Articles Tagged with: bethesda addiction treatment center

Triggers | Associations

Triggers and associations are strong reminders of the past. For people in early recovery, a trigger or association can be the influencing factor which leads to a relapse. A few triggers are easier to see than others, for example the bar you used to drink at is a blatant reminder of your drinking. Most triggers are a lot smaller but just as powerful. For example, that playlist that always played in your car while you were using or drinking might have a strong enough association to make you crave. Something as simple as getting home after a treatment and your house smells a certain way could bring back memories, causing a substantial craving.

trigger and associations

Furthermore, there are also internal triggers which are harder to prepare for. Certain emotions can trigger a desire to use. If you had a certain dynamic with a family member that caused you to feel resentful which lead to you fighting and eventually using, that dynamic will possibly happen again once you are home. Being aware of your dynamics in relationships might be the difference between you acting out or making the decision to do something differently. You only need to do something differently once to see that there is another way.

Many people underestimate the force that these triggers and associations have on someone in early recovery and just how quickly they can lead to the physical relapse. Here at Bethesda Rehabilitation Centre we make a point to go through triggers in our relapse prevention workshops and in our Transitional Workshops.

The question remains, how do we deal with triggers and associations so that we can be safe when we leave treatment?

For most people, the transition will be difficult as not everyone can move houses or towns. You will be confronted with the same situations, with the same people most likely causing the same feelings.
The first step to combating these dynamics is awareness, we need to be prepared for this. Surprises will pop up but the more prepared we are, the less chance of emotional acting out there is.

Trust your internal messages. Treatment makes us aware of ourselves and of our thought processing. If you think you are at risk, you probably are. Walk away, rather apologise one day for being rude, then apologise to your family because you sold the car again. Being true to yourself is going to be far more rewarding than conforming to what others expect of you.

Time, time is the best healer of triggers and associations. Time allows for new associations to be made. That new playlist in the car, that place where you experienced serenity for the first time after you got through a tough time clean and sober. However, time on its own is not sufficient, time with active recovery work is the recipe for long term and lasting change.

Action on Addiction – Belguim

Outpatient

An outpatient treatment is designed for people who are not able to attend a full inpatient treatement program, a tailored program is drawn up which consists mainly of group meetings and individual therapy sessions with a clinical psychologist. Outpatient counseling may also like a ‘preliminary stage’ of treatment and may serve as support for the loved ones and family members as well as aftercare following a clinical procedure.

Referrals

Admission can take place immediately after intake, there are no waiting lists. This intensive 8 weeks of treatment in a partner clinic abroad combined with an outpatient aftercare program of 12 weeks, has proven to bring the best results.

Family

Addiction effects the whole family. Dear Ones, relatives and partners are also closely involved before, during and after the treatment of the addiction. We find that everyone involved needs to start the process of recovery.

Sober Living House

The Sober Living House is a safe environment for continued recovery, under the guidance of psychologists and experts we further explore the necessary traits for long term recovery. We feel that for the best results a guided reintegration into society should take place.

Serenity Vitality Retreat

The retreats are hosted in the Belgian Ardennes. Clients arrive on Friday and leave on Sunday afternoon. There are approximately 28 hours of therapy. I have designed the groups to reach each level of the client, spiritual, physical and mental. I lead the retreats with the assistance of a gentleman, who is also a recovering addict. He is currently working as a yoga instructor and conscious revealer. He helps people work through the emotional pain as part of his practice.

The clients have everything provided for them from food to lodging.
All meals are specifically designed to enhance the experience. The actual schedule is designed by me and I do not give it to the clients until a few days before. I don’t want them to overthink the experience.
We are currently working on an Empowerment Retreat. This is using the courage to be sober, the strength to change and connection with your higher power to reclaim the power in your life. These retreats are being offered to both addicts and families and from the family side, it is more about love and peace. In healing from addiction, we need to make peace with our past and that can be done through love which in itself is an endless source of power.

-Maxine

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Maintaining Recovery in early recovery

If you want to maintain recovery and keep running strong, you need to take the same approach a mechanic would take when tuning up a car.

Identify And Mend Signs Of Trouble Down The Recovery Road

When you are driving or are on a road trip and you don’t fix the small leaks, rattles, and squeaks when they pop up, you’re going to find yourself broken down somewhere down the road. Remember that a tiny drip becomes a drop. A drop becomes a tiny puddle, and before you know it you’ll be spewing oil everywhere and wonder what the hell happened.
Catch the small problems in your recovery when they’re small. Don’t put things off. So, what can you do to keep up a healthy addiction recovery program? How to stay on track?

