Wildwood Recovery, Author at Thousand Oaks Rehabilitation

Yoga and Addiction Recovery

Wildwood Recovery on June 5, 2023

Yoga can be a helpful tool in the recovery process for people struggling with addiction. Here are some ways that yoga can support recovery:

Reduces stress: Yoga is known for its ability to reduce stress levels. High levels of stress can be a trigger for addiction, so practicing yoga can help individuals manage their stress levels and reduce the likelihood of relapse.
Promotes physical health: Addiction can have negative effects on physical health, but yoga can help improve physical health by increasing flexibility, strength, and balance. This can also improve mood and self-esteem.
Increases self-awareness: Yoga encourages individuals to tune into their bodies and be present in the moment. This can help individuals become more self-aware and recognize when they are experiencing cravings or triggers.
Improves emotional regulation: Addiction often co-occurs with mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. Yoga can help individuals regulate their emotions and manage these mental health issues.
Provides a sense of community: Yoga classes can provide a sense of community and support, which is important for individuals in recovery.

Overall, yoga can be a helpful tool in addiction recovery by promoting physical health, reducing stress, increasing self-awareness, improving emotional regulation, and providing a sense of community. It’s important to note that yoga should be used in conjunction with other evidence-based treatments, such as therapy and medication, for the most effective treatment of addiction.

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Medical Attention and Medication Assisted Treatment

Wildwood Recovery on May 29, 2023

Physicians can play a crucial role in supporting the addiction recovery process in several ways:

Medical Assessment: A physician can perform a comprehensive medical assessment to determine the extent of the addiction and identify any underlying physical or mental health conditions that may be contributing to the addiction.
Medication Management: Medications can be prescribed to help manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings, such as methadone for opioid addiction, or acamprosate for alcohol addiction. Physicians can monitor patients closely for adverse reactions and adjust medication dosages as needed.
Referral to Treatment Programs: Physicians can refer patients to appropriate addiction treatment programs such as inpatient or outpatient rehab centers, support groups, or counseling services.
Behavioral Support: Physicians can also provide behavioral support, such as counseling, motivational interviewing, or cognitive-behavioral therapy to help patients understand and change their addictive behaviors and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Relapse Prevention: Physicians can help patients develop a relapse prevention plan that includes strategies to avoid triggers and cope with cravings to prevent relapse.

Overall, a physician’s role in addiction recovery is to provide comprehensive medical and behavioral support to help patients achieve and maintain long-term recovery.

Medication management for addiction treatment involves the use of medications to manage withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and other physical and psychological symptoms associated with addiction. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is an evidence-based approach to addiction treatment that combines medication management with behavioral therapy and counseling.

For example, medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are commonly used to treat opioid addiction. These medications help reduce withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and the risk of overdose, allowing patients to focus on their recovery. Patients on these medications are typically closely monitored by a healthcare provider who can adjust their dosage as needed.

Medication management for addiction treatment may also involve medications to treat co-occurring mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety, which can be common in individuals with addiction.

It is important to note that medication management is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and the choice of medication and dosage must be tailored to each individual’s unique needs and circumstances. A healthcare provider with expertise in addiction medicine can work with patients to develop a personalized treatment plan that includes medication management as part of a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment.

Importance of Family in Recovery and Family Systems

Wildwood Recovery on May 22, 2023

Family involvement can play a crucial role in the recovery process from addiction. Addiction is often described as a “family disease” because it affects not only the person with the addiction but also their loved ones. Therefore, it’s essential to involve the family in the recovery process.

Here are some reasons why family involvement is important in addiction recovery:

Support: Family members can provide emotional support to the person in recovery. They can be a source of encouragement and motivation, which can help the person stay committed to their recovery.
Understanding: Family members can learn about addiction and the recovery process, which can help them understand what their loved one is going through. This understanding can help them be more patient and empathetic, and can also help them avoid unintentionally enabling the addiction.
Accountability: Family members can help the person in recovery stay accountable for their actions. They can monitor the person’s progress and provide positive reinforcement when they achieve their goals.
Communication: Addiction can often strain relationships, and communication can become difficult. Family involvement in recovery can help improve communication within the family, which can strengthen relationships and make it easier to work through any issues that may arise.
Education: Family members can learn about addiction and how to support their loved one in recovery. They can also learn about resources available to them and their loved one, such as support groups or counseling services.

Overall, family involvement is important in addiction recovery because it can provide support, understanding, accountability, improved communication, and education. With the help of their loved ones, a person in recovery can have a better chance of overcoming their addiction and maintaining long-term sobriety.

