Tag Archives: Recovery

Food for Alcohol Recovery

Top Foods for Alcohol Recovery: Nourishing Your Body On the Path to Wellness

Taking the first step and admitting you need help addressing your alcohol use can be the most difficult, most critical decision you’ll ever make. It’s common to feel defeated in the face of the many physical and mental health issues caused by excessive alcohol use, but it’s not too late to forge a path forward. I made this difficult decision myself many years ago, and today, I continue to encourage others to move away from alcohol use and toward healthier choices.

At ECHO Recovery, I’ve found great value in the education and recovery support we provide for those who are struggling with substance use disorder (SUD), including alcohol use disorder (AUD). While I know how challenging it can be to face the ravages alcohol has wreaked on your mind and body – and how tempting it can seem to turn back to alcohol to manage these daily struggles – there are far better answers.

With careful planning and attention to your diet and lifestyle, you can address your physical needs, stay in recovery, and go on to live a meaningful life.


Today, I’d like to discuss a few key foods that aid in alcohol recovery that you can begin eating to improve your recovery journey.

What Does Alcohol Do to the Body?

Alcohol can alter your brain chemistry

To determine which foods are best for alcohol recovery – and understand why they’re so helpful – it’s critical to learn more about what alcohol really does to the body.

Alcohol can not only alter your brain chemistry, but it can negatively affect your nutrition as well. In fact, alcohol is known to prevent the body from absorbing and using the nutrients gained from foods. Without these key nutrients, you not only risk succumbing to various physical ailments, but you can also struggle to think clearly and act quickly. Worse, even if you begin an exercise regimen, this phenomenon can limit your muscle growth, making exercising more complex and less effective.

Certain health consequences become more likely with continued alcohol use, and people who consume alcohol excessively or daily are most susceptible to the following conditions.

Liver Damage

Your liver is responsible for filtering waste from your body and storing sugar that your body uses as energy. If you drink heavily, your liver will begin to struggle to keep functioning as normal. Not only can you suffer from excruciating pain, but you also risk experiencing other symptoms of liver damage, like fever, nausea, intestinal bleeding, and even cancer.

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is an advanced form of liver damage commonly caused by excessive alcohol consumption over a long period of time, leading to healthy liver cells being replaced by scar tissue. With years of constant damage and scarring, the liver becomes swollen, stiff, and incredibly weak, meaning it can no longer carry out its important functions. Cirrhosis is unfortunately irreversible, though you can slow its progress by ceasing alcohol consumption and eating an anti-inflammatory diet.

Inflammation

Inflammation primarily occurs when your body attempts to defend itself from diseases, but alcohol use can also be a source of inflammation. The more alcohol you consume, the more regularly your body is in a state of inflammation, which can cause issues with the liver, brain, intestines, and more. Inflammation can be especially impactful in the intestines, as the harmful components of alcohol can leak from the organ, which becomes weaker as drinking continues. Worse, the immune system will eventually struggle to fight off the resulting infections.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Because alcohol can slow down or even stop the absorption of nutrients, you can expect to deal with nutritional deficiencies if you continue to drink heavily. For example, you may lack adequate levels of vitamin A in your system, which can lead to vision impairment and dry skin. Some people may also drink excessively while eating very little, which leads to multiple nutrient deficiencies that are tough to correct.

Top Five Foods for Recovering Alcoholics

Nutrition for alcohol recovery is essential to healing both physically and mentally. Of course, the first step is making the decision to seek help, at which time you will go through a detox process to rid your system of harmful substances. However, detox often doesn’t fully address the foods and nutrients you’ll need on your recovery journey. Often, too, you’ll receive the best in nutrition while in a treatment program, but I’ve seen many people return from treatment and then struggle to maintain a healthy diet suitable for alcohol recovery.

While I am not a nutritionist myself, there are certain foods research has demonstrated to effectively support the alcohol recovery process through all stages of recovery. These top five foods that aid in alcohol recovery are foods to prioritize as you return to physical and mental wellness.

1. Cruciferous Vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables include leafy greens such as spinach, broccoli, and kale. These vegetables are full of nutrients commonly depleted during heavy alcohol use, such as potassium, vitamin A, and calcium. These veggies also contain a lot of water, which can help keep you from becoming dehydrated. Finally, the substantial amounts of fiber in cruciferous vegetables can keep you regular, improve your gut health, and help you regulate your blood sugar levels.

Cruciferous Vegetables

2. Shellfish

Shellfish is known for including a fair amount of zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and iron, all minerals and nutrients that aren’t adequately absorbed by the body during heavy alcohol use. For example, without zinc, you can experience appetite loss, rough skin, and mental lethargy, and iron is responsible for helping red blood cells carry oxygen to and from your body’s organs. Shellfish can help you replenish these minerals, helping your body return to normal functioning.

Shellfish

3. Sunflower Seeds and Nutritional Yeast

Sunflower seeds are a source of protein that can not only boost your energy levels in a pinch but can also raise your dopamine, or “feel-good” hormone levels. Rather than turning to alcohol to get through a tough moment, chew some sunflower seeds instead – they contain the nutrients needed to help you feel good without harming your body and can be an excellent way to cope with the situation at hand.

Sunflower Seeds and Nutritional Yeast

Similarly, nutritional yeast contains many B vitamins that your body is likely missing as a result of alcohol use. Incorporating nutritional yeast into your diet is easy, as it makes a great savory topping or a thickener in soups, smoothies, and sauces. Nutritional yeast can replenish B vitamins and keep your body going without much fuss.

4. Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Fish contains many healthy nutrients, prime among them omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. Both are crucial for keeping you feeling healthy and helping you recover from damage and inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids specifically are among the best nutrients for fighting inflammation caused by alcohol. Look for meaty, fatty fish like salmon, which contain high levels of omega-3s and are also packed with a fair amount of protein.

Fish and Omega 3 Fatty Acids

5. Large Meal Salads

Eating salads filled with a variety of cruciferous and non cruciferous vegetables and topped with sunflower seeds, salmon, or more can improve your hydration and boost your nutrient intake. Just be sure to mix your greens and include a hard-boiled egg, as eggs, raw spinach, and cabbage contain high levels of L-glutamine, a protein building block (amino acid) thought to help reduce alcohol cravings and improve muscle building. Eating at least one salad a day with a variety of ingredients can help you stay away from alcohol while replenishing your nutrient levels.

Large Meal Salads

Specific Nutrients to Look Out For

While whole foods are crucial for addressing your dietary needs and providing nutritional support for recovering from alcoholism, it is often necessary to supplement a healthy diet so you can address the most critical nutrients. These minerals, vitamins, and supplements are the ones we recommend focusing on first.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is found in most fruits and can help repair liver damage and increase glutathione levels. Glutathione is an antioxidant that accelerates liver repair, and vitamin C is essential for maintaining adequate levels. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, including citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers, tomatoes, and cruciferous vegetables, and consider taking a vitamin C supplement.

Milk Thistle

Milk thistle is essential for those with cirrhosis and alcohol-induced fatty liver. It can improve liver function and protect the liver from various toxins. While more research is needed to see if it can also aid those with cancer, some studies have noted its potential in this area. Milk thistle supplements are available in most pharmacies.

Cysteine and Glycine

Both cysteine and glycine are amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. By boosting levels of cysteine in your body, you can regain your strength and keep your body protected from certain illnesses. Whole grains, sunflower seeds, legumes, yogurt, and poultry are known to contain cysteine, or you can look for a supplement (more on this below).

