Fostering Active Recovery: What Does It Mean to Be In Recovery?

Substance use disorder (SUD) is often thought of as a chronic relapsing disorder. As stated in Addiction Relapse Prevention, approximately 50% of people relapse within the first 12 weeks. Despite the prevalence of SUD relapse, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) notes that 50.2 million U.S. adults consider themselves to be in recovery from SUD and/or mental health challenges. The prevalence of recovery from SUD can be tied to the guiding principles of holistic recovery found in active recovery. Thus, understanding active recovery can be invaluable to supporting healing and sustained recovery.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know recovery is a journey that continues long after you complete treatment. Your challenges with addiction are deeply interconnected to your life experiences and environment. Therefore, sustained recovery cannot happen without consideration for the whole person. Through active recovery, you can build the skills needed to address challenges in your daily life.

Yet, you may question what is active recovery. Expanding your understanding of recovery can provide insight into how connection with alumni can support maintaining recovery.

What Is Recovery?

Many traditional ideals of recovery are tied to complete abstinence with a focus on the elimination of all substances. Although abstinence is an important part of recovery, a holistic approach focuses on taking active steps toward healing the whole person. According to Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, before the abstinence focus of the Temperance Movement, there was an early harm reduction perspective that considered the body and mind. As SAMHSA notes, modern holistic models of care define recovery as a process of change. Holistic recovery is a process of change where you work to improve your health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach your full potential. 

Further, four dimensions support sustained recovery:

• Health
  • Overcoming or managing symptoms and or conditions
  • Abstaining from using substances
  • Making informed, healthy choices for physical and emotional well-being
• Home
  • Having a stable and safe place to live
• Purpose
  • Engaging in meaningful daily activities
    • Work, school, family, creative hobbies, and volunteering
  • Gaining the independence, income, and resources to participate in society
• Community
  • Finding support, hope, friendship, and love in your relationships and social network

The four dimensions of recovery highlight the holistic continuum of care as active recovery. Understanding the difference between passive and active recovery is an important step toward fostering active recovery.

Passive Recovery vs. Active Recovery

On the surface, the difference between passive and active recovery may feel obvious. However, in the day-to-day work of recovery, complacency can happen. You may not recognize that you are engaging in passive rather than active recovery. Passive recovery focuses more on waiting for things to happen to you. Listed below are some elements of passive recovery:

• Relying on external factors for change
• You do not reflect on your thoughts and feelings
• Doing rather than embodying the steps of recovery
• Believing you can recover on your own

Active recovery focuses on seeking out and engaging in support services with and without direct guidance. Some of the other elements that make up active recovery include:

• You accept that you need support and reach out for it
• Actively participating in meetings, therapy, and other recovery programming
  • Engaging in discussions and sharing experiences in meetings
  • Reaching out to your sponsor
• You commit to processing difficult thoughts and feelings

With awareness of active recovery, you can understand the principles of being an active participant in your recovery.

Understanding the Principles of Active Recovery

A holistic and active recovery is built on ten guiding principles that build skills that support every stage of recovery. Listed below are the ten guiding principles of active recovery:

• Hope: The belief that recovery is real and possible
  • You can and have overcome challenges and barriers
• Person-driven: The act of self-determination and self-direction
  • You define and help design the path(s) toward your life goals
• Multiple pathways: Acknowledges that each individual has unique and distinct needs, strengths, goals, culture, trauma, and experiences that impact pathways to recovery
• Holistic: Understands that recovery encompasses your whole life in mind, body, spirit, and community
• Peer support: Recognizes the value of sharing experiences, knowledge, and skills
• Social networks: Offers support, hope, belonging, and encouragement
• Culture-informed: Services are sensitive and personalized to your needs and experiences
• Trauma-informed: Informed and responsive services support and promote safety, trust, choice, empowerment, and collaboration
• Strengths and responsibility: Recognizes individuals, families, and communities have strengths and resources to support recovery
• Respect: Encourages community, systems, and societal acceptance and appreciation for people impacted by SUD and or mental health disorders

The ten guiding principles highlight the power of active recovery. Yet, how do you engage in active recovery in your daily life?

Ways to Engage in Active Recovery

There are numerous ways that an alumni program can support you in building sustained recovery:

• Volunteering in alumni programs and/or the wider community
• Exploring hobbies and activities you enjoy
  • Art, music, writing, reading, gardening, and cooking
  • Spending time with loved ones
  • Sports, hiking, and yoga
• Practicing gratitude and mindfulness
• Educating yourself about your SUD and/or mental health disorder
• Connecting with peers

Engaging in active recovery through your alumni program can support whole-person healing. You can deepen self-reflection and self-understanding through active recovery, set realistic goals, and build a support network. 

Supporting Sustained Recovery With Alumni at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we understand that true whole-person healing is rooted in connection to self and others. Without connection, you cannot fully address challenges with addiction, pain, and mental health disorders. An attachment model of care allows you to form healthy attachments in yourself and with others to turn clinical insight into action. You give yourself more space for learning, understanding, and growth through experiential sharing. Thus, access to services and resources that encourage connection to the self and others fosters engagement, support, compassion, and accountability for sustained recovery.

Engagement in recovery is an important part of the healing process. Without engagement, you can find yourself stuck in passive recovery, expecting change to happen to you. However, whole-person recovery requires active participation in the healing process. Engaging in a vibrant alumni program is invaluable to fostering active recovery for sustained recovery. Through a strong peer-driven network, alumni can offer the services and resources needed for connection with the self and others. Recovery is not done alone, and a strong alumni family gives you the foundation for support, compassion, engagement, and accountability to lead a courageous life in long-term recovery. Call Driftwood Recovery at (512) 759-8330 to learn how a dedicated alumni community can support you in your recovery.

Trigeminal neuralgia is widely considered one of the most distressing chronic pain conditions a person can develop. It’s a rare condition, affecting an estimated 4 to 13 per 100,000 people annually. Trigeminal neuralgia isn’t just the pain it causes. It’s also the conditions that occur because of it, such as depression, anxiety, addiction, and, in some cases, suicide. Those who struggle with trigeminal neuralgia often do so in silence, as chronic pain is considered an “invisible” condition. 

That’s why at Driftwood Recovery, we give a voice to those who struggle with chronic pain conditions. With a focus on comprehensive and quality care, clients don’t just find a way to take back control of their lives. They also find a community of those who understand and support them. There is hope, and anything is possible with the right help, including care for trigeminal neuralgia and its co-occurring conditions.

