The Myths and Facts Behind Psychosis Treatment

Psychosis treatment is a mystery to most people. For many, the only places they have seen psychosis is within the media. There, those struggling with psychosis are often depicted as violent people. Popular media is also where the term “psycho” comes from when referring to someone behaving irrationally. Because of this, those who are struggling with conditions that cause symptoms of psychosis may be afraid to seek help. Countless people struggle in silence, which may include yourself and the people you love. 

Education about mental health and its symptoms is vital to our health as a nation. Mental health care and treatment facilities such as Driftwood Recovery have staff that work tirelessly to debunk harmful myths and combat stigma. The goal is not just to spread awareness about this misunderstood symptom but also to inspire hope in those who need psychosis treatment. 

To further this goal, here are some debunked common myths surrounding psychosis, how psychosis is treated, and who may experience psychosis in their lifetime. 

Myth: Psychosis Only Happens to ‘Bad’ People

Psychosis is a symptom that can occur in anyone at any time, regardless of sex, social status, and other factors. According to the psychosis fact sheet published by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), it’s estimated that between 15 to 100 people out of 100,000 develop psychosis each year. The causes of psychosis vary and can be caused by:

• Exposure to extreme stress and trauma
• Genetics and differences in brain development
• Mental health disorders and conditions, such as schizophrenia
• Drug and substance abuse
• Sleep deprivation 
• Some prescription medications
• Diseases of older age, such as dementia

As you can see, psychosis is a symptom of an underlying cause. It is never the result of a person being ‘bad’ or a moral failing on their part. 

Myth: Clients Are Always Locked up and Cannot Leave in Psychosis Treatment

Those who enroll in a treatment program for psychosis treatment are not prisoners. Clients in outpatient treatment go to treatment centers during the day and then return home once treatment is completed for the day. Those in residential treatment programs live on campus during the duration of treatment, but they can still leave should they wish to. Most choose to remain on campus so they can get the most out of their treatment and relax away from the bustle of society. Driftwood Recovery especially focuses on having a private and safe environment that encourages healing and comfort. 

Clients are not simply locked up and never allowed to leave. This is a common treatment myth surrounding other conditions as well. The truth is that clients have rights that cannot be infringed upon, one of them being free to choose to leave if they truly want to. 

Myth: Psychosis Treatment Is All About Medicating You Into Compliance

The process of psychosis treatment may involve medication and medication management, but that’s not all that it is. Clients struggling with psychosis symptoms might utilize other treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, recreational therapy, and many more. 

In psychosis treatment, clients work to understand what triggers their symptoms of psychosis. They receive treatment for underlying conditions that increase the risk of psychotic episodes. The goal, in the end, is to give clients strategies that they can use to reduce or completely stop potential future psychotic episodes. 

Myth: All People With Psychosis Symptoms Are Inherently Dangerous

Perhaps one of the most dangerous myths of all is that people experiencing psychotic episodes are violent and dangerous. This is mainly the result of horror movies such as Psycho and many others. The fact is that psychosis is a temporary disconnect from reality. This means that a person experiencing a psychotic episode may hear voices or see (hallucinate) things that are not real. They may be convinced that something is true that is not. This unusual behavior may be frightening to others, which may make them fear that the person undergoing the psychotic episode may turn violent. 

Psychosis is more dangerous to the person undergoing the psychotic episode than it would be to another individual. Someone undergoing a psychotic episode may be unaware of the dangers and hazards that they would normally recognize. It’s easy for someone who is disconnected from reality to get seriously injured, especially those who are elderly or otherwise impaired. Psychosis treatment is essential to helping those who struggle with psychosis protect themselves from danger.

Myth: Psychosis Treatment Is Impossible

It’s possible for anyone, no matter who they are, to recover from the underlying causes of psychosis. Even those with a life-long condition can find the treatment they need to help them manage their condition. People can and do live full and happy lives while also living with a chronic condition. Psychosis is a scary condition, but with psychosis treatment, it can be managed or even eliminated. 

However, this state of recovery cannot be achieved without first asking for and accepting help. It’s valid to feel afraid or nervous to seek help. Mental health care professionals, though, work hard to provide a safe and welcoming environment to those in need of help. They will never judge, belittle, or harm you. Their goal is to help you, either by pointing you toward needed resources or enrolling you in a treatment program. 

Psychosis and psychotic episodes may be scary to an outsider, but it’s important to be understanding and empathetic to those who experience them. If you or a loved one is experiencing psychotic episodes, it’s okay to seek help. By debunking harmful myths and spreading awareness, we don’t just help ourselves. We also help those who are looking for help but need to know that recovery is possible, as shown by your example. 

Psychosis is a frightening symptom that can result from many different conditions. Those who experience psychosis often face stigma and fear due to its portrayal in popular media. Understanding what psychosis truly is educates the public and encourages those most in need of help to seek it. These symptoms, though scary, can be managed and recovered from. There is always hope, especially for yourself and your loved ones. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients struggling with symptoms of psychosis find compassionate and comprehensive treatment. With a kind and understanding staff on board, no client has to fear judgment or belittlement. If you or a loved one is struggling, don’t wait. Call (512) 759-8330 today. 

According to Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, substance use disorder (SUD) often results in little or no social support. Moreover, you are more likely to experience isolation, intimate partner violence (IPV), and other forms of relationship conflict. The aftermath of SUD can impede romantic relationships and leave you feeling too ashamed to repair an existing relationship or foster a new relationship. Therefore, addressing the challenges of SUD and recovery is valuable for supporting healthy romance in recovery.

At Driftwood Recovery, we recognize how important social connection is in reintegrating into the community. Without connection and community, it can be difficult to rediscover your sense of belonging and support your well-being. Moreover, romance in recovery can feel impossible when SUD has fractured your relationship with your partner(s). Further, the sense of shame and the work of recovery can make you feel like romance in recovery is impossible. You may question how any current or new partner(s) could love you. However, you are more than your SUD and deserve love in both platonic and romantic relationships. 

Through a community-driven approach, we are dedicated to helping you reintegrate into society. With a vibrant, sober community, you can find the service, accountability, and encouragement needed to rebuild a connection with yourself and others. Whether you want to repair your current romantic relationship or you are ready to pursue romance in recovery, we are here to support you. With support, you can build the tools you need to thrive as an individual and in romance in recovery for a well-rounded life.

