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Taking Action

January 15, 2015 By Denise Leave a Comment

5
We have been discussing the five stages of change which essentially include:

Pre-contemplation

Contemplation

Preparation

Action

Maintenance

Termination

Let’s talk today about how to go from preparation to action. We find this is one of the most difficult transitions to make. During the contemplation stage a person may start to see negative effects that their substance use is having on their mind, body, or people around them yet making a change has not really crossed their mind or if it has, it may be very brief considerations. The preparation stage on the other hand, is when a person fully acknowledges to themselves that a change must occur and must occur soon. However, what is one have to do to change? There may be many circumstances that prevent such a life change or conditions that keep a person from accessing the tools they need to be successful. While, it may be an “ah ha” moment when this recognition occurs it’s not enough sometimes.

Taking action is hard work. Think about the action stage like this. What is one thing I can do today to move me forward on this path of sobriety? It’s also important to know that the action stage includes not using substances or on a very aggressive taper down. For some people, especially those who have been using alcohol or benzodiazepines, a small amount of use may be necessary to avoid deadly withdrawals. Action means that you have made the commitment to participate in a plan. This plan can be a specific treatment program but it doesn’t have to be. While professional help may be ideal it is not always an option. Have you committed? Are you substance free today? Congratulations! You are taking action!

 

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: action, dependency, disease model of addiction, drug use, drugs, dual diagnosis treatment centers, recovery, rehab, sobriety, stages of change, substance abuse, substance abuse treatment

Stages of Change

January 12, 2015 By Denise Leave a Comment

Happy Monday! This week’s topic is: Stages of Change

People who use drugs, alcohol, or struggle with any sort of addiction go through different stages. This is called stages of change. Where do you stand on this?

  1. Pre-contemplation – the stage where users do not even recognize that there is a problem.
  2. Contemplation – this is where the user starts to recognize that there may be a problem and is having thoughts about possibly making a change.
  3. Preparation –the stage where the user begins to prepare to change. Maybe they are thinking about setting a date  to quit.  https://www.liverehab.com/?p=1272
  4. Action –the user is actively participating in a program or has started to obtain sobriety. The user is on day one of sobriety or after.
  5. Maintenance –when sobriety has been achieved for some time and the user is working hard on maintaining their sobriety.
  6. Termination – when someone has obtained full sobriety and is confident that they can be in any situation at any time without the possibility of relapse.

Filed Under: Blog, General Tagged With: action, addiction, contemplation, dependency, disease model of addiction, drugs, heavy user, maintenance, planning to quit, pre-contemplation, preparation, recovery, sobriety, stages of change, substance abuse, termination

The Details in YOUR Plan

January 7, 2015 By Denise Leave a Comment

Making a plan to quit is one the most critical components to your success in obtaining sobriety. Depending on your situation, this plan may take hours or days to complete but you cannot skip this step. You must plan carefully and logically. Start by writing things down.

On Monday we shared 5 tips to help get you started.

  1. Stop purchasing large amounts of drugs or alcohol. Make it hard on yourself.
  2. Get rid of all paraphernalia. Trash it.
  3. Schedule a day to deep clean the space you normally get high or drunk in.
  4. Tell somebody about your plan.
  5. Pick a date and mark it on your calendar.

We also talked about your mindset and how important it is to not self-sabotage. This means that you need to think ahead. Think about anything that might get in your way and how you can overcome it.

Your biggest barrier

Today, we are going to talk more about specific details when making your own plan. First, start with your biggest barrier. For some people it might be family. Other people it might be work or school. How can you make this work? Do you need to ask for help? You might need to take time off of school or work for detox. You might not have that choice. Do you need to wait for a vacation perhaps? Whatever your biggest barrier is, tackle that first.

The details

Once you have tackled your biggest barrier, you will need to think of all the little details. Think about how you can structure your days. Your days need to be filled with back up plans. You may think about getting more entertainment like movies, music, games, etc. Who will you call for support? What can you do if you have a craving? You will need to have structure and a solid plan for each day.

Sleep, food, and exercise

You might not think these three things matter but I can tell you they matter a lot. You will need to make sure you are not getting too much or too little sleep. Sleeping during the night and staying awake during the day can be really helpful. Make sure your diet is well balanced. Try to stick to whole foods as much as possible and limit the amount of sugar you are consuming. And, don’t forget to exercise. If you are not used to getting a lot of exercise challenge yourself to try something every single day, even if it’s just walking around the block. Getting outside, rain or shine, can help stabilize your mood.

We want you to be successful with your plan and that’s why we believe it’s important to think things through before making the decision. The stronger plan you have, the more successful you will be.

