Relearning trust in addiction rehab
Therapy is a word at which many of us would shudder. While present-day views on mental health mean we clink glasses to well-being and being
Therapy is a word at which many of us would shudder. While present-day views on mental health mean we clink glasses to well-being and being
Graduating from rehab is a powerful moment, often filled with pride, celebration from fellow peers and a mixture of uncertainty about what comes next. While
One of the most unexpected challenges in early sobriety isn’t physical withdrawal or cravings; it’s the unsettling sense that you no longer know who you
Finishing residential treatment is an incredible achievement. You leave with stronger bonds, healthier coping mechanisms, and a fresh sense of hope for the future. But
How the family can help someone they love while they are in alcohol and drug treatment Danny Dyer was recently on Desert Island Discs on
The Cause of Dual Addiction If someone has an addiction to alcohol or drugs, it is impossible to get a true mental health assessment whilst
Are you wishing someone that you love would address their addiction and go into addiction treatment? If so, here are some key pointers that will
We cannot stop drinking or using on our own using our willpower There comes a time when we finally realise that, whatever we try to
Remember how bad it was and take a day at a time We have been in the safe environment of a residential addictions treatment rehab
What is a relapse? An alcohol, drug or gambling relapse is defined as when someone, who has been through a residential addiction treatment programme, returns
Is mixing alcoholics and people with different drug addictions a problem? Anyone being admitted into a residential rehab or detox clinic specialising with the treatment
Addiction is not always diagnosed in the early stages so more intensive help is needed One of the problems that seems to be escalating –
There are many addictions catered for by addictions rehabs It would be quite rare to go into any rehab and find that everyone there is
Everyone can recover from addiction If a family member or loved one makes a telephone enquiry to The Haynes Clinic on behalf of someone with
Resistance to the 12 Step Programme There is now more of a general understanding and awareness that a 12 Step Programme plays an important part
Getting our priorities right Everyone of any age will have a different perception of what goes on in a residential addictions rehab or private detox
Addiction can become a cycle of daily destructive behaviour. The disfunction that evolves entails the presence of the 4 “C’s” of addiction: Compulsion, Craving, Consequences
Free detox and free addiction rehab is hard to come by One of the questions that we often get asked at The Haynes Clinic is
We need people and not isolation For almost everyone, it is important that we can engage with others and not feel isolated and lonely. If
Starting our journey: deciding we want to change The “path to sobriety,” and “the road to Recovery,” exist and offer real hope for the addict
Anyone can recover from drug addiction If it was not possible to get well from a drug addiction, then residential addiction rehabs or detox clinics
Many people wish there was a magic pill that they could take to cure them of their addiction; other people think that going to an
Why do so many alcoholics and addicts have to go to addiction rehab? It is difficult to find reliable overall statistics that show the percentage
Most addiction treatment centres in the UK are 12 Step If you are looking for addiction rehab treatment for yourself or someone you love, you
At The Haynes Clinic, we are often asked the format a detox takes and how long it takes to be detoxed. The initial concern is
What is addiction? Addiction can be described as not having control over doing, taking or using something to the point where it becomes harmful and
What is a typical alcoholic or addict like? Only a few years ago, if you were asked to describe an alcoholic, then you would probably
At The Haynes Clinic, one of the most frequently asked questions before someone comes in is “what happens in rehab?” How soon can I go
We realise we need help There comes a time when those of us with a problem realise that we need help with our alcohol consumption,
How addiction workshops can help For the majority of people, before they are admitted to residential care in an addiction rehab centre, their understanding of
Putting off going to a rehab clinic Generally, although we know we have a problem, denial of the extent of that problem or what we
When do people relapse? Statistics show that if you are going to Relapse then it will normally happen in the first 6 months. If you
Origins of the Programme The 12 Step programme is approximately 90 years old and its origin stemmed from the formation of Alcoholics Anonymous in America.
The Danger of Detox One of the main problems of addiction is “denial.” This denial is not just about the problem that alcohol is causing
People looking for addiction treatments are as likely to be looking for someone they care about as for themselves. Many alcoholics and addicts are unaware
Does rehab cure addiction? The short answer is a disappointing one. Addiction cannot be cured. However it can be treated successfully.
Alcoholics and addicts tend to lie. We lie to protect our habit, we lie because we don’t want you to know what we have been up to.
Rehab centres will vary in their set up. Some may be set up in a clinical way, with accommodation on the same site as the therapy rooms. Many will use 12 Step Programme.
