How to Navigate Difficult Conversations With Clients and Their Families

Healthcare programs often involve complex topics and conversations that leave clients feeling vulnerable. Clients and their families may struggle to communicate their needs effectively. Studies have shown that “[g]iven the shift in healthcare to a more patient-centered approach and the positive association between high-quality communication with a healthcare provider and improved patient outcomes, it is essential to acknowledge and assess factors that generate dissonance between the patient and the clinician.” The compassionate staff at Driftwood Recovery helps clients and their families navigate difficult conversations by providing education and support. 

Language Matters When Discussing Complex or Delicate Topics

The language health providers use impacts their relationship with clients and families. Staff at programs for mental health and substance abuse must take special care not to stigmatize or disempower clients. Language humanizes or dehumanizes people depending on the word choices made. According to The BMJ, “[S]pecific word choices and phrases affect how patients view their health and illness, reflect healthcare workers’ perceptions of their patients, and influence medical care and treatments offered.” In addition, “Language in medical narratives also shapes how trainees think, talk, and act, perpetuating any ingrained biases.”

Some of the language healthcare workers should avoid in a professional setting include: 

• Stigmatizing terms (e.g., “junkie,” “addict,” etc.)
• Blaming language (e.g., “you need to do better”)
• Minimizing statements (e.g., “it’s not that bad”)
• Overly clinical jargon that may confuse clients 
• Insensitive humor
• Dismissive language (e.g., “you’re just not trying hard enough”)

Creating a healthy client-clinician relationship requires healthcare professionals to tailor their responses and word choices to each client. By taking the time to get to know clients on a human level and finding a positive way to connect, healthcare workers improve the treatment experience. Clients and their families are more likely to adhere to treatment guidelines and express concerns if they feel comfortable with their care team. Healthcare workers have an easier time treating clients who feel secure and confident in the treatment process. 

How Can Healthcare Professionals Navigate Difficult Conversations?

Some medical cases involve discussions about topics that may cause clients to feel fear, uncertainty, or embarrassment. Clients may react defensively or challenge their care team if they do not agree with or fully understand the information provided. Individuals in healthcare reduce stress on themselves by reassuring clients. Clinicians educate, empower, and support clients during these conversations, building a deeper connection. 

Healthcare professionals navigate difficult conversations with clients by doing the following: 

• Practicing active listening 
• Using empathy and validation 
• Remaining nonjudgmental 
• Setting clear professional boundaries 
• Adapting communication styles to the client
• Providing information and context to clients
• Encouraging collaborative problem-solving 
• Remaining calm and composed

Healthcare professionals may also use supervision or peer support to ensure clients and their families receive the best care. A mediator or outside support may help some clients feel more comfortable during these difficult conversations. 

Healthcare Workers Must Know How to Navigate Difficult Conversations at Every Stage of Treatment

Every stage of treatment comes with unique challenges, and it is impossible to accurately predict how each client will react to various setbacks or unexpected situations. Healthcare professionals can help clients experience a smooth transition between multiple levels of care and stages of healing by ensuring they know what to expect and how to manage their condition. Maintaining an open line of communication with clients and families significantly reduces the risk of adverse outcomes. 

Communication Between Team Members Ensures Consistency

Staff at Driftwood Recovery strengthen interpersonal skills and communication by frequently checking in with team members. Clients receive more consistent treatment, and staff report less workplace pressure if they communicate effectively with coworkers. 

Consistency in communication benefits clients and healthcare providers by doing the following:

• Building trust and credibility with clients and their families
• Making treatment more predictable to reduce client anxiety
• Reducing miscommunication and confusion about treatment expectations 
• Supporting emotional stability and helping clients process complex topics
• Making challenging conversations feel less abrupt and overwhelming for clients 

Consistency between stages of treatment reduces the risk of relapse and promotes resilience. Clients are more likely to have favorable outcomes if they communicate frequently and effectively with the care team about challenging topics. 

How Does Driftwood Recovery Instruct Staff to Navigate Difficult Conversations?

Staff at Driftwood Recovery practice compassion, integrity, and transparency during conversations with clients and families. Clinicians understand that some discussions may become emotionally distressing, making it difficult for clients or their loved ones to remain objective. Maintaining a calm demeanor and communicating without judgment allows healthcare professionals to carefully guide the conversation. Individuals in healthcare use specific strategies to discuss complex topics with clients, ensuring clarity and empathy. 

Some effective strategies and techniques professionals use include: 

• Active listening to validate client concerns and ensure a thoughtful response 
• Using simple and straightforward language to avoid miscommunication or confusion 
• Setting the right tone by speaking calmly and clearly 
• Regulating personal emotions to remain composed
• Acknowledging and validating the client’s feelings and concerns 
• Framing conversations in a positive way
• Providing reassurance to the client without offering false hope 
• Giving clients time to process information 
• Empowering clients by offering choices whenever possible 
• Following up to address any lingering questions or concerns

Staff at Driftwood Recovery work together to support clients and ensure each member of the care team feels comfortable navigating challenging conversations. 

Healthcare professionals must navigate many difficult and complex conversations with clients and families. Taking the time to make a deeper connection with clients allows clinicians to tailor conversations to the expectations and goals of each individual. Discussing complex topics requires healthcare workers to practice compassion and professionalism. Driftwood Recovery ensures staff members have the training and education necessary to have productive conversations with clients about challenging subjects. Experts adapt their language and conversation styles to the needs and preferences of each client. Developing effective communication skills allows healthcare professionals to educate clients and put them at ease. To learn more about how our professionals communicate with clients, call our office today at (512) 759-8330.

According to “Social Skills” from the American Psychological Association (APA), social skills are a set of learned abilities. The development of social skills helps you interact competently and appropriately in different social settings. There are a variety of different social skills that are influenced by personality traits, cultural norms, family dynamics, and other environmental factors. For instance, some valued social skills in Western culture include assertiveness, adaptability, communication, interpersonal problem-solving, and emotional regulation. Thus, as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) states, the process of social development is an important part of transitional growth from the limited roles of childhood and adolescence to the broader roles of adulthood.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know there are a variety of challenges and barriers to reintegrating post-treatment. Many may consider the challenges and barriers to gaining employment and housing. Although employment and housing are important factors in sustained recovery, the importance of social connection and community is often overlooked. Addiction is not only harmful to your physical and psychological well-being, but it also robs you of close, positive relationships with your family and friends. You become isolated from yourself and others as addiction becomes the focus of your existence.

The isolation of addiction not only robs you of your relationships but also of your social skills. Also, for many, the development of addiction is tied to a lack of social skills like adaptability and emotional regulation. Therefore, awareness of the relationship between your childhood experiences and development is invaluable to understanding and dismantling the impact of earlier challenges on your well-being in recovery.