The family systems model of treatment is a therapeutic approach that focuses on the dynamics of the entire family rather than just the individual with the identified problem. This approach recognizes that the family unit is a complex system, and issues within the family are interconnected and affect everyone in the family.

The family systems model of treatment involves the following principles:

Systems thinking: The family is viewed as a system, and the focus is on understanding the interactions and relationships among family members.
Circular causality: This principle recognizes that problems within the family are caused by circular interactions among family members, rather than by any one individual.
Family homeostasis: This principle suggests that families tend to resist change, and any changes made in the family system can have a ripple effect on the entire family.
Family roles: Each family member has a role within the family system, and these roles can affect the dynamics of the family.
Communication patterns: Communication within the family is a critical aspect of the family system. The way family members communicate with each other can impact the overall functioning of the family.

The goal of the family systems model of treatment is to improve the overall functioning of the family system by addressing issues within the family as a whole. Treatment may involve individual therapy for family members, family therapy, or a combination of both. The therapist may also work with the family to identify patterns of interaction that are causing problems and help them develop new, healthier ways of communicating and interacting with each other.

Overall, the family systems model of treatment recognizes that the family is a complex system, and problems within the family cannot be addressed by focusing solely on one individual. By addressing issues within the family as a whole, the family systems model of treatment aims to improve the overall functioning of the family and promote positive outcomes for everyone involved.

Emotional Support Animals

Wildwood Recovery on May 15, 2023

Emotional support animals (ESAs) are animals that provide emotional support to individuals with mental health or emotional disabilities. These animals can be any type of domesticated animal, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, or birds, and are not required to have any specific training.

ESAs are typically prescribed by mental health professionals as part of a treatment plan for individuals with conditions such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD. The animal’s presence is intended to provide comfort and emotional support to the person and can help reduce symptoms of their condition.

ESAs are protected under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), which allows individuals with emotional or mental disabilities to live with their ESAs in housing that may otherwise prohibit pets, and to travel with their ESAs in the cabin of an airplane, respectively. However, to qualify for these protections, the individual must have a verified disability and a letter from a licensed mental health professional stating that they require an ESA as part of their treatment plan.

It’s important to note that ESAs are not the same as service animals, which are specifically trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities and have greater legal protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Music Therapy

Wildwood Recovery on May 8, 2023

Music therapy can be a valuable component of addiction recovery for many individuals. Music has the power to affect us emotionally and physically, and can be a tool to help individuals in addiction recovery to relax, reduce stress and anxiety, and express themselves in healthy ways. Here are some ways music therapy can help with addiction recovery:

Emotional expression: Addiction often involves the suppression of emotions, which can lead to further problems down the road. Music therapy can help individuals to express their emotions in a healthy way, leading to better emotional regulation and less stress.
Relapse prevention: Music therapy can be a way for individuals in recovery to connect with positive memories and experiences, which can help to reduce the risk of relapse.
Relaxation: Music therapy can be a way for individuals to relax and reduce stress and anxiety, which are often triggers for addictive behavior.
Coping skills: Music therapy can help individuals to develop coping skills for dealing with stress and anxiety, which can be a powerful tool for avoiding relapse.
Social support: Group music therapy sessions can provide a sense of social support and connection, which can be crucial for individuals in recovery.

Overall, music therapy can be a powerful tool in the recovery process, helping individuals to manage their emotions, reduce stress and anxiety, and develop healthy coping skills.

Ron Borczon is a well-known music therapist who has made significant contributions to the field of music therapy. He has been a practitioner, educator, and leader in the field for over 30 years. Borczon has worked with individuals of all ages and abilities, including children with developmental disabilities, adults with mental illness, and seniors with dementia.

Borczon has authored numerous articles and book chapters on music therapy, and he has presented his work at conferences around the world. He has also served as the President of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), the largest professional organization for music therapists in the United States. In addition, Borczon has served as an adjunct professor at several universities, teaching courses on music therapy and supervising clinical work.

Borczon’s contributions to the field of music therapy have been recognized with numerous awards, including the AMTA Lifetime Achievement Award and the Western Region AMTA Lifetime Service Award. He is highly respected by his colleagues and students alike, and his work continues to shape and advance the field of music therapy.

Anxiety

Wildwood Recovery on May 1, 2023

Simply put, anxiety is the energy we feel to solve a problem. It’s an alarm system to tell us that something may be wrong and that we need to go into action.

The problem is that we can begin to build negative belief systems and thoughts about how we feel and behave. A healthy guilt can be okay when we are thinking or behaving in a manner that is inappropriate for creating and maintaining healthy relationships. Shame on the other hand tells you that it’s not your behavior that is horrible, YOU are horrible. Shame is a termite that can perpetuate the deterioration of a healthy soul. When you are at dissonance from within anxiety can be exacerbated.