REMEMBER: Diagnose, Repair, Maintain.

All this is really pretty simple.

Sustaining Your Recovery: What TO DO

Within this article you will find a 10 point recovery checklist which will be your guide to keep your recovery running strong and out of the repair shop.

Would you leave for a cross country road trip without checking your fluids, tire pressure, and lights?

I didn’t think so.

Most guys put more time and energy into maintaining their vehicles than they do maintaining their lives. Don’t do this.
Do this instead…

10 Guidelines For Addiction Recovery Maintenance

1. Make sure you are being honest with yourself and others at all times. No exceptions.

If you are not willing to be honest with yourself, there is no way you’re going to be honest with anyone else. Lying to yourself and pretending that you’re okay when you are not will put you back in the repair shop quickly and you won’t see the breakdown coming until it’s too late.

Be honest, even if it upsets others. It is not your responsibility to determine how they will react to your honesty. It’s much easier to tell the truth the first time, man up and face your consequences than it is to back track wondering what you said to who and why you said it. Quit fooling yourself and JUST BE HONEST.

2. Regularly attend support meetings to keep yourself fueled.

Thinking that you could drive from Michigan to California on one tank of gas is a pipe dream. Unless you’ve got a 200 gallon gas tank, it ain’t gonna happen. You know those places that sell gas? They’re everywhere. They need to be everywhere, or no one would be going anywhere.

Cars, trucks, and motorcycles need fuel to run. They need to be filled up often to keep running, and so do you. Meetings and support groups are your fuel. Fail to stop for fuel often and you’re going to stall out and be stranded.

3. Fix problems while they are small.

Don’t be the guy that neglects an oil drip, cracked radiator hose, or bald tire. Remember that an oil drip ain’t going to fix itself. It will only get worse. Don’t think that duct taping your radiator hose is going to fix it. It won’t, and it will burst eventually. Replace the thing. A bald tire can be deadly if not changed immediately. Pull the wheel off and change the tire.

If you are encountering small problems in your recovery, remember the sequence: diagnose, repair, maintain. Legal problems? Man up and face em’. Relationship, money, health, or employment issues? FACE THEM. Fix what you can with what you have. Surrender the things you can’t fix to the Master Mechanic.

4. Wash, wax, inspect, and repeat.

Most guys will spend a load of money on their car, truck, or motorcycle. They will only buy premium fuel, synthetic oils, and brand name tires. That’s all fine and dandy, but these same guys won’t spend more than a few bucks on buying healthy food, a gym membership, or going to the doctor. Take care of your body. You’ve busted your butt to get sober, so why would you skimp on the vehicle that’s going to take you through life?

Take care of your health. Honor what God has given you. Get some exercise. Stop eating garbage. Quit smoking already. Get plenty of sleep. Learn to rest and relax. Would you put used oil and fouled out spark plugs in your prized possession? I didn’t think you would, so stop treating your body like it will run forever. It won’t. Take care of it and it will take care of you.

5. Stay on your own lane.

There is a passing lane, a driving lane, and a slow lane. If you are really trying your best to live a life based in recovery, you have no business being in the fast lane. None. The fast lane is for passing, not driving. There are always those jackasses that are constantly hurrying to get somewhere that will drive in the fast lane.

THAT SHOULD NOT BE YOU.

It’s okay to pass, but remember that recovery is a long-term deal. It is the most epic adventure you will ever embark on, so get used to going slow and pacing yourself. You’re not going to get to anywhere worth going by rushing. You are not Dale Earnhardt, Mario Andretti or Evil Knievel. Slow the hell down and enjoy the ride. Remember: God’s time, not yours. You will get there, but not by rushing.

6. Realize that you can’t fix everything. Some things will break and stay broken for a while, and that’s fine.

While it’s a really good idea to fix problems while they’re still small, some things are not for you to fix. You may not have the knowledge, the right tools, or be ready to tackle repairing certain parts of your life. Don’t stress. You need to learn how to change your own oil before you can even begin learning how to overhaul an engine, so don’t take on problems that are not yours to fix in the first place.

If you’re trying to rebuild your relationships, finances, health, or employment, remember that you need to learn how to manage what’s in front of you before you are given more to manage and repair. Why don’t they just let a kid drive when they turn 16? They can’t handle it. It would be a complete shit-show.

