Importance of Building a Sober Support System

Building and maintaining a sober support system is crucial to the addiction recovery process. Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we understand the importance of this support system and want our clients to know this  as well! Our hope is by completing addiction treatment, our clients can start to build a sober support system that will help them maintain their recovery.

Building a Sober Support System

Building a sober support system is twofold: it includes rebuilding broken relationships and making new sober friends. When mending a broken relationship, keep in mind that addiction doesn’t just affect the user, it also affects the relationships that the user has with other people. Substance abuse can damage the lives and relationships around the user. This can lead to emotional pain and unhealthy coping habits. The good thing about recovery and sobriety is that you have the ability to rebuild all of the relationships that have been affected by the substance and addiction. Some ways to regain trust within individuals and their relationships with you are:

  • Having empathy – Putting yourself in other people’s shoes is so important in trying to understand their feelings and what they are going through. This helps you to not be biased with your own opinion. 
  • Be patient with others – Being patient with the people around you is crucial in rebuilding relationships. Understand that they may not be willing to jump right back in with a relationship with you. Taking time and putting in effort to rebuild those relationships is important in showing others that you care.
  • Forgive yourself – In rebuilding relationships, you need to understand that not everyone will be willing to work with you and forgive you, but it is important to forgive yourself. Understand that you aren’t the same person that you were while using and there may be some hiccups along the way, but continually striving to succeed is what is important. 
  • You can only change yourself – Investing in yourself is super important. Understand that you can only change yourself. You can’t change those around you, but you can change who you are around. You need to invest in a healthy support system, that wants you to succeed and is there for you when you struggle. 

Rebuilding broken relationships is important, but creating new and healthy relationships is equally as important! 

Why It’s Important to Have Sober Friends

Having a sober and healthy support system is crucial during the recovery process. We know that the recovery process is not all sunshine and rainbows, so having a support system that has the same morals of you is crucial, especially in regards to being sober and sobriety. Having sober friends can not only prevent a future relapse, but it can also prevent loneliness and boredom without any kind of peer pressure involved. The peer pressure that you should be receiving is accountability. It’s a different kind of peer pressure, it’s the one that makes you want to succeed and make your friends/family proud of you. 

A sober support system will tell you the truth, and the truth may hurt sometimes, but it’s important that this support system doesn’t sugar coat anything. Having sober friends means having honest relationships that aren’t afraid to tell you how it is regardless of how you feel. This support system can help you build and normalize a sober routine, and help you when you get out of that routine. Building these friendships are crucial and having others to lean on during a time like this is helpful in the recovery process. 

Get Sober at Atlanta Recovery Place

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we want to help you succeed in every possible way in regards to your recovery process and sobriety. We want to help you find a support system that meets your needs, works on bettering you, and wants to help you stay accountable and succeed in your recovery process. Reach out to us today to start your recovery process and receive help in becoming successful in your sobriety. 

Is Addiction Genetic?

is addiction genetic

Addiction is a very common disorder among individuals of all ages, races, and religions. It manifests in many different ways, and sometimes can be difficult to identify. According to Addiction and Recovery, approximately 10% of the population is addicted to drugs or alcohol, but what causes addiction? Can addiction be genetic? Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we want to provide information in regards to addiction and its causes, whether it be the environment or a genetic disposition.

What Is Addiction?

According to Addiction and Recovery, people abuse substances as a way to escape, relax, or even as a way to reward themselves. These substances, when used overtime, can make an individual feel like they need them to just to live a normal life. This is caused by dependency and tolerance to the substance. The addiction will worsen overtime if not treatment properly. Having professional treatment and having professional detox is helpful in the aid to recovery. Support systems and professional treatment is important to the recovery process.

Can Addiction Be Genetic?

