What Makes Austin a Great City for Treatment and Maintaining Recovery?

There are many treatment programs all across the country. However, where you seek treatment is just as important to your recovery as the treatment itself. Austin, Texas, is one of the best places in the United States to find healing and support in maintaining recovery.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know finding the right program is vital to the building blocks for sustained recovery. Thus, our treatment program has been committed to integrating nature and contemporary comforts to provide a sanctuary where you can reflect and recover. Now that you have found healing in our expansive 85-acre estate, you can see the heart of Austin culture as a place for lasting recovery. Austin is not only an incredible space for treatment but also a unique community committed to seeing you thrive in every part of your life.

However, what makes Austin such a special place to put down roots for your lifelong healing? At Driftwood Recovery, we know courageous recovery is born out of healing the whole of your parts. Therefore, the environment in which you engage in maintaining recovery is vital.

The Importance of Your Environment for Maintaining Recovery

According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the neighborhood environment in which you live can affect your development. The impact of environmental factors also extends to challenges with substance misuse. There are a variety of environmental risk factors that can contribute to difficulties with substance use disorder (SUD) and relapse. Listed below are some of the risky substance use environmental characteristics that can impede maintaining recovery:

• Easy access to substances
  • Lowers barriers to getting, using, and abusing substances
    • Disrupts treatment and maintaining recovery
• Neighborhood disadvantages
  • Certain environments create a cycle of disadvantage
    • Low income
    • Unemployment
    • Low educational attainment
    • Poor access to pro-social and environmental resources
      • Libraries
      • Recreation centers
      • Green spaces
      • Medical and social services
  • Disadvantaged neighborhoods increase factors for chronic stress
    • Increases self-medicating with substances
• Environmental barriers to treatment and maintaining recovery
  • Unreliable transportation
  • Lack of funds for public transportation
  • Great distance between home and treatment facility
• Other factors that contribute to risky substance use environments
  • Gender
  • Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
    • Poor parental supervision
  • Peer behavior and attitude
• Systemic factors can contribute to risky substance environments
  • Racism, restrictive land use, and development policies encourage community segregation and higher degrees of neighborhood disadvantage for minorities

Looking at some of the environmental risk factors for SUD highlights the importance of location for maintaining recovery.

Maintaining Recovery Through Community in Austin

One of the most important parts of the recovery process in treatment and beyond is community. Through community, you find the sense of belonging you need to maintain recovery. As noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social connectedness can have a profound impact on your mind, body, and behaviors. With social connectedness, you can find your perceived and desired number, quality, and diversity of relationships for long-term well-being.

Social connectedness supports your psychological and physical well-being by fostering a sense of belonging. Within that sense of belonging found in connection with others, you develop mutual caring, value, and support for each other. Therefore, the value of connection and community for healing and maintaining recovery makes Austin a great place to find meaning in your life.

As noted by Austin’s Housing and Planning Department (HPD), Austin’s greatest asset is its people. The people of Austin are dedicated to providing opportunities for engagement with each other in every part of life.

Beauty of Austin: Nature as a Tool for Long-Term Recovery

Another important part of Austin’s culture and identity is its environment. Location plays an important role in what resources you have access to and the support needed for maintaining recovery. Nature can be a great facilitator of social contact. Access to green spaces connects you with others to foster a sense of community that supports maintaining recovery. Moreover, nature can support your physical and psychological wellness as a source of relaxation and reward. Outdoor recreation is a foundational part of Austinites’ lives that encourages connecting with nature to heal and find meaning in healthy, vigorous activities rather than substances.

According to Austin’s Parks and Recreation, some of the outdoor activities you can engage in to support maintaining recovery include:

• Hiking trails
• Parks
• Nature preserves
• Sanctuaries

The unique beauty of Austin and our city’s commitment to community highlight that there is something for everyone in Austin.

Finding Purpose: Opportunities for Maintaining Recovery in Austin

With support, you can find your purpose for maintaining recovery in Austin. Countless opportunities await you to build a meaningful and fulfilling life without substances. Whether you are an artist, athlete, professional, or looking to rediscover yourself with education, Austin is the place to be:

• Indie art scene
  • Canopy art studio
  • Women & Their Work
  • Black Pearl Books
  • Waterloo Records
  • Zilker Hillside Theatre
  • The Austin Film Festival
  • OUTsider Fest
• Athletic opportunities
  • Basketball
  • Flag football
  • Softball
  • Volleyball
• Young professional opportunities
  • Booming job market
    • Technology sector
    • Healthcare sector
    • Creative industries
• Education
  • Extensive community partnerships encourage innovation in higher education
    • Cultural arts
    • Medicine
    • Industry
    • Business
    • Technology
  • Schools and libraries act as centers for individual and community opportunities
    • Recreational
    • Social events
    • Collaboration
    • Learning

The diversity in hobbies, education, and work opportunities is a reflection of Austin’s pledge to build a community where everyone can thrive.

Empowering Lasting Recovery at Driftwood Recovery

Whether someone is just starting their life or is looking for a fresh start, Austin is a community that believes there is a place for everyone. At Driftwood Recovery, the heart of our work and Austin is in our people. Through our strength-based environment, we empower everyone who comes through our doors to integrate sustainable change in their lives for lasting recovery. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Austin, we are a place like no other; we know the value of connection. Through mutually supportive connections, you can be embraced by the community you deserve to build a fulfilling life in Austin.

