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.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 46.3 million people meet the criteria for substance use disorder (SUD). However, of those 46.3 million, 20.9 million are recovering or in recovery. Therefore, understanding and supporting life in recovery is invaluable to helping people reintegrate into their lives and communities. Through continuing care found in an alumni program, resources and services like the value of therapy become apparent. 

At Driftwood Recovery, we recognize that ideas about recovery come with a complex set of predispositions and assumptions. Those predispositions and assumptions about recovery can impede your ability to reintegrate and build the courageous life in recovery you deserve. We are dedicated to providing education and guidance through connection and service to meet your physical, psychological, and sober needs to maintain recovery.

Yet, you may question how therapy can continue to support you in recovery. You already went through therapy in treatment, so what could therapy offer you now? Understanding how therapy functions can provide greater insight into the value of therapy for recovery.

Types of Therapy Offered During and Post-Treatment

Challenges with addiction are complex, and treatment needs to be tailored to meet the individual needs and experiences of each person. Thus, there are various therapy options utilized to support and treat a variety of challenges with addiction. As stated in Addiction Psychotherapeutic Care by Han Yue and Eduardo Pena, psychosocial interventions like therapy are crucial to addiction treatment. Through psychosocial interventions, a greater understanding of the social, environmental, and psychological factors that contribute to SUD is found. 

Listed below are some of the psychosocial interventions that can be utilized during and post-treatment:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectal behavior therapy (DBT)
• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy

While everyone’s needs are different, the value of therapy can provide a foundation for healing and managing daily life. Despite the benefits of therapy experienced in treatment, many people avoid or see no value in therapy beyond treatment. 

The Why Behind Therapy Avoidance in Recovery

Awareness of the prevalence of mental health disorders among the general public has grown substantially. Greater awareness of mental health disorders is made clear in the growing number of people living with one or more mental health disorders. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among adults in the U.S., 58.7 million are living with a mental health condition. Further, the CDC notes that another 14.6 million people are living with serious mental health conditions like major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. 

For those in recovery, post-treatment therapy is often recommended as a part of continuing care. Yet, many, including those in recovery, continue to have unmet mental health needs. Unmet mental health needs in recovery can stem from several factors, but avoidance is a common barrier to the value of therapy in recovery. Some of the reasons why you may avoid therapy in recovery include:

• Feeling certain that you have overcome all mental health challenges
• Believing the tools you learned in treatment alone can resolve any challenges you encounter
• You are convinced that you have too many responsibilities and obligations to go to therapy
• Feeling certain that additional treatment would not be helpful
• Post-treatment life can amplify reminders of mental health stigma

Avoiding therapy post-treatment can be detrimental to your well-being. Thus, expanding your awareness of the value of therapy can highlight the importance of continuing care in recovery.

Value of Therapy for Sustained Recovery

Many recognize the value of therapy in treatment due to the prevalence of co-occurring SUD and other mental health conditions. Yet, the value of therapy is often overlooked as an invaluable continuing care tool for sustained recovery. As noted in Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, continuing care is an important component of a dynamic recovery process. Some of the ways continuing care tools support recovery include:

• Maintain abstinence 
• Relapse prevention
• Access to other support resources
• Linking community support 
• Address interrelated recovery challenges
  • Employment
  • Housing
  • Support network
  • Sober recreation
  • Meaningful and fun hobbies and activities
• Skill building
• Self-management
• Goal setting
• Identifying barriers to goals
• Methods for overcoming goal barriers
• Mental well-being

Therapy can be another continuing care component to support your life goals and long-term wellness. Listed below are some of the benefits therapy can offer in recovery:

• Provide education about addiction, relapse, and recovery
• Develop healthy coping and communication skills
• Build a support network
• Greater self-awareness and self-understanding
• Increase self-esteem, self-confidence, and motivation
• Improve sense of purpose and belonging
• Manage mental health symptoms
• Provide accountability

Looking at the value of therapy alone highlights continuing care as vital to recovery. Despite the value of therapy, individual avoidance or overconfidence are not the only barriers to therapy in recovery.

Addressing Barriers to the Value of Therapy

There are external barriers to therapy that attempt to impede your access to resources for sustained recovery. Some of the other barriers to resources like therapy you may encounter include:

• Stigma
  • Shame
  • Fear of judgment
• Concerns about confidentiality and trust
• Poor access to resources
  • Transportation
  • Geographical isolation
  • Financial insecurity
  • Structural inequalities
    • Sex and gender identity
    • Race and ethnicity
• Lack of inclusive support services
  • Trauma-informed
  • Gender-responsive

Despite the presence of structural barriers, access to a strong alumni program can help overcome barriers to thrive in recovery.

Finding the Value of Therapy in Alumni at Driftwood Recovery

With a vibrant alumni program, you not only have access to therapy. You can access a range of continuing care services and resources that more effectively integrate community for enjoyment and a sense of meaning and purpose in recovery. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing a peer-driven network where you can find compassionate support, accountability, and guidance to maintain recovery. We provide a wide range of services and resources like recovery education and weekly meetings and events no matter where you are on your recovery journey. With support, you can build a courageous life in recovery.