According to Addiction and Recovery, there are many different causes to an addiction. These causes aren’t completely genetic and can contribute to things such as peer pressure. These causes include:

  • Addiction and genetic disposition – 50% to 60% of addiction is due to genetic factors within a family. This has been proven within studies, such as the twin studies. When an identical twin was addicted to a substance, the other twin was at an increased risk. Though family history is correlated with addiction, it is not always the cause.
  • Poor coping skills – When dealing with stress and anxiety some individuals have poor coping skills. Stress is a very important risk factor in individuals with depression and anxiety. 
  • Negative thinking – Some individuals have a lot of negativity within their life which can lead to negative thinking. This negativity can make you feel stressed, uncomfortable, unhappy, and discontent. When you try to quit cold turkey it can cause negative thinking.
  • Co-occuring disorder – Some individuals experience a co-occuring disorder such as anxiety or depression that can contribute to this disorder. Approximately 15% to 30% of people who have issues with addiction also have an underlying disorder. 

Addiction itself isn’t always caused by genetics, and can be caused by many other things, but genetics can certainly contribute to someone’s vulnerability to addiction and substance abuse. 

Signs of Addiction

There are two basic signs and qualities of an addiction. These basic signs consist of:

  • The using of this substance may first start as casual and then lead to a daily occurrence. For example, one drink or substance can lead to another.
  • The using continues and may even increase even despite the negative symptoms and consequences to this substance. For example, the addiction may cause problems within the individual’s life and the relationships of those around him.
  • There may be emotional, physical, and even psychological changes within an individual and their body. They may be noticeable or they may not be noticeable to the individual that is abusing the substance or the people within this individual’s life.This being said, each individual is different and experiences different things, so the signs and symptoms may not be that noticeable.  

It is important to be able to understand and to be able to read the signs an individual is experiencing during their addiction. This can help them get the professional help and social support that they need during this difficult situation. Maintaining a positive attitude is crucial during the recovery process and maintaining sobriety. 

How Can Atlanta Recovery Place Help?

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we want our clients’ recovery process to be successful and as smooth as possible. We are here to assist in the maintenance of sobriety and preventing future relapse. While being an addict can be genetic, there are also many other causes of addiction. We make sure to address these causes and needs with each and everyone of our clients. Reach out to us today to get a jumpstart on your recovery! 

How the Opioid Epidemic Is Affecting America

opioid epidemic in america

There is an epidemic that has been affecting America for generations. This epidemic has caused an abundance of substance abuse throughout the nation. This epidemic is called the opioid epidemic. Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we want to provide information on the opioid epidemic and how it is affecting Americans all over the nation. Our hope is by raising awareness, we can all band together to stop the opioid crisis plaguing America. 

What Are Opioids?

Opioids, or sometimes known as narcotics, are prescribed or illegal pain relievers that have been abused for many decades. Opioids can be natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic. According to the CDC, there are three different types of opioids. The first type being prescribed opioids. These opioids are usually prescribed by doctors as a pain reliever for moderate to severe pain. This seems to be very common in America and pain affects many Americans. Some of the common types of prescribed opioids are Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Morphine, and Methadone. The second type of opioids is Fentanyl, a synthetic pain reliever that is more powerful than the other opioids. This opioid has been used in cancer treatment. Illegally made and distributed Fentanyl has been on the rise in the US. The third type of opioids is heroin, an illegal opioid. Heroin has been abused across genders, ages, classes, and geographics. 

How Are Opioids Affecting America?

According to the CDC, almost 450,000 people have died from overdoses involving opioids between the years 1999 and 2018. That is an alarming amount of deaths. There have been three waves within the opioid epidemic involving the three different types of opioids. The first wave began in 1990 with an increased amount of prescribed opioids. Prescription opioids are supposed to be for short term pain management, but instead and widely abused and used for long term pain management, contributing greatly to the opioid epidemic in America. These opioid overdose deaths were from natural and semi-synthetic opioids that have still been increasing since 1999. 