Looking at the value of close relationships can give you insight into how to approach healing and building connections in your life.

The Value of Repairing Close Relationships

It is important to recognize the impact your substance use has had on your loved ones. Many of your loved ones likely felt anger, fear, anxiety, and depression, among other emotions, before and during your treatment. Now that you are in recovery, your loved ones may still feel worried, angry, and/or resentful about your substance use. Although it can feel distressing to think about how your SUD impacted your loved ones and your relationships, it is an important step toward healing. 

Treatment and recovery are not only an opportunity for you to heal but also for the whole family to heal. As the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine states, fostering social connection is critical to health and wellness. Your social connections with romantic partners, family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues are invaluable to recovery. 

Some of the ways building and or repairing your social connections can support healing include:

• Buffer for life stressors
• Empathy
• Self-awareness 
• Self-understanding
• Ssense of belonging

Looking at some of the benefits of social connection speaks to the value of healing your relationship for romance in recovery.

Supporting Established Romance in Recovery

According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, romantic relationships and experiences greatly influence you. Through romantic relationships, you can find an important source of emotional bonding, positive self-concept, and greater social integration. Listed below are some of the ways you can work on repairing your relationships to support romance in recovery:

• Lead with honesty, humility, and empathy
• Take accountability
• Exercise patience and realistic expectations
• Be trustworthy through words and actions
• Attend meetings and therapy 
• Be an active participant in your loved one’s life
• Practice healthy communication skills
• Make space for self-forgiveness

Having tools to rebuild healthy, close relationships can be a wonderful source of healing for you and your loved ones. However, you may question how you can apply repairing relationships to starting a new romance in recovery.

Addressing the Challenges of New Romance in Recovery

Starting a new romance in recovery is not advised when you are in early recovery. In your first year, romance in recovery presents numerous challenges. Post-treatment, romance in recovery can be a distraction from discovering the new sober you and increase your risk for relapse. However, romance in recovery does not have to be off the table forever. After you have taken the time to connect with yourself, build other meaningful relationships, and rebuild other domains of your life, a healthy romance can be a wonderful addition to your life. 

Yet, how do you start a new romance in recovery? How do you talk about your recovery with a new partner? Listed below are some ways to approach romance in recovery:

• Sharing recovery with your partner
  • Be honest and direct 
  • Expect questions
  • Share the importance of your recovery
  • Give them time to process
• Navigating romance in recovery
  • Set healthy boundaries
    • Make recovery a priority 
    • Take things slow
  • Healthy communication
  • Lean on your wider support network

Whether you are in an established relationship or a new relationship, you can build a healthy life together in recovery. Yet, how do you maintain a healthy relationship?

Ways to Support Healthy Romance in Recovery

Fostering healthy relationships, both romantic and otherwise, in your life is built on:

• Mutual respect
• Effective communication 
• Empathy
• Kindness
• Trust
• Honesty
• Problem-solving
• Teamwork
• Supportive
• Healthy boundaries
• Independence
• Gratitude 
• Commitment
• Quality time

Building healthy relationships with others takes work and patience, but you are not alone. With a vibrant alumni program, you can lean on your extended support network to navigate personal growth and romance in recovery.

Fostering Connection With Community at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we recognize how important rebuilding a connection to self and others is for healing. Through an attachment-based approach to recovery, you have learned how to foster healthy attachments to the self and others. Yet, it can be intimidating to put the insights you learned in treatment into practice. However, with access to an active alumni program, you can put those insights into your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors into action in your life and relationships. We are dedicated to providing a peer-driven network of alumni to help you strengthen your connection to the self and community.

Rebuilding your life and repairing your relationships in recovery can feel daunting. Moreover, repairing or pursuing new romantic relationships in recovery can feel intimidating. However, building both romantic and platonic close relationships in and outside of your sober community can be invaluable to healing and sustained recovery. Healthy social connections can provide a source of emotional, informational, and instrumental support. While starting a new romantic relationship in early recovery is not recommended, romance in recovery past early recovery is possible. Driftwood Recovery is dedicated to providing a compassionate, peer-driven network of alumni for you to lean on as you learn to navigate personal growth and your relationships in recovery. Call us at (512) 759-8330 to learn more today.

Healthcare professionals must follow client privacy laws even at home when discussing work-related events with loved ones. Private conversations with a spouse or other family members may violate client rights unless staff adhere to laws protecting client confidentiality. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) “requires appropriate safeguards to protect the privacy of protected health information and sets limits and conditions on the uses and disclosures that may be made of such information without an individual’s authorization.” Driftwood Recovery prioritizes client confidentiality and ensures all staff members follow strict privacy policies protecting client information. 

Client Privacy in the Workplace and at Home

Clients deserve to be treated and talked about with respect and dignity. Individuals participating in treatment build a bond of trust with their care team. Betraying that trust, even in the privacy of one’s home, may irreparably damage the client-clinician relationship. Being mindful during conversations with loved ones can help staff avoid mentioning information they should not share with unauthorized individuals.  

Sharing Your Emotional Reactions Without Violating Client Rights

Many traumatic, stressful, unusual, and emotionally challenging events happen to individuals in healthcare. Staff watch clients and coworkers go through difficult situations on a daily basis. The constant stress and pressure to meet sometimes unrealistic expectations make it essential for healthcare workers to discuss their thoughts and feelings with members of their support system, including loved ones. Sharing these experiences can help healthcare workers avoid emotional burnout and maintain positive mental health. However, client confidentiality must be maintained during conversations with others, regardless of when or where they occur. 

Client Privacy Laws in Healthcare

Clients have a right to confidentiality. Healthcare professionals and support staff ensure client records remain private and secure. Driftwood Recovery utilizes strict privacy policies to ensure client records and details remain safe and only available to authorized individuals. Healthcare workers must follow federal, state, and local laws protecting client records. Although employers should provide information on relevant laws, it is up to each healthcare worker to remain compliant with the latest privacy rules and regulations.

