Addiction and Anger Management – 10 Acre Ranch

10acreranch 7 Tips If You’re New to Rehab photo of a group during therapy session in a rehab

Chances are that if you are a recovering alcoholic, you’ve had “anger issues.” Maybe you directed your anger at yourself; maybe, at your loved ones and friends; maybe at society in general for making you a victim.

You might have thought that your anger was the product of your addiction, but it’s just as likely that an inability to handle anger lies at the root of your substance abuse. In either case, you will need to learn practical strategies for controlling your anger:

Acknowledge anger for what it is: a natural emotion. The causes of the emotion may be entirely rational, or they may be the result of unrealistic expectations and perceptions. You may need the help of a friend, sponsor, or mental health professional if your anger is irrational or indicative of a dual diagnosis.

Learn to anticipate the triggers that bring your anger to the fore. Then, use these strategies to keep small irritations from becoming bigger confrontations.

Practice deep breathing and relaxation imagery exercises.

Pause for a few minutes to reflect and gain control of your feelings.

Take a walk. You will remove yourself from a testy situation, and the exercise will help to dissipate your anger.

Engage in mindfulness and practice gratitude. Understanding your place in the universe and acknowledging gratitude will shift the focus of your thoughts away from loneliness and resentment, and toward community and connection.

Learn to be assertive, not aggressive. You may need to let others know your expectations and boundaries. If you can do this by asserting what you want while still respecting the feelings and needs of others, you will find new self-confidence and empowerment.

Rehab for Men in a Social Setting

10 Acre Ranch is an affordable California residential treatment center. Based on a social model for men, the program includes daily group and individual therapy, meditation, meal prep, recovery assignments, and recreational activities.

Is your alcohol abuse hurting those you love? Are you ready to shake off self-destructive anger and addiction? Contact our recovery staff to learn more about addiction and anger, or to begin the admissions process for our men’s rehab. Call 1-877-228-4679 or fill out an application online now.

Sobriety. It Takes a Village.

10-Acre-Ranch-Sober-Living-Homes

We like to think that we are self-sufficient. Self-reliant. Self-supporting. While none of these are bad things, remember: Sobriety takes a village, so it’s time to kick those self-words to the curb for a while.

Community and Addiction Recovery

Drug addiction and alcoholism are isolating. It puts people in a precarious place where they begin:

  • Focusing solely on themselves and their needs.
  • Fixating on their chemical dependency to get through each day.
  • Withdrawing to protect others from the destruction of their addiction.
  • Hiding their addiction to continue drug use.
  • Feeling unworthy of healthy relationships.

To achieve and sustain sobriety, it’s important to surrender self-pride and begin to accept help from clinicians, therapists, peers, and family. Group support is critical during drug and alcohol rehab and will continue to be important throughout your sobriety journey… for several reasons.

  • You need a sounding board. When grief, self-doubt, and fear creep into your recovery experience, one healthy way to deal with these emotions is to share them with others. Sometimes, a trusted therapist plays the role of sounding board. Other times, you may need to share your frustrations with like-minded individuals who’ve been where you are.
  • You need accountability. Sobriety is a daily struggle, and will be for the rest of your life. When you complete active rehab, you must have an accountability partner, a roommate, or a well-meaning friend who can speak truth into your life and discourage you from falling back into old patterns.
  • You need a friend. Not the old friends you used to hit the bar with, but new friends who have your best interests in mind. Sober friends are people you can have fun with, share interests with, and rely on when your sobriety journey threatens to go off-road.
  • You need a mentor. This may be a sponsor, sober peer, or a recovery coach—but it should be someone intimately familiar with your addiction history and recovery journey. This role model will help you recognize and avoid addiction triggers and maintain your commitment to a chemical-free lifestyle.

Social Treatment for Drug & Alcohol Addiction

10 Acre Ranch is a residential men’s addiction center that utilizes a social treatment model. Through therapeutic group meetings, sports and recreation, and life skills workshops, residents learn to connect with and support one another during throughout addiction treatment and beyond. We emphasize the importance of living and thriving in community, and our success rates prove that this strategy works. To learn more about our recovery community or speak with an intake specialist about our affordable payment options, call 877.228.4679 today.

