Sunday 29 November 2015

The Need for Empathy

Drug or alcohol addiction affects about 10% of any population. Even though it is very common, talking about addiction is still considered taboo for most families. The importance of addressing the issue early on is crucial. The longer the addiction is allowed to continue, the harder it will be to recover. When a person becomes dependent on alcohol or drugs, they are not only a danger to themselves but also to those they love.

Extending Aid to Addicts

It is not easy for an addict to accept that they have a problem and to begin their journey to recovery. This is a sensitive time where friends and family can either serve as their pillars of support, or be the cause of a relapse. It is a joint effort for on both sides to make the recovery a success. Caring for a recovering addict is not an easy task, but here are some suggestions that can help you during their healing period.

  • Provide a safe and sober environment, ensuring that there are no triggers for using. 
  • Do not jump to accusations, judgments, and name calling. 
  • Do not become an enabler; do not provide excuses of cover up for the recovering addict. 
  • Recognize and acknowledge that they have potential within themselves. 
  • Do not expect life to return to the way it was before the addiction. Change is a part of life by accepting their fault; you are lessening the stress on the recovering addict’s life.

A Helping Hand

Understand that you are not alone. Whether you are a recovering addict who fears relapse or a concerned family member, you can turn to others for help. Ranch Creek Recovery offers many programs that will help set realistic recovery goals and individual therapy that is personalized to ensure maximum progress. Speak to someone who understands your struggle, seek help, and start your path into recovery.

Friday 27 November 2015

Making the Most of Drug Rehab


Addiction is a disease that can impact anyone no matter where you grew up or how much money you have. Once you are addicted to something, it can literally control your life until you decide that you are ready to change. The first step to change is admitting that you have a problem and attempting to rehabilitate.

Why Drug Rehab May Be Effective For You


If you have an addiction to prescription or illicit drugs or to alcohol, you may have been referred to a drug rehab facility. Many addicts understand the depths of their addiction, and they may not confident that a drug rehab facility can provide all of the support that they need to overcome their strong addiction. Some feel that they are simply hopeless and will be an addict forever. While these are common thoughts and fears among addicts, rest assured that many people break free from the grips of addiction each year, and many who do so often receive assistance from a drug rehab facility.

Wednesday 25 November 2015

Rooting Out the True Cause

When people talk about addiction, they bring up the substance, the chemical dependency. Each type of drug’s effects vary, and there’s a large spectrum of potency, but substance abuse is often a discussion where the substance is the villain. Nobody looks any deeper. That isn’t to say that chemical dependencies don’t exist—that’s a dangerous assumption to make. However, it’s just as dangerous to assume that illegal drugs are the end-all, be-all roots of addiction.

Other Factors

So what is it? What makes going from use to abuse easy for some, but not for most? The answer may lie in the reason behind the substance use.

Johann Hari, in a relatively recent TED talk, puts it really well: “Human beings have a natural and innate need to bond, and when we’re happy and healthy, we’ll bond and connect with each other, but if you can’t do that because you’re traumatized or isolated or beaten down by life, you will bond with something that will give you some sense of relief.”


That’s why reliable drug rehab centers in San Diego know that treating addiction is not just a matter of treating symptoms caused by drugs, but also about looking for co-occurring disorders and using therapy to dissect the problem.

The Effectiveness of Holistic Care

A drug habit usually doesn’t form instantly; it stems from repeated use. What causes repeated use? It differs from case to case, and it takes a holistic approach to figure out what exactly happened, and how to prevent it from happening again.

Friday 20 November 2015

Treating Substance Abuse: How to Drop the Anchor

Picture this: a war veteran is sent back home after a tour of duty. It feels good to be home, but things have probably moved on without him. Old friends may have gotten new jobs. The crowd at the local bar may have changed. Aside from that, his experiences in the war may have given him a different feel. A different aura. His conversation patterns have changed. People who were once close start drifting away.

Clinging to an Anchor

Experts at any reliable drug rehab in San Diego know this kind of isolation and helplessness isn’t exclusive to war veterans. It could happen to someone who lost a job, or someone whose marriage just ended. People who suffer from psychological disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder, may go through the same suffering. Everything hurts; it feels like they’re adrift.

Unfortunately, many such people choose to escape through substance abuse. Whether it’s alcohol or drugs, it doesn’t matter. Any cure against the pain. Any anchor against the tide.

The Anchor Is a Weight

After a while, it just becomes routine. Any time they start to feel something they can’t cope with, the temptation kicks in. They need to counter the tide of negative emotions with a rush, a high, a light-headedness, anything that can make them feel other than they do. It’s a habit that’s become ingrained. It’s an anchor that starts weighing them down.