It may be difficult to accept that you can NEVER drink or use again but you know this is right for you because you feel better, the people you love are happier with you and you are a more reliable and useful member of society.
Will I get cured from addiction in rehab? The short answer that you may not want to hear is – no.
Can addicts control their drinking or using? Most people who drink too much or who use drugs to excess will at some point try to control their drinking or using or try to cut it down.
If you are addicted or close to someone who is, there are a number of physical signs of addiction that may become apparent.
If you have been to a private drug and alcohol rehab clinic and completed the programme, one of the things you will have learned is
Why do people go to drug and alcohol rehab? They need to stop drinking and / or using drugs and get well. However, behind this more general answer lies a much more complex one.
Many alcoholics and addicts are pretty strong willed. So why do people relapse?
What is rehab counselling in the clinic like? Many people realise that they need counselling as part of their treatment for their addiction.
So what will happen in a rehab clinic? The first thing to be aware of is that rehab is just that. It is not a holiday or spa treatment.
How the family can help the alcoholic or addict get well? The family is a vital part of getting an alcoholic or addict to both accept help and to stay well.
If your loved one has completed the full programme, they should know exactly what they need to do to stay clean.
Private alcohol and drug rehab in the UK is expensive and it is difficult to get it funded by the government
Find out how I spent years of living a life of being emotionally entangled with pretty much every one.
Find out what can be done as a family to help a loved one with alcoholism or addiction.
What do you do if struggling with alcoholism during the pandemic
Few people are enthusiastic about going into an alcohol rehab clinic or drug rehab due to their fears
Why its a bad idea to start a new relationship while in recovery
What are the key factors of the treatment model used at The Haynes Clinic?
Have you recently stopped drinking or using drugs?
Here’s what a typical workshop will cover at The Haynes Clinic.
An action step to make direct amends to people wherever possible.
Workshops are part of the Treatment Programme a variety of subjects including anger, resentment & grief.
We made a list of all the people we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
A look at why you relapse and the options should you decide to return to rehab.
Make sure when you return home your aftercare is in place
You have vowed to stop drinking or using drugs. You have managed to stop. However you cannot stay stopped – after several days, weeks or even months you are back on it.
‘Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character’.
If drug and/or alcohol have become the main focus of your life then a private drug and alcohol rehab can help
Step 4 – looking at ourselves and our character and personality and what we like about ourselves and what is good in our lives – and what is not
Expect a variation Alcohol and drug rehabs vary throughout the country. Most are privately owned with some being independent and others being part of a
Lots of rehabs to choose from There are a number of rehabs located across the country. They will vary in how they operate and the
‘Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him’. This step is about making
Step Two – “Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity” Many people struggle with Step Two, thinking that
‘We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable’ Step One in the 12 Step Programme is about admitting
If you are looking into alcohol treatment options, there are a number of possible forms of help. Visit your GP The first form of help
Once you have admitted that you have a problem the question is what do you do about it? There are many avenues to explore, with
Here at the Haynes Clinic we understand addiction and also the effects this has on the family. Partners, parents, siblings and children are all affected
Women friendly rehab centres, is there such a thing? Are any rehab centres not women friendly? If you have been searching online for women friendly
‘Peterborough drink driver killed himself and 2 passengers’. So read a headline in the press recently about an accident in July 2019. The headline referred
What are the Twelve Steps? Many rehabilitation clinics are also known as ‘twelve step clinics’ which means they follow the twelve step programme of recovery.
