How to Do an Intervention for Drugs and Alcohol

Having a loved one who is addicted to drugs and alcohol is a difficult situation. Many don’t know where to turn when it comes to getting their loved one the help they need, and asking a person you love who is addicted to drugs and alcohol to get help is a tricky situation, to say the least. At Grace Recovery our goal is to help people get the help they need. In this post, we’ll discuss what a drug and alcohol intervention is, the signs a loved one may need an intervention, and how to hold one. 

What Is an Intervention for Drugs and Alcohol? 

An intervention for drugs and alcohol is a process where loved ones confront the person who is addicted to drugs or alcohol with their addiction. In general, an intervention can be piecemeal as well as full-blown. For example, some interventions have just one family member participate while others may involve several different people from all over that individual’s life coming together in solidarity against the addiction. 

 

There are many reasons why those around someone abusing substances want them to get help including embarrassment; guilt; fear of getting caught up themselves; concern they or another loved one will die of an overdose due to carelessness because of drug use. What these individuals don’t realize though is most addicts feel much worse about their situation than anyone else around

Signs My Loved One Needs an Intervention for Drugs and Alcohol

There are many signs that someone may be addicted to drugs and alcohol. Changes in behavior, neglect of responsibilities, breaking of social ties, and even physical or mental side effects that may be noticeable as well. 

 

If you suspect that a loved one is addicted to drugs and alcohol to the point where it is impacting their day-to-day life, then it is time for an intervention. There is no rule set in stone for when to stage an intervention, but if you notice a loved one struggling with addiction, the best time to hold an intervention is as soon as possible. 

How to Hold an Intervention for Drugs and Alcohol

It can be overwhelming to know where to start when it comes to staging an intervention for drugs and alcohol. What is the best way to go about this? Where should I hold the meeting and who needs to attend, etc.? There are many aspects that need consideration before beginning a staged intervention for drugs and alcohol addiction. It will take time, patience, research, and organization in order to stage a successful drug or alcohol intervention. 

 

A good place to start is by deciding on whether you want your loved ones present at the discussion (i.e., pre-planned) or if they would not be allowed at all during the process (i.e., unplanned). If there was someone else who has also noticed signs of substance they may be able to help facilitate the intervention. At Grace Recovery we provide treatment options and plans to help people get their loved ones the help they need to begin living a sober life. 

 

A good intervention is positive and loving, but firm about how the addiction has affected everyone around them; as well as admitting that there may be some issues with those present which need attention too (hence why this type of gathering includes many people). It should not be confrontational, but truthful.

 

The intervention should allow for the person who is addicted to be heard and express their feelings about what has been said, which helps them see things in a different light. Once they have apologized or promised to change, it’s time to set out an agreement of how this will happen – with support from those present (and other professionals if needed). 

Let Grace Recovery Get Your Loved One on the Path to Sobriety

At Grace Recovery our treatment plans are tailored to your loved ones’ specific needs. From detoxification to dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring disorders and aftercare, we do our best to get your loved one on a path to a healthy, drug and alcohol-free lifestyle.

Addiction and Trauma Treatment: Learn How To Heal From Both

Addiction and trauma treatment is one out of the most common dual-diagnosis treatment programs that rehab facilities offer. Addiction and trauma make for a comorbid disorder where the person suffering deals with a mental health disorder and addiction. 

Co-occurring or comorbid disorders are common when it comes to substance abuse. Stats show that up to 50% of people with a substance use disorder also have some sort of comorbid mental health disorders.

Trauma is one of the many common mental health disorders that accompany substance use disorders. 

Are Addiction and Trauma Related? 

For every comorbid disorder, there is a strong link between substance use and mental disorder. The case is not different for trauma. People who have experienced a traumatic event in their lifetime are more likely to develop a substance use disorder. 

It does not matter if the exposure to trauma is primary or secondary. A person might experience anxiety, fear, depression, anger, insomnia, and other symptoms that mirror mental health disorders after experiencing trauma. 

These symptoms make it easy for people who are experiencing trauma to turn to drugs. In many instances, the link between trauma and addiction doesn’t go both ways. 