Get Back on Course

Experienced workers at drug rehab centers in San Diego know that it’s not just a matter of cutting someone off from their supply. To really make sure that someone can beat his or her drug habit, they have to be enabled to recognize their behaviors, to know what alternative actions they can take to resist their cravings, and to trust that they matter enough that their lives are worth fighting for. 

Rehabilitation isn’t just about fighting an addiction; it’s about helping people let go of their anchors and sail to a better life ahead.

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Many Trauma Survivors Suffer from Addiction


Heroin, alcohol, and meth addiction are difficult for anyone to go through. Many people who suffer from these addictions have past trauma that contributed to the addiction. Examples of trauma that often result in addiction include combat experience that results in PTSD, rape or sexual trauma and periods of severe emotional stress.

Entering Alcohol Rehab


When you enter an alcohol rehab facility, there are a few things that you should keep in mind that you will learn about while there. One of the things that you want to find out before attending is whether you will only go during the day for classes and to talk with a counselor or if there is an inpatient program that allows you to stay overnight.

Conquer Addiction: Importance of Exercise During and After Drug Rehab


Doctors have known for decades now that exercise and physical and mental wellness go hand-in-hand. People who exercise regularly are at a lower risk of detrimental conditions like heart disease, depression, and insomnia. However, it has only been in the last decade or so that doctors have been recommending that exercise be a central part of a high-quality drug and alcohol addiction program. Addicts and alcoholics who exercise during and after rehab have a greater chance of recovering fully and also benefit from the increased physical activity during their time in rehabilitation.
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Tuesday 17 November 2015

Drug Dependence: Coping with Drugs

A lot of the time, when we think about drugs, we think about the physical and irresistible dependence it elicits in people. Sure, some are less potent than others, but the prevailing belief is that the desire to take a hit establishes a habit that’s nearly impossible to quit without going through drug rehab. Scientific studies often point to components of drugs that are chemically engineered, whether by chance or by science, to make them addictive. 

It’s Not About the Hooks

But one fact escapes a lot of people’s attention: many are exposed to supposedly addictive substances all the time, and they don’t get addicted. Alcohol is served in social gatherings and in dining establishments all the time, and people may get drunk, but they don’t usually get hooked from that. Patients are also given drugs like opium and marijuana for medicinal purposes, yet the vast majority do not end up with a drug problem post-treatment. Most Vietnam veterans that used heroin during the war did not take their habit home with them. 

It’s About the Cage

So what is it? What makes going from use to abuse easy for some, but not for most? The answer may lie in the reason behind the substance use.

Johann Hari, in a relatively recent TED talk, puts it really well: “Human beings have a natural and innate need to bond, and when we’re happy and healthy, we’ll bond and connect with each other, but if you can’t do that because you’re traumatized or isolated or beaten down by life, you will bond with something that will give you some sense of relief.”

That’s why reliable drug rehab centers in San Diego know that treating addiction is not just a matter of treating symptoms caused by drugs, but also about looking for co-occurring disorders and using therapy to dissect the problem. 


The Effectiveness of Holistic Care

A drug habit usually doesn’t form instantly; it stems from repeated use. What causes repeated use? It differs from case to case, and it takes a holistic approach to figure out what exactly happened, and how to prevent it from happening again.

Drug Rehab in LA: The Main Advantages of Inpatient Addiction Programs


Once a person has decided that they want to battle their alcohol or drug addiction by seeking professional help, the next step is to decide on what type of addiction program to choose. Essentially, serious programs are divided into two types of categories: inpatient and outpatient. In an inpatient program, you’ll stay at the facility, whether it’s an addiction center, hospital or something else, while you work on your addiction. Eventually, of course, you’ll have to go back home. In an outpatient program, you go to the facility at regular hours for a structured program, but you’re basically living at home.
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Monday 16 November 2015

Holistic Healing: Drug Rehab Offers Recovery of Both Mind and Body


It is well known that many drug and alcohol addicts suffer relapses even after completing an alcohol or drug rehab program. The road to recovery is not an easy one, and this is why it is important for recovering addicts to know they can always get help if their resolve to stay away from their addiction is faltering. When you want to triumph over your own addiction to drugs or alcohol, you may find this success when you enter a program that focuses on holistic healing. A treatment center like Ranch Creek Recovery, which offers their services to residents of San Diego, Orange County, and Riverside, CA, among others, can help identify your addiction triggers; and guide you as you heal yourself in body, mind, and spirit to become free from your temptation to drink or use.
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Sunday 15 November 2015

Signs of Alcoholism: When to Seek Help from Alcohol Rehab Experts


While there is nothing wrong with moderate alcohol consumption, you may be classified as an alcoholic if you consume more than two drinks a day. This is true even if you don’t think that your drinking habit interferes with your ability to function in society. Recognize the common signs and symptoms of alcoholism, and seek help from alcohol rehab experts immediately if you are experiencing these signs.
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Friday 13 November 2015

Signs You Need to Go to Rehab

More often than not, it is hard to identify the signs that you or a loved one may have the need to go into a rehabilitation treatment center. There are many people who are entirely into their addiction that they cannot see the signs that something is going wrong in their lives. Educating ourselves and our loved ones with the right information about addiction can help. Here are some of the signs you or your loved one might be in need of help from a drug rehab in San Diego.