Understanding trigeminal neuralgia is the first step to spreading awareness about this condition and its treatment. The more we know, the easier it is to support our fellow people who live with these difficult and often misunderstood conditions.

What Is Trigeminal Neuralgia?

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve of the face. This is a large, three-part nerve that sends signals between the face and the brain. When this nerve is interrupted or damaged, it can cause intense pain in one or more parts of the face. Common pain spots include the cheek, jaw, teeth, gums, and lips. Sometimes, the forehead and eye may be affected as well. This condition is often classified as type 1 and type 2, depending on which side of the face and the type of pain that occurs.

The pain for type 1 trigeminal neuralgia is commonly described as feeling like an intense electric shock or jolt that occurs from simply touching the affected area. This pain usually occurs on one side of the face. Type 2 is marked by constant aching or burning pain that happens in addition to pain attacks, which can occur on one or both sides of the face. Either type makes it difficult to perform normal functions, such as eating, smiling, or shaving without intense pain. 

Trigeminal neuralgia often occurs in women or people over 50. However, this condition can develop at any time if a person experiences significant facial or cranial trauma. Stroke, facial injuries, brain tumors, nerve blockages/obstructions, and surgical trauma are all common causes of trigeminal neuralgia. People with hypertension or multiple sclerosis are also at risk for developing trigeminal neuralgia. The link is common enough that upon the development of trigeminal neuralgia, multiple sclerosis testing is recommended. 

Pain experienced from trigeminal neuralgia can fluctuate or increase in intensity over time. This leaves those who struggle with this condition with the fear of it getting worse.

The Mental Toll of Trigeminal Neuralgia

As a chronic pain condition, trigeminal neuralgia can have a devastating toll on an individual’s mental health. Conditions such as depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and sleep disorder increased upon the diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia. Individuals are often driven to find ways to self-medicate their pain, no matter how dangerous the behavior. Substance abuse, especially pain medications, such as opioids, are commonly abused by those with a chronic pain condition. 

Chronic pain conditions are also marked as particularly isolating. It’s known as an “invisible” illness, with many people being dismissed or ignored because they don’t look like they are in pain. Being unable to perform normal functions as a person, such as washing your face, can add to the frustration and loneliness of this condition. Without help, it’s easy to slide into an addiction or, in extreme cases, think about ending your life. It’s why it’s vital for those with trigeminal neuralgia to not just get treatment, but find hope and support. 

Finding Hope at Driftwood Recovery

Though it is a chronic condition, trigeminal neuralgia and any co-occurring mental health disorders can be treated and managed. The staff at Driftwood Recovery is well aware of the toll this and other chronic pain conditions have on a person’s physical and mental health. Rather than sell a cure that doesn’t exist, Driftwood Recovery focuses on reliving pain safely and bolstering mental resilience. In time, clients can find joy and reasons to embrace life again.

This is accomplished by creating an individualized comprehensive treatment plan that combines therapy, wellness, and medication. To treat trigeminal neuralgia specifically, clients are prescribed medications such as anticonvulsants to block pain signals and reduce the frequency of attacks. If this does not work, other medications can be tried to provide relief. Combined with medications are complementary approaches that may also help manage pain, such as:

• Nutritional therapy
• Meditation
• Low-impact exercise
• Aromatherapy
• Yoga

Clients at Driftwood Recovery utilize psychotherapy as part of treatment, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). These therapies are designed to help clients recognize harmful thought and behavior patterns and change them. This involves learning healthy coping skills, practicing mental wellness, and building mental resilience. Group and family therapy gives clients a safe space to have their voices heard and receive support in return. 

In some cases, surgery can relieve the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. Side effects are common after these procedures, such as facial numbness, and symptoms can return even if the procedure is successful. Though surgeries are not performed at Driftwood Recovery, psychotherapies can help clients prepare for the emotional and physical toll of surgery should the client choose a surgical approach. No matter what, clients can trust that they will receive the most accurate, comprehensive, and compassionate treatment available. Though it may not seem like it now, there is always hope that your life will get better, and it can get better at Driftwood Recovery.

There are many kinds of chronic pain that a person may develop throughout their life. One of them is known as trigeminal neuralgia, a condition that makes touch to the face painful. Such a condition isn’t just painful; it can also cause other mental health disorders, such as anxiety and addiction. Despite this, there is hope for those who struggle with trigeminal neuralgia. Treatments exist not just to reduce physical pain but to relieve mental anguish as well. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients everywhere can find relief from their chronic pain and develop a healthier mindset. To learn how Driftwood Recovery can help you, call (512) 759-8330 today.

Individuals in rehabilitation for substance use disorder (SUD) or dual diagnosis have a greater likelihood of experiencing trauma triggers, including triggers specific to clinical settings. Many clients participate in multiple programs, and some may have previously had negative interactions with medical professionals. A history of trauma can cause some clients to feel uncomfortable trusting their care team. Healthcare workers build trust by creating a welcoming environment that keeps clients focused on the present. Grounding techniques are an excellent tool for helping clients manage trigger responses during clinical interactions. 

What Are Grounding Techniques?

People use grounding techniques and exercises to strengthen the mind-body connection and increase self-awareness. Studies have shown that “[g]rounding techniques are important skills for assessors and all other behavioral health service providers who interact with traumatized clients (e.g., nurses, security, administrators, clinicians).” Grounding techniques can be used during everyday interactions to reduce stress, improve communication, and keep clients engaged in their treatment. 

Simple Grounding Techniques Healthcare Professionals Use During Everyday Interactions

Everyone has different methods for communicating with coworkers and clients. Healthcare professionals can improve their communication skills, allowing them to build more effective relationships. Using grounding techniques during treatment sessions can also help clients experience better outcomes. Therapists and other healthcare professionals model healthy coping skills and guide clients through learning to use those skills to manage triggers.

Some examples of simple grounding techniques healthcare professionals use in everyday interactions include: 

• Encouraging clients to take slow, deep breaths if they appear nervous or anxious
• Physically grounding clients by encouraging them to touch surfaces or objects (e.g., offering an anxious client a stress ball)
• Increasing body awareness by asking clients to focus on sensations in their body (e.g., asking clients to connect physical sensations such as tension with emotions like anxiety)
• Mindful movement by guiding clients through simple movements (e.g., brief stretching exercises) 
• Asking clients to engage in simple tasks to improve focus and engagement 

Grounding techniques can facilitate more effective client communication by helping clients stay in the moment. The type of client-clinician interaction will determine which grounding exercises may provide the best results. For example, if a client begins to panic, a physical therapist may encourage stretching, while a psychotherapist may suggest slow, deep breaths. 

