Really Good Reasons to Get Sober

Especially during the beginning stages of recovery, it’s hard to imagine that you’ll ever feel better or that you'll ever be able to get through rehab to reap the benefits of sobriety. 

Take heart: If you hang in there and do the work, you’ll come out the other side with better health, hope and happiness. Here are a few things to look forward to: 

• You’ll have more energy. You’ll no longer feel hungover or sick from substance abuse and you’ll have more time on your hands to devote to things that make you feel energized and motivated. 
• You’ll develop meaningful relationships. Recovery gives you the opportunity to realize who should (and shouldn’t) be in your life. You’ll get the opportunity to make amends, rebuild relationships, and meet others who are also working to build a new, better sober life.
• You’ll look better. Active addiction takes a heavy toll on your appearance. Within a few short weeks of stopping drugs or alcohol, you’ll likely notice a healthier glow, including better complexion, brighter eyes, and shinier hair — and this will keep improving as you gain tools to stay sober and prioritize self-care.
• You’ll heal your mind, body, and spirit. Getting sober means that you’ll no longer be putting harmful toxins into your body. Plus, you’ll be exposed to holistic therapies (yoga, meditation, nutrition, exercise) that will teach you to clear your mind, open your spirit and care for your body. 

Customized Holistic Rehab Program at Complete Harmony

Our holistic addiction recovery may be especially helpful for clients who have tried traditional, 12-step rehab without success. Our team of addiction experts will work with you or someone you love to set and achieve personal sobriety goals within the safe, beautiful confines of our seaside retreat. To learn more, call 866-930-4673. 

4 Reasons to Add Massage Therapy to Your Recovery

Recently, massage therapy has made many headlines for its role in pain management, leading some experts to question whether this holistic treatment holds one of the keys to combating the opioid epidemic. 

In fact, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) has been actively engaged with several organizations and agencies regarding massage therapy for an alternative to opioids.

Whether or not massage therapy can help prevent addiction is still out for debate. What we do know, however, is that it has produced proven results when used as part of addiction recovery. Research has shown that the power of touch can help decrease stress, reduce anxiety and depression and help clients release negative thoughts and memories.

Here are a few more benefits of massage therapy:

• You’ll boost your immunity. Even one, 45-minute massage session can create positive changes in your body’s immune system. This is because it increases the number of lymphocytes, which are the white blood cells that help protect your body from disease. 
• You’ll sleep better. Several studies have linked massage with reduced fatigue and improved sleep. One explanation: It increases delta waves, or the brain waves responsible for deep sleep. 
• You’ll better manage anxiety and depression. Massage releases oxytocin and serotonin –happy hormones – and this can help lower your stress and boost your mood. Plus, massage therapy can target certain pressure points to relieve tension.
• You’ll be more focused. Numerous studies have touted massage therapy for its role in improving brainpower, productivity, alertness and focus – all helpful while working hard to absorb strategies and tools for staying sober. 

California Holistic Addiction Treatment

Bodywork and massage therapy and bodywork are one of the many holistic therapies offered at our CA alternative rehab center. To learn more about our alternative, non-12-step program, call today: 866-930-4673.

3 Tips for Goal Setting

Once you’re done with rehab, do you eventually want to finish your degree or run a 5K or get your finances back in order? Being sober gives you the ability and energy to pursue your dreams and plan short- and long-term goals. It’s pretty exciting (and overwhelming), which is why many addiction experts suggest starting with small, daily realistic goals to help you stay focused. 

Completing goals, regardless of how easy or difficult they may be, can help you build self-confidence and keep you focused on what you want out of your new sober life. Daily goal setting doesn’t have to be time-consuming. Take a few minutes each day and think "S.M.A.R.T" – specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time bound.

Here are a few more ideas to help you get started: 

1. Make a master list. Staring at a blank slate is tough, so start by just jotting down a bunch of goals – and then narrow down the list according to any short-term goals for the day, week, month or year. A few examples:

• Find a local support group.
• Commit to one positive thing each day.
• Try something new. 
• Restore positive relationships.
• Make a budget.

2. Use a positive tone. Words can make a big impact when it comes to boosting your confidence and determination. For example, use positive phrases like “I will” instead of “I hope to” when writing down your daily goals. 

3. Celebrate your successes. Even reaching the smallest goal is an achievement. When you review your list of goals, take a minute to celebrate the progress you’ve made. Similarly, don’t beat yourself up for the goals you have yet to reach or that are taking longer than expected to achieve. 

Experience Continuous Growth

Personal growth and relapse prevention is key for long-term recovery – and we're here to help. At Complete Harmony, our holistic treatment and relapse prevention plans provide a firm foundation for lifelong sobriety. To learn more, call: 866-930-4673. 

3 Reasons Why CBT Can Help Your Recovery

Part of overcoming addiction is getting unstuck from unhealthy behaviors and destructive patterns so you can move on with your new sober life. It’s tough work, but cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help.

A very popular treatment approach for mental disorders and substance and behavioral addictions, CBT can teach you several important skills that target the core ways addiction affects you. Here, we take a look at a few: 

• You’ll think more positively. Negativity is destructive to your recovery as it can lead to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. CBT can help you identify such negative thought patterns and replace them with positive, productive thoughts and actions to apply to everyday stressors. 
• You’ll improve your self-esteem. Low self-esteem is often a hallmark of addiction and CBT can help people in recovery begin to believe in their self-worth. This will help during early recovery as well as with long-term sobriety as you'll gain a stronger desire to give yourself the better life that you deserve.
• You’ll learn to resist peer pressure. Once out of rehab and into the so-called real world, you’ll need to learn how to say "no" to the addictive substances or behaviors of your past — and CBT can help you practice and master this important recovery skill.

How to Maximize CBT for Addiction

• Listen to your healthcare professional. Working with your therapists and counselors to follow your individualized recovery plan carefully is critical during each step of rehab and beyond. 
• Do your CBT homework. CBT requires you to do work on your own in between therapy sessions. 
• Continue to learn about your addiction. Don’t be afraid to ask your therapists or counselors questions to better understand your condition and how you can be an active participant in your addiction treatment.

CBT at Complete Harmony

The Complete Harmony therapy team specializes in CBT for addiction recovery in both group and individual settings. To learn more, or to speak with a member of our credentialed addiction team, call 866-930-4673 or submit a confidential online inquiry today.