Some of the client information healthcare providers cannot disclose to unauthorized individuals include: 

• Medical records  
• Demographics
• Billing or payment records 
• Medical imaging 
• Laboratory tests, including blood tests and drug screens 
• Insurance details
• Personal identifying information  

Following client privacy laws helps healthcare professionals build trust with clients. Individuals are more likely to open up and share relevant personal information if they know their records and private conversations will not be shared with anyone outside the care team. 

HIPPA and Private Conversations With Loved Ones

The HIPPA privacy rule makes it illegal to share a client’s protected health information (PHI) with unauthorized individuals, including coworkers, client family members, and trusted friends. Studies have shown that “[t]he HIPAA privacy rule applies to almost every department in a medical facility, even when walking to the parking lot with a colleague or on your home internet, the confidentiality of PHI must be preserved.” Even private conversations with loved ones should not include identifying client information, including age, gender, name, and the specifics of their medical condition or treatment. 

Most people trust their friends and family and may feel comfortable disclosing information they know should not be discussed privately. Driftwood Recovery prioritizes keeping client records and medical details secure. Staff receive training to ensure they know how to avoid disclosing private information while discussing their work with loved ones. Even vaguely alluding to client circumstances may break the HIPAA privacy rule. 

Healthcare workers protect client privacy in personal conversations by doing the following: 

• Avoiding discussions about any unnecessary work details
• Ensuring all work devices, including phones, tablets, or computers, remain locked and secure at all times 
• Using general terms to discuss any workplace events or interactions 
• Educating friends and family members of the importance of confidentiality if they request additional information 
• Avoiding sharing any work-related information over social media or in public areas 

Professionals must protect their client’s safety and confidentiality at all times. Federal, state, and local laws apply at home and in public. If in doubt, staff may speak with a supervisor to clarify what information is confidential, what can be shared, or how to talk about workplace events with families and friends. 

Being Mindful of What Details You Share With Loved Ones

Healthcare professionals must remain mindful of word choices, including the specific language used to describe clients while discussing work events with loved ones. Everyone needs to destress sometimes, and talking through challenging experiences with loved ones can help staff cope with workplace stressors more effectively. However, professionals must maintain client privacy while having those vital discussions. Disclosing traumatic, stressful, humorous, or positive workplace situations with loved ones cannot involve disclosing any identifying information. Practicing mindfulness and remaining aware of privacy laws protects clients and staff members. 

Everyone needs to vent sometimes or share unusual situations they encounter at work. However, healthcare professionals must follow laws protecting client information, even during private conversations with family or friends. Without disclosing protected information, people can be honest with loved ones about work factors impacting their mental health and complex emotions related to client care. Healthcare professionals must remain vigilant about their words when describing clients or workplace situations. Coworkers must also practice discretion when discussing clients they are not actively treating. Client privacy takes precedence and should be supported at all times. Driftwood Recovery has policies in place to protect client confidentiality and privacy. To learn more about how we protect client information, call us today at (512) 759-8330.

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders globally. Further, depression is one of the leading co-occurring disorders with substance use disorder (SUD). According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), approximately 21.5 million adults in the U.S. have a co-occurring disorder. Therefore, addressing the challenges of co-occurring disorders in early recovery and building a foundation of social support is invaluable to maintaining recovery.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know fostering connection through social support is vital to building a strong foundation for sustained recovery. The relationships you foster with others and the community you build through social support help turn the insights you learned in treatment into action. Our commitment to connection and community through social support can be seen in our attachment treatment approach. Thus, with a strong alumni program, you can be empowered by compassion, understanding, and sharing guidance.

However, numerous challenges in early recovery can make it difficult to lean into and build your social support system. Early recovery alone can make you doubt your ability to maintain your recovery. Learning to navigate your newfound independence in recovery can convince you that you are alone. Further, challenges with depressive symptoms can impede your ability to lean into your social support network. 

How do you engage in your social support network when depression weighs you down? Expanding your understanding of depression in early recovery and its impact on you can provide insight into the value of social support for healing.

Understanding Depression in Early Recovery

Depression in early recovery can be tied to preexisting challenges with depression. For example, you may have turned to self-medicating with substances as a maladaptive coping strategy to combat life stressors and trauma. Further, depression can also be present in early recovery due to features of treatment and recovery like detox and abstinence. As SAMHSA notes, depressive symptoms are common in early recovery and are often associated with withdrawal and addiction identity. Thus, the physical and emotional loss of substances can wreak havoc on your body and mind in the form of depression. 

Some of the ways depression can impact your recovery include:

• Helplessness 
• Hopelessness
• Sadness
• Decreased motivation
• No energy to reach out for social support

Not only does depression in early recovery increase your risk for relapse, but it also has a significant impact on your relationships.

Impact of Depression on Interpersonal Relationships

According to the Development and Psychopathology Journal, depressive symptoms and interpersonal relationships can impact parent-child, peer, and romantic partner relationships. Depression and your interpersonal relationships can act as either a predecessor or a consequence of a weak social support network. Thus, depression and or poor social support can create a negative cycle in which depression can impede social support, and poor social support can increase depressive symptoms. Listed below are some of the ways depression and poor social support can harm well-being and recovery:

• More likely to be withdrawn, respond negatively, and behave aggressively
  • Increases relationship conflict
• Lack of energy to take an interest or participate in activities with loved ones
• Problematic interactions and relationships like verbal abuse and emotional neglect
  • Increases depression

Further, depressive symptoms can disrupt your recovery as it leaves you feeling like maintaining your recovery is impossible. Therefore, understanding and building a social support system can be invaluable to early and lasting recovery.

Addressing the Value of Social Support for Depression

Social support considers the number of relationships you have and the function of those relationships, such as informational, instrumental, and emotional. Moreover, the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health defines social support as the resources you receive from social activities, which are broken into objective support and subjective support. Objective support includes material assistance and direct services. Meanwhile, subjective support is the emotional experience in which you feel respected, understood, and supported. 

Listed below are some of the ways strong social support can reduce depression and support mental well-being:

• Improves adaptive coping 
• Increases psychological resilience
• Supports a sense of belonging
• Helps sustain motivation
• Decreases loneliness and negative self-appraisal

The benefits of social support highlight the value of close interpersonal relationships in your life. Yet, how do you build social support and dismantle the consequences of depression in recovery? Humans are social creatures; from birth to the end of life, there is an innate need for connection and attachment with others. Your family plays a significant role in your development as they often offer shelter, support, and affection, among other things.

