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Friday, April 29, 2016

Support Rehab with Letters from Home

support rehab with letters from homeAs the parent of a young adult in rehab, you have probably been through the emotional wringer. In the weeks and days before your child entered the treatment program, you lived in a rapidly changing emotional state that you were unable to control or change.

Now that your adult child has entered residential rehab, you, too, have embarked on a healing recovery journey. You are educating yourself about addiction, following your child’s rehab activities, and discovering how to build a relationship with the new, responsible person your child is learning to be.

Write for Your Child and for Yourself
Recovery therapists stress how important family support is for young people in addiction treatment. However, the strain and estrangement that addiction creates in relationships can be difficult to bridge. One way to cross this gulf is to write a letter. Writing about your thoughts and feelings can be cathartic for you and enlightening for your child. Writing helps both of you see life and your relationship from a less emotional, more objective perspective. It provides a means for building a new relationship.

Share the Recovery Journey with Your Young Adult
You and your child are probably experiencing many of the same emotions: shame, guilt, fear, and even anger. Your young adult child in rehab is learning how to make life choices that will change his attitudes, activities, and reactions to his life. If you are in a support group, you are learning about ways to cope with your emotional triggers and enabling behaviors. Why not share the healing journey with your child?

Here are a few pointers to guide you as you learn and share recovery thoughts and lessons in letters to your child:

• Stay positive
• Be consistent with her recovery program
• Support healthy living choices
• Relate thoughts & happenings that show positive growth and enlightenment in you
• Share anecdotes from your life that show common ground and understanding
• Ask your adult child for input, opinions, and examples that might help you, too
• Stay in the present; do not relive the past
• Keep in mind that your relationship should be evolving as your child is becoming a self-actualized adult
• Express your love and encouragement for this new, sober person

Young Adult Residential Rehab in CA
When a young adult child is caught in addictive behavior, isolation and hopelessness take over. Hope Academy’s residential rehab can change this with treatment and opportunities for schooling and sober living. If you are the parent of a young adult in addiction, dial 866.930.4673 to begin the admissions process and start your young adult on the pathway to a sober future.

Friday, April 22, 2016

3 Tips for Surviving the End of School

3 tips for surviving the end of schoolWith the first day of summer just two months away, students in colleges and vocational programs are dragging themselves to the finish line. If you find yourself unmotivated, distracted, and longing for the beach, it’s time to hit the reset button. Begin by refocusing on your goals and making time for self-care. With an outlook adjustment and some solid sleep, you’ll finish the school year strong—and without regrets.

• Focus on food. When energy levels are already low, ramen noodles, pizza, and soda won’t carry you through term papers and late nights. Busy (and broke) students often neglect proper nutrition, but it’s an essential part of fueling your body and brain. Nutrient-dense foods don’t have to be expensive. Healthy, filling options include apples, sweet potatoes, broccoli, zucchini, oatmeal, and brown rice. And, when you skip the processed foods, you leave more space in your budget for fresh produce and quality proteins. Remember to incorporate healthful fats, too: avocados, olives, nuts, and flaxseed.

• Get help when you need it. Before finals roll around, visit instructors during office hours to ask questions and clarify gray areas. Not sure you have enough credits to graduate? Head to your academic advisor. Stress got you down? Visit your school’s counseling center or have coffee with a friend or mentor. If you have begun self-medicating for anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts, contact a credentialed mental health professional for immediate and ongoing treatment.

• Unplug for short periods. Studies show that college students spend up to 50% of their waking hours on smart phones or devices. While there’s no escaping technology during your academic journey, it’s important to give your brain a break from constant screen stimulation. Turn your phone off for an hour a day, go for a walk and leave the devices behind, or attend a yoga class and focus on your breath. Going off the grid decreases anxiety levels, combats the “fear of missing out,” and allows us to experience true, rejuvenating stillness. When you return to your studies, you’ll be rested and ready to concentrate.

Start Fresh This Spring With Hope Academy 
Spring is a time for fresh starts. If you are struggling with a dual diagnosis or substance abuse disorder, embrace a new beginning at Hope Academy Rehab. When you trust us with your recovery, you don’t have to leave college behind or put career preparation on hold. We offer vocational training, college prep, and sobriety college options that allow you to pursue your dreams while you get clean. Call now: 866.930.4673.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Misconceptions about Marijuana

misconceptions about marijuanaMarijuana is the single most widely abused illegal drug in the United States, and usage rates have been trending higher in recent years, particularly among young people. Studies show that marijuana is widely perceived to be a relatively low-risk drug, making many people unaware or ill-informed about the potential dangers it poses.

Recent research findings suggest that marijuana use, particularly during adolescence, increases the risk of developing mental illness or suffering a psychotic episode. Experts believe this may be partially due to the fact that new cultivation technologies yield marijuana plants with far stronger concentrations of psychoactive chemicals than ever before, posing greater degrees of risk to users.

Myths and Facts about Marijuana
Some common misconceptions about marijuana include:

• Marijuana has low addiction potential. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that as many as 30 percent of marijuana users develop a problematic relationship with the drug, with many of those users advancing to the addiction stage. Regular marijuana use can lead to psychological dependence, which carries an increased risk of the health problems associated with it.

