Wish Recovery’s Blog Category

If there were any truth to the misconception, some people have, that all anyone must do if they genuinely want to stop drinking or using drugs is to say, “No,” “I’m done,” “That’s it. I quit,” then, there wouldn’t be nearly 35 million people in the U.S. today diagnosed with a substance use or alcohol use disorder.

Dual diagnosis isn't itself a diagnosis, but it is a term that describes co-occurring conditions of a substance use disorder and mental illness.

The Six Stages of Change—popularized by the Transtheoretical Model developed in the late 70s—has become a measuring tool in behavioral health settings. It helps people embarking on intentional change. These self-changers use the stages to navigate through the process of addiction recovery.

It may be challenging to identify when drinking has gotten out of control, despite how obvious it is when it affects the most important aspects of life—relationships, money, mental stability, health and happiness. When is it appropriate to look for help? For rehabilitation that's even imaginable, you must first identify your problem. Friends, coworkers, or family members may bring up your issues, but only you can assess yourself.

Because of the varying degrees of substance use disorders (SUDs), many individuals suffer from addiction and alcoholism, which are the most severe manifestations of SUDs. Even after treatment, ONLY 40 to 60% of people who try to stop drinking or using drugs succeed. For many people, it is practically inevitable. This reality can discourage some, but relapse prevention like what you'll receive at residential rehab can help you develop coping skills to avoid or deal with triggers to use more flexibly and productively. This adaptability makes the chances of preventing a relapse more significant, and you'll be less likely to return to previous behaviors and substance use once you leave inpatient treatment.

Here are four ways your stay at a residential rehab can help you cope with or avoid relapse along your recovery journey:

Many people believe that it’s OK to drink and drive because they are responsible people. But the truth is, getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol can have devastating consequences for those around you, as well as yourself. Drinking and driving can have severe impacts on not just your safety but also others—from minor injuries to severe injuries to fines to jail time to death. Too many people believe in the fallacy of immunity that it can’t happen to them. Even if you’ve never had an accident because of drunken driving, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t responsible for other people’s lives when you drink and drive.

Silicon Valley is frequently associated with technology, the internet and riches. It is the birthplace of Facebook, Apple and Google. Peeling back the veil of technical progress reveals a culture of drugs and excess that all too frequently leads to drug addiction and overdose.

When we think about our actions, we tend to concentrate on what we do. But it's the function of our conduct that lets us understand the broader picture. Understanding a behavior's purpose helps us 'break the chain' and develop better coping mechanisms. First, we must examine the sequence of events that occur when we engage in problematic conduct. We may build solutions to 'break the chain' by defining each behavior's purpose.

A behavior chain is a series of events that includes a trigger, a thought, a reaction, and a consequence. As a result, it should be no surprise that other habits are the only natural barriers to any behavior change. To achieve our objectives in recovery, we must act effectively. Rather than concentrating on what is "right" or "wrong," the emphasis here is on what works in a particular setting.

For example, at a restaurant, yelling at the waitress after receiving an incorrect order may make you feel justified, but is it effective? You'd be happier and more at ease if the server quickly corrected the error and didn't feel intimidated by you for the rest of the meal.

There are rising concerns about the emergence of new synthetic opioids that may be just as deadly as fentanyl. Recently, reports have shown that isotonitazene has replaced heroin as the drug most often associated with fatal overdoses.

ISO, or isotonitazene, is now the deadliest illegal drug in the United States, surpassing fentanyl. Due to its relative novelty, the drug was not included on official prohibited drug lists, making it available for sale and purchase on underground markets.

To prevent relapse into addictive behavior, "burning bridges" is a skill that involves radical acceptance, determination, and action. To "burn one's bridges" is to cut off all links with anybody or anything that might trigger a relapse to the addicted drug or behavior. You effectively block that route out of your life by severing the tie that binds you to addictive behavior.

The spooks, ghosts, and goblins of Halloween are gone. As the collected assortment of candies starts to dwindle, the air of the season shifts to cooler, longer nights, and the turkey and tinsel of the holidays begin to appear everywhere. This can bring about stress and mental health conditions like seasonal affective disorder. Many people respond to emotional distress in many ways, from food to sex to drugs or alcohol. 

When someone has experienced trauma or is in a negative situation, how they react to this will be different for everyone. Some people respond in ways that make matters worse for themselves and the parties involved, and some respond unhealthily, like drinking or misusing drugs.

Many people's decisions to experiment with drug or alcohol usage are heavily influenced by their feelings. Thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are all interconnected. As one changes, the other is impacted, and so on. A person's ideas and actions may become self-destructive when experiencing negative emotions like fear, anger, sadness, or isolation.

In the last post in this series, we spoke about two types of emotions: primary and secondary. As we discussed, secondary emotions are easier to regulate or alter if required. An alternative response might be to be reluctant and agree in some aspects, "yes," then invalidate and defend with "but."

