Aftercare matters: Addiction rehab is just the start
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
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
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
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
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
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
Why its a bad idea to start a new relationship while in recovery
Have you recently stopped drinking or using drugs?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
If you want a fulfilled and happy addiction recovery, you need to take a programme of action. There are two distinct parts to recovery –
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
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
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
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
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
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
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