Cause and Effect: Binge Drinking and Diabetes

photo of unhappy young woman sitting on a sofa and drinking alcohol

Think the binge drinking you did in college was just good old-fashioned fun? Think again. New research is showing that binge drinking, common among partying college students for decades, may play a big role in the development of Type-2 diabetes.

More than Harmless Fun

For thousands of college students, the weekend is a time to get drunk and blow off steam. And to accomplish this as quickly as possible, many of them practice what has become known as binge drinking: for men, consuming five or more drinks in a two-hour period. Although this type of drinking has always been found on college campuses, it is also becoming common in the general population. In fact, an estimated 69 percent of binge drinking occurs in those over the age of 26. Once thought of as harmless fun with friends, we now know that binge drinking at least once a week over a period of time may cause changes in the brain that have far-reaching health implications.

New Insight from Studies with Rats

Scientists have long recognized a connection between the use of alcohol and the incidence of diabetes. Heavy drinking can lead to pancreatitis, and diabetes is a common side effect of this condition. In addition, alcohol is high in calories and may contribute to obesity which is a direct cause of Type-2 diabetes.

Now, researchers at Mt. Sinai Medical Center have discovered alcohol-induced changes in the brain which provide a direct link between binge drinking and diabetes. When rats were given alcohol in amounts equivalent to binge drinking in humans, inflammation occurred in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that controls metabolic functions. This, in turn, disrupted the brain signals which trigger insulin receptors to utilize glucose in the blood. In humans, this “insulin resistance” leads to chronically high amounts of glucose in the bloodstream and is a primary indicator of Type-2 diabetes.

Complications of Unchecked Diabetes

Why should you worry about diabetes? Left untreated, this condition can seriously affect your health, longevity, and quality of life. Just a few of the complications include:

  • Blindness
  • Poor circulation often resulting in amputation
  • Kidney disease leading to dialysis
  • Neuropathy or loss of feeling in hands and feet
  • Coronary disease and stroke

The good news is that with early detection, treatment of Type-2 diabetes, and treatment for binge drinking addiction, most of these complications can be successfully avoided!

Are you struggling with binge drinking or alcohol and drug dependency? It’s not too late to make a change for better health. 10 Acre Ranch is a California treatment center for men 18 and older. Call 877-228-4679 to learn about our social model program and lifestyle activities. Get started on your healthier life today!

Intervention Isn’t a 4-Letter Word

a young man with some family members feeling down and sad during an intervention

Like detox, “intervention” is another word that puts fear in the heart of those dealing with a family member’s addiction. What’s important to remember, though, is that addiction can kill—and getting your loved one into rehab immediately should be your #1 goal. With the help of a trained, experienced interventionist, addicts can be convinced to pursue the treatment that may save their life.

Benefits of an Intervention 

Drug and alcohol interventions are designed to confront the addict in a safe, neutral environment. Prior to the meeting, family members are educated about the disease of addiction. This type of knowledge empowers the family to give up enabling, understand their loved one’s behaviors, and commit themselves to the self-care they may have been neglecting. During intervention preparation, family members also decide on the consequences of an addict’s actions should they decide not to pursue rehab.

When a drug intervention or alcohol intervention is professionally facilitated, the addicted individual should not feel personally attacked or isolated. Interventions help friends and family communicate resolve and convince their loved one to enter detox and rehab right now. 

Benefits of professionally run drug and alcohol interventions include:

  • The opportunity to express love & concern for the addicted individual. Addiction tears families apart. Chances are you have not had a recent opportunity to express your love for a child, parent, or spouse caught in the throes of chemical dependency. An intervention is the perfect place to express how much they mean to you and begin the meeting on a positive note.
  • Having an objective expert in the mix. Emotions run high when the topic of drugs and alcohol comes up. A trained interventionist is uncompromised by emotions or personal attachment. They help to prepare you for the meeting and build trust and rapport with the addicted family member.
  • Establishing healthy boundaries. Whether your family member decides to begin treatment or not, attendees should follow through on the boundaries set during an intervention. From cutting an addict off financially to removing them from the home, these are consequences that must be administered for the good of the addicted party and the good of the family unit.

To learn more about the intervention process or inquire about drug and alcohol rehab for men 18 and over, call 877.228.4679 to speak with a member of the 10 Acre Ranch team. Don’t wait another day. An intervention may save the life of someone precious to you.