What help is there for people with alcohol problems and drug addiction in Romford? Although only 14 miles from Central London, if you are looking
Around this time we often hear about the 12 Days of Christmas. This period starts on the 26th December (Boxing Day) and ends on the
What are your expectations of addiction rehab? It is true that different rehab clinics will have a different rule set and not everyone who goes
Are you looking for a Private Rehab centre? What has led you to think that this could be the answer for you? Is it because
This is a question I am often asked – and it was a question I asked myself over 10 years ago. I did not want
When our clients leave our 12 step clinic, having completed the alcohol rehab treatment programme, they have no reason at all to use again. If
This is a question I am often asked the success rate and understandably people want to know what are the chances of the person coming
Once in recovery everything has changed and this does not necessarily mean that everything will suddenly come right. Our expectations may be that all will
In early recovery one of the most important things to avoid – if you can – is stress. We drank or used on the basis
Every alcoholic and addict uses alcohol and / or drugs in order to blur or escape from their feelings. We either do not like how
I woke up with the police in my living room and my two year old son running around – not knowing how I got there
After I had completed my treatment, I felt good. I left The Haynes Clinic and felt it was time to start work again. I found
If you are reading this, then it is likely that you have made the decision to address your addiction and have come to realise that
Dry drunk is a term used to describe those who are no longer abusing substances. They are still exhibiting behavior which is associated with their
For an individual looking to treat an addiction there are various choices and decisions that need to be made. One of these decisions is choosing
Meditation and prayer which is talked about within the twelve step community is part of recovery. It is not uncommon for recovering addicts to feel
In jargon used by the members of twelve step programs. The term ‘acceptance’ is a key concept in being able to recognise the problem. The
The first 30 days of recovery are known to be the most strenuous and difficult of all. This is because you are at the infancy
After being in recovery for a certain amount of time. The recovering addict will have to make decisions as to when they will let those
When in addiction recovery for substance abuse, every addict will be scared of relapsing. The definition of relapse is “to fall or slide back into
1. Do not hold onto the thought of not drinking; rather think of it as being free from the prison of drinking and the obsession
The prevailing view that alcoholics lack willpower and that is why they drink so much is a total myth. Alcoholics are often extremely strong willed
Not Showing My Feelings/Vulnerability Before I got into recovery I wanted to be seen as the woman with the perfect life, as someone successful with
Many of us were pretty isolated at the end of our drinking. We had lost all our self confidence when sober. I rarely engaged with
When we get into addiction recovery we have to accept that the only person we can change is ourselves. If we work our programme, we
No one is perfect which, put another way, means that we all have defects of character. For alcoholics, it is particularly important that we identify
There are certain ‘big ticket items’ that have improved immeasurably since I got into recovery. Many of these will be identifiable by other recovering alcoholics,
Many of us who drink too much have an ongoing fear about the physical damage we are doing to our bodies, not so much about
Possibly the most important factor when it comes to treatment for alcoholism and addiction. The possibility of maintaining a sober life, is the addict’s absolute
After receiving a treatment for alcohol at a rehabilitation centre it is of the utmost importance that the individual must try and sustain their recovery
Fear is an issue which inhibits an individual in their seeking help and treatment for alcohol and drug abuse. Those who have never had a
When a recovered addict leaves a long term rehabilitation facility, they will believe they can finally remain sober and clean. However, it is highly common
The first step in substance abuse rehabilitation is to make sure the addict enters a long term rehabilitation programme. Once a person has entered treatment,
It is not surprising that there is a direct link between the criminal justice system and drug and alcohol abuse. An individual can be pressured
What is addiction? Many people view addiction as the inability to stop taking drugs or drinking alcohol. They view the extreme as addiction, such as
Addicts and denial Those who struggle with addiction often find it difficult to get clean due to difficulty in getting help. The root of this
I have learned I don’t have to be perfect – something I really tried hard to be. And because of this I don’t expect others
My youngest daughter shared a riddle with me on Sunday. ‘Question: what is it that someone can have and they really want to share it
If we are to stay in a good and healthy recovery we need to make amends to people we have hurt, harmed, abused, disrespected or
Recovery is about discovery – discovery about yourself. If you go into treatment then you will learn a lot about yourself in a very short
It does not matter whether or not you have a so called Higher Power before going into recovery. At this point it will not necessarily
If you want a fulfilled and happy addiction recovery, you need to take a programme of action. There are two distinct parts to recovery –
Sponsors are there to support and guide you and it is important that you realise that it is you who has to put in the
Having a sponsor is a crucial requirement for someone in recovery from an addiction. There are a number of important aspects to bear in mind
When you get into recovery, assuming that you attend recovery meetings or go into rehab. You will meet some people who are on the same
We come into recovery feeling worthless, unloved and unlovable. We go to our first recovery meetings and, if things are as they should be at
In early recovery from addiction, it is very easy to get in to the mode of wanting to help and be friendly with everyone. You
When I first heard the term ‘The Thirteenth Step’ I had no idea what it meant. It had to be explained to me that the
In your early days in recovery meetings, it is advisable to make friends only with members of the same sex as you. This might go
‘Who you see here, what you hear here, when you leave here, let it stay here’ – confidentiality statement. So we hear said at many
I first heard this phrase when I told my younger brother (a recovering alcoholic about 5 years ahead of me) that I was going to
Alcoholics often feel ill, yet many resist visiting the GP. Why addicts avoid visiting the GP There are a number of reasons for this, one
These same traditions apply to the common approaches to rehabilitation from all kinds of addictions. Traditions 10: Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues;
Being any of the four things listed in the title of this article can represent danger, especially to someone in early recovery. Being more than
Once in addiction recovery we feel so much better. We have energy and begin to take an interest in the world around us and in
Alcoholics and addicts tend to be sensitive souls, and we need to learn how to keep our side of the street clean. Most of the
One of the most important aspects of a happy and fulfilled recovery is to get honest. I say ‘get’ honest rather than ‘be’ honest because
Many addicts and alcoholics have long associated sex with their drug of choice – be it alcohol or drugs. From an early age they met
The mantra in Alcoholics Anonymous and in most treatment centres is do not get into a new relationship in your first year of sobriety (early
It can be quite daunting in early recovery to face all those occasions that we traditionally used for a good old drinking session, and knowing
One real danger after addiction rehab is, when new to recovery, is to substitute our drugs or alcohol for something else to fix the hole.