Overconfidence, avoidance, and structural barriers often impede investing in the value of therapy for sustained recovery. However, more awareness of continuing care can showcase the value of therapy in recovery. Access to continuing care supports relapse prevention, skill building, goal setting, and addressing other recovery challenges like unemployment and unstable housing, among other support tools. Further, continuing therapy post-treatment can specifically support recovery education, healthy coping skills, self-esteem, and building a support network. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing a peer-driven network where you can find compassion, service, accountability, and guidance to meet you where you are on your recovery journey. Call us at (512) 759-8330 to learn how therapy can continue to support your recovery.

Many people are currently struggling with sleep disorders. In 2022, it was estimated that 13.5% of adults aged 18 and older felt exhausted on most days. The blame for this lack of essential sleep comes from varied sources, such as people working long hours in demanding fields such as medical care. However, most of what is causing these low rates of sleep are sleep disorders. These sleep disorders don’t just cause poor sleep; they can also greatly impact a person’s physical and mental health.

That’s why at Driftwood Recovery, we treat sleep disorders as seriously as any other mental health condition. With a focus on quality holistic treatment, clients don’t just get care for their conditions. They can also get a full night’s sleep. 

To understand the role sleep plays in our health, we must first examine what sleep disorders are.

A Brief Overview of Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are defined as a condition that affects the quality, amount, and time of sleep you can get at night. Having too little or too much sleep can cause a cascade effect on a person’s ability to function. Some common examples of sleep disorders are:

• Insomnia
• Restless legs syndrome
• Narcolepsy
• Sleep apnea
• Parasomnias

Sleep disorders are caused by a myriad of reasons, many of which are beyond a person’s control. Some of these common causes are:

• A symptom from a medical or mental health condition such as asthma, depression, chronic pain, or anxiety
• Genetics
• Working night shifts
• A side effect of certain medications
• Using substances before bed, such as caffeine or alcohol
• Poor nutrition which can cause a decrease in essential chemicals or minerals in the brain

It’s important to be aware of how much sleep you get in a night. Adults need between seven and nine hours of quality sleep each night to function properly. If you notice that you are tired no matter how much sleep you get, cannot fall asleep, or experience cognitive and physical decline, it’s time to seek help.

The Role of Sleep on Health

Sleep is essential for everyone, not just those in recovery. However, having sleep disorders such as insomnia can play a significant role in the quality of your life during and after treatment. Treatment and recovery are hard work, and clients need sleep to heal properly and rejuvenate for the next day. Without sleep, a person’s cognitive abilities begin to decline. It makes it difficult to think and concentrate. People with poor sleep may also struggle with distress tolerance, making them feel irritated or depressed.

Part of treatment at Driftwood Recovery is ensuring that the client will have the healthiest life possible post-treatment, as sleep disorders can cause problems for physical health as well. Those with consistently poor sleep are more at risk for conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even dementia. Poor sleep results in poor reaction times, leaving those with poor sleep more prone to accidents and harm. In rare cases, conditions like insomnia can even be life-threatening. 

A person struggling with a sleep disorder can’t concentrate on treatment. They also are more likely to experience a relapse, as being tired lowers mental resilience. Sleep disorders lower mood and generally make someone feel awful. It’s no way to begin or remain in recovery. Luckily, there are ways to treat sleep disorders that give those who struggle with them a new lease on life.

Treating Sleep Disorders at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we know how important sleep is for a healthy mind and body. Clients with sleep disorders have access to quality and comprehensive treatment designed to help them sleep well. Exactly what treatments or therapies are used depends on the particular sleep disorder and its severity. For general sleep care, clients are taught about nutrition, exercise, and sleep hygiene. Engaging your body in exercise, eating a healthy diet, and training your body to have a healthy nighttime routine can often be enough to help with mild sleep disorders.

For more severe disorders, such as insomnia, clients utilize cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as a way to manage their condition. CBT uses techniques such as sleep journals to help clients track their sleep quality and identify potential triggers that affect it. Medications may also be used to help a client’s body establish a new sleep schedule or treat underlying disorders causing the sleeping problems. For example, anxiety often causes symptoms such as a racing mind and heart, making it difficult to sleep. Anti-anxiety medications can quiet the mind and body, allowing the client to fall and stay asleep.

Driftwood Recovery has access to several experts in the mental and medical healthcare field, one of which is sleep experts who can perform sleep studies. These studies take place overnight and observe how a client sleeps. In many cases, these diagnose a client with sleep apnea. This disorder is treated through the use of a CPAP machine, allowing the client to have uninterrupted breathing during the night. Driftwood Recovery doesn’t just treat sleep disorders; we help clients get a diagnosis. For many, they struggle for years without knowing why they feel so tired. Having access to a valuable diagnostic tool such as a sleep study solves this mystery and paves the way for specialized care.

Overall, Driftwood Recovery doesn’t only provide treatment. We also help clients learn the skills needed for a healthy life. Establishing healthy habits now ensures not just an easier time in treatment but also allows clients to have a successful and continuous recovery. 

Having a sleep disorder can have a profound effect on a person’s mental health. A lack of or too much sleep can also take a physical toll on a person’s physical health. In serious cases, sleep disorders like insomnia can result in hospitalization if treatment is not sought. That’s why at Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, sleep disorders are treated as seriously as any other mental health condition. With an emphasis on holistic and comprehensive treatment, clients can learn ways to obtain restful and healthy sleep. If you or a loved one is struggling to get healthy sleep, don’t wait to get help. Learn more about our treatment plans at Driftwood Recovery by calling (512) 759-8330 today.