Environmental risk factors like easy access to substances, economic disparity, and institutional racism can make maintaining recovery difficult. Austin is an incredible place to rediscover yourself and build a new life in recovery. At the heart of what makes Austin a place like no other is the people and their dedication to community. Whether you are looking for the healing power of nature or to build a meaningful career and life without substances, there is space for everyone. Here at Driftwood Recovery, the core of our work focuses on creating a strength-based environment where mutually supportive connection is made possible. To continue empowering yourself to lead a fulfilling life without substances, call us at (512) 759-8330.

Before healing can begin, clients must find appropriate treatment for any conditions that are harming them. It’s a process that can take some time, but it’s not something that clients have to go through alone. To aid in the recovery process, Driftwood Recovery emphasizes the importance of family relationships. With the support of their families, clients can find the appropriate treatment they need to fully recover. Care is taken to include families in all steps of treatment. This includes offering help for their struggles as well.

Despite how important families are for those seeking treatment, it can be tempting for some to try and go at treatment alone. Society places a heavy stigma on mental health disorders, especially addiction. These stigmas can instill feelings of shame or fear in those who need appropriate treatment. It’s common for some clients to not want to tell their families they need treatment at all for fear of how they will react. However, clients and their families can reach a state of mutual understanding and support. All it takes is a willingness to make healthy changes, time, and professional help.

Understanding the importance of both appropriate treatment and familial support is vital for those considering or undergoing treatment. But before we can understand how families can work with their loved ones to achieve recovery, we must first understand what appropriate treatment looks like.

What Does Appropriate Treatment Look Like?

To receive appropriate treatment, a client must have their needs met as a whole. This does not just include their mental health. They must also have their physical and spiritual needs met as well. This is known as holistic treatment, and it’s a major part of treatment at Driftwood Recovery. Appropriate treatment provides clients with quality and compassionate care administered by professionals in their field. Clients can expect to be treated with respect and without judgment or belittlement. Appropriate treatment also involves using effective treatments that are safe, reliable, and backed by research.

It can be scary for families who have a loved one in treatment. Many people are unaware of what goes on as part of appropriate treatment. That’s why treatment providers will walk families through each type of treatment to lessen fear. Of course, this is up to the client and their consent, but many clients find comfort in having an informed family. When families are educated about appropriate treatment, there is less stress and fear, allowing both sides to begin the recovery process in comfort.

Why Families Are Important for Appropriate Treatment

Families are not just blood relatives; they can be made up of anyone as long as they offer unconditional love and support. Support is an important part of treatment. People who have a support network are more likely to stick with treatment, recover, and then stay in recovery. Support is more effective if it comes from those who know and love you. Families, therefore, are vital to the recovery process. That’s why Driftwood Recovery emphasizes its importance and works closely with families to find the appropriate treatment for their loved ones.

Through the Courageous Family Program, clients work with their families to help strengthen connections and heal together. This program makes it possible for families to learn how to understand each other and create healthy connections. Family sessions are also encouraged as a way for clients and families to practice communication and other life skills. Clients aren’t the only ones who may need some type of help, and families can find that help at Driftwood Recovery. Treatment providers work closely with clients and their loved ones to provide quality and professional treatment.

Families are important because they encourage their loved ones to do what is right for their health and safety. A united family can convince a loved one to seek the treatment they need. Sometimes, this is done by having an intervention in which families come together to express concerns for a loved one. It’s easy for someone to ignore their problems if they are alone. With a family, it’s hard for serious problems to be ignored. By having support, a client is more likely to seek treatment, which can be a life-saving decision.

Bridging the Gap Between Clients and Their Families

Anyone can find appropriate treatment if they are willing to accept help. Part of the treatment process is strengthening the relationships between each other to create healthier and happier families. Sometimes, people can experience hurt on the journey to recovery, especially when a family has to see a loved one struggle. For clients, there can be feelings of guilt for worrying or causing concern to their loved ones. It’s possible to work through this hurt and establish equal footing between clients and their families. It takes the willingness to bridge the gap and the help of a professional to nurture understanding and encourage healing.

Regardless of whether it is a mental health disorder, addiction, or chronic pain disorder, anyone can find healing if they are willing to reach out for appropriate treatment. Families give their loved ones hope that there will always be goodness in the world. Even when we struggle through pain and strife, we can count on those who love us to support us when we need help. By leaning on our families, we find unconditional love and support that can help us achieve anything.

Families, either self-made or biologically related, are important for our health as individuals. Without the support of our families, it becomes difficult to recover from mental health disorders and cope with chronic pain. Working with families instead of against them is the only way to ensure that an individual gets the treatment they need and deserve. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, we understand the importance of families to our clients. With a focus on helping clients form meaningful and long-lasting healthy relationships, they can not only strengthen old bonds but also form new ones. To learn more about how Driftwood Recovery can help you and your loved ones, call (512) 759-8330 today.

Everyone deserves to have their personal information kept private and confidential. Only authorized individuals should have access to sensitive client information. Staff members are legally and morally obligated to keep private records safe and secure. Rehabilitation programs must comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). According to HHS, the HIPAA Privacy Rule creates “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.” The dedicated professionals at Driftwood Recovery follow HIPAA guidelines to protect each client’s privacy.

How Does a Client’s Privacy Impact Recovery?

Clients expect their medical and personal information to remain secure. Conversations and records shared with staff members, peers, and outside consultants are considered confidential. Most people expect a strict level of privacy. Studies have shown that “[a]ny program that specializes, in whole or in part, in providing treatment, counseling, and/or assessment and referral services for clients with substance abuse disorders must comply with the Federal confidentiality regulations.”