The second wave started in 2010 with increasing overdoses and deaths due to heroin. The third wave started in 2013 with an increase in overdoses and deaths due to synthetic opioids (usually Fentanyl). Opioids can cause many different issues and side effects within its user. These side effects can range from something as little as drowsiness to something as intense as slow heart rate and even death. The amount of opioid deaths have decreased from 2017 to 2018, it is important to continue that decreasing trend.

How to Get Help

The first step in receiving help is acknowledging that you have a problem, which takes a lot of boldness and bravery. Acknowledging you have a problem with opioids is important in the process of recovery. If you realize you have a problem and want to get better, then you will find a way to do so. 

Once you acknowledge your addiction, the next step is to take action. If you’re currently prescribed opioids, you can reach out to your doctor who is prescribing them. They can hopefully lower your dose and how many you should take. If you are illegally purchasing opioids, a good option for you is to seek addiction treatment. There are many forms of treatment that can help with an opioid addiction; inpatient, intensive outpatient, and outpatient, just to name a few. If your current environment is not ideal in recovery, find some new scenery. Start addiction therapy or a support group as soon as you can to ensure sobriety and prevent a future relapse. 

According to the CDC, some of the best ways to prevent opioid abuse and opioid overdose deaths are to (1) improve and lessen opioid prescribing, (2) reduce the exposure an addict may have to opioids, (3) prevent the misuse of opioids, and (4) treat opioid substance abuse disorder. 

How Atlanta Recovery Place Can Help

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we want to provide resources in making your recovery process as simple and easy as possible. Reach out to us today so we can assist you or a loved ones individualized needs and help you succeed in the recovery process. 

What Is a 12-Step Fellowship?

12 step fellowship

The 12-steps. We’ve all heard of it at one point or another, but some of you may not know exactly what they are. Today, Atlanta Recovery Place would like to spend some time explaining what a 12-step fellowship is and how it’s effective in treating addiction.  At our facility, we provide comprehensive addiction treatment and other services that help address the distinctive needs of each individual client. 

What Is a 12-Step Fellowship Program?

A 12-step fellowship first started out as a religious addiction treatment program that helps recovering addicts through Christian inspiration to gain/achieve abstinence. Today, the basic idea of the 12-step fellowship is so that people can help each other maintain sobriety from substances or behaviors that they are addicted to, through support groups and 12-step meetings. To put it more simply, a 12-step therapy treatment program is a strategy that is designed for recovering addicts to become actively involved in a support group. Having the support from others is crucial in recovery. We feel that having a 12-step fellowship available during treatment is also important because it’s something our clients can continue to do after they leave. Recovery is a lifelong journey and doesn’t stop after someone leaves treatment. 

What Are the 12 Steps?

Though not all addiction treatment facilities take advantage of the 12-steps, they do promote this 12-step method, especially after the clients finish their rehabilitation program and need to find support as they are trying to maintain/achieve sobriety. The 12-steps are as follows:

  1. Admitting powerlessness over the addiction.
  2. Believing that a higher power (in whatever form) can help.
  3. Deciding to turn control over to the higher power.
  4. Taking a personal inventory.
  5. Admitting to the higher power, oneself, and another person the wrongs done.
  6. Being ready to have the higher power correct any shortcomings in one’s character.
  7. Asking the higher power to remove those shortcomings.
  8. Making a list of wrongs done to others and being willing to make amends for those wrongs.
  9. Contacting those who have been hurt, unless doing so would harm the person.
  10. Continuing to take personal inventory and admitting when one is wrong.
  11. Seeking enlightenment and connection with the higher power via prayer and meditation.
  12. Carrying the message of the 12 Steps to others in need.

These 12-steps are very important in addiction recovery and treatment, and they have given some very promising results for our clients. The key to keeping up with these 12-steps is to find a community that will support you and keep you accountable throughout your recovery process. 

12 step fellowship
Image sourced from https://insidethealcoholicbrain.com/

How Do the 12-Steps Help in Addiction Recovery?