Shame and guilt are common self-conscious emotions that most people will experience throughout their lives. Both emotions are deeply intertwined, and when left unchecked, one often leads to the other. Together, guilt and shame can be detrimental to your well-being. Understanding their entangled relationship is important for overcoming shame and guilt in addiction recovery.

At Driftwood Recovery, we know true healing starts with fostering a healthy connection to self and others. Through connection, you can find healthy attachments to alleviate the distressing emotions that can accompany recovery. We are dedicated to taking an attachment approach to recovery because connection is the foundation for understanding yourself and others. 

In recovery, feelings of guilt and shame can bubble up and manifest as social withdrawal. Yet, at Driftwood Recovery, we know recovery cannot be done in isolation but within the embrace of a strong support network. A network of peers and loved ones can offer mutual support and community to help people overcome shame and guilt and thrive. However, you may question how finding connections in alumni can help you in overcoming shame and guilt. Dismantling the harm of addiction in your life starts with understanding the roots of your distress. 

What Is Shame and Guilt?

In general, shame is an intense feeling of embarrassment or humiliation that arises from the perception that you have done something wrong. Further, shame leaves you feeling like you are a bad, unworthy, or inadequate person. Some additional symptoms of shame include:

• Worrying what others think of you
• Desire to withdraw from others 
• You always feel like an outsider

On the other hand, guilt leaves you feeling remorse or a sense of responsibility for doing something wrong or the perception that you have done something wrong. Guilt is unlike shame, which does not have to stem from a specific situation or behavior. Rather, guilt often stems from a specific intentional or unintentional action. Overcoming shame and guilt means understanding their similarities and differences. 

Understanding Differences Between Shame and Guilt

According to Europe’s Journal of Psychology, shame and guilt are self-critical emotions associated with self-reflection and self-evaluation. At the core of shame and guilt are negative self-evaluations and distress born from your perceived failures or transgressions. Listed below are some of the major differences between guilt and shame:

• Guilt focuses on negative moral self-evaluation
  • Considers your behavior, goals, beliefs, or traits
  • You evaluate yourself positively or negatively based on whether the behavior, goal, belief, or trait is seen as beneficial or harmful
  • Can drive you to amend your mistakes
• Shame focuses on nonmoral, negative self-evaluation
  • Is concerned with a perceived discrepancy between your actual and ideal self
  • You evaluate your self-worth based on your place in society
  • Can drive you to hide from others

Guilt and shame can have adaptive properties that contribute to differentiation in emotional responses to different forms of self-criticism. Yet, it is often the maladaptive aspects that make overcoming shame and guilt difficult.

Impact of Shame and Guilt on Addiction and Recovery

Shame and guilt can play overlapping roles in addiction and recovery. In addiction, shame and guilt made it difficult for you to believe you were worthy of healing and powerless to change. You overcame countless barriers to seek treatment, and now, in recovery, overcoming the shame and guilt that remain is vital to sustained recovery. When left to fester unaddressed, shame and trauma can impair your well-being. Listed below are some of the ways shame and guilt impede recovery:

• Risk for relapse
• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Perfectionism
• Low self-worth
• Social withdrawal
• Impede healthy relationships

Further, shame and guilt can be detrimental to the connections you share with loved ones and recovery. As noted by BMC Psychiatry, most families are not equipped with the knowledge to adapt and appropriately respond to addiction, which disrupts the family’s normal system and functioning. Addiction exposes the family to a range of challenges, including socioeconomic, mental illness, abuse, conflicts, and dysfunction, among other issues. The family challenges born out of addiction can persist in recovery as shame and guilt. Some of the ways shame and guilt hinder healthy families and recovery include:

• Poor communication
• Low help-seeking behavior
• Dysfunctional family dynamics

Overcoming shame and guilt is not only valuable to you but for healing the whole family.

Overcoming Shame and Guilt in Recovery

Your ability to heal by overcoming shame and guilt is rooted in the power of connection, self-awareness, and self-understanding. Listed below are some of the ways you can work on overcoming shame and guilt to thrive:

• Practice mindfulness
  • Deepness awareness of the self and emotions
  • Understand the source of your guilt and shame
• Journal about the specific things you feel guilty or ashamed about
  • Helps acknowledge your guilt and shame rather than avoid it
  • Cultivates self-compassion, self-forgiveness, and acceptance to support moving forward
• Foster positive relationships by surrounding yourself with mutually supportive people
  • Talk to trusted loved ones about how you have been feeling
  • Surround yourself with people who value you
• Reach out for support
  • Attend self-help groups
  • Engage in therapy

Engaging in practices that promote dignity, respect, empathy, and trust in yourself and others is an important step toward overcoming shame and guilt. With positive connections in an alumni program, you are reminded that you are not alone in recovery.

Family Cohesion: Overcoming Shame Together to Heal at Driftwood Recovery

Overcoming shame and guilt in recovery supports family cohesion for sustained recovery. Positive family cohesion and connection with peers can support leading a courageous life in recovery for the whole family. At Driftwood Recovery, we believe in breaking the cycle of suffering through a peer-driven alumni program. Through alumni, you can find the encouragement, accountability, and service needed to overcome shame and guilt. With a commitment to connection, you and your loved ones can use long-term resources and services like weekly meetings, family dinners, and our family support group for sustained recovery.