Building Social Support With Family Therapy

Your family can play a crucial role in well-being, which presents family therapy as a valuable tool for building social support across different networks of support. Some of the ways family therapy can help repair relationships and foster social support include:

• You will learn how to express your experiences to your loved ones
• Your loved ones will learn how to best support you and themselves  
• Increase family cohesiveness
• Improve problem-solving skills

Looking at the ways family therapy can support building your social support network showcases connection as a path to sustained recovery.

Empowering Social Support in Recovery at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we know considering the entire family in recovery can give you the well-rounded social support you need to heal and restore balance in your life. With attachment at the core of our approach, we place great value on mutual support and community. Moreover, through our commitment to whole-person healing, you are reminded that recovery is not done in isolation but in the embrace of a strong and compassionate community. Thus, our peer-driven network is designed to support you and your loved ones throughout your recovery journey. No matter where you are on your recovery journey, in a vibrant alumni program, you can find the social support you need to lead the courageous life in recovery you deserve.

Early recovery can be exciting as you learn how to build an independent life in recovery. Yet, early recovery can also come with challenges like depressive symptoms, whether or not you experienced difficulties with co-occurring depression before treatment. Challenges with depression in recovery can increase your risk for relapse as it disrupts your ability to lean on your social support network to manage stressors. However, you can reduce depressive symptoms and foster interpersonal connection for healing with family therapy. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing a supportive, sober community in alumni where you and your loved ones can find the resources you need to reclaim your life. Call us at (512) 759-8330 to learn more today.

In recovery, you have learned how important self-care is for your physical and psychological well-being. You may even be well aware of the nine key attributes of self-care, like awareness, self-control, and self-reliance. Yet, effectively and safely engaging in self-care is easier said than done. Thus, building a self-care plan is invaluable to healthy self-care and sustained recovery.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know how easy it can be to get bogged down by fears about maintaining sobriety. With fear often comes an overachiever mindset that manifests itself as trying to take on too much in recovery. However, through an alumni program, you can find the connection, accountability, and support you need to meet challenges with balance. Through community integration, you learn how to process stress and build life skills like a self-care plan. Thus, building a self-care plan can be your first step toward fostering inner connection and healing rather than harming yourself.

You may still have questions about building a balanced self-care plan. How can self-care be anything other than useful in recovery? In what ways can self-care do more harm than good in recovery? You can learn how to build a healthy self-care plan by first understanding self-care fatigue and its impact on well-being.

What Is Self-Care Fatigue?

Talking about self-care has become more common in the general public. Whether it is a host on a show or the HR department at your job, everyone is talking about self-care. Despite the benefits of self-care, you can find yourself in a state of self-care fatigue. Self-care fatigue often happens when your life does not match how you want to feel despite engaging in self-care. 

Now, the thought that you can do self-care incorrectly may sound baffling. In reality, there is not necessarily a wrong way to do self-care. Self-care, much like addiction treatment, should match the specific needs of the individual. While there is no wrong way to do self-care, there are misconceptions that can lead you to make unhealthy choices. Thus, self-care fatigue often bubbles up from a place of emotional exhaustion. 

You keep engaging in things you perceive as self-care, yet you still have not seen a change in certain aspects of your life. Without change, you can lose hope and find yourself stuck. Therefore, reducing self-care fatigue and building an effective self-care plan starts with breaking down the myths and misconceptions that plague a supportive self-care plan.

Self-Care Myths: Impact of Myths on Building a Self-Care Plan

Numerous myths and misconceptions about self-care can lead you to build an unhealthy self-care plan. Some of the myths of self-care include:

• It is selfish and expensive
  • Taking time for yourself allows you to rest and recharge 
  • You do not have to go to luxury spas or buy expensive equipment
• Self-care is not for everyone
  • Everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, religion, or ability, can benefit from self-care
    • While everyone’s experiences are different, everyone has faced stress and challenges 
• It is time-consuming
  • Self-care does not have a fixed schedule or a specific amount you must do
    • Anything from five to forty-five minutes can be valuable for self-care
    • It is less about time and more about how the act of self-care makes you feel
    • A self-care plan can be as structured or loose as you need it to be
• Self-care is anything that soothes you
  • It should be relaxing and enjoyable, but it should not be done to excess or impair other areas of well-being in your life like your physical health

How your self-care plan should look is often misconstrued by myths that contribute to emotional exhaustion and unbalanced self-care. Listed below are some examples of a poor self-care plan:

• Only engaging in look-based activities
  • Manicures
  • Pedicures
  • Hair appointments
• Avoiding things that make you uncomfortable
  • Exercising
  • Attending a support group
• Doing a self-care activity because someone else does it
  • Spending a weekend reading on a beach when you dislike the beach

Now, you may question how you can build a healthy self-care plan that fits you and your life.

How to Build a Self-Care Plan

According to “Building Your Self-Care” from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), part of building a self-care plan is picking different types of strategies to add to your toolkit. Although you do not have to incorporate each strategy into your self-care plan, each strategy may offer something that works for you:

• Physical 
• Social 
• Mental 
• Environmental 
• Work-related 
• Recreational 
• Mindfulness 
• Spiritual 

Beyond picking strategies, it is also important to evaluate your positive and negative coping skills and identify your self-care needs. With a better idea of your needs and skills, you can build a self-care plan that will support sustained recovery.

Sustainable Tools for Your Self-Care Plan

Much like picking self-care strategies, within those strategies are a variety of tools you can use in your daily life. Listed below are some sustainable tools that may be effective in your regular and emergency self-care plan:

• Regular self-care
  • Dancing to music while you get ready
  • Working out while watching a show
  • Cooking dinner with a loved one
  • Family book club
  • Listening to relaxing soundscapes before bed
  • Attending a support group
  • Write one thing you are grateful for before bed
• Emergency self-care
  • Deep breathing
  • Taking a walk
  • Support person

By practicing different tools in your self-care plan toolbox, you can support your well-being and maintain recovery.

