Managing Sobriety After Drug Treatment

Celebrate Your Sobriety Every Day

Let’s look for a moment at how you may be keeping your sobriety each day.  You may have to manage cravings, occasional flashbacks of your old using or drinking days, bad days where you become very tempted to use again, and running into old drug using friends.  These issues are tough to face sometimes, and they are a real part of staying sober.

Drug treatment or alcohol rehab may have also been a part of your journey.  Once, twice, maybe more times than that.  You may also attend some type of support group as a member, someone’s sponsor, or both.  All of these have made changes to the way you spend time and who you spend time with.

Learning About Yourself In Drug Treatment Helps You Stay Sober

What did you learn about yourself in drug rehab?  Did you drink to cover up pain from your family life?  Were you diagnosed with depression, which was the main reason you used drugs?  Do you have a physical health problem made worse by your drinking or drug use?  Drug treatment isn’t the only place to learn things, but it is often the place where these problems are brought to light.

Everything you do to keep your sobriety is a personal responsibility.  And these are not small efforts, either.  They are courageous, take focus, and require the willingness to admit that you can’t do sobriety alone.  When you isolate yourself, that’s when temptation can strike the hardest.  Recognizing and working around your old addiction thinking is a daily challenge.  It’s also one of the most important things you can do to keep your sobriety going.

Sobriety Is Hard Work So Celebrate It

Sobriety is no easy thing.  Drug treatment, social changes, accountability, challenging thoughts - all of it is hard work.  But your mind, body, and spirit are free from the shackles of addiction.  Yes, you must always be aware of relapse risk.  But you have the freedom to live a positive healthy life and make decisions with a clear head.  Life is different, but better.  Celebrate your sobriety each and every day.

That “or” can be a huge and weighty decision for family members. It must show that you are serious, that you are not going to put up with the bad behavior brought on by drug and/ or alcohol addiction any longer. And it must also be something that you are willing to follow up on. Whichever choice the addict in your life makes, your life is about to change as drastically as his or hers.

If Your Loved One Chooses Drug Rehab After an Intervention

We’ll start with the hoped-for outcome: choosing drug rehab at The Canyon. The intervention is over and your loved one is on his or her way to The Canyon in southern California. If you choose an inpatient drug addiction treatment program, there will likely be a blackout period, which means that you will not be allowed to contact your loved one by phone, email or letter and they will not be able to contact you. This is necessary so that they can focus on physical detox if necessary and begin to settle into treatment. Soon, though, when they are able, you may even be invited to participate in family therapy sessions and group meetings as well as family visitation days so that you can see the progress your loved one is making in treatment.

If Your Loved One Doesn’t Choose Drug Rehab After an Intervention

If they chose not to get help for their drug addiction, then you will most likely be experiencing an odd mix of depression and relief. It’s hard to let a loved one go but when that person is hurting you and your family, it is a necessary step. You may feel like a load has been lifted and, in a way, it has. Stand strong behind your determination and know that you are making the right choice for everyone in your family. There is still a chance that your loved one will choose to get help and if that happens, it will be due in part to you and your strength.

Balancing Act - Life After Drug Rehab

After Drug Rehab - Balance Work and Leisure

Drug addiction develops an all-or-nothing pattern into a person’s life.  Drug addicts and alcoholics can sometimes be workaholics.  They become so used to staying overly busy that they shut out nearly everything and everyone else.   On the other hand, too much leisure time leaves a lot of time for drug use and shows their lack of life purpose.

Doing good purposeful work is in an important use of someone’s time.  This could be dependable home care chores, volunteer time, paid work - anything that requires effort and has goals to achieve.  Leisure is just as important because it allows for everything else in a person’s life - creativity, social time, significant relationships, quiet alone time, etc.  Creating a balanced approach to work and leisure allows for a healthy pattern of effort and rejuvenation.  It also breaks up the all-or-nothing patterns established by the addiction.

After Drug Rehab - Balanced Diet

A healthy balanced diet is a big part of a healthy lifestyle.  Does it have to be all organic or vegetarian or low carb to be healthy?  Not necessarily.  However, many people with addictions do have a lack of nutrition.    Some drugs cause a person to lose their appetite, which can result in a general lack of nutrient and calorie intake.  Alcoholics often have a lot of extra calories taken in from their drinks, which can add body weight and replace calorie intake from healthy food.

