Addiction is a serious medical condition millions of Americans face each year. Communities have responded to this epidemic by establishing more than 14,000 dedicated drug rehab centers and other outreach programs. If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin addiction, it can be difficult to decide which treatment program or facility is right for you. Let’s take a look at five factors you should consider when choosing a heroin rehab center.

1. Treatment Options Offered for Heroin Rehab

Residential or inpatient drug rehab provides a place for you to stay during treatment. Partial hospitalization programs and outpatient programs are typically used as ways to begin transitioning back to everyday life while still receiving support, education and training to help prevent relapse. A variety of one-on-one and group therapies can be involved with each of these. While some studies suggest 90 days in residential rehab is most effective, every case is different. Many programs offer treatment plans ranging from 30 days to one year.

2. On-Site Detoxification from Heroin

There are two general types of detoxification (or detox) for heroin. Medical detox (sometimes called full detox) is prescribed when withdrawal symptoms are expected to be life-threatening. It provides around-the-clock monitoring and access to doctors and nurses. Sub-acute detox can be completed in some residential treatment centers, outpatient programs or doctors’ offices. You still receive care from medical professionals, but 24/7 monitoring isn’t necessary. Both options may provide access to medications that help wean you off heroin or lessen the severity of withdrawal symptoms.

3. The Heroin Rehab Center’s Location

If you have a supportive network of family and friends nearby, choosing a rehab center in the vicinity could bolster your recovery efforts. Others may find a change of scenery helps when seeking a fresh start. Beautiful, serene, natural surroundings may lead to an easier time relaxing and centering your mind. Putting distance between yourself and any people, places and things that could be potential relapse triggers can help increase your chances of recovery. Choose an option that gives you your best chance to succeed.

4. Rehab Center Amenities

Are private rooms an important feature for you? Some rehab centers may also feature exercise and recreation rooms. Outdoor sports and activities like hiking can keep you feeling invigorated and engaged as your mind and body heal. One of the keys to preventing relapse is finding healthier ways to stimulate your senses, and a rehab facility that offers you opportunities to expand your horizons is one to consider.

5. The Cost of Heroin Rehab

Once people decide to seek help for heroin addiction, one of the primary concerns is how to pay for treatment. Fortunately, many insurance plans can help mitigate the cost of rehab. Some programs may offer scholarships or loans to assist with payment, as well. Check with the rehab center’s admissions team to see what options are available.

Heroin Rehab in Palmdale, California

Heroin is an incredibly addictive drug. At Cycles of Change, we understand the mental, emotional and physical anguish that comes with the territory. Our heroin rehab center is Joint Commission Accredited because we provide safe, quality care for our patients. From detox and residential treatment to outpatient programs and extended care, our compassionate, caring staff is committed to helping you gather the tools you need to recover. It’s time to regain control of your life. Contact us today.

When you seek treatment for addiction, your rehabilitation program may include a number of different therapies. Most people are familiar with the concepts of counseling, group therapy and 12-step programs, but you may not have heard of psychodrama.

What is Psychodrama?

Psychodrama is an action-based group therapy designed to allow for post traumatic growth in individuals suffering from addiction. This type of therapy, designed by leading social scientist Dr. Jacob Moreno, involves elements of theater and improvisation to help you gain insights into your thought processes, emotions and behaviors.

In the residential and outpatient setting, it gives an enhanced opportunity for peers to form bonds, discover and challenge intrapersonal discord, reconstruct and improve deficiencies of self-worth and begin the ability to accept and offer support to others whom are dealing with similar issues. This treatment modality is based on spontaneity and gives individuals the opportunity to affect change in their lives, which is vital to establishing recovery behaviors, thoughts and emotions.

How Does Psychodrama Therapy Work?

Psychodrama therapy involves a group working together, but the focus is on a single participant often referred to as the protagonist. Typically lasting 1-2 hours, the session will focus on one or more real-life events or memories from the protagonist’s life. Utilizing a stage or stage-like setting (and sometimes including props), the participants will act out these memories in a few different ways to explore the thoughts, emotions and behaviors that took place. While the therapy focuses on one individual, other members of the group can also benefit by comparing these scenarios to their own life experiences.

A Typical Psychodrama Therapy Session

A psychodrama session is led by a licensed psychodramatist—often called the director. The director guides the group through three phases:

• Warm-up. Group trust, safety and an environment safe for sharing are important. With a series of icebreaker-style games and activities, your group is prepared to be present in the moment and is encouraged to be creative.
• Action. At this stage, you will focus on the specific event(s) from the protagonist’s life. Utilizing a number of techniques, the conscious and subconscious components of these memories are reenacted.
• Sharing. The group discusses and evaluates the action phase. The discussion should be free of judgment. Members are encouraged to be empathetic toward the protagonist, and they may share similar personal experiences.

