There are a number of different warning signs that can let you know that alcoholism has become a serious problem for you. It’s not always easy to see it for yourself when you’re actively living with addiction, but if the following signs describe your experience and you drink heavily or often, then alcoholism may be a problem for you.

If you are struggling with alcoholism, help is just a phone call away. Here at The Canyon, we can help you get the treatment you need to change your life.

Alcoholism Warning Sign #1: Lying About How Much You Drink

Lying is always a sign of trying to hide something that you know is wrong, and when you lie about drinking, it’s clear that there’s a problem. No one will judge you for having a glass of wine with dinner or occasionally overindulging on the weekend or at a game. But if you are drinking so much and so often that you feel more comfortable lying to those who care about you than admit it, then it’s a warning sign of alcoholism.

Alcoholism Warning Sign #2: Hiding Your Drinking or Hiding Alcohol

In the same way, those who drink in secret or sneak off to drink know on some level that they are drinking too much. Hiding bottles of alcohol in the car, at work or around the house to make it easier to take a drink when you want one is another sign that alcoholism is an issue for you that requires treatment.

Alcoholism Warning Sign #3: Losing Your Job Due to Alcoholic Behavior

Drinking on the job or before work is an obvious sign that your drinking has hit a critical point. Chances are, you won’t keep your secret long, and you’ll lose your job as a result. What may be less obvious is when you miss work frequently or are too ill or drunk to maintain employment, it’s a sure sign that alcoholism is a serious issue for you.

Alcoholism Warning Sign #4: Losing Your Spouse or Partner Due to Alcoholism

If your spouse is yelling at you constantly that you are drinking too much, he or she may be onto something. Those closest to you are the first ones to recognize when you have a serious problem – and their swift departure when you refuse to stop drinking can be a sure sign that your alcoholism has reached a crisis point.

Alcoholism Warning Sign #5: Trying to Quit Without Success

One of the surest signs that alcoholism is an issue for you is when you yourself decide that it’s time to stop drinking – and you can’t do it. Those who try to quit drinking at home on their own with little to no success are struck with a serious realization: either get professional alcohol addiction treatment or continue addictive drinking interminably.

If you are ready to begin an alcohol rehab program, The Canyon is here to help. Contact us today to get more information and begin your journey to a new life without alcohol.

Addiction recovery often includes some rebuilding. Drug addiction can easily destroy whatever foundation you may have had in your life, good or bad. Getting sober often means picking up the pieces and putting them together with new parts. This can seem like an impossible task when you are just getting started. But in reality, it is just a process. Nobody gets there overnight. Take a look at some of the transitions you may experience while rebuilding your life with addiction recovery.

Rebuilding Means Sobriety and Relapse

The path of sobriety rarely goes in a straight line. You’ll always find some hills, valleys, twists, and turns. Unfortunately, it can also have detours that start you back at square one. Relapse is certainly not desirable, but it happens. And when it happens, it’s not a sign that sobriety is impossible. It is a frustrating but normal part of addiction recovery.

If it happens to you, gather your courage and seek support. Anyone who can get sober once has what it takes to get sober again. It just takes one tiny step to get back on the path, so don’t get discouraged. Each step, no matter which direction, is important.

Rebuilding Can Mean A Different Career Path

Once a drug addiction develops, your career path can really start to change. With some careers, there may be no going back once you’ve had legal trouble or an incident with drugs or alcohol. Many of these are related to safety, high risk issues, or public reputation. Other careers are more forgiving, making it possible to continue or return to a similar job during recovery.

Sometimes, addiction recovery can be an opportunity for a career change. Someone who’s been unemployed for a long time might be motivated and possibly required to get a job. Or, a person who lost a high-stress job because of their addiction may have a chance to do something completely different.

Most situations depend on the individuals involved and the policies in place. Many employers are willing to work with people who are upfront about their issues. Also, a growing number of workplaces are offering some form of employee assistance program (EAP) to help someone with drug or alcohol problems.