A kid learns to drive very slowly and deliberately in driver’s education with the instructor at the helm, ready to react if junior makes a dumb move. You are still learning to drive. Chill out and enjoy the process.

7. Follow the instructions at all times.

There are auto repair manuals for a reason. Don’t think you can do things your own way and be successful. You can’t. When it comes to maintaining your recovery, you’ve got to do what the pros do (people that have been in the program longer than you): Listen, learn, pray, apply, and repeat.

The “instructions” to living a healthy and balanced life in recovery can be found at various support meetings and in various books that are read in these support meetings. If you think you’re slick and can cut corners, go ahead…but you must be willing to deal with whatever consequences come your way for doing a half-hearted job.

FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AND ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT. DON’T BE A SUPERHERO.

8. Maintain contact with the head mechanic at all times.

If you are made of flesh and bone, you are human. You are not running the shop, and you can’t keep your own car on the road forever. NO ONE knows how to fix everything. You might have some tools, some experience, and fixed many of your own problems, but the HEAD MECHANIC is the ULTIMATE repairman.

You can call your Head Mechanic whatever you want, so be sure you consult Him on a regular basis. He has already fixed plenty of other cars and knows exactly what’s wrong with yours. Trust Him to give you the tools to fix your own problems when you’re ready, or watch Him work his magic and fix them for you. He’s a hell of a good wrench.

9. Expect breakdowns and detours.

I don’t care how well you’ve maintained your vehicle…THINGS STILL BREAK. Things do not always work out how they are supposed to. Plans change. Potholes are everywhere. Roads are closed, tires go flat, and rocks get spit up by 18-wheelers and chip your paint. It’s not your job to control and micro-manage every step of your journey, nor is it your job to predict everything that might go wrong.

That’s impossible.

Only one mechanic is capable of such things, and that’s the Master Mechanic. If things go wrong – and they will go wrong – adapt, reset, repair, and get back on the road. If that road is closed, ask for directions.

10. Keep a maintenance checklist. Do this daily.

You need to do this. You’ve got to keep track of what’s running well in your life, what’s starting to run a little rich or lean, hot or cold, what’s leaking and what’s not, and keep track of those things. You will not know what’s wrong and what needs to be fixed or maintained if you skip this step. Just do it.

Daily recovery maintenance checklist:

Was I 100% honest today?
Have I been checking in with the Head Mechanic?
Do I owe anyone an amends today?
Did I do my best to live in the solution, or have I been living in the problem?
Did I make good use of my time today? Why or why not?
Was I grateful for what I already have?
Did I whine or complain about things I do not have? What is this doing for me?
Have I been to a 12-step meeting or talked to someone in the program today?
Did I follow the directions to the best of my ability?
Am I playing well with others?
Have I been getting regular exercise?
What kind of fuel have I been putting into my body?
Have I been working to improve myself today?
Am I keeping my surroundings neat and tidy?
Am I regularly checking my motives?
Am I getting enough rest?
Am I reading something difficult every day, just for practice?
Have I been financially responsible today?
Have I been checking in with the Head Mechanic?

-sourced from addictionblog

Dealing with Addiction for Families

By Leigh Belz

Three years ago, when Rachel* got her freshman dorm assignment in the mail, the New Jersey teen excitedly logged on to Facebook to look up her new college roommate, Eleanor*. “She definitely seemed like that perfect, blonde, athletic, popular girl,” says Rachel, now 20.

But just a few weeks into their first semester, Eleanor, who had been recruited for the school’s soccer team, quit the sport when practice sessions interfered with her ability to party. Still, Rachel says she didn’t think Eleanor had a serious problem until the start of their sophomore year. “She’d go out a lot and get way more drunk than anyone else,” Rachel recalls. It also became difficult to be her roommate. “If we all went out, I’d go back to my room and go to sleep, and then she’d come in hours later with a guy — or just drunk and angry.” Rachel and her friends tried to talk to Eleanor several times about her drinking, but they couldn’t get through to her. Rachel says they didn’t know what to do.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 23.5 million people ages 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol abuse problem in 2009 — and that counts only those who sought professional help. Far more struggle with addiction issues in private. “Addiction is so common that, unfortunately, you could say it’s normal,” says psychologist and substance abuse specialist Patricia O’Gorman, Ph.D. “More kids are dealing with it in their lives than not.” And while chemical dependency takes an obvious toll on those struggling with it, it also affects everyone around them. Indeed, when you’re close to someone — be it a friend, significant other, or family member — who’s regularly drunk or high, it can be difficult to know how to deal.

