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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.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 40.3 million people (14.5%) in the United States have a substance use disorder (SUD). In addition, as the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) notes, 59.3 million (23.1%) U.S. adults live with a mental illness. Further, as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) states, approximately 21.5 million adults in the U.S. have a co-occurring disorder. The prevalence of SUD, other mental health disorders, and co-occurring disorders highlights the complexities of recovery and the need for continuing care. With continuing care in recovery, you can utilize resources like self-help groups to address various challenges in recovery. 

At Driftwood Recovery, we know fostering a connection with a community of peers in recovery is invaluable to recovery. Through the forging of deep connections with others, you can gain greater self-awareness and self-understanding. With greater self-awareness and self-understanding, you can build a strong base of connection with both the self and others to sustain recovery. The power of connection reminds you that you belong, are loved, and are deserving of healing. Thus, the power of connection with others makes self-help groups crucial to the healing process.

Yet, you may question how you can build connections with self-help groups. Often challenges with SUD and/or other mental health disorders work to disconnect you from others. SUD and mental health challenges isolate you and convince you that no one understands you or your experiences. However, self-help groups can help you recognize that you are not alone in your challenges or recovery. By increasing your knowledge of self-help groups, you can better understand their value for your well-being. 

What Are Self-Help Groups?

As noted in “Community-Based Rehabilitation: CBR Guidelines” by C. Khasnabis et al., self-help groups are informal groups of people who work together to address common challenges. At the core of self-help groups is the idea of mutual support in which the group members help each other. Further, as the American Psychological Association (APA) states, self-help groups meet regularly to help each other cope with various life problems. As a result, typically there is no fee or limit to the number of group members, and it is led by members rather than health professionals. Through self-help groups, you can find emotional support and practical help to share experiences, coping strategies, and resources. 

Yet, you may question why you would join a self-help group. Aren’t self-help groups and group therapy the same if they both offer things like experiential support? Why choose a self-help group when you can get professional support in group therapy? Group therapy can be invaluable to your recovery. However, understanding the difference between self-help and group therapy can provide insight into the value of self-help groups post-treatment.

Differences Between Self-Help and Group Therapy

According to “Understanding Group Therapy and Support Groups” by Marla Deibler, group therapy and self-help groups can play a significant role in your long-term well-being. Self-help groups and group therapy share many similarities and are often used in conjunction. While you can benefit from self-help groups and group therapy in your recovery, there are some key differences to note:

  • Self-help groups
    • Affordable
    • Unlimited group size
    • More informal
      • May or may not have a set curriculum
      • Topics vary based on current challenges
      • Process-oriented
    • Most often led by peers
    • You can attend meetings for as long as needed
    • Supports the transition from treatment to recovery
    • Bridges gaps in support
  • Group therapy
    • A greater expense but often covered by insurance
    • Small group
    • More formal
      • Follows a curriculum
      • Tailored to address specific issues
      • May include homework 
      • Focused goals
    • Guidance from clinicians
    • Often supports well-being in treatment

At the end of the day, the goal of continuing care services is to help you find the right resources for you. 

Finding Your Group: Types of Self-Help Groups

Much like your experiences, there are a variety of self-help groups that are unique in the needs they support. Some of the different self-help groups types include:

  • 12-Step
    • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
    • Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
    • Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA)
  • Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART Recovery)
  • Online support groups
  • Condition-specific support groups
    • Alzheimer’s Association
  • Educational support groups
  • Family support groups

Many different types of self-help groups can overlap with each other, like educational and family support groups. Thus, there is a support group that can meet your specific needs, from meeting in person or online, using a formal or informal structure, to serving specific communities. Access to different types of self-help groups can have a profound impact on your well-being.

Benefits of Self-Help Groups

Through education, shared experiences, and peer support, you can address challenges that impact every facet of your life. Self-help groups have become known for the value they bring to psychological wellness, sobriety, and vulnerable communities. Listed below are some additional benefits of support groups:

  • Self-esteem
  • Motivation
  • Self-regulation 
  • Adaptive coping skills
  • Self-efficacy
  • Reduce stigma
  • Sense of belonging

Further, self-help groups are cost-effective, which can help close the gap in support for individuals and communities that experience greater socioeconomic barriers.

Building Community Through Shared Experiences at Driftwood Recovery

Self-help groups’ ability to address and close gaps in socioeconomic barriers speaks to its power as a tool for change and growth throughout recovery. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing a strong alumni program, where you can find connection, meet challenges head-on, and thrive at every stage of recovery. We understand that many of the challenges you have faced in treatment and recovery are intersectional. Therefore, you deserve a treatment and recovery program that meets you where you are. With compassion, guidance, support, and accountability, you can break the cycle of suffering to foster a purposeful and fulfilling life in sustained recovery.

Recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) and/or mental health disorders does not start and end with treatment. The challenges of addiction and mental illness impact every facet of your life. Thus, access to continuing care services like an alumni program is invaluable to maintaining recovery. Through an active alumni program, you can connect with peers and access resources like self-help groups to thrive post-treatment. While group therapy and self-help groups have many similarities, outside of treatment, self-help groups offer an affordable, peer-driven, and flexible support option. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing support that fosters physical, psychological, and social wellness. Call us at (512) 759-8330 to learn how self-help groups can support whole-person healing and sustained recovery.