Rebuilding Can Mean A Different Social Life

One of the more challenging aspects of addiction recovery are all the changes one has to make. People often resist change, not because the change itself is undesired, but because it often means making and breaking habits. People are creatures of habit in many ways, especially with relationships.

Someone used to be a true loner might need to learn how to connect with others to feel less isolated (and vulnerable to relapse). A person accustomed to hanging out with a certain group of drug friends may have great difficulty staying away, especially if they have known some for many years. While this adjustment can be somewhat overwhelming, it can contribute greatly to a person’s sober lifestyle.

Rebuild Your Life One Day At A Time

So what’s a good way to sum up the rebuilding process? Do it one day at a time. Your life may not look the way you want it to right now, but it will gradually take shape. No need to rush – it’s the process that really matters here. The experiences, the passage of time, and the adjustments are all reminders that life is a work in progress. It’s never finished so you each day brings new promise. That’s the best news of all. When you can see each day as an opportunity, you’ll live your life to the fullest no matter what it brings.

Most people would expect to find some kind of counseling therapy at drug rehab.  But what really happens in group and individual therapy? And what do you know about holistic treatments? If you aren’t sure how these all work together to promote sobriety, take a few minutes here to find out.

Group Therapy At Drug Rehab

Group therapy is a staple in nearly all drug rehab programs. There’s nothing like the group dynamic to get people talking, changing, and feeling. It’s a very powerful way of working with people, especially with addiction problems. Recovering addicts need accountability, perspective, and support as they explore their situation. Group therapy can provide all of those things simultaneously.

The group dynamic can take a life of its own, which means no two groups are exactly alike. People may even behave differently in groups than they do one-on-one. This makes group therapy a unique and ever-changing experience.

Everyone is equally considered part of the group no matter how much or little they participate. This choice honors both sharing and listening as valued behaviors. With guidance from the therapist leaders, group therapy can support profound change and growth in each participant.

How Individual Therapy Works At Drug Rehab

Individual therapy is much more private and personalized than group sessions. A counselor privately works with each person on their treatment plan to guide them through treatment and after discharge.

Each person’s unique needs are reflected in their plan.

These private sessions also provide an opportunity to discuss very painful secrets. Many people with addictions have experienced severe mental anguish or abuse. When they can bring these issues out in a safe private environment, the counselor shows compassion and steady support. For a person who may not have ever felt emotionally safe, individual sessions can be very meaningful.

Drug Rehab With Alternative Therapies

Therapy in drug rehab isn’t limited to just traditional methods. Many alternative therapies are now being included in drug rehab programs. The holistic perspective on health has strongly influenced the drug treatment community over the last few decades. Take a look at some of the holistic treatments offered in many drug rehab programs.

Yoga can help a person become more comfortable and accepting of their own body. Meditation sessions can teach a person how to quiet their mind and let go of unhealthy thoughts. Nutritional counseling can introduce a person to healthier ways of eating. Outdoor experiences can help people get back in touch with nature. These treatments can support sobriety and healthy coping in very personal ways.

Types Of Therapy In Drug Rehab

Today’s comprehensive drug rehab program offers a variety of therapies. Each type is valuable in different ways. They work together to form an effective recovery plan for each individual. If you need drug rehab now, contact us today to learn more.

Drug Addiction Recovery Month

September 2008 marks the 19th anniversary of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

People around the country just like you are organizing events to bring awareness to the fact that treatment really does work and the chances of recovery from addiction are higher when individuals and families have access to the right resources.

Enlist Community Groups and Leaders

Addiction counselors, pastors and clergy members, employers, friends and family, recovery groups, treatment centers, and social service organizations can all benefit from sponsoring, planning, organizing and participating in Recovery Month outreach campaigns.

Public Awareness Events

Educational and anecdotal articles for the local paper, banners on your personal blogs and websites, sporting events and athletic marathons, radio interviews, school presentations, information booths at health fairs and farmer’s markets are all excellent ways to get the message of recovery into the public eye.