Understanding Childhood Development

As the Office of Head Start notes, positive social and emotional development in early childhood is foundational to development and learning throughout your life. Both social and emotional development are aspects of mental health in early childhood. More specifically, social development is a child’s ability to build and sustain meaningful relationships with trusted adults and other children. On the other hand, emotional development is a child’s ability to express, recognize, and manage their emotions, and respond appropriately to others’ emotions. Thus, the process of positive social and emotional development speaks to the building blocks of self-understanding, understanding others, and successful functioning in society. 

The power of social skills speaks to the importance of understanding the risks and challenges of poor social skills to address and dismantle unhealthy patterns.

Risks and Challenges of Poor Social Development

Through social and emotional development in childhood, you are given the support and tools for social skills that apply to every area of life. As stated in Behavioral Sciences, social and emotional development supports the acquisition of social skills for mental well-being, social adaptation, and social relationships across life stages. Therefore, a disruption of social and emotional development can hinder important social skills like communication, cooperation, empathy, and conflict resolution. Yet, what can disrupt or impair vital developmental processes? As HHS notes, there are a variety of environmental and social factors that can contribute to poor social development and health.

Listed below are some of the factors that can contribute to poor social development:

• Stress
• Physical abuse and neglect
• Emotional abuse and neglect
• Sexual abuse
• Neighborhood violence
• Discrimination
• Low socioeconomic status
  • Poverty
  • Food insecurity
  • Housing insecurity
• Quality of relationships with caregivers

The adverse experiences that contribute to poor social skills create further challenges and barriers to your well-being and quality of life in adulthood. Some of the challenges and functional impairments that can arise in childhood and adulthood from poor social skills include:

• Impulsivity
• Aggression
• Defiance
• Emotional dyregulation
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Withdrawal
• Poor physical health
• Substance use disorder (SUD)

Poor social skills in early development can have a profound impact on your physical and psychological health and behavior. Health challenges and destructive behaviors like SUD make building social skills now invaluable to sustained recovery and community building. Yet, how do poor social skills contribute to addiction?

Relationship Between Addiction and Social Skills

It can be difficult to imagine how your relationships with others can contribute to low social skills. The act of addiction is often a solitary experience with superficial relationships built on mutual substance abuse. You become isolated from loved ones as your addiction consumes your life. Further, the roots of your addiction can also be tied to a desire to alleviate social deficits. For example, difficulties with social anxiety can contribute to unhealthy alcohol consumption to suppress symptoms and be more sociable. 

However, the relief substance use provides is short-lived as addiction exacerbates your mental health symptoms and encourages self-isolation. Therefore, building social skills in treatment and recovery is invaluable to healing in mind, body, and spirit. 

Value of Social Skills for Recovery

According to Advanced Biomedical Research, the role of social skills can support treatment, relapse prevention, and interpersonal relationships. Some of the ways social skills can support recovery include:

• Improve self-care
• Enhance psychological comfort
• Foster effective communication
• Strengthen understanding of others’ feelings
• Support the ability to reach out to others
• Improve the ability to get along with others
• Enhance sociability
• Support openness

Access to social skills training in combination with education about SUD supports resilience to relapse. Moreover, building social skills is not only beneficial for relapse prevention but also for restoring your connection to yourself and others.

Fostering Social Skills With Alumni at Driftwood Recovery

Social skills give you those foundational tools you missed in childhood to foster meaningful connections. A social support network of loved ones, peers, and clinicians can offer numerous benefits for your physical and psychological well-being:

• Emotional support 
• Comprehensive resources
• Accountability
• Guidance
• Motivation
• Reduce stress and mental health symptoms
• Improve coping skills

Therefore, at Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing a thriving sober community in our alumni program to support you. Through our continuum of care in a community-driven alumni program, you can continue to heal the whole of your parts. We know recovery does not start and end with treatment, as a compassionate community supports the lifelong courageous journey of development.

Positive social and emotional development in early childhood is foundational to social skills for self-understanding and relationship building and maintenance. However, adverse experiences like childhood abuse and neglect can contribute to poor social skills. A lack of social skills exposes you to mental health disorders and SUD. Addiction, in particular, often reinforces self-isolation and exacerbates challenges like anxiety. Yet, building social skills in treatment can promote effective communication, psychological comfort, and sociability to thrive without substances. Moreover, social skills foster social connection, which is invaluable to sustained recovery. Therefore, at Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing a community-driven alumni program that fosters meaningful connections for mutual encouragement, motivation, accountability, and support. Call us at (512) 759-8330 today.

When a person thinks about binge drinking, college life may come to mind. However, binge drinking can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender. It’s not just a college problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies that 17% of adults in the USA binge drink. Binge drinking is a behavior that can put a person at significant risk for harm or even death.

Great strides have been taken to educate the public about the dangers of binge drinking. Mental health and addiction treatment facilities, such as Driftwood Recovery, have created extensive treatment programs to help those struggling to control their drinking. Despite these efforts, binge drinking as a whole can be challenging to recognize. This is especially true for those who grew up around those with alcohol addiction or disordered drinking habits. Learning how to recognize binge drinking protects not just yourself, but also helps you protect your loved ones from harm. 

What Exactly Is Binge Drinking?

Binge drinking is defined by The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) as a pattern of drinking that brings your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08%–or 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter–or higher. A serving of an alcoholic beverage, known as a “standard” drink, typically contains about 0.6 fluid ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol. This means that to binge drink, a typical adult will consume five or more drinks (for a male) or four or more drinks (for a female) within two hours.

Of course, the amount of drinks needed to reach this BAC varies depending on age and weight. A shorter woman will typically need fewer drinks to reach a 0.08% BAC compared to one who is taller. An adolescent boy will require fewer drinks compared to an adult man. The general definition focuses on consuming an intoxicating amount of drinks in a short amount of time. This is not to be confused with high-intensity drinking, in which a person consumes double this amount of drinks in a short amount of time.

The Risks Associated With Rapid Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol is a dangerous substance. There is no part of the body that is not impacted by alcohol consumption. Most people know that overconsumption can result in impaired decision making, motor skill decline, and relaxed inhibitions. Many forget, though, that alcohol is a toxin and too much can cause alcohol poisoning, which is deadly without quick treatment. It’s why binge drinking is particularly dangerous for adolescents, as their smaller bodies can’t process alcohol as well as a fully grown adult. Even so, an adult can get alcohol poisoning if they are not careful. The typical symptoms of alcohol poisoning are:

• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Irregular or slow breathing
• Seizures
• Trouble staying awake or conscious
• Pale, blue, or gray skin
• Low body temperature

Impaired reasoning is often cited as one of the biggest risks associated with binge drinking. A person with a 0.08% BAC in some states is considered too impaired to drive. The risk of drowning and other accidents increases after binge drinking. An inebriated person may be at risk of being a victim of assault or other crimes. Binge drinking is typically more dangerous for those who have never drunk alcohol before, and thus don’t know how their bodies will respond to it. 