How Do Grounding Techniques Decrease the Impact of Triggers?

Grounding techniques are often used to help clients successfully manage triggers and mental health symptoms related to trauma or stress. Focusing on actions, sensations, or objects in the present allows clients to remain in control of their emotional and physiological reactions to trauma triggers. 

Every person is unique, and not all coping techniques will work for everyone. Healthcare professionals should practice mindfulness in how they approach grounding techniques. For example, touching a client’s shoulder to ground them may backfire if the client is averse to touch due to severe trauma. Familiarity with client preferences and their medical history ensures that healthcare workers introduce effective and appropriate coping skills in treatment sessions. 

Benefits of Using Grounding Techniques in Treatment

Some of the primary benefits of using grounding exercises in treatment include: 

• Familiarizing clients with helpful coping techniques 
• Reducing overall anxiety and stress 
• Improving emotion and mood regulation
• Interrupting cycles within a trauma response by preventing escalation 
• Building trust with clients by helping them overcome trauma triggers
• Supporting trauma recovery through practical coping skills

Clients may feel more confident in themselves and their ability to manage triggers if they learn effective coping methods. Driftwood Recovery ensures staff have the necessary training and skills to help clients manage trauma triggers and other challenges during treatment. 

The Importance of Providing Comfort and De-Escalating Tension During Appointments

Some clients feel overwhelmed or tense during clinical appointments. Staff members may use grounding techniques, such as distracting clients or offering new coping tools, to help them manage their emotional or physical reactions to triggers. If the situation causes a trauma response, the client may find it challenging to move forward with the appointments. Identifying and addressing the cause of the trigger can de-escalate the situation and refocus the client. De-escalation skills and clear communication reduce anxiety and stress. 

Driftwood Recovery Teaches Clients Effective Coping Skills

Clients benefit from learning practical grounding exercises and other skills that reduce the side effects of trauma triggers. Healthcare professionals play an essential role in teaching and reinforcing positive coping skills. 

Clinicians teach clients to successfully manage their reactions to triggers using various treatment services, including: 

• Individual and group therapy
• Mindfulness-based therapies 
• Holistic therapies, including guided meditation 

Driftwood Recovery offers tailored treatment plans to clients struggling with SUD or dual diagnosis. Healthcare professionals collaborate closely with clients and their families to reduce the negative impact of trauma triggers during rehabilitation. The goal of treatment is to prepare clients to reintegrate back into the community. Healthcare professionals do this by ensuring clients have the necessary coping skills to manage their condition after transitioning out of treatment. Grounding techniques give clients greater confidence in their ability to maintain sobriety and overcome trauma triggers.

Trauma responses can happen at any time. Individuals feeling anxious or stressed often have more profound reactions to triggers. Therapy sessions and other treatment services may cause some clients with a history of trauma to feel on edge. Triggers can significantly interfere with treatment by affecting client focus. Healthcare professionals offer clients emotional and practical support. Grounding techniques are an excellent tool for helping clients cope with the effects of trauma triggers during clinical interactions. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to use grounding techniques and other therapeutic tools to create a more comfortable and safe space for clients. To learn more about our trauma therapy services, call our office today at (512) 759-8330.

Healthcare professionals build trust with clients to create a positive treatment experience. An open line of communication ensures clients receive appropriate care and access the best treatments to meet their needs. Active listening and other communication skills allow healthcare professionals to develop healthier relationships with clients and coworkers, facilitating better treatment outcomes. The experts at Driftwood Recovery use effective communication to guide clients through the recovery process. 

What Is Active Listening?

Active listening is an essential part of interpersonal communication. According to Social Neuroscience, “[A]ctive listening is an influential behavior, which can affect the social responses of others.” In addition, “Perceiving active listening behavior in a partner can facilitate a positive interaction.” Active listening requires empathy and a lack of judgment. People often mirror the other person through behavior or verbal patterns to show they have heard what has been said. 

A few ways professionals practice active listening during everyday client interactions include: 

• Mirroring nonverbal cues
• Maintaining eye contact
• Paraphrasing and summarizing 
• Asking open-ended questions 
• Offering verbal acknowledgement
• Not interrupting the other speaker
• Asking for clarification 

Healthcare professionals collaborate with clients to create care plans and implement treatments. Empathetic and active listening is essential to keep clients at ease. Active listening involves showing the other person they have been heard through various methods, including body language, summarizing key points of the conversation, and mirroring phrases or words used by the other person. 

Creating an Honest and Clear Line of Communication

Honest communication fosters trust and helps clients feel more comfortable discussing concerns or asking questions. Transparency creates a healthy foundation for honest communication. Some clients may have a history of negative experiences with healthcare professionals, making them hesitant to speak up. Maybe their concerns were ignored, or they were made to feel like less than the other person. Driftwood Recovery aims to help these individuals build healthier relationships with medical professionals by providing clients with a welcoming environment and compassionate professionals. 

Some of the ways healthcare professionals develop empathetic and honest communication with clients include: 

• Using simple language instead of medical jargon 
• Sharing information openly 
• Being culturally sensitive and respectful 
• Keeping clients informed with consistent updates 
• Setting clear and realistic expectations 
• Using visual or written aids to help clients better understand complex medical topics
• Respecting client confidentiality and privacy 

Clients rely on healthcare professionals to lead by example. Healthcare professionals have an obligation to model healthy patterns of communication with clients. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to build client relationships through active listening and a compassionate approach to care. 

Clients may have never been able to develop healthy communication skills. Often, part of treatment for substance abuse or mental health disorders involves building up these skills. Clinicians and support staff play an essential role in helping clients learn to communicate more effectively. 

Building Relationships With Active Listening

Developing trusting relationships with clients requires active listening. Healthcare professionals at Driftwood Recovery are trained to resolve conflicts, de-escalate situations, and ease client concerns by educating clients and providing them with healthier ways to express their needs. By practicing honest and transparent communication, healthcare workers create an environment that fosters trust and respect. 

Client trust is essential because it does the following: 

• Facilitates more productive interactions 
• Promotes honesty and openness 
• Enhances treatment outcomes 
• Reduces anxiety 
• Builds long-term relationships 
• Encourages healthy vulnerability 
• Strengthens rapport between staff and clients
• Empowers clients to make healthier choices
• Reduces miscommunication 

Building relationships with clients involves recognizing their needs and finding ways to meet them where they are today. Active listening allows professionals to better understand their clients and provide more effective care. 

