Healthy Living Archives - Page 2 of 4

Reasons to go on a Yoga Retreat

Written by enlightened solutions on February 8, 2018. Posted in Alternative Therapy, Healthy Living. Leave a Comment

When a person sobers up, there can sometimes be the conception that there won’t be anything fun to do anymore. While in the disease, there were many reasons to use and that meant every situation and every excuse one can think of. This is just how the mind had been set to function, if you can really call that functioning. Once sobering up, there are many sober things to do including a good spiritual retreat.

There are many reasons why these getaways can be life-changing. There will be lots of yoga and meditation on the schedule. Some might find this tedious at first, but once the person can begin to quiet the mind, serenity and peace will become evident. Without the distractions of daily life, it’s a good opportunity to take it all in and get spiritual. Finding who it is on the inside will give people more self-esteem and guidance from a higher power.

Retreats are great places to detoxify the body from toxins we might ingest through foods and other sources. Retreats will often have food supplied for its guest and this means it will probably be healthy. This is fantastic because there are chefs doing all of the cooking! It’s also an opportunity to learn about healthy foods that could become a staple back home.

Retreats are also an opportunity to detoxify from the digital world. Signing onto facebook and other social media outlets can almost become second nature at times. Making it a point to put the smartphone away can be stressful at first, but it’s amazing how the mind will recover from its annoying cellular friend.

Lastly, being around likeminded people is a nice way to connect. Many people make lifelong friends while in retreats. There are options to travel to beautiful islands and countries around the world. It’s a once in a lifetime experience and one of the best gifts someone in recovery could be given. Once people can live in gratitude, life’s troubles will slip away. Life will never be perfect for anyone, but becoming in tune with the body mind and soul in such an amazing environment, will forever give life a new meaning. Now go get your zen on!

If you need help in becoming sober and spiritually fit, don’t waste any more time. Reenergize the body, mind, and soul at Enlightened Solutions in New Jersey. Don’t wait and call today for more information: 833-801-5483.

Living in Fear

Written by enlightened solutions on February 7, 2018. Posted in Healthy Living, Sober Living. Leave a Comment

When you are in fear, there isn’t much room for faith. This is a great fact of life that so many forget. While in the disease of addiction, life is driven by fear. A common acronym for fear is false evidence appearing real. It’s difficult in the moment to step out of fear which is why it’s so important to stay vigilant in keeping a solid connection with a higher power. The reason behind much of the desires to numb feelings, is fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of the past, fear of the present. It’s all there, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. The one bulletproof solution is to give it up to a higher power. Once it’s out of the hands of whose fearful, God can take the wheel.

Traumatic events can cause fear which is shown through post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Depression and anxiety can be driven by fear and can be processed with a licensed therapist. When someone let’s go of what’s been stuffed for years, there can be progress in moving forward in life with endless amounts of hope and faith. For those who accept and expose these falsehoods, the next step is to work them through. Finding the triggers and ways to avoid them will help in keeping people on the right track. People in recovery must start to trust the intuition. This will become easier every sober day. Ignoring the intuition is like ignoring a higher power which in time leads to running back to past behaviors.

There are often times when people have a fear of doing well in sobriety. Having things go smoothly can seem boring, when it is actually serenity and peace. It may seem like a foreign concept but it sneaks in there. When life is chaotic, it may seem like there will never be any way out. The unmanageable life becomes the normal state, which is why it’s so common to self-sabotage with relapse and unwarranted drama. Being intoxicated and numbing feelings had been more comfortable for a long time. Being uncomfortable in sobriety is part of the transformation that every person in recovery will have to go through. As life goes, on this new peaceful feeling will become the norm and life can finally begin!

If you are struggling with addiction, alcoholism and/or mental health, you don’t have to be in fear any longer. Enlightened Solutions holistic, clinical, and 12-step approach can help guide you to a life of sobriety and self-love. Call today for more information: 833-801-5483.