The 12-steps help in addiction recovery by assisting our clients in having the ability to recognize and admit that one is experiencing an addiction problem. This includes the realization that this addiction is a chronic disease and is very difficult to control by themselves. Clients should begin to understand willpower alone is not sufficient enough to overcome this addiction problem. By recognizing that they have an addiction problem, our clients start to understand that they need to surrender their control that they have over their addiction problem. This helps relieve stress and anxiety, which can prevent a future relapse. This surrender involves, in some cases, the client giving themselves to a higher power, and accepting fellowship and support that comes with meeting with other recovering addicts. Lastly, having active involvement in a 12-step meeting/setting is important in overcoming this addiction, surrendering the stress, and achieving sobriety. These 12-step treatment programs are efficient and successful in treating alcohol dependency and have been found to be a promising treatment in other addictive substances and behaviors.

Atlanta Recovery Place Can Help

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we want to help you have a successful recovery and maintain sobriety. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact us today. There is no better time than now to start your community in building a better journey to recovery!

Talking to Your Loved ones About Your Addiction

talking to loved ones about addiction

Let’s face it, there is a massive stigma surrounding people dealing with drug and substance abuse. These issues should be handled with care and treated like any other mental health disorder.  Health professionals have confirmed that addiction is a chronic brain disease. Chronic means that the addiction is long term and may be challenging to get rid of. Fortunately, when a person seeks addiction treatment, they can begin a life of recovery.

The biggest problem addicts face however, is speaking it out and admitting they struggle with addiction. Many people shy away from starting conversations about their struggles for fear of being judged, turned away, or labeled. So, how do you open up to your loved ones about your addiction?  Atlanta Recovery Place is here to give you a few tips to help you successfully deliver the information.

How to Establish Whether You Are Addicted or Not

The most surefire way of knowing whether you are addicted is whether you can survive without the substance or not. Before you break down the news to your family, it’s helpful to understand your level of addiction. In most cases, people dealing with substance abuse think that they can stop anytime they want. The aspect of being addicted comes when it’s very late and the person’s brain no longer has the option of choosing.

If you have been using drugs or alcohol with a group of friends, you are likely to assume that it is normal, especially if everyone consumes the same amount. You may also not worry about your finances going low because you are funding your substance use. 

While addiction occurs at different rates for different people, there are some signs that are common for almost everyone. They include:

  • Struggling financially
  • Spending time thinking about finding and acquiring drugs or alcohol
  • Compromising relationships with family and friends
  • Failing to attend work or becoming unproductive
  • Increasing the amount of dosage you take over time
  • Making attempts to stop but are unable to
  • Developing health complications but continue using drugs anyway
  • Using drugs despite negative experiences and consequences

If you have experienced one or several of the symptoms mentioned above, the chances are that you may be dealing with addiction. Depending on the duration of your addiction, it may be mild, moderate, or severe. If you come to the realization that you have a problem and need help, a great first step to take is opening up to a family member or friend.  By telling them what you are going through, they can help you seek addiction treatment and support you during recovery.

Tips to Help Reveal Your Addiction

In most cases, family members and friends are already aware when a loved one is addicted to drugs or alcohol before being told. It is nearly impossible to hide addiction as it comes with significant social, mental, and physical impact. Your loved ones know you better than you think, and although they may not know right away you’re struggling with addiction, they will definitely know something is wrong. However, whether your family knows or not, it is still important to open up to them and discuss your addiction. 

You don’t need to wait to find the ‘right time’

When you discover that your addiction is beyond you, you may need to take action quickly before it gets out of hand. It may never seem like there will be a right time to come clean but don’t let that discourage you. Whenever you feel comfortable to open up, whether it’s day or night, is when it will be the right time. 

Write down what you want to say

Before you approach your family and friends, it may be helpful to write down what you want to say. This will allow you to organize your thoughts beforehand and make sure you tell them everything you want to say. 

Be honest

This is the time to be honest and don’t hold back! By letting a loved one in on what you’ve been doing, they’ll be able to better help you find the right addiction treatment. It will also feel therapeutic to get everything off your chest. 