How Driftwood Recovery Encourages Active Listening

Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to create healthy relationships with clients and coworkers through active listening. Active listening involves showing the other person that their time and opinions matter. Many clients feel safer and more comfortable under the care of professionals who listen to and act on their feedback. Healthcare professionals can take constructive feedback and adjust client treatment plans to accommodate the new information.

Individuals in treatment for substance abuse or mental health disorders may have a history of negative interactions with authority figures. Building trust can take time. Consistently showing interest in their thoughts and feelings while actively listening can show clients that their voice matters. Effective listening leads to action. Being attentive during a conversation is meaningless unless real action is taken to implement feedback and provide solutions to problems. Clients feel heard and valued when their care team actively listens and uses the information they provide to address issues or acknowledge their opinions. 

Regular Daily Check-Ins With Staff

Communicating effectively with coworkers reduces miscommunication and decreases unnecessary stress in the workplace. Professionals should be able to rely on one another to listen attentively and provide appropriate support throughout the workday. According to Frontiers in Psychology, “Listening has been identified as a key workplace skill, important for ensuring high-quality communication, building relationships, and motivating employees.” Healthcare professionals provide better client care when they can rely on their coworkers for support.

Communication is key to developing a deep and honest connection with clients. Healthcare professionals create a welcoming and comfortable environment where clients feel safe and heard. Active listening is one of the most critical tools for healthy communication. Showing a genuine interest in what clients have to say and expressing a desire to further understand can set clients at ease and create a more positive dynamic between clients and clinicians. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to use active listening and other communication skills to develop better client relationships, facilitating a more positive treatment experience. To learn more about our programs and how we provide client support, call us today at (512) 759-8330.

According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), in the U.S. alone, 1.29 million experience homelessness. The prevalence of homelessness on its own opens the door to multiple physical and psychological risk factors. Furthermore, being unhoused shares an intersecting relationship with other challenges with substance use and mental health disorders. Thus, recovery housing can play an important role in the development of substance use disorder (SUD) and sustaining recovery. 

At Driftwood Recovery, we recognize how important recovery housing is to community integration and, thus, sustained recovery. With community integration, you can foster psychological well-being and build a meaningful life without substances. Through a vibrant alumni program, you can find the support needed to build life skills for resilience to life stressors. Additionally, recovery housing provides a foundation and jumping-off point for rebuilding other parts of life and maintaining recovery. Supporting work and school opportunities, restoring relationships with loved ones, and more are made possible with recovery housing.

Understanding the relationship between homelessness and poor health outcomes is the first step to addressing barriers. With greater insight, you can dismantle barriers to recovery housing and maintaining recovery.

Understanding the Intersection of Homelessness and Health Outcomes

Homelessness and unhoused individuals often bear the burden of stigma built on myths about homelessness. Listed below, as the USICH notes, are some of the myths and facts about people experiencing homelessness:

• Myth: People would not be unhoused if they had a job
• Fact: Employment can help with housing, but 40%-60% of unhoused individuals have a job
  • A majority of housing is unaffordable as housing prices rise, but wages remain low
  • There are fewer affordable housing options compared to those with low-income
• Myth: Homelessness is a choice
• Fact: Homelessness is typically tied to economic difficulties like low income, job loss, and the rising cost of living
  • Discriminatory practices and policies also contribute to unhousing
    • Disabilities
    • LGBTQIA+ 
    • Couples 
    • People with children
    • Criminal records
    • SUD
• Myth: Homelessness is caused by SUD and or other mental health disorders
• Fact: Some people with a severe mental illness (SMI) and or SUD are at risk for homelessness
  • According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 21% of  individuals experiencing homelessness have an SMI and 16% have SUD
  • Many individuals with SMI and or SUD do not experience homelessness
  • A majority of unhoused individuals do not have a mental health disorder or SUD

Although complex and often intersecting, homelessness is not a direct cause of SUD and other mental health disorders. Rather, as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) states, homelessness and health are interrelated. Many factors, such as disabilities and medical challenges, can lead to job loss, economic hardship, and homelessness. Understanding the interrelated relationship between homelessness and health can provide more insight into addressing and supporting long-term recovery housing solutions.

Relationship Between Homelessness and SUD

Being unhoused can increase your exposure to and risk for trauma like sexual assault and robbery. There is a high co-occurrence between trauma and SUD and or other mental health disorders. The distress of trauma can impede your ability to effectively cope with life stress which impairs your psychological well-being. Therefore, you are more likely to engage in maladaptive coping strategies like self-medicating to suppress your distress. Thus, there is often a significant intersecting relationship between homelessness and SUD. 

Yet, many people with SUD and or SMI face barriers to treatment and recovery housing to support sustained recovery. You have overcome countless barriers to enter and go through treatment, and your work should not be hindered by unstable housing.

Addressing Recovery Housing Barriers to Recovery

Finding affordable housing can present a host of barriers to people regardless of SUD or SMI. Some common barriers to affordable housing include long wait lists, scarce housing options, housing that meets your specific needs, and meeting housing criteria. Further, SUD presents additional barriers to recovery and recovery housing. For example, individuals with SUD and or SMI may experience barriers like:

• A lack of integrated systems
  • Traditionally, housing services are under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
    • Individuals receiving housing services may not have access to ongoing supportive services
  • Whereas SUD and mental health services are under the SAMHSA
    • Individuals with SUD and or SMI may not qualify for some housing support services

However, with an alumni program, you can access services and resources to address your specific needs for recovery housing.

The Benefit of Different Recovery Housing Levels

As the SAMHSA notes, an adequate continuum of care can provide various services and housing types. The type or level of recovery housing is important for addressing your needs, like gender-specific housing and family housing. Listed below are the benefits of different kinds of recovery housing:

• Halfway houses
  • Reintegration and relapse prevention
  • Support applying for government assistance programs
• Oxford homes
  • Long-term recovery through interdependence and accountability
  • Smaller groups
  • Cost-effective
• Transitional living house
  • Transition from temporary to permanent housing
  • Support specific groups
    • LGBTQIA+
    • Racial/ethnic minorities
    • Religious minorities
  • Flexibility in finding housing for your specific needs
    • Proximity to work, school, and family
  • Access to other support resources
    • Skill building
    • Work training

A holistic continuum of support understands that each individual’s experiences and needs are unique. 

