What Does It Mean to Be in Supportive Housing at Driftwood Recovery?

It’s clear to see how supportive housing and other community integration programs have made a real difference in the lives of clients recovering from addiction and substance abuse. In the past, finishing treatment was considered the end of the recovery journey. However, this often left vulnerable alumni without support. Without this support, many were prone to depression, anxiety, and relapse. 

To prevent this outcome for their alumni, many mental health care and addiction treatment facilities began to utilize what is known as supportive housing. With this safety net in place, clients and alumni can practice their coping skills in a supportive environment with the help of professionals. Driftwood Recovery is no different with its supportive housing program. With a secure place to live and continued peer support, it gives alumni the training they need to succeed. 

Most people are unsure of what happens in supportive housing. For many, it might seem like a vacation from an outsider’s perspective. But in reality, it’s an essential treatment tool that makes a clear difference in the lives of those in recovery.

What Happens in Supportive Housing?

For most, supportive housing is just like being in a home. How big this housing is or how many people are there varies. For Driftwood Recovery, clients utilize an actual house with shared bedrooms. Clients share common spaces with other clients in a situation akin to having roommates in a dorm or an apartment. They are expected to perform normal household chores to keep their spaces neat and healthy. Overall, it’s just like being in a home.

However, clients are still in treatment and will participate in therapeutic activities throughout the day. Though not as intense as residential treatment, those in supportive housing will still meet with mental health and medical professionals. Individual therapy, group therapy, craving management, and relapse prevention are all important activities in supportive housing. 

Clients in supportive housing are not prisoners. Though some may be recommended to stay close to professionals based on their current health, all residents are free to leave the premises. It’s not uncommon for residents in supportive housing to go on day trips or accomplish simple tasks such as shopping. All of these are considered training for life outside of treatment. 

Why Is Supportive Housing So Successful?

As a program, supportive housing is a vital tool in preventing relapses and preparing clients for normal life. Simply telling an alumnus that they are done with treatment doesn’t prepare them for the immediate turmoil of normal life. Alumni have to resist a large amount of pressure to use once more and may not have a loving familial support network to take them in post-treatment. For many, they worry that they aren’t strong enough to deal with normal life without the safety net of treatment. 

Supportive housing solves these issues by giving clients training wheels for normal life. Clients in supportive housing still perform home chores and duties, but they can also go to work or school. Learning how to balance these duties on top of preserving your sobriety cannot simply be taught. It must be experienced, and the client must have opportunities to practice what they have learned in real-world situations. It’s much safer for a client to have supportive housing to return to after a particularly hard day than to be alone and risk a relapse. Having access to peer support who can keep each other accountable is also a perk of supportive housing, allowing clients to keep each other on track.

Some addictions carry lasting scars and require medical intervention for a successful recovery. Drugs such as alcohol and opioids will cause strong cravings for months to even years after detox. Knowing how to handle these cravings or any medical issues resulting from an addiction takes time and oversight. Having medical personnel available as part of supportive housing trains clients on how to care for themselves on their own. Eventually, clients leave supportive housing as strong and capable people.

The Driftwood Recovery Approach

Supportive housing is just one of many essential treatment programs featured at Driftwood Recovery. We believe that our clients are capable of great things if allowed to thrive. As a result, clients using our supportive housing program do so knowing that they will be cared for. With a focus on safety and security, clients can utilize supportive housing while maintaining their privacy. Our supportive housing buildings are simply normal houses with professionals at the ready. An average person looking at a supportive housing building would never be able to tell that it’s anything other than a simple house that people live in. Clients come and go easily with little fuss, perfect for clients who wish to recover without scrutiny.

Those utilizing Driftwood Recovery’s supportive housing program also enjoy access to continued compassionate and high-quality mental health care and addiction treatment. Clients recovering from addiction and any co-occurring disorders do so under the guidance of top professionals utilizing the latest in holistic, evidence-based treatments. Though not as intensive as a residential treatment program, supportive housing is designed to provide enough support to help you stay stable but allows you to practice what you know. With other supportive programs that help with work and school, clients get everything they need for a successful recovery.

Supportive housing, in the end, is a stepping stone. It allows clients to get a feeling for life in recovery and prepares them for common pitfalls they may encounter. With supportive housing, however, clients don’t just gain support. They gain a community that will be there for them every step of the way for the rest of their lives. 