Having a healthy diet isn’t just a fad or something to do if you want to lose a few pounds.  Your body won’t work properly if you don’t get a good balance of nutritious foods.  Getting vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dairy, and leaner meats is just the start.  Knowing the amount of food you need from each food group helps you keep your body happy.  Drug rehabs often do solid nutritional counseling to teach drug addicts about changing their eating habits.  Eating nutritious food also helps a drug addicted body heal from all the damage caused by the drugs.  It allows them to have long-lasting energy and a stronger immune system.

Drug Rehab Can Help With A Balanced Lifestyle

Getting a balanced lifestyle isn’t just a fix-it-once approach.  Life changes constantly, so it’s important to understand the basic elements of a balanced life.  Then when changes come, you can adjust your behaviors and choices to keep things in check.  Come back next time to see a few more ideas about keeping a balanced lifestyle after drug rehab.

“Jackson appeared to be stronger than they expected. There were bruises on his chest, which indicated someone had performed CPR on him, but there was no sign of a heart attack, which is when arteries are blocked, leading to cardiac arrest.”

Cardiac arrest was initially reported as the cause of death, but the preliminary autopsy results seem to conclude that that was not the case. The article goes on to state that “drugs may have indeed played a role in stopping Jackson’s heart and/or lungs.”

Other reports state that Jackson’s doctor was with him when he died, or at least that’s what was intimated by the 911 caller. TMZ.com reports: The person who makes the call says Jackson was not breathing and unconscious. Jackson was not responding to CPR. The caller says the doctor on scene – Dr. Conrad Murray – was the only witness – “The doctor has been the only one here.”

You can listen to a recording of the 911 call made from Michael Jackson’s Encino, California home here.

Still other reports claim that Jackson had doctors coming to the house around the clock, that one doctor lived in the house with him, and that the day of his death, Jackson was receiving a shot of Demerol from his doctor, something that happened regularly.

There are those that think that if the Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, had called paramedics immediately, that there might have been a chance to save Jackson’s life. Some of these people conjecture that the doctor was protecting himself by waiting, or that perhaps he thought, as a doctor, he had as good a chance of saving Jackson’s life as anyone. Of course, there’s always the possibility that the doctor didn’t find him until after he stopped breathing and that this piece of information got convoluted or lost when others came on the scene… though the caller sounds a little stressed but hardly blinded by chaos. However, Dr. Murray is apparently nowhere to be found, so these questions will go unanswered for some time.

Whether or not doctors and hangers-on push celebrities to abuse prescription drugs, unless they are outright drugging them so that they are unaware of what they are taking, I believe each individual must take responsibility for his or her own actions. You have to recognize at some point that you are not living the life you want and that, like the rest of us, you are the only one who can create the change that you’re hoping for. Maybe that’s easier said than done. Certainly, most of us don’t have someone there with a shot full of Demerol or a handful of pills at the ready every time we get frustrated about something. Perhaps if we did, the need to get clean probably wouldn’t be so urgent. What do you think?

Michael Jackson: Prescription Drug Abuse or Prescription Drug Addiction?

Whether it was prescription drug addiction or prescription drug abuse, Life & Style has reported that Michael was taking as many as seven different prescription drugs simultaneously in the past few months, including Xanax, Zoloft and Demerol. The source who supplied this information to Life & Style said that that they suspected that Michael overdosed Thursday morning, an event which may have precipitated his cardiac arrest and, ultimately, his death.

Brian Oxman is a Jackson family lawyer. He says that prescription drugs were a problem for Michael: “This was something which I feared and something which I warned about,” Oxman told CNN. “I can tell you for sure that this is something I warned about. Where there is smoke there is fire.”

Michael Jackson Had Long History of Medical Problems

Though the world at large is somewhat shocked by yesterday’s news, those who were close to the pop star say that Michael has been struggling with medical issues and receiving prescriptions for those issues, including Demerol, going as far back as 1984 when he suffered an injury while filming a Pepsi commercial. Unfortunately, this is how prescription drug addiction starts for most people: an injury or a surgery that results in a painkiller prescription that is poorly managed by a doctor and ends up resulting in addiction.

Michael Jackson and Anna Nicole Smith: Whose Fault Is It?

Jackson’s lawyer, Oxman, says that Michael had people who enabled his prescription drug abuse, much like Anna Nicole Smith, whose enablers are now on trial. What do you think? Is it true? Can the deaths of celebrities due to drug addiction be blamed on the people around them or, ultimately, is it the responsibility of the individual who takes the drugs, no matter how famous they are?

A Drug Addiction Intervention Can Be Successful

Though it is often an emotional experience, if done right, an intervention can help the one addicted to drugs and/ or alcohol to see how the drugs are hurting them and those they love… but without blame or judgment. Drug addiction is no one’s fault. But the ability to take responsibility for the future is the light at the end of the tunnel and offering an intervention and the option to take that responsibility can be a pivotal point in the recovery process.

