Category: Articles

We sat in silence. Client and Therapist.

The feeling in the counselling room subdued. Emotion heavy.

I sat there. He sat there. We were together.

No words uttered between us.

Professionally, I knew the importance of this experience. The client wasn’t running away from his difficulties.

It was beautiful.

Like invisible bricks being laid, onto an invisible wall.

I recognised emotional resilience developing during the counselling hour – we were experiencing it together.

Our eyes connected.

I smiled. He sighed.

The foundation stone of emotional resilience was constructed. Supporting him for the rest of his life.

As a Certified Wellness Coach, as well as a qualified Therapist, I understand the importance of building emotional resilience. It enables a person to gain emotional stability, rather than an internal sensation of chaos.

To do so you must takes baby steps and a willingness to consistently repeat those steps. It’s in the willingness to be consistent, even when having experienced a lapse or relapse, which helps build resilience throughout addiction recovery.

The Program at DARA is created, to assist in building practical, emotional and intellectual steps within a healthy framework. Enabling individuals to raise emotional resilience levels.

The stimulation delivered and the process created, then helps a client to continue with and maintain sobriety, whilst reintegrating daily living.

How Does Emotional Resilience Help Life?

• By becoming responsive and thoughtful, impulse control is developed
• Creates authenticity in relationships
• Dulls the anxiety which reduces sound judgment
• Works alongside motivation to help achieve goals
• Builds empathy
• Enables you to feel good about yourself
• Develops an internal locus of control

Stress is a powerful trigger

If not looked at, understood or explored properly. It can lead to poor coping strategies being put in place.

Addiction is one of these.

Using drugs or alcohol to dampen down the feeling of stress. Without developing awareness about what is impacting on a person’s life to create it. Stops healthy coping strategies being identified and the development of emotional resilience.

If the desire is to find a constructive way to feel relaxed and develop positive feelings, then in the long-term, drug use and alcohol abuse will create exactly the opposite.

Remember, it’s about small steps being put in place.

These can happen in both a negative or positive way. Become conscious about those choices made and decide to continue creating the ones which enhance rather than inhibit life.

Mindfulness for Resilience Building

• Reduce rumination by developing good communication skills
• Remain focussed on the task at hand or the conversation in place
• Bring your mind back, every time it wanders. This is brain training in practice
• Connect and listen to the internal rhythm in the body
• Get Physical
• Take a moment and consciously breathe

The Author Elizabeth Gilbert experienced herself as a seduction addict. One of the ways in which she became mindful in her own life, was to design and fil her own happiness jar.

This is a really constructive way in which you can become mindful of those moments ‘in between.’ A place which will help you build and recognise your own emotional resilience. It doesn’t have to be a jar. It can be the Voice Memo on your phone, or a journal by the side of your bed.

“Over the years, my Happiness Jar has taught me much. What continually amazes me is what ends up on the slip of paper every day. Not awesome events, not huge achievements — usually just a small and tiny thing, a moment of awareness…that moment when you step outside and between the house and the car you get hit on the top of the head with a beam of sunlight, and suddenly feel awash with gratitude simply for being alive, and you think, “Yes. This is it.”

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Most addictions are easy to recognize. Some substance is put into the body and physical effects can be felt. This substance becomes necessary to function in some manner. However, some addictions are not about substances, but about behaviors. These can include, but are not limited to gambling, sex, technology, and even food. The difference in some behavioral addictions and drug or alcohol addictions is you cannot always fully avoid a behavioral addiction, it can be hard to abstain completely from certain behaviors. Some of the more common behavioral addictions will be described below with options for treatments.

Gambling Addiction

Gambling is a common behavioral addiction. Those addicted to gambling become consumed with gambling, winning, and trying to recoup losses. A single win can fuel the addiction for a long time. Even as those who lose much more than winning will continue to gamble for the thrill. Many people with a gambling addiction will lose massive amounts of money, jobs, and even homes trying to become a winner again. They may distance themselves from friends and family to have more time to gamble. The addiction is strong and can truly take everything in life. Gambling is one of those behaviors that can be avoided with help, but if addicted a treatment plan does need to be created.

Sex Addiction

Sexual addiction is another form of behavioral addiction. Sex is a normal part of life for consenting adults, but as with anything it can become an addiction. When sex becomes all consuming and creates a life full of risky behaviors simply to have sex, than it has become problematic. Sex is not typically a behavior that can be avoided for a lifetime, but keeping the amount of partners or sexual exploits to a reasonable amount is possible, even for those who are addicted. Sex addicts often seek sex outside of their marriage, in dangerous places, or in risky situations. The need, as with gambling becomes all consuming. Sex is no longer to show love or caring, it is for the act itself and the feeling of the act.

Technology Addiction

A third form of behavioral addiction is that of technology. In a world filled with the Internet, phones, and digital everything in life, technology can become an obsession. Whether the habit is for the newest and best in technology or much of your day is spent staring at a screen, you may have an addiction. If you find it hard to unplug and be part of the physical, as opposed to virtual world, then you may have a technology addiction. This could mean checking Facebook every few minutes, spending more time online than with family and friends, or being permanently attached to your phone. It may be impossible to void technology altogether in this life, but a balance can be found.

Food Addiction

The final form of behavioral addiction that will be discussed is that of food. This is often called sugar addiction, but any food type or all food can become an addiction. Obviously food cannot be totally avoided, it is a necessity in life. However, making healthy food choices and choosing reasonable portions can be a behavior that is adopted. Food addiction comes about when food consumes most of your thoughts. Worrying about what or when the next food meal is coming or how it is prepared could be a sign of addiction. There is help available.