Is Binge Drinking the Same as Alcohol Addiction?

Although binge drinking can be a part of alcohol addiction, it doesn’t always indicate an addiction. The main difference is that binge drinking can occur in a single session. You may binge drink one night, wake up with a bad hangover, and then decide to never binge drink again. Peer pressure and the desire to fit in or “let loose” are typical factors behind binge drinking. 

Addiction, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a progressive condition. A person with either condition finds themselves unable to control their drinking habits. Instead of bringing drinks, in a short amount of time, an individual may instead drink consistently throughout the day, even during times when drinking is not appropriate. 

Binge drinking, though, is still quite dangerous and can lead to addiction or AUD if left unchecked. Once binge drinking becomes a regular habit, it can be difficult to stop without professional help. 

Seeking Treatment at Driftwood Recovery

Binge drinking is a dangerous habit, even if it’s not the result of an addiction. However, disordered drinking requires just as much professional assistance as addiction. Seeking professional treatment can prevent disordered drinking from developing into an addiction or allow you to recover from an already established addiction. To assist those struggling, Driftwood Recovery offers a robust, compassionate, and comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment program.

This program includes targeted treatments, such as peer pressure recognition and resistance training. Undergoing such training helps you resist being pressured to binge drink and set firm, healthy boundaries. Psychotherapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help you recognize why you are engaging in risky behavior. If an underlying mental health disorder is discovered, such as depression, you can get treatment quickly to address your unique and individual mental health needs. 

People often binge drink to cope with upsetting feelings or to reduce stress. Learning healthier ways to cope with these issues is another important aspect of treatment at Driftwood Recovery. Driftwood Recovery’s holistic treatment philosophy helps you find means of relaxation and stress reduction that don’t involve the consumption of addictive substances. 

All bad habits can be broken with a little help, allowing you to pursue your interests in life without being held back by disordered drinking habits.  

Binge drinking is a serious issue that can affect all types of people. Although considered a college or young adult problem, anyone at any age can struggle with a binge drinking habit. Education and professional assistance are the key to preventing permanent damage or even loss of life. At Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, our alcohol addiction treatment program assists those struggling with binge drinking.  By addressing both the addiction and the underlying cause, our clients regain their freedom from addiction and find the healing they need for recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with binge drinking, don’t delay in getting help. Call Driftwood Recovery today at (512) 759-8330.

Traditionally, social isolation and loneliness have typically been associated with older adults. For elders, the loss of friends and loved ones, coupled with distance from the busy lives of adult children, are often the root of social isolation and loneliness. As the World Health Organization (WHO) notes in “Social Isolation and Loneliness,” about 1 in 4 older people experience social isolation. However, social isolation and loneliness have grown in recent years across multiple age groups, particularly among young people. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), only 39% of adults in the United States feel emotionally connected to others. 

At Driftwood Recovery, we know reintegration into society post-treatment can come with a host of challenges. Unaddressed addiction and other mental health disorders are corrosive as your symptoms erode those important social support networks. Thus, social isolation and a loss of purpose from addiction and mental illness can make reintegration feel daunting. We recognize the challenges of integration and the importance of re-establishing a strong support network to maintain recovery. Therefore, we are dedicated to providing the services and resources necessary to continue to thrive long after treatment.

Yet, you may question how social isolation disrupts recovery and impedes your interpersonal relationships. It is easy to believe social isolation is necessary post-treatment as shame influences how you engage in the world. Expanding your understanding of social isolation can highlight its impact on your well-being. 

What Is Social Isolation?

Social isolation is generally associated with a poor sense of belonging, meaningful communication, and fulfilling relationships. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), social isolation is a lack of social contacts and few regular social interactions. Yet, social isolation is not an uncommon experience or inherently bad or harmful. As noted in General Psychiatry, social isolation is a universal human experience that seeps into every intrapersonal, interpersonal, and existential level of life. 

In some cases, you may use social isolation as a coping strategy to alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms. However, it is persistent isolation that contributes to the development of social isolation and loneliness. Thus, the universal nature of social isolation speaks to the need to understand the difference between social isolation and solitude.

The Difference Between Social Self-Isolation and Solitude

Social self-isolation can stem from a variety of factors that can negatively impact your well-being, like social anxiety and low self-esteem. However, solitude can showcase the value of alone time when done mindfully. As stated in the Journal of Personality, solitude can be conceptualized as a state of being physically alone and separate from others. In general, the definition of solitude can sound like a negative, unsociable, and harmful activity. 

However, the concept and act of solitude, much like social isolation, is not black and white. Solitude can lead to positive and negative outcomes like relaxation and loneliness, which speaks to the need for balance and reframing. When done mindfully, solitude can offer an opportunity to recharge and engage in personal growth. Listed below are some of the benefits of mindful solitude:

• Support relaxation
• Reduce stress
• Promote emotional regulation
• Enhance mindfulness
• Encourage self-reflection
• Support self-awareness and self-understanding
• Improve mental health
• Boost self-confidence
• Increase productivity
• Boost creativity
• Increase social skills
• Strengthen interpersonal relationships
• Enhance resilience
• Increase life satisfaction 

The benefits of solitude showcase the power of alone time for physical and psychological well-being. Although mindful periods of solitude can be a positive force in your life, persistent and undesired social isolation can lead to loneliness and poor health outcomes.

Understanding Social Isolation and Loneliness

Social isolation and loneliness are perceived as the same. While social isolation and loneliness often occur together, they are not the same thing. Social isolation is an objective concept in which you have few social relationships or interactions. On the other hand, loneliness is a subjective feeling in which you feel distress over an actual or perceived lack of connection with others. Moreover, loneliness is associated with the desire to have more social relationships and more satisfaction in those relationships. 

You do not have to experience the physical separation of social isolation to be lonely. Rather, you can be surrounded by people and even have several friends but feel significant loneliness. Although social isolation and loneliness do not have to exist together, they are fuel for each other to foster physical and psychological adversity.

Impact of Social Isolation and Loneliness on Addiction and Recovery

Substance use disorder (SUD) can cause significant changes to the brain that impair functioning. Challenges with anxiety and depression, poor impulse control, and emotional dysregulation highlight some of the ways addiction can fracture your relationships. Thus, addiction can push you into social isolation and loneliness, which can continue into recovery. A sense of shame, guilt, and stigma can make it difficult to reach out for recovery support or seek to restore your close relationships. Thus, social isolation and loneliness can harm your physical and psychological well-being in recovery:

• Decreased motivation
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Hypertension
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Chronic illness
• Obesity
• Cognitive decline
• Relapse

The risk factors of social isolation and loneliness speak to the importance of meaningful social connection for health and well-being.