Here are a few tips to help you set up a successful drug addiction intervention:

• Bring just one example of how you have been hurt to the meeting to illustrate the severity of this person’s drug addiction.
• Write down the incident you would like to share before you arrive. It will help you to focus and keep it short.
• If you are the one delivering the ultimatum, then stick to it. No one will be helped by you backing down later.
• Make sure that you secure your space at a drug rehab like The Canyon before you have your drug addiction intervention. That way, when your friend or loved one is ready to leave the intervention and get help, there is no need to wait: both of you can go directly from the intervention to The Canyon without delay.

Drug Rehab Color Palette

Visual stimulation can do a lot to set a person’s mood.  And it’s well known that certain colors are more likely to be calming and others energizing.  A well-planned color palate can help people when they need to rest, when they are recovering from detox, when they are doing yoga or aerobics.  More than anything, a drug rehab facility understands that people who stay there are in a lot of pain.  The drug rehab environment shouldn’t be standing in the way, it should be supporting the process.

Getting In Touch With Nature

Many people feel greater peace and relaxation when they can connect with nature.  While not every quality drug rehab is on a large acreage, it’s helpful to have natural elements present in some way.  A rock garden, a sun room with tropical plants, a rooftop or balcony garden, any of these things can help bring people closer to the natural elements.

Drug addiction makes everything so artificial, so shallow.  Being closer to nature can help remind people that they are all part of the living universe.  So whether you choose a drug rehab with a beautiful vista of the ocean or an urban setting with a rock garden, having a touch of nature will enhance your drug rehab experience.

Comfortable Personal Space

A comfortable bedroom is essential for quality sleep.  This includes the mattress, bedding, lighting, smells, sounds, and temperature.  You want falling asleep to be easy with few distractions inside or outside your room.  Privacy is also important.  Whether you are sharing a room at drug rehab or have one to yourself, having adequate personal space  will help you keep the mood relaxed.  A well-planned spa-like drug rehab facility will have these features and more.

Many people who have gone through drug or alcohol addiction have seen their personal environments deteriorate.  They might have moved to a smaller less attractive home because of financial problems.  They might have become homeless.  Or they may have let normal household chores go, making their home difficult to live in.  Because of this, a fresh welcoming environment can be so important for making a new start and feeling worthy of life again.

Drug Rehab With Healing Environment

The drug rehab environment includes more than just a physical setting.  Personalized care by caring professionals make a drug rehab center something remarkable.  So before you choose a drug rehab center, make sure you pick one with an environment and staff philosophy that seems to fit you well.

The Reality of a Drug Addiction Intervention

Not very. First, it’s not always obvious when someone’s recreational abuse of a drug has become a full blown drug addiction and drug rehab is necessary. For the most part, the one taking the drug recognizes it as a problem before others do, even if they won’t admit it. Only they know the depths to which their physical and psychological dependence upon drugs of addiction has overtaken their lives. A drug addiction intervention is a way for them to come to terms with the severity of their drug addiction and the fact that they need drug rehab now.

But if you find yourself in the position of having to stage an intervention for a loved one who doesn’t realize that his or her drug and alcohol abuse has reached the breaking point, it will most likely look much different. The stumbling, slurring threats probably won’t happen. More like shame, embarrassment, irritation, denial. These are commonly seen when someone is confronted with their drug and alcohol addiction.

Prescription Drug Addiction Versus Other Drugs of Addiction

It is especially difficult for people who are addicted to prescription painkillers to recognize the serious nature of their problem since they likely don’t consider themselves to be addicts in the same way as those who are addicted to street drugs. They didn’t start using the drugs to get high but to manage pain so addiction most likely came as a surprise. Admitting it and facing a detoxification treatment and the withdrawal symptoms that accompany it when attempted without help is not easy.

Drug Addiction Intervention: A Gift?

An intervention with a ride to a drug rehab like The Canyon sitting at the end of it is actually the nicest thing you can do for someone addicted to pain meds: with a team of medical professionals backing them up, your loved one will be able to swiftly and simply kick their habit without the embarrassment of enrolling in a drug rehab or a local addiction maintenance clinic.

So take heart. A drug addiction intervention—if conducted in that window of clarity after the last dose has mostly worn off and before the next dose has been taken—can be a calm and ultimately enlightening experience.

