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The first few months of recovery can be a bumpy road if you’re not prepared. New feelings, friendships, and a new way of life take adjusting to. You may also still be experiencing withdrawal after years of using substances. If you don’t know it already, it’s important to be aware that this too shall pass. Mindfulness is a powerful tool that can help you hold on while you’re waiting for negative emotions to pass.
According to Wikipedia, “Mindfulness is the psychological process of bringing one’s attention to the internal and external experiences occurring in the present moment, which can be developed through the practice of meditation and other training.”
Sounds like a lot of work, huh? Actually, mindfulness is pretty much the opposite of work. When you take the time to slow down during a busy day, close your eyes and live in the moment, you’re doing a form of meditation that focuses on your breathing. For a moment, all you can do is be.
The simplest way to learn mindfulness is to practice being aware of the world outside yourself. Take a mindfulness walk, where you only focus on the squirrels, trees, and the sounds around you. Don’t use your phone or listen to music. Take a nice, slow walk and just be.
There are also breathing exercises you can use when you’re stressed. Practice mindfulness by closing your eyes and taking a deep breath through your nose. Exhale through your mouth and pay attention to the sound and feeling of your body as you do this. Keep your eyes closed and mentally count backward from ten for each breath. As you breathe, pay attention to the sounds around you and the sensations of your body.
You can also learn mindfulness on various websites dedicated to the topic and video websites such as Youtube or Vimeo. Do what works for you and leave the rest. Mindfulness is a great way to relax on a stressful day. It’s also a tool you can use when you feel triggered to use or do something self-destructive.
Not everyone finishes treatment feeling safe and prepared for the real world, and that’s okay. There are many options available for people who want to live with others in recovery for added stability and understanding. We have some fantastic sober housing options for you to check out. Please give us a call at 760-216-2077 to learn more about your options.
San Diego, CA – The Executive Team of Present Moments Recovery is pleased to announce the appointment of Sandra Richardson as the organization’s Executive Clinical Director. Present Moments Recovery is a privately-held company dedicated to substance use treatment programs in San Diego communities.
Richardson has been working in the alcohol and other drug field for more than 24 years in various treatment facilities, including for-profit and non-profit organizations, private-pay clinics, residential, partial hospitalization and outpatient treatment programs. She has vast experience working with law enforcement agencies such as probation, parole, juvenile justice, family law and public defender’s office serving various populations including women, children and male/female offenders. Most recently, Sandra has been working with veterans and wounded warriors.
“We’re extraordinarily pleased to have someone of her caliber and vast success in helping individuals recover and get back to living rewarding lives,” said Mark Gladden, CEO. “Her broad knowledge of substance use and family health issues coupled with years of experience working with treatment centers makes her well positioned to lead us going forward. She’s committed to our cause which is to support people’s healing process.”
As Executive Clinical Director Richardson will be responsible for hand picking and overseeing the clinical team for Present Moments continuum of care model, as well as developing individualized curriculum based upon both customary methods as well as cutting edge approaches.
Richardson has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from National University and a master’s degree in counseling, marriage and family therapy from University of Phoenix. She is a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor with the State of California.
Learn more about Present Moments Recover by visiting our website at www.presentmomentsrecovery.com
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About Present Moments Recovery
Present Moments Recovery is a privately-owned business headquartered in Carlsbad, California with a mission to provide an individualized, multi-leveled treatment program that addresses the mind, body and spirit with compassionate, timely and effective treatment modalities. We do this by offering safe, nurturing, alcohol and drug free professional treatment and aftercare housing for men and women suffering with the disease of addiction. Present Moments Recovery supports industry non-profits for the good populations they serve to promote a greater access to treatment programs.
Do you have an attitude of gratitude? Often this is a phrase that’s repeated in 12-step meetings, but it’s not always clear what it means.
So let’s look at it this way: When you were using drug and alcohol, what were you grateful for?
Sometimes it meant getting enough of your drug or alcohol to get by for the day; I’m betting. But even when you were using you were human. No matter what your circumstances were, you probably had your fair share of fears, such as getting arrested when buying drugs or going to a sketchy neighborhood at night. When your worries didn’t come true, you breathed a little sigh of relief. You probably even momentarily experienced gratitude when the bad thing you feared didn’t take place.
That’s what gratitude feels like. When you're using, it goes away when you've gotten what you want. But when you’re clean, you get to have more to be grateful for, and that’s a blessing.