Glycine is also used to create protein, helping you replenish your ability to strengthen your muscles. Most meats contain adequate levels of glycine, but it can also be found as a powder for supplementation. Adequate glycine levels can help you can feel fuller, stronger, and more nourished.

N-Acetyl Cysteine

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is the supplemental form of cysteine especially useful for boosting antioxidants in your body and improving brain function. Both are essential after long periods of alcohol consumption. Look for supplements containing NAC if you are having trouble consuming enough whole foods containing cysteine.

Glutamine

Glutamine should be the most abundant amino acid in the body, but you can experience glutamine depletion if you use alcohol heavily for an extended period of time and/or neglect proper nutrition during this time. Increasing your glutamine intake during early recovery can help you suppress your cravings while also keeping your nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea under control. Glutamine is also good for supporting proper gut health, so get plenty of meats, cheese like ricotta or cottage cheese, yogurt, milk, and cruciferous veggies like spinach and cabbage. Alternatively, look for a glutamine supplement.

Zinc

As previously mentioned, insufficient amounts of zinc can negatively impact your skin and appetite and can also reduce your sex drive. Zinc can help clear alcohol-related toxins from your body while also keeping your thyroid health in great shape. Consider a zinc supplement, or eat plenty of shellfish, beef and pork, oats, cashews, and chickpeas.

Other Effective Tips for Alcohol Recovery

Kombucha for Gut Health

Now that you know several effective supplements and nourishing foods for alcohol rehab to choose from, it’s important to learn about the best ways to consume them. Here are some tips I’ve found effective for recovery:

Consider Intermittent or Periodic Fasting

One critical nutrition and recovery tip is to consider not only what you’re eating, but also how and when. Intermittent fasting means you’ll only eat one or two meals a day, restricting these meals to certain time periods. This can be an effective strategy to promote autophagy. Autophagy is a bodily process that helps clean up damaged proteins throughout your body and replaces them with healthy amino acids.

Periodic fasting, which consists of fasting for 24-hour periods a couple of times during each week, can mean autophagy occurs at around the 18-hour mark. Periodic fasting also speeds up the process of restoring amino acids. If this is a concern for you, consider periodic fasting if intermittent fasting isn’t helping you as quickly as you’d like.

Try Kombucha

Another strategy to consider is the use of kombucha tea to stand in and provide relaxation during times you’d normally desire alcohol. Kombucha is a fizzy, fermented tea created with yeast and bacteria cultures that can help you improve your gut health. While the fermentation creates a bit of alcohol in kombucha tea, it’s incredibly small, under 0.5%. It’s recommended to use tea that’s low in sugar and proceed with caution with any beer or wine stand-in.

Improve Your Recovery Journey Today

Man on a Recovery Journey

I know firsthand how difficult it can be to stay on the path toward recovery, especially when substances like alcohol have been an integral part of your daily routine. That’s what makes proper nutrition for alcohol recovery so crucial – by including these foods and nutrients in your diet, you can support your overall healing and begin addressing your physical and mental well-being. Use these tips, along with a consultation with your personal healthcare provider or dietician for more personalized guidance on this matter.

If you’re still considering seeking help for your alcohol use disorder, ECHO Recovery is here for you. Contact us to discuss recovery, find resources in your area, and learn more about how recovery can change your life. Cheers to a brighter and more hopeful future!

Resources:

  1. UC San Diego Health Services. (n.d.). Nutrition and Endurance.
    https://studenthealth.ucsd.edu/resources/health-topics/alcohol-drugs/nutrition-endurance.html
  2. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Alcohol’s Effects on the Body.
    https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body
  3. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Alcohol-Induced Liver Disease.
    https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/alcoholinduced-liver-disease
  4. Stanford Health Care. (n.d.). Alcoholic Cirrhosis.
    https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/liver-kidneys-and-urinary-system/alcoholic-cirrhosis.html
  5. Healthline. (n.d.). N-acetylcysteine (NAC): Benefits, Side Effects and Uses.
    https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nac-benefits
Art Journaling to help with Recovery

Art Journaling Prompts for People in Recovery

Every road to recovery is unique. While there are general tools and support systems, nearly everyone can benefit from, finding a therapeutic technique that you truly click with can provide the best benefits for maintaining and thriving in a sober lifestyle.

Self-discovery and self-reflection are two critical aspects of recovery. When a person is struggling with a substance use disorder, they often neglect their true physical, mental, and emotional needs. Who they are becomes defined by the substance. Developing the ability to look internally and reflect on what you find is key to regaining your sense of personhood. In recovery, finding yourself again can be a difficult but rewarding process.

Consider Journaling for Recovery

One useful tool for rediscovering yourself during recovery is the concept of journaling. There is no wrong way to journal, and the most effective way for you to journal can vary depending on your personal style. Some individuals prefer to write in an open format, jotting down their day and experiences. Others like to have specific prompts that get them thinking about life and sobriety.

Another option that is growing in popularity is art journaling. Art journaling for addiction recovery provides an opportunity for you to partake in self-reflection while also tapping into your creative side. If you’re in recovery, art journaling can help you find inspiration and purpose as you move forward on your sober journey.

Art Journaling for Addiction Recovery

Art journaling is one of many forms of art for recovery. Art therapy is an effective tool for helping individuals with substance use disorders explore their feelings without fear of judgment or confrontation. In the early stages of recovery, there are often many emotions that rise to the surface after having been suppressed by drugs or alcohol.

Facing these deep emotions can be overwhelming, especially as recovery is beginning. However, the ability to face and move on from these emotions is key to maintaining recovery long-term. Art journaling provides an opportunity to use creativity to access emotions and begin to understand the root cause of traumas.

So what is an art journal? Also referred to as a visual journal, an art journal functions much like a traditional journal. With traditional journaling, you are writing down your thoughts and feelings. With an art journal, you are expressing yourself through sketches, doodles, drawings, clips of pictures and magazines, and any other way that you can creatively collect your thoughts and feelings.

Order one of our designer notebooks

Requirements for Art Journaling

Fortunately, you do not need to be a great artist to benefit from participating in art journaling. Just like traditional journaling, this is a practice that is designed to be personal and will be seen only by you and those you wish to share with. There are no right or wrong ways to journal, and there is no worry that your work will be judged or criticized. The purpose of an art journal is to have an emotional outlet that works for you.

For many, putting into words how you’re feeling and what you are experiencing can be too difficult. In that instance, drawing what you are experiencing may provide the outlet needed. As with traditional journaling, though, consistency is key. You’ll want to consider a mode of creativity that makes sense for daily reflection. Larger artistic projects such as sculpting or painting can be therapeutic, but a journal is more of a daily tool that can change with your moods and feelings.

Benefits of Art Journaling for Addiction Recovery

Art journaling can provide numerous benefits for individuals in any stage of addiction recovery. Journaling can be a helpful tool in recovery because it allows people to explore their deepest emotions without fear of judgment or criticism. Journaling can help uncover triggers, which in turn can help people face those triggers to avoid relapse. Journaling also adds a bit of routine to a person’s day, which can help them develop a schedule conducive to sober living.

There are other major benefits of art journaling, and understanding them can help you decide if art journaling may be a good fit for your needs.

Vulnerability

People in recovery often need to slowly tear down walls that took years to build. This is because when a person has a substance use disorder, they tend to isolate themselves from others. Many people don’t want their addiction to be apparent, so they hide their true selves and develop a defense mechanism when people try to get too close. Addiction can also provoke feelings of shame, which further hinders the ability to be authentic and honest.