Learning How to Build Your Self-Care Toolkit at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we know building a strong foundation to sustain recovery starts with a connection to self and others. Through an active alumni program, you have access to services and activities for community and self-care. You can strengthen your mind, body, and spirit as your peers act as a source of guidance and accountability for well-being. Therefore, we are dedicated to connection and community integration to help you build a unique self-care plan to maintain your recovery.

One commonly occurring instance in life that is greatly harmful to one’s mental health is toxic relationships. These relationships can occur among family, friends, and peers. What makes these relationships dangerous is that they can sabotage treatment progress or even trigger a relapse for those in recovery. Perhaps the most heartbreaking thing about these relationships is that the connections you feel for them are real, which makes them difficult to break away from.

Learning to recognize and let go of toxic relationships is never easy. It’s especially true for those who are victims of manipulation tactics, such as gaslighting. At Driftwood Recovery, it’s considered an essential skill as part of recovery to identify and let go of toxic relationships. Recognizing who will help or hinder you during and after treatment can be stressful, but you don’t have to make these choices alone.

Mental health care professionals and providers are always there to help you examine your relationships to determine if they are toxic or healthy. Before clients can understand that they are in a toxic relationship, they must first know what a toxic relationship looks like. 

What Are Toxic Toxic Relationships?

Many traits define a relationship as toxic. Simply put, it’s a relationship where a person, either inadvertently or maliciously, causes you persistent harm. This harm can be direct, such as physical hitting or outright insults. However, it can be subtle, such as isolating a person or manipulating them to serve a selfish goal. A healthy relationship is about support and mutual care, which makes us feel good. Toxic ones are heavily one-sided and will feel very unfair, tiring, or frightening. 

These toxic relationships are difficult to deal with because of how prevalent they may be in intimate circles. They can come from family, a peer group, or even from a spouse or partner. It’s normal to still love and care about these people, even if they hurt you. It can make severing yourself from these relationships difficult. Toxic relationships also cause conditions such as depression, addiction, and suicidal ideation. 

It’s normal to feel love for the people who hurt you. Sometimes, what makes toxic relationships so difficult is that when you can end the relationship, you may still mourn and grieve for the relationship you thought you had. Toxic relationships still cause harm in this way, and the experiences they leave with an individual often require professional help to treat.

How Do Toxic Relationships Harm Recovery?

Toxic relationships are dangerous to recovery for several reasons. Perhaps the most serious problem is that can trigger a relapse. Often, this is because toxic relationships are highly stressful, and a person may strongly feel the urge to use substances as a coping mechanism. Other times, a toxic person may maliciously or indirectly trigger a relapse by ignoring a person’s boundaries. 

For example, a person completes treatment for alcohol addiction. A toxic person may refuse to limit their drinking around the person, may constantly invite them to places where drinking is present, or even encourage them to drink again. “Come on, you’re not fun anymore now that you are sober” and “It’s just one drink to celebrate” are all examples of manipulations that can trigger a relapse. 

Toxic relationships are also bad for one’s sense of self-worth and self-esteem. A toxic person can grind down a person’s confidence and make them feel as though they are a failure. One thing a toxic person cannot stand is someone who is bettering their life. As a result, those who try to seek treatment may face sabotage. An example of this is a toxic person threatening to harm themselves if you try to leave them or seek opportunities such as getting a new job or undergoing treatment. 

Finding Help at Driftwood Recovery

There are ways in which a person can learn to recognize and navigate toxic relationships. Such skills are important at Driftwood Recovery, as they allow clients to protect their recovery during and after treatment. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one such therapy used to help those struggling with a toxic relationship. This therapy helps clients identify harmful thoughts and behaviors and guide them into making positive changes. CBT is also a critical therapy used to teach clients how to set and stick with healthy boundaries.

Group therapy is also helpful in identifying and navigating toxic relationships. Participants in group therapy have experienced many things and have plenty of wisdom to share. They very well may be the ones who can point out if you are being mistreated. Sometimes, having a sounding board of individuals that you don’t know can show you that your relationships are not healthy. Group therapy participants may also have advice on what to do and can share their personal experiences, showing that they are not alone. 

Building confidence and establishing new and healthy support networks is another way to overcome toxic relationships. At Driftwood Recovery, clients learn that they are valid and worthy of care. This is often done through team-building exercises where clients learn to trust each other. Other times, it’s allowed to happen organically through recreation and downtime. Through each step, mental health care professionals are there to offer support and guidance. Once a client finishes treatment, they can join the alumni program, where they can continue the connections forged at Driftwood Recovery and beyond. 

Recovering from a toxic relationship can be difficult, but healing is always possible. When someone recognizes they need help and accepts it, new doors open up to them. 

Toxic relationships are one of the major contributors to addiction and other mental health conditions. They also will keep people from seeking help, achieving recovery, or even outright sabotaging a person’s sobriety. Learning how to recognize and let go of these toxic relationships is essential to achieving and maintaining recovery. That’s why at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients have access to a wide array of therapies designed to help them recognize and remove toxic relationships from their lives. It’s never an easy thing to do, but with newfound confidence and self-respect, clients can take a stand to protect themselves and their recovery. To learn more about treatment at Driftwood Recovery, call (512) 759-8330 today.

According to Addiction Relapse Prevention, approximately 50% of people relapse within the first 12 weeks. However, the risk of recovery burnout in long-term recovery is often overlooked. Recovery burnout is an important phenomenon. As the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notes, 7 in 10 adults are in addiction recovery. Therefore, recognizing recovery burnout can be invaluable to maintaining long-term recovery.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know recovery is a journey that continues long after addiction treatment. However, we also know how difficult it can be to stay connected to a sober community. Losing those recovery connections over time makes it easier to lose yourself in recovery. The work needed to maintain recovery, especially alone, can increase recovery burnout. Therefore, we are dedicated to providing a vibrant alumni program with support and accountability. With support and connection with alumni, you can avoid recovery burnout to sustain recovery.

However, you may still have questions about recovery burnout. What is recovery burnout, and what causes it? How does recovery burnout impact your long-term well-being and recovery? 

What Is Recovery Burnout?