Traditional Psychotherapy Drama Techniques

The director will help you employ different techniques during your session. These may include:

• Doubling. One actor is responsible for expressing feelings or stating thoughts that another person might be having. The person being “doubled” can reject or correct these interpretations. The idea is to uncover subconscious factors that might be influencing your behavior.
• Mirroring. The protagonist participates in a scene. Then, she is replaced by another actor who will go through the same scene.
• Role playing. An actor assumes the role of someone or something that troubles the protagonist.
• Role reversal. The protagonist takes on a secondary role while another actor takes her place. This arrangement gives the protagonist a chance to inhabit someone else’s thoughts and feelings while observing and interacting with herself.
• Soliloquy. The inner thoughts of the protagonist are spoken aloud to the group.

Benefits of Psychodrama Therapy at Cycles of Change

Addiction is complicated. The compassionate professionals at Cycles of Change understand this, and that’s why we provide a variety of therapies targeted to your unique needs. Psychodrama therapy can help you improve communication and relationship skills, deal with emotional trauma and learn new life skills like healthier coping mechanisms. Many of our clients find this form of therapy to be beneficial even beyond residential treatment.

When you or a loved one is ready to break free from the destructive cycle of addiction, we are here to help—from detox to residential treatment and even extended care if needed. Contact us today for a private conversation about how you can begin to recover.

First responders are constantly on the frontlines working to keep our communities safe. In the process, they’re subjected to incredible amounts of stress, anger, and trauma. It’s common for first responders to develop substance use issues as they attempt to self-medicate under these circumstances. Drug and alcohol use combined with the continued toll of work can lead to a destructive cycle. Fortunately, programs are designed to help first responders recover from substance use disorders and develop the tools they need to protect themselves against relapse.

Substance Use Disorders and Relapse

Substance use disorders are chronic medical conditions. As with other chronic conditions like cancer and diabetes, relapse is fairly common. In fact, roughly half of all people recovering from substance use issues will relapse at least once during the recovery process. Don’t let that discourage you from seeking help! Since relapse is often part of the recovery journey, it’s not a personal failing if it happens. When drugs like prescription painkillers are used—even when used correctly—they rewire the way your brain experiences pleasure. When you stop using them, it takes time to get your mind and body back on track.

Stages of Relapse

It’s important to recognize early warning signs of relapse. The process happens in stages.

• Emotional – Recovery programs teach you how to take care of yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally. You learn how to develop healthier eating, sleeping, and other lifestyle habits. You also learn healthier coping strategies for the stresses of work. If the job’s hazards become too much, if you’re not getting enough sleep or if any of those areas start to falter, your emotional state can weaken—priming you for the next stage of relapse.
• Mental – If an emotional relapse isn’t recognized and treated, you might start thinking about your past experiences with drugs or alcohol. It doesn’t always begin with fond memories of using. You might start reaching out to old friends or revisiting places that were connected to those times. You might feel the need to lie about your current struggle with friends and family. Eventually, it can progress to cravings for those old experiences.
• Physical – When emotional and mental relapse conditions go unchecked, you’re in danger of succumbing to physical relapse. That’s why it’s vital to recognize the early stages and take measures to protect your recovery.

How First Responders Can Avoid Relapse

Putting the knowledge and skills, you acquire in recovery to use can help you avoid relapse. Identifying potential relapse triggers and developing healthy ways to deal with them is part of any good treatment program. Maintaining a healthy diet, as well as getting plenty of exercise and rest, keeps your body operating at a high level. If you’re already at the mental stage of relapse, ask for help. Family, friends, a sponsor, or therapy are all potential lifelines that can keep your recovery efforts on track.

Relapse Prevention Training for First Responders

What starts as a drink or two with the crew after a hard day on the job can become a serious problem. Injuries sustained at work can lead unexpectedly to dependence on prescription painkillers. Sometimes it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself when your focus is on protecting others.

Cycles of Change Recovery Services has a specialized program for first responders. Our staff understands the trauma, depression, anxiety, and more that come with the territory, and we provide compassionate, personalized care. No two people are alike, so your treatment program will be tailored to fit your needs using various therapy models. If you’re a first responder in need of help, or if your loved one is struggling with the weight of the job and substance use issues, contact us today.