Stress is a common and unavoidable part of life. However, when you experience too much stress, it has a profound impact on your well-being. As the American Psychological Association (APA) notes in “Stress in America 2022”, in the United States alone, 27% of adults feel like they cannot function due to stress. Moreover, 76% of adults are experiencing physical and psychological health issues due to stress. Addressing the life stressors that contribute to different levels of stress is invaluable to healing and recovery.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know building critical life skills is crucial to fostering a new outlook and healthier life. Recovery is not only about ending substance use but also about healing the whole person. As a result, addressing life stressors is an important part of your recovery journey. We are dedicated to providing a vibrant alumni program to help you overcome life stressors and build a courageous life in sustained recovery.

Yet, you may question, if life stressors are unavoidable, how can you avoid relapse? How can an alumni program help you address life stressors? Expanding your understanding of stress can give you insight into how life stressors impact your well-being. With greater self-awareness, you can learn how to identify and manage stressors rather than become overwhelmed.

What Is Stress?

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), stress is a physical and emotional reaction to an event or challenging experience. Stress is often described as a state of worry or tension that can manifest physically, mentally, and emotionally. Thus, stress can impact your physical health, mental health, and behavior. However, stress and stress responses are a natural reaction from your body when you encounter challenges or change. As Medline Plus notes, in short bursts, stress can be a positive thing in your life. Some of the ways stress can be positive include:

  • Alertness to avoid danger
  • Motivation to take on challenges

Everyone experiences short-term or acute stress to some degree, but when left unchecked, it can cause harm. Prolonged or chronic stress can lead to serious physical and psychological health issues. Yet, how do you recognize the difference between acute and chronic stress? When is stress helpful, and when is it harmful?

Addressing Examples of Life Stressors

Countless life stressors can contribute to acute and chronic stress. The difference between healthy and unhealthy stress can be divided into eustress and distress. Eustress motivates you, drives you, can feel exciting, and happens over a short period. In contrast, distress leaves you feeling anxious and overwhelmed over a short or long period. Listed below are some life stressors that can contribute to short-term and long-term stress:

  • Eustress
    • Moving
    • Buying a home
    • Getting married
    • Having a child
    • Starting college
    • Giving a presentation at work or school
    • Learning a new hobby
    • The holiday season
  • Distress
    • Job insecurity
    • Unemployment
    • Low income
    • Unstable housing
    • Relationship conflict
    • Serious injury or illness
    • Loss of a loved one
    • Separation and divorce
    • Abuse and neglect

Moreover, distress that contributes to life stressors can also come from internal challenges. Fear, ruminating thoughts, and worrying about the future can all contribute to physical and psychological distress. While some stressors come and go, other chronic stressors can have a profound impact on your well-being.

The Impact of Life Stressors on Well-Being

You are likely aware that when left unaddressed, life stressors can negatively impact your physical and psychological health. Yet, many people try to ignore or downplay stress because it feels overwhelming and scary to confront the thing causing distress. You may not recognize the seriousness of your stress or convince yourself that the stressors will go away. Understanding the impact of life stressors on your well-being is vital to addressing and overcoming those challenges. Listed below are some of the ways stress can harm your physical and psychological health:

  • Headaches
  • Chest pain
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart diseases
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Menstrual issues
  • Stomach issues
  • Sleep issues
  • Anger
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Substance use disorder (SUD)

Challenges with stress often stem from a complex array of life stressors, mental health difficulties, and stress-related behaviors. As noted by Frontiers in Psychology, stress-related behaviors like poor sleep and unhealthy eating can exacerbate stress-related health issues. Interrelated stressors can further increase your risk for relapse when those stressors are left to fester. When left unaddressed, life stressors can make managing cravings more difficult and impair your ability to use adaptive coping strategies. Thus, building stress management skills is an invaluable part of treatment and recovery for sustained recovery.

Stress Management: Building Strategies for Life Stressors

Many life stressors are common and unavoidable parts of life. However, you can take steps to recognize and manage the impact of those stressors on your well-being. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states, building healthy coping strategies can help reduce your stress. Although everyone responds to and manages stress in different ways, listed below are some strategies you can explore for your life:

  • Physical activity
  • Therapy
  • Mindfulness
  • Meditation
  • Practice gratitude
  • Relaxation techniques
    • Deep breathing
  • Self-care
    • Hobbies
  • Social support
    • Loved ones
    • Self-help groups
  • Sleep routine
  • Well-balanced diet
  • Try to eliminate stressors 
  • Spend time with loved ones

Access to support can play a significant role in your ability to manage stress and eliminate stressors in your life. 

Building Tools for Stress at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive alumni services for a quality life beyond sobriety. With access to continuing care services, you can address stress-related physical and psychological barriers like unemployment and housing instability. Leaning on support from alumni can provide emotional relief, offer practical support, help you strategize, and build resilience. Therefore, access to support from an active alumni program can provide connection, guidance, and resources to support stress management. Through alumni, you can find support for employment, education, activities, and connection with a compassionate sober community. 

Life stressors are a common and unavoidable part of life. Moreover, some forms of stress can be positive, like starting a new job or having a baby. However, other stressors like unemployment and housing issues can contribute to chronic stress. When challenges with stress are left to fester, your physical and psychological well-being are negatively impacted. The combination of stress-related challenges like anxiety, depression, headaches, and poor sleep can contribute to relapse. Thus, building tools for stress management, like a support network and resources, are invaluable to sustained recovery. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing an alumni program where you can access the support and services you need to thrive. Call us at (512) 759-8330 today.

