment centers restrict the use of cash by the clients they are treating. In some cases, even a T-shirt decorated with cash or gold is frowned upon. Clinicians have found that addicts who are in treatment together will, during periods of socialization, enjoy talking about past deals they made, how they scored, and what they would do if they had money. Glorifying cash and drugs does not help someone who’s trying to recover.

How does the Next Step card work? The person in recovery cannot set up his own card. He must have a family member or friend who is willing to establish a primary card, and that card will control or limit the funds for the Next Step card. That means that the addict has to be in a stage of recovery so that he or she has gained the trust of this other person.

It’s also not free. There is a $10 fee to set up the card, and then the user incurs a monthly fee of $15. Transactions are limited to 40 per month for adults, and parents of teens can set up the card so that the teen can use it once per day up to five times daily. The card will not work at package stores for beer, wine and liquor; at bars, taverns, pubs, nightclubs, and cocktail lounges; gambling establishments; dating or escort services; tattoo  or piercing parlors; or ATMs. It will not offer a cash-back option at point-of-service establishments.

The company cannot, of course, guarantee misuse by vendors who will help the addict circumvent the restriction by inflating a purchase price and then giving the addict cash back. The card will not stop someone from purchasing alcohol at a store where the primary business is not alcohol; for example, at a supermarket, the store’s primary products are groceries, but many sell alcohol.

Some people believe, however, that the Next Step card is a real way for the person serious about recovery, working in tandem with a caregiver who supervises his card, to transition back into society and get a feel for controlling his own finances once again. Many people believe that the founders are taking advantage of an opportunity to just make some bucks; but if you consider the cost of the card against the fees charged for house arrest, it might just be justifiable. What do you think?

Resource:

Festinger, David et al, for The Partnership at Drugfree.org. Commentary: Charging Into Recovery – Is Cash Really a Gateway Drug? http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/addiction/commentary-charging-into-recovery-is-cash-really-a-gateway-drug?utm_source=Join+Together+Weekly&utm_campaign=cda10d62b1-JTWN_Charging_into_Recovery_Gateway_Drug_102612&utm_medium=email

See also Nextstepcard.com

Some people who recognize that they need to be in recovery simply refuse to attend AA or NA meetings: They just don’t want to be “hassled” by others who practice religion openly in their lives. It turns them off when they hear someone say that they will be doomed if they don’t embrace religion, that they can’t achieve recovery or maintain sobriety without the help of God.

Is that a valid excuse for skipping step work? Can you find your way into recovery without embracing religion?

If you go into a recovery program for 90 days, for example, you will learn the 12 steps of AA or NA, but because understanding each of the steps takes so much time and thought you will really only work your way through the first four steps. They talk about being powerless, believing in a higher power, turning yourself over to your higher power, and conducting a fearless moral inventory.

If you were raised in a household where religion was practiced sternly or not practiced at all, you simply might not see the relevance of turning your life over to the care of God.  After all, all religions are man-made organizations.  They don’t encourage exploration or expansion of the inner self. Some people don’t want to go to confession. Others practice a gay or lesbian lifestyle or believe in other liberal agendas that may be excluded by some religions.

Those people do not take pleasure in participating in a religion that requires the subjugation of oneself to a church leader who passes judgment and sets expectation.  The precepts of most religions require you to accept certain teachings blindly, without question.

However, the key to succeeding in a 12-step recovery program lies in that little phrase at the end of Step 3: It refers to God “as you understand him.”  What that really means is that you are ready to turn yourself away from the self-destructive practices of using alcohol or drugs and instead turn toward a higher power—a new spirituality—that will bring enlightenment and happiness into your life. It doesn’t matter whether your higher power is a supreme being or something else, like a commitment to earth stewardship or a devotion to meditation and healthful living.

Realizing that you can embrace recovery without committing yourself to a strict theological approach is quite possible. It’s a joyous idea! What you really will do is focus not on religion but on spirituality.

Instead of forcing you to accept the stern doctrines of an organized religion, your spirituality will allow you to embrace an inner peace. Instead of accepting creeds etched in stone dictated by church leaders, spirituality allows you to ask questions and formulate your own theories.