Art journaling is a safe medium for facing instead of suppressing emotions. This can be beneficial in recovery because suppressing emotions can negatively impact mental, emotional, and physical health. Art journaling presents an opportunity to be authentic with your deepest thoughts and feelings at a pace that is comfortable for you.

Freedom

Expressing yourself through any medium can feel liberating, and this is especially true in recovery. For example, when you vent to a friend about something that is bothering you, you usually feel lighter and have better clarity about the situation. In the same way, art journaling can help you free your emotions at your leisure.

Opening up in recovery can be challenging, which is why art journaling can be so beneficial. This form of therapy allows you to release negative emotions, evaluate your thoughts, understand the problems you are facing, and participate in a creative opportunity that you enjoy.

Self-Reflection

Art journaling is designed to help you uncover long-buried emotions, but it is also designed to help you develop an understanding of yourself. Especially for individuals in recovery, finding yourself again can feel overwhelming. For months, if not years, substance use has defined who you are, but finding yourself again can be facilitated through art journaling. You can rediscover who you are, what you enjoy, and what brings you happiness. This is a vital tool for self-care.

Goals and Intentions

Recovery should be a time when people move on from the behaviors, thought patterns, and destructive activities of the past. For that reason, recovery is about setting goals, large and small, that help keep you motivated and focused on what you want from the process. An art journal is the perfect way to visualize your goals. You can draw positive goals and outcomes you would like to see in your future.

Supplies you might use in Art Journaling Projects

How to Start an Art Journal

When you are considering starting an art journal, it can be beneficial to first think about the way you would normally take notes. Do you like to work with colors or keep it simple? Do you prefer handwriting your notes or using a digital platform? These questions can help you determine what kind of art journal would be best for you. To get started:

Gather Materials

It is helpful to have a dedicated notebook for your sobriety art journal. Since art can demand more than a single piece of paper, use a visual-journal-specific notebook, or consider purchasing thicker paper. You’ll also want to round up your preferred art materials. This can include paint, pens, pencils, crayons, markers, scissors, glue, pencil sharpener, and anything else you might need to create your work. If you would prefer to create digitally, look into platforms and programs that would allow you to easily access your art and keep it organized.

Journal with a Plan and Purpose

Art journaling is a way to release your inner thoughts and feelings without rules and restrictions. However, you may want to consider setting yourself some basic boundaries, especially at first, since getting into this process can feel overwhelming. It is easy to overthink your art journal, essentially putting it on hold before you can even begin.

To help, you may want to make some decisions before you start, such as what medium you prefer, which colors you want to use, and even how large your project will be.

Find a Topic

Specific art journaling ideas aren’t always necessary. Oftentimes, you’ll find inspiration from daily experiences, persistent thoughts, or familiar feelings that you want to express. However, some days, finding a topic can be more of a challenge. On these days, a great list of potential journal prompts can come in handy. Prompts are a great way to ease into the practice of art journaling and could offer a source of inspiration you wouldn’t consider on your own.

Get Creative

Once you have all the materials you need, a prompt or focus, and have set boundaries on how you want to create, you are ready to get creative. There are endless possibilities when it comes to art therapy. Your journal is designed for you, so use it as you need.

Art Journaling Prompts for Addiction Recovery

Art Journaling Prompts for Addiction Recovery

To get you started, we have compiled a list of prompts that have helped others get the most from their art journal. Prompts are a great way to explore topics you might not consider yourself and can be great to have handy on days when inspiration feels lacking.

  • Draw a place you feel safe – Especially for people in recovery, safe places, and people can feel limited. Drawing a place where you feel safe, whether it be real or imaginary, can help in moments of fear or anxiety. Identifying a place that is safe is the best way to improve your ability to get vulnerable with yourself and others.
  • Use colors to express your current emotions – Sometimes, words fall short when you’re trying to express deep or confusing emotional states. As mentioned, too, in early recovery, emotions can be intense and difficult to navigate. Instead of trying to write out what you’re feeling, simply choose a color that you feel best represents that emotion. Your canvas could have one or many colors that represent what is going on at that moment.
  • Where are you today compared to six months or a year ago? – Art journaling can also work as a great tool for self-reflection in the future. You can revisit this prompt, taking note of the control and understanding you may have developed toward your emotions since that point. In this way, journaling can be a marker of your progress.
  • Create a collage that represents your journey – Collages can be a great way to express yourself artistically without stressing about your ability to draw or paint. You can use photographs you already have, print out pictures from the web, or even flip through old magazines to find inspiration. Collages are a great way to create a work that represents where your life is now, as well as create a vision for the future.
  • Create a self-portrait – This is another great prompt that can be revisited throughout your sober journey. You can draw how you see yourself now, how you saw yourself in the past, or how you would like to see yourself in the future. You can choose to be realistic or get creative with your appearance.

Tips for Art Journaling

To get the most out of journaling, it is recommended to make creating in your journal part of your regular routine. Journaling on a regular basis is beneficial for self-reflection and dealing with the various emotional triggers you can face on a daily basis. It also provides an outlet when you need it, whether you’ve had a great day or a difficult one.

We also suggest that you consider keeping your art journal private or being careful about who you choose to share it with. The purpose of an art journal is to allow you to explore difficult, deep emotions and struggles you may face in your healing journey. Even individuals with the best intentions could make a comment that strikes you the wrong way, opening the door for regression when it comes to honesty and vulnerability. Like a diary, an art journal is designed for your eyes only.

You should also consider experimenting with different mediums. Working with different mediums presents a healthy challenge and can prevent feelings of repetition and boredom. You may even discover you have a knack and passion for a certain previously undiscovered medium.

Suggested Reading: Art Journaling Ideas

Creativity Supports Addiction Recovery

Skilled artists and interested beginners alike can find healing and a sense of self through art journaling. While any type of journaling is personal, confidential, and judgment-free, art journaling can be more accessible than written journaling for many people. It also allows people to explore their deepest emotions, navigate triggers, and develop healthy coping mechanisms. See our Art for Recovery resource for more information and support.

If you’re in recovery, consider art journaling as a way to get creative while exploring yourself in your new life, expanding beyond the written word to truly express yourself on a whole different level. The best part? You don’t have to consider yourself artistic to benefit from art journaling. All you need is a willingness to try, a few tools, and a commitment to making it part of your daily routine. Visit our Art Corner to find artists, classes, and more.

How Community Can Help with Addiction Recovery

How Community Helps with Addiction Recovery

You may not have considered how a community helps with addiction recovery, but I’d like to discuss several ways that a community can make a difference. It’s common for those recovering from substance use disorder (SUD) to feel isolated from the rest of the world. However, you don’t have to navigate this journey on your own. With community support, your journey toward sobriety can be completely altered in a positive and engaging way.

I’ve met countless people who struggled to find – and stay on – the path toward recovery. In fact, I was one of them. Whether we were ashamed of our past or felt we wouldn’t be accepted, I, and others like me, felt isolated – as if the goal I was working toward was so far away it was unobtainable.

However, by connecting with others who are walking a similar path, we can share our own stories and encourage others. This is one of the essential roles of the recovery community, and it’s one we felt strongly enough about to assemble the ECHO Recovery community.

Finding an Addiction Recovery Community

Finding Community Support

Most people who choose to pursue recovery once struggled to make that difficult first step. Among other issues, they may have felt they would be left behind by loved ones or even may have felt as if they had nobody that would be supportive of their journey. However, it’s crucial to remind yourself that this is a journey you do not have to take on your own.

