Category: Australia

Managing Your Triggers

Managing Your Triggers in Recovery

Articles, Australia, Education, International, Malaysia, Testimonials, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Managing Your Triggers in Recovery – Recovery can be a challenge. Whether in the beginning stages or years into your long term recovery you are likely to have certain triggers. Triggers are the people, places, and tings that can tempt you into using again. As recovery is a life long process that takes commitment these triggers can pop up at any time and must be dealt with as they come. If you are aware that this will occur then you can also be prepared to handle a trigger when it does arise.  Listed and explained are a few tips to help you when those triggers do crop up in life.

Though everyone is different in what becomes a trigger, these triggers still need to be identified in order to know what people, places, and things could be potential problems. This is not meant to be a source of fear for the individual, but a way to put a plan in place before a triggering event occurs.  Once the triggers are identified and documented if needed than a real plan can be created. When the plan to avoid or handle a given situation is in place than it should be practiced. Do not wait until faced with a trigger before practicing the plan. Practice with a friend, therapist, or even in a mirror to be fully prepared.

Now that you know what you are working with do not get over confident. You are not an exception to the rule. Triggers will occur and recovery is tough. Everyone has triggers and cravings that must be addressed in some manner. This is where planning and practice come into play. Do not test your strength or try to be a ‘hero’ by trying to prove you can handle a trigger. This simply means that you should not purposely come into contact with a trigger just to test your plan.

Finally, take care of yourself. Physical and mental health go hand in hand. Both aspects are highly important to recovery. If your mind and body are not healthy then recovery has a higher chance of failure or relapse. If a relapse does occur do not give up, simply start over and try again. However, while you are in recovery make sure to eat well and get plenty of rest so you are prepared for the challenges of daily life. Taking care of yourself has to become a priority for success.

In time you will be more confident in your own judgment in both dealing with triggers and in other areas of your life, but it will take time. Until you are further into recovery, with years under your belt, you can only be prepared and well practiced in your responses to the challenge that is recovery from addiction.

Managing Your Triggers in Recovery – If you have chosen recovery or are considering it you must be prepared. Do not let the hard work that is part of recovery be a deterrent to making the choice to battle your addiction. The road may be tough and filled with bumps, but the outcome will be well worth it in the long run. You have already made the first step by learning more, do not give up now.

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Recovery Journal

Recovery Journal

Alternative Treatment, Articles, Australia, Education, International, Testimonials, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Your Recovery Journal.

During treatment and recovery we are asked to process a tremendous amount of information. The science of addiction, the 12 steps, emotional management therapies of a various kinds—all of this can be difficult to sort through and manage. In addiction, the flood of feelings and ideas that come with our first steps in recovery are often overwhelming.

Just consider that we have been numbing ourselves with drugs and/or alcohol for however long we had been using. For some people this may have been decades of shutting off their ability to properly feel their feelings and to properly understand the world around them. One of the best methods for dealing with all of this is a recovery journal.

For many, the idea of sitting with an open and blank notebook and writing down their own thoughts and feelings is an utterly foreign practice. People will often balk at the idea by claiming they have nothing to say. The fact is, it is impossible to have nothing to say. What hangs up the newcomer to journaling is the belief that they do not have the “correct” things to say. Keeping a recovery journal means writing down your own thoughts for yourself and no one else. There are no rules. No one will grade your grammar or spelling. And no one will ever see it, therefore no one will ever judge you by what you write.

Enter Your Thoughts.

Getting your thoughts on paper allows you to see for yourself what is going through your mind. Recovery nearly always consists of a flood of conflicting emotions and thoughts. It is a natural tendency to try to work these thoughts and feelings out into a coherent whole before saying them or writing them. This is exactly what a journal does for you. With a journal, we can write down the thoughts as they occur to us without trying to make sense of them. We can confess to the journal those feelings which we find difficult to admit even to ourselves. Once these thoughts and ideas are in front of us we can begin to sort through them.

We can look at our own ideas in front of us and begin to see that some of them are a function of fears which are irrational, for example. We can begin to see on the page evidence of the things that matter most to us. For example, one may believe that their career goals were always first on their list of priorities. But up entry into recovery and experiencing a clearer sober version of themselves, the writings in a personal journal may show that family attachments are much more important. They can then begin the process of working with a sponsor and with a treatment counselor with this revelation in mind.   