Dismantling Social Isolation and Loneliness at Driftwood Recovery

Social connection is an invaluable tool for sustained recovery and well-being. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes, social connection fosters a sense of belonging and strengthens your social bonds. Through mutually supportive social connection, you feel loved, cared for, and valued, which contributes to greater self-esteem and fulfillment in your life. 

At Driftwood Recovery, we are committed to giving you the space and tools to break the cycle with comprehensive alumni services. In our alumni program, you can find a vibrant sober community to build meaningful connections with peers and your loved ones. You can lead a courageous life in recovery with access to meetings, events, a family program, and an engaging alumni app.

Social isolation is often associated with negative health outcomes like anxiety and depression. However, balanced solitude can support relaxation, mindfulness, and self-understanding, and even strengthen relationships. Rather, persistent social isolation can contribute to physical and psychological distress. Social isolation and loneliness together can leave you feeling disconnected and unmotivated, and impede your recovery. The sense of shame and guilt coupled with stigma can increase self-isolation. Therefore, engaging in social connection is invaluable to reducing shame and guilt and increasing your self-esteem and motivation to maintain recovery. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing a comprehensive alumni program built on the power of connection. With connection-driven support, you can restore your sense of belonging. Call us at (512) 759-8330 today.

It’s not often discussed just how important patience and self-compassion are to the recovery process. Those recovering from addiction and other co-occurring mental health conditions must grapple with some serious truths. Their actions may have harmed people, maybe even their loved ones. They may have also caused harm to themselves. Mistakes were made and consequences were quick to follow. These truths can weigh down a person in recovery with feelings of guilt and shame. Left unaddressed, these feelings can fester and sabotage the healing process. 

Mental health care and addiction treatment facilities like Driftwood Recovery understand the importance of patience and self-compassion in the recovery process. Guilt and shame are natural feelings we feel when we have caused harm. However, you must be able to move on from these feelings so you can continue with life. Learning how to focus on the lessons learned from these experiences and not default to self-punishment is important.

Practicing the values of patience and self-compassion can be difficult, but it is possible with professional help.

What Is Patience and Self-Compassion?

Patience is the ability to endure challenging or undesirable circumstances without getting upset or angry. In addiction treatment and recovery, clients must not get angry at themselves for needing time to heal. Steps like detoxing and withdrawal management must be done carefully and cannot be rushed for the safety of the client. The value of patience allows you to accept professional help and stick with it until it is complete.

Self-compassion is being kind and forgiving to yourself during times of failure, suffering, and perceived inadequacy. If you can extend basic humanity to others, you can also do so to yourself. Life can be a struggle. There’s no reason to make it harder for yourself, regardless if you feel you deserve it or not. Being kinder to yourself allows you to be receptive of help and internalize inner feelings of courage and self-worth — all of which are needed for successful recovery.

Why Is Patience and Self-Compassion So Important?

These values are critical because they prevent people from falling into destructive behavioral and thought patterns. Self-punishment is perhaps the worst of them all as it encourages people to inflict harm on themselves to “make up” for past actions. Usually, these actions are accompanied by feelings of worthlessness, which can further negatively affect mental health. The problem with self-punishment is that it escalates. No matter how much you punish yourself, it will never feel like it’s enough. 

True accountability comes with patience and self-compassion. It’s normal to be hard on yourself after making a serious mistake. However, most people can eventually forgive themselves and move on. Being unable to do so stifles growth and prevents you from becoming the healthier and more experienced person you were meant to become. Practices like self-degradation keep these hard learned lessons from sticking, which invalidates the hardships you overcame.

As a human being, you deserve kindness and patience. Embracing these values ensures that you not only treat yourself better, but other people as well.

Utilizing Patience and Self-Compassion in Recovery

Learning how to be kinder to yourself is not a quick or easy process. It takes time to unlearn toxic behavioral and thought patterns that hold you back from recovery. To address this, Driftwood Recovery utilizes psychotherapies as a treatment method. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common psychotherapy used to help you recognize harmful patterns and make meaningful changes. 

Recovery also takes time — as it’s a journey, not a race. Every addiction, person, and life experience is different. Comparing your progress to others does nothing but make you feel bad. Instead, focus on taking your time so you can fully absorb what you learn and practice in treatment. Group therapy helps put recovery in perspective for many clients. Someone may seem like they have everything together, but they still may struggle internally. So don’t compare your progress with that of others. Instead, focus on making goals and achieving milestones, even if it takes a little more time than others. 

Practicing patience and self-compassion is a way to inspire hope within yourself during and after treatment. Recovery is not a straight line. There will be times when it seems like you’re going backward. However, the truth is that you are still moving forward as long as you are receptive to asking for and receiving help. 

Putting These Values Into Practice

As concepts, patience and self-compassion can be hard to internalize. It requires in some cases to create an entirely new mindset. However, they become more easily remembered by putting them into practice.

Giving back to the community is one way to utilize patience and self-compassion. Volunteer work is a favored activity for alumni at Driftwood Recovery because it reinforces these values in a more relaxed setting. Once you start to help other people, you realize that there isn’t much separating yourself from them. They deserve compassion and understanding, so why don’t you?

Surrounding yourself with a peer network and support group is another way to put patience and self-compassion into practice. Your loved ones are patient with you, and in time you can learn to be patient too. They love you, so surely there is something inside you worth being loved. Your friends and family can’t be wrong if they all love and care about you. 

Of course, it’s always okay to seek further help should you have difficulties, even if you finished treatment. At Driftwood Recovery, you aren’t only a client; you are also a member of our community and family. Be patient and loving to yourself by reaching out for help today. You deserve patience and self-compassion, no matter the addiction or mental health condition.

It’s hard to be kind to yourself during and after recovery. For many, they feel as though they need to suffer to “make up” for their actions. However, this is not a healthy mindset, and ends up causing more harm rather than healing. Part of recovery is learning healthy mindsets, which include the need to be kinder and more patient to oneself. Doing so facilitates the healing process and allows for lasting recovery. At Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients learn these valuable skills and more as part of our comprehensive addiction treatment program. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, don’t wait. Call Driftwood Recovery today at (512) 759-8330. 

Individuals with co-occurring disorders may require additional treatment or support services to address their symptoms and side effects. Healthcare professionals often benefit from providing personalized care to clients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other co-occurring mental health issues. The staff at Driftwood Recovery use comprehensive assessments and other tools to help clients with substance use disorder (SUD) and dual diagnosis.

Treating Clients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Clients with OCD may struggle to adhere to specific treatment guidelines. For example, time management may be difficult for some individuals with complex routines related to their disorder, making them more likely to miss appointments or fail to complete certain mandatory activities. In addition, clients with OCD often have more severe anxiety and may require accommodations to reduce stress and anxiety during treatment. 