Publicity and Media Outreach

Focusing on the people affected by substance abuse brings a real face to the concept of “addiction” and highlights the fact that it is a disorder that impacts people from all walks of life. Speaking to the media about your personal experiences touches people who may otherwise never get past their own prejudices about alcohol and drug addiction.

RecoveryMonth.gov offers tips on crafting media advisories, press releases, op-eds, proclamations, and public service announcements that can be submitted to your local media networks for publication or broadcast about your event.

Drug Education for the Masses

Downloadable documents that discuss everything from commonly abused substances, the importance of treatment for a person addicted to alcohol or drugs, and audience-specific materials that speak directly to a group’s interests will help aid your message during Recovery Month and all year long. Print them out and pass them around wherever you go to spread the word about addiction and recovery.

Connect with Other Event Organizers

Advocating the importance of recovery methods is just the beginning. Connecting with the people around you who encourage and support your efforts to stay clean keeps shame from beating down your personal resolves. Coming to face to face with other addicts who struggle with similar internal demons creates a bond that acknowledges the triumphant effort involved in the work of recovery.

Tell Us: What are some ways that you celebrate your recovery? And if you haven’t taken the plunge yet, what are some ways that you will celebrate your recovery?

Meditation During Drug Rehab

While the stereotypical approach to meditation involves brown-skinned bald men in orange robes sitting cross-legged on a mountain top, meditation benefits every person who makes the time to practice simple ways of relating with the world around and within them. Buddhist monks are the Olympic athletes of meditation, and you can choose to devote your every waking moment in the quest to cultivate enlightenment, or you can seek balance and renewal while you wait for a red light to change during rush hour.

What is Meditation and How Does it Enhance Drug Addiction Recovery Efforts?

The stereotypical image of Buddhist monks deep in meditation is just that – an image. Assuming the posture can alert your senses that something different is about to happen, but active meditation is much more than a sitting pose. It is an exercise of the mind that aims for detached contemplation, focused observation, expanded awareness, and letting go.

Just thinking about un-thinking can bring immediate relief. Your muscles loose their unconscious tension, your breathing becomes relaxed, the brain slows down to let everything pass. Sound familiar? The feeling is probably very similar to what you experienced when using depressant substances. The difference is no harmful side effects. Meditation can’t kill you because it’s what your mind does anyway when you’re not actively using it.

Turning inward offers you insider information as to how your body is handling the stress of rehab and recovery, and actively participating in the practice of meditation gives you something to focus on whenever you start feeling the urge to use again. It’s free, it’s always with you, and most importantly, it puts you in control quickly.

Types of Meditations that Enhance Drug Addiction Recovery Efforts

Visualization – Find the center of your cravings; imagine drawing an outline around the edges. Sit with it for a while; don’t try to push it away. Let it be. When the time is right, let it go.

Breathing – Bring awareness to your breath, focus on one area of your body (such as your head, your neck, your shoulders) and release any tension you find along with every exhale.

Rhythmic sounds – Moving water is one of the best ways to encounter the natural rhythms of the Earth and allow your personal rhythms (breathing, heartbeat, digestion, brain waves) to become harmonious with their surroundings. Drums, bells, singing bowls and chanting mantras are all further ways to find a peaceful rhythm you can connect to.

Moving in mindfulness – Walking, stretching, dancing, yoga, qui gong, swimming, even lifting weights can all combine the effects of the previous techniques for an all-around exercise in mental as well as physical transformation.

Tell Us: What are some other meditation methods you’ve found for helping you stay clean?

Drug Addiction and the Family

Some couples click because they like the same movies or the same foods, the same music or the same hangouts. Any common connection combined with mutual attraction can spark the kind of whirlwind romance that sweeps you off your feet. The one thing we all have in common is that inner longing for true intimacy: knowing someone as well as you know yourself, and trusting another person with your most vulnerable feelings. When one or both of you are addicted to drugs or alcohol, real intimacy is an impossibility.