Conclusion.

Without getting into a digression on research, it has been shown that journaling is a tremendously effective tool for recovery and for other forms of personal growth. The main thing to keep in mind is that the personal journal is for you. It is private, just like every other aspect of treatment and recovery, and the only person who ever has to see it is you. I cannot emphasize enough how valuable a personal journal can be in the recovery process.

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Relapse Prevention

Relapse Prevention

Articles, Australia, Education, International, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Congratulations on choosing to start the pathway to recovery or knowing someone who has made that choice. The hardest decision is over and now the work can truly begin. Though many issues must be faced and dealt with as soon as the choice for recovery is made, the most prominent concern is typically avoiding relapse. Relapse prevention is the measures taken to prevent a former user from becoming an active addict once again. For many, relapse will occur at least once. This does not mean that recovery is no longer an option, just that a setback has occurred and the process will being again. The ultimate goal is to avoid a relapse at all costs, hopefully some of the tips included in this article will make staying in recovery a bit easier for all involved.

As you stay in recovery you will learn to live a happier life without your drug of choice. For some this may come faster than for others. Everyone will likely have cravings, have weak moments, and want to go back to an unhealthy lifestyle of addiction. In order to stay strong you must learn to take care of yourself, something ignored by most addicts. One way in which you can care for yourself is to ask for help. Gaining entrance into rehab is a positive first step. If rehab is not an immediate option then find a competent therapist that you trust. You should feel comfortable discussing your drug use and future plans in detail with your therapist. This includes holding yourself accountable. Since outpatient therapy means you will not have a constant therapist available, you should also create a support system of friends and family members that will help you when tough times happen. This support system will grow stronger as you continue in recovery. These people need to be strong enough to set and keep boundaries with you at all times. Remember, thinking that you have all the answers can leave you struggling, be willing to ask for help before it is needed.

In addition you should focus on yourself for relapse prevention. This may seem counterproductive, but being in recovery is first about you and then about others. The only way you can become a better person and remain addiction free is to focus on taking care of yourself until you have time in recovery. This means eating healthy, getting plenty of rest, and taking time to relax and unwind when needed. As part of caring for yourself you should focus on the positives. Rehashing the negatives will bring you down. Accept what has happened and what you have done while in addiction and move forward.

Though you are to focus on the positives you must also hold yourself accountable. You have probably done things while in active addiction that require an action to correct. Perhaps you lost your license due to drunk driving or stole from others to feed your habit. Now is the time to hold yourself accountable and pay the price for these actions. This may begin with serving jail time or starting to repay money or time that was stolen. While compensation may not make the actions disappear, they show a willingness to be humble and demonstrate your accountability for previous actions. This is part of the recovery process. Forgiveness from others may not come from holding yourself accountable, but it will help you to move forward in recovery. Being accountable is for you, as is making right those things that you can while in recovery.

Relapse Prevention – Be proud of yourself. The decision to go into recovery, through rehab or otherwise, is a huge accomplishment. Stay strong and keep moving forward.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

drug withdrawal

Drug Withdrawal Symptoms

Articles, Australia, Education, International, Testimonials, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

For all individuals who are addicted to any kind of drugs and opiates, managing drug withdrawal symptoms is quite a test. If you fail to manage these uncomfortable symptoms successfully, it could ultimately lead to a relapse.

The ability to avoid cravings and cultivating healthy habits to circumnavigate from your drug addiction requires a strong will to change. People who once tried to quit but failed to finish their rehabilitation experienced a slew of different emotional and psychological disorders.

Alcoholics.

Alcoholics exhibit one of the most dangerous symptoms of drug withdrawals. These symptoms may range from mild to severe depending on the level of addiction. This is why alcoholics are more likely to abandon their rehab and relapse since they have a hard time coping with withdrawal symptoms.

All these symptoms have alarming effects on an individual’s psychological and physical health. These emotions affect how an addict feels or reacts to different life situations.

Drug Addicts.

Drugs such as cocaine and heroin also lead to major physical dependencies. Withdrawal can be worse if the addiction is prolonged over an extended period of time.

