Navigating Super Bowl Parties During Addiction Recovery

photo of a soccer stadium

On Sunday, February 5th, the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons will be facing off in the NFL Super Bowl 51.

Like many other Americans, you’re probably anticipating watching this event – billed as one of the most prolific sports events of the year. But, if you’re just starting a new sober lifestyle, it’s important to plan ahead – especially if you are going to attend a party to watch the event with your friends or coworkers.

While everyone has their own way of celebrating the big game, beer and liquor are often present. That’s why it’s important to be careful on Super Bowl Sunday to protect your hard-earned sobriety.

4 Sober Strategies for Super Bowl Sunday

(1) Consider your addiction triggers. As part of the addiction recovery process, you likely identified some of the triggers that induce cravings. Is food one of them? If salty snacks and greasy food played a big role during your drug dependency days, consider bringing lighter fare to the party. That way, you can still enjoy the celebration and have some healthy snacks nearby.

(2) Host your own sober event. One way to avoid distractions is to create your own safe environment. Invite a few of our friends over who are also in recovery. That way, you can all focus on the game without feeling overwhelmed by the presence of drugs or alcohol.

(3) Talk to your sobriety coach. If you’re starting to feel anxious about staying sober, talk to your addiction therapist, sobriety coach or sober mentor. Chances are, they’ve experienced those same emotions before and can give you advice based on their experience.

(4) Keep an eye on your non-alcoholic beverage and grab it yourself. If you’re in recovery, it’s safer to be in charge of what you’re drinking. Don’t leave your drink unattended – even if you’re just leaving the room for a moment. That way you don’t run the risk of someone spiking your drink to see you “loosen up” or (sadly) think it would be funny. If you do happen to leave your non-alcoholic drink unattended, just throw it away and get a new one to err on the safe side.

Life Skills Training at 10 Acre Ranch

While you can’t complete avoid addiction triggers, with a little coaching and preparation, you can navigate social situations more safely during recovery. Attending 10 Acre Ranch’s residential treatment program not only gives the men an excellent chance at rehabilitation, but also teaches them the skills needed to integrate themselves back into their families, society, and the workplace. By completing a series of recovery assignments, individuals can learn how to maintain their hard-earned sobriety. To learn more, call: 877-228-4679.

Emotional Neglect: A Common Addiction Trigger

photo of a man standing alone

There are many different approaches to addiction treatment. But, studies have shown that the most successful ones do more than simply alter superficial behaviors and temporarily mitigate the symptoms of withdrawal. Treatment methodologies that aim to understand and address the underlying causes and triggers of addiction are almost always the most profoundly impactful.

Given that, many addiction specialists work with clients to explore their personal relationships since many people who have experienced chronic emotional neglect turn to drugs and alcohol later in life.

But what is emotional neglect? Simply put, this occurs when someone is unable to provide the affection and emotional support that is needed.

In adults, some of the symptoms of emotional neglect include:

  • Feeling numb to your feelings
  • Being easily discouraged
  • Continually experiencing low self-esteem
  • Holding yourself up to unrealistic standards
  • Experiencing extreme self-doubt

If you are on a journey towards sobriety and identify with one or more of these symptoms of emotional neglect, it may be helpful to speak with your addiction recovery team to see if there is a connection. Because, there are ways you can empower yourself, move forward and protect your sobriety.

After consulting your addiction recovery team, here are a few strategies you might consider:

(1) Embrace what you are feeling. If you’ve spent your life trying to escape from your emotions using drugs or alcohol to numb those feelings, it may seem foreign at first. But, a healthy first step is to simply embrace the full range of human emotions. If you don’t feel comfortable expressing those thoughts with others, try journaling and simply spend a few moments each day to reflect on your experiences.

(2) Reflect on what you want. If you’ve experienced emotional neglect, you may have fallen into destructive relationships and put the needs of others before your own. Think about what you want and what you deserve in close relationships with friends and family members. That can help shape the connections that you make moving forward.

(3) Be compassionate with yourself. You can’t change the past and simply ruminating on what happened won’t change anything. Focus on creating a more positive future for yourself moving forward.

Individual Therapy at 10 Acre Ranch

In some cases, private therapy sessions may also be needed to delve into relapse motivation, addiction history, and coexisting diagnoses. To learn more about our Southern California men’s rehab facility or request individual therapy information, submit a confidential inquiry today. Call 877-228-4679 to learn more.

Conflict Management in the Workplace: 4 Strategies

photo of some people in the office during a meeting

Finding a career that’s rewarding (professionally and financially) is an important milestone that signals the successful transition into adulthood. You’re finally able to support yourself, become more independent and begin a new chapter of your life.

You might be surprised to learn that one of the most important factors influencing your success in the workplace is how you relate with your coworkers. In virtually every line of work, employees need to be able to collaborate and work together to get the job done. And, when disagreements and conflicts do arise, it’s critical to work through those situations in a productive way. This can help you avoid turning to drugs and alcohol as a way of coping with unresolved stress and resentment.

4 Strategies for Dealing with Conflict at Work

(1) Understand when to alert management.

While you can handle many conflicts directly, it is important to note that serious workplace issues (like harassment based on age, gender, race) should be addressed by human resources. When in doubt, ask your manager.

(2) Be honest and open with the person.