Some of the challenges of treating clients with co-occurring OCD and SUD include: 

• Individuals who have used substances to manage symptoms of OCD may have a more challenging time separating addiction from compulsive behaviors 
• Clients with OCD often experience more severe anxiety during withdrawal 
• Individuals with OCD may find it challenging to distinguish cravings from OCD symptoms 
• People diagnosed with OCD often have rigid, black-and-white thinking and may struggle with the recovery process 
• Clients with OCD are more likely to experience anxiety related to prescription medications 
• SUD and OCD may both lead to self-isolating behaviors, making it more difficult for clients to engage in treatment 

Addiction and mental health experts must consider these factors when educating clients and creating treatment plans. Family involvement in the treatment process could reduce some of the barriers to treatment. Staff members at Driftwood Recovery collaborate with one another and clients to determine what factors may require additional treatment and support. Providing effective and appropriate client care often involves multiple treatment modalities or the support of outside resources. 

Diagnosing Co-Occurring OCD and Substance Use Disorder

Undiagnosed OCD can cause significant emotional distress and interfere with the treatment of alcohol or drug addiction. The initial intake interview involves taking a detailed medical and personal history to ensure that healthcare professionals make an accurate diagnosis. According to the Journal of Anxiety Disorders, “OCD symptoms often go undetected in individuals with SUDs.” Driftwood Recovery uses comprehensive assessments and screening tools to diagnose co-occurring disorders. 

Some clients may have multiple co-occurring conditions or severe symptoms of withdrawal that make it more difficult for clinicians to make an accurate diagnosis. The care team at Driftwood Recovery may conduct a second assessment after detox to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis and ensure clients receive the best care. Healthcare professionals must consistently monitor client treatment and adjust care plans to address any new symptoms or factors affecting mental health. 

The Connections Between Addiction and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Addiction and OCD have some overlapping risk factors and side effects. Clinicians benefit from educating clients on how these conditions interact. Simultaneous treatment may reduce the severity of symptoms for both disorders. 

A few of the known connections between OCD and SUD include: 

• Individuals with OCD may use alcohol or drugs to manage symptoms 
• Both disorders involve compulsive behaviors 
• Trauma caused by the side effects of substance abuse may lead to OCD 
• Both conditions share neurobiological pathways 

Clients with co-occurring OCD and SUD may have multiple factors connecting both conditions. Healthcare professionals must work with clients and families to determine how best to address the root causes of these disorders. Treating OCD and SUD together can reduce overall stress and speed the healing process. 

Addressing Both Conditions Simultaneously

Clients with co-occurring OCD and SUD may transition through multiple levels of care as they learn to effectively manage their condition. Healthcare professionals use a wide range of therapeutic modalities to address each client’s unique needs. Addressing both conditions simultaneously often has the best outcomes, and treatment for OCD frequently extends through aftercare. 

How Does Driftwood Recovery Address Co-Occurring Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

Staff members at Driftwood Recovery work together to provide clients with practical tools for managing symptoms of OCD during treatment. The integrative care and personalized treatment programs allow clients to heal at their own pace and receive individualized support. 

Symptoms and side effects of OCD vary significantly from person to person. In addition, the impact of SUD on mental health may fluctuate over time. Tailored care plans allow healthcare professionals to carefully monitor and adjust client treatment. Personalized rehabilitation programs support clients and ensure the services meet their needs and preferences. 

Experts Offer Personalized Care Plans

Personalized care plans improve treatment outcomes for individuals with co-occurring SUD and OCD by providing the following:

• Customized therapeutic techniques 
• Optimized medication management 
• Dual relapse prevention 
• Flexible scheduling and practical support 
• Client-centered treatment goals 
• Ongoing evaluation of progress 

Staff members at Driftwood Recovery use tailored treatment and aftercare planning to prepare clients with OCD for long-term sobriety.  

Clients with co-occurring SUD and OCD may struggle with different aspects of treatment. Intrusive thoughts are common and may interfere with a person’s ability to adhere to treatment expectations. Healthcare professionals improve treatment outcomes by taking a detailed client history and determining the best way to accommodate their needs during rehabilitation. Personalized care plans and tailored therapy sessions allow for greater adaptability and enable clients with OCD to manage their symptoms more effectively. Experts at Driftwood Recovery use a whole-person approach to client care to ensure individuals in treatment feel supported and valued. To learn more about how we treat individuals with OCD and other co-occurring conditions, call our office today at (512) 759-8330.

Addiction and mental health disorders are some of the most stigmatized conditions. The consequences of stigma often result in barriers to care and poor health outcomes. According to Cureus, stigmatization of mental illness can lead to poor help-seeking behavior, delayed diagnosis, discrimination, social isolation, and decreased quality of life. Stigma often stems from a lack of understanding and misinformation, contributing to fear and stereotyping. Therefore, access to psychoeducation in recovery is invaluable to dismantling self-stigma and social stigma for you and your loved ones.

At Driftwood Recovery, we understand that challenges like addiction, mental health, and chronic pain come with predispositions and assumptions. The complexities of stigma can disrupt treatment and recovery to build a courageous life in recovery. Thus, we are committed to guiding and supporting you with psychoeducation in recovery for whole-person healing post-treatment. With psychoeducation in recovery, you can expand your knowledge of evidence-based practices to grow and thrive across every stage of recovery.

Yet, what is psychoeducation? How can psychoeducation in recovery support sustained recovery?

What Is Psychoeducation?

According to Progress in Brain Research, psychoeducation is a therapeutic intervention designed to transfer knowledge about an illness and treatment to enable effective coping. Moreover, psychoeducation integrates emotional and motivational elements that empower you to take an active role in your treatment and recovery. Through psychoeducation in recovery, you are given tools to help you and your loved ones thoroughly understand your condition. The elements of psychoeducation that support knowledge, competence, insight, relapse prevention, and crisis management include:

• Staying informed and educated
  • Provides detailed information about your condition
  • Education of mental health disorders and substance use disorder (SUD)
  • Dismantles misconceptions about SUD and mental illness
  • Reduces stigma
• Skill building
  • Provides practical coping strategies to manage stress, cravings, and triggers
  • Enhances problem-solving skills
  • Improves interpersonal communication skills
  • Enhances decision-making skills
• Fostering emotional support
  • Development of emotional intelligence
  • Improves resilience
  • Fosters a safe space to share challenging emotions and experiences
  • Encourages a sense of belonging and connection with others
  • Reduces isolation and loneliness
• Empowerment through self-assertiveness
  • Encourages self-expression and setting healthy boundaries
  • Reestablishes a sense of control over yourself and your life
  • Guidance of realistic goal-setting
  • Increases goal achievement
  • Strengthens self-efficacy and self-advocacy 

Originally, psychoeducation was conceived in the 1980s to support individuals and their families dealing with schizophrenia. However, psychoeducation has evolved as an evidence-based intervention to support individuals and families with a variety of challenges, including addiction. Thus, there are a variety of different types of psychoeducation programs you can engage with to heal.