Recovery is a complex and dynamic process that does not have a clear linear path or ending. Setbacks in recovery are a common feature of addiction and even mental health recovery. As the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) notes, 60% of individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) will enter sustained recovery, but many will relapse first. According to Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, over 50% of people relapse post-treatment, with 40–75 % of relapses occurring three weeks to six months post-treatment. Despite the success rates for recovery, the prevalence of relapse is understandably daunting.

At Driftwood Recovery, we recognize the value and importance of building an attachment in treatment and recovery. Attachment is at the core of our approach to treatment and continuing care to support a strong foundation of self-awareness and understanding. With self-awareness and self-understanding, you can address and manage the difficulties that contributed to your substance use. We are dedicated to providing a vibrant alumni community where you can find the connection, guidance, accountability, and support needed to thrive in recovery. With support, setbacks in recovery do not have to equal relapse or the end of your recovery.

Yet, you may question what the setbacks in recovery are. How can attachment in alumni services prevent or dismantle setbacks in recovery? Expanding your understanding of setbacks can provide insight into the dynamic nature of recovery. Moreover, a greater understanding of setbacks in recovery can help you learn how to address challenges before relapse becomes a reality.

What Are Setbacks in Recovery?

When people think of setbacks in recovery, they often focus on relapse as the only challenge of recovery. However, there are a variety of setback challenges that can occur in recovery and eventually lead to relapse when left unaddressed. Listed below are some of the setbacks in recovery you can encounter:

  • Difficulty coping with challenging emotions
  • Poor stress management skills
  • Boredom
  • Difficulty managing cravings
  • Unaddressed triggers
    • Being around friends and family who still abuse substances
    • Environments where substances are readily available
  • Relationship conflict
  • Co-occurring mental health disorders
  • Transitioning from residential treatment to other continuing care services
  • Relapse

Although relapse is the most recognizable setback, the range of setbacks in recovery highlights relapse as a gradual process. A relapse typically happens in stages as it moves from emotional, mental, and finally, physical relapse. As a result, recovery must be understood in stages rather than as a singular step or a journey with an ending. Further, each stage of recovery comes with its own risk for relapse, which can make trying to overcome other setbacks in recovery feel impossible. Understanding the impact of setbacks on your well-being is an important first step toward building tools to minimize setbacks and improve outcomes.

Impact of Setbacks in Recovery on Well-Being

A relapse speaks to the negative impact setbacks in recovery can have on your well-being. However, before relapse, there are numerous difficulties rooted in other setbacks that can impede your well-being. Regardless of the setback you experience, you can be left with upsetting emotions like guilt, anger, frustration, embarrassment, sadness, and disappointment. Distressing emotions related to setbacks in recovery can contribute to low self-esteem, decreased motivation, increased stress, and poor mental health. Moreover, some of the other ways setbacks in recovery can harm your well-being include:

  • Maladaptive coping
  • Relationship strain
  • Social isolation
  • Job loss

The distressing emotions that bubble up with setbacks speak to how unaddressed challenges can contribute to negative self-beliefs. 

Dismantling Negative Beliefs in Recovery

Not only can setbacks in recovery make you feel hopeless, but they can also convince you that you have failed. Feelings of guilt, shame, anxiety, and depression often bubble up from the thought of failure. Listed below are some additional negative beliefs that can impair the recovery process:

  • The belief that you are broken
  • Black-and-white thinking
    • Believing that there is only success or failure
  • The belief that you do not deserve forgiveness
  • Believing your sobriety is a fluke
  • The belief that no one cares about you

For those in treatment and recovery, a sense of failure takes root as you build an all-or-nothing mindset toward your recovery. Negative beliefs about yourself and your recovery can impede your psychological health and prevent you from effectively using adaptive coping skills. According to Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, a holistic model of care is crucial to addressing and dismantling negative beliefs about yourself and recovery. Yet, how do you overcome setbacks in recovery and thus their psychological harm?

Ways to Overcome Setbacks

An important first step in managing setbacks in recovery is mindset. First, recognizing that setbacks are a normal part of recovery can help diminish all-or-nothing thinking. You set yourself up for success when you understand that setbacks do not equal failure, and failure does not equal the end. Further, you can prevent and overcome setbacks in recovery by building a plan of action to help you stay on track. Listed below are some things you can include in your setback action plan:

  • Identify triggers/cravings
  • Give yourself grace 
  • Identify warning signs or difficult days
  • Treat setbacks as learning moments
  • Practice adaptive coping
  • Reevaluate and adjust goals
  • Seek support
  • Prioritize self-care

Looking at some of the steps you can take to overcome setbacks in recovery showcases the value of a positive mindset for maintaining recovery. A positive attitude is often made possible through connection with the self and others. 

Finding Resilience in Setbacks at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we believe in providing alumni services because we know how important mutual support and community are for whole-person healing. In an alumni program, you can find the support, resources, and guidance needed to overcome crisis moments. Moreover, access to positive community activities can help you foster self-worth and confidence to address setbacks and meet the challenges of life head-on. With a community of peers, you are reminded that you are loved and deserving of healing.

Experiencing setbacks in recovery can feel devastating, especially when you associate setbacks with relapse. Yet, setbacks in recovery are not exclusive to relapse. Setbacks in recovery can include poor stress management and unaddressed triggers. When stressors arise in recovery, they can contribute to negative self-beliefs that you are a failure and undeserving of forgiveness or healing. However, recovery does not have to equal failure. Recovery is a dynamic process with peaks and valleys that are equally important to your journey. With support, you can find connections, resources, guidance, and confidence to prevent, manage, and overcome setbacks. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing alumni services to support sustained recovery. Call us at (512) 759-8330 to learn more today.