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Working the Program VS Living the Program

Understanding that doing step work and going through the questions doesn’t translate to living the program is an important part of this new found life that the steps offer.

So often I’ve heard… “But I’ve done the steps”, “I don’t understand why my life hasn’t changed”.
Here is how it works, the steps are a guide to the spiritual principals of the program. With each step comes a certain principal and with each principal comes a new way to live.
Step One: I have no control.
Step Two: Need something greater than me to help.
Step Three: Hand over control to that power.
Step Four: Identify and get honest about the shame, guilt and resentments.
Step Five: Tell God and someone else about the shame, guilt and resentments.
Step Six: Refer to Step Four, identify defects that cause the behaviour.
Step Seven: Humbly, ask God to remove them.
Step Eight: Refer to Step Four, List of people we have hurt, damaged and wronged.
Step Nine: Make amends to said people without causing further harm.
Step Ten: Continue Step Four Principals, when we are wrong admit it.
Step Eleven: Pray to ask, Meditate to Listen. Guidance.
Step Twelve: Pass it on.

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Normies React to the 12 Steps

By Juliet Abram 09/19/14

-sourced http://www.thefix.com/

“I think admitting to having a problem in general is the right first step, but to admit powerlessness is unhealthy. .. I think admitting powerlessness is more harmful because it doesn’t help. Admitting that you want and need help is more useful after admittance.”

Mara Wilson, former child co-star of Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire, insightfully wrote on her personal blog, “Artists who struggled with mental illness, trauma, disease, addiction (often the latter is a way of self-medicating after the first three) did not want or welcome it.”

I won’t debate if addiction is a disease, but I agree no one wants to be addicted to anything. 12-step treatment teaches addiction is a chronic, progressive disease. Members don’t have a choice to use because they’re “powerless” over the substances. I assume Mara has not been in 12-step programs, but she does admit she’s battled depression in life. As an outsider she gives a very logical explanation of addiction. The nickname for outsiders in AA is “normies” or “Earth People.”

Only in addiction would the patient apologize for treatment not working, even when it’s prescribed by professionals.

Wait. Doesn’t it stigmatize alcoholics to call them abnormal and alien to this planet? Wouldn’t telling them that all humans make mistakes be more therapeutic?

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Am I Just an Occasional Heavy Drinker? Or A Real Alcoholic?

By Bill Manville 08/03/15 -sourced http://www.thefix.com/

My doctor asked me if I’m an alcoholic. I lied. Telling her the truth meant the end of fun.

Speaking at a 12-step meeting a few weeks ago I mentioned that old AA standby—that addiction is the only disease that assures you that you’re doing fine. Have one more drink and you’ll feel even better.

When it ended, a woman took me aside.

“Elaine” had never been arrested for drunk driving, lost a job or passed out due to booze. She’d come to the meeting—her first—to please her husband but the drunk rambles she’d just heard made her think maybe she was in the wrong place—AA was not for her.

“Eddie claims we fight because I’m an alcoholic. He says a lot of hidden anger comes out after I have a drink or two. My own feeling is that he doesn’t think it proper for ‘a lady’ to drink at all; he is very old-fashioned. I tell him the main thing wrong with our marriage is his nagging. But sometimes when I am alone with my feelings [I think] wouldn’t a little vodka right now turn the world right side up? I think maybe he’s right. Bill, how can I know if I’m just an occasional heavy drinker, or a real alcoholic?”

“Elaine, let’s do a little self-diagnosis,” I said to her. “Imagine you’re having a medical consultation with a doc who knows you very well. He looks up from your chart and says, ‘Mrs. Jones, you’ve had your last drink.’ How does that make you feel?

“For most people, the reaction would be, ‘Not even a glass of wine at a festive dinner? Oh, well, if it’s a matter of life and death, that’s not too high a price. Sure, Doc—I quit as of now.’”

When a rehab counselor said that to me, a chill went down my spine. Oh, no, I said.Never to drink again? That was death.

What made it difficult for me to see that I was an alcoholic was this: I had become unpredictable to myself. I could stop at a bar after a day at the office, have a drink and go home to dinner with my (then) wife. I was just like anyone else. See?

This ignored the fact that I could stop in the same bar at the same time the next day, order the same drink, and wake up three days later in Bermuda…so high only dogs could hear me.