You may be familiar with burnout concerning other domains like work and school. Burnout has recently become synonymous with healthcare workers and college students. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout is a syndrome that comes from chronic workplace stress that is not effectively managed. Thus, burnout, in general, is often thought of as an occupational phenomenon. 

However, the world has expanded to be entangled in other domains and life challenges. Recovery, much like treatment, requires a lot of courage and work to build and maintain. Therefore, when you have been in recovery for a while, you can start to feel exhausted from the effort, time, and commitment you have to put into sustaining recovery. 

Recovery burnout is a loss of the energy that motivates your dedication to recovery. Moreover, recovery burnout can lead to negative feelings about recovery as the physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion takes over. Although entering recovery after the structure of a residential treatment program can feel daunting, it may be difficult to imagine ever experiencing recovery burnout. You may think of recovery as this grand prize for all your hard work and the final step in a new life. While recovery does present an opportunity for a new, fulfilling life without substances, it is not a destination. 

Misconceptions that recovery is the end of the journey are born out of the pink cloud syndrome in early recovery. Thus, understanding the pink cloud syndrome can help you better understand how recovery burnout develops.

Pink Cloud Syndrome: Understanding Challenges of Early Recovery

Although recovery is a lifelong process, there are some stages on your journey to recovery. Some of the stages of recovery include seeking support, detox, treatment, and early recovery. In and around early recovery is where pink cloud syndrome or pink clouding is found. Pink cloud syndrome is the phase in early recovery following withdrawal symptoms that leave you filled with feelings of euphoria and elation. 

In many ways, pink cloud syndrome is like the honeymoon phase of recovery in which you have just discovered the joy of life without substances. Moreover, you are overjoyed and optimistic about the progress you have made and are completely confident in your ability to maintain recovery. Feeling happy about the progress you have made toward recovery is something you should be proud of. However, the dangers of pink cloud syndrome are an unrealistic and overconfident perspective that does not last. Some of the issues of pink cloud syndrome include:

• Preoccupation with the positive aspects of recovery
• Excessive optimism
• Withdrawal from your support system

Thus, ignoring the reality of recovery as a dynamic process with peaks and valleys sets you up for recovery burnout.

Addressing Unhealthy and Health Habits in Recovery

With recovery burnout, you can get stuck in unhealthy habits that leave you feeling unbalanced and overworked. Thus, recognizing and addressing unhealthy habits is important to effective long-term recovery. According to NIH News in Health, habits often arise through repetition and when the brain’s reward centers are triggered. Therefore, healthy and unhealthy habits often stem from the same process. For example, your brain may crave the reward feeling and familiarity of one too many glasses of wine before bed, the same way meditating before bed can become a healthy habit. Yet, how do you dismantle the unhealthy habits of overachieving in recovery burnout?

Finding Healthy Ways to Cope With Recovery Burnout

The NIH states that changing unhealthy habits is a process. Recovery does not happen overnight or require perfection, as pink clouding and early recovery lead you to believe. Your ability to find balance in recovery and avoid recovery burnout starts with building healthy coping strategies to combat stress and an overachiever mentality. While everyone’s needs to overcome recovery burnout is unique, some adaptive coping skills you can use to reestablish balance include:

• Recognize and accept your feelings
• Give yourself space to relax
• Set boundaries 
• Reach out for support
• Find healthy outlets 
  • Drawing
  • Journaling
• Make time for wellness
  • Yoga
  • Sleep hygiene
• Change up the recovery resources you use
  • Online and app-based resources
  • Sober activities

With greater self-awareness, you can effectively address and reduce your risk for recovery burnout.

Fostering Recovery Burnout Tools for Lasting Recovery at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we know the connection to self and others in alumni is vital to sustained recovery. No matter where you are on your recovery journey, it can be thrilling and overwhelming. Feeling overwhelmed in recovery is not something to feel ashamed about but rather something you acknowledge and lean on your support system for. Healing is not meant to be done alone, and engaging with alumni reminds you that balance in recovery is possible. Through a peer-driven network, you can find the support, resources, guidance, and accountability you need to lead a courageous life in recovery.

Some individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) or mental health issues require a higher level of care to address their unique situation and needs. Studies have shown that “[a]t the point of referral, there is both an opportunity to address a client’s unmet needs and a potential danger of losing the client.” Keeping the client engaged in treatment is essential to ensuring their recovery. The dedicated experts at Driftwood Recovery offer referrals to higher levels of care for individuals who need additional support to achieve and maintain sobriety or positive mental health. 

Why Do Some Clients Require a Higher Level of Care?

Clients may have medical or behavioral issues impacting their ability to participate in lower levels of care. For example, some individuals with severe and persistent depression may require residential care to ensure they receive the best support and treatment for their condition. Individuals struggling with active eating disorders, suicidal thoughts or behaviors, and severe withdrawal from alcohol or drugs may benefit from 24/7 access to medical supervision and more comprehensive support services. 

Some of the most common reasons clients receive referrals for higher levels of care include: 

• A complex diagnosis
• Severe symptoms 
• Rare side effects 
• High risk of relapse 
• Medical complications 
• A need for specialized therapies 
• Lack of a support system 
• High-risk or self-destructive behaviors 
• Significant behavioral issues 
• Resistance to treatment 

Some clients may have difficulty trusting healthcare providers and staff members due to past negative treatment experiences. Higher levels of care provide clients with one-on-one services and detailed follow-ups with clinicians. 

The Role of Assessments in Determining Care

Assessments help clinicians determine the level of care clients need to experience the best outcomes. Client interviews, assessments, and other screening tools provide healthcare workers with a comprehensive understanding of each client’s needs. Experts at Driftwood Recovery use assessments to tailor client treatment plans by evaluating risk factors, symptoms, side effects, and underlying issues impacting client mental health. Clinicians benefit from frequently assessing clients throughout treatment, allowing them to adjust the care plan to address new concerns or changes in client symptoms.

Client Safety in Treatment Planning

The safety of clients and staff members is the highest priority during treatment planning. If clinicians believe clients may become a danger to themselves or others, they will suggest more appropriate forms of treatment. Collaboration between clients and clinicians ensures people in treatment feel heard, understood, and supported. 