Types of Psychoeducation Programs

As the Indian Journal of Psychiatry notes, psychoeducation in recovery can vary based on the target population and program focus. Listed below are some of the different types of psychoeducation programs you can explore for your recovery:

• Active psychoeducation
  • Direct interaction with a clinician
  • Provides clarification in real-time
• Passive psychoeducation
  • You and your loved ones receive educational materials
    • Pamphlets
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Leaflets
  • Materials are designed with simple language for easy understanding and assimilation
• Individual psychoeducation
  • You work one-on-one with a clinician 
  • Individualized support
    • Specific concerns, needs, and symptoms
    • Information and services, relevant to your treatment and recovery
• Group psychoeducation
  • You participate in sessions with a small group with similar conditions
  • Group members learn from each other’s experiences in a supportive environment
    • Sharing insights
    • Fosters a sense of belonging
• Family psychoeducation
  • Can support a single family or multiple families in a group setting
    • Shares the same or similar conditions
  • You and your loved ones gain insight into your condition
  • Together, you learn more effective communication strategies and skills
  • Support relapse prevention
    • Improved recognition of early signs or relapse
• Condition-specific psychoeducation
  • Addresses the specific needs of an individual, family, or community based on the condition
    • Schizophrenia
    • Bipolar disorder (BP)
    • Anxiety disorders
    • Depression
    • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
    • Personality disorders
    • SUD
    • Co-occurring conditions
  • Condition-specific goal setting
• Model-driven psychoeducation
  • Informational: Focus on condition information and management
  • Skill training: Development of certain skills for more effective condition management
  • Supportive: Engages loved ones in sharing and exploring their feelings
  • Comprehensive: Combines informational, skill training, and supportive models

Whether the psychoeducation program is focused on compliance and adherence, condition, treatment, or rehabilitation, there is a program for you. The versatility of psychoeducation in recovery highlights its position as an invaluable tool for sustained recovery.

Value of Psychoeducation in Recovery

Psychoeducation in recovery can provide various benefits for growth as you learn how to live independently and reconnect to your family and community. Some of the benefits of psychoeducation in recovery include:

• Condition clarity 
• Greater awareness of support services
• Increased self-awareness
• Reduced shame and stigma
• Empowerment
• Trigger identification
• Adaptive coping skills
• Increased engagement and adherence
• Enhanced interpersonal relationships
• Improved treatment outcomes
• Relapse prevention

Access to family psychoeducation in recovery can be particularly valuable to healing the whole family.

Family Psychoeducation in Recovery

The knowledge and support that family psychoeducation can offer can be instrumental in treatment and recovery. As the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) states, family psychoeducation does more than provide information; it can reduce relapse, strengthen social support networks, and enhance the functioning and well-being of the entire family. Thus, supportive interpersonal relationships are a cornerstone for health and well-being across every domain of life.

Supporting Whole-Person Well-Being at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we know how important involving the family is for building a solid foundation for sustained recovery. The connections you make with loved ones and your peers are instrumental in restoring those connections with the self. Access to a mutually supportive network allows you and your loved ones to embrace each other in healthier ways. You and your loved ones deserve access to support that encourages and champions a courageous life in recovery. Therefore, we are dedicated to providing a comprehensive alumni program that cherishes connections for healing the whole of your parts.

Addiction and mental illness carry a significant stigma that can impede maintaining recovery. However, access to psychoeducation in recovery can support relapse prevention through the dissemination of information. Psychoeducation can enhance your knowledge of your condition, skill building, emotional support, and self-empowerment. Whether you engage in individual, group, or family psychoeducation, you can unlock tools to reduce shame and stigma, increase your interpersonal relationships, and improve engagement and adherence to treatment. Further, family psychoeducation can be invaluable to restoring those important connections with the self and others to heal the whole family. Thus, at Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing a vibrant holistic alumni program to support healing you and your loved ones. Call us at (512) 759-8330 today.

Developing bad habits is one of the pitfalls a person can face while in addiction recovery. This is especially true for people leaving a structured environment, such as residential treatment. Learning how to care for yourself during and post-treatment can be hard. However, anyone can learn and practice healthy habits. Mental health care and addiction treatment facilities such as Driftwood Recovery work to teach these skills. With enough time and practice, a bad habit can be prevented from taking root. 

What Are Bad Habits?

A habit can be considered good or bad depending on its effect on an individual. Even the most healthy of habits can turn dangerous if misused or uncontrolled. For example, exercise is important to have a healthy body. Over-exercising, however, can put you at risk for serious injury. As a result, a bad habit is defined as actions that cause a detrimental effect on your mental or physical health. These habits may also invoke feelings of guilt or shame in a person.

Examining some examples of common bad habits that can develop during recovery shows how easy a bad habit can take root — but also, how you can fix them. 

#1. Bad Habits That Ignore Healthy Routines

It takes a lot to keep a person healthy. They must eat nutritious food, rest, sleep, exercise, socialize, and stay clean. Some healthy habits are established early in life, such as brushing your teeth or taking a bath regularly. However, it’s easy to fall out of these habits, which neglects your health. Bad habits include examples such as isolating yourself, not sleeping regularly, or eating nothing but junk food. 

Those who engage in these habits are routinely tired and unwell, which can cause them to lose their mental resilience. This makes it harder to resist cravings or urges that can still happen even after addiction treatment is completed.

The best way to get back on track is to use alarms or reminder apps to help establish a new routine. Healthy food services exist to provide nutrition, even when you don’t have time to cook. Driftwood Recovery goes over the importance of nutrition and exercise, so it’s always okay to contact a staff member to help you get on track. It takes time, but establishing a healthy routine will eventually become second nature. 

#2. Rejecting Further Help Because You Feel ‘Cured’

It’s essential to understand that addiction and other mental health conditions can’t be cured. However, they can be managed well enough for someone to achieve recovery and function normally. Recovery is not a finish line, but a continuous journey that will last the rest of your life. Everyone, including you, will need help again at some point in your life. Even people who have never developed an addiction or mental health disorder can need help. Recovery means accepting this and being willing to utilize professional and familial/peer support to assist when needed. 

Assuming that you no longer need to be aware of your mental and physical health can lead to more problems than a decline in general health. Always be aware of your needs and establish a crisis plan with your provider before leaving treatment. 

#3. Bad Habits That Surround You With Negative Influences

Surrounding yourself with negativity can sharply decline your mental health. This can result from a lack of boundaries, or hanging around toxic people. It also comes from living in a chaotic or unclean environment. People-pleasers often fall into these bad habits because they have difficulty saying “no.” Being around these influences can trigger a relapse. 