Instead of fearing the punishments proscribed by church leaders and bearing heavy guilt for your past sins, you can learn to forgive yourself and move forward. You can learn to forgive the others in your life who have hurt you, and when you cannot change something you can learn to move forward from it. 

So let’s take a good look at the first four steps: 

• Step 1: You are powerless over your addiction: Well, if it’s true, admit it, God or no God. Are your relationships with other people damaged? Have you jeopardized your job and your ability to provide clothing, food, and shelter for yourself and your family? Has your substance abuse brought you legal problems? Has your addiction at times made you physically ill?
• Step 2: A power greater than yourself can restore you to sanity. You owe it to yourself to evaluate your perceptions of religion. If you don’t like religion, why not? How was it practiced in your household when you were growing up? Do you think that scientific energy drives the universe? If so, how can you synergize with the world around you?
• Step 3: You will turn yourself over to the will of God as you understand him. There is not a God in any known religion who wants you to obey him mindlessly. If you do embrace the idea of a supreme being, think of Him-Her-It as a being that wants you to do what you believe is the right thing. Once you embrace the thinking, the recovery program, and the 12-step group, you can focus on using your intellect to learn.  You can begin to work on recognizing your relationship with your addiction, your need for treatment, and the triggers that spur you on to substance abuse.
• Step 4: The searching and fearless inventory. The first three steps all lead to this one. No matter whether you believe in God or if you deny his existence, you reach the point at Step 4 when you have to turn your probing inspections inward at yourself. What kind of character do you have? Are you a good person more than a bad person? What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Recovery by way of development of your inner spirituality can certainly work when you don’t hold a conviction to religious beliefs. What spirituality means in real practice is an attention to yourself: Enhance your inner self with meditation. Expand your mind through journaling. Focus on outward practices such as environmental causes or mentorship in an area where you have strengths.

You may do well in a recovery program that helps you explore those inner needs and characteristics. Yoga can help you become a more calm and focused person. Holistic treatments, acupuncture, and artistic therapies let you develop self-confidence and emotional healing. Even a guilty pleasure such as massage helps to relieve discomfort and reduce stress.

Learn to treat your body better as you begin your spiritual recovery from addiction. Drink healthful foods. Read the nutritional panels on the packages of your favorite healthy foods when you shop. Find an exercise program that suits you, whether it involves free weights, a machine circuit, cardio classes, or swimming. If you once enjoyed reading, drawing, singing, or another creative pastime, then take it up again. Only when you embrace your own complete harmony with the world around you will you be able to travel down the road to recovery, whether you travel with God or without him.

Vista Taos Renewal Center’s therapeutic efforts are grounded the Twelve-Step  model.  For more information on the residential treatment program contact them 1.800.245.8267.

Spring break may conjure images of pristine beaches, warm waves, bikinis and Speedos, but it is also often lumped into another category: drunken rowdiness. Teens and college students from all across the United States descend on places like Cancun, Miami and Cabo, where the beaches are beautiful – and the alcohol flows rather readily.

But this week of drunken debauchery is now being linked to more than just hangovers. Those in their teens and early twenties who participate in any binge drinking can suffer from brain damage.

The brain continues to develop up to the age of 25 years old, and high levels of alcohol can affect the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain that controls decision making and impulse control. Not only does this make smart decision-making more difficult during these developmental years, but it can make the young persons more susceptible to alcohol abuse later in life.

Researchers, however, have determined that parental involvement can help these young adults make better choices about alcohol. Instead of allowing young adults to drink under adult supervision, researchers advise parents to teach a no-tolerance approach to alcohol. Kids raised in this environment were much less likely to imbibe than young adults who were allowed to drink even small amounts under adult supervision.

There is hope, though, for young adults who are already ingrained in an alcoholic lifestyle. These young people can seek addiction support. Places like Vista Taos Renewal Center in New Mexico can offer the addiction support needed early in life, setting these young people on non-alcoholic paths. Addiction support can also help the youths avoid additional damage to the cerebral cortex. If you are 18 years of age or older and are in need of addiction support and drug counseling, Vista Taos can work with you to develop a comfortable, successful and personal plan for you or your loved ones.