Shame and or guilt are common emotions. Guilt can encourage you to make positive changes and amend mistakes. However, in recovery, shame and guilt can create a cycle of harm to your well-being. Feeling ashamed and guilty about your addiction or the choices you made before treatment can convince you that you are not worthy of healing or connection with others. A poor sense of self can contribute to relapse and greater family dysfunction. Overcoming shame and guilt through connection with others is invaluable to sustained recovery. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing resources that support connection with loved ones and peers in alumni to cultivate self-compassion and forgiveness to heal. Call us at (512) 759-8330 today.

The holidays can be triggering and often leave people feeling uncertain about the future. Healthcare providers often fill a critical gap for clients who lack a support system at home. Clients with less support from friends or family may experience additional stress, loneliness, or anxiety during the holiday season. Addressing these issues immediately reduces their impact on a client’s rehabilitation. Staff members at Driftwood Recovery support clients by providing additional emotional and practical support during the holidays. 

Providing Emotional Support to Clients During the Holidays

Healthcare professionals play an essential role in empowering and uplifting clients during their recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) or dual diagnosis. Professionals in healthcare do this by providing emotional support to clients during the holidays. Many clients in treatment do not have family members able or willing to spend the holidays with them during the treatment process. The lack of family support may cause some clients to backslide and rely on maladaptive coping mechanisms to make it through the holiday season. Healthcare workers reduce the risk of relapse and keep clients moving forward in their recovery by providing additional support and encouragement during the holidays. 

Managing Triggers and Reducing Stress

The holidays are when many people get together with friends and loved ones to celebrate the year. Past events may have involved alcohol or other addictive substances, causing clients to experience intense cravings during the holiday season. People also experience additional stress related to holiday get-togethers.

Some of the most common stress triggers clients experience during the holidays include: 

• Questions from loved ones about the future 
• Loneliness 
• Being separated from friends or family
• Mourning the loss of a loved one 
• Cravings caused by holiday imagery involving alcohol 

Triggers may cause significant emotional distress and potential complications for clients in recovery. Healthcare professionals decrease the adverse side effects of cravings and other symptoms of SUD by helping clients manage triggers. Emotional support and therapeutic guidance help clients navigate holiday triggers without feeling overwhelmed or falling back into unhealthy patterns. 

How Do the Holidays Impact the Mental Health of Clients in Residential or Outpatient Care?

Mental health directly affects physical wellness and a person’s outlook on life. Individuals in outpatient and residential care may face different challenges during the holidays. For example, clients in residential programs may miss being able to travel to visit loved ones for the holiday, increasing feelings of isolation or shame. However, clients in outpatient programs may struggle to meet family expectations or feel overwhelmed by stigmas and triggers they encounter during holiday events. Healthcare professionals help mitigate these issues by preparing clients in advance and ensuring they have the skills to effectively cope with holiday-related stressors. Addressing mental health needs helps clients remain safe and move forward in their recovery journey. 

Family Pressure to Meet Recovery Goals

Intense family pressure to meet recovery goals is one of the most significant stressors for many clients during the holidays. Often, families are unaware of the realities of addiction, and they may believe a few weeks of treatment will “cure” their loved one. However, the disease of addiction takes time and effort to manage. Clients may struggle to communicate their experiences with loved ones or worry about letting their family down. People often experience shame, regret, anger, and other strong emotions about their choices and current circumstances during the holidays. Healthcare professionals provide an outside perspective and encourage clients to continue healing. 

Making The Holidays a Positive Experience for Clients

Everyone deserves to feel heard, understood, and encouraged during the holidays. Healthcare professionals help clients by making the holidays a positive experience. Putting in the extra effort to make every interaction uplifting and compassionate may inspire clients and make day-to-day tasks more enjoyable for healthcare workers. Mindfulness-based exercises and techniques improve positivity and reduce stress management. According to Cureus, “Mindfulness-based interventions have [. . .] demonstrated benefits.” For example, “Healthcare workers in qualitative studies have described benefits for themselves, their colleagues, and their patients, such as nurses who reported improvements in coping with workplace stress and developing feelings of inner calm.” Staff members at Driftwood Recovery use mindfulness-based techniques to improve productivity and provide higher-quality service to clients in rehabilitation. 

Celebrating Milestones in Recovery and Building Deeper Connections

Healthcare workers play an important part in motivating clients to make essential lifestyle changes that support lasting recovery. Celebrating milestones with clients during the holidays can uplift their spirits and give them additional motivation. The staff at Driftwood Recovery treats every client like a family member and takes steps to celebrate every single success in treatment, no matter how large or small. Focusing on the positives helps clients and clinicians remain healthy and purposeful in their actions. The holiday season is an excellent time to check in on treatment progress and make new goals for the future. Staff at Driftwood Recovery use the opportunity to help clients focus on the future.

Treating clients during the holidays requires healthcare workers to dedicate more time to clients who may not have others to support them. Clients may feel more lonely and separated from others if they are forced to attend residential treatment during the holiday season. Healthcare workers encourage those individuals by practicing empathy and compassion. The holiday season often significantly increases client cases, putting stress on treatment facilities and individual staff members. Driftwood Recovery provides additional services to help clients and staff navigate holiday-related stressors successfully. By addressing staffing concerns, management ensures clients receive the highest level of care. To learn more about our facility and thriving sober community, call our office today at (512) 759-8330.