The impact of the cycle of addiction on families cannot be understated. Studies have shown that children exposed to substance abuse by their parents are more likely to engage in substance abuse themselves. This pattern of substance abuse and behaviors influences more than the individual who is struggling. It also impacts the next generation that observes these behaviors. Although family members may not want to negatively impact their loved ones in such a way, breaking the cycle of addiction cannot occur without professional help and the willingness to change.

This willingness to change is perhaps one of the most important steps in breaking the cycle of addiction. Stigma, shame, and fear of judgment often prevent families from seeking help. Some families may choose to ignore the problem in the hopes that things will work out in the end. Those who want to break the cycle of addiction can face opposition from their families, who may want to keep “family matters” private. In such a case, it is the whole family that needs help, but change cannot happen instantaneously.

That’s why at Driftwood Recovery, we offer whole family care to assist individuals and families in breaking the cycle of addiction. With a focus on quality and compassionate treatment and the Courageous Family program, anyone can get the care they need to break the cycle once and for all. To truly break the cycle of addiction, families must discover what perpetuates this cycle and stop it.

What Begins the Cycle of Addiction in Families?

Addiction, at its heart, is a response to pain. This pain can result from trauma, stress, loneliness, the environment, or as a result of a medical or mental health issue. Family history and genetics can also play a role in addiction, as well as social and peer pressure. This is not different for families, who may turn to substance use and abuse as a form of self-medication. Such behavior is observed by subsequent children, who may grow up believing that this behavior is normal and an appropriate way to cope with stress and pain. They, in turn, model this behavior to their children, perpetuating the cycle. 

Aspects like generational trauma cannot be dismissed in their role in the cycle of addiction. One traumatized parent may inadvertently place the results of their trauma on their children, and so forth. This trauma can then pass through multiple generations of people, which can be difficult for children to process. 

Being exposed to substances such as drugs and alcohol can give children access to them at an early age. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has reported that in 2023, about one in 100 adolescents ages 12 to 13 drank alcohol in the past month. Though this can be attributed to peer pressure, some underage drinking can be the result of observed behaviors. 

Challenges Faced by Individuals Breaking Away From Addiction

As mentioned before, it can be difficult to break the cycle of addiction. An individual must first realize that something is wrong and be willing to accept professional help. When substance use and abuse are normalized in the family, it can be hard to notice that there is a problem. Once the individual decides to get help, they then have to contend with their families, who may not be supportive. Shame may cause families to refuse treatment so they can deny that there is a problem. One person deciding to break the cycle of addiction can have a cascade effect. It forces change even if it is uncomfortable or scary.

Individuals with families who outright refuse to change may face a future without them. It’s okay to cut off toxic individuals from your life if they threaten your safety and well-being. In this situation, Driftwood Recovery assists in the creation of a found family in the form of a support network. This is a support network of peers and loved ones that encourage recovery and accountability, preserving recovery progress. 

Breaking the Cycle of Addiction

Before you can help someone else, you must first help yourself. That is why airlines tell you to put an oxygen mask on yourself before assisting someone else. An individual must get treatment first and achieve a state of stable sobriety before they try to assist their family. Of course, therapies such as family therapy and the Courageous Family program can help bridge the gap and foster understanding in families. Using these therapies and programs can help families realize that they have a problem and seek further treatment. This includes therapies such as psychotherapy or trauma-based therapy.

As for the individual, they will get the Driftwood Recovery approach to addiction treatment, which is a combination of evidence-based holistic and clinical therapies. For individuals breaking the cycle of addiction, care is taken to improve their self-esteem and teach healthy coping skills. As mentioned before, a peer network is vitally important, and time is taken to establish one while at Driftwood Recovery. Relapse prevention is also utilized to help clients recognize when their recovery is in danger and what steps to take to prevent it. 

It can be hard to break the cycle of addiction, especially if you are doing so alone. However, it’s always possible to break this cycle and protect future generations from the dangers of addiction. Sometimes, it takes one person recognizing that there is a problem and seeking help from others to recognize that positive change is possible. So be the change, and reach out for help today.

Addiction can become deeply rooted within a family, causing a loop or cycle that affects each generation. Breaking this cycle of addiction takes a lot of work and professional help, and it is usually started by one individual deciding to make a change. At Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, we help families break the cycle of addiction by providing quality addiction treatment and familial support. With programs such as the Courageous Family program and continuous alumni support, each client is given the tools they need to make successful and lasting changes. If you or your loved ones are struggling with addiction, don’t wait to break the cycle. Start your recovery journey today by calling (512) 759-8330.

Everyone’s need for healing from substance use disorder (SUD) and or other conditions is unique. Moreover, stepping down in levels of care as you transition from treatment to recovery is complex and unique to you. Despite the value of step-down care, any transition in treatment and life can be stressful. In the continuum of care, it is invaluable to your recovery to have support in transitioning to aftercare. Whether you are stepping down from a residential or intensive outpatient program (IOP), transitioning to aftercare is imperative to maintaining recovery.

At Driftwood Recovery, we recognize that you can face challenges and unexpected situations in recovery. Therefore, we are dedicated to providing a sober community in alumni services to address your specific needs to thrive. With support, transitioning to aftercare does not have to be daunting or impossible. Through a wide variety of support services and resources, you can build a path to long-term recovery that matches your life. Yet, you may question what services alumni can offer you on your recovery journey.

