Eating Right for Recovery

a photo of a beautiful woman eating healthy foods

Eating healthy is important for everyone, but it’s especially crucial if you or someone you love is recovering from addiction. Drug and alcohol abuse robs your body of necessary nutrients, leaving the liver and other organs compromised while battling harmful toxins. In addition, many people with substance use disorder are malnourished by the time they seek help. This is in part because they don’t eat or don’t eat properly — so wrapped up in finding their next “fix” that a healthful diet just isn’t on their radar.

Proper nutrition is a vital part of healthy rehabilitation. Some of the many benefits include:
• Managing withdrawal symptoms
• Restoring physical health
• Supporting the neurological system
• Dealing with co-occurring mental health conditions like depression and anxiety

At 10 Acre Ranch, we know that eating right is often easier said than done. Fitting all of those nutrients into your diet can be overwhelming. To simplify the process, we include nutritional meal prep as part of your overall rehab. We help clients avoid sugar- and salt-laden foods and instead focus on protein, quality carbs, probiotics, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. In addition, clients take turns prepping and serving well-balanced meals to one another.

Some key nutrients for recovery include:

  • Vitamin D: Crucial to bone, skin, and mental health; it’s been shown to improve levels of the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin.
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Boost your mood
  • Protein: Gives you energy and helps repair damaged cells
  • Fiber: Helps aid digestion
  • Vitamin C: a natural antioxidant and also study-proven to aid in the detoxification of heroin and methadone by abating painful withdrawal symptoms
  • Vitamin B or Thiamin: renowned for boosting the immune system and maintaining a positive attitude; it also increases energy, fights stress and improves your learning ability.

Nutritional Help at 10 Acre Ranch
A wide range of supportive programs are offered at the Ranch, including nutritional counseling and meal preparation. Visit with our staff today to explore how 10 Acre Ranch’s economical, customized residential and outpatient programs can help you live a healthy, productive, addiction-free life! To learn more, call: 877-228-4679.

Infographic: The Road Back from Opiate Addiction

photo of man talking to a psychologist during his Treatment for Opiate Addiction

Now is a Great Time to Get Sober

If you are considering getting help with a substance addiction, there’s never been a better time than right now. There are more tools available to the addiction treatment specialists who will help you than ever before.  From medications to ease the discomfort of detox to new therapies that help the newly sober individual thrive in recovery, the experience of receiving treatment is continually becoming easier and more pleasant.

What to Expect When You Seek Treatment for Opiate Addiction
The first 1-5 days (and occasionally longer)

The first are spent undergoing a medical detoxification. Quitting opiates “cold turkey” has been known as one of the toughest detoxifications to go through, but the good news is that what could be a harrowing (and potentially dangerous) experience if attempted on your own can greatly be alleviated if you admit for treatment at a reputable detox like at 10 Acre.

Primary Treatment Begins (days 5-14)

After Detox, the process of receiving “primary care” treatment begins.  The man will “come out of the fog” of his drug use and begin his therapeutic regimen to address the underlying issues that fueled his substance abuse.  He should be surrounded by others in various stages of early recovery in order to feel the camaraderie that comes from being part of a newly recovering community.

Cravings will be present, but much less so than during the detox.  The goal during the first 2 weeks of primary treatment is to avoid relapse and start acknowledging areas that need to be addressed in order to achieve lasting abstinence from the drug of choice.

Completion of Primary Treatment  (days 15-90)

Throughout the rest of primary (residential) treatment, the man should be working with clinicians at the center where he is receiving treatment to build a strong foundation for long term recovery.  Of primary importance is that he identify the ‘triggers’ that have made him succumb to using his drug of choice in the past, and create an alternative response that is more healthy.

It also bodes well for the man’s long-term sobriety if he is immersed in the 12-Step community – whether it be the mainstay Alcoholics Anonymous, or one of the other organizations (Cocaine Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, We Agnostics, etc).

Integration Back into Society (the rest of the first year)

The first 30-90 days sobriety should be spent at a primary treatment at a residential facility like 10 Acre Ranch which has a 24 hour staff where the man will be closely monitored. If he is progressing well and has maintained sobriety, then he should  start “stepping down” in the level of care to gradually re-integrate back into society.  After our clients are done with our primary care program, we like to see them continue by participating in a less intensive outpatient treatment schedule during which they can live in a sober living environment nearby (or possibly return home).

The man can re-enter the school or the work force, but it’s important that the he maintains a commitment to his recovery program above all else, for he stands to lose everything he’s gained if he does not stay sober.  It’s recommended that he maintain some kind of counseling and drug-testing regimen throughout the first year in order to stay accountable and reduce the temptation to relapse.