You may think gratitude also has something to do with what you have (own) or don’t have (don’t own). But this isn’t true at all. Both poor and rich people experience gratitude in the same way, and often it comes in the form of things you can’t buy. When you ask somebody what they are grateful for, they may tell you it’s their new daughter or their health. For example, you may be a billionaire, but you can’t buy the cure to cancer. The same goes true for peace of mind and sobriety. There are a lot of things that money can’t buy, and that’s true for happiness, health, abilities, and love. The time you can spend with others is something a lot of people become grateful for once they are clean.
Being grateful for material things has a place in recovery, too. For example, maybe you had trouble affording stuff like a nice dinner out or a new car when you were using. When you can afford something special for yourself or others, it feels good.
Let’s face it; a lot of people get clean and aren’t automatically grateful, especially when uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal or thoughts of troubles invade their life. If you’re feeling depressed, fearful, or alone, it’s hard to be grateful.
Most people in recovery have to re-discover gratitude, and that’s okay.
Start by keeping a gratitude list. Every day, pick five things you are grateful for and try to mention something different each day. If the best thing about your day was a peach cobbler, then list it! If the best things about your day was some inspirational sharing at a 12-step meeting, write that down. Less anxiety, meals, a kind word from a stranger, a cheap Uber fare, a new pair of jeans, and a day off from work are a few you would find among my list of things I’m grateful for.
At the end of a week, you’ll find you have 35 things you’re grateful! If you realize your attitude has become one of gratitude, it’s working! Some people choose to keep a gratitude list year-round so they can reflect on the ways they’ve grown.
Are you looking for more information on sober living, aftercare or other recovery services? We can be of help! Contact us at 1-760-216-2077 to learn what your options are.
Addiction, also known as a substance use disorder, is a disease that can be insidious and powerful. For many people, relapse is a part of their recovery journey. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
The symptoms of relapse are not usually so apparent to people who suffer from it, and it takes a lot of work for a previously addicted person to get and stay clean. Living with everyday stress is a fact of life. People in recovery must find new coping skills and behaviors to help them avoid using drugs and alcohol again. But sometimes, old behavior patterns start to appear in life slowly but surely.
Relapse Warning Signs
When a person starts to enter the relapse process, there’s enough time for recognition that they need to change their behavior. Here are some of the warning signs that somebody is heading towards a relapse:
These are just a few things that can lead to relapse. The most significant message is that if you’re feeling bad, engaging in behavior that makes you feel bad, or otherwise feel “off,” hightail it to a meeting or call your sponsor. Nobody is perfect, but that’s not a reason to use.
Recovery is a journey, not a destination, and that’s good news. So do your best to stay the course and make sure you use the support that’s available to you.
Support Prevents Relapse
If you relapse, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Relapse is a part of many peoples’ stories – but it doesn’t have to be.
Find a stable support system and live with people who understand and support your recovery.
Learn more about sober housing options through our directory or call us at 760-216-2077. We’re happy to answer any questions.
Getting clean is a great accomplishment, and there’s a lot to celebrate. Finding a new way of life can be a huge relief for those who have been in the throes of addiction for a while. Staying clean, however, can be hard work. Many people in recovery talk about how they feel about “catching up” with the rest of the world – there’s so much to do! Whether it’s establishing new relationships or starting a new job, there is a lot of work involved. Many recovering addicts throw themselves into this new way of life with great enthusiasm – but it’s easy to get burned out. That’s why it’s so important for everyone to take the time to practice self-care.
Why Self-Care?
A few minutes each day nurturing yourself is an integral part of embracing your new way of life, and it can help you prevent burnout. Self-care is sometimes a foreign concept to people in recovery. After all, you may have spent a lot of time being “selfish” or only caring about what you wanted (such as drugs). It’s important to realize that self-care has nothing to do with being selfish. Instead, it’s a way to take care of your own needs, if only for a few minutes. Self-care can help you ease the stress of life in recovery, allowing you to continue your hard work.
Self-Care Methods You Can Try Anytime:
These are just a few things you can do to help yourself de-stress during an emotionally taxing day or help yourself remain centered. Many other things may help you care for yourself – as long as they don’t hurt you or anyone else, they can be beneficial.
Self-care methods will change as you move along in your recovery and discover new hobbies. The most important aspect of self-care is that it helps you feel better.
Don’t be too hard on yourself in early recovery! You can’t change everything overnight, and no one should expect you to. You’re on a path that will ultimately help you live a sober, serene life. Don’t let anyone steal that joy.