Negativity on Television

Written by enlightened solutions on February 5, 2018. Posted in Healthy Living, Sober Living, wellness. Leave a Comment

There’s something to be said when it comes to being gifted with happiness. There aren’t a lot of reasons why people want to be stressed out and unhappy. However, there are thousands of movies and tv shows with a lot of negative content that come right into the living rooms of families across the world. The news can send the happiest person into a temporary state of depression. Right now there’s a plentitude of distress and sadness in our world. Although this is true, there is also a lot of beauty in the world.

The question of whether the glass is half empty or glass half full, is fairly common. This will determine if a person can handle life’s difficulties without slipping down the rabbit hole into a deep depression. Saying this, people do have good days and bad days, but let’s take a look into why these days are good and bad in the first place. What might influence a day to be generally better?

In sobriety, it’s crucial to stay spiritually fit. This simply means, to have a constant connection with a higher power. As one continues to ask for guidance and stays in gratitude, it’s more likely there will be generally more joy in life. When someone begins to slip away from serving others and meditation, it will almost always lead to the road to becoming a victim and soon thereafter, a relapse. It doesn’t help that much of what’s considered entertainment, glorifies alcohol. It’s a recipe for disaster.

Do yourself a favor and turn on the GAIA channel and learn about spirituality and beauty. Watching the latest season of disgruntled housewives yell at one another will never give anyone anything but displaced agony. This might seem extreme, but if you look at the big picture, over time the company you keep reflects your personality. If the company is violence and history on the television, what might begin to reflect back? For those who are feeling hopeless and cannot control life anymore, it’s time to get into a treatment, where life lessons can be learned in a safe environment.

If you are struggling to find the right path in life and cannot quit abusing substances, begin on a spiritual path with us today. We at Enlightened Solutions want to help you find who you are inside, and begin to heal. For more information please call us today at 833-801-5483.

Why Social Media Isn’t Productive In Recovery

Written by enlightened solutions on February 2, 2018. Posted in 12 Step Program, Recovery. Leave a Comment

Recovery is fragile and should be treated like so. There are many things people should not participate in during early recovery, or ever. One, in particular, is social media. Social media is addictive in itself. This can be addicting and time consuming for anyone who is or not struggling with addiction. It’s easy to get distracted by constantly signing onto Facebook, only to be sitting there for hours. When people sign on in the evening, there is more of a probability to suffer from sleep deprivation. It is suggested to meditate or at least attempt to wind down for a good night’s rest. If there is something bothersome on the mind while falling asleep, it’s just as likely to wake up thinking about the same thing.

One of the bigger issues with social media is how people portray what is really going on in their life. It’s easy to sit and compare lives of those who look like they’re having the time of their lives. However, no one really knows what’s going on behind closed doors. Often times, people post pictures glamorizing the way alcohol had enhanced their day or night in some way. Although, it might have, or there’s something that’s not being shown in the pictures. No one wants to show the negative parts of life to the facebook world.

Some people have the tendency to post about thoughts and feelings. This is never a great idea, as potential and present employers sometimes use facebook as a tool to understand who’s really working for them. If there happens to be inappropriate or controversial material posted, it could show a lack of character judgment. The safest way to go about social media in early recovery is to delete it. Live life for yourself and forget what other people are doing. Become closer with your real friends and begin to feel the real highs in life. This rather than the high from a notification. Sobriety is about the addict taking back ownership of life and stop stressing about what cannot be controlled.

If you are looking to get sober, come out to New Jersey and step away from the stressors of life. Enlightened Solutions offers a program consisting of a clinical, holistic, and 12-step approach. Take back your life today and begin to heal your mind, body, and soul. Call today for more information: 833-801-5483.

First Year in Recovery

Written by enlightened solutions on February 1, 2018. Posted in Addiction Recovery, Sober Living. Leave a Comment

The first year in recovery is a fragile time. Starting from day one, the people must start following direction and taking suggestions of those who have their best interest at heart. The clinical staff and sober support will have a large part in helping get back on their own two feet. It’s a humbling experience and it takes a whole lot of acceptance from the beginning. Admitting the lack of control over alcoholism, addiction and/or mental health is crucial. This is when people begin to realize the unmanageability of life as it was in the disease. Once there is a willingness to do what it takes to become sober there will be many commitments to be made. There might be some resistance, but when the person pushes through, the transformation is being made.

