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 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 ARP 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. ARP 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!