Finding a community of people you can relate to and share similar experiences with can make a significant difference as you walk the path toward recovery. Fortunately, you don’t need to do it from scratch – there are many community-building resources already in place. Let’s explore some of the most common.

Addiction Recovery Community Options

Some of the most common examples of resources you can use as you begin to build your recovery community are 12-step programs. The best-known examples are the “Anonymous” groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Individual 12-step groups typically meet once each week, but you can find these groups in abundance in most areas so that you can attend a meeting each day if you’d like.

In 12-step meetings, members listen to one another’s struggles, stories, and progress and offer support in any way possible. Depending on the type of meeting, members may discuss working through one or more of the steps or defining one of the major principles.

Overall, the purpose of the meeting is to provide a shared sense of community, reduce the isolation that often comes with substance use disorder, and perpetuate the goal of the 12-step program. This goal is not to remain sober forever but simply to refrain from substances that day. By setting meaningful and achievable goals and working in community with one another, 12-step groups like AA and NA can help you build resources for the future.

Another community-building example is SMART Recovery, which stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. In SMART Recovery, there are four basic guidelines to follow:

  • Find and maintain motivation.
  • Manage your urges.
  • Properly handle thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
  • Find a balance in life and maintain it.

As you can see, neither of these community resources is focused on finding a cure or diagnosing co-occurring conditions. Instead, they focus on supporting others walking similar paths and building up both the givers and the receivers of support. In fact, the 12th step refers to living all the steps in your daily life so that you and those around you can continue walking the path of recovery.

If an in-person support group is not feasible for you, or you want to explore elsewhere, you can always visit online forums, where you can discuss your struggles with people from across the globe.

How to Choose Addiction Recovery Support

You may not know where to look for a support community, and that’s okay. To find a community, you can speak with your physician, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) or reach out to a recovery community like ECHO Recovery. You may feel you’re the only one needing support, but the reality is that more than 40 million people had SUD in 2020, and many are still on the path toward recovery.

Types of Groups to Avoid

While a recovery community can make a significant difference in the lives of those with SUD, there are types of support groups you should avoid. For example, if a group is requesting high attendance fees or pressuring you to purchase certain products, you may want to look for support elsewhere. Many groups exist due to donations and support from those who attend, but high costs should not be a roadblock for anyone who needs community.

If a group promises to cure your problems, you’ll definitely want to look elsewhere. SUD isn’t a curable disorder, but it is a disorder that can be managed with motivation, effort, and genuine support.

Why Join an Addiction Recovery Community?

Many people who have completed a treatment program or are beginning recovery may not understand the significance of how community helps with addiction recovery. However, joining a community of people all walking the path toward recovery can provide several unique benefits. Here are a few key reasons to consider participating in your own recovery community.

Improved and Increased Communication

It can be daunting to open up about your struggles, especially as someone who has struggled with substance use. You may worry about being ridiculed, shunned, or ignored as a result of your past. However, participating in a recovery community means people are there to facilitate discussions about these struggles and help you see that you are not alone.

While you are not forced to share, if you do choose to speak, the floor becomes yours for a period of time. By being honest with the community, including yourself, you can develop a clear focus on what’s next in your recovery journey. If you’re feeling isolated, you can create and strengthen relationships with others who have been in your situation.

Measuring Success

Taking that first step and accepting help from others is incredibly difficult, especially for those battling SUD. Similarly, when you interact with others in a recovery community for the first time, you may feel nervous and confined. As you progress, however, you’ll open up more and have the support of others ready to cheer you on. Because of this, you can more easily gauge your progress in recovery. In return, you can help to provide this support to others as they experience pitfalls and successes.

Suggested Reading: Benefit of Connecting with Your Future Self

Becoming Inspired By Others

Becoming Inspired By Others

You can find inspiration in a recovery community in many ways. For example, you may meet someone who didn’t want to be there or felt the experience was a waste of time. However, you may then see them become an integral part of the community.

Others may thrive in the recovery community from the beginning, and by witnessing their successes as well as their struggles, you can get inspiration for handling your own journey. Seeing the multitude of ways others navigate the difficult journey toward recovery can help you find the motivation you need to keep going. This is an important feature of a recovery community.

Pushing Through Difficult Times

It’s important to remember that tough times will not go away just because you’re in recovery. You will have bad days, you’ll slip, or a crisis will pop up when you least expect it. The point is that difficulties don’t just apply to people with SUD; everyone experiences tough times. When you do encounter a tough situation, your recovery community is there to help you navigate your struggles.

Repaired Relationships

SUD is notorious for damaging and even completely destroying relationships, but this doesn’t have to be forever. With the support of others, you can not only build new relationships, but you can learn how to repair or strengthen the ones you already have. A community can help you practice interacting with others who know what you’ve been through so you can put the same skills to work in relationships that may have been suffering due to your SUD.

More About Accountability and Inspiration

Accountability is crucial for those of us with SUD to make meaningful changes in our lives. With community support, we’re more likely to take responsibility for our actions, and we can encourage others to be accountable as well. Being accountable can be inspiring to others looking to make changes in their own lives, which is why being responsible is essential in the recovery process.

How Community Support Facilitates Accountability

How Community Support Facilitates Accountability

By frequently engaging with others in a community setting, you’ll be more prepared and motivated by others to make changes in your life, and vice versa. For example, on your own, you may put off important recovery tasks and habits. You may choose not to do step work or skip writing in a recovery journal.

However, by meeting with your peers regularly, you’ll be more motivated to do what needs to be done because you have encouragement, support, and accountability – and you’ll learn to expect it from others, too. When everyone is committed to mutually supporting success, you’ll learn to take ownership of your recovery.

More About Rebuilding Relationships

As mentioned, SUD frequently contributes to damaged and broken relationships. You may have distanced yourself from others while actively using substances, treated one another poorly, or even sought unhealthy relationships with others in the midst of SUD. After you’ve spent your time using substances to cope with your daily struggles rather than looking to your friends and loved ones for support, it can be difficult to not only repair those relationships but become comfortable opening up with one another once again.

With a support community by your side, you have a strong chance of repairing broken relationships and healing from past hurt.

Community Support is Crucial in Repairing Relationships

People with SUD tend to isolate themselves from others as a result of substance use. While repairing relationships is challenging, it is possible. One of the best ways to stay motivated in recovery is by rebuilding trust with others. People in recovery who want to repair a relationship often begin by making amends to those they have harmed with their substance use (a critical step in a 12-step program) and then find forgiveness for those who harmed them in the past. After forgiveness, you can begin a fresh start, one that doesn’t include fixation on substance use.

It can seem daunting to offer amends and forgiveness to those in relationships damaged by SUD. However, if you truly want to start fresh, asking for and offering forgiveness is an essential part of the process. Recovery communities can encourage you along the way and offer support and new friendships if your relationship cannot be repaired.

Suggested Reading: Recovery Housing Is a Community Issue

Should My Friends and Family Be Involved in Recovery?

As indicated by the broken and damaged relationships most people in recovery have in common, SUD doesn’t impact only one individual. Instead, it impacts friends, family, and other important people in your life. If you have the option and the desire to involve your family and friends in your recovery, consider adding them to your recovery community. Your friends and family members may have developed their own ways of dealing with your SUD in the past. They may have kept their distance from you, tried to control your actions, or established boundaries that preserved their physical and mental health.

