Common Myths about Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol is the most widely used drug in the world. There are a lot of misconceptions about alcohol addiction that can lead to confusion. Some of the myths can even be used by alcoholics to remain in denial about their condition. Below are the common myths that people believe about drinking:

Myth 1: Beer drinkers can’t be alcoholics. Fact: The reality is that there are strong beers that contain high levels of alcohol and there are many alcoholics who only drink beer.

Myth 2: People who regularly get drunk are alcoholics Fact: There are many people who go through a period of heavy drinking but it doesn’t mean they are alcoholics. An individual can become an alcoholic if he has developed a physical or psychological dependence on alcohol. He has increased tolerance for the substance and experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit.

Myth 3: Eating a heavy meal before you drink will keep you sober. Fact: Eating before you drink is not an effective defense against getting drunk. It will only delay the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.

Myth 4: Thinking that drinking is not a “real” addiction like drug abuse. Fact: Alcohol is a drug and it is as damaging as other hard drugs. Alcohol addiction causes changes in an individual’s body and brain. Long-term alcohol abuse is detrimental to his health, career, and relationships.

Dealing with a loved one’s alcohol problem can be an emotional rollercoaster. Ranch Creek Recovery is a drug rehab in San Diego that can help your loved one to get through the addiction with the right support and treatment they need. Contact us at 951-602-5676 or visit our website http://www.ranchcreekrecovery.com/

Inpatient or Outpatient: Which is Right for You?

When you decide to get sober, there’s going to be a lot to think about. It’s difficult to imagine a life without alcohol or drugs and how you’ll deal with everyday situations without substances to alter how you feel. Now, you must decide what type of treatment facility you’re going to enter, and doing the research can seem overwhelming, but there are steps you can take to figure out which type of treatment is best for you. The most common types are inpatient and outpatient facilities, and they each serve a different purpose.

What is Alcohol Addiction?

Alcohol addiction is a serious medical disease caused by many interconnected factors, including social environment and emotional well-being. Sometimes, people who associate closely to heavy drinkers can develop drinking problems. People suffering from mental health problems, like anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder, may use alcohol as self-medication and a way to escape their problems. Drinking alcohol is a common social practice, which is why it’s not always easy to determine when one’s drinking habits has crossed the line from moderate to abuse.

Signs of Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abusers make their drinking habits the core activity of their life. They ignore their health and relationships which often results in negative consequences. Although they may limit their drinking, their alcohol use can still be destructive and dangerous for them and others. Here are a few common signs of alcohol abuse:

• Alcohol abusers are more likely to put themselves in dangerous situations, such as drinking and driving. 
• They can only relax with a drink. 
• They continue to drink even though it causes problems in their relationships. 
• They repeatedly neglect responsibilities at home, work, or school. 
• They have experienced legal problems because of drinking.

Signs of Alcohol Dependence

When an alcohol abuser receives no help or treatment in the early stages, it can progress to alcohol dependence, which is the most severe form of problem drinking. Alcoholics have little to no control over the amount they consume. Here are a few signs of alcohol dependence:

• They have a higher tolerance for alcohol so they tend to need to drink more.
• Reduced attention to personal and professional responsibilities. 
• They experience significant hangovers and an increase in recovery time from the after-effects of alcohol use. 
• They usually want to quit drinking, but are unable to. 

No matter how bad your addiction is, there is hope and help available. Don’t hesitate to call Ranch Creek Recovery, a drug rehab in San Diego, for help. We’ll offer you the necessary support and care to get you through this difficult time.

When Has Your Partying Gone Too Far?

It’s a saddening fact that 1 out of 12 people are afflicted with the disease of addiction. This means that they’ve lost the ability to control their drinking or recreational drug use. The part of the brain that’s largely responsible for self-awareness is drastically affected, so the addicted individual often doesn’t know that they have a problem.

Cognitive Behavioral Treatments for Addiction

There was a time when substance addiction treatment seemed like such an impossible feat to achieve. Although there were therapy sessions and detoxification processes put in place, the most that it seemed to be able to do was to make the symptoms of withdrawal and craving a bit more manageable.