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Understanding Powerlessness

In early recovery and through experience with the 12 Step fellowship, understanding the true meaning of powerlessness is vital to the process.
When I realized that powerlessness was not only about the drugs and alcohol, I found a sense of freedom. I didn’t need to try control everything around me anymore, people, places and things would stay the same regardless of how hard I tried to change them. My over inflated sense of purpose allowed me to believe that I could literally control people, like a puppet master. Once the smoke cleared, excuse the pun, I noticed that not only did I not have control over things around me but I didn’t have control of myself.

Step One talks about me being powerless over my addiction, that statement answered the question that burned like fire in me. Deep down in those dark moments, I questioned with sincerity…
What is wrong with me?

An in depth study of Step One shows me exactly what’s wrong with me, further understanding the condition shows that there is like an allergic reaction to drugs and alcohol or any mood and mind altering substance. A small percentage of the population don’t have the STOP button. We develop the phenomenon of craving that alludes the majority of the population. If you’re like me, once you start drinking or using, the ability to make rational decisions disappears. I hit the STOP button but nothing happens, autopilot has been engaged. This is where a lot of people argue, does the powerlessness kick in straight away? Does it take a few “slips” before the phenomenon of craving starts? Maybe it’s different for different people. In my experience, that process is very unpredictable. What I do know and this is from proven experience, at some stage I will take that second drink, pill or pipe. It might not be the same day or even the same week but it will happen. My experience also shows me that at some stage after that, I will hit the proverbial wall. Once addiction has fully kicked in again and the powerlessness has taken hold, without intervention I will use until I die.
This might sound extreme but it’s a reality for me.

The major point and factor in that example is that I lose control. I have a two phase process that takes place. Firstly I develop the craving and secondly my mind starts to obsess. My rational decision making ability has been distorted and is now running on the need to satisfy the craving at any cost. Now through that process, I start to develop shame and guilt because of the damage I’m doing to myself and those around me, relationships fall apart, trust goes out the window and I need to use more to block out the feelings that are being brought to life through the actions. It’s a circle that doesn’t end easily.
So many people go through this and don’t know how to break free, if you take a real honest look at your powerlessness and understand what it really means in this context, you’ll understand that using in any amount of any drug is not going to work, regardless of how strong your self-will is.

Cross Addiction

If you understand the fundamentals of addiction, you’ll understand that it was never about the drugs or alcohol or other self-destructive behaviours. What characterizes addiction is the obsessive and compulsive nature of the behaviour and also what happens when we do act out on that behaviour. We start a process that is exclusive to our condition, POWERLESSNESS. Powerlessness means that we lose control and our lives become unmanageable. Unmanageability can be characterized by looking at certain areas of life.
Socially, Financially, Spiritually and emotionally. If we take an honest look at those areas of our lives, we will see, specific examples where the powerlessness has affected our very core.
Cross addiction is when you swop one drug of choice for another, quiet plainly it’s just allowing the manifestation of obsession to filter into different areas.
The way the brain works in addiction is like this. Our pleasure centers get overloaded with dopamine to name but one chemical.
Dopamine is a brain chemical involved in many different functions including movement, motivation, reward – and addiction. Nearly all drugs of abuse directly or indirectly increase dopamine in the pleasure and motivation pathways and in so doing, alter the normal communication between neurons.
-drugabuse.gov

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Cocaine Addiction

Is Cocaine Addictive?

Dependency.net produced the following information as a guide to identification of a Cocaine Addiction: Cocaine is one of the most abused drugs in America, according to an eMedicine Health website article.Is cocaine addictive? Despite popular opinion to the contrary, yes, cocaine is highly addictive. While it may not cause the same kind of physical withdrawal symptoms as other drugs, it has powerful psychological addictive qualities. Cocaine has a relatively short-term high, which usually leaves the user craving for more.

Understanding Cocaine Dependency and Tolerance

Regular users of cocaine may find they quickly become tolerant to the euphoric effects of the drug. This means it will take more and more cocaine to produce the same feelings. An increased use of the drug is usually a solid indication that a person is suffering from cocaine dependence. Physical dependence occurs when a person begins to rely on the drug to properly function. This type of dependence is also characterized by an intense craving for cocaine, fatigue and an increase in appetite. The symptoms of psychological dependence are usually illustrated by a major change in a person’s personality. Cocaine also becomes their top priority and they may let other activities they have enjoyed in the past take a back seat. The person may also become obsessed with making sure they always have enough cocaine.