Unlike depression and anxiety that can fuel substance use disorders and vice versa, trauma is mostly one way. In almost all of the cases of trauma and addiction, trauma has preceded addiction. 

However, if one of the disorders worsens, it affects the other one. For instance, if anxiety and depression that are caused by trauma worsen, it then worsens the individual’s dependency on drugs or alcohol. As a result, trauma and addiction treatment are a dual-diagnosis program offered during addiction treatment. 

Traumatic events that can lead to a comorbid disorder include: 

  • Terminal illness 
  • Sexual assault
  • Physical assault 
  • A life threatening accident 
  • Bullying 
  • Emotional abuse 
  • Domestic violence 
  • Combat duty 

Why Addiction and Trauma Are Best Treated Together

Treating a comorbid disorder requires an addiction treatment program that treats both disorders at the same time. Previously, before health experts discovered that dual-diagnosis can help people suffering from comorbid disorders, only the addiction was treated. Unfortunately the relapse rate was higher in these cases due to only one disorder being treated. 

Trauma and addiction treatment programs offer the following treatment:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Exposure 
  • Use of drugs when needed to counter symptoms 
  • Support group therapy 
  • Trauma counseling 
  • Coping skills development 
  • Holistic treatment

If you are suffering from trauma and addiction, you will want to treat both at the same time. Benefits of seeing dual-diagnosis addiction treatment include: 

  • Effective treatment 

As stated earlier, trauma drives substance use in people with a co-occurring disorder of trauma and substance use disorder. Treating only the addiction aspect of the problem isn’t an effective way to tackle the problem. 

Addiction and trauma are best treated together at a dual-diagnosis program due to how both disorders interact with each other. 

When you treat addiction and trauma together, the person suffering from both is able to see first hand how one affects the other.  

During this time, addicts can understand how trauma affects addiction, but more importantly, they can learn how to manage their addiction and trauma. 

  • Long lasting recovery

The concurrent treatment has long-lasting effects on people with co-occurring disorders, especially when they are treated together. Addicts who treat both disorders together have a better shot at staying sober long after they leave addiction treatment. There are fewer relapses, improved quality of life, and long term recovery.

How Grace Recovery Can Help With Addiction and Trauma

Are you seeking treatment for  trauma and addiction? Grace Recovery has got you covered! Grace Recovery offers dual-diagnosis treatment to individuals with comorbid disorders. We blend different types of therapies and therapeutic approaches to your treatment. 

If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction, please reach out to us today. A member of our team is happy to answer any questions you may have regarding how to heal from an addiction. 

Talking About Anxiety

Anxiety: it’s real and it can make you feel absolutely terrible. Constant worrying, feeling like something is always wrong, and obsessive thoughts are all feelings caused by being anxious. It can be difficult to articulate how you’re actually feeling when you’re anxious. A lot of people don’t feel comfortable talking about their anxiety because they’re scared of sounding ridiculous. At Grace Recovery, we want to end the stigma of anxiety being made up or ridiculous. We know the cure to anxiety isn’t being told “you worry too much” or “stop worrying, it doesn’t matter”. Your feelings do matter. 

If you’re currency struggling with anxiety, it’s important to talk about it. There are also certain coping techniques that can help minimize your anxiety. 

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues that you can develop. About 19% of adults in the past year had anxiety disorder and 31% of adults have experienced some form of an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. So, the next time you’re worried that no one will understand what you’re going through, try to remember that you’re definitely not alone in this. 

Anxiety is feelings of worry and fear. Since anxiety can be a reaction to a stressful situation, everyone will experience anxiety from time to time. If you have a big presentation coming up at work or if you have a child who is often sick, you’ll probably feel anxious and that’s ok. Anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety, go beyond feelings of being worried and nervous. 

Generalized anxiety disorder, also known as GAD, is exaggerated worry and tension for months on end. GAD can be diagnosed when a person spends six months or more worrying about something without a specific focus or fear. 

In addition, people who suffer from anxiety may also suffer from panic attacks from time to time. These are intense moments of anxiety that lead to sweating, fear, a rising heart rate, and shortness of breath. These are often broken by benzodiazepines such as Xanax; however, these medications are addictive and should not be used as a long-term solution.