Filed Under: Blog, General Tagged With: addiction, assessment, blospot, counselor, drug use, drugs, heavy user, out-patient, recovery, rehab, results, self-help, sobriety, substance abuse treatment, treatment"

Why Proper Planning is Important

January 6, 2015 By Denise Leave a Comment

Today we are continuing to talk about making plans to quit. Making a plan to quit may seem very daunting. Sure, some people may tell you to suck it up or to just do it. We know it’s not that easy. In order to be successful, proper planning must take place.

The first thing you need to do is take a look at all the times you tried to quit. Why were those ventures unsuccessful? What got in the way? These barriers can range from support to work or even just being in the wrong program. How was your mindset?

Now think of ways you might self-sabotage. Self-sabotage is when you create barriers that force you to fail. For example, you might accept a wedding invitation to an open bar, knowing you are vulnerable. This time, think of everything that might get in the way and come up with a solution. One solution to this example is to attend the wedding with a sober friend or simply not go.

Do you ever watch those TV shows where a family does an intervention and within 24 hours the addict is admitted to a rehab facility? That’s not reality. For most people, up and leaving right this moment is not even an option. With proper planning, you can do it. You can even do it without checking yourself into a facility.

We cannot stress enough how proper planning is an absolute must. Create your own plan. Do you think it would be better to quit cold turkey or taper down? Remember, everyone has a different situation. What about family, friends, work, or school?

Making plans to quit will not be easy but it is absolutely necessary. And guess what? Follow your own plan and you might be surprised. Don’t get discouraged about bumps along the way. Remember, you can always start again.

Filed Under: Blog, General Tagged With: a, addiction, alcohol, dependency, drug use, drugs, heavy user, how to quit, planning to quit, recovery, rehab, results, sobriety, substance abuse treatment, treatment plan

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers

August 15, 2012 By Nick Leave a Comment

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers

Dual Diagnosis treatment centers were designed so that people who suffer from more than just drug addiction or mental health can get the help that they truly need. You see if someone has a dual diagnosis the chances are that they are going to need to visit specific dual diagnosis treatment centers to really have a chance at getting healthy. When dealing with dual diagnosis it is important to note that counselors need to have a set of specialized training if they want to be effective. Dual diagnosis treatment centers really take some different approaches than your run of the mill center which is typically only dealing with just the addiction piece.

Shouldn’t everyone just go to dual diagnosis treatment centers anyway?

Often times we hear people ask if,since addiction is typically combined with other mental issues, if they should just go to dual diagnosis treatment centers anyway. The easy answer is no not unless you have actually been diagnosed with a true disorder such as manic depressive or bipolar as these require specialized treatment alongside drug and alcohol rehabilitation. If you are suffering perhaps not from something diagnosed in this way then dual diagnosis treatment centers might not be the best option for you. That being said we try not to tell what you to do from a medical standpoint and you should always check with your own doctor. You could probably get away with not going the dual diagnosis treatment centers route if you are dealing only with addiction.

What do dual diagnosis treatment centers do differently?

Well dual diagnosis treatment centers approach treatment with needing to fix both the alcohol or drug addiction alongside severe to moderate mental illness. Sometimes the addiction is a component directly related to the mental problems one is having and other times it can be completely seperate. It is both these times where dual diagnosis treatment centers come into their own because they are trained to help people through dealing with both as effectively as possible. At times this means isolating one from another and focusing on this first before moving on. Other times dual diagnosis treatment centers will attack both problems head on for maximum effect. Whatever the case any time you are dealing with full on psychiatric issues dual diagnosis centers are going to be your best bet.

Dual diagnosis treatment centers training

Dual diagnosis treatment centers often have specialized training for their staff encouraging/requiring them to learn as much about the different mental illnesses when coupled with addiction problems as well. Having staff that are able to handle all manner of addiction and drug related problems and also treat severe mental illness situations leads to a much higher chance of success in your recovery. This is not to say anything bad about centers which do not specialize in dual diagnosis but is simply meant to highlight the important role that dual diagnosis centers have in the recovery process.
In the end, dual diagnosis treatment centers can provide an appropriate choice for people who are suffering from more than just addiction or drug problems. It is not however exclusive and does not restrict those from going if they do not have a dual diagnosis it just offers a specific place for those that do. Dual diagnosis treatment centers offer the most comprehensive approach to treating those with a combination of psychiatric and drug or alcohol problems. If you have experience in dual diagnosis treatment centers we ask you to provide your opinion or experience so we can share it anonymously with our other readers.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: addiction, alcohol, doctor, drugs, dual diagnosis treatment centers, mental illness, psychiatric

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