While it’s important for them to make their own decisions regarding their involvement in your recovery community, being open and honest and providing mutual love and support can benefit you both as recovery continues. Your loved ones want you to live a meaningful and fulfilling life, and it’s essential that they understand what they can do to support you when things become difficult.

Many recovery centers, support groups, and other community resources host family education sessions that can help your loved ones understand multiple aspects of SUD. These topics range from how to best support your loved one in recovery, communication methods and strategies, setting healthy boundaries, and more. Encouraging your loved ones to join your recovery community and build one of their own can positively affect your recovery and your relationships with them.

Consider these options:

  • SAMHSA offers several different therapy options to anyone walking the path toward recovery, and your loved ones can get involved in the process, too.
  • Another option for families who want to be involved in their loved one’s recovery from SUD is Al-Anon. Al-Anon offers family therapy for those who have misused alcohol, and their website contains plenty of resources for those considering other avenues of community building.
  • You can also visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse website for information regarding SUD, including statistics and programs.

ECHO: A Healing Addiction Recovery Community

Online Recovery Community

Recovery is an arduous process, and many believe they must navigate it alone. However, recovery doesn’t have to be done on your own. By seeking support and building a community of other people walking similar paths as you, you can learn healthier strategies for managing your life’s difficulties and encourage others as well. In addition, you can bring your friends and family along with you and begin repairing relationships broken by SUD.

Whether you’re aiming to repair relationships, find inspiration, and develop accountability, or you’re simply yearning for others who understand your experience, ECHO Recovery can help provide the resources you need. Our goal is to educate and encourage those with SUD so they can work toward living a robust, fulfilling life. Our sober housing initiative can help those unable to support themselves during the initial steps of treatment, and we also offer a platform to support art as a means of expressing thoughts in recovery.

How to Help Someone With SUD That Resists Rehab

What to Do When Someone Doesn’t Want to Go to Rehab for Addiction

What do you do if someone needs help, including SUD rehab, but won’t accept it? One of the best things anyone battling an SUD can do is to seek professional treatment, and most friends and family members want to aid in this process however possible. Unfortunately, getting someone the help they need and deserve isn’t always easy.

Many people with SUD refuse, at least at first, to go to rehab. This brings up a difficult question for many people in the same spot. While it’s important to remember that every person—and every situation—is unique, there are some things you can do to help both yourself and your loved one after they’ve refused treatment.

How Do You Help Someone that Doesn’t Want to Stop Drinking or Using Drugs?

Sometimes, helping someone that doesn’t want to be helped can seem impossible. Whether your loved one doesn’t want to come to terms with their substance use or they don’t understand the scope of their problem, it’s important to take some time to evaluate the actions you’re taking and whether you’re truly helping. To do so, follow these seven tips for dealing constructively with someone who is resistant to your help without overwhelming them or pushing them away.

Educate Yourself

Researching Addiction Recovery Help Online

Experiencing a situation where it seems as if someone you love is purposely hurting themselves by ignoring your attempts to help them is never easy. That’s why educating yourself on SUD is so important, both for you and your loved one.

A substance use disorder is considered a mental health disorder. SUD is incredibly complex and can occur for a variety of reasons, from a person’s genetics to a trauma response, a poor coping mechanism, or even self-medication to deal with physical or emotional pain. It’s crucial that you understand the various aspects that can contribute to your loved one’s substance use disorder so you can also do your best to understand why they are struggling. Educating yourself can help you gain a better perspective of a situation that may make you angry or hurt and allow you to understand the sort of help your loved one may need.

Identify Your Role in the Situation

Your role in a substance use disorder situation depends heavily on your relationship with the person that is struggling. It’s important to identify your role so you don’t overstep boundaries while still supporting them in the way they need. Consider how your role as someone’s partner may look different than if you were someone’s parent, child, or close friend.

For example, if you are a parent and have a child that is struggling with alcohol, you may need to decide to stop supporting them financially to slow their substance use. If you are an adult child of a person with SUD, your role may be completely different. Keep in mind, too, that every situation is incredibly different and unique to the people involved. To identify your role, ask yourself questions like whether a relationship with this person is supportive and whether your behavior may enable them. This can help you better understand what you may need to change moving forward.

Identify and Remove Enabling Behaviors

This tip is a critical follow-on tip for Tip 2—if you’ve been approaching your role with your loved one in a way that enables them to continue their substance use, it is critical to evaluate and remove your enabling behaviors. Of course, it’s natural to want to help the people that you love, especially when you know they are struggling. Unfortunately, some of the things you may do to try to help your loved ones may end up enabling them further.

For example, one of the most common enabling behaviors that family members and close friends engage in without realizing the trouble it may cause is funding their loved one’s substance misuse. However, establishing boundaries like not giving money to a close friend who is struggling with SUD can help both your loved one and you. Other enabling behaviors include making excuses for your loved one’s poor behavior, covering for them when they make mistakes, lying to/for them, doing work for them, and even providing them with their substance of choice to minimize conflict. In general, many of the things friends and family members do in an attempt to “help” loved ones with SUD wind up enabling the person to continue to use.

Establish Boundaries

Establishing boundaries is an important way to protect both you and your loved one. Boundaries are essential for any relationship and can help you ensure that you are comfortable and not taken advantage of. Sometimes, when someone is struggling with a substance use disorder, they cross boundaries, whether intentionally or unknowingly. Often, their behavior creates the need for you to establish boundaries in the first place to protect yourself.

It’s crucial that you set firm boundaries with your loved one for your health, both emotionally and physically. If you feel like you need to walk on eggshells around this person, cover or lie for them, or protect them from the consequences of their actions, it’s time for you to create boundaries. Most urgently, if you feel you are in emotional or physical danger due to your loved one’s behavior, you must create boundaries to protect yourself.

Allow Consequences to Occur

Once you establish firm boundaries between you and your loved one and stop enabling behaviors, you will likely notice that they’ve begun to experience consequences of their actions. These consequences are what so many friends and family members have been trying desperately to “help” their loved ones with SUD avoid. However, it is important for all involved to realize that nobody is immune to consequences.

Whether your loved one is fired from their job because you stopped calling in for them or they fall behind on bills without your financial help, it is critical that consequences do occur. While it may hurt to see your loved one struggling, it is also important for them to understand what their actions are doing to both themselves and others. It can be near impossible for people with an SUD to recognize how much their own actions affect others when they’re deep in active substance use. Because of this, consequences can serve as an unfortunate wake up call.

Offer Positive Support and Practice Empathy

One of the best things you can do for someone struggling with substance use disorder, especially when they say they don’t want help, is to simply offer your support. SUD can cause extreme isolation and make people feel like they are alone in their struggle. Sometimes, just offering positive support can mean the world to your loved one.

If you haven’t had conversations about these issues with your loved one before, it’s important to remember to be as empathetic as possible. It can be easy for your loved one to feel attacked and be hurt when you suggest help or insinuate that they are in the wrong. By offering positive support and letting your loved one know you’re there to help them when they’re ready, you are taking steps in the right direction.

Consider Staging an Intervention

Interventions can help your loved one more than you know. An intervention can be done with just a few close family members or someone’s entire friend group—what’s most important is effectively communicating how this person’s actions are affecting others. Using “tough love” is important during interventions because it puts responsibility on the person who has been hurting those around them and emphasizes the importance and urgency of the issue.

In many interventions, friends and family members choose to lay out boundaries and consequences for violating those boundaries. For example, you may tell a partner with SUD that you have established a boundary that involves them not being intoxicated around your children, and that they must seek treatment, or they can no longer live in the same home as the children. Then, be prepared to follow through with the consequences you’ve established. Remember, too, to remind the person how much you love and care for them, and that this is the reason you want them to seek treatment in the first place.