Entering a treatment facility is optional but recommended for those who have lost the choice to drink. Patient’s are on voluntary lockdown with no drugs or alcohol. While in different therapy groups, the patients can begin to let go of the painful past. In order to move forward, there must be change in the way things had been done previously. It is suggested to attend 12-step meetings and begin to work on the 12 steps with a sponsor. The footwork must be a priority before the miracles of sobriety can take place. The miracles may be small or large, but they are present every day.

Upon completing rehab, people can step down into a an after care program and/or sober living. This will give patients a safe environment and while staying accountable. They should always stay away from old behaviors and preventable triggers. While doing the recommended steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, it’s essential to find the higher power from within. This will help in guiding those who are recovering to do the next right thing in a difficult time.

If the person can help it, it’s suggested to not make any huge life decisions at this time. This time should be selfishly based around sobriety. Sobriety should never be thought of as a sentence, rather a beautiful gift from their Higher Power.

Enlightened Solutions clinical, holistic, and 12-step approach to recovery is a phone call away from taking back your life. Don’t let substance abuse control you anymore. For more information please call today: 833-801-5483.

Should People Share Painkiller Medication?

Written by enlightened solutions on January 19, 2018. Posted in Addiction, Drugs & Alcohol. Leave a Comment

Painkillers are highly addictive opioids and are prescribed by a physician to an individual for pain management. Prescription medication should never be shared with other people including family or friends. Sharing your pain medication with other people is illegal. Giving someone else your medication can be fatal, and you would be responsible. When a physician prescribes painkillers to a person, the medication needs to be taken as directed.

Opioid abuse has dramatically increased and resulted in a national opioid crisis. Opioid abuse is causing many overdoses and deaths nationwide. The use of painkillers is greater than ever and causes people to develop a dependency or addiction when misused. Many people with addictions to potent opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, or morphine started their dependency by abusing painkiller medications.

Heroin, fentanyl, and morphine are powerful opioids that can be cheaper, more intense, and more available on the street than painkiller medications, which need a prescription from a physician. People will go to the extent of stealing painkillers for their own use or sell them. A person with an opioid addiction can go through intense withdrawal symptoms when he or she discontinues using the drug. This discomfort and pain influences him or her to relieve the withdrawals and get their fix.

A person should never share his or her painkiller medication. The alarming rise in opioid-related overdoses and deaths is fueled by painkiller abuse. People sharing painkiller medication are unintentionally contributing to the national opioid crisis. People who do not have a prescription for the opioid medication can easily become dependent on the drug for their own use or sell the drug to get more intense drugs.

If you give a person your painkillers, repeated use can lead to his or her death and other health complications. When a person takes your painkillers, the medication could interact negatively with his or her physical or mental condition. Also, if he or she is taking other medications, the use of painkillers can react in a harmful way. The pain medication is prescribed specifically for your condition. Giving someone else the medication can have adverse effects on their health or be the wrong dose for them.

Someone else who takes your painkillers may be getting more from other people. He or she can accidentally overdose, increase harmful health conditions, or die. A medical professional should always monitor pain medication. With the rise in opioid addiction, you can save someone’s life by not sharing your painkiller medication.

Recovery begins with you. You have to make the decision, now, to call and ask for help, get to treatment, and start a transformational, life-changing journey. The power to heal is yours. Let Enlightened Recovery Solutions show you the path of holistic treatment, bringing together the best practices of evidence-based clinical care, proven alternative healing practices, and trusted 12-step philosophy. Call 833-801-5483 today for information on our partial care programs.

Making Lifestyle Changes

Written by enlightened solutions on January 17, 2018. Posted in Healthy Living, Sober Living. Leave a Comment

Making lifestyle changes during treatment will contribute to the success of your recovery. When you decide it is time to get help for your drug or alcohol problem, you need to make a lot of adjustments in your life. Living substance-free will liberate you from the grip of addiction and allow you to enjoy everything that life has to offer.

During treatment, you will receive guidance and advice from therapists and counselors who really want to help you get better. Very often, these compassionate professionals have gone through treatment and are recovering from a substance addiction so they understand what you are going through.