Those who have completed or are currently in addiction treatment have learned the skills needed to remain in recovery. However, jumping right back into previous obligations can make a client feel apprehensive or even frightened. To ease this transition back into normal life, Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, offers a supportive housing program. This program involves clients living in housing created by Driftwood Recovery while they finish treatment. Supportive housing allows clients to practice the skills learned in treatment in a real environment while being safely monitored and helped by medical and mental health care professionals. To learn more about supportive housing at Driftwood Recovery, call (512) 759-8330 today.

It is a normal part of growing up to discover who you are and find your identity. Finding a healthy identity can be difficult, as peer pressure and other factors work to make you second-guess yourself. These difficulties can be compounded by addiction and other conditions, which can bury your true self under pain. For many, they may have their addiction and recovery become a core part of their identity. However, there is more to a person than their struggle.

That’s why at Driftwood Recovery, a holistic treatment philosophy is utilized to heal all aspects of a person. This includes a person’s spirit or inner self, alongside the mind and body. The inner self is essential for achieving and remaining in recovery. It’s one thing to learn and practice the skills needed for recovery. To find your identity, however, gives you reasons to want to stay in recovery.

Why It’s Important to Find Your Identity

Identity is defined as the sense of self that encompasses one’s experiences, relationships, memories, and values. An authentic identity means to accept who we are and the values that are important to us. As we grow, we are influenced by our parents, guardians, and peers during childhood. Adolescence is a vital time in identity development, as we experiment and try out new things that shape the adult that we hopefully want to become. Three tasks help a person form their identity. These three tasks are:

• Discovering and developing your potential
• Choosing your purpose in life
• Finding opportunities to exercise this purpose and further develop your potential 

It’s vital to find your identity because lacking a purpose or feeling as though you have no potential can be psychologically damaging. It happens a lot with young teenagers and adults, who worry that they have no identity or purpose. They may begin to experiment with drugs or alcohol to feel something positive or numb negative feelings. Having no dreams or goals leaves little reason for someone to want to seek help for addiction. To find your identity means that you find yourself worthy of help and compassion. 

Recognizing That Addiction Is Not an Identity

Even while in treatment and recovery, it’s still important to find your identity. It’s tempting for some to make their addiction an essential part of their personality. However, a common fact shared by those who struggle with addiction is the lack of a drive or purpose. Sometimes, this occurs after a great loss, such as losing a job or the death of a loved one. Though identities are flexible and forever changing, making addiction a part of your identity is unhealthy. Addiction is a painful condition and, if left unchecked, can lead to dire consequences.

To find your identity requires trial and error to find the things that give you joy. Addiction robs a person of this choice by consuming their thoughts. It’s hard to find joy in life when it’s a constant cycle of obtaining your next hit, getting high, and recovering from the high. There’s been a movement of people, usually adolescents, making recreational drugs and alcohol a part of their identity. In these instances, they are stifling their potential, which will lead to needing more drugs or alcohol to feel “right,” often leading to addiction.

People who overcome addiction deserve to be celebrated. However, they also deserve to live. Finding peace, healing, and happiness are all goals every mental health care professional has for their clients. Many alumni may choose to involve recovery as part of their purpose, going on to help others achieve and stay in recovery. This is perfectly fine, as it is not the same as viewing addiction as a personality trait. When you find your identity outside of addiction, you truly begin to live.

How Driftwood Recovery Helps You Find Your Identity

Driftwood Recovery helps you find your identity by making identity an essential part of its addiction treatment programs. Clients find themselves exposed to diverse groups of people from all walks of life. There, clients may encounter ideas and values they may have never seen before. Speaking to staff also helps clients connect with different people, widening their worldview and showing them a life beyond addiction and pain. 

Therapeutic activities such as therapeutic recreation, art therapy, and yoga allow clients to participate in fun activities. Along with a large campus, mostly covered in nature, clients are exposed to the outdoors and all its splendor. It has been scientifically proven that nature has a positive impact on mental health, and so too can it be on a developing identity. Clients who may have been nervous and withdrawn may find themselves drawn to exciting activities, such as rope work and obstacle courses. The wider the range of activities, the more a client can try.

Driftwood Recovery knows how important peers are to shaping our identities. That’s why clients are encouraged to participate in activities that grow and nurture positive personality traits. Compassion, empathy, understanding, and more are learned through team-building exercises and group meetings. With a robust alumni and peer network program, clients can see proof that they, too, can succeed. Sometimes, to find your identity, you need to know that it’s an achievable goal. 