Addiction Rehab FAQs

When you ask a loved one to seek treatment for SUD, they may refuse. Often, refusals are based on three common themes:

  • “You can’t make me go.”
  • “Rehab doesn’t work, anyway.”
  • “I can stop on my own/I don’t need to stop.”

Q: Can You Make Someone Go to Rehab?

A: The answer to this question varies from state to state, as well as from person to person. In some cases, you can send people to rehab involuntarily. This can be done in a few different ways. If you are the parent or legal guardian of a minor under the age of 18, you have the right to make legal decisions regarding their health and well-being. In most states, this also allows you to send your child to rehab for a substance use disorder.

If your loved one is over the age of 18 however, it is much more difficult to try to commit them to treatment without their consent. Some states allow family members to send their loved ones to rehab through a process called involuntary commitment. Involuntary commitment is legal in 37 states and can occur if a person demonstrates that they are unable to take care of themselves, are a threat to themselves or others, or are neglecting their life and duties. The case must usually go through a court to be approved before a person is committed. The state of Maryland does not have outpatient commitment laws and you cannot use involuntary commitment legislation to try and force someone into rehab if they don’t want to go.

One of the only other ways someone can involuntarily be sent to rehab is via a drug court order. For example, this situation can occur when a person is taken into custody for possession, is willing to plead guilty to the nonviolent crime, and accepts rehab in lieu of other penalties. However, this method only works for some substance use disorders and isn’t helpful for people struggling with alcohol.

Q: What Percentage of Users Relapse After Rehab?

A: Some sources claim that as many as 30+ percent of alcohol users and as many as 80% of illicit drug users relapse after completing rehab. However, this statistic simply isn’t reliable, as there is no true way to document how many people relapse. Even documented relapses do not account for the type of treatment program experienced, repeat experiences in rehab, or the eventual recovery of many individuals after subsequent treatment.

In addition, for many people, relapse is a part of the recovery process. Most importantly, relapse does not mean the person has “failed.” Relapse does not erase the recovery tools and resources gained during SUD treatment and should not be a reason to avoid going to rehab.

Q: Can People Stop Using Substances on Their Own?

A: When someone with SUD ceases use of that substance on their own, they will almost inevitably experience physical and mental withdrawals. These are extremely difficult to manage alone, without medical intervention. In some cases, as with alcohol or benzodiazepines, withdrawals can cause seizures and even become fatal.

In addition, SUD is often co-occurring with mental health disorders, trauma, and other physical health problems. For that reason, while being willing to stop using drugs or alcohol is a positive sign, it is very hard to accomplish alone. Encourage your loved one as much as possible but remember that it is critical they stay safe while curbing substance use.

Getting the Help Loved Ones Deserve

Getting Loved One Addiction Support

If you know someone in need of substance use disorder treatment, find them help as soon as possible. When that time comes, it’s natural to want to help in whatever way you can. Whether you’re a family member, friend, or partner of someone with SUD, worrying about someone you love can be both emotional and exhausting.

Addiction And Sleep Disorders: A Common Struggle

Addiction And Sleep Disorders: A Common Struggle

If you are recovering from an addiction to drugs and alcohol, you know that the road to recovery is full of challenges. You have to manage cravings, stave off relapses, handle withdrawal symptoms, and rebuild relationships, among many other tasks. However, one of the most common and most stressful issues that people in recovery face is sleep disorders. Not being able to sleep can heighten your chances of relapse and make recovery even more difficult – but there are strategies you can use to manage your sleep and get the rest you need.

What Happens To Your Sleep In Recovery?

According to the Journal of Addiction Medicine, people in recovery are 5 times more likely to suffer from insomnia than the general population. People in recovery are mainly at risk for these sleep disorders because of the complex psychological issues that occur when coming off of a substance, especially if you used this substance to help you fall asleep in the past. Sleep disorders can range during recovery – you may only deal with them during the withdrawal period, or you can keep experiencing them for weeks, months, or even years after recovery.

When it comes to addiction, you can experience long-lasting effects that impact your physical and mental health. Anxiety, depression, and other psychological conditions contribute to insomnia – and these issues are also common side effects during the recovery process. Unfortunately, sleep disorders can also feed into the risk of relapse, making recovery even more difficult.

First, you may have used the substance you are recovering from to help you sleep in the past. Now that you are clean from this substance, you cannot rely on it to fall asleep. In addition, you may be battling with very unpleasant side effects while in recovery – anxiety, depression, stress, and fear are some of the most common. As a result, it is more difficult for you to fall asleep at night.

Since it is more difficult to fall asleep, the sleep disorder exacerbates some of your recovery side effects. In particular, insomnia makes anxiety, depression, and stress even worse. You feel irritable, overtired, and like you cannot perform your daily functions – and your stress levels go through the roof.

You may think that old coping mechanisms, such as drug and alcohol use, are looking like a better decision. Since you are suffering from sleep deprivation, you could have more impulsive tendencies and want to end your discomfort as soon as possible. You could run the risk of relapsing at this point, or you could continue to suffer from sleep issues. However, a third option is available: using healthy methods to improve your sleep.

How Does Addiction Impact Your Sleep?

While sleep disorders in recovery are common, it is likely that you have experienced trouble sleeping before. Addiction itself can worsen your sleeping habits. Depending on the type of substance you used, you could impact your brain chemistry and sleep cycles. In addition, addiction withdrawal symptoms can also reduce your quality of sleep.

Because of the changes that drugs and alcohol make to your body, it can be very difficult to develop healthy sleeping habits while on these substances. Recovery and healthy sleep methods are the best options.

Addiction throws your natural body clock out of its rhythm – you often stay up very late in the night and wake up very late in the day. Drugs can also impact the time you spend in REM sleep, which reduces your feelings of restfulness in the morning. It takes longer to fall asleep when you are addicted to a substance, and you will reduce your overall sleep time because you often wake up during the night.

Tips For Improving Sleep While In Recovery From Addiction

While sleep disorders are often unavoidable in addiction recovery, it doesn’t mean that you cannot get a good night’s sleep. Follow these tips to enjoy a better night’s sleep and naturally improve your symptoms:

  • Exercise plays an important role in regulation your sleep cycles and increasing your relaxation during the day. In addition, exercise produces natural endorphins that can aid in your recovery journey. Performing 15 to 30 minutes of exercise about 3 to 4 hours before you go to bed can have a great impact on your ability to fall asleep.
  • Meditation can also aid in helping you fall asleep, especially if anxiety or intrusive thoughts play a role in your insomnia. With consistent practice, you can reduce your stress and help you focus on the present, both of which can help you fall asleep easier.
  • You can change your sleep environment to promote relaxation and aid you in falling asleep. If your mattress is uncomfortable, invest in a new one and supply it with supportive pillows, new blankets, and clean sheets. Keep your bedroom at a comfortable temperature, around 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Invest in a white noise machine to block out intrusive noises.
  • Using electronic devices right before bed can make it harder to fall asleep, since the blue light can block the release of your sleep hormones. Enable night mode to lower your exposure to this light before bed or avoid screens completely in the hours before you fall asleep.
  • A poor diet can also make it more difficult to get some rest, in addition to increasing stress and discomfort. Avoid foods that are high in sugar, fat, spice, and caffeine after midday. Incorporate foods that promote sleep, such as legumes, leafy green vegetables, dairy products, and meats, into your diet. Avoid eating large, heavy meals late at night.
  • Establishing a regular bedtime routine can also help you fall asleep easier. Having a regular schedule allows you to develop a ritual that can help you combat insomnia and promote relaxation. Avoid doing anything other than sleeping and relaxing in your bed. Go to bed and wake up around the same times every day, including weekends. Perform relaxation activities before bed, such as meditating, doing some light yoga, taking a warm bath, or reading a book.