• Marijuana is a "safe" drug. Marijuana is linked to a wide range of short-term and long-term psychological and physical risks. It impairs cognitive processes, problem-solving abilities and memory, and has adverse effects on mood regulation and brain development. This is why it is so risky for adolescents to use the drug. Physically, marijuana can cause breathing problems if smoked, along with increased heart rate, potential pregnancy complications, and other serious side effects.

• Marijuana use during youth does not have adverse long-term developmental effects. New research shows that marijuana's negative cognitive effects can have long-term or even permanent consequences, even with relatively light use and if the user stops ingesting the drug at a young age. The bottom line: marijuana is much riskier than it is often made out to be.

Get Help for Marijuana Abuse and Addiction 
The caring and empathetic professionals at Hope Academy Rehab specialize in the treatment of substance abuse issues affecting young people. If you or a loved one is struggling to control his or her marijuana use and you'd like to get help, we offer a full range of proven programs that generate lasting results. For further information about our programs and our California-based treatment facility, please reach out and contact us.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Resuming Employment After Addiction Treatment

resuming employment after addiction treatmentReintegrating into the work world is one of the most common challenges men and women face after completing a drug or alcohol addiction recovery program. It can be difficult to explain gaps in employment history without risking the stigma that may come with disclosing a past substance abuse issue. However, with proper preparation and the right resources, you can make a successful transition to get professional goals back on track.

Strategies for Dealing with Employment Gaps
For those seeking a new job after recovering from drug or alcohol misuse, one of the keys is to remember that while employers do value applicants' work histories, it is not the only factor they consider. It is just as important that a prospective employee displays the core skills needed to succeed, and this is an area job seekers can emphasize as they search for suitable opportunities.

At some point during the interview process, applicants must address gaps in their employment history. While 12-step programs recommend rigorous honesty when it comes to past substance abuse, ultimately each person must make an individual choice about how to handle the question. Some applicants choose to tell prospective employers that they took time off for health reasons, or to address a medical condition. This answer often satisfies the question while maintaining the right to privacy and discretion. Ask your life skills coach or therapist to help you with interview planning so you are rigorously prepared when work history questions arise.

Hope Academy Supports Successful Back-to-Work Transitions 
At Hope Academy, preparing young adults for a successful transition to the outside world is a defining feature of our recovery programs. We've developed an intensive and effective job preparation program, guided and managed by experienced professionals with real-world insights. During training, participants have the opportunity to:

• Take part in career assessment programs and personality inventories that help them find a rewarding path forward.
• Develop resumes and participate in role-playing job interview sessions.
• Learn to be assertive and use healthy strategies for resolving interpersonal conflicts in professional contexts.
• Build skills for dealing with stress and potential relapse triggers, such as holiday parties or afterhours get-togethers.

Hope Academy’s primary objective is to help our clients succeed in every aspect of their lives after pursuing addiction recovery. As part of this commitment, we also give clients the opportunity to prepare for or participate in college sobriety programs during the treatment process. If you would like further information about our sober college or vocational training, contact our registration team by email or phone.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Beyond Medication: Natural Treatment for ADHD

natural treatment for ADHDADHD affects eight million people across the United States, and it is estimated that two to eight percent of college students have a diagnosable case of ADHD. For young adults pursuing an education, ADHD can seem like an unmanageable curse. Studies show that students with ADHD face more academic, social, and substance abuse challenges than their peers. Balancing a full class load, work schedule, and busy social calendar may require closely monitored pharmaceutical intervention and routine counseling.

Alternative Therapies for ADHD
While medication is a great help to some people with ADHD, others prefer to supplement their treatment plan with holistic therapies. If you would prefer to treat your attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with natural means, consider these options:

Give up junk food. Experts are locked in controversy over the influence of foods, preservatives, and additives on hyperactivity—but according to Richard Sogn, MD (quoted by WebMD), people with a hyperactivity diagnosis would do well to focus on eating foods that are good for the brain. These include high-quality proteins, complex (rather than simple) carbohydrates, and omega-3 fatty acids known to support brain function.

Get a massage. A 2003 study published in the journal Adolescence evaluated the impact of massage on behavior and overall mood. Students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who received a 20-minute massage twice a week reported elevated mood and improved school behavior over time. A massage doesn’t have to be expensive, either; Google “massage schools” in your area for discount pricing offered by students who are completing their training.

Become a yogi. While there are no major studies supporting the benefits of yoga for young adults with ADHD, it is known that deep, rhythmic breathing helps to balance the nervous system. Yoga stresses a breath focus, as do other meditative mind-body practices. In addition, some research indicates that a yoga practice helps students with ADHD concentrate better and regulate behavior more effectively.

Remember—while there is nothing wrong with adding natural treatments to your ADHD regimen—it is important to consult with a physician before reducing or eliminating pharmaceutical treatment for hyperactivity disorder. It is also important to consult with a substance abuse professional if you feel you may be addicted to a prescribed ADHD or other medication.

Help for ADHD Stimulant Addiction
Unfortunately, stimulants like Adderall are becoming an increasing problem among young adults since they are thought to help students focus and perform academically. Most of the students misusing these medications do not have an ADHD diagnosis, and may suffer from severe side effects if they continue self-medicating.

If you or someone you care about is struggling with Adderall or stimulant addiction, our addiction recovery facility and sobriety college can help. Offering group and individual therapy, detox, and relapse prevention planning, we help young people break their reliance upon stimulants and other prescription medications. To learn more about Hope Academy, call our team at 866.930.4673 today.

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