Clients who feel lost can find guidance in a compassionate staff member or treatment provider. There is never shame in needing help. A person is never too old to wonder about their identity or seek to discover it. Having times when we wonder if we have an identity of all is a normal part of life. Access to quality mental health treatment, however, makes this process a little easier on ourselves.

It can be difficult for one to figure out who they are at the best of times. When a person struggles with addiction and other conditions, it’s difficult to separate them from their true self. At Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients take the time to discover who they truly are. Through specialized therapies, clients build confidence and positive self-worth. Though struggle and recovery may be a chapter of your life, it’s not the whole story. Finding your inner strength and what brings you joy is equally as important as recovery. To learn how you can discover your true self, don’t wait. Call Driftwood Recovery today at (512) 759-8330. 

Craving management is an essential skill for those recovering from addiction. The fact is that cravings happen and often continue to happen long after a person has detoxed from a substance. Why this happens can be a frightening mystery to many. Comprehensive addiction education is not as common as it should be, with many content to ignore the problem. An educated population reduces fear, shame, and judgment. This includes education about recovery and what a person can expect when practicing sobriety.

That’s why the staff at Driftwood Recovery work to spread education and awareness about addiction and its treatment. The more a person understands about addiction, the more likely they are to seek treatment. Understanding concepts like peer pressure and craving management keeps people in recovery by preventing relapses. Having a clear idea of what to expect reduces the fear of the unknown.

This is especially true for cravings. Examining why they happen and how they can be managed inspires hope that life can and will improve for anyone, including yourself.

Why Do We Experience Cravings?

A craving in the context of addiction recovery is defined by a strong urge or abnormal desire for a certain activity or substance. People are not born with an urge or desire to use substances. However, if a person uses substances regularly, the brain and body “remember” it. This is because when using substances, the brain is bathed with chemicals and induces a flood of dopamine, which is pleasurable. Over time, the brain and body are trained to accept this state as the new “normal.”

The body and brain will start craving the substance to keep feeling “normal” and “good.” It is similar to how you may crave water or leafy greens when thirsty or lacking an essential vitamin. It’s how the body and brain work to correct imbalances or encourage you to consume needed nutrition. However, not all cravings in this manner are healthy, such as cravings for sugar and, in this case, substances. After substance use, the body is so used to the substance being present that it tries to “correct” the perceived imbalance by reinforcing substance use. 

Cravings often occur after a person experiences common addiction triggers, such as high stress or experiencing environmental cues of previous substance use. Recent studies have identified a neuro marker called the NCS (neural craving signature), which may be able to predict how intense drug cravings will be for a recovering individual. Though cravings can be distressing, they will pass and decrease in frequency over time. Some common examples of cravings are:

• Intrusive and distracting thoughts about using substances
• A physical urge to use substances
• An inability to think about anything else but using substances
• Desiring positive mental or physical feelings from using substances

How Craving Management Works

Craving management works by guiding clients into making healthy choices in their lives. Firstly, a client must accept that cravings will occur, and it doesn’t make them a bad or weak person for experiencing them. It takes time for the brain and body to recover from the damage dealt by substance abuse. However, the brain can and will heal, especially when helped along by professional help. In a way, craving management “resets” the brain and trains it to get used to a healthy new normal. 

Much like how the brain gets used to substance use over time, so too will healthy coping skills and habits become equally ingrained. Clients in craving management spend time practicing coping skills until it’s second nature. Boredom is a major addiction and craving trigger, so clients learn how to keep themselves busy as part of recovery. Discovering new hobbies, establishing an exercise regimen, and practicing wellness are all examples of typical activities encouraged in craving management.

Sometimes, medications can be useful as part of craving management. Some drugs and substances are particularly potent and can be difficult to detox from fully. Medications may be used to relieve withdrawal symptoms, including cravings, so clients can detox as safely and comfortably as they can. These medications, however, are only to be used for a brief amount of time and not forever. 

Overall, craving management is a toolkit that gives clients several options for effectively coping with cravings in their lives. 