If you are still struggling from a sleep disorder during recovery, visit a medical professional as soon as possible. If you find yourself struggling with a sleep disorder due to addiction, seek professional treatment from a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. For more information on pursuing your recovery journey, visit Echo Recovery today to gain valuable resources from others like you.

Charitable Donations Needed East Coast Sober Living Facilities - ECHO Recovery

East Coast Housing Opportunities: Charitable Donations Needed for East Coast Sober Living Facilities

Sober Living and Recovery Housing

Finding a circle of support, living with others who understand where you’ve been, and connecting with those who have the same goals are a few reasons why sober living is successful.

Most sober living residents have met their addiction head-on in rehab, and have gone through a high level of treatment. But, transitioning back into a life without drugs can be challenging. Old habits, attachments to old acquaintances, and familiar places die hard.

Recovery housing offers a safe, stable alternative. With more freedom than a residential facility, yet the same accountability for a drug-free lifestyle, monitored recovery home programs provide a bridge between newfound sobriety and lifelong sobriety.

Sober Living Makes a Difference

Being accountable in recovery from addiction sets a precedent for maintaining a long-lasting recovery. This type of living environment positively impacts those working toward a better way of life.

Sober living residents are required to:

  • Follow rules.
  • Contribute to household chores.
  • Submit to drug and alcohol testing.

In the everyday world, successful people live according to a schedule. Similarly, sober living residents learn to create routine and live according to a daily schedule. They begin to go to work (or back to work, in some cases) and find success day by day in creating life out of the ashes of their destructive addiction.

Donating to sober living facilities makes you a partner in the fight against substance abuse.

ECHO Recovery is affiliated with ongoing support programs for people struggling with drug and alcohol abuse. Recovery housing comes with access to support group meetings and clinical, and even medical, services in the local community.

Opportunities for You to Help

The number of individuals and families who have gone through addiction troubles are staggering. Most people have been touched by addiction in one way or another.

We know many people want to give back to fight the disease of addiction. Even if you haven’t experienced it in a profoundly personal way, you probably have some idea of the destruction addiction can have.

Helping people heal has a tremendous impact on our world.

Where Donations Go

The donations we receive at ECHO Recovery go toward helpful causes like providing common household items to recovery housing residents. To begin to replace what they’ve lost, because the addiction has taken everything, we need your help.

Not just in monetary gifts, but the items you donate make a tremendous difference to those staying in recovery homes. Starting a life without substances includes being responsible for normal, everyday tasks such as washing and folding laundry, cooking, doing dishes, and making a bed. Believe it or not, many individuals coming out of addiction have forgotten or never learned the basic requirements of daily life.

We are grateful to receive items that are either monetary or non-monetary. Some of the non-monetary gifts we receive are:

  • Bedding for twin-size beds
  • Paper products: towels, toilet, cups
  • Soaps: hand, dish, laundry
  • Gift cards to stores: grocery, home improvement, gas stations

Items we graciously accept that can be gently used include:

  • Lawn equipment
  • Household cleaning utensils

Monetary Gifts

Do you want to help provide a scholarship an individual who’s embarking on sober living? That is an option available to you. Would you like to make a monetary gift to cover some expenses for a group of residents? That is also a possibility.

In simply giving what you can, rest assured that your dollars will be well appropriated where most needed.

East Coast Sober Living Donations

The national opioid crisis has put a premium on space at addiction rehab centers and, in turn, sober living homes. America can’t seem to meet the needs fast enough for those suffering from addiction to opioids.

Drug and alcohol addiction rips away relationships, jobs, family, finances and freedom. The emotional, spiritual, physical and financial bankruptcy caused by addiction devastates a person and destroys several lives. Many people have lost everything to this illness we know as addiction.

Some of those in rehab have absolutely nothing. And when you’re starting from ground zero, it’s not hard to be grateful for any little thing you’re given.

However, the one thing those recovering from drug and alcohol abuse do have is themselves. They survived. They are still here and they are fighting to keep their life and their recovery going. And, they need all the help they can get. We are here to provide that help, with your support, if possible.

East Coast housing can be expensive. And starting over from rock bottom is tough. We all need a little help once in a while, and this is your once-in-a-while opportunity to help.

You can help America fight this hideous epidemic right here on the East Coast.

No matter how or in what way you feel moved to align with the purpose of fighting back against the human condition of addiction, we love that you are considering helping finance our nonprofit work of assisting people in recovery.

Donate Now or See More Item Donation Ideas:

Recovery Home Donations

Understanding the Full Continuum of Addiction Treatment and Care

Understanding the Full Continuum of Addiction Treatment and Care

Substance abuse treatment professionals and researchers in the medical community agree that a continuum of care provides the best chances of recovery for a person struggling with addiction. While most people think of substance abuse recovery and imagine detox and an inpatient rehab program, the reality is that these are only two of the elements that should comprise a continuum of care.

What Is A Continuum Of Care?

Establishing a continuum of care requires careful analysis of the patient’s medical history, drug of choice, mental health, and lifestyle. It’s essential to address the root cause of addiction, not simply treat cravings and the negative symptoms of withdrawal. Substance abuse treatment professionals must meet one-on-one with a patient to develop a comprehensive plan to address the patient’s substance abuse problem holistically.

The logic behind crafting these long-term treatment plans is simple: detox and rehab only go so far when it comes to breaking addictive cycles. It’s essential for people in recovery to learn coping tactics for handling addiction triggers and toxic influences. Many people benefit greatly from support groups and sponsorship programs after rehab. A continuum of care extends from a patient’s intake and detox through rehab and counseling to aftercare and long-term support for sober living.

Early Steps In Recovery

If you or a loved one needs addiction treatment services, it’s vital to find a facility or organization that can address your specific issues with addiction. Some organizations only provide detox while others are robust inpatient facilities. There are also outpatient programs for people with less severe addictions or who simply want a more thorough transition from an inpatient facility to regular life. A caregiver should be able to provide a care plan that extends beyond detox and admission into an inpatient treatment program, but these are still critical first steps.

Medical Assistance In Detox

Detox can be a fatal process for some. People struggling with alcoholism or opioid addiction experience severe withdrawal symptoms that can turn deadly. The detox process is essential to recovery, however, and medical assistance during this process is essential. Many people suffering with addictions experience malnutrition, dehydration, and vitamin depletion. During medically-assisted detox, caregivers supply nutritional support and monitor the patient’s vital signs. They can also administer medication to help make the symptoms of withdrawal less uncomfortable and treat emergency conditions as they arise.

A solid continuum of care needs to begin with medically-assisted detox. A proper detox process can lead to withdrawal symptoms fading within a few days, while they can last for months for individuals who attempt self-detox. Medical assistance not only narrows the chance of a life-threatening crisis during detox, but also helps prepare the patient’s body for the next stages of recovery.

Substance Abuse Treatment Options

After detox, the next step in a continuum of care is to select a rehabilitation organization and format. People struggling with substance abuse experience it in unique ways, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer to substance abuse treatment. A continuum of care could include one or more different types of rehabilitation based on the patient’s needs and personal preferences.