Client privacy impacts the relationship between staff members and individuals in recovery by doing the following:

• Increasing trust
• Improving communication
• Reducing stigmas and internalized stigmas

Clinicians are trained to keep client information secure and private at all times unless the client authorizes their care team to share information with others. For example, if a client would benefit from meeting with a medical professional outside the treatment program, the client may provide the care team with permission to share information about their health with the outside party.

Keeping Client Details Confidential From Loved Ones and Coworkers

Healthcare workers are familiar with keeping client details confidential on and off the clock. Individuals in treatment rely on their care team to treat them with respect and dignity even when they are not in the room. Driftwood Recovery expects clinicians and support staff to avoid sharing private client information, even among coworkers who are not authorized to know the client’s information and loved ones.

People in treatment heal more quickly and often feel less stress if they trust their care team to never disclose private information in public spaces or with unauthorized individuals. Staff members might be tempted to tell loved ones in confidence if they work with a celebrity or encounter an unusual situation. However, Driftwood Recovery does not condone sharing any private client information. The only times clinicians can legally share client medical information without their consent include during medical emergencies, instances of child abuse, and if the client is a danger to themselves or others.

Why Is It Important to Protect Every Client’s Privacy?

Many people diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD) have experienced some form of interpersonal trauma. Clients may struggle with trust issues and have difficulty relying on the integrity of their care team. Celebrities and individuals who have public lives may feel even more uncertain about trusting their most vulnerable thoughts and feelings with people they have not met before.

According to Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, “[I]n a recent national survey, adults have expressed some concerns about the potential for shared health information . . . 42% of participants indicated that they would feel uncomfortable if their private health information was shared with other organizations, even if any identifying information was excluded.” Building client trust is essential. Driftwood Recovery helps individuals overcome insecurities and distrust by building a solid foundation of honest communication and understanding between clients and clinicians.

Every Client Deserves to Be Treated With Respect and Dignity

Clients deserve to be treated with dignity and given the necessary tools to direct their recovery. Some people feel more confident about their privacy and ability to manage their condition if they play a more active role in treatment planning. Staff approach the collaboration process with curiosity and nonjudgmental support. Clients are treated with respect and provided information to ensure they make educated decisions about their health and treatment. Every person participating in treatment deserves the dignity of choosing who has access to their private medical information.

How Does Driftwood Recovery Protect Each Client’s Privacy?

Every morning, the staff meets to review treatment topics, facility policies, and other important subjects. Client privacy is essential to the success of each department. During daily meetings, the care team supports and uplifts one another, ensuring everyone remains on the same page and ready to face the day together. Teamwork and consistency in client care increase data security. Daily meetings are also a reminder to remain professional and HIPPA-compliant.

Recognizing When to Deviate From Normal Therapeutic Routines

Some clients require flexibility to make progress in their treatment. Clients rely on their care team to use the information they provide to create a more effective treatment plan. Knowing when to make appropriate deviations from typical treatment curriculum and program schedules allows clients and staff to form a deeper level of trust.

Clients must provide private information about their health and emotional well-being. However, many people avoid the treatment they need out of fear due to having their trust broken by others in the past. Staff at Driftwood Recovery understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality and protecting client privacy. Clients from all walks of life participate in treatment programs at Driftwood Recovery. People in treatment deserve to feel respected, heard, and safe to share their concerns. Every staff member practices values of honesty, integrity, and transparency. Client information is kept secure and private unless the care team receives permission to share it. To learn more about our programs and services, call us at (512) 759-8330.

A care team must have the flexibility and experience to cope with unexpected challenges. Clients rely on staff to help them navigate whatever circumstances they encounter during treatment. Studies have shown that during treatment, “every problem can have many solutions and . . . the input and ideas of colleagues lead to creative approaches.” The staff at Driftwood Recovery are dedicated to encouraging clients and one another. The team works together to create a supportive and nurturing environment for individuals in recovery.

Staff at Driftwood Practice Empathy and Transparency

Dedication and determination ensure staff members at Driftwood Recovery react appropriately to any challenges they encounter. Every care team member practices empathy, transparency, and honesty. By openly communicating needs and expectations, staff members reduce the risk of miscommunication with clients and coworkers. The staff members at Driftwood Recovery dive deep into each client’s care to ensure they provide every individual with the most relevant and appropriate level of care.

Reacting With Grace When Things Do Not Go to Plan

Every client will have some form of complication or face an unexpected challenge, and the care team must help them navigate those moments. Staff members are trained to recognize and manage potential issues without negatively impacting the client’s recovery.

Some challenges staff may encounter when working with clients include:

• Intermittent attendance
• Severe mental health symptoms
• Disruptive behaviors
• Quiet and withdrawn clients
• Trust issues
• Violence or aggression
• Relapse
• Ambivalence about treatment

Everyone responds differently to stressors, conflict, and uncomfortable interactions. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff to remain curious and nonjudgmental when interacting with clients. Finding positive ways to reframe situations and using potential obstacles as learning moments help clients and staff grow. Studies have shown that “[I]dentifying and overcoming barriers that discourage the client from engaging in treatment” improves the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs.

Staff at Driftwood Prioritize Client Safety and Comfort

Client safety, comfort, and privacy are essential to the recovery process. People are more likely to engage more fully in their treatment if they feel secure and supported through every step of the process.