Make an amends

If you feel like there is anything you’d like to apologize for, this is also a good time to do that. Addiction can sometimes negatively impact loved ones. By making an apology, you are showing you understand what your family feels and is going through, and you are letting them know that you are ready to change, and get back to your previous self.

Let Us Help You Get Sober

At Atlanta Recovery Place, we are a holistic addiction treatment provider located in beautiful Atlanta, Georgia. We offer partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient programs. Our customized addiction treatment plans are generally designed to help people who suffer from drug abuse and alcoholism. We also tailor our treatment based on your level of addiction, age, and duration of abuse. We are dedicated to meet all your individual needs with the mission of helping you maintain long-term sobriety. Feel free to contact us today, and we will be happy to help you.

The Benefits of a Partial Hospitalization Program

benefits of partial hospitalization

Atlanta Recovery Place is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and offers a partial hospitalization program, also known as PHP,  for struggling drug addicts and alcoholics. A partial hospitalization program provides intensive care for substance abuse and mental health. The biggest benefit of our program is we don’t require clients to live onsite for the duration of their addiction treatment. 

How to Treat Addiction

A combination of treatments and therapies have been proven to help struggling addicts overcome their addiction. Whether you’re addicted to alcohol, heroin, cocaine, prescription drugs, or other street drugs, a partial hospitalization program can help you with your addiction today!  Addiction treatment is a crucial component of overcoming substance abuse. Don’t feel like you have to battle addiction alone. 

Evidence-Based Approach

Our staff at Atlanta Recovery Place develops an individualized treatment plan that incorporates an evidence-based approach for all of our clients upon arrival. Evidence-based means no guessing and is a conscientious problem-solving approach to addiction. Our staff makes daily informed decisions about our client’s progress and care.

During our partial hospitalization program, we utilize the following addiction treatment therapies:

  • Individual therapy
  • Group therapy
  • 12-step support groups
  • Peer support

Your first day at our program will include an intake session. During this time you’ll let our staff know the extent of your addiction so we can put together a treatment program that will best benefit you. You’ll then spend several hours a week at our facility undergoing treatment. You’ll have the opportunity to figure out the cause of your addiction and what you can do in the future to remain sober. You will also be able to form relationships with other addicts seeking recovery. 

Advantages of Partial Hospitalization Programs 

There are numerous advantages to attending a partial hospitalization program for addiction treatment. First and foremost, our partial hospitalization program provides the same intensive addiction treatment as an inpatient program but doesn’t require you to live at the facility. It is considered to be a step down from residential inpatient treatment and a great option for anyone who needs help but can’t commit to an inpatient program. By attending a partial hospitalization program, you spend the day focusing solely on your recovery and get to go home to your own house at night. This is a great treatment option for anyone who has a safe, comfortable home, or someone who lives with other people who are supportive of their recovery. If you have pets or other personal obligations you can’t leave for an extended period of time, a PHP is the best option for you. 

Being able to receive addiction treatment while also living your life can be very beneficial. You’ll learn how to cope with addiction while still being responsible for life tasks like cleaning the house and making dinner for yourself at night and your children. Combining your world with treatment addiction makes for a smoother transition back into the ‘real world’ after you finish treatment. 

A partial hospitalization program will also help you establish routine. It’s very common for drug addicts and alcoholics to live a life of chaos. It’s hard to incorporate routine when you’re constantly impaired. The lack of structure often affects multiple aspects of an addicts life and leads them to lose their job or friends and family. By attending a partial hospitalization program, you’ll learn what it’s like to have structure again. You will be responsible for showing up to treatment everyday. Having to hold yourself accountable for getting to treatment everyday will help you in the future when you need to seek and maintain employment or reestablish relationships. 

We Can Help You Today! 

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, reach out to us today. Atlanta Recovery Place is located in Dunwoody, Georgia, and specializes in addiction treatment. We offer partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient, and sober living options for anyone who needs help with substance abuse. Contact us today with any questions and to hear about all of your addiction treatment options available! 