Lifestyle changes are necessary to maintain a successful recovery. Friends or people you know who are associated with your drug or alcohol use need to be avoided. By going to group therapy, you will develop new sober friendships with people who will be supportive and encourage you through recovery. People in group therapy want to live substance-free and can help you during challenging times when cravings are intense. Drugs and alcohol are not needed to have fun, healthy relationships.

When you are in recovery and free of toxic substances, you will learn a lot about yourself. Drugs and alcohol once controlled you, but now you can discover your interests in healthy activities. There will be more time to spend with family and participate in family events or get-togethers.

Keep going to group therapy and stay in contact with a sponsor or someone who is sober and can help you when you are in a situation that can lead to relapse.

Staying away from drugs or alcohol will give you more time to develop interests in new activities. The time once spent on using toxic substances will allow you to focus on things you can do. It is easier to relapse when there is a lot of time doing nothing. Boredom can influence you to take drugs or drink because there is more time to think about using again.

Keep a journal and write daily. Write about your feelings, temptations, mood, and success. By writing, you can refer back to how you felt or what made you feel like using. Also, you can go back and see how far you have come in recovery, which will encourage you to stay sober. Staying sober can be very difficult, but is possible and you will be healthier, happier, and enjoy more in life when living substance-free.

How Alcohol Abuse Affects the Human Body

Written by enlightened solutions on January 16, 2018. Posted in Alcoholism, Healthy Living. Leave a Comment

Alcohol affects the human body physically and mentally. When you drink alcohol, your brain builds up a tolerance level, which causes you to drink more and more to get the initial euphoric effects. Excessive drinking leads to a dependence on alcohol and puts you at high-risk for many serious health problems. Alcohol consumption can cause liver damage, kidney failure, lung infections, and even cancer.

Alcohol affects normal brain function. The brain controls how you move, talk, walk, and think. Alcohol interferes with the brain’s neurotransmitters, releases more dopamine and causes pleasurable feelings. The euphoric feelings are short-term and sometimes cause a person to drink more to reach the same level of pleasure. The brain builds up a tolerance to the amounts of alcohol consumed.

When your brain is impaired, your coordination and critical thinking are affected. Fatal accidents occur when a person who is under the influence, operates a motor vehicle or other heavy equipment. Judgment is impaired and reactive senses slow down. Speech becomes slurred and balance is impacted. Alcohol interferes with memory and results in blackouts. The blackouts are short-term forms of amnesia.

Excessive alcohol use can cause cancer in different areas of the body. Alcohol causes cirrhosis of the liver and if you do not stop drinking, it can lead to liver failure, which is fatal. Alcohol is toxic to your body and negatively alters the stomach, heart, intestines, nervous system, and bones. The detrimental effects of alcohol on your body far outweigh the short-term moments of pleasure received with the first drink.

Many people drink alcohol because of emotional stress. Since alcohol is a depressant, it can heighten depression, anxiety, and emotional distress. Drinking alcohol can disrupt normal sleep patterns, cause insomnia, and result in a restless sleep. Lack of restful sleep can influence poor performance or frequent absences at your job, and lead to termination.

The effects of alcohol on the human body are dangerous and deadly. Alcohol abuse impacts family relationships and causes couples to break up, divorce, or separate. Excessive alcohol use changes interactions with your loved ones and your financial stability. If you are addicted to alcohol, go to a detox facility and check out treatment programs that are available for recovery. There is hope to recover and live a healthy, substance-free life.

Eating Disorder Addiction

Written by enlightened solutions on January 11, 2018. Posted in Addiction, Healthy Living. Leave a Comment

Food is a basic need for our survival and our bodies depend on the nutrients in food to stay healthy. For some people, food consumes their life. Sometimes people turn to food for comfort due to stress, depression, or anxiety. Eating disorders come in many forms such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. In any form, an eating disorder can cause physical disfiguration, impairment, obesity, and death.

A person who has an eating disorder develops an addictive relationship with self-destructive eating patterns. An individual with anorexia will starve his or herself because of their distorted perception of how they look. A person with anorexia literally starves to death. The lack of food causes extreme weight loss, hair loss, and impairs the body’s organs. Eventually, anorexia leads to an early death.