No two cases of addiction are exactly alike. It’s a disease with multiple risk factors that include genetics, familial relationships, peer groups, mental health, trauma and more. Drugs like methamphetamine (also called meth, crystal, speed, Tina or crank), can vary in potency depending on how they’re produced and whether they’re used in conjunction with other drugs. With all that said, meth is typically regarded as an incredibly addictive substance with the potential to cause severe damage to your body and mind.

How Does Meth Affect Your Brain?

The first time someone tries meth, the brain bathes in waves of serotonin and dopamine—the chemicals that regulate mood, appetite, memory and give you feelings of pleasure respectively. The amount of chemicals released can be a dozen times higher than from other pleasurable activities. This euphoric rush is only part of what hooks users. Once it begins to wear off, you experience depression and anxiety as your brain’s chemistry is thrown off balance. This is part of the comedown, and it can feel bad enough that you might see using more meth as the only way to get through the discomfort. With each additional use, you build tolerance, and this cycle can lead to binging behavior.

Binging on Meth or “Tweaking”

These binges are what users call “tweaking.” During this time, the user becomes restless and may stay awake for several days in a row. They don’t know what to do with the excess energy and may engage in compulsive activities like cleaning obsessively or disassembling and reassembling things. Psychotic episodes are common as hallucinations and paranoia overpower the mind.

Long-Term Effects of Meth Use

Once addiction takes hold, you may not notice the toll it’s taking on your body and mind. Typical effects experienced with long-term meth use include:

• Changes in brain chemistry—some of which might be permanent
• Psychotic episodes including aggression, hallucinations and paranoia
• Difficulty remembering or concentrating
• Degradation of your physical appearance including sagging skin, sores and tooth damage

Cycles of Change Can Help You Recover from Meth Addiction

While meth’s withdrawal symptoms aren’t typically life-threatening on their own, you might experience intense depression, mood swings, paranoia and other feelings that can contribute to relapse. Cycles of Change is licensed in California as a sub-acute detox center, and our rehabilitation program begins by helping you get through this difficult period which can last multiple weeks. Because no two people or addictions are alike, we believe in providing personalized treatment. Throughout your recovery journey, you will have access to a variety of therapies that are chosen specifically to meet your individual needs. Our caring, knowledgeable staff is ready to talk with you about taking the first steps towards healing and recovery. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.

Addiction is a complicated disease. A number of factors contribute to it, and in order to properly treat addiction, you will need to develop a variety of coping methods. 12-step programs, exercise, nutrition and many other types of therapy and education can help. One type of treatment that has shown promising results in recent research is mindfulness meditation.

What is Mindfulness Meditation?

There are several ways to practice mindfulness, but they are all a form of meditation. Your goal is to achieve a level of narrow focus on the present moment and nothing else. This allows you to observe your own thoughts and feelings from a neutral position. Doing so can give you clarity and allow you to cope with stress or pain in a healthy way.

Addiction Disconnects You from the World

The roots of addiction are often buried deep. It could be from a sense of loss, struggles with physical or mental illness or a combination of things. The most common thread is some form of unhappiness. A prolonged state of unhappiness can leave you feeling helpless or directionless. As you retreat from those feelings, you may self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. A sort of autopilot mode kicks in as you move from high to high barely engaging with the world around you in the interim.

Meditation Offers a Natural, Healthier High

Drugs and alcohol help you escape unhappiness temporarily by releasing large amounts of dopamine into your system. However, when the rush wears off, you experience negative side effects that can make the painful thoughts and feelings you tried to avoid even stronger. Meditation has been found to boost dopamine levels, too. The spike isn’t as high, but once you stop meditating, it remains at healthier levels—avoiding the devastating crashes that inevitably come between drug uses.

Using Meditation for Addiction Recovery Rewires Your Brain

Research has shown that meditation can alter the physical makeup of your brain. Changes to the hippocampus, amygdala and other areas can improve your concentration and memory, and it can affect how you process stress, anxiety and fear. Some studies have even indicated that meditation may perform as effectively as antidepressants in treating some cases. Other observed benefits of meditation may include:

• Improved immune system function
• Lower sensitivity to pain
• Reduced blood pressure and risk of stroke
• Ability to detach from drug cravings and deal with them more effectively

Meditation and Addiction Recovery Near Palmdale, CA

Meditation puts distance between you and your impulses. From a more neutral position, you can observe the thoughts and feelings that are driving your urges to use drugs or alcohol. This newfound awareness can help you deal with the root causes and reduce your vulnerability to cravings and relapse. However, meditation isn’t a magical solution to all your problems. At Cycles of Change Recovery in Palmdale, California, we will work with you to develop a treatment program that may include meditation and other therapies that are designed to meet your unique needs. Our caring staff is invested in your success, and we are here for you. If you or a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, contact us today.