Sober Living

How to Beat Alcoholism: Plan and Put that Plan into Action

April 6, 2020 / Alcohol, Intervention, Sober Living

It’s not easy to quit drinking alcohol. After years of drinking, your brain becomes programmed to crave alcohol, and it’s hard to ignore what your brain is telling you to do. Do you find yourself thinking, “Work is over; I should probably have a drink,” or “I drink every night. It’s weird not to,” or “I’m worried and I want to relax and forget about it…pour me another?” If you drink frequently and have a high tolerance, you may think that you can handle drinking five or more drinks in one sitting. You might have lost your spouse, your kids, …

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Process Groups – What Are They and How Do They Work?

April 6, 2020 / Holistic Care and Treatment, Mindfulness, Sober Living

Process groups are a form of group therapy that comprises an essential component of addiction treatment therapy. They allow people to learn the skills needed to navigate social networks and stress, and reduce the inducements to use mood altering substances again. Learning the skills offered from process groups can be a long progression, but the benefits are worth it.   What Happens in a Process Group? In a process group, 5-10 individuals meet face-to-face and share their struggles and concerns in the presence of a trained group therapist. The first few sessions in group therapy involve establishing trust. At the …

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An open door

The Importance of Individualized Addiction Treatment

April 6, 2020 / Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Intensive Outpatient, Sober Living

Most individuals making a choice to begin treatment for addiction come into the facility with a unique set of challenges; therefore it makes sense that care plans should be individualized.   Which Type of Treatment Is Most Individualized? The two dominant options for treating drug addiction are residential and outpatient treatment. Both of these can be personalized to fit one’s individual needs and experiences, and the reason for picking residential versus outpatient treatment is highly dependent on a person’s clinical needs.   Benefits of Inpatient Treatment Inpatient care is for individuals that really need to be removed from their environment …

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The Importance of Mindfulness in Recovery

April 7, 2020 / Drugs and the Brain, Holistic Care and Treatment, Mental Health, Sober Living

What Is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is the psychological process of paying close attention to and accepting experiences in the present moment with compassion, without judgment, and without acknowledgment of the past or future. It is thought that focusing on the present allows for individuals to increase their perception of self, which allows them to develop strategies for self-management and coping. This way of thinking also reduces the stress associated with regretting the past and being anxious about the future. This concept originates from Buddhist philosophy, as it is one of the seven factors of enlightenment that brings a person to the …

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Six Reasons to Quit Caffeine During Drug Addiction Recovery

April 6, 2020 / Drugs and the Brain, Nutrition, Research/Trends/Statistics, Sleep Hygiene, Sober Living

To gain control over addiction, it is important to remove all drugs from your system that affect neurological signaling, which includes caffeine. Although caffeine is commonplace and not considered to be harmful in most cases, it is an addictive substance that can cause its own set of health problems such as upset stomach, sleep disorders, and anxiety. Two Dreams recommends that people undergoing alcohol or drug addiction treatment cut out caffeine in addition to alcohol and drugs for a number of reasons, some of which are listed below. Exception: we do allow our residents to have a shot of caffeine …

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The Benefits of Being Outdoors During Recovery

April 6, 2020 / Holistic Care and Treatment, Outer Banks, Recreation, Sober Living

Addiction treatment options include in-patient and out-patient programs; in both patients are encouraged to get physically fit and engage in more outdoorsy activities. Many people find working out in outdoor naturalistic environments peaceful and calming and a way to find release from the stress of life and the challenges to come. For over a century, people have noticed that being outdoors confers an advantage improving the course of health during recovery (from addiction as well as other ailments). Not a lot of research has been done to determine all of the reasons why, so in the future we may hear …

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8 Tips On How To Quit Drinking Alcohol

April 6, 2020 / Alcohol, Holistic Care and Treatment, Sober Living

Have you ever made a mistake while binge drinking that you later regretted? Are you suffering from chronic liver disease due to a lifetime of alcohol consumption? Are you experiencing blackouts after combining alcohol with opioids or street drugs? If you are finding it hard to quit despite the consequences, you might be addicted to alcohol. Contact Two Dreams (504-510-2331) if you or a loved one has a problem with alcohol. We can help you figure out if you would benefit from our services, and/or if detox services are needed. Below are a number of recommendations we have for anyone …

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Six Weeks Until Christmas – Chapter 13

April 6, 2020 / Alcohol, Sober Living

Six Weeks Until Christmas by Simon Tait Chapter 13: Brain New World I’m writing this on the last day of January, having “graduated” IOP. A couple of months ago, I watched Tom pass a similar milestone and was in awe of him. Three months, ninety days, a quarter of a year, all seemed impossible. Merely considering it felt like a challenge. During this time, I noticed mental and physical changes – gone are the shakes, sweats, self-hate, tears and fears. But I’m still an alcoholic. When I left the center into a dark, cold night, I walked along Montrose and …

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Six Weeks Until Christmas – Chapter 12

April 6, 2020 / Alcohol, Sober Living

Six Weeks Until Christmas by Simon Tait Chapter 12: Christmas During the final IOP sessions before Christmas break, our counselor advised us the festive season was a particularly difficult time for alcoholics. Nobody in the room needed reminding. It’s impossible for anyone, let alone an alcoholic, to navigate the festivities without exposure to adverts portraying the pleasure of drinking or friends enjoying the real thing. I understood the counselor’s point to a certain extent. Sure, it was around me, but when exactly was it not? As I discovered, people, places and things are a potential barrier to recovery for an …

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Six Weeks Until Christmas – Chapter 11

April 6, 2020 / Alcohol, Sober Living

Six Weeks Until Christmas by Simon Tait Chapter 11: Living and Learning When I reached one month of sobriety I felt a sense of achievement akin to graduating from university. Since fifteen, I had never been sober for more than two weeks, so this was an accomplishment.    Picking up groceries from a local store, I passed the alcohol aisle and thought of my milestone. I could celebrate with a wine. This was an achievement. Wait a minute. Do I want to toast my sobriety with my addiction? I can forego French Quarter drinking and survive The Strip’s temptations only …

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