Understanding IOP and the challenges of transitioning to aftercare can highlight the value of additional recovery support.

What Is IOP?

Much like a residential treatment program or other outpatient program, IOP is a level of care in the continuum of care treatment system model. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an IOP is a diverse and flexible intermediate level of care on the continuum of recovery. In the process of transitioning to aftercare, IOP helps you seamlessly move along the continuum to step up or down with less disruption to lasting healing. Some of the components of IOP that support transitioning to aftercare include:

  • Goals
    • Healthy behavioral changes
      • Supports abstinence and a new lifestyle
    • Active participation in community support network
      • 12-Step or other mutual-help programs
    • Identify and address psychosocial challenges
      • Housing
      • Employment
    • Problem-solving skills
    • Adaptive coping strategies
  • Intensity
    • Flexible frequency of contact with support services
      • Frequent, shorter sessions
      • Few but longer sessions
  • Duration
    • Flexible duration based on individual client needs
      • The minimum time is 90 days
      • Low intensity over a longer period
        • Cost-effective
        • Better treatment outcomes
  • Settings
    • Flexible settings that meet license or certification criteria
    • Offers multiple levels of care along with different structures and services
      • Hospital settings
        • Medical detoxification
        • Pharmacotherapy
        • Other medical and psychiatric conditions
      • Prison facilities
        • Community-based step-down services
      • Community centers
        • Vocational training sites
        • Therapeutic community programs
  • Stages
    • Service intensity and structure lessen as you progress
      • Tapered service intensity
      • You assume more responsibility for your well-being
      • Less structure and supervision

Further, IOP typically offers effective support in transitioning to aftercare on the continuum spectrum. Through the continuum of care in IOP, you experience less intensive and tapered contact with treatment systems to step down to independence in recovery. 

The Value of Transitioning to Aftercare

Transitioning to aftercare along the continuum is vital to independence and self-determination for sustained recovery. At the root of transitioning to aftercare is growth and, thus, improved health outcomes. As noted in the Journal of Substance Use and Abuse Treatment, continuing care services can support sustaining the positive effects of treatment. Some of the elements in continuing care services that support sustained recovery:

  • Longer planned duration of therapeutic contact
  • Interventions that support active and direct treatment
    • Outreach
    • Low-burden service delivery systems
      • Telehealth services 
  • Systematic monitoring of treatment response
  • Power of choice for clients regarding treatment type and setting

Although every individual’s needs in recovery are unique, transitioning to aftercare offers a foundation for whole-person recovery. Yet, some challenges can arise when you step down in treatment.

Step-Down Challenges in Transitioning to Aftercare

Recovery is a complex and dynamic process that life stressors try to impede. Leaving the intensive daily support of a treatment program can feel understandably daunting. You may be left with many concerns about relapse, how to cope with stressors, and how to manage your daily life. Listed below are some of the most common challenges that arise in recovery:

  • Cravings
  • Triggers
  • Financial instability
  • Boredom
  • Relationship conflict
    • Repairing relationships
    • Building new relationships
  • Loneliness and isolation
  • Guilt and shame
  • Sense of purpose
  • Relapse

Looking at the challenges in transitioning to aftercare highlights the need to dismantle barriers to continuing care.

Addressing Barriers to Transitioning to Aftercare

Barriers to continuing care are tied to your recovery capital. Your recovery capital is the various resources you draw on to initiate and maintain recovery. Thus, recovery capital covers multiple domains of life, like education, employment, health, social networks, and beliefs and values. In continuing care, barriers can be defined as negative recovery capital. Listed below are some of the barriers or negative capital that can prevent successful transitioning to aftercare:

  • Lack of awareness of continuing care services
  • Fear of stigma at work and in the community
  • Comorbid mental and physical health conditions
  • Unemployment 
  • Low income
  • Unstable housing
  • Limited or no transportation
  • Lack of childcare
  • Other structural barriers
    • Gender
    • Sex
    • Race
    • Orientation
  • Contact with the criminal justice system

Despite the challenges and barriers in transitioning to aftercare, a successful transition is possible.

Stepping Into Recovery With Alumni at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we know sustained recovery is made possible through aftercare and community-based resources. Therefore, we are dedicated to providing alumni services where you can find the practical guidance, support, and community needed to thrive. Through alumni services, you are reminded that you are not alone in the peaks and valleys of healing. When you step down in treatment, you are not stepping away from support but rather adding a new dimension to your journey. With a vibrant alumni community, you continue to learn how to integrate adaptive coping skills, build enriching connections, and empower a sense of purpose. 

Transitioning to aftercare, whether you are stepping down from residential treatment or an IOP, can feel daunting. Stepping down in care can present various challenges and barriers as you come into contact with stressors like cravings, unemployment, houselessness, lack of childcare, unreliable transportation, and fear of relapse. Despite step-down challenges, continuing care services offer access to various tools of support for maintaining recovery. Through continuing care services like an alumni program, you can access services and resources to address and dismantle challenges and barriers at every stage of recovery. Thus, at Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing an active alumni family where you can thrive on the guidance of a connected community. Call (512) 759-8330 to learn more today.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), independence is freedom from the influence or control of other individuals or groups. At its root, independence is tied to the right to seek out and lead a self-determined life. The idea of independence takes on different identities throughout your life. There are many types of independence, from being allowed to pick out your clothes as a child to getting your first car and moving out on your own. Independence is also an important part of recovery as you discover or rediscover personal, emotional, financial, and intellectual independence.