An individual with bulimia eats normally or binge-eats, then immediately and intentionally vomits the food. He or she might like the taste of the food but throws up to avoid gaining weight. Bulimia can cause tooth decay from the stomach’s acid that comes up with the food. A person who has bulimia is at risk of developing severe physical impairments and death.

An individual who has an eating disorder shows similar characteristics of a person who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. These addictive behaviors are self-destructive, harmful, and deadly. When a person has an eating disorder, he or she loses control and the ability to stop.

Eating disorders are related to some of the psychological effects of starvation, which appear to be similar to symptoms of addiction. A person with an eating disorder is preoccupied with food and experiences the urge to binge, is irritable, depressed, and overeats as a response to stress. The effects of starvation can make a person feel they are addicted to food. This can cause the person to avoid food. The avoidance of food reinforces the person to feel addicted.

The causes for developing an eating disorder or drug addiction are very similar. Social pressure, impulsivity, stress, and emotional trauma are reasons a person turns to addictive behavior. Eating disorders and substance addiction develop from stressful situations as a way to cope with emotional distress.

A person with an eating disorder or addiction could be self-medicating for mental health complications such as depression or anxiety. Eating disorders and drug or alcohol addiction are chronic diseases with high relapse rates. All require treatment for recovery.

Recovery needs to take place in mind, body, and spirit. That is why Enlightened Recovery Solutions offers a holistic approach to treatment, providing a multi-faceted partial care program rooted in evidence-based therapies, proven healing methods, and 12-step inspired recovery. Call us today for information on our programs for substance abuse and co-occurring disorders, including eating disorders: 833-801-5483.

Coping With the Stigma of Mental Illness

Written by enlightened solutions on January 10, 2018. Posted in Mental Health, Recovery. Leave a Comment

People who live with a mental illness are sometimes judged by their condition. Unfortunately, this stigma is common and occurs when a person is viewed in a negative way because of their mental illness. Sometimes, people will avoid a person with a mental health condition. They assume the person is unsafe to be around or could suddenly become violent. The stigma of mental illness can lead to discrimination, whether intentional or not.

There are some harmful effects of the mental health stigma. When you have a mental illness, you can feel hopeless, low self-esteem, defeated, and alone. Family, friends, and coworkers might not understand your mental illness and health insurance might not fully cover treatment.

An individual with a mental illness such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or attention deficit disorder (ADD) sometimes turns to drugs or alcohol to cope with his or her condition. Using drugs and alcohol will lead to physical impairments and affect the brain’s function, which can cause death.

There are many healthy ways to cope with the stigma of mental illness:

Get treatment.

It can be difficult to admit you have a mental illness. Get the help you need from a professional who can treat your condition, prescribe medication if necessary, and manage your treatment.

Do not feel ashamed.

Do not let the stigma of mental illness hold you back from getting help. Learn about your condition. Mental illness does not equate to personal weakness. Seek treatment from a mental health professional.

Do not use drugs or alcohol.

A person with a mental illness could have major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety, bipolar or other mental health issues. Using drugs or alcohol can increase the symptoms of mental health disorders and are destructive for your mental, physical, and emotional health.

Join a support group.

There are support groups and forums for mental health and some are for a specific illness. This is a great way to meet others who share similar experiences..

Do not isolate yourself.

Surround yourself with supportive, encouraging people. Family and friends can learn more about your mental illness and join support groups to gain a better understanding of your condition.

Many people misunderstand mental illness and view it as a negative characteristic. The stigma of mental illness should not deter you from seeking treatment and getting help. A medical professional who specializes in treating mental illnesses can prescribe medication that will help manage the symptoms of your mental illness.

Rise above the shame and stigma by choosing to recover today. There is a world beyond the labels and judgments where healing is possible. Recovery needs to take place in mind, body, and spirit. That is why Enlightened Recovery Solutions offers a holistic approach to treatment, providing a multi-faceted partial care program rooted in evidence-based therapies, proven healing methods, and 12-step inspired recovery. Call us today for information on our programs for substance abuse and co-occurring disorders: 833-801-5483.

Tag: Healthy Living