Clients have access to a wide range of services and program features, including:

• Case management
• Alternative holistic therapies, including acupuncture and yoga
• Personalized treatment planning
• Referrals to outside services
• Medication management
• Pain Clinic
• Aftercare planning

The dedicated care team ensures these services enhance the client’s overall experience, improving outcomes and creating a positive environment for healing. Each staff member has unique skills and training to ensure clients experience a well-rounded treatment program. Driftwood Recovery understands that every client has different expectations for recovery and different preferences during treatment. Staff members accommodate whenever possible to ensure clients feel safe and comfortable.

Adapting Treatment Plans to Client Needs

Everyone responds differently to treatment. Tailoring therapeutic modalities to each client’s specific needs and preferences ensures they feel heard, valued, and respected. According to the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, personalized medicine and care plans “improve overall treatment efficacy by targeting particular treatments to those individuals most likely to benefit.” Personalized treatment programs build trust between clients and staff, reduce stress, and encourage greater engagement in recovery. Tailored care plans also make it easier for staff to adjust treatments as needed to meet client recovery goals or address unexpected complications.

Personalized treatment plans make it easier for the care team to do the following:

• Monitor trends in mental and physical health
• Adjust the treatment plan as needed
• Track progress on specific recovery goals
• Ensure the client feels heard and understood
• Address issues unique to each client
• Prepare clients for aftercare and long-term recovery

Individualized plans allow the care team to dig deeper and help clients identify and process the root causes of addictive behaviors.

Staff at Driftwood Recovery Go the Extra Mile to Help People Heal

The staff at Driftwood Recovery have years of experience helping people through multiple levels of care and stages of recovery. Every team member takes the time to build a genuine connection with clients, going the extra mile to help people heal from the effects of substance abuse. Driftwood Recovery identifies factors affecting recovery that other programs may have missed. Clients achieve greater self-awareness and self-confidence as they learn to recognize and process issues impacting their day-to-day lives and long-term recovery. According to the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, clients “tend to utilize treatment and support services more in SUD treatment clinics that practice and emphasize patient-centered care.”

Facing Challenges Head-On

Experienced and determined staff members are not afraid to face challenges head-on by doing the following:

• Consulting with experts in addiction recovery
• Providing clients with additional resources and education
• Researching alternative methodologies to meet client needs
• Developing additional skills through training and continuing education

The dedication shown by staff members sets Driftwood Recovery apart from other treatment programs and facilities. Clients know they can rely on their care team to help them successfully navigate early recovery.

Dedication and determination provide staff members with the motivation and energy to overcome challenges, establish deeper connections with clients, and create a more positive work environment. Clients often respond better to treatment when staff members show through their words and actions that they are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure clients receive the support and services they need to successfully heal from substance abuse. Driftwood Recovery understands the importance of developing a relationship with clients to ensure they feel comfortable speaking up about concerns or asking for help when they feel overwhelmed. Staff members work together to create a safe, welcoming space where clients feel comfortable learning and growing. To find out more, call us at (512) 759-8330.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 70 million adults in the U.S. have substance and or mental health challenges. Specifically, 29 million adults have difficulties with substance use disorder (SUD), and 58.7 million face challenges with mental health disorders. However, 72.2% and 66.5% of individuals with SUD and mental health disorders, respectively, consider themselves to be in recovery. The prevalence of recovery stems from the process of continual growth and building connections through a robust, sober community.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know fostering a connection with your peers through a sober community is vital to building a strong foundation for sustained recovery. With a commitment to attachment as a core feature of our treatment model, you can find the connection and sober community you need to heal. Through an attachment approach, our sober community has learned to impart compassion, understanding, and guidance to each other.

However, in the early stages of recovery, it is understandable to feel doubt about maintaining your recovery. Emerging from your treatment program back into the stressors of daily living can feel daunting. Therefore, understanding early recovery is important for dispelling and navigating your fears for recovery.

What Is Early Recovery?

Early recovery does not have a specific time frame or follow a particular set of parameters. For many people, early recovery can be anywhere from the first 90 days to a year after treatment. However, regardless of time, early recovery is often a tumultuous period when the chance of relapse is at its highest. As noted in Substance Use: Research and Treatment, the first year in recovery is a crucial time to address risk factors to prevent relapse. Yet, you may wonder what kinds of challenges can arise in early recovery.

The Challenges of Early Recovery

As noted in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, a key feature in relapse prevention is understanding that relapse is a gradual process. Much like the process of recovery, a relapse does not happen overnight. The stages of relapse can include emotional, mental, and physical relapse. An emotional relapse happens when you are in denial that negative thoughts and behaviors are disruptive to your healing.

Whereas the transition to mental relapse happens when your resilience to thinking about using substances starts to erode. Then comes the physical relapse, which happens when you find a window of opportunity to start misusing substances again. The negative thinking and behavior patterns that occur with the emotional and mental stages of relapse highlight the need for a sober community in recovery. Without a strong, sober community, you can find yourself returning to that cycle of suffering.

Listed below are some of the challenges that can come up during early recovery:

• Trying to find new meaningful activities to replace the time spent using substances
• Being near people and places associated with your past substance use
• Learning to set boundaries and remove harmful relationships from your life
• Actively using your new healthy coping skills
• Managing life stressors after transitioning from treatment
  • Household responsibilities
  • Finding or going to work
• Taking time to foster new relationships and repair old ones

Much like bills, doctor appointments, and interpersonal conflict, the challenges of early recovery cannot be avoided. However, with the support of your sober community, you have a network of peers who offer insight and other resources for lasting recovery. Although connection is a vital part of an alumni sober community, there are some additional benefits. A robust sober community also gives you access to goal-setting tools and sober activities to support you in challenges and when you are thriving.