Isolating is something most of us did to an extreme degree as our addiction progressed. Even if we began our drinking or using careers as
There are many conflicting views about taking medication in recovery. But it is an important consideration after undertaking addiction rehabilitation. Before many of us give
Considering your options This is a difficult question to answer, and is one that is personal to your circumstances when it comes to addictions. The
A life being clean and sober from substance is a long-term lifestyle choice and is a goal and a way of life that anyone, no
In 1935, two men met in Akron, Ohio. One was Bill Wilson, who had been a financial hotshot on Wall Street in his successful days;
For many people who are recovering from alcoholism, going to different kinds of AA meetings regularly becomes part of their life. Some people generally love
Once you have got into recovery in an alcohol, gambling or drug addiction rehab programme, it is true that you need never have another drink
When in recovery after addiction rehabilitation, it is wise to avoid the triggers that can send us back to drink, gambling or drugs. It has
It is Christmas Eve. Christmas can be one of the happiest times of the year when we get together with our families and friends and
When to give up drink or drugs? No one can force us to give up our drink or drugs. No one can force us to
Many alcoholics and addicts try many times to give up alcohol and drugs before finally making it into recovery after an addiction rehabilitation process. To
Being pleasant to people is all well and good and costs nothing. However, when it comes down to it, words mean nothing if they are
Many recovering alcoholics, gamblers and addicts in their early days read avidly the message of recovery as published by the likes of Alcoholics Anonymous. At
My brother got into recovery before I did and I remember being surprised that, 5 years in, he still attended meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. At
When we were drinking or using, our lives were miserable. Perhaps not at the beginning but certainly by the end. By and large that misery
This is the key message of a reading from ‘Just for today’. It is a message I have heard often and on the surface its
As an addict, if you go into treatment or if you go to a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous,
In recovery programme, so called normal life goes on and we will face the ups and downs of life like everyone else. If you attend
At the end of our drinking or using, most of us were in a really desperate and dark place. Things seemed hopeless. We could not
As a recovering addict i know i should be avoiding alcohol, drugs and specified medication. it is a simple concept for me to know I
Towards the end of our drinking, gambling or using, many of us became very isolated and lonely. We felt alone even when with others and
When we were drinking, using or gambling, many of us felt very lonely and eventually isolated ourselves. We felt lonely even when surrounded by people
There is one thing in addiction recovery that must always come first no matter what. Some of us find this hard to grasp in our
You will never see an advert for Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous on television or in the printed media, nor will you ever
Many of us in early recovery from addictions are bone weary, even if we have not been doing very much in the recent past! There
If you attend Alcoholics Anonymous – and if you are an alcoholic it is highly recommended that you do. It is suggested that you have
At the end of our drinking or using days, most of us were pretty isolated and did not want to communicate with anyone. I can
God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can and the wisdom to know
Some of us believe in fate and that much of our lives are pre-ordained. Others of us believe we have to make our own luck
The weather in the UK is a good way of looking at our lives. The sun is not always out, it rains. Sometimes we are
“We can control how we react” Being in the wrong is not just about the obvious things – such as cheating or lying. Being in
In recovery, we learn about ourselves and we learn self-acceptance. Many of us have been running away from ourselves for a long time, escaping by
After quite a pleasant weekend it was time for my first full week of work in addiction rehab treatment. By now, I was quite into
My first weekend in addiction treatment began when I had only been at the clinic two days. So, it was all still feeling a little
I really didn’t want to go to rehab as I was a bit frightened. Not of what I would have to face there as I
The vast majority of people are afraid of change. The familiar is cosy and comfortable. Change can be threatening and can affect our perceived security.