At Driftwood Recovery, we understand that the transition from structured care to a self-determined life in recovery can be daunting. We are committed to helping you develop and maintain the foundation of new healthy thinking and behavior patterns in your life. With support and accountability found in community integration and alumni, you can lead a self-determined life. Yet, you may question how community in alumni can lead to independence. Expanding your understanding of independence in recovery can provide insight into the value of connection for healing and leading a self-determined life.

What Is Psychological Independence?

Both tangible and intangible forms of independence, like stable housing and employment, start with psychological wellness. Developing psychological independence is an important component of recovery and a self-determined life. Psychological independence is an important part of psychosocial development in adolescents. Further, psychological independence consists of four aspects: behavior, values, emotions, and the underlying cognition of those aspects. Through psychological independence, you find your sense of identity, self-understanding, and self-efficacy. 

Yet, how does psychological independence support a self-determined life in recovery? Typically, substance misuse and abuse contribute to an erosion of important components of independence and self-determination like impulse control and emotional regulation. Therefore, looking at the six factors of psychological independence speaks to its significance in development:

  • Future orientation
    • Understanding your current state
      • Identify areas for growth
      • Prioritize issues
      • Measure goal obtainment
    • Able to think and strive for future betterment
  • Appropriate human relations
    • Able to emphasize and relate appropriately to others
  • Value judgment/execution
    • Able to make decisions and take action based on your values
  • Responsibility
    • You take responsibility for your actions
  • Social perspective
    • Able to understand social knowledge
      • Ability to analyze and understand social situations in relation to social codes and rules
        • Social norms
        • Cultural context
        • How to behave in social situations
    • You know your role in society
  • Self-control
    • Able to control your emotions 
    • Ability to see yourself and external events objectively

Looking at the components of psychological independence speaks to the importance of a self-determined life across multiple domains.

The Importance of a Self-Determined Life

Although they are not the same, independence and self-determination are integral to each other. Independence is about your ability to live without needing help; self-determination is about choice. Self-determination is your ability to make choices and take responsibility for your life. As the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) states, self-determination is the ability and right to make choices about your life. 

Yet, what is the value of a self-determined life in recovery? A self-determined life is an important factor for motivation for positive psychological well-being. Through self-determination, you can find greater life satisfaction as you build the components of self-determination:

  • Autonomy
    • You believe you can take direct action over your life for change
  • Competence
    • You have control over your actions and environment to impact your life and achieve goals
  • Relatedness
    • You have a sense of belonging and attachment to others
      • Able to relate to, understand, and care for others

Despite the value of self-determination for motivation, growth, and change in recovery, some barriers impede leading a self-determined life.

Addressing Barriers to a Self-Determined Life

Building a new life without substances can be daunting on its own. Coupled with transitioning from a high level of care in treatment, it can make recovery feel impossible. Understanding barriers to transitioning from treatment to recovery can provide insight into how to dismantle those barriers. According to the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, some of the transition barriers to recovery include:

  • Stigma
  • Poor support network
  • Lack of continuing care
  • Neighborhood stress
  • Poor job opportunities
  • Limited housing options

Transition-related barriers like stigma and resource policies can feel like an uphill battle. However, with support, you can build independence and self-determination to overcome barriers to life in recovery.

Fostering Independence and Self-Determination in Recovery

Access to services and resources in an alumni program empowers:

  • Problem-solving
  • Decision-making
  • Employment
  • Self-reliance
  • Help-seeking behavior
  • Structure
  • Goal obtainment

Further, connection to yourself and others is a foundational part of independence and self-determination. Through connection and other resources, you foster a sense of belonging that encourages the desire and motivation for growth and change. You start to believe in your capacity to effect positive change in your life.

Finding Independence at Driftwood Recovery

Continuing care in an alumni program is an invaluable resource for fostering independence and self-determination in recovery. It is through connection and community that you are given the space to build the independent life you deserve in sustained recovery. Whether you experience challenges with substances or other mental health disorders, continuing care can support your individual needs for an independent and self-determined life. As Mental Health America (MHA) notes in “Position Statement 36: Self-Determination Initiatives,” self-determination is a hierarchy that believes you have the full capacity to manage decisions, coupled with a continuum of shared decision-making. Furthermore, within self-determination, that capacity for decision-making and continuum of shared decision-making is modified with greater support based on your capacity. 

Through self-directed care in alumni, you uncover:

  • Autonomy
  • Agency
  • Choice
  • Accountability

At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to an alumni community where you can build mutually supportive relationships to heal. Through a community-driven network of peers, you are reminded that independence does not mean being alone. Connection and community are the secure base from which independence and self-determination flourish.

The transition from structured care to independence can feel overwhelming. However, fostering independence and self-determination can be invaluable to recovery. You can build autonomy, competence, and relatedness to support motivation and belonging for a purposeful life through independence and self-determination. Yet, barriers like stigma, poor social support, and poor resources can impede recovery. However, learning how to build or rebuild an independent and self-determined life is not impossible. With access to services and resources in an alumni program, you can build connections to yourself and others to heal. Thus, at Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to building an alumni family where you can build self-reliance and community to thrive. Call us at (512) 759-8330 today.

Those considering treatment for addiction and other mental health conditions may need to undergo a psychosocial assessment. This assessment is commonly used as part of the stabilization and evaluation process at Driftwood Recovery. Combined with other assessment tools, it gives the professionals at Driftwood Recovery an accurate understanding of an individual’s needs. This is especially important for clients with more extensive needs that require consistent monitoring and adjustments through treatment.