Sober Community Healing: Setting and Achieving Goals

As the Journal of Lifestyle Medicine notes, goals act as a mental representation of your desired outcomes. Yet, setting goals on your own can feel overwhelming. When you are overwhelmed, it is easier to doubt your ability to set or achieve goals. However, with the encouragement of your sober community, you can set goals and have mutually supportive peers who hold you accountable to achieving your goals for a life in recovery.

Moreover, as Mental Health America (MHA) states in “Setting Goals for Recovery,” the process of goal setting helps you envision the life you want to lead in recovery. When you envision your sober life, you foster hope that empowers your motivation to build a fulfilling life without substances. Furthermore, the impact of the sober community on your sense of hope can also promote your sense of belonging through sober activities.

Finding Sober Activities for Healing in a Sober Community

One of the major challenges in early recovery is finding meaningful ways to fill your time without substances. Another key factor in a deeply interconnected sober community is access to activities for connection, meaning-making, and belonging. Some of the many sober activities you can engage in to support lasting recovery include:

• Volunteering
• Cooking classes
• Art classes
• Time in nature
• Game nights
• Alumni meetings
• Exercise
• Book club

The variety of sober activities you can engage in showcases that you truly can lead a fun and purposeful life without substances. Moreover, discovering your sense of purpose and belonging blossoms from a desire to a reality with a sober community.

Building Sober Community Connections at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we believe access to a peer-driven network gives you the tools to thrive after treatment. Through a strong and vibrant sober community, you can find the service, accountability, and encouragement needed to thrive in every stage of recovery. Thus, with an engaged and supportive alumni program, we are dedicated to helping you reintegrate into the real world to lead a courageous life in recovery. Whether you are looking for weekly check-ins or opportunities to connect with peers and even your family, joining a sober community can give you a life-changing experience.

Early recovery can be an exciting and tumultuous time. Various challenges come with recovery that can be disruptive to the healing process and lead to relapse. One of the biggest challenges of early recovery is finding new, meaningful ways to spend your time without substances. However, engaging in a supportive sober community in your alumni program can give you the support, tools, and resources to maintain your recovery. Through your sober community, you can uncover opportunities for connection, goal setting, and sober activities, among many others, to heal. Therefore, at Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing a life-changing experience at every stage of recovery for you to thrive with purpose. Call us at (512) 759-8330 today.

There can be a lot of apprehensions a person can feel once they achieve addiction recovery. They now need to begin their new sober lives by utilizing the skills and tools learned in treatment. Some may feel as though they have to take this important step by themselves now that they have completed treatment. This may also cause someone to feel anxious and worried about their possible future. They may gasp tightly to control, worried that any mistakes will undermine their hard work.

Thankfully, people don’t have to achieve addiction recovery alone. Having support from both peers and loved ones is vitally important for a successful recovery. This allows someone to find joy and meaning in their lives while giving them the room to be simple people. People can and do make mistakes. It’s part of being alive, especially in addiction recovery. Care must be taken to not let the desire for control overshadow your life and damage relationships. Understanding the difference between connection and control allows alumni to find a healthy balance in their addiction recovery.

Forging Connections in Addiction Recovery

Connections are incredibly important for those in addiction recovery. It’s well known that having encouraging support is a key aspect of seeking and completing treatment. These connections can be made up of several groups of people. They can be made up of family, both biological relatives and chosen family and friends. Peers are also important, especially for alumni. They know what it’s like to struggle with addiction and go through treatment as well. Having a strong support network of fellow peers can give you insight into the unique challenges of addiction recovery.

Driftwood Recovery encourages all clients to create healthy support networks while undergoing treatment. This allows clients to practice and learn the ins and outs of relationships under the guidance of mental health care professionals. There is always something to do within or around the Driftwood Recovery community, allowing clients to try new experiences. Addiction recovery doesn’t have to be a boring or frightening experience. By allowing yourself to make these connections, you find a steadfast ally you can count on when you need them the most.

Letting Go of Control in Addiction Recovery

It can be hard to accept that there are some things you cannot control in addiction recovery. Cravings, triggers, and more are something that will always be a part of your life. For many people, there is a desire to control these things so they don’t feel as though they somehow failed in their treatment. The fact of the matter is that you are not a failure to experience these things. They are a normal part of addiction recovery. Everyone who has ever been in addiction recovery has felt similar feelings to yourself. What matters is how you choose to cope with your feelings.

An unhealthy way to cope is to lock yourself away because you are afraid of encountering addiction triggers and other things that may upset you. Some people go as far as to try to control the lives of people around them to remove these upsetting parts of life. Though it’s good to establish healthy boundaries in your own home and space, it’s an entirely different matter to try to control the world around you. The world cannot be controlled, no matter how much you wish it to. Instead, it’s healthier to embrace the uncontrollable.

This can be done by going out and living. There are so many spontaneous wonders one can experience once one chooses to let go of control. Many people choose to rely on their friends and support network. Once you put yourself out there, it becomes easier to overcome the fear of losing control.

Finding a Healthy Balance

It’s possible to find a balance between control and connection in addiction recovery. Most addiction treatment programs will go over important coping skills needed for long-lasting addiction recovery. Part of this is learning to let go of what cannot be controlled by learning to trust in those you care about. Yes, you cannot control that there will be addiction triggers in public. But what you can trust is that you can contact a member of your support group to help you.