If a coworker does something that irritates or offends you (like interrupting you repeatedly during meetings), complaining to other coworkers won’t solve the problem at hand. Have the courage to speak with the person directly and privately – and calmly talk about what happened. Chances are, they may not even be aware of their behavior and how it is affecting you.

(3) Listen carefully.

After you’ve had a chance to share your thoughts, give them the same professional courtesy and be open to their response. Try to really understand their point of view.

(4) Stay positive.

Keep an open mind. Don’t go into the discussion thinking that the other person intentionally tried to put you down or make you frustrated. You’re not a mind-reader so don’t jump to conclusions.

Learning conflict management skills for the workplace is a valuable skill to develop. By addressing issues early, and in a healthy manner, you can help protect your sobriety and create a more open and honest dialogue with your coworkers.

Interpersonal Skills Development at 10 Acre Ranch

Because substance abusers tend to spend time with enablers, dealers, and other negative influences over the course of their addiction, they often distance those they love. Many people withdraw into isolation to avoid the consequences of their behavior while others develop unhealthy codependent friendships. Our Southern California rehab for men is built around a social treatment model that helps residents develop healthy interaction patterns. Interpersonal skills are crucial to long-term addiction recovery and are taught as part of our group therapy curriculum. Call (877) 228-4679 to learn more.

3 Ways to Celebrate the New Year – Sober!

photo of two people celebrating new year watching fireworks

Getting sober (and staying sober) takes a lot of grit, determination and courage. Finding a lifetime of sobriety also requires a fair bit of planning to avoid falling back into the destructive patterns of behavior that you worked hard to leave behind.

To reduce your risk of relapse, it’s especially important to plan ahead during the holiday season. With New Year’s Eve right around the corner, take a few minutes today to make some sober plans for the big night.

If this is your first time to ring in the new year without drugs and alcohol, here are a few ways to celebrate and have fun without getting a hangover the next day!

(1) Plan your own camping or fishing trip with some buddies.

Staying sober around people who are using and abusing drugs and alcohol is difficult for most – especially those on a new journey towards sobriety. One way to protect your sobriety is to simply remove yourself from a dangerous situation. If you do want to avoid the bar scene, create your own sober environment instead. If you’re into the great outdoors, invite a few friends for a quick weekend trip.

(2) Focus on your health.

Drinking to excess wreaks havoc on your body – altering your brain chemistry while making you exhausted and irritable the next day. Why not do the opposite and use this day to improve your mental and physical health. Meditate, cook healthy meals, go for a long run and get to bed early. When you wake up the next day energized (instead of reaching for the Advil) you’ll be glad you did.

(3) Attend a support group meeting.

If you’re anxious about celebrating New Year’s Eve sober for the first time, know that you are not alone. Talk to your addiction recovery team for recommendations about the best group therapy options in your area. You’ll likely feel more confident after talking to others in recovery and enjoy having peer-to-peer support.

Relapse Prevention at 10 Acre Ranch

As part of a comprehensive approach to outpatient addiction recovery, clients at 10 Acre Ranch Recovery learn important life skills including relapse prevention strategies including anger management, handling social pressures, handling high-risk situations and long-term sobriety planning. Whether you are seeking help for you or a loved one, our all-inclusive residential facility is affordable and offers one of the industry’s highest recovery success rates. Contact an admissions advisor by phone at (877) 228.4679.

4 “Go-To” Stress Management Strategies That Really Work

Sometimes “life” happens. Things like excruciatingly slow traffic during rush hour, disagreements with your significant other about finances, long lines at airport security and, well, you get the picture. Even with the best of intentions, everybody experiences stressful situations from time to time.

While you can’t control what happens, you can control how you react to certain situations, toxic people and uncomfortable events. And, being mindful about how you react under pressure is especially important for those on a journey to sober living since stress and anxiety are usually at the top of the list of addiction triggers.

But, there are proven strategies you can use to manage anxiety, reduce your risk of relapse and protect your sobriety. Here are four ways you can address stressful situations in a more productive way.

(1) Reach out to someone. If you start to get stressed out or anxious about your future, the simple act of talking to a friend or family member can work wonders. They can offer an objective perspective and possibly even share how they have dealt with similar issues in their past.

(2) Hit the gym. Exercise offers one of the most powerful forms of stress relief. It has been scientifically proven to lower stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, while boosting your body’s feel-good neurotransmitters.

(3) Focus on the solution – not the problem. It’s a natural response when something bad happens to think “Why me?” and concentrate on the negative aspects of your life. But, is that going to change anything? Take a moment to accept your feelings and transition into a more positive mind-set. Start to concentrate on the possibilities – and the solutions to the problem at hand to move forward.

(4) See the big picture. When you’re confronted with a stressful situation, it’s all too easy to blow the situation out of proportion. Instead, take a breath and reset your focus. How important is this issue in the long run – is this just a temporary set-back?

Discover Healthy Coping Habits for Stress Management

At 10 Acre Ranch, our focus is on treating the whole person throughout their passage from addiction to sobriety. As part of this holistic approach, we offer stress management group therapy which provides the social support, coping, and problem-solving skills needed to deal with stress in a more constructive way. To learn more about our CA men’s rehab program and how we can help, call 10 Acre Ranch at (877) 228-4679 today.

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.