drug treatment aftercare

Drug Addiction Therapy: Learning About How Abuse Relates To Addiction

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Drug Addiction Therapy | L:akehouseRecoveryCenter.comResearch shows that there are behavioral and thinking patterns that recovering addicts have in common with those who have experienced childhood abuse. Those who have experienced addiction and those who have experienced abuse seem to have the same patterns of thought. Examples of these patterns are:

  • Beating yourself up for what you should have done, reacting to life versus being proactive when faced with a challenge
  • Playing the role of victim or having a “poor me” attitude
  • Holding on to resentments
  • Engaging in wishful thinking and devaluing what you already have
  • Expecting the worst
  • Frequently experiencing fear or worry
  • Feeling unworthy or lacking a healthy self image
  • Perpetually pleasing others before meeting your own needs
  • Looking for life satisfaction externally such as in sexual relationships, overeating, drugs, overworking, or in other excessive behavior
  • Avoiding where you are right now by frequently thinking that the grass is greener on the other side. For example, moving out of town with the thought that it will be better there versus right where you are now.

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Drug Treatment Aftercare For Single Fathers Trying To Stay Sober

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Drug Treatment Aftercare | LakehouseRecoveryCenter.comUp until recently, fathers have mostly been out of the parental picture. However, more men are staying home with the children, and with the rate of divorce in American, there are more and more men becoming single fathers.

Although this alone is challenging, the task of being a single parent becomes all the more daunting when you’re also trying to stay sober.

Fortunately, there are a number of organizations, both in Los Angeles, as well as throughout the country that are focusing on men and their role as parents.

Part of this initiative was prompted by the need to curb domestic violence as well as abuse of children, which is often fed by addictions and alcohol and/or drug abuse.

Sadly, for those families whose fathers have left because of homelessness, imprisonment, or addiction, studies show that children without fathers are more likely to live in poverty, participate in substance abuse, experience truancy from school or drop out, develop emotional or behavioral problems, or be incarcerated.

With the presence of participating fathers who are nurturing and loving in a family structure, children have more of a chance of thriving and living in health. For this reason, community resources are looking at ways to strengthen the relationships within families, both between parents as well as the relationship parents have with their children. And, part of the initiative to foster healthy family relationships is to keep men sober so that they can loving and caring fathers.

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Drug Treatment Aftercare: Resisting the Tendency to Withdraw

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Drug Treatment Aftercare | LakehouseRecoveryCenter.comSometimes as we progress in our recovery, there may be times of challenge. There might be, for whatever reason, an experience of more and more cravings to use drugs or drink.

There might be a desire to let yourself go and no longer care about what’s important to you. You might have recurring experiences of depression, anxiety, or mood swings that trigger your need to use again.

When it starts to get challenging, you might also feel the tendency to withdraw. You may want to avoid those people who have helped you through your recovery and drug treatment aftercare.

If they see you challenged, you might think to yourself, they might be disappointed, and that is only going to add to the discomfort you’re feeling.

In most cases, those addicted to alcohol and drugs feel the shame and stigma that accompanies a substance abuse disorder. And frequently this can keep them feeling alone.

The disease of addiction is frequently very isolating for people. In fact, a recent study revealed that the stigma of an addiction carries more weight than the stigma of mental illness.

It appears that many people believe that an addiction is an indication of a personal flaw.  This can be another reason why you might find yourself pulling away from the people in your life. The stigma of addiction can easily come in between you and those you love.

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Drug Treatment Aftercare: Learning To Say NO in Relationships

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At the beginning of recovery, your focus was likely on achieving sobriety. In the beginning, you’ve got all your attention, energy, and focus on one thing: getting sober. You changed your schedule to attend AA meetings, you moved into a residential drug treatment center, you cut yourself off from negative influences, you made amends with those you’ve harmed, and a …

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