Clients at Driftwood Recovery spend time learning to place trust in others. It begins by trusting your treatment providers to never harm or judge you. Once your trust has been rewarded, it becomes easier to trust your peers and family. Eventually, it becomes possible to live your life in peace, confident that you can meet any challenge with your support ready to help you. It has been said that the absence of control is connection, which allows clients to let go and not be so hard on themselves. Mistakes will happen in addiction recovery, and that’s okay. With your support by your side, you can overcome anything. So, let go of trying to control life and focus on living it.

For those struggling with addiction, it can be hard to form connections with others. It’s also hard to cope with the absence or overabundance of control, especially when you feel helpless and alone. With the unique challenges faced by those living with addiction, it can be scary to seek help. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients find compassionate and quality addiction treatment. With an emphasis on judgment-free treatment, clients find the community and support needed to overcome addiction and achieve recovery. Anyone can recover from addiction with the right help, including yourself. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, don’t wait to get help. Call Driftwood Recovery today at (512) 759-8330.

When people struggle with addiction, one thing that becomes more difficult is pain management. In most cases, they can’t take the opioid pain medications that doctors usually prescribe. As a result, they have to count on a more holistic approach to pain relief such as exercise. Aerobic exercise, in particular, can be beneficial in reducing the severity of chronic pain, improving overall physical and mental health, and aiding in weight loss. However, does exercise for pain relief really work? It is important to consult a doctor before starting an exercise program to ensure it is safe and tailored to individual needs.

Exercise for Pain Relief

Exercise for Chronic Pain Relief: Does It Work?

When people suffer from pain, doctors say that one of the best ways to manage it is to keep moving. This is because tendons and muscles get weak and stiff when people don’t use them. The design of the body is for performing activities rather than just sitting.

As a result, exercising is a great way to manage arthritis, as well as back, leg, and other pain, naturally. Best of all, people can manage their pain without taking potentially addictive medications. It’s the perfect option for those struggling with addiction.

Exercise for Pain Relief

A lot of people don’t understand how exercise helps them manage pain. One reason is that it releases endorphins in the brain. This chemical triggers a reward response and blocks pain signals throughout the body.

Since exercise releases endorphins, it’s a good way to manage drug cravings too. Because of that, the benefits of exercise are twofold for those who struggle with both drug problems and pain. It can be hard to believe that something as simple as exercising can bring relief. However, it’s true.

Get Into a New Habit

Beyond pain relief, exercising also gives people a new hobby to enjoy. Finding new hobbies is ideal for those who are in recovery from addiction. They need something to fill the void that drug or alcohol use leaves behind when they stop using. Exercising is a wonderful way to feel better, relieve pain, and fill idle time.

Health Benefits Beyond the Body

Exercise for pain relief provides more benefits than just the physical ones. People who exercise typically enjoy spiritual and mental benefits as well. Exercising is also an excellent method of reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. In general, they feel better about themselves after they exercise.

Find Out More About Holistic Treatment

At Driftwood Recovery, we know how important holistic pain relief is. Whether you need pain relief that fits addiction recovery or just natural, holistic pain relief, we can help. In fact, we offer a number of fantastic programs to suit your needs. Some of our programs and services include:

• Residential treatment
• Holistic recovery
• Intensive outpatient rehab
• 12 Step treatment
• Group counseling
• Individual therapy

Find out how exercise for pain relief can help you manage pain without medication. Remember that you don’t have to live with pain just because you can’t take traditional pain medication. Call us today at 866-426-4694 for more ways that we can help you.

“Trauma is any difficult experience that rises to the level of Changing the Brain.”

Whether it’s through reduced functioning, hyperarousal, or changes in mood, thoughts, beliefs, or behaviors, trauma impacts how we interact with the world around us. Unfortunately, we can get so caught up in defining the minutia of “what constitutes trauma” that it can be easy to lose the forest for the trees. Simply put, trauma is a neurobiological issue with psychological consequences. Neuroscientists can now measure observable changes in the brain that are the direct result of traumatic experiences – and those changes have a considerable impact on how we perceive threats in our daily lives. As the Driftwood clinical team undergoes extensive training around EMDR protocols this summer, I was curious to learn more about why EMDR is so effective at treating trauma and a whole host of psychological issues. So I sat down with senior clinician Natalie Hisey to discuss the training she facilitated with her supervisor and EMDRIA-certified instructor, Lillian Ramey.

HOW DOES TRAUMA CHANGE THE BRAIN?

Natalie explained that typical memories are stored in the part of the brain called the hippocampus. In the event of a trauma or accumulation of traumas, the amygdala (responsible for our fight, flight, freeze response) overwhelms the brain. It prevents the hippocampus from properly storing difficult memories. The hippocampus serves as our memory’s receptionist, cataloging and holding events from the day during REM sleep. When memories are not filed correctly, they remain blocked or unprocessed – like a misplaced folder jammed into the wrong filing cabinet.

The result is a limbic system that reacts like it’s constantly in danger, even when the perceived threat has long passed. Logic, perspective, and clear memories take a back seat, and emotion takes the wheel. Effective trauma treatment should re-train our brain’s receptionist to store these troubling experiences in a way that doesn’t disturb normal brain function. One of the most effective and efficient ways to heal the limbic system is through EMDR therapy.

WHAT IS EMDR?

If changes in the brain characterize trauma, trauma treatment should address those brain changes. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is one of the most researched psychotherapy methods proven to help the brain recover from trauma and distressing life experiences. According to EMDR International Association, when distress from a disturbing event remains, the disturbing images, thoughts, and emotions may create an overwhelming feeling of being back in that moment or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain reprocess these maladaptive memories and allows routine healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the original event’s fight, flight, or freeze response is resolved.