Behavioral Addictions and DARA

DARA offers specialized treatment for each of these behavioral addictions and much more. With the help of supportive staff, behavioral counseling, and wellness focus, addictions can be overcome. Prior to discharge a plan specific to your needs will even be created to offer the best hope for being addiction free. If you or someone you know needs help consider DARA in-patient facility as an affordable treatment option.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

This is part-two of a two-part series about the first ninety days of recovery from substance abuse.

In Early Sobriety, You Will Suffer From Acute Withdrawal

The first part of sobriety is known as the acute withdrawal phase. This usually lasts for the first two to four weeks of abstinence from mood and mind-altering chemicals, depending on how much alcohol or drugs you have been consuming. This is the most uncomfortable part of the withdrawal process.

Acute withdrawal can be dangerous and even deadly. During post-acute withdrawal from just about every drug except marijuana – and especially alcohol – you can experience seizures, coma, and even death when you are removing addictive substances from your system.

This is why most people choose to go through post-acute withdrawal in the safety and comfort of our inpatient treatment program here at DARA Thailand. We provide round-the-clock care to monitor and evaluate our patients to make sure they progress through the acute withdrawal phase successfully.

After The First Month, You Move Into The Post-Acute Withdrawal Phase

During the post-acute withdrawal phase, symptoms subside and the pain and discomfort lessen tremendously. Usually, post-acute withdrawal lasts from four to eight weeks. During this time, you will still experience the symptoms of acute withdrawal, but they will be manageable. You will feel as though you are getting your sanity back and begin to feel as though you can tolerate being in your own body.

What You Should Expect During The Two Phases Of Withdrawal

As we mentioned, there are different withdrawal symptoms for different drugs. However; there are some common themes you should expect among the acute and post-acute withdrawal phases of any addiction.

Here are a few:

You will feel weird. There’s no other way to explain it. Your body will feel different. You will feel uncomfortable in your own skin.

You will feel like you are going insane. But you’re not. It just feels like you are.

You will have cravings for alcohol or your drug of choice. This is guaranteed. Because your body is so used to using drugs or alcohol, it will scream for more once you stop putting the chemicals into your body. You have to be strong and remind yourself that the cravings will pass.

You will feel tired – even downright exhausted. This is because drugs and alcohol take a toll on the body and they drain you of your energy.

Your sleep will be disrupted. You may have insomnia and be unable to sleep, no matter how tired you are. Or, if you are lucky enough to get sleep, you will probably wake up several times during the night. You will also have nightmares. 

You will have a change in appetite. You may eat more or less than you usually do.

You will have a difficulty concentrating. Working may be especially difficult because your mind doesn’t function the way you wish it would.

You will feel depressed. Depression can last for months after you quit using drugs or alcohol.

Don’t Give Up Five Minutes Before The Miracle

We hope you appreciate this honest assessment of the first ninety days of recovery. But, keep in mind, withdrawal does pass, the cravings go away, and things get better.

The miracles and gifts that come with the recovery process usually don’t start to show up until after the first three months. You just have to hang on to get to the other side. If you are within the first ninety days of your sobriety, just keep moving forward one day at a time. You will find that by the time you cross the three-month mark, you will feel much more content, easy-going, and lighter on the inside. And – you’ll be grateful that you are clean and sober.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

This is part-one of a two-part series about the first ninety days of recovery from substance abuse.

The First Ninety Days Of Sobriety Are The Most Difficult

If you have been struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, and you’ve made the decision to get clean and sober, good for you. We celebrate your awesome choice! You are on the right path and you can rest assured that good things are coming your way.

However; it is important to understand that the first ninety days of recovery from substance abuse are difficult. We won’t sugarcoat it. Breaking an addiction to mood and mind-altering chemicals is uncomfortable and challenging – to say the least.

Many People Relapse During The First Three Months

Statistically speaking, most people do not make it through their very first ninety days of sobriety without returning to drugs or alcohol. But, you don’t have to be a statistic. You can make the decision right now that you are going endure the first few difficult months of sobriety and make it. Just because sobriety is uncomfortable at first doesn’t mean you can’t deal with the discomfort and get through it.

However; if you do relapse, don’t give up hope and return to active addiction. After a couple of attempts at continued sobriety, most people find that they can get through it. It just takes some practice. The first three months are painful, so don’t beat yourself up if your first try at sobriety doesn’t work out. Just get back up and try again.

You Must Be Mentally Prepared For Those First Ninety Days

In the meantime, we want you to be prepared for the road that lies ahead. Knowing what to expect in your first three months of sobriety will help you get ready for the rollercoaster you are facing – and trust us when we tell you, it is a rollercoaster. If you are mentally prepared, tackling the daunting task of staying sober through those first grueling ninety days will be much easier.

You should expect the next couple of months to be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. Quitting drugs and alcohol takes a toll on even the strongest person. If you understand this going in, you won’t be surprised when you feel out of whack. You will think, “Ah, yes, this is hard. It’s uncomfortable and I don’t like it. I was warned about this. I can do this. It will pass and things will get better.”

What To Expect In Your First Ninety Days – The Pain Of Withdrawal

When you stop abusing mood and mind-altering chemicals, your body and mind have to go through an adjustment period. It is important to understand that drugs and alcohol take their toll on the brain and the body. When you stop drinking and drugging, your system has to get re acclimated to operating without chemicals.

This is known as withdrawal. There are two phases to withdrawal – acute withdrawal and post-acute withdrawal. We will talk more about these two phases in part two of this blog.

Be sure to check out What To Expect In Your First Ninety Days Of Recovery From Substance Abuse: Part Two.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.