Drug Addiction Becomes Your Daily Purpose

Getting your drugs, keeping track of your stash, knowing who to get a hold of and when they’ll be around, having money or goods to trade, having ways to do them in secrecy if needed - this is all a lot of hard work.  In fact, someone who is addicted finds that this becomes their primary purpose each day.  It can replace family commitments, work responsibilities, spiritual activities, and a general sense of purpose being on earth.

Drugs Make Uncomfortable Situations Tolerable

When a drug addict has a psychological addiction, they learn that difficult things are much easier to face with drugs.  They get so accustomed to the sensation of having the drug that they don’t believe they could cope without it.  Drugs interfere with neurotransmitter functioning, which is physiologically involved with human emotions.

When the drug is going out of the addict’s system, it takes emotional control right along with it.  The addict already knows that they feel more normal when they are high and pretty bad when they are craving it.  So if they are going to face something difficult, the logical thing is to do what makes them feel better - take drugs first.

Have to go a family gathering but you don’t get along with your parents?  Take some drugs.  Have to go deal with a friend you’ve been arguing with?  Take a hit before going over.  Not only does the addict get the physical sensation from the drug, they also get “evidence” that they do better in bad situations when they’ve just used.  They believe more strongly than ever that they can’t face these things sober.

The Drug Is The Cure For The Sickness of Withdrawal

One of the most awful parts about using a strongly addictive drug is the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.  It’s enough to make an addicted  person more attached to the drug than sobriety sometimes.  They might understand that the drug is causing problems in their life, but in the next day or two they’d do about anything to get away from the awful withdrawal symptoms.

Coping with withdrawal can cause significant depression for a few different reasons.  First, these symptoms can be pretty awful and can seem never ending.  Second, an addicted person’s body is dependent on the drugs for mood regulation.  They need to use higher and higher amounts in a pursuit of anything resembling their first high.  This leaves them already somewhat depressed and unfulfilled, and can be worse when they are trying to get off the drug entirely.

Drug Rehab Can Help With Psychological Dependence on Drugs

You can see how deeply a person’s mind can become dependent on drugs to make things work.  It becomes the ultimate crutch, making life fuzz out or emotions pick up as needed.  What drug addicts have forgotten or never learned is that their body is able to do this on its own.  Unlearning the drug use habit can be so difficult for the mind and emotions to accept.

Drug rehab is needed to help with this transition.  Drug treatment often seems very threatening to drug addicts because it takes away the very thing they believe they need the most to survive.  However, it’s really the best chance a drug addict has at having healthy emotions and a healthy mind.

Alcohol Stash Covers The Emptiness and Lack Of Intimacy in Life

You are basically functional this way, yes.  Thank goodness your spouse does your bills because you can’t keep track of dates and details very well.  You just go to work like you’re supposed to, but that’s about it.  You function, but could you really call it a satsifying life?  Are you being what you should be to your spouse?  To your kids?

You are just a shell with little else meaningful going on inside.  The emptiness and lack of purpose or intimacy are too painful to endure without something to take the edge off.  So you take the edge off all the time.  Your boss and coworkers are probably the ones who see you sober the most.  You admit you have kind of a surface relationship with your kids and you go through the motions with your spouse.

Choosing Drinking Over Family Time - Long Term Consequences

If you think there should be more than just this, it might be time for you to start alcohol treatment.  You don’t have to be falling apart left and right to have alcoholism.  Your relationships are impaired because you
are rarely sober.  You have a constant supply in multiple places and make sure it’s well stocked.  You choose going to drink with friends over family time in most cases.  Sure, you’re not doing anything illegal, but you are setting the stage for a big family fallout over time.

Alcohol treatment can help you understand the role alcohol has in your life.  It can help you come out of the haze and see the effects of your alcoholism.  You may have health problems emerging that you would have never connected to the alcoholism, which would be much harder to treat over time and with continued drinking.  You might just save your marriage if you enter alcohol treatment early enough.

Here’s the other problem - your excuses and behaviors all have negative effects on your children.  When they have a present-but-absent alcoholic parent, family dynamics shift in unhealthy ways.  The alcoholism becomes the elephant in the living room.  Kids want to just love their parents and be loved back, but being drunk a lot prevents this genuine process from going very far.

Alcohol Treatment Helps You Preserve Your Important Relationships

Do you really want to leave this legacy for your kids?  Do you want to set the stage for divorce or at least a shallow painful marriage?  Do you want to wake up and wonder what you really did for all those years?  If not, it’s time to consider alcohol rehab right now.  It’s not enough just to be functional.  It’s a convenient excuse for a while, but it doesn’t give you much to live on in the future.