EMDR utilizes a process known as bilateral stimulation. Practitioners instruct clients to think about a target memory while tracking the therapist’s fingers from left to right with their eyes. Bilateral stimulation mimics the process that occurs during REM sleep; this side-to-side motion has been found to enhance memory reprocessing, improving the speed at which clients can recover and find peace around unimaginable pain.

EMDR therapy is broken into eight phases. The first phases involve gathering information around the memory, assessing emotional distress, and creating a safe place (a resource for calming the system back down after entering the target memory.) Then, reprocessing and desensitization occur, where the therapist and client bring up the trauma, initiate eye movement, and install a new, more positive belief associated with the memory. The final phases are about all about how the client will respond to that trauma in the future, with the goal of “turning down the volume” on the client’s emotional reactivity.

WHY IS EMDR SO EFFECTIVE?

The message from EMDR is this: “Your trauma is over and can remain in the past. You are safe in the present moment.” The result is a desensitization of the specific emotional reaction and reprocessing of the memory in a more positive light. Clients can process through distress quickly and develop a robust treatment plan without needing much language to describe what’s bothering them. They are not forced to spend too much time digging around in the trauma but rather target specific emotional reactions to a perceived threat. It’s amazing how well the brain responds to EMDR – it’s as if the brain wants to heal itself, it just needs the facilitation of a skilled practitioner and a safe place to do the healing.

EMDR is appropriate across all lifespans and can help treat many mental health conditions in addition to trauma, like eating disorders, substance use disorders, and relational issues. By the end of the summer – thanks to Natalie & Lillian – Driftwood clinicians will be trained in EMDR protocols for trauma, substance use, chronic pain, and couple’s therapy. Click here to learn more about EMDR protocols and training through EMDRIA or contact admissions for more information about working with an EMDR-trained Driftwood clinician.

The Limbic System

Image courtesy of Psychosocialsomatic.

While the rest of us were sleeping, Driftwood clinicians Jacob Umanzor, Michelle Whetstone, Natalie Hisey, and Vanessa Kennedy logged on to a London-based webinar at 3:30 AM to train in a treatment modality few therapists genuinely understand. This training aimed to equip mental health professionals with the necessary skills to undertake mentalization-based work with families. Vanessa, Natalie, Jacob, and Michelle represented a minority of American providers confident enough to take on this often-elusive subject. So, what is Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT), and how does it apply to family work at Driftwood?

Mentalization-Based Treatment with Families (MBT-F) – developed by psychologist Peter Fonagy – is an imaginative mental process that supports clients and family members in overcoming relational roadblocks and gaining a deeper understanding of each other’s points of view. Because mentalization-based work occurs at the core of all effective therapeutic processes, the therapist’s role is to understand, model, and reinforce effective mentalizing.

The training was hosted by the Anna Freud Centre, a leading UK research hub for mental health interventions with children and families. Named for the daughter of Sigmund Freud and founder of child psychoanalysis, the center builds on Freud’s legacy of transmuting psychoanalytic theory into evidence-based practices for family work. Michelle, Natalie, Jacob, and Vanessa learned new methods from Fonagy and his colleagues for engaging clients and families in activities and exercises that confront and alter problematic relationship patterns.

I enjoyed watching these clinicians turn their insights into action during this month’s Courageous Family Program, Driftwood’s monthly two-and-a-half-day workshop for clients and their family members. Here’s what I learned:

What is Mentalizing?

Mentalizing refers to our capacity to interpret behavior in relation to mental states, such as needs, desires, thoughts, and feelings. We say it is an imaginative mental activity because it requires us to conceptualize what’s going on inside the mind – what goals, intentions, or reasons lie beneath human behaviors. Mentalizing extends beyond empathy because it requires us to make sense of the complexities of our own mental states and the mental states of others. Self-awareness is a crucial first step in mentalizing, but it doesn’t stop there.

Mentalizing is a skill we all naturally possess. It is crucial to our sense of self, emotional intelligence, social resiliency, and cognitive flexibility. However, mentalizing veers off-course when we assume the mental states of ourselves or others without curiosity. Difficulties with mentalizing play a role in a wide range of common mental health challenges like depression, substance abuse, anxiety, and personality disorders.

Why is Mentalizing Important for Family Work?

The treatment team’s first task in family work is to understand the entire family’s dynamics and how they intersect with a client’s mental health condition. For example, there may be dynamics within the family that inhibit a client’s ability to progress in their recovery. In a dysfunctional family dynamic, this might look like unspoken expectations, passive-aggressive communication, enabling behaviors, or judgmental assumptions.

In childhood, we’re taught how to mentalize by our primary attachment figures. As adults, we may still mimic the judgments, assumptions, and non-verbal cues modeled by our parents. If we haven’t learned how to mentalize effectively, it’s because we haven’t seen it enough in action. We can heal from ineffective mentalizing with the help of a skilled therapist. Effective MBT-F practitioners slow down communication between family members and model emotional vulnerability in real-time. Therapists step into the role of the attachment figure and use mentalizing as a platform to heal these primary attachment wounds. The result is a working model for how this family can interact in a healthy manner.

Courageous family work requires a curious, non-judgmental approach to the familial patterns that blind us. It creates an environment where family members can express themselves without previous roadblocks to communication. Healthy dynamics might look like direct and kind communication, transparency, taking responsibility for one’s own emotions and responses, and expressing appropriate boundaries.

What are the core principles of effective mentalizing?