Some of the ways healthcare professionals help clients remain safe and comfortable during treatment include: 

• Conducting comprehensive risk assessments during the initial interview and regularly throughout treatment 
• Personalizing treatment and aftercare plans
• Communicating expectations to clients and their families 
• Obtaining informed consent for every service and stage of treatment 
• Creating a secure and nurturing environment 
• Conducting regular safety and progress reviews to determine if client needs are being met 

The experts at Driftwood Recovery work closely with clients to ensure they feel comfortable and engaged in treatment. If clients do not meet their recovery goals or begin to experience more severe symptoms, clinicians may refer them to a higher level of care. 

When to Refer Clients to a Higher Level of Care

Healthcare professionals must ensure clients do not interfere with the recovery of peers in treatment. Individuals who require higher levels of care may need additional clinician support, taking time and focus away from other clients. If clients present a danger to themselves and others or a barrier to treatment for themselves and others, healthcare professionals may provide referrals to more appropriate community-based or private programs. 

Staff members at Driftwood Recovery refer clients to other treatment options if they notice the following: 

• Consistently escalating symptoms 
• Medical instability 
• A high risk for suicide or self-harm
• Nonresponsiveness to the current treatment 
• Inability to maintain sobriety 
• Motivation issues or low engagement 
• Aggressive, violent, or disruptive behaviors 

Care teams must collaborate to ensure consistent client care. Referring clients to another program or service should involve discussions between every care team member to ensure all factors are considered. Communication between healthcare workers, individuals in recovery, and client families ensures the care team has all the information they need to provide an appropriate referral.

Why Driftwood Recovery Refers Some Clients to a Higher Level of Care

Every client should have access to relevant and appropriate services. Driftwood Recovery may not have the best resources for everyone who struggles with substance abuse or mental health issues. The dedicated care team at Driftwood Recovery only refers clients to other programs that provide high-quality care and comprehensive services. Potential clients are always welcome to return to Driftwood Recovery after they learn to manage their symptoms. Staff members refer clients to higher levels of care only when other services result in better treatment outcomes. 

Individuals in treatment for substance use disorder may benefit from being referred to higher levels of care until they feel comfortable returning to Driftwood Recovery as part of a continuum of care. Often, clients who need to be referred to more comprehensive programs transition back to treatment at the original facility once they establish a support system and practical coping tools. However, some individuals may require additional care for a prolonged period. For example, people struggling with active suicidal ideation or eating disorders may need to spend longer in residential treatment programs. Experts and support staff provide essential resources and referrals to higher levels of care when appropriate. To learn more about Driftwood Recovery, call us today at (512) 759-8330.

Learning how to manage stress is an important part of growing up. As children, we learn how to manage stress and our emotions by observing and copying the behaviors of both our peers and adults. The presence of or lack of healthy coping skills learned as youth can greatly impact our ability to cope with difficulties once we become adults.

This is especially important when undergoing treatment for addiction and its co-occurring conditions. Although steps are taken to make treatment as smooth as possible, it’s still a stressful endeavor. Those who cannot healthily manage stress during treatment run the risk of burnout and may give up before treatment is completed.

That’s why at Driftwood Recovery, clients utilize therapies to teach them how to manage stress on their own. While learning these essential skills, clients also have access to stress-managing activities. Knowing when you are feeling stressed is also important, as well as recognizing when you need to manage it. Overall, stress management will become second nature over time, especially when given opportunities to practice these skills in a safe and supportive environment. 

Although not a comprehensive list, here are a few tips all clients can follow to manage their stress.

Tip 1 – Manage Stress by Moving Your Body

Exercise and moving your body release endorphins, which are a feel-good chemical. It has been proven that exercise can help boost your mental health. Psychical activity allows stress to leave the body, especially when engaging in enjoyable activities. 

At Driftwood Recovery, all clients are encouraged to move their bodies as part of treatment. It can be vigorous movement, such as playing a sport through therapeutic recreation, or more relaxing, such as yoga. Before beginning any physical activity, it’s important to speak with a professional to prevent injuries. They can give you the tips you need to enjoy physical activity safely.

Tip 2 – Self-Care for Stress Relief

Taking care of your physical and emotional needs is essential to manage stress. Many times, stress can be relieved by satisfying vital biological functions. Getting proper sleep and rest is one such way to manage stress, as it bolsters your body. Eating nutritious food at regular intervals, as well as remaining properly hydrated, can all reduce stress. If you feel stressed, it might be because you are tired, hungry, or thirsty.

Self-care also refers to fulfilling one’s emotional and spiritual needs as well. Engaging in activities that you feel are purposeful or working to better yourself are all forms of self-care. Many times people feel stressed because they feel as though they have no direction in life. Actively working towards a goal to fulfill this need can also manage stress. 

Tip 3 – Find Healthy Outlets to Manage Stress

Stress is harmful because it remains inside a person until it can be expressed. Those engaging in unhealthy stress relief may engage in substance abuse or other dangerous activities to feel better. However, there are ways for a person to manage stress healthily without resorting to harmful activities. 

Driftwood Recovery encourages clients to find hobbies and activities that release stress and give them joy. Some common examples of hobbies that can be used to manage stress include crafts, gardening, or playing games. Therapies designed to manage stress, such as art therapy, can provide a client with a lifelong outlet for stress. 

Tip 4 – Reduce Stressors by Accepting Help

Another way to manage stress is to accept professional help. Attempting to accomplish a difficult task on your own can be highly stressful and frustrating. It’s especially true if you experience repeated failures, which can work to demotivate a person. In time, a person may even stop trying, which is something that cannot be allowed to happen in treatment.

To help with that, clients are encouraged to trust in others to help them. The bond between client and provider is only possible through this trust, which ultimately promotes healing. Driftwood Recovery makes this easier by being staffed by compassionate and understanding professionals. Clients can let go of their stress by allowing these professionals to help them carry their struggles. Understanding that your providers will give you time to breathe through the treatment process can go a long way to managing your stress. 

Tip 5 – Manage Stress by Being Kind to Yourself

Perhaps the greatest tip of all to manage stress is to be kind to yourself. It’s not unheard of for someone to take up more of a burden than they need to and then put themselves down for failing. Sometimes, these negative thoughts and feelings of unworthiness will turn on a person, causing them to inadvertently self-sabotage their progress. If you want to manage stress healthily, you must treat yourself better.