Fostering Sustained Recovery With Recovery Housing at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we believe a strong and vibrant alumni program is instrumental to reintegrating into everyday life. Through an active alumni program, you can access services and resources like recovery housing to support building a courageous life in long-term recovery. Recovery housing is a fundamental part of the recovery process as it gives you the foundation to rebuild a new life without substances. You can feel integrated as a productive member of society through recovery housing. As a result, you foster a sense of belonging that helps you build an adaptive approach to recovery and build or restore connections with others. 

Stigma contributes to the belief that SUD and/or mental health disorders cause homelessness. However, challenges with homelessness, SUD, and other mental health disorders are often interrelated rather than a direct cause. The stressors of homelessness increase your risk for trauma, which can lead to self-medicating to cope with your distress. Thus, access to a continuum of care is vital for addressing interrelated challenges in treatment and recovery. With a vibrant alumni program, you can access resources like recovery housing to support your specific needs for sustained recovery. Alumni can support you whether you need support reintegrating into life after treatment or accommodations that meet your life needs, like gender-specific and family housing. Call Driftwood Recovery at (512) 759-8330 today.

Not many people truly understand what happens in schizophrenia treatment. Much like the condition itself, it seems mysterious to an average person. Most people instead get an inaccurate depiction of schizophrenia from media sources, which further compounds the fear and shame that many with the condition feel. It’s estimated that between 0.25% and 0.64% of the U.S. population have schizophrenia and other related psychotic disorders. However, this number only accounts for those who have sought schizophrenia treatment. The actual number is likely much higher, as many don’t seek schizophrenia treatment due to societal stigma and internalized shame. 

This treatment is vital, as untreated schizophrenia can lead to or co-occur with other conditions, such as addiction. Those struggling with schizophrenia are more likely to attempt or die by suicide, especially those without diagnosis or treatment. That’s why at Driftwood Recovery, clients with this condition can find comprehensive and compassionate schizophrenia treatment. With a focus on providing an encouraging and private environment to heal, anyone can learn how to manage their condition for a successful life.

Part of schizophrenia treatment is understanding what the condition is, its myths, and why treatment is so effective. The more people are aware of the truth of schizophrenia, the less fear and stigma are attached to it – and the greater the likelihood that a person in need will seek help.

What Is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric condition that interferes with a person’s ability to think, feel, and behave clearly. Though schizophrenia used to be classified into different types, it is now considered a spectrum disorder with varied symptoms a person can experience. Some common symptoms can include:

• Hallucinations 
• Disorganized speech and thinking
• Delusions 
• Disorganized or unusual motor behavior
• Lack of normal functioning, such as being unable to display emotions, take care of hygiene needs, or feel pleasure in once enjoyable activities when they previously could in the past

Though research is still ongoing on what causes schizophrenia, several risk factors have been identified. A person is more likely to develop schizophrenia if they:

• Have a family history of schizophrenia 
• Grew up in or is still in an environment that causes consistent stress or danger
• Have taken psychoactive or psychotropic substances as teenagers, which may have altered the brain as it was developing 
• Been exposed to environments that may have affected early fetal and infant brain development; examples include being exposed to viruses, toxins, and poor nutrition before or after birth

Schizophrenia usually develops late in life, from the late teen years to the early 30s. Men typically show symptoms between their teen years and their 20s, while women tend to show symptoms in their 20s and 30s. Though considered a life-long condition, it can be managed with the right schizophrenia treatment.

Myths and Facts Surrounding Schizophrenia Treatment

Perhaps the greatest and most damaging myth behind schizophrenia is that those with the condition are dangerous to others. The truth is that those with schizophrenia are more likely to inadvertently harm themselves due to their condition than they are to hurt another person. Seeking treatment is vital in preventing self-harm, but many with schizophrenia are reluctant to seek help.

This is due to another dangerous myth that people with schizophrenia are locked up during treatment and lose their rights. The truth is that people with any mental health condition still have human rights regardless of the severity of their condition. Modern treatment facilities are not prisons, and clients can expect to be treated with compassion, understanding, and respect.

Lastly, it’s a myth that those with schizophrenia are “drugged up” during treatment. Though medication is important in the treatment and management of schizophrenia, clients receive other forms of treatment alongside it. Clients are not “drugged up” and instead receive a carefully crafted medication plan to give them the most relief with the lowest medication dose possible.

To get an accurate picture of schizophrenia treatment, we only need to see how a treatment facility like Driftwood Recovery treats this condition.

Schizophrenia Treatment at Driftwood Recovery

Driftwood Recovery is a comprehensive, holistic, focused treatment center. This means that clients receive treatment that enhances all aspects of their lives, which includes physical, mental, and spiritual health. In the case of schizophrenia and any co-occurring conditions, care is taken to ensure that each client gets the training and assistance they need to continuously manage their condition.

This is done with a combination of medication, psychotherapy, skill training, family therapy, and community support. Antipsychotic medicines are carefully prescribed to work with the lowest dose needed to prevent side effects. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is used to help clients cope with their condition and change unhealthy behaviors that exacerbate symptoms. Clients are encouraged to improve their physical health through exercise and a nutritionally varied diet. Finally, clients work with their loved ones and fellow peers to establish a support network. Having access to a support network doesn’t just produce understanding companionship; it has also been shown to reduce the chance of relapse. 

Clients during the schizophrenia treatment process focus on recognizing episodes and how to mitigate them. Though treatment can greatly reduce the frequency of episodes, they can still happen. Knowing what to do in a crisis and who to contact for help prevents future harm and allows one to receive help quickly. 

Clients at Driftwood Recovery don’t just get treatment. They become part of a supportive community that will always be there when times get hard. For those with schizophrenia, it can be hard to find positives in life. But here, everyone learns that no matter what condition they have, they still have inherent value as an individual. Seeing that you are more than your schizophrenia and finding value in your own life allows those with the condition to not just stabilize but thrive.

Though schizophrenia can be a frightening condition, it doesn’t mean that those who struggle with it can’t be helped. On the contrary, schizophrenia is a treatable condition and can be managed successfully. With the right treatment, anyone with schizophrenia can lead a normal and fulfilling life. That’s why at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, those struggling with schizophrenia receive comprehensive and holistic treatment to aid them in recovery. With an emphasis on privacy and safety, our clients find an ideal place to heal and become healthier people. By learning how to accept yourself and make healthy changes, you, too, can find joy again. If you or a loved one is struggling, don’t wait. Call (512) 759-8330 today.