Why You Should Go To Atlanta For Addiction Treatment

atlanta drug treatment

You can find addiction treatment programs all over North America, but there’s a reason that you’ll see a lot of them located in desirable vacation spots. Where you choose to enter addiction treatment is just as important as the program itself.

The trouble with many of these destination recovery centers is that they typically seclude patients from the real world. It can be easy to detox and enter addiction recovery in a wide open desert or peaceful island getaway, but what happens when you return home and are suddenly back in society? This is why at Atlanta Recovery Place, we offer patients the opportunity to recover from addiction in a beautiful, exciting urban location. Here in Atlanta, drug treatment patients can learn real-world coping methods and are able to learn how to maintain sobriety while navigating a society that doesn’t always make it easy.

Why Travel for Addiction Treatment?

If you are not already located in Atlanta, you may wonder why traveling here for addiction treatment would be worthwhile to you. The truth is that many people are best able to detox and enter addiction recovery when they are removed from their everyday lives. Even just packing up and traveling to a new location for treatment can build up excitement and mark the occasion as you making a big, important change for the better.

Here in Atlanta, you will be in a warm, beautiful location while still being able to explore new places and meet new people. You will be able to get away from your old life that allowed you to succumb to substance abuse in the first place. In addition to being offered an escape from your old environment, traveling to a new city, Atlanta, for addiction treatment can provide several other benefits:

  • Gain new perspective – Especially when traveling to a bustling metropolis rather than a remote location, you have the chance to get a fresh new take on life. You’ll see everyday life filled with potential and new ideas.
  • Get away from enablers – Even well-meaning loved ones can often enable your addiction without realizing it. Other times friends see substance abuse as not a problem and may even encourage it directly. Going away for treatment allows you to get a break from this unhealthy environment and can help you learn ways to deal with it.
  • Change your habits – After going through detox, you can begin learning coping skills for real-life habit changes. You have the opportunity here to curb your own impulses and start practicing healthy alternatives to substance abuse.
  • It’s harder to give up – When you are attending addiction treatment away from home, it will be harder for you to just call it quits and head back to your house when things get tough. Being in a new place will help keep you focused and determined to see your addiction treatment program through to the finish.
  • Give yourself privacy – It can be tough to keep your privacy when attending a program close to home. Going away allows for some important self-reflection while surrounded by people who don’t already know you or the things you’ve done.
atlanta drug treatment
Image sourced from atlanta.net

Sober Activities in Atlanta

It’s normal to feel apprehensive about attending addiction treatment in a metropolis, but Atlanta is a particularly good city for those who are working to overcome addiction. Not only is the area home to a large, supportive community of people in addiction recovery,  there is a plethora of safe, healthy activities you can participate in day after day.

For example, there are over 100 coffee shops around Atlanta that give you a place to hang out in public without any pressure of drinking or engaging in substance abuse. Other engaging, safe daytime activities include museums, the World of Coca-Cola, city parks, carriage rides, segway tours, etc. As for evening activities you can do sober, many local movie theaters do not serve alcohol or keep it in a secluded area with no pressure (check out the Starlight Drive-in theater). There are also some local recreation centers that offer alcohol-free activities for all ages in the evenings.

It’s also worth mentioning that in 2019, Atlanta Magazine noted the rise of non-alcoholic cocktails in bars and restaurants throughout the city. Thanks to a strong sober community in the city, the growing demand for safe alternatives has resulted in a changing food and beverage culture. The increase in alternative options will help you handle your urge to consume unhealthy substances.

Reach out to Us for More Information

When you’re ready to make the changes you need for a healthy life, reach out to our team at Atlanta Recovery Place. Our specialized care embraces both time-tested traditional methods and advanced modern techniques to help you achieve the life of sobriety you deserve. Drug treatment in Atlanta could be the key to your health and safety.