That’s why Driftwood Recovery works with clients to teach them essential social skills. These include setting firm boundaries, resisting peer pressure, and finding self-worth in yourself. You don’t have to accept mistreatment from others. Free yourself and find healthier connections. You deserve to be treated well. 

#4. Substituting Addictions in Recovery

You’ve worked hard to overcome your addiction. Now care must be taken to ensure that you aren’t still engaging in the bad habit of self-medicating. Bad habits often form as a response to stress and other difficulties. You may be tempted to engage in certain behaviors, such as shopping or gambling, as a form of relaxation. Or you may use substances that you may consider less dangerous, such as nicotine, as a “safer” way to deal with stress. These habits can quickly become another addiction if left unchecked and can rapidly spiral out of control.

The best response is prevention. Clients at Driftwood Recovery learn techniques, such as stress management and self-care, to reduce the desire to self-medicate. If you feel as though your behaviors or substance use are getting out of hand, it’s vital to seek help immediately. 

#5. Being Too Hard on Yourself

Perhaps the most impactful bad habits are the ones that bring down your self-esteem. It’s common for people in recovery to be overly hard on themselves. Such feelings are especially entrenched if their actions harmed someone. The unresolved guilt and shame can drive someone to inflict increasingly dangerous levels of self-punishment or penance. These bad habits start as thoughts that you don’t “deserve” something nice because of your past actions. It can quickly turn into constant negative self-talk, lowered self-esteem, and denying yourself joy. 

Addictions are hard enough on an individual. Self-punishment does nothing but cause pain, because it will never feel enough to completely eradicate guilt and shame. Instead, make a habit of volunteering or giving back to the community. That way, you can make a positive difference in the world and find healing in yourself. Letting go of the guilt is hard, but possible for anyone with the right help. 

It’s easy to not be kind to yourself. Forming healthy habits is in of itself a form of self-care. So, don’t let bad habits sabotage your recovery. Be aware, lean on your support, and seek professional help to ensure lasting healthy recovery habits. 

Bad habits don’t just make life harder. They can also threaten recovery and trigger a relapse. Everyone in recovery needs to be aware of common bad habits around recovery and work to overcome them. At Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients use therapeutic techniques to identify harmful habits. Then, they can change these habits into healthy ones, ensuring that they have the skills they need to remain in recovery. Having access to a robust community of fellow alumni ensures that clients learn and practice healthy habits, ensuring lasting recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, don’t wait to get help. Call Driftwood Recovery today at (512) 759-8330.

In the past few decades, there has been a significant increase in older adults diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD). Individuals 65 and older often face unique challenges during treatment and continuing care. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to learn how to effectively treat clients of all ages, ensuring they receive the best care to meet their needs. 

Challenges of Treating Older Adults for Substance Abuse

Older adults may have difficulty navigating the treatment process, and some require additional forms of support. Healthcare professionals use comprehensive assessments and screening tools to determine what resources clients may benefit from during treatment and ongoing recovery. 

Some of the most common challenges of treating older individuals with SUD include: 

• Stigma and shame surrounding substance abuse or treatment
• Generational attitudes toward addiction and mental health 
• Chronic health conditions 
• Prescription medication management 
• Limited mobility or transportation issues 
• Social isolation and a lack of support systems
• Financial barriers to starting or maintaining treatment 
• Lack of age-specific programs 
• Co-occurring cognitive decline
• Greater vulnerability to severe withdrawal symptoms 
• Unhealthy family dynamics 

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Aging could possibly lead to social and physical changes that may increase vulnerability to substance misuse.” Treatment must address the underlying causes of the addictive behaviors to help older clients avoid falling back into maladaptive patterns of behavior after they complete treatment. 

Stigma and Misinformation

People often avoid activities that may cause others to think of them in a negative way. Societal expectations of what addiction or mental health disorders look like for older adults may make it harder for some people to accept the need for professional treatment. 

Some of the stigma and misinformation related to seniors with alcohol or drug addiction include: 

• Older adults may believe it is acceptable to abuse alcohol, prescription opioids, or other substances to address chronic pain 
• The belief that older adults are “set in their ways” and incapable of changing addictive behaviors 
• Misinformation about age-related memory issues and confusion may make it more difficult for individuals and families to recognize signs of substance abuse
• Addiction is often seen as less disruptive or problematic in retired individuals 
• Many people believe rehab programs are for “young people” and do not have the resources to effectively treat older adults
• Some people may believe alcohol or drug abuse is a normal way to cope with loneliness caused by social isolation 
• Older people may believe addiction is only experienced by younger age groups

Normalizing conversations about the realities of addiction and mental health with clients and families reduces stigma and misinformation. Healthcare professionals have an important role in educating communities and ensuring clients understand the risk factors associated with age. Family therapy, psychoeducation, and other support services provide clients and families with essential information about substance abuse and addiction recovery. 

Additional Barriers to Treatment for Older Adults

Seniors face additional barriers to starting and maintaining professional addiction treatment, including: 

• Heightened sense of guilt, embarrassment, or shame 
• Resistance to change 
• Coping with grief or loss during recovery 

Seniors also often take multiple prescription medications, making it difficult for them to benefit from medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and other services. Healthcare professionals educate individuals and families to help clients overcome barriers to treatment. 

How Does Driftwood Recovery Treat Older Adults?

The addiction and mental health experts at Driftwood Recovery use tailored care plans and family support to treat older adults with SUD or dual diagnosis. Clinicians understand that older adults may struggle to connect with the care team or have difficulty adhering to treatment expectations. Rehabilitation programs offer flexibility to ensure the care team can adapt to the needs of each client. 

Many resources are available to help healthcare professionals provide high-quality care to seniors. For example, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) “has a number of products for serving older adults with mental and substance use disorders that can be useful to clinicians, other service providers, older adults, and caregivers.” 

Becoming Familiar With the Needs of Seniors

Seniors have unique needs to ensure their continued mental, physical, and spiritual wellness during treatment for substance abuse or mental health disorders. Healthcare professionals support seniors by becoming familiar with their needs through assessments, one-on-one intersections, and collaboration with family members. 

Every client has different needs and life situations. However, healthcare workers can effectively support seniors in rehabilitation by doing the following:

• Personalizing treatment to the cognitive, physical, and emotional needs of seniors
• Addressing co-occurring conditions during treatment 
• Creating a safe and comfortable environment by adjusting lighting or noise levels and making other accommodations for sensory or mobility issues
• Using simple, direct language and written instructions to communicate clearly 
• Connecting seniors with peers 
• Educating families about the unique challenges of addiction and recovery for seniors
• Offering alternative holistic services to support spiritual and mental health 

Staff members at Driftwood Recovery ensure that older clients have access to essential and complimentary services to provide the best possible treatment outcomes. 