A psychosocial assessment, not to be confused with a psychiatric evaluation, is a valuable tool in this process. As with other assessment tools, it’s important to understand what it is and what is expected during the assessment process. This helps clients prepare, reducing anxiety and stress. To get an idea of what a client can expect during a psychosocial assessment at Driftwood Recovery, they must first learn what this assessment examines. 

What Is a Psychosocial Assessment?

A psychosocial assessment is a process used during the client evaluation process to understand a client’s problems and needs. This data is used to help the client create therapy goals and a roadmap for their recovery. Unlike a psychiatric evaluation, which is used to diagnose a mental health condition, a psychosocial assessment examines the client beyond just a diagnosis. Personal factors discussed as part of a psychosocial assessment include:

  • Relationships with family and others
  • Social and environmental factors
  • Family history
  • Mental and physical health
  • Substance use
  • Risk factors
  • Self-perception
  • Ability to function within a community
  • Personal strengths and abilities 

All of these factors can play a role in a client’s treatment plan. For example, a client states that they don’t have a supportive home environment, struggle with chronic pain, and have poor self-esteem. Their treatment providers will use that information to create a treatment plan that addresses these needs. By the time treatment is completed, the client will be able to create a healthy environment of their own, receive relief from their pain, and have a stronger sense of self-esteem. It allows for individualized and targeted treatments that give each client the greatest chance of success. 

How Is a Psychosocial Assessment Conducted at Driftwood Recovery?

A psychosocial assessment at Driftwood Recovery consists of an interview conducted by medical experts, generally psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychiatric social workers. This expert will spend time with the client to establish a friendly rapport and facilitate trust. The goal is for the client to answer a series of questions truthfully. These answers are then used to help treatment providers give individualized care to their clients. The professionals at Driftwood Recovery work hard to create a safe and encouraging environment for each client. What a client says during a psychosocial assessment may be cross-checked by consulting family members or medical records to ensure the answers are truthful.

The questions asked during a psychosocial assessment vary or may even sound obvious or silly to the client. These questions, though different, can greatly impact a treatment plan depending on the answers. Clients will never be shamed for answering a question truthfully, no matter how sad or difficult the answer may be. Some examples of questions commonly asked during a psychosocial assessment are:

  • What goals are most important to you currently?
  • How is your relationship with your family?
  • What do you like to do in your spare time?
  • Have you witnessed any form of abuse?
  • Do you cut yourself or try to harm yourself?

It’s important to keep in mind that a client may need multiple interviews, especially when they have complex needs or are struggling with sensitive issues, such as trauma. Once these interviews are completed, the mental health professional will go over their impressions with the client. This can consist of recommendations for further evaluations and treatment plans, as well as answering any questions the client may have.

Steps to Prepare for a Psychosocial Assessment

There are a few steps a client can take to prepare for their psychosocial assessment. The first is to get a good night’s sleep and eat a nutritious meal before the assessment. This will give you the energy needed to pay attention and complete the assessment without becoming too exhausted. Secondly, it’s helpful to bring medical and mental health records, such as the result of a physical exam or a diagnosis from a psychiatrist if you have one. Third, you will need to be open and honest about your life experiences, good and bad. If it’s too difficult to speak physically, you can write down your experiences in advance to show to the interviewer.

The interviewer will do their best to make the environment comfortable for you. If you are uncomfortable, it’s important to speak up. They will do their best to ensure that your needs are met, and you can trust that you will be cared for. 

The First Steps in Your Recovery Journey

At Driftwood Recovery, the assessment process is a crucial step to achieving sobriety and recovery. Potential clients are always encouraged to contact Driftwood Recovery to ask questions, especially if they are struggling with addiction and other mental health conditions. By utilizing extensive and comprehensive assessments and evaluations, we can deliver the quality and individualized treatments each client deserves. This does not include only mental health disorders but also other areas of need. Clients can expect whole care at Driftwood Recovery, leaving as healthy people once treatment is completed. 

It’s understandable to be fearful of things like a psychosocial assessment. Once a person decides to be honest and brave enough to try, they may discover that the journey to recovery is something they can accomplish.

Much like a psychological evaluation, a psychosocial assessment is a useful tool that helps clients get the mental health care they need. At Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, undergoing a psychosocial assessment is an important part of the assessment process, allowing for swift and accurate care. Though it may sound scary, this assessment is valuable in identifying factors that may impede the recovery process. Combined with comprehensive and compassionate care, clients at Driftwood Recovery can overcome the struggles that are holding them back from success. If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health issues, such as addiction, don’t wait. Schedule a comprehensive mental health assessment today by calling (512) 759-8330.

Awareness of co-occurring conditions like substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health disorders has grown. Yet, the connection between SUD and physical health challenges like chronic pain is often overlooked. According to the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 52–74 % of individuals with SUD experience chronic pain. It is vital to recovery to address co-occurring conditions to support whole-person healing for sustained recovery. 

At Driftwood Recovery, we believe in taking holistic approaches to treatment and recovery for whole-person healing. We know that chronic pain has physical and psychological aspects that impact your well-being and recovery. Pain is an averse experience that can contribute to physical, psychosocial, and economic burdens. With holistic approaches to whole-person healing, you can address co-occurring aspects of chronic pain to maintain your recovery. 