How are we viewing our anxiety? What do we believe about anxiety? Do we have a choice to reframe our feelings of anxiety and the negative thoughts that follow it? Anxiety can begin to become this boogeyman hiding in the shadows waiting to overtake our minds and bodies. It can enslave us. The more it takes hold of our thoughts and behaviors, the more control we try to take back. We often lose the battle for control over our anxiety and that reinforces the belief that ALL anxiety is bad and controlling over our lives.

We must take anxiety and the thoughts and behaviors associated with it to trial. We must become the defense, the prosecution, the jury, and the judge to challenge negative beliefs and thoughts that create our consequences. The first step is to bring the belief that all anxiety is bad to the conscious world where we can at least ponder it in the light so that we can expose it for what it really is.

Your deep-set beliefs about anxiety can greatly affect your unconscious and automatic thoughts. Your unconscious and automatic thought life drives how you feel and behave. If you learned that all anxiety is terrifying, then all anxiety is terrifying; unless you begin to challenge your thoughts and come to an understanding that there is a possibility that not all anxiety is debilitating and that it may be helpful at times. We want to avoid the self-destructive behavior that anxiety can cause because of our perceptions. We cannot change events; we can reframe our perceptions. It takes work. If you aren’t willing to work, you aren’t willing to change. You will stay stuck in a place where your negative beliefs and automatic thoughts about anxiety will forever run your life.

Challenging your beliefs and thoughts is easier said than done and no one expects you to do it alone. Vulnerability is the key. Begin the process by just becoming aware of how you view anxiety and share that with someone you trust.

“Unless we are able to get to the deep places within ourselves, we are destined to live lives influenced by the residue of the past.” – M. Baker

Family Roles in Addiction

Wildwood Recovery on April 24, 2023

Substance abuse can affect the entire family. Many times, the individual suffering with drug or alcohol abuse may see their problem as only hurting themselves, when, in reality, it is far more damaging to everyone involved.

Everyone in the family system begins to adopt and create coping strategies in order to endure and navigate life with someone addicted to substances. Negative coping skills can have long term effects on family members.

Traditionally, there are six roles commonly identified in the family members that live with someone abusing substances. They are:

The Addicted
Enabler
Hero
Scapegoat
Mascot
Lost child

The Addicted

Drugs or alcohol can become the main strategy for coping with problems and/or difficult emotions for some. A dependency can develop, and the individual can begin to destroy their relationships because of their desire to manipulate, lie, and behave in negative ways to preserve their addiction. As they become more angry, unstable, isolated, guilty and shameful their actions begin to affect the whole family. At times, all the addicted can focus on is the next hit, fix, drink, or pill.

The Enabler

The key characteristic of the enabler is denial. Enablers want to protect the family and the addicted. The enabler wants to desperately maintain homeostasis and find use self-delusion to dismiss drugs or alcohol as the problem. The enabler makes excuses for the addicted and often tries to make light of a more serious issue. This role is often taken by the spouse or parent, although a child can also become an enabler.

The Hero

Often, the hero is a Type-A personality. They work hard, they are overachievers, and many times they suffer from perfectionism. Whether consciously or subconsciously, the hero attempts to create a sense of normal through their hard work and achievement. Any times the oldest child develops into the hero role. The hero may feel that with their hard work and success they can provide a sense of hope for the family. The hero can suffer greatly due to the pressure that they put on themselves. Heroes may develop high levels of anxiety as well as stress-related illness, not mention, the hero is also prone to substance use disorders.

The Scapegoat

The scapegoat takes the heat in the family system; they are the one to blame. The scapegoat finds themselves as the one to relieve the other family members anxiety and negative emotions. They have a target on them for everyone else to unload their angst upon. The give the family another person to blame other than the addicted. Many times the second child develops into this scapegoat role. Male scapegoats can age into violent and aggressive individuals, while female scapegoat may develop into run-aways and engage in promiscuous activity.

The Mascot

The mascot learns to cope with stress using humor and other tactics to deflect negative emotions. The mascot is the class clown of the family, and often the youngest child. This class clown is desperate for attention of any kind and craves approval. The mascot can be a vulnerable, sensitive, and fragile person. The mascot not only uses their antics and humor to deflect stress, they also use it as a coping strategy to manage and defend against their own fear and pain. Like the hero, the mascot also may be prone to developing a substance use disorder.

The Lost Child

Often times the middle or youngest child can develop into the lost child role. They can be characteristically, shy, withdrawn, and “invisible” within the family system. The lost child tends to be looked over and does not want or get a lot of attention from the other family members. They tend to isolate and develop issues in creating intimate relationships.