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.

Developing a Wellness Toolbox

A pretty simple yet powerful part of preventing relapse is developing a wellness toolbox, or list of things you can turn to help pick yourself up when you’re having a particularly hard time, according to the experts at The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The great part of creating a toolbox as part of your recovery plan is that it can grow, change and develop depending on your stage of recovery. 

Start by taking note of what makes you feel good throughout the day – whether a healthy breakfast or midday mantra. Or, ask friends, family members and counselors for some ideas or suggestions. The key is to write down everything – from easy strategies like taking a deep breath to more planned activities like getting a massage. 

Here are a few suggestions to get you started, according to SAMHSA. 

• Eat three well-rounded meals a day or six smaller meals to fend off cravings.
• Drink plenty of water (aim for eight 8-ounce glasses).
• Stick to a regular sleep/wake schedule (even on weekends).
• Take time to do something you enjoy or a favorite hobby. Some ideas: Do a puzzle, knit, color, cook.
• Escape in a healthy way by watching a favorite movie or Netflix series or get lost in a good book.
• Do a relaxation exercise, like deep breathing, stretching, meditation, or yoga.
• Write in a journal.
• Call an encouraging friend or family member.

Relapse Prevention at Complete Harmony

To prevent relapse and ensure long-term sobriety it’s crucial to have long-term strategies for dealing with physical and psychological cravings, negative patterns, emotional duress, poor self-esteem and more. Our holistic approach to recovery helps clients change behaviors from the inside out; rather than just putting a bandage on addictive tendencies. To learn more about our alternative relapse prevention program, call today: 866-930-4673.

How to Find Everyday Happiness

If you’re in early recovery, you’ve likely heard of the concept of the “pink cloud,” or intense feelings of elation and happiness felt by many in early sobriety. While beginning a brand-new sober life may very well be the best feeling you had in years (and it should be) – you’ll likely also need to deal with some curve balls and negative emotions along the way. Recovery is hard work and you may feel tired, discouraged and deflated at times. 

To stay the sober path, it’s a good idea to have a few healthy strategies to overcome these high and lows. Learning to focus on the positive and find joy in each day will help you to find happiness in sobriety. Here's how. 

Seek opportunities to volunteer. Volunteering can certainly boost your mood – think about how great it feels to really make a difference and help someone else – and it can also help you meet like-minded friends. Some groups and places that need volunteers:

• Homeless shelters and soup kitchens
• Animal shelters
• Convalescent homes
• Charitable organizations (ie Salvation Army, Goodwill) 

Try something new. Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn another language or take a cooking class and you never had a chance to try it. Now is the time to gift yourself with the joy and confidence that comes with learning a new skill. 

Hang out with positive pals. Our recent blog, “Making Friends for Good Health,” outlined some of the numerous health benefits of having a few really good friends. But the real gems are those optimistic, upbeat pals that always seem to cheer you up, rally behind you and leave you feeling better about yourself.

Find your own fun. A playful spirit is a powerful recovery tool. Your new sober world is full of amazing experiences and possibilities to enjoy yourself and reconnect with others. Start with a few activities you used to enjoy as a kid – whether playing Frisbee in the park or heading to the movie theater.

Find Happiness in Sobriety 

Have you been using drugs and alcohol to achieve fleeting moments of happiness? Are you seeking a more lasting, healthy sense of well-being? If so, the holistic therapies at Complete Harmony can show you the way to a more meaningful and satisfying life. To learn more, call today: 866-930-4673.

Making Friends for Good Health

A new study shows that friendships become increasingly more important as we age—even more important than our familial relationships. 

“Keeping a few really good friends around can make a world of difference for our health and well-being. So it’s smart to invest in the friendships that make you happiest," said the study's author.

The right friendships are also crucial to your recovery. As you begin to build new healthy patterns in your life, it’s more important than ever to be intentional about your friendships and relationships. The goal, after all, is to try to surround yourself with people who are supportive and understanding of your recovery needs. These tips can help you get started. 

• Resist insecurity: It’s normal to worry about saying something stupid when meeting new people, but do your best to put your fears aside and focus on what you can do if, in fact, you do get tongue-tied.
• Practice: The more you socialize, the easier it will become. Plus, it will help remind you that you’re not the only person out there trying to make new friends. 
• Volunteer: Working alongside others in a group endeavor will allow you to make new acquaintances, which may very well turn into friendships.
• Take up a sport or hobby. Join a local running group or take a cooking or yoga class  -- the possibilities are endless. 
• Play host: Organize a few sober get-togethers and gatherings to get to know people better. 
• Be patient: Like anything worthwhile, making friends takes time. 

Continual Growth at Complete Harmony
Our team of credentialed clinicians helps you explore your own recovery journey while learning to heal relationships and build a sober social network. For more information about our cutting edge treatments, call today: 866-930-4673.