This can be done by changing your mindset to be more compassionate and realistic. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is often used to help clients speak to themselves in a kinder and more understanding way. It allows them to set realistic goals so they can celebrate their successes. Part of this mindset is also accepting that failing is a part of life, but it doesn’t mean that you cannot try again. It’s always better to try than it is to preemptively give up. 

This more positive mindset doesn’t just manage stress; it gives you support and encouragement to face any task that lies ahead. 

Again, this list is not comprehensive, as there are many individual ways in which a client can learn to manage stress. If you feel overly stressed during treatment and recovery, it’s always encouraged to speak to a mental health care professional. They will be able to get you the therapies needed to encourage healthy coping skills and find relief. Stress is temporary, but the skills you learn to manage stress will last forever.  

Stress can be a major contributor to addiction and other mental health conditions. Learning how to healthily manage one’s stress is an essential part of treatment and recovery. Without these skills, it’s possible to struggle with treatment burnout or even experience a relapse. That’s why at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients spend time learning stress management and relief techniques as part of treatment. Not only do clients learn skills to mitigate the effect of stress on themselves, but they also have time to participate in stress-reliving activities, such as walks or breathing exercises. If you or a loved one is struggling, don’t wait to get treatment. Call Driftwood Recovery today at (512) 759-8330. 

You have done the difficult work of seeking and completing treatment. Although completion of treatment is exciting, it is also understandably scary as you reenter society and rebuild your social life. Challenges with alcohol misuse can also make reentering social life feel overwhelming and impossible.

Alcohol has played a central role in the lives of countless people across the world since some of the earliest civilizations on the planet. Thus, alcohol consumption, misuse, and abuse is a complex topic. Unlike illicit substances like cocaine and heroin, alcohol is a legal substance that, for many, is a normal part of their social life. As the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) notes, 2.2 million people 12 years and older have alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Yet, only 7.6% of people with AUD receive treatment, which can highlight alcohol use as a spectrum of misuse. The consequences of alcohol misuse are not relegated only to individuals with dependence or AUD. Rather, most people who misuse alcohol account for the majority of alcohol-related disability and death. Thus, addressing the cultural and social life aspects of alcohol consumption is valuable for understanding overconsumption, dependence, and AUD.

At Driftwood Recovery, we recognize that living a life in recovery means being reintegrated into the community. Through a community-driven approach, we are dedicated to helping you reintegrate into society. With a vibrant, sober community, you can find the service, accountability, and encouragement needed to rebuild your social life without alcohol. Our peer-driven network provides mutually supportive attachment with others to give you the tools you need to reintegrate into everyday life. 

Yet, it may feel difficult for you to imagine building a social life without alcohol. By expanding your understanding of drinking culture, you can dismantle alcohol’s influence.

Understanding Drinking Culture

Most alcohol research is focused on risk factors and the impact of individual experiences on addiction. However, understanding the cultural elements of alcohol can support sustained recovery. Cultural norms and practices found in society typically intersect with health and psychological wellness. Moreover, the way you experience and perceive culture greatly influences how you see yourself, others, and the world. 

Thus, understanding culture can provide insight into the significance of culture in society and social life. According to the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, culture typically consists of a schema of beliefs, practices, values, and other worldviews that are maintained by a cultural group or society, which is preserved and transmitted across generations. For alcohol, drinking culture and social life are deeply interconnected, especially in pop culture: 

• Movies
• Television
• Music
• Social media

Moreover, many of the social influences of alcohol in pop culture spill over into other cultural influences. Additional influences on drinking culture and social life can include community norms, racial and ethnic discrimination, family and peer drinking behaviors, and college social life. Thus, drinking culture can have a fundamental impact on how you engage in social life.

The Impact of Drinking Culture on Social Life

There are countless examples in pop culture that glorify binge drinking and alcohol as a coping tool. Although pop culture can have a significant influence on how you perceive alcohol, interactions with family, friends, and other aspects of social life can be particularly influential. Many of your social life experiences from adolescence to adulthood have likely been influenced by the socialization of alcohol. 

Overconsumption of alcohol can be seen across countless social life events like college parties, young dating culture, sporting events, holiday parties, and bar Happy hours with co-workers. The prevalence of drinking culture in every major segment of life speaks to the far-reaching influence of alcohol on social life. Further, many of the elements of drinking culture found in social life are tied to social connection. 

Importance of Social Connections for Sobriety

Addiction and early recovery are often plagued by self-isolation and loneliness. A loss of social connection can be detrimental to your well-being and increase your risk for relapse. Thus, building a social life in sobriety can not only support relapse prevention but also improve your well-being. Some of the ways social connection through a social life can support your health and well-being include:

• Foster a sense of belonging
• Improve self-esteem 
• Increase motivation
• Raise quality of life

While addiction to your previous social life may have fractured your social connection, support in sobriety can help you reclaim the joys of social life.

Ways to Support a Social Life Without Alcohol

Building a fun, happy, and meaningful social life does not require alcohol. Yet, how do you combat cultural norms that most people subscribe to? Through a vibrant alumni program, you can uncover a fulfilling social life without alcohol. Some of the ways you can engage in a sober social life include:

• Setting clear boundaries with others
• Hangout with friends at places other than bars and clubs
  • Cafe
  • Movie theater
  • Museum
  • Library
  • Art gallery
• Joining a club or group
  • Book club
• Take a class
  • Yoga
  • Pottery
• Join a sports league
  • Volleyball
  • Basketball
  • Flag football
• Volunteer
• Attend sober events

There are a wide variety of sober places and activities you can engage in with old and new friends. Although it can feel daunting to socialize without alcohol, an alumni program can give you the support you need to step into your new sober life confidently.

Fostering a Sober Social Life at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we believe a strong and vibrant alumni program can give you the support and resources you need to thrive in recovery. Through a peer-driven network, you can find a sober community where connection is at the heart of the community. Together, you can foster fellowship and fun in sobriety with shared experiences and a commitment to accountability, service, and encouragement. We are dedicated to helping you reintegrate and build a new sober life, whether it is weekly meetings and activities or in-house AA meetings, there is a community for you.