According to Frontiers in Psychology, between 30–75% of the world’s population are introverts. Yet, pop culture presents stereotypes about introverts and extroverts that influence how you see yourself and others. Often, extroverts are glorified as the ideal personality type, while introverts are shown as awkward loners. Thus, perceptions of introverts and your preference for low-stimulation environments can lead you to question how alumni could benefit you. Being an introvert does not mean you dislike social engagement because the value of connection is innately human. 

At Driftwood Recovery, we know fostering connections with a community of peers is an invaluable cornerstone for sustained recovery. The value of connection in alumni gives you a community of peers who can provide compassion, understanding, accountability, and guidance. Through our commitment to connection, you are given the tools and resources needed to thrive in recovery. The value of connection in our sober community can be a source of support for introverts and extroverts alike. 

However, you may question how alumni can provide the value of connection for you. Dismantling misconceptions about introverts can provide insight into the value of connection and be a valuable first step toward building community among alumni. 

Difference Between Introverts and Social Anxiety

As noted in the Journal of Personality, introversion-extraversion has traditionally been presented as personality traits in opposition to each other. Further, introversion is often reduced to what is perceived as lacking assertiveness, impulsivity, sociability, and social warmth. Yet, in reality, introverts are not adverse to social connection. Rather, introverts tend to prefer stimulation through social engagement in small doses and often need time to process and recharge. The tendency to withdraw and preference for alone time contribute to misconceptions that introversion and social anxiety are the same. 

Listed below are some of the ways to tell the difference between being an introvert and having social anxiety:

• Introversion
  • A personality trait
  • Gets energy from within
  • Needs time to recharge
  • Prefer solo activities, familiar places, or spending time with people they know well
• Social anxiety
  • A mental health disorder
  • Feels significant nervousness, worry, and fear in social situations or thinking about social situations
  • Experiences a deep fear of rejection and or judgment 
  • Engage in avoidance of social interaction and situations out of fear

Although an introverted person can have social anxiety, they are not synonymous with each other. Being an introvert is less about social anxiety and more about the amount of social energy you have. Yet, how can you find value in connection when social environments deplete you? 

The Value of Connection for Introverts in Recovery

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social connection can have a significant impact on psychological and physical well-being. Moreover, through social connection, you find a sense of belonging, and you feel loved, cared for, and valued. Yet, many are under the impression that social connectedness is not important to introverts. However, as Health Psychology Open notes, the need for social support, social inclusion, and a sense of belonging is a universal human need. Even introverts can benefit from social engagement and support:

• Adaptive coping
• Increased self-esteem
• Greater happiness from deep conversations
• More satisfaction after spending more time with others

Despite knowing the value of connection and enjoying connection, being overstimulated by social environments can present barriers to recovery.

Introverts in Recovery: Addressing Barriers to Healing

The value of connection is deeply integrated into addiction treatment and recovery. Whether it is group therapy, 12-Step programs, or an alumni program, connection is an important component of healing. Yet, if you do not derive your energy from socialization, the social aspect of recovery can make participating in alumni feel impossible. Some of the barriers introverts experience in recovery include:

• The need to be active in meetings
• Sharing your thoughts and feelings
• Spending time getting to know other people in the community

Social barriers in recovery can make it difficult to fully engage in recovery, make sober friends, and build a support network. However, being an introvert does not mean you cannot build a strong network to support you in your recovery journey. Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all process, and thus, it must be molded to match your specific needs. 

Ways to Find the Value of Connection for Introverts

With a strong and vibrant alumni program, you can find the value of connection that best fits you and your needs. Listed below are some of the ways you can tailor the social aspect of recovery to your life in an alumni program:

• Lean into building close relationships with a small number of people
  • Connect with your sponsor or a peer mentor 
• Engage in more one-on-one conversations
• Sit with someone you trust during meetings
• Connect with other introverts in your sober community
• Utilize digital recovery resources
  • Online meetings
  • Recovery apps for support and connection through sharing milestones and encouragement
• Know your limits by setting aside time to recover from social interaction

Furthermore, with support, you can find connections and build the recovery life that best suits you.

Fostering the Value of Connection in Alumni at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we recognize that treatment and recovery must come from a full continuum of care. Through a full continuum of care, you can customize your recovery to meet your specific needs. In our alumni program, we provide access to a variety of support services and resources to help you build a meaningful sober network whether you are an introvert or not. 

You can participate in events and activities that are enjoyable for you, such as milestone dinners and renewal retreats. Moreover, our recovery app also gives you the space to connect with and share with others at a pace that is comfortable for you. Whether you are an introvert or not, we can provide an active and flexible alumni program where every alum can thrive.

Pop culture representations of introverts have contributed to misconceptions about introversion as a negative trait and synonymous with social anxiety. Thus, there is an assumption that the social aspect of recovery creates barriers to sustained recovery for introverts. However, introverts can still engage in the value of connection with alumni with tailored support. Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all process; thus, with an individualized approach, you can be an active participant in alumni for yourself and sober peers. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing a wide variety of optional events and activities you can engage in and a recovery app that gives you the space to build connections at your own pace. Call us at (512) 759-8330 today.

Healthcare professionals recovering from alcohol or drug abuse may experience more severe symptoms during the holidays. The additional stress and holiday triggers may cause staff in recovery to experience complications and setbacks. However, there are steps professionals can take to protect their sobriety and mental health. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to reach out to supervisors if they need additional recovery support during busier times of the year, including the holidays. Taking steps to avoid triggers and receiving additional support from employers and loved ones reduces the impact of the holidays on people’s healing journey. 

Why Do the Holidays Increase the Risk of Relapse for Healthcare Workers in Recovery?

The holidays sometimes come with added stress, including unrealistic expectations from friends and family. Healthcare workers have a difficult job and often work long hours. Even mild stress from work and home can combine to create an overwhelming situation. People may have fewer supports during the holidays as friends travel and work departments experience shortages. Individuals in continuing care or ongoing recovery have an added risk of experiencing more severe side effects from holiday stress. 

The Importance of Avoiding Triggers

Individuals with a lower stress threshold and a history of mental health issues benefit from avoiding triggers. Situations, people, places, thoughts, or activities that might interfere with recovery should be avoided whenever possible. Healthcare workers have many resources at their disposal to help them avoid falling back on maladaptive coping mechanisms during the holidays. 