What to Expect From Craving Management at Driftwood Recovery

Craving management at Driftwood Recovery is influenced by its goal of comprehensive and holistic treatments. Clients can expect all aspects of themselves to receive equal attention as a part of treatment, which is the mind, body, and spirit. Psychotherapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), are utilized to help clients cope with and understand their cravings. Programs like relapse prevention are an integral part of craving management, as they help clients practice their skills to navigate addiction triggers that can result in a craving. Clients build confidence and self-esteem through team-building exercises, experiential therapy, and therapeutic recreation. 

Driftwood Recovery also teaches clients how to be healthier once they finish treatments. This includes learning about proper nutrition, establishing an exercise routine, and finding activities and hobbies that give them joy. All of this teaches clients that there is more to life than cravings. In time, clients learn how to allow cravings to come and go while remaining healthy and sober. Staying active in your recovery leaves little room for cravings, and Driftwood Recovery balances activity with times to rest and relax. 

Of course, the skills clients learn in craving management can help others. Clients may be called upon to assist fellow peers in learning how to manage their cravings. Young family members will observe how alumni healthily deal with their cravings. The staff at Driftwood Recovery work to spread awareness that anyone can recover from addiction. By demonstrating their success, alumni show others that healing and recovery are possible for everyone. That includes understanding the nature of cravings and not allowing them to rule your life. 

Cravings are an unfortunate and often difficult part of addiction recovery. The longer a person has abused substances, the more intense the cravings can be. However, it’s possible to manage these cravings so you can live your life in recovery without fear. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, craving management gives clients back their lives. With an emphasis on holistic and comprehensive treatment, clients collaborate with mental health care professionals to create a successful treatment plan. Cravings may be distressing, but they don’t last forever. If you or a loved one is struggling with cravings, don’t wait to get help. Find out more about our addiction treatment program today by calling (512) 759-8330.

Individuals in healthcare may experience unusual or emotionally charged situations with coworkers and clients, leading to ethical dilemmas. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Moral dilemmas arise when two or more principles or values conflict and there are mutually inconsistent courses of action.” Driftwood Recovery provides comprehensive training and staff support to help clinicians navigate ethical dilemmas with dignity and compassion. 

5 Common Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare and How to Address Them

Ethics is a cornerstone of good healthcare. Ethical guidelines protect clients and healthcare professionals from legal issues, ensuring people have access to relevant and appropriate care. Identifying and adequately addressing moral dilemmas improves treatment outcomes for clients and reduces workplace stress for clinicians. Below are five common ethical dilemmas encountered in healthcare and how professionals can manage them. 

#1. Maintaining Client Privacy While Addressing Threats to Public Safety

Client privacy is essential to the therapeutic process. Ensuring confidentiality and privacy builds trust and confidence in the client-clinician relationship. However, some situations may make it challenging to maintain client privacy while balancing public health and safety. For example, clinicians may have to break confidentiality if a client expresses intent to harm themselves or others. Finding the right balance between ensuring public safety and maintaining client trust involves practicing good judgment. Driftwood Recovery has strict guidelines and protocols for managing client privacy and adhering to privacy laws. HIPAA and other laws ensure healthcare workers know when to break and when to protect client confidentiality. 

#2. Informed Consent and Clients With Limited Capacity to Understand Treatment Options

The effects of chronic substance abuse, complex mental health issues, and developmental factors may impact a client’s capacity to understand their treatment options. Individuals with a decreased capacity to recognize their needs and identify effective treatment plans may have difficulty understanding their situation. Healthcare professionals are responsible for ensuring clients under their care give informed consent for treatment services. Some clinicians may struggle with determining if a client has the mental capacity to provide informed consent. 

Ongoing assessments and ethical judgment help healthcare workers recognize when a client needs an advocate. Driftwood Recovery ensures all staff know how to identify the signs of a client’s capacity to give informed consent. In cases where clients may not be able to consent, the clinical team follows legal guidelines for working with client families or representatives to make the best decisions for their care. 

#3. Refusal of Treatment Despite Severe or Life-Threatening Consequences

Individuals experiencing complex mental health issues, substance use disorder, or dual diagnosis may refuse treatment despite a high risk of relapse or self-harming behaviors. Mentally competent adults have the right to refuse treatment regardless of how this may affect their physical or emotional health. However, determining mental competency can sometimes be difficult and cause moral dilemmas for healthcare professionals. 