Effects of Anxiety

While anxiety affects your mental health, it can also affect your physical health. The constant worrying and stress can cause muscle aches, headaches, hot flashes, and even high blood pressure. 

Anxiety can affect your personal and professional relationships as well. If you’re experiencing tremendous anxiety and are unable to go to social events or be with friends, they may feel like you’re being distant. If you’re anxious and unable to focus at work, your job performance may start to decline. Because of this, it’s important to let those around you know how you’re feeling. 

Reach Out and Get Help

Don’t be afraid to talk about anxiety, you have nothing to be ashamed of. The more you keep it inside and bottled up, the worse it can get. You’ll be surprised at how reliving it can be to look at yourself in the mirror and say “I’m anxious. I am experiencing anxiety”. It will probably provide immediate, temporary, relief. 

Confiding in friends or family and seeking professional help is also extremely helpful when dealing with anxiety. Your friends and family will be happy to support you and provide a shoulder to lean on. A therapist or counselor will be able to help you dig a little deeper and try to figure out why you’re experiencing anxiety in the first place. You can then work together to figure out the coping skills you need to feel better.

Exercise, meditation, and yoga are all also great activities to do when you’re feeling anxious. Exercising will help release the happy chemicals in your brain. Meditation and yoga are amazing tools to clear your head and lessen your worries. 

Let Us Help

At Grace Recovery, we are an addiction treatment program based out of the heart of Hollywood, CA. We know that addiction has the potential to impact anyone in the Los Angeles, CA area which is why we are here to help. We provide luxurious amenities along with the latest in substance abuse programming at our detoxification and residential inpatient addiction treatment programs. If you are looking for help with mental health issues, substance abuse, or addiction recovery, please contact us today to learn more about how we can help you! 

Top 5 Signs of Depression and How To Get Help

All of us, at some point in life, face sadness, loneliness, and depression. It is the rational way to react to life challenges, loss, damaged self-esteem, and heartbreaks. However, these feelings can quickly change from normal to real physical symptoms of depression, mental health, and stress, especially when they last longer, get worse by the day or prevent you from running your day smoothly. That’s when it’s time to seek medical help.

Your regular doctor should check for depression and mental health in order to administer the right treatment or refer you to an expert. Recognizing and accepting to be helped is key to proper recovery as most people never know they have depression and therefore never seek help.

What is Depression?

Like already mentioned, depression is characterized by longer-lasting hopelessness and despair. Depression naturally changes how you feel, think, and function in your daily activities. It can quickly interfere with your ability to work, eat, study, sleep, and see the positivity of life. Just getting through the day can seem overwhelming, and many people often describe this as a feeling of impending doom or “living in a black hole.” Others describe it as feeling empty, apathetic, and lifeless. Men may feel restless and angry.

However, its imperative to keep in mind that depression can quickly get serious if left untreated. Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness should never be overlooked but do not necessarily have to be the reality of your situation. By understanding the source of your depression and knowing what to look for in the signs and symptoms, you can take the first steps towards your treatment and recovery journey.

Signs of Depression

While hopelessness and helplessness are easy to recognize, there are many other symptoms that may be less obvious and difficult to detect. However, it’s essential to note that some of these signs may also be signs of other underlying medical issues. If you have the following symptoms, it’s time to see your doctor and start a treatment and recovery plan.

1. Weird Sleeping Habits

Depression is characterized by a change in sleeping habits as there is a strong link to moods and sleep. Lack of sleep naturally contributes to depression, and on the other hand, depression will make it difficult to sleep. Based on a study by the National Sleep Foundation, people who don’t sleep or people with insomnia are ten times more likely to have depression than those who usually sleep. Consequently, oversleeping or sleeping too much can also indicate depression.

2. Fatigue

It’s not reasonable to feel excessive fatigue when you haven’t done any physical work. Extreme tiredness is one sure sign of depression. However, it may also be a sign of another illness or condition. While its normal to feel tired once in a while, persistent or continuous fatigue, particularly if it is accompanied by other symptoms listed in this article, may signal depression.

3. Weight Changes and Appetite

Diseases and conditions can significantly contribute to appetite and weight changes. However, eating too much or too little also signals depression. Some depressed individuals may turn to food for comfort while others may completely lose interest in food or have a bad raw mood to food, hence eating little. These changes in eating habits have a consequence of gaining or losing weight. Dramatic weight changes can exacerbate depression as they also come with lowering self-esteem.