I wanted to learn to mentalize my own family like a pro, so I asked Driftwood Clinical Director and Mentalizing Guru Jacob Umanzor to give me a few tips that he learned from his MBT-F training. The following are some of the core principles of effective mentalizing in family work:

1) Genuine Curiosity. Curiosity means entering a childlike state of wonder. The challenge is to proceed as if everyone we interact with is the expert of their own mind. It is not our job to tell others how they feel. But, if we can leave our assumptions at the door, we’re creating a safe space for everyone to share vulnerably.

2) Awareness of Impact on Others. Mentalizing goes beyond empathy. It creates an understanding of the impact of one’s behavior on the people around us. Unfortunately, instability in mental health and substance abuse can make it hard for us to be aware of our impact on others. Shame, guilt, and remorse will naturally come up when our behavior doesn’t align with our values. When we feel reactive, the challenge is to sit with that shame and ride the wave of discomfort.

3) Perspective Taking. If our minds are too rigid, we limit our ability to see from someone else’s eyes. Holding space for and being open to others’ experiences helps increase our understanding of them as fallible human beings, just like us.

4) Capacity to Trust. To create a sense of safety for others, we must first trust one another to be honest. For example, if another person states the intention behind their behavior, we should take them at their word.

5) Narrative Continuity. The typical family culture is to not talk about breakdowns in communication or conflicting narratives about the past. A shared family narrative can add to a sense of connection – but we can’t know someone else’s experience until we ask.

Want to learn more about Driftwood’s approach to family work? Read about the Courageous Family Workshop and find links to family resources.

Maintaining sobriety following treatment can be arduous work, but at Driftwood, we believe life must be enjoyable to sustain long-term recovery. According to Mason Aselage, Director of Recovery Services, “Recovery is about more than abstinence. It’s about building relationships, having new experiences, and most importantly – rediscovering what we love about life.” Along with Alumni Coordinator Evan Thornton, Mason has developed a philosophy of enjoyment for Driftwood’s Alumni Program that doesn’t take itself too seriously. As a result, alumni meetings, social gatherings, and service opportunities are characterized by joyful reunions and fits of uncontrollable laughter. The fun, relaxed atmosphere that Evan and Mason have created brings necessary levity to the heavy, emotional work of early recovery.

As of March, Mason and Evan have organized a series of sober hangouts with increasing success: from wakeboarding, to paintballing, to awareness walks, to party barges. This month, they undertook their most ambitious challenge: leading a four-day camping trip in Big Bend National Park.

Last Thursday, fourteen former clients and Driftwood staff set out from Austin, TX, on an eight-hour drive west. The group’s energy was electric from the start; everyone was giddy to get going and had no complaints about the long journey ahead. Some in the group were experienced hikers; a few had no experience camping sober. This range in mastery led to hilarious moments as the group pitched their tents in the Chisos Basin, but everyone came together with incredible teamwork. Of course, no outing would be complete without the Driftwood Culinary experience, so the Drifters were lucky that chef, Peyton, agreed to come along to help cook meals by the campfire.

The group rose early for a 14-mile hike around the south rim of the basin. From start to finish, the weather was perfect for early fall in the desert. Most alumni had never hiked such a long distance before, so there was a collective feeling of accomplishment by the end of the day. That night, Mason led a recovery meeting where alumni reflected on the day’s experience. In addition, each person wrote a letter to themselves that they would send out in one year, with words of compassion and encouragement to help them through times of struggle.

The highlight of day three was a guided rafting trip on the Rio Grande. What would usually take a full day took only half the time because the water was so high. The group was all laughs as they sped down the river between towering, red canyons. The day concluded with a two-mile hike to Balanced Rock, followed by live music and country cooking at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua.

As the vans pulled out of the campsite on Sunday, an alumna thought to herself that the only low of the trip was not seeing a bear. The group observed a snowy white owl the night before, and expectations had become very high between the perfect weather and the clear, starry skies. As she thought this, one of her friends pointed out the van’s window to a black bear outside their campsite. Mason had given them the challenge of creating their own joy, and by the end of the trip, the Driftwood alumni group had proven themselves powerful manifesters.

About her colleague, Evan Thornton says, “I am so grateful for Mason. He is a joy to work with, and his guidance and ideas have made the alumni program grow exponentially.” The same may be said for Evan, who has stepped into her new role and navigated challenging circumstances with maturity and grace. Together, Evan and Mason make an unstoppable team – proving that outside the heavily structured treatment environment, opportunities for fun and connection abound!

Driftwood’s Alumni family is a peer-driven network that provides accountability, service, and encouragement for long-term recovery post-treatment. Our Alumni Coordinator, Evan Thornton, and Director of Client Services, Mason Aselage, encourage Alumni to remain engaged with the Driftwood family by organizing ongoing meetings, socials, and service opportunities.

Upcoming Events

• Family Support Group with Lauren Walther: 2nd & 4th Mondays @ 6:30 CST
• Six Flags Fright Fest in San Antonio on 10/14 @ 6 PM
• Paintballing in November (date TBA)
• Holiday Party at Driftwood on 12/10 from 5 PM – 8 PM
• H&I Meetings Weekly on Mondays @ 7 PM CST – on campus and online.
• Alumni Meetings Weekly @ 7 PM CST – in person and virtual.
• Quarterly Workshops featuring consulting psychologists like Ted Klontz and Stevie Stanford.

Connect with Us

• Download the Driftwood Recovery App – which consolidates all alumni information in one place. To learn more about upcoming events, visit the events page in the app or the community tab to see announcements in your feed.
• Request Access to the Private Facebook Page.
• Email ethornton@driftwoodrecovery.com or maselage@driftwoodrecovery.com for more information.