Rehab And Inpatient Treatment Services

Traditional rehab typically takes place in an inpatient facility. Similar to vacation resorts, these facilities typically offer patients private rooms with easy access to medical and counseling services. Most of the therapeutic work will take place on facility grounds, and residents will have to abide by the facility’s code of conduct and operational policies.

While inpatient options are a popular and effective choice, some people may not feel compelled to enter a residential treatment program, or may have other obligations that prevent them from doing so. Inpatient rehab is long-term and intensive.

Outpatient Options

Outpatient programs offer services on a regular basis but do not require patients to remain in a specific residence during the course of treatment. For example, an outpatient program could include counseling services at specific times during the work week that a patient can visit while maintaining a typical work schedule. Outpatient treatment options are also a popular choice for transitioning from an inpatient facility back to normal life. Many people who finish rehab still do not feel ready to confront their old lives or may feel daunted at the prospect of managing relapse triggers on their own. Outpatient support services will help these individuals transition more easily into sober living.

Addiction Government Report

Long-Term Care For Sober Living

A full continuum of care doesn’t end with rehab. When developing a continuum of care with a substance abuse treatment professional, a patient needs to consider the transition from rehab back into regular life. This can include ongoing support in various ways. Some people benefit greatly from traditional 12-step programs, while others prefer one-on-one counseling or other group counseling options. Still others may simply prefer close contact with another individual who has completed treatment who acts as a sponsor or mentor.

Whatever form it takes, long-term aftercare needs to have a place in any continuum of substance abuse care. Relapse is a very real problem in the substance abuse world, and the old methods of returning to normal life after a 30-day stint in rehab are long gone. Substance abuse researchers now understand the value of maintenance and aftercare in substance abuse recovery, so every continuum of care should account for these necessities.

Addiction Recovery Support Networks

Support networks take many forms, and groups are available in just about every city and town. If you’re curious about the available support networks in your area, take some time to research online, visit community centers to look for posted flyers, or ask neighbors and relatives in the area what they recommend. These networks can be lifelines when facing intense cravings or temptation to fall back into old, bad habits.

Mentoring, Group Counseling And Sponsorship

Many substance abuse treatment programs offer patients the chance to participate in ongoing peer counseling programs. These benefit both the counselors and the people they counsel in many ways. These relationships can easily blossom into valuable friendships and provide the kind of intimate support most people need during recovery. It can also be very rewarding and cathartic to offer guidance and assistance to someone else who is traveling down a similar path to what you previously experienced.

Ultimately, the continuum of care in today’s world must include prevention and advocacy, detox and rehab, and a plan for relapse prevention and long-term care. Echo Recovery helps connect people in need of addiction treatment and support services through a vast network of support groups, treatment centers, professional specialists, and countless therapy options. A full continuum of care provides the best chances of achieving lifelong sobriety, so every person struggling with addiction needs to forget the old days of going back to work immediately after rehab.

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Overview of the Social Model Approach to Addiction Recovery

Overview of the Social Model Approach to Addiction Recovery

Americans struggling with addiction have access to a wide variety of recovery resources. Different treatment centers and recovery programs use a vast array of treatment methods, addiction counseling techniques, and many therapy options to fight addiction and help people with substance abuse disorders live healthier, sober lives. One of the best and most widely accepted methods is the Social Model Approach to addiction recovery.

While the Social Model Approach has vast support in the substance abuse treatment world, it is vital to remember that this approach is not a viable treatment method on its own. Different models and recovery options will enhance the effectiveness of the Social Model Approach, and these options work best as part of a continuum of addiction care. People struggling with addiction stand the best chance of recovery when they receive individualized treatment. The Social Model Approach takes individual care a step further and helps people see how their addictions impact the lives of others.

What Is The Social Model Approach for Treating Addiction?

At its core, the Social Model Approach is an alternative to more clinically-oriented recovery options. One of the most common examples of a Social Model Approach to recovery is Alcoholics Anonymous, a self-sustaining organization that aims to provide support and encouragement to people struggling with alcoholism. Social models and social-community models focus on personal interactions and an individual’s place in a community and society as a whole.

Social Model Approach programs focus on peer-to-peer interactions and individual recovery instead of generic treatments and clinical recovery options. These programs also help individuals understand the impact their addictions have on themselves, their families, and their communities. The Social Model Approach encourages personal interaction with community members with similar problems to collaborate, support, and share inspiring stories with each other. One of the most powerful aspects of the Social Model Approach is the fact that it is experience-based. That is, the people who participate in these programs share real-world experiences with others who suffer from similar substance abuse problems. These interactions are more impactful than clinical settings that may feel sterile, impersonal, or generic.

Social Model Residential Options

Alcoholics Anonymous is probably the most widely known Social Model Approach to substance abuse recovery, but there are also many social model residential programs for addiction. These addiction recovery homes provide stability and ongoing support to people recovering from substance abuse. There are countless benefits of sober living homes in addiction recovery, such as easy access to moral support, exemplified sober living, peer counseling, and assistance with things like job placement and legal services.

Social-community models provide a framework that an individual may use to rebuild his or her life after struggling with addiction. These programs are largely self-sustaining and depend on individual contributions to the benefit of the group. Residential recovery homes are a fantastic transition between inpatient addiction treatment and returning to “normal” life. The residential recovery home is widely considered the “original” social model for substance abuse recovery, and these homes are still relevant in today’s substance abuse treatment world.

The Social Model’s Place In Modern Recovery Programs

Some people decry social model approaches like residential recovery homes as ineffective forms of treatment. However, these criticisms often originate from misconceptions about how these programs actually work. While a residential addiction recovery home may not be a viable recovery method on its own, but it can be an invaluable asset as part of a larger, more robust continuum of care. Recovery homes or facilities are an integral part of a social model recovery program. They are usually structured as community-based residential programs where meals, guidance, shelter and recovery services are provided in a supportive environment. Services in a recovery home or residential rehab facility may also include health care, counseling, recovery education, group activities and referrals to community services.

Residential Recovery As Part Of Ongoing Addiction Care

Addiction recovery should ideally involve medically-assisted detox services, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient aftercare, and ongoing support services for long-term sobriety. A residential recovery home can be a fantastic option for transitioning from rehab back to typical everyday life. Help in this transition is lacking in most substance abuse treatment programs, another reason why the Social Model Approach still holds relevance today.

Implementing some kind of social model approach or residential recovery living arrangement after completing rehab could potentially cut down on relapse rates. Many people are shocked to return to their normal lives after rehab, only to find that previous members of their support systems are no longer available, or they have no real idea how to reintegrate into normal society. The sudden shock of everyday life after substance abuse may be stressful enough for some people to relapse. Residential recovery programs are great ways to limit this risk by helping newly recovered individuals relearn how to operate in everyday life.

Acknowledge The Value Of The Social Model Approach

While some may still assume that residential recovery programs are ineffective, this is only true if the program is a standalone recovery option. The Social Model Approach does not function perfectly by itself. Instead, these programs should form part of a full continuum of care for addiction recovery. People who have access to medically-assisted detox, inpatient rehab with individualized care, and residential recovery homes stand the best chance of maintaining sobriety and preventing relapses.

Easing back into social situations and regular life is one of the biggest challenges facing people in substance abuse recovery, and the Social Model Approach aims to enhance individuals’ perceptions of their places in their communities and their impact on the lives of others. Residential recovery homes provide stability and lay the groundwork for a return to society in a safe, supportive, and constructive environment.