Oppositional defiance disorder is a poorly understood mental health condition. Though usually seen in children, this condition can affect adults as well. Many of these adults struggle with patterns of anger and vindictiveness without knowing its source. It can be severe enough that adults struggling with oppositional defiance disorder turn to self-medicating to ease their symptoms. In the end, self-medicating often leads to substance abuse and addiction. Oppositional defiance disorder is not just an isolating condition. It also can be life-threatening. 

That’s why at Driftwood Recovery, clients living with oppositional defiance disorder can find comprehensive and compassionate treatment. The staff at Driftwood Recovery understands that the drive behind these behaviors is not the client’s fault. However, with treatment, adults with oppositional defiance disorder can learn how to control their behavior and cope with their condition. In time, these adults can live healthy, fulfilling lives. All it takes is the willingness to reach out for help.

To see how oppositional defiance disorder is treated, we must first gain an understanding of the condition. This education serves two purposes. First, it educates the average person about this condition and encourages empathy and understanding. Secondly, it provides hope to those struggling with oppositional defiance disorder that treatment and recovery are possible for themselves and their loved ones. 

A Brief Overview of Oppositional Defiance Disorder

Oppositional defiance disorder (or oppositional defiant disorder) is a condition identified by the DSM-5 as “a pattern of angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior, or vindictiveness.” This disorder is typically diagnosed in children, but adults may also be diagnosed with oppositional defiance disorder as well. Children often outgrow this condition, but about half of them will continue to experience symptoms through adulthood. Oppositional defiance disorder is genetic and will often affect several members of a family line. 

The angry, defiant, and vindictive behavior is usually targeted toward positions of authority, perceived or real. Examples include parents, teachers, coworkers, bosses, and law enforcement officials. This makes it difficult for adults with oppositional defiance disorder to function at work, home, or school. Common symptoms of oppositional defiance disorder are:

• Commonly feeling oppressed or “kept down” by an authority figure or rules
• Loses temper often, which can sometimes result in violent behaviors
• Is easily annoyed by others 
• Argues constantly with family and coworkers with a distinct need to “win” the argument 
• Intense feelings of anger and resentment
• Is highly defensive when criticized and blames others for their mistakes or misbehavior
• Actively refuses to comply with rules or laws, even when detrimental to personal safety 
• Deliberately annoys people or pick fights 
• Engages in spiteful or vindictive behaviors 

Note that oppositional defiance disorder is not a person with a bad temper. This is a serious condition that prevents a person from living a normal life – as seen by its effect on a person’s mental health. 

The Effects of Oppositional Defiance Disorder on Mental Health

Adults who live with oppositional defiance disorder are not just angry or irritable from time to time. They struggle with feelings of intense anger at the world every day. Losing your temper is a regular occurrence. This may manifest in dangerous activities, such as road rage or picking fights with law enforcement. Those struggling with this condition may also become verbally or physically abusive – abuse which is often levied at the people they love and care about. There are times when those with this condition put themselves in deadly danger by disobeying those they feel are in authority, which often leads to accidents and other preventable harm. 

It’s not just issues like getting into trouble with the law, losing a job, or putting oneself in danger. Oppositional defiance disorder is an incredibly isolating condition. Those who know they are constantly angry may withdraw from others to protect their loved ones. They often struggle with feelings of being disliked or misunderstood, which can feed into the cycle of anger. Oppositional defiance disorder often leads to other mental health conditions, such as depression, addiction, and antisocial personality disorder. 

That’s why it’s vital for those struggling with this condition to get help; the sooner, the better. Treatment doesn’t just improve relationships and help you feel better – it can also save your life. 

Compassionate Treatment at Driftwood Recovery

Treatment at Driftwood Recovery for oppositional defiance disorder consists of a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and coping skills training. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is perhaps the most used form of psychotherapy in the treatment of this condition. It helps clients identify what triggers their condition and grasp the consequences of their actions. Therapists also use CBT to help clients learn relaxation techniques to keep them calm during angering situations.

Emotional regulation is also important for oppositional defiance disorder treatment. It teaches clients how to react to anger-provoking situations with socially appropriate responses. Emotional regulation also teaches clients how to be more aware of their emotions. Doing so can mitigate outbursts and help clients think through their actions before they commit to them. Peer group therapy is commonly part of treatment plans for oppositional defiance disorder as it offers training for clients on how to appropriately interact with their peers. The goal is to focus on having positive interactions, not combative ones. 

Finally, medication is sometimes used to address coexisting conditions. For example, a person with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may feel frustrated, which can feed into outbursts and worsen the symptoms of oppositional defiance disorder. Providing medication can reduce the frustrating effect of ADHD, which in turn reduces the symptoms of oppositional defiance disorder.

It’s important to remember that even though it looks daunting, oppositional defiance disorder is a treatable condition. Reaching out for help at Driftwood Recovery doesn’t just help treat this misunderstood condition – it can also give you a new lease on life. 

