The primary goal of any addiction treatment program should be to help the person struggling with drug or alcohol abuse overcome their addiction. However, it’s also important to consider the ways that the family has been impacted. Many drug treatment programs include family therapy as it can help the individual, as well as provide an opportunity for the entire family to heal at the same time.

Family Therapy’s Impact on the Individual

When you enroll in a residential treatment program, the environment is different. You’re in constant contact with people either walking a similar path or staff who are there to help you on your journey to recovery. As you learn about the disease of addiction, you’re in a place that’s designed to be as supportive and nurturing as possible.

It can be helpful to bring your family into that same environment, so you can begin the process of healing your relationship with them in a safe, neutral space. Additionally, research shows that programs that include family therapy in conjunction with individual treatment can:

• Lead to higher success rates
• Reduce the risk of relapse
• Help relieve stress

Healing the Family in Rehabilitation

The family also needs help healing from addiction. Physical, mental and emotional damage has been done, and any negative coping methods that have developed need to be addressed. Secrecy, self-blame and shame cannot be allowed to linger if the entire family is to move forward. Family therapy addresses these topics and allows each member to voice their own experience. Doing this in a neutral environment under the direction of a therapist can make the process much more productive.

Resolving Problematic Dynamics Through Family Therapy

Family issues are often a contributing factor in addiction. Uncovering past family trauma and dealing with it in a therapeutic setting can make healing possible. Other problematic family dynamics can occur in response to addiction. Family therapy educates the family about addiction and how to nurture recovery. When you all understand the problem at hand, it’s easier to provide support in a way that encourages and uplifts one another.

Family Therapy at Cycles of Change in California

The compassionate, professional staff at Cycles of Change is standing by to help you and your family recover from addiction. We understand that every situation is different, and your treatment plan will be tailored to your unique needs. Our rehabilitation program in Palmdale can provide the structured support that you and your family require to begin the process of healing. We can help with everything from the initial stages of detox to residential treatment to extended care programs. Take that first step towards recovery and contact our team now.

Most people experience anxiety to some extent—whether it’s worrying about major life events, difficulty with personal relationships, or stressful situations at work. These anxious feelings are temporary for some, but many people struggle with anxiety for extended periods of time.

Anxiety can set in for long periods of time, or it can manifest as rapid bursts of panic, leaving a person feeling overwhelmed. Many times, people suffering from heavy anxiety turn to alcohol to help calm down and relax.

While alcohol can provide temporary relief from anxiety, it can do considerably more damage in the long-term. According to some estimates, alcoholism and other substance abuse issues are three times more likely among those with anxiety disorders than those without.

Below we’ll explore symptoms of anxiety and how those suffering from the condition become addicted to alcohol.

Symptoms of Anxiety

There are different kinds of anxiety disorders, but some symptoms typically experienced by those suffering from anxiety include:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Excessive worrying about social interaction or events
• Fatigue
• Fear of being judged
• Feelings of extreme self-consciousness—particularly around others
• Irritability
• Loss of control or panic attacks
• Nausea in social situations
• Low sleep quality or routines
• Prolonged periods of restlessness
• Trembling

Anxiety and Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol can temporarily relieve many of the above symptoms, making it seem like a good solution to anxiety. When you drink alcohol, your blood alcohol content (BAC) rises. This causes changes in your brain chemistry that lead to good feelings and a sense of relaxation.

However, when you stop drinking, your BAC eventually begins to lower. Feelings of depression creep in, and the changes in your brain’s normal operations might even lead to more anxiety. In fact, if you quit drinking alcohol altogether, stress is one of the withdrawal symptoms you’ll face as your mind and body learn how to function without the drug.

Negative Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Use

Consuming more alcohol often raises your tolerance levels, meaning you need to drink more to feel good. If you develop a dependence or addiction, some of the long-term effects can be devastating and even fatal.

Virtually every aspect of your body can be damaged with enough alcohol use. And on top of that, excessive drinking can lead to several life-threatening diseases and types of cancer. When combined with anti-anxiety medications, binge drinking to manage anxiety also carries serious health risks and even death.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Anxiety and Alcohol Abuse

When you’re struggling with alcoholism and anxiety, you need simultaneous treatment for both conditions to have the best chance at recovery. These co-occurring disorders often have similar underlying causes, and dual diagnosis treatment can equip you with the tools you need to regain control of your life.

Listen to Chief Aaron’s Addiction Recovery Story

Listen to Fire Chief Aaron’s story about overcoming his substance use disorder with help from Cycles of Change Recovery. If you know someone struggling with addiction, share this video with them to remind them there is hope.

At Cycles of Change Recovery Center, we work with you on a personalized treatment plan to meet your needs. You’ll learn to understand both conditions’ root causes and how to avoid relapse during alcohol recovery. If you’re concerned about a loved one struggling with alcoholism but don’t know how to help, we can assist in staging an intervention.

Contact our team today for a confidential conversation on how you can begin the process of healing.

It can be difficult to admit you need help. People want to be in control of their own lives and handle their own problems. This can be a major obstacle when dealing with addiction. The longer addiction maintains its hold, the more damage it does to both the individual and his or her family. That’s why it’s important that an addiction treatment plan involves the recovering addict’s loved ones to help everyone move forward.

How Addiction Harms the Family

Addiction can inflict damages on the family in a number of ways; anger, anxiety, fear, financial issues, helplessness, physical harm and stress are the most common. The cumulative stress of dealing with the addiction of a loved one can cause changes in the brain chemistry of family members, as well. It’s important to understand that your loved one did not become addicted on purpose. Addiction is a serious medical condition, but it is possible to heal those it has harmed.

Consequences of Ignoring the Family During Drug Rehab

While in treatment, your loved one is working on the various issues that contributed to his or her addiction. Many recovery plans involve education, therapy and emotional breakthroughs in a supportive setting. However, if the family isn’t involved, their trauma remains untreated. Unhealthy coping mechanisms and behaviors family members have developed to deal with the situation oftentimes go unaddressed. Once their loved one returns home, these unresolved issues and the potential for lingering resentment or doubt can trigger relapse and cause further damage to the entire family.

Benefits of Family Therapy in Addiction Treatment

When the family is involved in recovery, each person’s perspective has the opportunity to be shared. Healing becomes possible for everyone involved. Problematic family dynamics that existed before addiction or ones that developed after the fact can be addressed.

As a family, you might have felt forced to cut the person struggling with addiction out of decision-making processes, discussions or activities. Family therapy can help you reintegrate your loved one into everyday family life, and lines of communication that were shut down can be reopened in a safe, neutral setting. As your loved one recovers from addiction, family therapy can help you also heal so that your entire family can have a fresh start once treatment is completed.

Addiction Treatment That Includes the Family in Palmdale, CA

At Cycles of Change, we emphasize family involvement in drug and alcohol treatment. Our compassionate professionals have experience dealing with complicated family dynamics and how those might influence or be influenced by addiction. We are committed to helping you and your loved one recover. If your family needs help dealing with a loved one’s addiction, don’t wait another day. Contact our team and begin the process of healing now.

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.