Yet, you may question how an alumni program can help you address chronic pain in recovery. Understanding chronic pain and the mind-body connection can provide greater insight into the holistic tools that can support sustained recovery. 

What Is Chronic Pain?

There is no one way that pain feels. Everyone’s experience with pain is unique to the individual. However, as Medline Plus notes, pain is a signal to your nervous system that there may be an issue. In general, pain is an unpleasant feeling that can range from a sharp or dull prick, tingle, sting, burn, or ache. Moreover, pain may be felt in one area or all over your body. Further, pain is complex and can come in a variety of forms. As the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) states, there are three primary patterns of pain:

  • Acute pain
    • Sudden with a specific cause
    • Ends after treatment
      • 6 months or less
    • Sharp pain: Signals threat from injury, disease, overuse, or other environmental stress
      • Strained muscles
      • Cuts/burns
      • Infection
      • Dental work
      • Broken bones
      • Surgery
      • Labor/childbirth
  • Episodic pain
    • Irregular 
    • Comes out of nowhere/known triggers
    • Associated with long-term medical condition
      • Sickle cell disease
      • Painful periods
      • Migraines
  • Chronic pain
    • Ongoing
      • Headaches/migraines
      • Arthritis
      • Joint pain
      • Nerve pain
      • Back and neck pain
      • Fibromyalgia
      • Cancer
    • 6 months or longer
    • Acute pain becomes chronic 
    • Continues after an injury or illness heals
    • Can appear without a past injury
    • Co-occurring acute and chronic pain
    • Multiple chronic pain conditions

Difficulty with chronic pain is not a rare condition. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes, 51.6 million (20.9%) U.S. adults experience chronic pain. Moreover, 17.1 million (6.9%) adults experience high-impact chronic pain. Both chronic and high-impact chronic pain can significantly impact functioning in your daily life. Experiencing high levels of consistent pain in your daily life can have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

Impact of Chronic Pain on Mental Health

Chronic pain and mental health disorders like depression and anxiety commonly co-occur. Not only is chronic pain physically stressful, but the emotional stress takes a toll on how you feel, think, and behave. Together, physical and emotional distress impede your ability to function in every domain of your life. Listed below are some of the domains that chronic pain can impair:

  • Work performance
  • Daily tasks
    • Chores
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Unable to participate in social activities and hobbies

Being unable to do daily life tasks, be productive at work, socialize, or do the things you enjoy can be devastating. Your self-esteem decreases, and frustration grows as you feel like you are not in control of your life. Thus, unaddressed chronic pain in recovery reflects a lack of whole-person healing. Without whole-person healing, you are at a greater risk for SUD and/or mental health relapse. However, understanding the connection between chronic pain and SUD can highlight risk factors for relapse.

Understanding Chronic Pain and SUD

According to the Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain, understanding the pathways to the inter-relationship between chronic pain and SUD is valuable to improving health outcomes. Some of the pathways that can contribute to the prevalence of SUD and chronic pain include:

  • Self-medicating
    • Difficulty coping with physical and emotional challenges
  • Exposure to opioid medication
    • Misuse/abuse of opioids for untreated pain
    • Exposure to prescription opioids for acute/chronic pain 
    • Use of opioids for emotional pain
    • Recreational opioid use

Looking at the pathways to co-occurring SUD and chronic pain highlights unaddressed pain and interconnected emotional distress. Therefore, whole-person healing that addresses treating each condition in connection with each other is vital to maintaining recovery.

Addressing Chronic Pain for Whole-Person Healing

Recovering from SUD alone has its challenges. Adding mental health challenges and chronic pain can feel like an impossibility. Despite the complications chronic pain adds to SUD and/or mental health recovery, sustained recovery is possible. With support, you can build a pain management and recovery plan that supports whole-person healing. Listed below are some of the ways you can engage in whole-person healing for chronic pain:

  • Explore nonpharmacologic and pharmacotherapy treatment
    • Non-opioid medication
    • Medication-assisted therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Psychotherapy
  • Holistic modalities
    • Yoga
    • Meditation
    • Acupuncture
  • Exercise
  • Nutritious diet
  • Sleep routine
  • Pain journal
  • Peer support

Everyone’s experiences and needs for managing wellness are unique. With support from an alumni program, you can work with your support network to build the recovery plan that best fits you.

Power of Community: Whole-Person Healing at Driftwood Recovery

Engaging in an active alumni program gives you access to a wide variety of services and resources to support recovery. Whether you are looking for support with medication management or nutrition, an alumni program can support you. Further, an alumni program gives you access to a deeply connected sober community. 

At Driftwood Recovery, we know meaningful connection with peers and community is vital to chronic pain, SUD, and mental health recovery. Fostering a supportive community of peers, loved ones, and medical professionals empowers physical and psychological wellness. You gain a sense of belonging and shared experiences that remind you that you are not alone. Thus, a supportive community can help you find strength for resilience and self-advocacy. 

Recovering from SUD alone is challenging. The addition of co-occurring chronic pain and mental health disorders can make recovery feel impossible. Chronic pain in recovery can impair performing daily tasks, productivity at work, and socializing. As a result, chronic pain can erode your mental and emotional well-being. Moreover, unaddressed chronic pain and co-occurring mental health disorders increase your risk of developing SUD and or relapsing. However, with holistic continuing care, you can access social connections and other resources for whole-person healing. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing an alumni program with services and resources designed to meet your specific needs. Call (512) 759-8330 to learn how an alumni program helps build a community of support.

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