Are you looking for a safe, comfortable, supportive sober living home? Please give us a call at 760-216-2077. We are happy to answer any questions you have. Thanks!
Feelings – we all have them, and we all struggle with them no matter what stage of life we’re experiencing. In early recovery, however, emotions can be overwhelming and frightening. They may seem to come out of nowhere, and you may wonder if you’ll ever feel normal again.
Are These Feelings Normal?
In short, yes! It’s very normal to struggle with your emotions as you get clean and begin a new path to recovery. Many people recovering from addiction experience a broad range of emotions, from intense sadness and anger to even euphoria. Most of these feelings are fleeting, but that doesn’t stop you from reacting to the intensity. After all, what did you previously do when you had an emotion you viewed as negative? You used your drug of choice, most likely.
In fact, many people in recovery will tell you that they didn’t just use when they were sad or angry. They used when they were bored, scared, happy and just about every other emotion on the spectrum. Using drugs or alcohol suppressed these emotions. So it’s natural that these feelings bubble to the surface when you’re first getting clean.
When Feelings Make You Want to Use
The critical thing to remember is that this too shall pass. Emotions are often a trigger that makes people want to get high, but getting high will throw you back into a cycle that can last much longer than the feeling itself. You will end up feeling worse, and you may not be fortunate enough to make it back into recovery for a long time. Remember the reasons you wanted to get clean in the first place. Recovery is worth it.
You don’t have to use drugs to make these feelings go away. Instead, you have the opportunity in recovery to acknowledge these feelings, examine where they come from, and even take actions (like meditation, reading or other types of self-care) that can help those feelings pass more quickly. Most importantly, you don’t have to feel alone with them when they come to the surface. You can share these feelings with your support network, and they can help you learn to cope in more positive ways.
How Long Will This Last?
Emotional up and downs are a regular part of getting clean and sometimes living life itself. These intense emotions may be a roller coaster for the first month or so of being clean. However, some people may have severe mood swings that last longer than this. If this is the case for you or your loved one, it’s essential to get screened for any underlying mental illnesses.
A competent treatment center can help you navigate the storms of early recovery and can refer you to a therapist or psychiatric professional for assessment if needed.
Getting clean isn’t always easy, but there are many rewards.
Are you looking for a safe and supportive sober living option? Please call us at 760-216-2077 to learn more about your options. We’re here to help you make the best possible decision for yourself or your loved one.
Over 1000 meetings. You bump into everyone in recovery from the gas station to the grocery. Is this good?
Well, being alone and isolated leads to the city of no bueno. Accountability, friendship, support and activities will make anyone worried or stress think twice about being lonely.
By the Sea recovery is San Diego's premiere sober living home. Call us for help & answers on how to live in a great sober house.
Here's a list of AA meeting finder as well as sober activities in San Diego.
Everyone's first thought. Must be overwhelming. Impossible. Luck. Miracle. Well, there seems to be a pattern with those that 'got it'.
Lots of meetings. Sponsorship. Stepwork. Personal growth. Education. We've seen it all. From big book thumpers to higher education, there seems to be an underlying factor: being connected and being thirsty for growing as an individual.
Paradoxically the inner growth is balanced by the connections for it is easy to get lost wanting to be 'spiritual'. The sense of bond in early recovery is spiritual in itself given the distance from others during addiction. The vulnerability of sharing and being open with others in sobriety psychologically develops trust and belonging, a highly elating feeling and chemically supportive to the healing.
https://www.spin.com/2018/02/frances-bean-cobain-sober-instagram/
We commend Frances Cobain, daughter of Kurt Cobain on her 2nd sober birthday. The impact of family hurts not only parents but also children, and the difficulties to overcome alcohol and drug use can become challenging given the social system reintegration and reliving trauma through the developmental stages that psychologically can become stagnant or thwarted in sobriety.
Sober living seems to have had an impact to extend her sobriety and the longer the supervision or support in earlier recovery the easier it is to attend the recovery needs. We salute the support she has received, the public comments and responsibility and inspiration to those wishing a life of joy after stopping addiction and alcoholism.
At By The Sea Recovery we want to remind society and the community at large of the importance of sober housing after addiction treatment and its positive impact on society as well as overall reduced costs. Congratulations Frances!
https://www.thefix.com/4-things-consider-when-choosing-transitional-housing-or-sober-living