Some of the most common triggers healthcare workers in recovery experience during the holidays include: 

• Witnessing others celebrate with alcohol or drugs
• Sleep deprivation from busy holiday shifts 
• Pressure to meet unrealistic personal or professional goals
• Memories of past holidays associated with mental health issues or substance abuse 
• Additional holiday expenses causing financial strain 
• Emotional strain from client care
• Feeling isolated or lonely 
• Social pressure to engage in holiday activities 

Identifying potential triggers allows people to take proactive steps to manage stress and maintain positive mental health during the holidays. Supportive workplace policies help healthcare professionals remain healthy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Health workers reported fewer mental health issues when they said they work in supportive environments.” Driftwood Recovery prioritizes employee safety and support during the holidays, ensuring individuals in recovery have the resources they need to continue healing while working. 

3 Ways to Avoid Triggers and Reduce the Risk of Relapse During the Holidays

Avoiding holiday-related triggers is not always possible. However, there are steps healthcare workers can take to protect themselves from additional stress. Preparing for the holidays in advance by identifying likely triggers and creating ways of managing them reduces the risk of relapse during the holidays. Below are three ways professionals in recovery avoid or manage potential triggers. 

#1. Avoid Triggers By Spending Time With Supportive Loved Ones

Supportive friends and family may help people avoid experiencing triggers during the holiday season. For example, family members can filter the news, social media, emails, or physical mail to remove any potentially triggering ads or articles. 

A few other ways spending time with loved ones during the holidays reduces the risk of relapse include: 

• Additional accountability and motivation to remain sober 
• Friends and family ensure holiday events remain drug and alcohol-free 
• Emotional support and encouragement 
• Engaging in joyous activities with loved ones acts as a positive distraction from cravings or intrusive thoughts
• Positive reinforcement 

Individuals with supportive loved ones who help them navigate challenges in ongoing recovery are less likely to engage in maladaptive coping behaviors. 

#2. Avoid Holiday Events Featuring Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Triggers

Sober holiday events provide people in recovery with a safe space to express their joy with others while receiving support for their recovery journey. Avoiding get-togethers involving alcohol or drugs can improve overall health and reduce the risk of relapse. Many people in recovery rely on loved ones to help them confirm if they will be attending sober events. However, not all family members understand the damage triggers can cause, and they may try to sneak alcohol or drugs into holiday events. Educating loved ones ahead of the holidays to prepare them and ensure they understand the stakes can reduce the risk of someone accidentally being exposed to alcohol or drugs. 

#3. Creating Strict Work-Life Boundaries

Treating individuals diagnosed with SUD or dual diagnosis may cause additional stress for some healthcare workers with active mental health disorders or a history of substance abuse. Creating strict work-life boundaries allows professionals to do their work without putting themselves in situations where they may feel pressured to take on more than they can handle. Driftwood Recovery respects each staff member’s boundaries and encourages individuals to create structured limits to separate personal time from work responsibilities. 

Many individuals working in the field of addiction recovery and mental health have a personal history of substance use disorder or mental health conditions. The holidays may be a difficult time for those individuals. Often, holiday events bring back memories of past substance abuse or cause additional stress that may trigger symptoms of mental health disorders. Relapse prevention strategies are essential for avoiding setbacks in recovery. Driftwood Recovery supports staff members in recovery. Clinicians and other staff members can discuss their concerns with the management team. Everyone deserves to feel safe and supported during the holiday season. To learn more about our policies and how we help employees manage recovery, call us today at (512) 759-8330.

The holidays are approaching, and those in recovery are no doubt both excited for and nervous about their first sober holiday! Holidays are stressful enough but can be even more so when trying to remain sober. It’s a time when common addiction triggers and peer pressure are prevalent, so it’s important to take steps to remain safe. 

That’s why at Driftwood Recovery, clients learn essential skills such as relapse prevention before completing treatment. Even after treatment is completed, alumni have access to the alumni program and other resources to protect their recovery. Being sober doesn’t mean a person can’t have fun. On the contrary, sober people can enjoy the holidays just as much as those who aren’t. It’s being safe that’s important.

So, have a joyful, safe, sober holiday by following these simple tips! 

Tip #1: Have a Safe Sober Holiday by Enforcing Boundaries

Having healthy boundaries is important for everyone, not just those in recovery. Sometimes, loved ones can do hurtful things without realizing it. Educate your loved ones about what it means for you to be sober and set some reasonable boundaries.

For example, it’s reasonable to ask loved ones not to bring substances, such as alcohol, into your home. It’s also reasonable to ask loved ones not to take you into triggering situations, such as bars or other establishments that feature heavy substance use. 

Though it may be hard, sometimes you will need to cut off toxic people who may threaten your sober holiday. Unkind people who ignore boundaries often inflict stress, which can exasperate cravings. It’s best to be safe and instead surround yourself with people who will respect you and your boundaries.

Tip #2: Be Aware of and Avoid Addiction Triggers

The holidays are full of addiction triggers. It’s a time of year when people typically consume the most alcohol or other recreational drugs. Those who have recovered from tobacco addiction may note that they tended to smoke the most during the holidays. It’s easy to see why. The holidays are full of stress, and there is a societal pressure to “let loose” and indulge. Some situations invoke the urge to use substances, such as parties, simply because you used substances during them in the past. Situational memories can be a powerful addiction trigger, along with stress and other situations that remind you strongly of substance use. 

Before you engage in your sober holiday, you must be intimately aware of your personal addiction triggers. Some can be avoided entirely, such as staying away from bars or reducing stress. Others, such as having a party, may be a bit more difficult. However, you can change the party to suit yourself and your sober holiday by including festive mocktails as a replacement for alcohol. Over time, these mocktails will become a part of your new normal and reduce cravings.

Tip #3: Look To Your Support Network for a Sober Holiday

Having a sober social life is important for a successful and happy, sober holiday. Maintaining access to peer support allows you to not be alone during an especially triggering part of the year. Though familial support is also important, having friends who truly understand what you have gone through makes facing what’s ahead easier. Peers can help hold you accountable during the holiday so you make healthy choices. It’s common for peers to host their sober holiday parties during the season. If they do, you can simply go to their parties instead of stressing over throwing one of your own. 

Tip #4: Make Plans to Reduce Stress

Stress is one of the leading causes of relapse, so it’s vital to take the time to reduce stress during the holidays. Practicing self-care is but one of the ways you can reduce stress. Make sure you eat well, get plenty of sleep, and move your body regularly.