However, there was as much as 90% chance that the patient will inevitably fall back into a relapse once they went back outside to the real world. Medical professionals, for a moment, therefore, believed that the only way to keep an addict sober was to have the person kept under lock and key.

Benefits of Garden Therapy

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein

Humans naturally crave for nature’s connection. Several studies have shown that exposure to nature can help cure illnesses -- be it physical disability, mental illness, depression, anxiety and even drug and alcohol addiction.

Many drug rehabs in San Diego are implementing garden therapy as part of their patients’ recovery process and it is considered an effective intervention for different kinds of medical conditions. Individuals who undergo with this therapy can gain relaxation, skills development, exercise, enhanced creativity, social development and personal growth.

Give and Take

Garden therapy, also known as horticultural therapy, is a give and take interaction with nature. While beautifying the neighborhood with the power of your green thumb, you’ll become happier and healthier in return.

Science can explain the physical and psychological process that evolves inside our body when we do therapeutic gardening. Unconsciously, simply walking down a green lawn can help us let go of the physical and emotional stress that we carry. It stimulates hypothalamic activities and hormone production that set our minds to a positive state.

Who can do garden therapy?

Gardening must be an exciting and interesting hobby to try because of the benefits it offers. However, there are specific groups of individuals who are encouraged to undergo this therapeutic healing process. Most of them are those who suffer from anxiety, mental illness, depression, as well as drug and alcohol addiction. It is also recommended for cancer survivors and patients who are recovering from stroke. Each person can benefit differently based on their certain condition, considering their level of functioning and physical ability to garden.

Ranch Creek Recovery offers garden therapy as part of their holistic and experiential therapy. If you want to admit your loved ones or yourself for stress relief, contact us at 951-602-5676 for a confidential consultation and feel free to peruse our website. http://www.ranchcreekrecovery.com/

Rehab: Learning to Have Fun in Sobriety

Many addicts turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to have fun. It’s common for those who suffer from addiction to be unsure of who they are and have social anxiety to a certain extent. They rationalize their drinking and using because they believe it’s the only way that they can enjoy themselves when they’re at social gatherings. Eventually, their substance of choice stops working. They’re no longer having fun, but they’re still chasing the same idea.

Family's Role in Recovery Process

Having your loved one fall into addiction is a heartbreaking and exhausting situation, but you need to understand that they need you more than ever. Volunteering as part of the recovery process is the best help you can offer to cast them away from this agony. However, remember that recovery is a journey, not a destination. You need to invest long patience and unconditional support to help your loved ones escape the dim world of alcohol and drug addiction. 

The 3 C’s of Family Recovery

As a family member, it’s crucial to help your loved one to break away from addiction. They are not in their proper state of mind so it’s a real challenge to stick around them. But when all you want to do is help, be reminded of the three C’s to help your family member go through the therapy process. 

1. You didn’t cause it – you need to accept the fact that you have nothing to do with your family member’s addiction, unless you are the one who gave them the alcohol and drugs in the first place. 
2. You can’t control it – no matter how influential you are as a part of the family, you can do nothing with your family’s condition. Understand that addiction is a serious and delicate matter where you can’t control the person or his decision making process. 
3. You can’t cure it – understand that addiction is incurable. You can give endless love and support as long as you are capable and willing of doing so, but you do not have the power to put the addict back into their normal state. They have to undergo proper treatment and therapy process under professional care. 

Seek Professional Care

Getting someone to guide your loved one to the right path of regaining themselves from addiction is always the best act of comfort. There are many centers for drug rehab in San Diego that offer extensive care and treatments for individuals under drug and alcohol addiction. Visit Ranch Creek Recovery for more information on their family education and counseling service. http://www.ranchcreekrecovery.com/what-we-offer/family-education/

Drug Rehab: Best Treatment Approach for Addiction?

Addiction—whether to drugs or alcohol—is a complex illness. On one hand, the abused substances offer a benefit—a temporary euphoric escape from the reality of the world. On the other, they are extremely harmful to one’s health physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

Facing the Danger of OTC Meds

It is commonplace to use medicines as part of a treatment procedure. However, certain issues lead to certain complications regarding the accessibility of any medicine product. One of these is the abuse of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.