Some people know that they need help and pick up the phone to find a suitable rehab clinic for themselves. Others ask someone close to
Step 12 of Alcoholics Anonymous – ‘Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics,
Step 11 – ‘Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand him. Praying only for knowledge of His
‘Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty’. This quote is attributed to Thomas Jefferson and is very apt for Step 10. We would all like
Continued to take personal inventory and, when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. All of the twelve steps are very important but this is (another)
Many alcoholics, drug addicts and compulsive gamblers are very strong, independent self-willed people who pride themselves on their achievements in life and their control over
Step 5 of Alcoholics Anonymous – Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. This step is
In early recovery, life can feel immediately so much better and we can be full of hope and optimism that this is it, we have
Along with several million other people last night, I watched Downton Abbey (I also watched the Ryder Cup – the wonders of Sky Plus meaning
In recovery from alcohol or drug addiction, life can be full and we can do things we did not do. Or would have done but
When you are in recovery from addiction, it is recommended that you spend a little time each day meditating – or having some thinking time
The reading today in Daily Reflections is taken from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous about relations with our children. The alcoholic may find it
In recovery from an addiction, we try to live an honest life. We work our twelve step programme and do ‘the right thing’. Some people
For most people coming into recovery, prayer is alien. We have a very empty life and few of us have faith in a power for
Getting clean and sober is a new freedom – a life of happier times No longer are we chained to the bottle or to our
The concept of a higher power and spiritual awakening is enough to put many people off Alcoholics Anonymous and the Twelve Step Programme. At the
Those of us who are alcoholics and addicts know a fair bit about promises. So do our families though sadly they are probably more used
Strange but true – As someone in recovery, there are a number of paradoxical statements I hear on a regular basis that turn out to
No one chooses to go to rehab because it is something they have always wanted to do. Amy Winehouse even sang about saying ‘no, no,
Addiction is expensive We all pay a very high price to get into addiction recovery. Addiction is an expensive illness and I have heard many
When we are ready to finally give up the drinking and drugs and are ready to come into recovery. There is a lot we have
We are on are a journey – the road to rehabilitation. Things are not exactly as I want them to be in my life at
At the end of our time drinking, gambling or using entering recovery, we know that we cannot carry on the way we have been and
A lot of people who try Alcoholics Anonymous – or even those who don’t but have heard of it – think it is a religious
In addition recovery, we are taught how to free ourselves from our past limitations and from the past wrongs we have done. We make a
I was recently at my daughter’s final assembly at primary school and the well know tale ‘Footsteps’ was told to them. Most of you will
This is a question that affects hundreds and thousands of people every day. It is usually the families of the addict who get desperate first
One of the things we learn when in addiction recovery is to write a gratitude list and to look on the positive side of life.
Analysing the reasons as to why you drink can be a way of understanding your problems and gives the potential to help you stop. Very
The symptoms of detoxification generally refer to the unenjoyable physical or psychological reactions associated with the withdrawal from alcohol, a particular drug or a combination
It is very often the case that when we find out a loved one has an addiction we help them. However there is much confusion
Many of the people attending the Haynes Clinic come because they are addicted to one particular substance. Be it alcohol, one of the fairly prevalent
Get Well! There are so many benefits to getting well and staying clean and sober. We learn a new and healthier way of living. We
We are mid way through a bank holiday weekend and I know that for many families this will have brought them misery as someone they
Every negative or bad experience we go through can be used as a chance to help us grow. If you are reading this as someone
Many people struggling with addiction try all sorts of ways to beat or control it before admitting that they need help from an addiction rehab
We cannot get well on our own. How true this is. Most of us tried really hard to give up the drink or drugs on
Today I have read three very different readings about recovery but all were relevant to me. The first was about how we consider not drinking
Many people who are not addicts or alcoholics think that those who are must have no willpower. I am an alcoholic who after many years
It can be incredibly painful to watch a loved one suffer with addiction. It can also be incredibly frustrating to watch a loved one with
We all need to understand what special talents we have that we can use to help others. When we are drinking or using drugs and
In December 2010 I arrived at Haynes Rehab Clinic for professional help with my addiction to Alcohol and Drugs (cocaine). I could no longer live
Alcoholics Anonymous suggests that we find ourselves a sponsor. What is a sponsor? Such a difficult question to answer as it probably means something different