You can also make plans in advance for your sober holiday. Meal prepping nutritious meals is easy and can be done a week or more in advance. Then, you can simply heat and eat without worrying about cooking during a stressful time. Make sure the people you include in your sober holiday are well aware of your boundaries. If a family member is a pain and only causes stress, you are allowed to not invite them to preserve your mental health. You can also save time by doing little things, such as packing luggage the night before to prevent a stressful scramble before traveling. 

The holidays, at their core, are stressful, but as long as you take the time to relax and have a moment to yourself, you can get through it with minimal fuss and stress. 

Tip #5: Set Yourself Up for Success for a Happy Sober Holiday

The best part about the holidays is that it reminds you that you aren’t alone. There are always people who care about you and want you to succeed. So set yourself up for success by leaning on the people who build you up, especially mental health care professionals. Alumni at Driftwood Recovery, for example, are always welcome to return for help and advice. Here, they can ask advice from mental health care professionals on how to protect their sobriety during stressful times, such as the holidays. Fellow alumni can also be helpful by sharing their wisdom and experiences to create the ultimate sober holiday. 

Besides asking for help from professionals, you must also remember that though times of stress happen, they don’t last forever. Remember that the darkness will pass as long as you hold on to your ideals and practice the skills you have learned. Doing so will ensure many more happy and sober holidays. 

Being sober and in recovery doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy holiday celebrations. It simply means that you must be careful and safe to protect your recovery. That’s why at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, we work to prepare our alumni for life after treatment. This includes skills to reduce stress and prevent a relapse during the chaos of the holidays. We also offer therapies that help our alumni set boundaries and communicate with their loved ones. Our goal is not just for our alumni to remain in recovery. We also want our alumni to enjoy life to the fullest. To learn more about sobriety and relapse prevention, call Driftwood Recovery today at (512) 759-8330.

Work and home responsibilities often feel more overwhelming during the holidays, when many people feel constantly on the go. Healthcare workers are at a higher risk of experiencing physical and emotional exhaustion and burnout during the holidays unless they prioritize self-care. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to create a healthy balance between personal and professional responsibilities during busy times of the year, including the holidays. 

The Need for a Balance Between Work and Home Responsibilities

Healthcare professionals must find a healthy balance between work and home responsibilities to reduce their risk of burnout or mental health issues. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), “The primary concern for burnout is not being able to emotionally take care of each patient individually or uniquely.” During the holidays, when staff often feel the most emotionally drained, clients frequently experience more challenges. Addressing the risk of healthcare worker burnout ensures clients receive appropriate care. 

Creating a work-life balance involves doing the following: 

• Setting specific times for work hours and personal time 
• Focusing on time-intensive and high-priority tasks first 
• Openly communicating needs and concerns with supervisors and family members 
• Using time management tools, including apps and calendars, to track responsibilities 
• Taking regular breaks 
• Setting realistic personal and professional goals

The more steps a person takes to separate work from their home life, the easier it is to create a sense of balance. Healthcare workers frequently face workplace stress, and the holidays cause additional stress in their home lives. If left unaddressed, the combination of pressures may interfere with a person’s ability to function. 

Maintaining Healthy Boundaries With Supervisors and Coworkers

Boundaries at work allow people to say “no” if they are asked to work additional hours or perform tasks that might negatively impact their mental and physical health. The holidays involve shopping for gifts, preparing meals, connecting with distant relatives, and other time-intensive activities. Healthcare workers must allow themselves to take the time they need to do these tasks without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. Setting clear boundaries reduces stress and will enable professionals to enjoy their holiday plans while remaining productive at work. 

How Work and Home Responsibilities Can Affect Mental Health

Some of the ways work and home responsibilities impact mental health during the holidays include: 

• Higher caseloads, holiday staff shortages, and increased hours increase workplace demands
• Long and irregular hours reduce time spent with family 
• Holidays often intensify emotional reactions to client discomfort and pain
• Missing family traditions or events may lead to guilt, stress, and resentment 
• Reduced access to support networks due to traveling or other holiday plans

Healthcare workers can take steps to protect their emotional wellness by preparing for these potential challenges before the holidays arrive. Informing loved ones of possible shifts in work hours, completing holiday shopping in advance, and doing other things to lower stress around the holidays can help healthcare workers maintain emotional stability. 

Avoiding Unnecessary Tasks

The holiday season is full of personal and professional tasks people must complete to meet their goals. Avoiding unnecessary tasks can give people additional time to complete other things they must do at home or work. 

Some examples of unnecessary tasks people can delegate to others or avoid entirely include: 

• Household deep cleaning to impress family or neighbors
• Last-minute shopping trips 
• Overly complex or extensive holiday decorations 
• Personally preparing every dish for a holiday meal
• Sending personalized holiday cards to friends and family 
• Attending all social events 
• Responding to nonemergency work calls during time off.

Professionals significantly minimize holiday stress and anxiety by reducing home and work responsibilities. 

Spending Time With Loved Ones During the Holidays

Social engagement is essential to positive mental health. Professionals are less likely to feel burnt out if they spend time with loved ones during the holidays, making new memories and enjoying the company of the people they care about most. According to Plos One, “[S]ocial connectedness protects and promotes mental and physical health.” Driftwood Recovery ensures staff members have the time to disconnect from work and spend time with their loved ones. 

Practical Ways to Avoid Burnout From Work and Home Stress

Staff with mental health disorders have an increased risk of developing more severe symptoms during periods of heightened stress. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “64 percent of individuals living with a mental illness reported that their conditions worsened around the holidays.” Prioritizing self-care and taking the time to reenergize each week helps healthcare professionals avoid burnout from the combination of work and home stressors. Using self-care to address symptoms and lower stress levels can help healthcare workers with mental health disorders experience fewer side effects during the holidays. Driftwood Recovery supports staff experiencing additional stress during the holidays, ensuring they have the resources to create effective work-life boundaries. 

Balancing work and home responsibilities is difficult for healthcare workers during the holiday season. Some individuals may have large family get-togethers or mandatory work events interfering with their ability to remain productive while connecting with loved ones over the holidays. Workplace stress may also interfere with personal relationships unless people establish firm boundaries between their work and home life. Driftwood Recovery supports employees’ mental health by encouraging staff members to create strict limits that set apart their personal and professional responsibilities during the holidays. Management has an open-door policy and is always available to help staff cope with stressors. To learn more about our workplace culture or treatment programs, call us today at (512) 759-8330.