If you're among the brave souls who take on the daily challenges of being a first responder, you understand that your profession can wear on your mental and physical well-being. You bear witness to some of the most heartbreaking aspects of humanity, and you often put your safety at risk to help others. It's no wonder first responders have some of the highest rates of PTSD, alcohol use disorder, substance misuse, and other mental health disorders.

Drinking alcohol is popular among many people. From daily use to only special occasions, from social to binging, they differ from moderate to unhealthy use. Binge drinking and drinking too much alcohol can raise the risks of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD). Conditions encompassed within an AUD diagnosis include those associated with alcohol addiction, alcohol abuse, and alcohol dependence.

Mobile-based health (mHealth) technologies such as smartphone recovery apps can help people with substance use disorder manage their recovery in more ways than once thought possible. For example, a person can monitor their reaction to triggers, create new habits, track moods along their recovery journey and join virtual supportive communities. Mobile-based health (mHealth) technologies such as smartphone recovery apps can help people with substance use disorder manage their recovery in more ways than once thought possible. For example, a person can monitor their reaction to triggers, create new habits, track moods along their recovery journey and join virtual supportive communities.

The term "addiction" has historically had Latin roots, with translated meanings ranging from deity devotion to attachments to enslavement.

We all play the role of a judge at some point. Opinions are another word for judgments, which may be excellent or negative. "That was the worst pizza I've ever eaten." "That cake seems to be laden with calories." Today has been a wonderful day to be outside.

Judgments about your self-destructive conduct are common among those with drug misuse or addiction issues. Addictions and substance abuse can hurt people's daily lives and interactions with others, so it's normal and natural that people be concerned. You'll simply make yourself feel worse if you judge yourself for being unable to quit or continue using despite the repercussions and the opinions of others.

A clear mind is synthesized as the convergence point of a clean mind and an addiction mind. With a clear mind, you're sober, but you also recognize warnings and take precautions to avoid relapse.

To have a clean mind is to be sober and free from problematic addictive behavior for an extended time, yet to be utterly ignorant of the risks and desires associated with returning to it. Having a clean mind might make you feel like you can conquer your addiction and never give in to the urge to use substances or drink again. This is the fallacy of sobriety, in that there is the conviction that one is no longer affected by addiction.

This session will discuss "Opposite Action," a dialectical behavior therapy technique. When feelings become too intense or harmful or when they cause dysfunctional emotion-driven behavior, DBT encourages the use of this technique. The point is not to deny the validity of your feelings but to reframe them in a way that will help you reach a more positive outcome.

To solve issues, it's not enough to identify their causes; instead, one must make concerted efforts to craft a strategy for effecting change. Specific topics that arise in regular life may be addressed using these methods. The ultimate purpose of problem-solving is to facilitate behavioral modification. As whole, dysfunctional behaviors are issues that must be addressed.

You've completed your treatment at a luxury drug rehab facility, and now you're ready to look for work. Gainful employment can be a very satisfying experience. It's nice to earn a livelihood and take part in the workforce again. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Wish Recovery Provides the Perfect Transition from a Perfect Life of Drinking to Perfect Sober Living for a Middle Age Woman.

Case Study: Overcoming Addiction with the Help of Wish Recovery. 

Harriet's experience at Wish Recovery highlights the effectiveness of a comprehensive, personalized approach to addiction treatment. By addressing the underlying factors that contribute to addiction and providing a supportive community for individuals in recovery, Wish Recovery can help individuals like Harriet achieve long-lasting sobriety and a better quality of life.

Alcohol consumption is a socially and culturally ingrained phenomenon that has been a part of human history for centuries. This has led to the development of cultural alcoholism, which is a term used to describe excessive and problematic drinking within a culture or social group. Social norms and ideas around drinking have shaped the history of many societies, leading to the risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD), chronic relapsing brain disease, compulsive alcohol use, loss of control over drinking, and negative emotional states when not using alcohol. Cultural norms about drinking alcohol can affect how and why a person drinks and feels about it. This can have a considerable effect on alcohol-related problems.

Supporting a loved one who is grappling with addiction can be a daunting task. The question posed is, "What do you say?" "What are the things that one must refrain from saying?" Even if you care about your loved ones and want the best for them, you could sometimes feel powerless in the face of their difficulties. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways you may assist them while they overcome their addiction and stay on the right track.

Although recovery from addiction is a deeply personal experience, it need not be solitary. Family support can prove to be an impenetrable network that is invaluable in aiding individuals to overcome addiction.

Knowing the differences between the misuse and abuse of drugs or having a dependence on or an addiction to psychoactive substances like alcohol or pain relievers can help you communicate to others, particularly medical and mental health professionals, about your relationship with substances. These affiliated terms of substance use may seem to represent the same thing, and you'll find that some providers use a few of them interchangeably. But, if you want to understand the breadth of your relationship with psychotropic substances, the descriptions of these terms below may be informatively revealing.