Those living with oppositional defiance disorder can experience many hardships. Keeping a job, having a healthy relationship with parents, and even staying out of legal trouble are made much more difficult with this disorder. For those struggling, it can feel hopeless. Oppositional defiance disorder, however, is a treatable condition. Those who seek treatment have a high likelihood of success and long-lasting recovery. That’s why Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, offers extensive and comprehensive treatment for oppositional defiance disorder. There is no judgment here, only the sincere desire to help. If you or a loved one is struggling, don’t wait. Learn more about our oppositional defiance disorder treatment plan today by calling (512) 759-8330.

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. 

Individuals in minority groups may find it more difficult to access necessary treatment. Healthcare workers play an important role in connecting clients with the services they need to thrive in recovery. According to Health Services Research, “Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people are populations at elevated risk for mental health disorders, substance abuse, and psychiatric comorbidity relative to their heterosexual and cisgender peers.” Driftwood Recovery offers an affirming therapeutic space for LGBTQIA+ clients to heal from the effects of substance use disorder (SUD) and dual diagnosis. 

Addressing the Challenges LGBTQIA+ Clients Face in Treatment

LGBTQIA+ clients may face additional challenges during treatment and ongoing recovery. Healthcare providers must consider these factors during treatment planning and throughout rehabilitation. Individuals in minority groups often face greater stigma and social discrimination during treatment. In addition, many LGBTQIA+ individuals do not have a stable support system to help them navigate treatment and ongoing recovery. Staff members may need to step up and take on more of a support role, providing clients with additional resources and services to fill gaps in their support system. 

How Clinicians Support LGBTQIA+ Clients

LGBTQIA+ clients may need more one-on-one and community assistance compared to their cisgender and heterosexual peers. Some of the practical ways staff support LGBTQIA+ clients during treatment for SUD include: 

• Offering access to gender-specific and LGBTQIA+ support groups 
• Providing access to LGBTQIA+ relevant aftercare resources 
• Using inclusive and gender-affirming language
• Creating a safe and non-judgmental environment 
• Ensuring privacy and confidentiality regarding sexual orientation and gender identity 
• Providing trauma-specific care for clients who may have experienced discrimination 

Driftwood Recovery educates the community on how to combat stigmas and discrimination, creating a more inclusive space for client healing. Healthcare workers provide guidance and motivation for minority clients struggling with the effects of SUD or dual diagnosis. Personalizing support services to address the unique needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals ensures a better treatment experience for clients and clinicians. 

Healthcare Professionals Create a Safe Space

LGBTQIA+ clients may find it more challenging to open up about their experiences. Healthcare professionals can break down that barrier by building trust and creating a safe space where clients feel comfortable expressing themselves. The relationship of trust starts during the initial intake interview.

Some of the ways healthcare workers create a safe space for LGBTQIA+ clients include: 

• Displaying inclusive symbols of support, including pride flags or ally signs 
• Using intake and assessment forms that include diverse forms of gender identity and sexual orientation 
• Including LGBTQIA+ cultural competency training for all staff members 
• Building partnerships with LGBTQIA+ organizations that offer support services for clients 
• Using inclusive language in all reading materials and treatment sessions 

Healthcare professionals play a significant role in normalizing positive and affirming conversations about gender identity and sexual orientation. 

Building Trust and Developing Personalized Care Plans

Personalized care plans allow clinicians to address unique issues impacting clients and their recovery from substance use or mental health disorders. Tailoring treatment also builds trust by showing clients that clinicians care about their comfort, safety, and personal goals. Culturally competent care is essential to ensure positive treatment outcomes. 

Studies have shown that “[t]he healthcare needs of the LGBTQ community should be considered to provide the best care and avoid inequalities of care.” Healthcare professionals use comprehensive assessments and other tools to create effective care plans addressing the needs of LGBTQIA+ clients. 

How Driftwood Recovery Supports LGBTQIA+ Clients

Driftwood Recovery welcomes individuals of all cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds. Staff members receive sensitivity training and other instructions to help them best serve each individual in their care. The thorough intake assessments and client-focused programs at Driftwood Recovery provide clinicians with the necessary tools to ensure clients receive the care they need to heal. 

Addiction and mental health professionals address the needs of LGBTQIA+ clients by doing the following: 

• Using inclusive language and respecting client pronouns, names, and gender identities 
• Addressing risk factors that disproportionately affect LGBTQIA+ individuals 
• Identifying and addressing any heteronormative or cisnormative assumptions in treatment planning 

Every client deserves to feel respected and valued during treatment. Healthcare professionals can consult with community-based support programs and services focused on providing care to the LGBTQIA+ community.

Access to An Affirming and Empowering Community

Driftwood Recovery offers clients access to an affirming and empowering community of peers. Healthcare professionals collaborate with clients to ensure that peers engage with one another and actively participate in the treatment process. LGBTQIA+ individuals may struggle with low self-esteem and self-confidence. Empowerment through evidence-based and alternative holistic therapies promotes more positive thoughts and healthier behaviors. Recovering from substance abuse and mental health disorders is more manageable when people feel comfortable speaking up about their needs. The inclusive community at Driftwood Recovery encourages clinicians and clients to support and uplift one another. 

Individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ often face additional challenges during and after treatment for substance use and mental health disorders. LGBTQIA+ clients also have a higher risk of experiencing co-occurring conditions and severe symptoms. Healthcare professionals can take steps to create a nurturing space for LGBTQIA+ individuals, reducing their risk of relapse and improving treatment outcomes. Driftwood Recovery offers a safe and welcoming space for anyone seeking treatment. Staff members receive culturally sensitive training and offer trauma-specific care to help clients heal and build a healthy foundation for sobriety and positive mental health. To learn more about our inclusive programs and how our experts support LGBTQIA+ clients, call our office today at (512) 759-8330.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), seven in ten  (72.2% or 20.9 million) adults with substance use disorder (SUD) consider themselves to be recovering or in recovery. Yet, addiction relapse is an all too common occurrence in addiction recovery. The presence of relapse has led people to view addiction as a chronic relapsing condition, which can create a skewed narrative of recovery. Therefore, fear in recovery is not a surprising challenge that many face post-treatment. 

At Driftwood Recovery, we know that preventing relapse and dismantling fear in recovery starts with a strong foundation. You can build a strong foundation for sustained recovery with support found in connection and community. We are committed to providing an attachment approach that allows you to foster connections with peers and other resources to heal. Our alumni community learns from each other as everyone imparts compassion, understanding, accountability, and guidance to each other. The connections you find in alumni can give you the courage to overcome fear in recovery and thrive in your life.

Yet, you may question how connection can help you prevent relapse and squash fear in recovery. How can an alumni program support your recovery? First, understanding addiction relapse and fear in recovery can provide insight into the value of an active alumni program for lasting recovery.

What Is Addiction Relapse?

For many people, relapse is a part of the recovery process. As noted in Addiction Relapse Prevention by Nicholas Guenzel and Dennis McChargue, approximately 50% of people with SUD relapse in the first 12 weeks after an inpatient program. The thought that your treatment program can end in relapse is a clear fear in recovery. Yet, what is an addiction relapse? What does it mean to relapse when you are in recovery? 

In general, many think of relapse as a return to the consumption of the substance that caused dependence. However, relapse is much more complex than consumption. In reality, relapse is a process that unfolds across three major stages: emotional, mental, and physical relapse. As the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) notes, recovery is a lifelong process in which changes across multiple life domains must occur to maintain recovery. Yet, why does relapse happen? 

Several different risk factors can contribute to relapse, like exposure to triggers and poor social support. Moreover, difficulty coping with the challenges recovery and life throws at you is rooted in fear. Learning about fear in recovery is an important step toward dismantling its hold on you and supporting relapse prevention.

Understanding the Roots of Fear in Recovery

For centuries, fear has been a basic primal and adaptive emotion that impacts how you think, feel, and behave. In many cases, fear can alert you to both real and perceived physical or psychological harm. Fear can also be a source of harm to your well-being. You are harmed when fear impedes your health, relationships, and opportunities for personal growth. In the case of addiction, numerous fears can impair your recovery when left unaddressed.

Addressing Types of Fears in Recovery

Fear in recovery can be the thing that can lead to the relapse you have feared. Thus, understanding how fears like failure, success, and relapse in recovery happen can provide insight into overcoming fears to thrive. The fear of failure in recovery is rooted in the unknown. You may fear that you do not have the strength to meet the challenges recovery and life will throw at you. Will I be able to say no to a drink at the family holiday party? 

Much like fear of failure, fear of success is also rooted in the unknown of change. When you have experienced so much harm in addiction, it can make it difficult to believe in yourself. You may believe you do not deserve to be successful, making it easier to engage in self-sabotaging behaviors. A fear of relapse is a reflection of your fear that you are destined to relapse and that relapse equals failure. However, relapse and recovery are more complex than the black-and-white of success and failure. 

Yet, how do you demystify all these fears in recovery?

Learning How to Demystify Fear in Recovery

According to the “Demystifying Relapse” series from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, recovery is rarely brief or straightforward. Throughout your recovery, you will experience improvements and setbacks in the process of healing. Thus, your mindset is an important component in demystifying fear in recovery. Listed below are some of the things you can do to support dismantling fear:

• Journaling
  • Identify and reflect on your fears
• Change the way you think about recovery
  • Look for and anticipate the positive changes
  • Celebrate big and small milestones
• Focus on gradual changes and growth
  • A fulfilling life in recovery does not happen overnight
• Lean on your social support network
  • Talking with those you trust about your fears
  • Spend time with loved ones
• Make space for a well-rounded self and life
  • Life in recovery is not only about recovery
    • Foster passion for hobbies and interests 

With support, recovery does not have to be a source of fear. 

Overcoming Fear in Recovery With Alumni at Driftwood Recovery

At Driftwood Recovery, we believe access to a peer-driven network gives you the tools to thrive post-treatment. With a strong, active, sober community, you are reminded that you are not alone on your journey to recovery. Although everyone’s experiences are unique to them, you and your alumni peers are united by a common challenge in addiction. Together, you can find the compassion, service, accountability, and encouragement needed to thrive in every domain of life. You are worthy of self-love, you are worthy of recovery, and you deserve space for learning and growth to lead a fulfilling life. We are dedicated to providing active alumni support to help you reintegrate and lead a courageous life in sustained recovery. 

Fear in recovery can be a major obstacle to sustained recovery. Although fear is a primal and often necessary emotion for survival, it can be detrimental to well-being when it rules over you. Many of the fears associated with recovery, like success, failure, and relapse, are rooted in the uncertainty of change and negative thinking patterns. Your challenges with addiction can make it difficult for you to believe you are worthy of recovery. However, it is fear and negative thinking that can lead you to relapse. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing an active alumni program built on compassion, connection, community, understanding, and accountability to support lasting recovery. Call us at (512) 759-8330 to learn more today.