Seniors with substance use disorder often struggle to get the support they need due to multiple barriers to treatment. Stigma, lack of resources, age-related health issues, and other factors make it more difficult for older adults to participate in rehabilitation programs. Healthcare professionals make their programs more accessible to older adults by offering tailored treatment services addressing their unique needs. Family engagement is often an essential part of treatment for older adults to ensure they have support during continuing care. Driftwood Recovery treats seniors using personalized treatment plans and an integrative approach to care that ensures consistency. To learn more about our programs and facility, call us today at (512) 759-8330.

Traditional ideas of recovery and media representations often paint addiction treatment with a broad brush. As a result, sobriety is usually thought of as the abstinence of substances. However, detox and abstinence are only elements of your journey toward sustained recovery. Recovering from substance use disorder (SUD) and or co-occurring mental health disorders requires a whole-person approach to healing. Thus, understanding the impact of self-stigma is an important step towards maintaining your recovery.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know how important it is to find a meaningful role in life. Finding meaning and purpose is fundamental to believing in your capacity for change and growth. A sense of self can encourage self-compassion and motivation to continue to strive for wellness. However, challenges post-treatment with stressors like stigma can impede your well-being. Further, the impact of self-stigma can rob you of your confidence and hope. 

Therefore, understanding the impact of self-stigma can be invaluable to dismantling barriers to a courageous life in recovery. Yet, you may question how self-stigma can dismantle all the work you have done to heal. The impact of self-stigma alone does not lead to relapse but is a powerful obstacle that erodes your resilience. Thus, understanding the impact of self-stigma, further highlights the need to break down the assumptions about treatment and recovery that disrupt adaptive coping strategies. 

Assumptions About Treatment and Recovery

Many assumptions about addiction and mental health can cloud judgment on treatment and recovery. Some of the assumptions that can impede your well-being include:

• The loss of friends
  • Truth: Disconnecting from friends who still abuse substances is common
  • Those friendships were based on substance use
  • You learn how to build healthy and mutually supportive sober relationships 
• Constant boredom
  • Truth: Sobriety gives you the freedom to discover or rediscover sober passions
  • Finding sober activities and hobbies can foster joy and fulfillment
• Loss of identity
  • Truth: Sobriety can give you the tools to uncover your true identity
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is not real sobriety
  • Truth: MAT can help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings
  • Support relapse prevention
• No support post-treatment
  • Truth: A comprehensive and holistic approach to treatment supports continuing care resources
  • You can access alumni services and resources that support sustained recovery
    • Outpatient programs
    • Sober living
    • Stable housing resources
    • Education and employment resources
    • Counseling
    • Peer support groups
    • Family programs
    • Alumni meetings, events, and activities
• Relapse equals failure
  • Truth: Recovery is a dynamic process, filled with peaks and valleys
  • Much like other health challenges, addiction is a disorder that requires individualized trial and error
• Recovery equals cured
  • Truth: Recovery is a lifelong process of self-discovery and growth
  • Through recovery, you engage in the continuation of self-education, adaptive coping strategies, forming healthy habits, and social support 
• Seeking support is a weakness
  • Truth: It takes significant courage and bravery to recognize the need for support and to reach out for help

The assumptions associated with treatment and recovery are often unfounded myths that perpetuate stigma. Through the perpetuation of myths about addiction and mental health, stigma is left to fester and rot the sense of self. It is imperative to understand the role stigma plays in recovery.     

Understanding the Different Forms of Stigma

In general, stigma refers to the negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes people may hold about others. The negative attitude, prejudice, or false beliefs of stigma are often associated with specific traits, seen and unseen health symptoms, and sociocultural circumstances. Through stigma, discrimination occurs, which can increase challenges with others, laws and practices, and how you see yourself. Thus, stigma does not exist as a singular form; rather, there are many intersecting forms of stigma. As the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) notes, stigma can be broken into three categories: 

• Social stigma: negative stereotypes that members or perceived members of a group have socially undesirable characteristics
  • Built on misunderstandings, partial truths, and generalizations 
  • Leads to distancing and exclusion
• Structural stigma: discriminatory laws, policies, and practices that negatively impact specific individuals and groups
  • Built on explicit and implicit biases
  • Leads to unequal access to opportunities, resources, and services
    • Housing
    • Employment
    • Education
    • Healthcare
    • Criminalization
• Self-stigma: when members of a stigmatized group believe the negative beliefs and stereotypes about themselves
  • Built on the pervasive and persistent nature of social and structural stigma
  • Leads to shame, guilt, hopelessness, low self-esteem, and the avoidance of support

Further, the impact of self-stigma in particular can be profoundly detrimental to maintaining recovery.

The Impact of Self-Stigma on Recovery

Many different characteristics like race and ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and religion are stigmatized. Additionally, groups with physical disabilities, mental illness, and or SUD experience significant stigmatization. In particular, the impact of self-stigma erodes resilience to the challenges of SUD and or co-occurring mental illness. As noted in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, once you internalize negative stereotypes, you are open to physical and psychological harm:

• Self-esteem
• Self-worth
• Self-efficacy
• Health outcomes
• Quality of life
• Healthcare service use
• Increase self-isolation

Yet, how do you overcome the impact of self-stigma?

Dismantling the Impact of Self-Stigma

Stigma is a social injustice that harms countless lives. Although you cannot eradicate social and structural stigma alone, there are steps you can take to lessen the impact of self-stigma in your life. While everyone’s experiences and needs are unique, a strong support system can be invaluable to dismantling the impact of self-stigma. Connecting with your loved ones, peers, and community can support:

• Empowerment
• Self-worth
• Self-compassion
• Self-understanding
• Self-reliance 
• Independence
• Knowledge
• Adaptive coping
• Resilience
• Sense of belonging

Through activities and shared experiences, you can form a sense of community with others to thrive in recovery together.

Healing Connections: Overcoming the Impact of Self-Stigma at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we know how valuable a peer-driven approach can be for whole-person healing. With a strong alumni family, you can meet, manage, and overcome everyday and unexpected stressors. Moreover, through shared experiences, you are reminded that you are not alone or less than. You are loved, wanted, valued, and worthy of health, recovery, and happiness. 

Stigma contributes to myths about treatment and recovery for SUD and mental health disorders. Further, challenges with stigma can come from social stigma, structural stigma, and self-stigma. Each category of stigma can be detrimental, but the impact of self-stigma can be particularly harmful to recovery. Self-stigma can erode your self-esteem and self-worth and increase self-isolation. You become convinced that you are weak, a burden, and unworthy of healing. However, with support, you can rediscover your sense of belonging to thrive. Therefore, at Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to fostering a peer-driven alumni to heal through connections built from shared experiences and support. Call us at (512) 759-8330 to learn more today.