Studies have shown that when “a patient’s illness is affecting their capacity to refuse care, and they are considered a danger to themselves or to others, the healthcare provider is expected to treat the patient regardless of their refusal.” Every state has different laws regarding involuntary treatment. Driftwood Recovery educates clinicians on state, local, and federal laws for treating patients who have refused care. 

#4. Balancing Respect for Cultural Beliefs With Evidence-Based Care

Some people’s cultural beliefs may clash with evidence-based care, making it difficult to treat conditions impacting the client’s mental and physical health. Responding with compassion and curiosity instead of judgment can help healthcare professionals develop tailored approaches to care that meet client needs while respecting their cultural beliefs. 

Mental health and addiction recovery experts balance respect for client cultural beliefs with evidence-based treatments by doing the following: 

• Conducting cultural competency training 
• Actively listening to client needs and preferences 
• Collaborating with clients and their families to tailor treatment 
• Using culturally appropriate assessment tools 
• Providing access to bilingual counselors 
• Encouraging family involvement in treatment 

Healthcare professionals can respect cultural beliefs and stigmas surrounding treatment while gently introducing evidence-based modalities into treatment plans. 

#5. Setting Professional Boundaries With Compassionate Care

Boundaries may become blurred sometimes, making it difficult for healthcare professionals to set limits on how they interact with clients. Professionals set clear boundaries with clients by doing the following: 

• Defining professional roles at the start of treatment 
• Maintaining consistent and clear communication 
• Avoiding dual relationships, such as becoming a personal friend with therapy clients 
• Practicing self-awareness and mindfulness during interactions with clients 
• Consulting coworkers or supervisors if boundary issues become a problem 
• Respecting client autonomy

Boundaries help clients avoid confusion or miscommunication during treatment. Maintaining a professional distance from clients while treating them with dignity and compassion improves the effectiveness of treatment services and helps clients learn to set their own healthy boundaries. 

Mental health and addiction recovery programs involve many gray areas that may lead to ethical dilemmas for healthcare professionals. Strict workplace policies ensure staff members understand when they must legally report certain situations and how to react appropriately to moral dilemmas. Experts are humans, too, and may experience a lack of judgment. Comprehensive workplace guidelines help professionals know how to respond to various complex or sensitive situations. Driftwood Recovery trains staff to recognize and address potentially challenging interactions using compassion, objectivity, and transparency. Healthcare professionals benefit from relying on their supervisors and coworkers to help them navigate unusual issues that may have them worried about providing the best care to clients. To learn more about our policies, call (512) 759-8330.

A 12-Step program is simultaneously well-known and mysterious to the average person. Many people have seen a 12-Step program parodied in movies and cartoons, so they have an idea that it’s a program that helps those struggling with addiction. However, the inner workings of a 12-Step program are not well known unless a person or their family member has been involved with it. Understanding what are the uniting principles behind 12-Step programs allows those who are struggling or have a family member struggling with an addiction to make informed decisions about their care. 

12-Step programs are effective enough to be essential parts of addiction treatment facilities. Driftwood Recovery is no exception by using a 12-Step program as part of comprehensive addiction treatment. The specific one used for each client depends on their wishes, as clients have the right to choose the programs they feel meet their values the most. No matter which program is chosen, clients can expect to receive peer support and tools to assist them in their recovery journey. 

To further understand the principles that make these programs so effective, we must first examine what a 12-Step program entails. 

What Is a 12-Step Program?

12-Step programs originated from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a spiritual foundation for recovery from alcoholism, so they are named after the program’s Twelve Steps to recovery. It’s designed as a way for a person not just to help themselves but also to help the family, friends, and community that their alcoholism may have harmed. The goal is to encourage clients to help themselves by seeking out and attending meetings. This model has been adapted and used for other addiction recovery groups. The original AA 12-Step program encourages individuals to surrender to a higher power as a source of strength. 

However, some people in the mental health care community do not agree with the original message of being powerless or embracing a higher power, as it’s believed it could isolate or discourage some people from seeking help. Secular versions such as SMART Recovery have been developed as an alternative to the AA 12-Step program model. SMART Recovery, especially, is commonly used in addiction treatment facilities. 

Though different, the goal of providing peer support and personal accountability is still the same regardless of the specific program. 