Drugs and Alcohol Function as Security Blankets

Some couples rely on getting high or getting drunk in order to connect with each other. The anxiety, fear, and shame that shrouds them as individuals is too much to bear, even for themselves. Just the thought of opening up and exposing those wounds to someone else is a tortuous experience. When we allow the inner parts of ourselves to be seen, we risk rejection. The fear of being hurt by another person can become so overwhelming we feel as if we need to kill the pain to get past it. Drugs and alcohol become our shields, our emotional body guards that protect us from outside dangers.

Disconnecting is Not a Way Of Connecting

When a relationship is focused around drug or alcohol use rather than real human experiences, problems, and needs, we ignore the aspects of ourselves and our partners that are most in need of love and attention. Each partner begins to withdraw because their needs are not being met. Dependency on drugs and alcohol increases to cover up the pain of an inadequate relationship, and the dysfunctional cycle continues.

Detox and Drug Rehab Brings Couples Closer

Learning to live with yourself and love yourself in spite of past mistakes can pave the way for meaningful, intimate relationships with other people. If both partners recognize the need for change and commit to the process of detox and rehab, the common connection in the relationship evolves into offering support and motivation for staying clean, learning to work constructively on problems, and communicating effectively so that everyone’s needs are satisfied.

If the promise of a healthy relationship isn’t quite enough to convince you it’s time to get help, consider the possibility that at any time there could be an announcement of a new addition to the family. Do you really want to continue your drug habit with your pregnant wife? What kind of an example will you set for your kids if you keep drinking? If you’ve already kicked the habit by the time baby comes along, you’ll be ready to focus on your little one and provide for their needs while still paying attention to your own.

Tell Us: If your partner was more supportive of you getting clean, would it motivate you to get help?

Ninja Drug and Alcohol Interventions

As with most attempts at communication, the message you intend to send can be easily garbled if the receiver has an entirely different interpretation. The original meaning can be so obscured that it appears completely different from what you were actually trying to say.

The case of the “Intervention Ninjas” from Clifton, New Jersey is one such example. Realizing that drugs were creeping into the lives of their friends, two courageous 20 year olds decided to do what friends do best: intervene and hope for the best. Except in this case, the lads decided to go dressed as ninjas – complete with swords, throwing knives and stars, nunchucks, masks, and homemade smoke bombs – delivering anonymous letters in the middle of the night to the homes of known drug abusers and dealers. That was the plan, anyway. Caught in the act by local law enforcement officers, the dysfunctional duo were apprehended running swiftly into the night soon after delivering the first letter.

Keep Drug and Alcohol Interventions Safe, Simple and Legal

Clearly, intention is not everything. These guys could have been killed if a homeowner happened to see them sneaking around the premises. Admittedly, though, the chance to personify your favorite superhero for a legitimate cause is almost too good to pass up. But the time these guys invested in dreaming up this plan and drafting threatening letters written in Shinobi-style prose to deliver under the cover of darkness could have been better spent reaching out to parents, peers, and teachers for help.

The Right Backup is Everything at A Drug or Alcohol Intervention

The best way to get the attention of someone who is in the grip of alcoholim or drug addiction is to approach them openly and honestly, gently and with an overflow of compassion. Focus on their good qualities, seek to understand the source of their suffering, offer hope through continued friendship and help through a commitment to rehab. Come prepared for emotional turmoil, and accept what happens. Insist that your needs in the relationship be valued and respected. Speak from the heart, and know that what you ask is both rational and reasonable.

Get your ducks in a row before the actual intervention. Know who will be there, who will say what, what you will do if the person accepts or rejects an offer for drug addiction treatment. If it seems like too much, lift the burden from your shoulders and hire a professional interventionist to take care of the organizing, delegating, and moderating of the process from start to finish. You’ll be free to focus on what matters most – how much you care about the dangerous situation your friend is involved in.

Tell Us: Have you ever taken part in an intervention? Put one together? Been the one intervened upon? Any pointers you want to share? Anything you wish you had known ahead of time?