  • When you start getting wrapped up with your addiction, all of the activities you used to do are no longer interesting for you. 
  • Your life will only revolve from waking up, figuring out how to get drugs, and doing the drugs. Nothing else will matter anymore. 
  • Being addicted to any kind of drug can take a toll on your body, depending on the drug you’re using. 
  • You need help if you start lying to your friends or family to cover your addiction. 
  • If you’re starting to sell or trade possessions just to get your dose of drug, seek counseling immediately. 
  • Did you know that withdrawal from dugs is dangerous? A user can experience seizure, heart attack, and more, that can eventually lead to death. 
  • If you have experienced being arrested for doing something illegal while on drugs or received a DUI, it’s a sign that you need help. 
If you or someone you love is currently experiencing or have already experienced these signs, it’s time that you seek help from a drug rehab in San Diego.

Tuesday 10 November 2015

Understanding Drug Tolerance

Did you know that with the repeated use of certain drugs, your body can no longer feel its effects? Thus making you feel the need to take more of the substance which can lead to overdosing. The effects of addictive substances decreases the longer a person keeps using them. Those who use drugs or even alcohol for long period of times may or may not recognize the need to take larger doses.


In most cases, tolerance can develop when the metabolism of the drug speeds up and the number of the cell receptors that the substance attaches to or the strength of the bond between drug and the receptor decreases. Drug tolerance is not the same with addiction or dependence. It refers to a strong desire to feel the effects of a substance, therefore making a user a hardcore addict.

The California State University-Fullerton states that there are a total of four mechanisms that contributes to the rising drug tolerance levels. One of which is metabolic drug tolerance. It has something to do with the speed of the liver that breaks down substances in the user’s system. This means that with repeated use, the speed will increase while shortening the length of time a drug remains in a user’s bloodstream.


Behavioral tolerance is the emotional response of the user to his expectations on the effect of a drug. This can affect a user to increase his dosage expecting for a high effect of the drug. Conditioned drug tolerance is the environmental cues that prompts the desire to use addictive substances. The last one is the cell damage. These four mechanisms affect one another and may further increase a user’s drug tolerance over time.

If you or someone you love needs help from a drug rehab in San Diego, visit our website at http://www.ranchcreekrecovery.com/

Tuesday 3 November 2015

Undergoing drug rehab at San Diego treatment centers needs time

Being tasked to do a residential drug rehab program at a San Diego addiction treatment center may be one of the toughest decisions you’ll have to make. In some sense, it is a necessary sacrifice to get better after all you’ve been through. However, choosing the length of the treatment program also bears scrutiny.


Many drug rehab centers offer in-house treatment packages lasting 30 days, 60 days, or 90 days. The analysis begins with a full medical evaluation of you, the nature of your addiction, and the length of the addiction period. The process will include medical exams, interviews with assigned center personnel, and drug tests. The assessment will be the opportunity to identify any mental illnesses and account for them in designing the scope of the treatment program; the severe the situation, the decision may fall more on the longer treatment packages.

The early phase of the program will cover monitoring the patient’s withdrawal symptoms from the substance. The detox phase may last no more than a few days from there, the counselling and therapeutic exercises may take place. Pharmacotherapy sessions later in the program may involve taking in supplements designed to suppress cravings of illegal drugs. The latter stages can include planning on long-term outpatient therapy, especially on mental conditioning to prevent a potential relapse.


As drug rehabilitation is a serious affair, you need an abundant amount of time to rebuild yourself in a more controlled environment. It will be worth the effort you exert in the treatment sessions during your stay.

Monday 2 November 2015

Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Orange County: The Five Stages of Change


Alcoholics and drug addicts often reach a point where they become destructive not only toward others, but to themselves as well. Addictive behavior only allows an individual to sink deeper into the hole that they built for themselves, oftentimes pulling others along with them. To loved ones, the self-destructive behavior leads to a time of pain, confusion, and despair. If you have a loved one who’s going through a pattern of self-destructive behavior due to heavy alcohol or drug use, you must have hoped and searched for ways to help him heal and change. Research shows that addicts have to go through some specific stages of change as they travel the road to recovery. These stages were first explained in James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente's Trans-theoretical Model of Change (1982).
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