The Principles of a 12-Step Program

A 12-Step program operates on, of course, twelve guiding principles or traditions to encourage recovery. To summarize, a person utilizing a 12-Step program must:

• Be honest about their addiction and recognize how their behaviors impact themselves and those around them
• Accept that this is a battle they cannot win alone and seek help
• Take responsibility for their actions by making contact with those they are wronged and make sincere amends for any harm caused to them
• Find spiritual support and have faith in a higher being to give them strength to overcome addiction
• Perform acts of service to their peers and community
• Maintain their sobriety by attending meetings and practicing coping skills

Overall, 12-Step programs focus on the power of faith, forgiveness, and personal service as a way to remain in recovery. AA and other 12-Step programs based on it have the philosophy that addiction is a manageable chronic disease but ultimately a lifelong affliction. SMART Recovery, however, does not view addiction as a disease, only as behaviors that can be corrected. Instead of Twelve Steps, SMART Recovery utilizes a four-point program, which involves:

• Building and maintaining motivation so you can resolve to remain sober
• Coping with urges by identifying triggers and reducing or coping with them
• Manage thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to avoid relapse and find self-acceptance
• Living a balanced life by making healthy, realistic changes to promote recovery

Clients may use one or both program types to receive support during their recovery journey. Regardless of which program a client ultimately chooses, multiple studies have shown both programs to be effective for recovery. 

Finding Lifelong Support at Driftwood Recovery

The staff at Driftwood Recovery is just as diverse as its client base. People from all walks of life come to Driftwood Recovery to find a safe and secure place to heal. With a holistic treatment philosophy, great care is taken to be sure a wide range of treatment options is available. This includes the choice to participate in a 12-Step program, SMART Recovery, both, or neither. The power of choice is a fundamental human right. A right that Driftwood Recovery seriously upholds.

If choosing a traditional 12-Step program, clients will have meetings with their fellow peers. These meetings help clients take responsibility for their actions and make honest life changes. The Courageous Family program often goes hand in hand with a 12-Step program. They both work as a way for the client and their family to rebuild their relationships. SMART Recovery also features meetings where clients can practice and discuss the coping skills they have learned in treatment.

Regardless of the program chosen, clients are encouraged to support each other and help their communities. Alumni in the alumni program often become mentors to others. This shows the person being mentored that healthy sober living is possible and gives them a person they can call for help when they need strength. Of course, sober living and social skills are taught as part of treatment. However, going off on your own can be a frightening time that is made better with a supportive mentor. 

The goal of every mental health care and addiction treatment facility is for its clients to be successful in their recovery. With the help of a 12-Step program and SMART Recovery, clients find the community they need to be successful. Though treatment can feel overwhelming, it gets easier with each step forward. 

To an average person, the idea of a 12-Step program conjures images of people sitting in a room as they admit that they have an addiction. The truth is that a 12-Step program is much more complex than that. These programs assist clients in changing their lives and taking responsibility for their actions. For many, it’s another step in their recovery that can bring immense healing. That’s why at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients have access to 12-Step programs as an essential part of addiction treatment. Everyone, including yourself and those you love, can recover from addiction with the right treatment. So don’t wait to start your healing journey; call (512) 759-8330 today.

Personality disorders affect more people than an average person may think. According to a collection of 46 studies spanning six continents, there is a worldwide prevalence of any personality disorder of 7.8%, with higher rates in high-income countries, about 9.6%. Those who struggle with a personality disorder face stigma and distrust. This is the result of many factors, such as media depictions, the difficulty in forming and maintaining relationships, and a societal reluctance to discuss personality disorders. 

Perhaps the hardest part of struggling with a personality disorder is the higher likelihood of also struggling with addiction. Although both conditions are difficult to experience and live with, recovery is possible with the right treatment and willingness to make healthy life changes. Driftwood Recovery works to make the treatment process as smooth as possible for any condition. By providing a supportive and judgment-free environment, clients everywhere can recover in comfort. 

The first step to recovery is recognizing when one needs to seek help. By understanding the link between personality disorders and addiction, it becomes easier to recognize the signs of both. Education is always the key to encouraging those who need to seek help. It has a secondary effect of bringing awareness to those struggling that recovery is never impossible.

What Are Personality Disorders?

Personality disorders are a group of long-lasting mental health conditions. These conditions impose distinct patterns of negative thinking and behaviors on a person. This, in turn, greatly impacts their relationships with others. These conditions cause a person to deviate from societal and cultural norms, which causes great distress. They often impair a person’s ability to function and relate to others, which may affect their social and familial lives. People with personality disorders often struggle with understanding emotions, tolerating distress, or may act impulsively.