It’s important to note that traveling for addiction treatment is not for everyone. Some people do better in situations where they know family and friends are close by, while others simply don’t feel they have the time or the means for travel. It is important to speak to an addiction counselor about your specific needs and concerns before making any decisions.

How Group Counseling Can Make a Difference in Addiction Recovery

When you’re suffering from an addiction, the world often feels cold and lonely. You may feel that nobody really knows what you’re going through, and you may be reluctant to trust anyone who says they can help.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. If you are struggling with drug abuse or addiction, it’s important to realize that you’re not alone. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 20 million people suffer from these very things every year in the United States. Sadly, only a small amount end up seeking treatment (around 10 percent), largely due to unjustified social stigma and lack of awareness. But by realizing that you are not alone in your addiction struggle and accepting help, you can avoid becoming another statistic. There’s no better time than the present to start working toward the healthy, happy life you deserve!

Today’s addiction treatment options offer a variety of ways to help you feel more comfortable with tackling your issues and moving forward. For example, group counseling (also known as “group therapy”) is a form of treatment therapy filled with people who have actually been in your shoes. You can also pair group counseling with other forms of addiction treatment to make sure you are getting a well-rounded approach and are addressing all of your needs.

How Group Therapy Works

In most group counseling setups, one or sometimes more therapists, lead discussion in a group of people dealing with similar issues. This discussion is often focused on specific subjects that can prompt self-reflection and better insight. That said, it’s not uncommon for related conversations to start naturally flowing as group members become more comfortable with each other. Some group therapy setups are done in a seated circle so everyone can easily view and hear each other, while others are done in a classroom or auditorium-style setup, where speakers take turns going to the front of the room for better focus.

You will meet with your group multiple times (often weekly) over the course of several months, though the exact amount of time can vary. Many people even end up meeting with their group for a year or longer, after they have left initial addiction treatment and moved into recovery. Meeting regularly with a group can help keep you more focused on sobriety and can even keep you more accountable for the choices you make.

It’s worth noting here that group counseling is different from a support group. Group counseling takes place in addiction treatment centers, hospitals and other medical facilities, whereas support groups are often in churches, community facilities or anywhere that meeting space is available. While you can conveniently find support groups just about anywhere, they are best saved for later on once you have achieved sobriety and are fully in addiction recovery. This is because support groups are generally not run by professionals and exist primarily as an outlet for people to talk about their struggles of everyday life. They can be great as part of your support system, but when you are struggling to recover from addiction you will be in need of more focused care with professional guidance.

Learn to Open up in Group Therapy

While sharing your story in a group can seem intimidating at first, you’ll be far from alone. Many people find that it is actually easier to share their own story after listening to others go into details about theirs. Hearing similarities in the stories of others and relating to their experiences will help you realize that your own issues may not be so isolating after all. And by sharing your own stories and talking through your problems with others, you can gain fresh perspective. Many people even feel like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders after getting to finally tell their story to people who have been there themselves.

Learning to open up and express your feelings in a healthy manner is actually one of the biggest benefits of group therapy. In time, you may even find yourself becoming a role model to others just starting down the path of addiction recovery.

Other Benefits of Group Counseling

In addition to being comforted by others going through your experiences and learning to express your feelings in a healthy way, there are a variety of other benefits group counseling has to offer:

  • Practice social skills and learn to make connections with others in a healthy way that does not involve substances.
  • Be receptive to new ideas from others who have been in your shoes.
  • Motivate yourself by seeing how others are tackling addiction treatment and recovery.
  • Gain confidence in social settings by both giving and receiving support.
  • Pair group therapy with other forms of addiction treatment for the most effective program available to you.

Is Group Counseling Right for Me?

Is group counseling really the right choice for you? To learn more about group therapy and how it can fit within your addiction recovery plan, get in touch with our team at Atlanta Recovery Place, located in Dunwoody, Georgia. We believe that, with the right care, all individuals suffering from addiction and/or struggling with substance abuse can learn to make healthy choices and improve their lives. It’s not too late to achieve a happy, productive life of sobriety. We invite you to reach out to us today to learn more!