4. Drug Use and Alcohol

Some people may turn to drug use and alcohol to help them deal with their feelings of loneliness, sadness, and helplessness. According to the report by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), around 1 in 5 people with anxiety, mental health, or a mood disorder like depression suffer drug and alcohol use disorder. Conversely, the same number of people who use drugs and alcohol are likely to have a mood disorder.

5. Loss of Concentration and Happiness

When a person loses their train of thought or trails off during conversations, it can be a sign that they have a problem with concentration and memory–a common symptom of depression. Hidden depression is usually displayed by a fake smile or forced happiness when in the company of other people. However, this may not last long, and people may begin noticing the change in happiness and concentration.

How and When To Get Help

If you realize you have various symptoms of depression, it is imperative that you consider seeking help from a healthcare professional like a psychotherapist or doctor or even loved ones. Excellent mental health is essential in helping you deal with depression as it will assist you to accept that you are depressed and have the will to seek medical treatment from professionals. If you are concerned about a loved one having hidden depression or slowly losing interest in almost everything they loved, you should try speaking to them while offering non-judgmental support and advise them to seek medical help. This will not only help hasten recovery but also reduce the risk of suicide.

 

How to Deal With Anxiety in Sobriety

When you stop drinking or using your drug of choice, you have to start learning other ways to deal with negative feelings. Anxiety is one of the worst because you can’t find a direct solution.

It is normal to feel anxiety in early sobriety, as you start to feel the changes involved in physical, mental and spiritual recovery. You still can’t imagine what your life will be like as you practice your new way of living, and it can feel overwhelming.

Here are some great ways to deal with anxiety in sobriety:

Live in the now.

There’s a reason that one of the first slogans you learn is “One day at a time.” No human could handle living in different moments at the same time. You will eventually have fewer regrets about the past and fewer fears about the future, but in the beginning, you can remind yourself that you only have to deal with one day at a time.

Most people find it helpful to break that down when they feel particularly anxious. You can tell yourself you only have to get through this afternoon, this hour, this minute, or this second before you move to the next one. Life is less stressful when you handle it in small bites.

Meditation.

If you haven’t practiced it before, you will hopefully be learning some useful meditation techniques in your treatment program. You can practice meditation anywhere at almost any time during any break in your day. You can even use an App to get guided meditations. The less time you feel like you have to meditate, the greater need you have for it.

Yoga.

This is a great way to help focus your mind that also supports your physical recovery. Yoga relieves stress and helps you learn to focus on and control your breathing. There are even 12-step yoga meetings where the focus is on recovery.

Talk to someone.

Addiction is a disease of isolation. It’s easy once you start feeling anxious to lose perspective and begin to skew the way you’re looking at things. You can convince yourself of almost any terrible thing if you don’t talk to someone to get perspective. Alone, you can obsess over the smallest thing and turn it into a disaster.

You don’t have to just use a professional therapist, although individual therapy is helpful for many issues. You can also keep handy the phone number of your sponsor, other AA or NA members, trusted friends, and family. Even dropping in on a meeting and letting strangers know that you’re feeling anxious can help tremendously.

Learn to identify what stresses you out.

Your triggers might not be rational at all. You may feel anxious in the afternoon, because that was the time you used to go drink, or when you pass certain locations in your neighborhood. You will find it easier to deal with your feelings by identifying your triggers and being ready for them.

If it bothers you to pass the bar where you used to drink, it wouldn’t hurt anything to take a different route. If you feel anxious in the evening, set up a regular call to your sponsor at that time. While you won’t be able to identify every single thing in your life that causes you anxiety, you can practice self-awareness and identify as many as possible. Then you can make a plan to be proactive and deal with all your triggers head-on.

Your Journey to Recovery Can Begin Today

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, you don’t have to wait to get help. At Grace Recovery, we offer abstinence-based treatment in the heart of Hollywood, CA. You can start your road to recovery in our luxurious accommodations, without the distractions of the outside world. Don’t wait to start your new way of living — call today to see if we can help.