Many personality disorders currently exist. They are grouped into three distinct clusters. These are:

• Cluster A: These personality disorders are characterized by a lack of interest or suspicion of others due to a consistent dysfunctional pattern of thinking and behavior. Examples include schizoid personality disorder and paranoid personality disorder.
• Cluster B: These personality disorders are characterized by consistent, unpredictable, over-dramatic behavior and over-emotional thinking patterns. Examples include narcissistic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder (BPD).
• Cluster C: These personality disorders are characterized by consistent dysfunctional patterns of anxious thinking and behaviors. Examples include obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and avoidant personality disorder.

Why Does Addiction Commonly Co-Occur With Personality Disorders?

There are several reasons why addiction is often prevalent in those who struggle with personality disorders. Personality disorders, for one, often bring a lot of stress and anguish to an individual. Since there is quite a lot of stigma surrounding personality disorders, a person may be afraid to reach out for help from a professional. To numb and manage these symptoms, a person may be tempted to self-medicate with substances and drugs, such as alcohol. Over time, the body will become tolerant to these substances. This forces the individual to need more of the substance to achieve the same effect. Once a person is dependent, it almost always leads to an addiction. 

Another reason why addiction is strongly linked to personality disorders is due to some of the common symptoms associated with these conditions. Those who have a personality disorder marked by impulsive or reckless behavior are more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol. Peer pressure and the desire to fit in or be “cool” contribute greatly to the impulse to use these substances. Of course, many drugs and substances are highly addictive and may only take a single use to form a chemical dependency.

There may be biological pathways that may be behind why some people have a higher likelihood of developing both conditions. Genetics that make up our bodies may be a major factor. How our brains are built may also be one, as a person with a slightly different prefrontal cortex may struggle with traits like impulsivity. Negative life experiences, such as trauma, may influence if a person develops one or more conditions. Family history may also be a significant risk factor as well. 

Despite these links, it’s important to remember that both these conditions are treatable with specialized care.

Finding Treatment and Healing at Driftwood Recovery

Driftwood Recovery, as a treatment facility, focuses on treating a wide range of conditions. Most of these conditions are co-occurring and require specialized treatment to address. These are called a dual diagnosis, as all conditions must be addressed at once to be properly treated. Personality disorders and addiction are all too common with a dual diagnosis, along with other conditions such as depression and anxiety. A dual diagnosis is treatable as long as the client is willing to ask for help and accept it.

The exact therapies vary depending on the individual and which addiction and personality disorder they are struggling with. However, some treatments are universal. Finding the underlying cause of both conditions is the first step, along with detoxing from the substance or drug being used. The next step is to treat the cause through various therapies, such as psychotherapy. Then, it teaches the client the skills needed to stay in recovery and achieve success post-treatment through various Driftwood Recovery programs. The courageous family program and alumni program are just a few programs used to build connections and healthy relationships with others. As personality disorders often impact a person’s relationships, such programs are vital to the recovery process. 

Perhaps the most important part of treatment at Driftwood Recovery is the realization that these conditions do not make someone a bad person. It’s a safe place to find understanding and respect, especially from fellow peers who are in the same situation. Though the link between addiction and personality disorders exists, it’s not a set in stone thing. It’s always okay to seek help before these conditions gain a stronghold over your life. So, if you are struggling, don’t wait. Reach out for help today. 

Personality disorders are as varied as the people who struggle with them. These struggles can be severe enough to lead to other conditions, including addiction. Struggling with both a personality disorder and addiction can feel overwhelming, but there is hope. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients find the treatment they need to recover from addiction and manage their mental health disorders. The staff at Driftwood Recovery are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for clients to find healing and understanding. If you or a loved one is struggling, don’t wait to seek help. Call Driftwood Recovery at (512) 759-8330 to begin your recovery journey today. 

Self-medicating is a self-destructive behavior that often leads to addiction. Sadly, it’s an all too common behavior that affects countless people, usually the most isolated and vulnerable among us. There are many reasons why a person may choose to self-medicate instead of seeking help. Stigma, lack of education about treatment, poverty, shame, and many more all contribute to the likelihood of someone self-medicating. Understanding these factors and helping those who are struggling are all ways to prevent addiction and other harmful behaviors from taking root.