Why You Should Go To Atlanta For Addiction Treatment

You can find addiction treatment programs all over North America, but there’s a reason that you’ll see a lot of them located in desirable vacation spots. Where you choose to enter addiction treatment is just as important as the program itself.

The trouble with many of these destination recovery centers is that they typically seclude patients from the real world. It can be easy to detox and enter addiction recovery in a wide open desert or peaceful island getaway, but what happens when you return home and are suddenly back in society? This is why at Atlanta Recovery Place, we offer patients the opportunity to recover from addiction in a beautiful, exciting urban location. Here in Atlanta, patients can learn real-world coping methods and are able to learn how to maintain sobriety while navigating a society that doesn’t always make it easy.

Why Travel for Addiction Treatment?

If you are not already located in Atlanta, you may wonder why traveling here for addiction treatment would be worthwhile to you. The truth is that many people are best able to detox and enter addiction recovery when they are removed from their everyday lives. Even just packing up and traveling to a new location for treatment can build up excitement and mark the occasion as you making a big, important change for the better.

Here in Atlanta, you will be in a warm, beautiful location while still being able to explore new places and meet new people. You will be able to get away from your old life that allowed you to succumb to substance abuse in the first place. In addition to being offered an escape from your old environment, traveling to a city for addiction treatment can provide several other benefits:

  • Gain new perspective – Especially when traveling to a bustling metropolis rather than a remote location, you have the chance to get a fresh new take on life. You’ll see everyday life filled with potential and new ideas.
  • Get away from enablers – Even well-meaning loved ones can often enable your addiction without realizing it. Other times friends see substance abuse as not a problem and may even encourage it directly. Going away for treatment allows you to get a break from this unhealthy environment and can help you learn ways to deal with it.
  • Change your habits – After going through detox, you can begin learning coping skills for real-life habit changes. You have the opportunity here to curb your own impulses and start practicing healthy alternatives to substance abuse.
  • It’s harder to give up – When you are attending addiction treatment away from home, it will be harder for you to just call it quits and head back to your house when things get tough. Being in a new place will help keep you focused and determined to see your addiction treatment program through to the finish.
  • Give yourself privacy – It can be tough to keep your privacy when attending a program close to home. Going away allows for some important self-reflection while surrounded by people who don’t already know you or the things you’ve done.

Sober Activities in Atlanta

It’s normal to feel apprehensive about attending addiction treatment in a metropolis, but Atlanta is a particularly good city for those who are working to overcome addiction. Not only is the area home to a large, supportive community of people in addiction recovery,  there is a plethora of safe, healthy activities you can participate in day after day.

For example, there are over 100 coffee shops around Atlanta that give you a place to hang out in public without any pressure of drinking or engaging in substance abuse. Other engaging, safe daytime activities include museums, the World of Coca-Cola, city parks, carriage rides, segway tours, etc. As for evening activities you can do sober, many local movie theaters do not serve alcohol or keep it in a secluded area with no pressure (check out the Starlight Drive-in theater). There are also some local recreation centers that offer alcohol-free activities for all ages in the evenings.

It’s also worth mentioning that in 2019, Atlanta Magazine noted the rise of non-alcoholic cocktails in bars and restaurants throughout the city. Thanks to a strong sober community in the city, the growing demand for safe alternatives has resulted in a changing food and beverage culture. The increase in alternative options will help you handle your urge to consume unhealthy substances.

Reach out to Us for More Information

When you’re ready to make the changes you need for a healthy life, reach out to our team at Atlanta Recovery Place. Our specialized care embraces both time-tested traditional methods and advanced modern techniques to help you achieve the life of sobriety you deserve.

It’s important to note that traveling for addiction treatment is not for everyone. Some people do better in situations where they know family and friends are close by, while others simply don’t feel they have the time or the means for travel. It is important to speak to an addiction counselor about your specific needs and concerns before making any decisions. Contact us today!