A Note about Length of Treatment

Statistically, there is a strong correlation between time spent in residential, primary treatment program and the likelihood of achieving the one year sobriety milestone. The 90 day milestone of residential treatment is notable because it seems to be a ‘tipping point’ of sorts at which time the likelihood of achieving the one year of sobriety milestone drastically increases.

Our Intake Counselors are Standing By if You Have Questions 

We now hope there is less mystery around what to expect when you or a loved one gets treatment and starts the road back from opiates (like Oxycontin and heroin). Call our intake counselors at 1-877-228-4679 today for a complimentary and confidential assessment and have all of your questions answered. A reminder that now is a great time to start the road to recovery, and you will feel so much better after you take the first step and call for more information.

Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment: A Crucial Part of Rehab

a photo of a woman during a Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment

If you or someone you love is suffering from alcohol or drug abuse and a mental illness (known as co-occurring disorders), you’re far from alone. There’s a lot of overlap between addiction and mental health conditions. In fact, roughly 37 percent of alcoholics and 53 percent of those with a drug addiction have at least one serious mental illness, according to the Journal of American Medical Association. And about 50 percent of people with severe mental illness – namely depression and bipolar disorder – also suffer from abuse or dependence.

Although it’s a growing problem, however, few people seek proper help. At 10 Acre Ranch, we know that a healthy mental state is crucial for battling addiction. We also understand that the symptoms of one disorder can exacerbate the symptoms of the other. For example, many men mistakenly turn to alcohol or drugs to temporarily dull anxiety. But this type of self-medicating actually worsens symptoms of anxiety.

Do You Know the Signs of Co-Occurring Disorders?
Diagnosing a dual diagnosis isn’t easy, especially since symptoms vary depending on your specific addiction and your mental illness. For example, the signs of anxiety disorder and cocaine addiction will differ from, say, alcoholism and PTSD.

In general, however, co-occurring disorders make performing daily tasks more difficult and can cause the following, according to Mental Health America:

  • Extreme mood swings or an inability to control your emotions
  • An inability to maintain employment
  • An inability to maintain functional relationships
  • Legal problems
  • Financial issues

Getting the Help You Need
If you are showing signs of a co-occurring disorder, it’s important to know that help is out there. At 10 Acre Ranch, our counselors, social workers, and addiction specialists can develop a personalized dual diagnosis treatment plan to help you manage both addiction and mental illness. This will optimize the chance of long-term recovery and treatment success. For more information, call us today: 877-228-4679.

Prioritizing Your Mental Health in the New Year

photo of a smiling man

In the New Year, a lot of people are investing in resolutions to lose weight, exercise more often, quit smoking and go to the gym on a regular basis. While it’s always a good idea to pay more attention to your physical health to prevent chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, why not take the same approach to take care of your mental health, too?

All too often, individuals with behavioral health issues like anxiety and depression wait until they start to experience the physical symptoms of those conditions before seeking help. But, with the right self-care, you can reduce your risk of developing some conditions. And for those starting a new sober lifestyle, taking a holistic approach to total body wellness can also protect your sobriety since you’ll be less tempted to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol.

While there are a lot of factors that contribute to behavioral health issues and some are out of your control (like genetics), you can make a few lifestyle adjustments that can help you feel better and more in control of your emotions.

3 Strategies to Actively Support Your Mental Health

(1) Spend time with nature.

Have you ever had a rough day and spent some time outdoors and wondered why it made you feel so much better? How the great outdoors boosts our mood isn’t entirely clear, though it is well documented. In a study conducted by Stanford researchers, people who walked for 90 minutes in a quiet area outside showed decreased activity in a region of the brain associated with a key factor in depression.

(2) Be aware of how you are dealing with stress.

Chronic exposure to stress can actually change your brain chemistry making you more susceptible to common behavioral health issues like anxiety and depression. While you can’t completely avoid stressful situations, you do have a choice in how you react. Talk to your addiction recovery team about developing a list of stress-relieving activities that might work best for you including mindful meditation, yoga and talk therapy.

(3) Surround yourself with positive people!

There are specific things you can do to protect your mental health and you might be surprised to learn that simply being around those with a positive and grateful outlook can also do wonders for your mental health too.

If you’re starting the New Year with a few resolutions, consider adding a few that are designed to help support your overall health – mentally, physically and spiritually.

Get Help at 10 Acre Ranch

At 10 Acre Ranch, we know that behavioral health and substance use disorders often create a vicious cycle, as the symptoms of one disorder can exacerbate the symptoms of the other. Fortunately, there are ways to treat both disorders, regardless of which came first. At 10 Acre Ranch, our highly-trained staff works with male clients to create a personalized treatment plan that addresses mental health and substance use disorders to reduce symptoms and to increase the likelihood of long-term recovery. To learn more, call today: (877) 228-4679.