That’s why mental health care and addiction treatment facilities, such as Driftwood Recovery, work to educate the public and provide compassionate and quality treatment. Awareness and education are key in helping people recognize when they are self-medicating or have developed an addiction. It’s important to remember that anyone can overcome addiction and harmful behaviors if they are willing to accept help. The more awareness is spread, the better the likelihood that a person can get the help they need.

But before a person can get help, they must recognize what self-medicating looks like. Part of this may also involve examining their families closely and how they cope with difficulties. Sometimes, self-medicating behaviors are learned from our loved ones, which makes it even more difficult to recognize and stop. 

What Is Self-Medicating?

When someone self-medicates, they are using a drug or substance without the oversight of a doctor to relieve a negative symptom, real or perceived. Doctors prescribe medication in the exact amounts needed to keep their patients safe. They also check in with their patients regularly to make sure they are okay. Self-medication is dangerous because, without the oversight of a medical professional, drug and substance abuse can cause serious harm.  

Most people self-medicate to deal with chronic conditions. Those living with chronic pain and anxiety disorders are particularly prone to self-medicating. For example, a person struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may self-medicate by drinking alcohol to numb their nervous system. Someone struggling with pain may self-medicate with opioids. Marijuana is another common substance used for self-medication as a form of stress relief. Regardless of the substance or drug being used, a person will eventually become dependent, which can lead to addiction. 

Being able to recognize the signs of self-medication before it leads to addiction is also essential. Ask yourself the following questions. 

• Do you find yourself turning to a drug or substance to deal with a problem?
• Is it hard to get through a day without using a drug or substances?
• Do you feel as though you must have that drug or substance to function normally?
• When out of a drug or substance, do you panic or feel fear until you can obtain more? 
• Do you use a drug or substance so you don’t have to think about painful memories, feelings, or bodily sensations? 

 Answering yes to any of these questions is a sign that you are self-medicating and should seek help. 

Understanding Why Self-Medicating Often Leads to Addiction

It’s important to remember that addiction is never the result of a moral failing or the mark of a bad person. Addictions work by hijacking essential brain functions and causing them to become chemically dependent on the drug or substance. All substances and drugs will eventually lose their potency over time as the individual develops a tolerance. This forces the user to consume more of the substance or drug to achieve the same effect as before. Over time, this becomes a dependency, which then leads to addiction. 

There is a chemical factor behind addiction that makes it difficult to overcome. However, the psychological factor behind self-medication is perhaps what keeps someone addicted longer. For example, a person struggling with trauma may be afraid to quit drinking because they don’t feel strong enough to face their trauma. Someone else might not know how to relax, so believe sincerely that they cannot relax otherwise without the use of substances or drugs. 

Finding Treatment Before Self-Medicating Leads to Addiction

It’s possible to find help before a negative situation leads to addiction. Preventative mental health care is just as important as medical checkups in terms of maintaining health. There are many treatment facilities, including Driftwood Recovery, that can help someone manage their conditions and stress before they are tempted to self-medicate. Like doctors, mental health care professionals are bound by laws to protect privacy. Those who worry that asking for help may cause problems have nothing to fear. Mental health care professionals will advise, not judge, your situation. Their goal is to lessen your struggles and direct you to the resources you need to seek help. 

If someone has already developed an addiction, they can still receive help. Enrolling in a specialized treatment program is the best way to recover from addiction, as clients will have access to vital services such as medical detox and medication management. There, clients also learn skills that negate the need for self-medicating and keep them in recovery. For example, they learn to build a support network or discover exciting sober activities that give them joy. These greatly reduce the urge to self-medicate during and after treatment. 

No matter if you are currently addicted, on the cusp of addiction, or want to prevent it, help will always be available to you. So don’t allow yourself or a loved one to continue with this struggle alone. No problem is too big or too small to be solved, especially at Driftwood Recovery.

Self-medicating is a harmful behavior that many people engage in. Using drugs or substances without the oversight of a doctor can result in several problems, such as injury, addiction, or even death. People often engage in self-medicating to feel relief from pain, both physical and psychological. Treating this underlying pain gives clients the means to find healing so that they can begin a healthier and sober life. Here at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients find the comprehensive and compassionate care needed to treat a wide range of conditions, bringing relief and healing to countless people. Anyone can recover from their mental health condition, including yourself and your loved ones. So don’t wait, call (512) 759-8330 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.