Some people may scoff at the idea of phobia treatment. After all, phobias are consistently played for laughs in media as something to mock. The fact is that the fear a person feels from a phobia is real and valid. Phobias are more common than one may think, with an estimated 12.5% of U.S. adults experiencing a specific phobia at least once in their lives. Most people know what common phobias are but not why they occur or how they are treated. 

The fear phobias cause can be crippling and require specialized phobia treatment to help them recover enough to live a normal life. Driftwood Recovery offers phobia treatment as a way to ease mental health conditions such as anxiety, panic disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Those recovering from addiction may also benefit from phobia treatment, as sometimes they may develop a phobia as a response to their experiences. 

It’s vital to understand that phobias, though serious, can be treated with great amounts of success. Countless people are struggling with a phobia but assume that it’s a normal part of life or are ashamed to seek help. Understanding the nature of phobias not only de-stigmatizes the condition but encourages those struggling to seek the phobia treatment they need.

What Are Phobias?

Simply put, a phobia is a persistent, unrealistic, and excessive fear of a person, animal, object, activity, or situation. Phobias force the person with the phobia to constantly worry about encountering the source of their fear. A person with a phobia will take great pains to avoid the source of their fear, often to the detriment of their lives and mental health. Encountering the source is enough to cause great distress and anguish. 

It’s a serious enough condition to be included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). As a result, phobias are considered a sub-type of anxiety disorder and classified into three distinct categories. These categories are:

• Specific phobias: These are fears of particular objects, living beings, or situations that cause distress and avoidance behaviors. Phobias in this category can be further broken down into animals, natural environment, medical treatment or issues, specific situations, and others. Some common examples include disease (pathophobia), spiders (arachnophobia), burglary (scelerophobia), and the ocean (thalassophobia).
• Agoraphobia: Defined as the fear of leaving your home or familiar “safe” area, which panic attacks may follow. This phobia is often associated with or caused by other conditions, such as OCD due to phobia of germs/contamination or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to traumatic events. 
• Social anxiety disorder: Also known as social phobia, this is the fear and avoidance of social situations. Those struggling with this phobia excessively worry about being judged or mocked when participating in social activities. 

Phobias are often caused by negative experiences, trauma, genetics, or through informational transmission. It’s normal for a person to fear potentially dangerous things. However, when someone completely rearranges their life or stops engaging in life to avoid said fear, it becomes a serious problem. 

What Happens in Phobia Treatment?

A client begins phobia treatment by speaking with a treatment provider. Then, a treatment provider can create a treatment plan to most effectively treat their client. Usually, this is a mix of various therapies and sometimes medications to treat the extreme symptoms of anxiety. Clients may receive specialized therapies in their treatment plan to treat underlying mental health conditions, such as OCD. If the source of the phobia stems from trauma, clients will receive trauma treatment as well.

Exposure therapy is one part of phobia treatment, but it’s a slow and gradual process. This is when a client is exposed to the source of their fear in a safe environment. For example, a person with a phobia of spiders may start by listening to facts about spiders. They then progress to looking at drawings of spiders, photographs, and video footage. The goal is for the client to be able to exist in the same space as a spider without panicking or experiencing symptoms of distress. 

Psychotherapy is also useful in phobia treatment. It guides clients into discovering the source of their phobia, be it trauma or a taught fear. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is especially helpful in teaching clients how to change harmful thoughts and behavioral patterns. Group therapy may also be used, especially for more common fears. This therapy allows clients to interact with others experiencing struggles similar to their own. Sometimes, it’s humbling and encouraging to know that someone understands what you are going through.

Overall, a client can expect phobia treatment to be a judgment-free and encouraging process, especially at Driftwood Recovery. All staff members and treatment providers take phobias seriously, as they know how debilitating they can be. Phobia treatment is set to a challenging pace but will not overwhelm or rush the client. Driftwood Recovery takes comfort and safety seriously, allowing clients to recover in a private and secure environment. 

Why Phobia Treatment Is Effective

Phobia treatments are effective because they don’t just treat the cause of the phobia. It also relieves and reduces the physical and mental symptoms of a phobia. Many times, a person struggles with their phobia because all attempts to address it result in increased stress and fear. Phobia treatment is specifically designed to prevent a client from being re-traumatized or triggering a panic attack. By addressing all aspects of a client’s needs, phobia treatment provides comprehensive care. This can include utilizing medication, engaging in wellness activities, and providing caring support. 

Anyone can recover from a phobia, but it requires one being willing to admit that they have a problem and seek help for it. Reaching out for help is one fear that can be conquered. Once you can do that, you may find that your other fears are conquerable too. 

Fear is an instinct that keeps us safe and tells us to avoid things and situations that can harm us. Phobias, however, occur when this fear is so strong and constant that it causes someone to avoid living life. This is no way to live, and nobody deserves to be in a consistent state of fear. At Driftwood Recovery in Driftwood and Austin, Texas, clients struggling with phobias receive compassionate and non-judgemental treatment. No matter how “silly” the phobia may be, the fear a person experiences from them is real and valid. If you or a loved one is struggling with a phobia, don’t wait. Take back your life from fear today by calling (512) 759-8330.