In any given situation, it is very challenging to manage withdrawal symptoms no matter the type and severity of a drug addiction.

There are many drugs and substances that people become easily addicted to. These include meth, heroin, cocaine, alcohol and benzodiazepines.

Drug Withdrawal Symptoms.

The frequency, severity and intensity of withdrawal symptoms may vary. However, it is important to administer a completely safe rehab and drug withdrawal in a professional or medically supervised environment.
Since these symptoms often lead to suicidal thoughts or life-threatening incidents; monitoring the withdrawal progress and medical intervention is required at all times.

Here some of the most common drug withdrawal symptoms that patients experience:

  • Insomnia
  • Dysphoria
  • Anxiety
  • Abdominal pain
  • Cravings
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Irritability
  • Diarrhea
  • Sweating
  • Muscle cramps
  • Seizures
  • Heart palpitations
  • Chills

When you learn about how to manage withdrawal symptoms, recovery becomes less complicated. It is a tough battle against an addiction to start your road to recovery. You must be mentally fit to handle all withdrawal symptoms to increase your chance of finishing the rehab without succumbing to your cravings.

Since, managing these symptoms is serious business, no addict is recommended to embark on a rehab journey on his own; particularly if he has quit before. Quitting and failing to overcome an addiction can lead to feelings of guilt and fear, which cause people to undergo many psychological disorders.

Drug addiction and its effects are not just limited to our physical health. The symptoms and cravings can leave detrimental effects on our psychological health. It is important to know that no recovery is achieved overnight. Managing drug withdrawal symptoms to overcome your addiction needs patience, time and commitment.

Final Thoughts.

There are many rehab facilities that focus on detoxing a patient’s body as well as prepare him to stand tough against his cravings. Coping up with uncomfortable symptoms is also easier since these programs are designed by trained professionals.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Relax in Recovery

Ways to Relax in Recovery

Articles, Australia, Education, International, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Ways to Relax in Recovery – Recovery, especially in the early stages can be stressful and exhausting. Allowing yourself to remain tired and over stressed can quickly allow recovery to get off track and possibly lead to a relapse. While everyone has a particular way they take time to relax, for addicts relaxation was often about using. Now that you are entering recovery new forms of relaxation must be found. Though these will differ for everyone, the list below will offer some cheap or free ideas that can create a relaxing time and aid in the overall recovery process.

Relax in Recovery – Self Care.

Ways to Relax in Recovery – Remember that relaxation and self care are an important part of recovery and should not be ignored or taken for granted. Without self care, recovery will be much harder in the long run. One basic way to relax for free is to get outside. Work with nature in the dirt by planting a garden or some flowers. Be a kid again and do not fear getting dirty. The work and the experience is relaxing for many and after you have a beautiful plant or a small garden to enjoy.

Listen to music. Choose music that is happy and uplifting, but not associated with previous addictions. Classical music is thought to be the most relaxing based on science, but any music that helps you calm down and forget your cares will work.

Engage In Meditation.

Ways to Relax in Recovery – Meditation can be in the form of quiet reflection or even guided imagery. These techniques can be learned online or most therapists can offer advice. Take time to be silent and focus on something positive or simply clear your mind and enjoy the silence. Guided imagery can take on many scenarios so if trying it do not be afraid to explore your options.
Get some exercise. Working out releases endorphins that produce a natural ‘high’. This does not mean you need to run out and join a gym. A brisk walk or a nature hike will do the trick. Find an activity you enjoy and take part. This will also help you be healthier in the long run. This is important to a body that has been abused by addiction.

Take a hot shower or bath. Fill a tub with bubbles, light some candles and take a long relaxing soak to let your cares drift away. As the water drains or as you rinse off, let the worries and stress of life go down the drain as well.

Don’t Forget To Laugh.

Ways to Relax in Recovery – Finally, take some time to laugh. Watch a funny movie or spend time with entertaining, non-using friends. A good laugh will also release endorphin’s in the body, as with exercise. Laughing at online jokes, at movies, or simply with friends will create a relaxing environment that helps you feel better.

No matter which healthy manner you choose to use to create a relaxing environment it is important to find something that creates a calm in you. Remember that this is all part of the recovery process and getting back to a normal life, so enjoy the experience.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.