Getting Sober With a Medically Supervised Detox

If you’ve tried to get sober on your own, you may be nervous about attempting detox again. Abruptly detoxing at home can lead to everything from sleep disturbances and irritability to hallucinations and seizures, depending on the nature and severity of your addiction. The fear these symptoms create is often what causes a chemically dependent person to relapse, even when he’s 100% committed to quitting.

Safe, Medical Drug Detox for Men

Detoxing is the crucial first step in the recovery process. Making such a meaningful change in your life can be scary, but it’s important to keep in mind that detoxing at home is an entirely different experience than sub-acute detox.

When you’re on your own, there’s no one around to monitor vital signs, address your discomfort, or encourage you to persevere when you hit a rough patch. In medically supervised detox, you have access to a team of physicians, clinicians, and addiction specialists who can guide you through the process of getting sober and minimize discomfort during the withdrawal period.

How Long Does Detox Take?

Wanting a quick detox is certainly understandable, but recovery is a journey that takes time. The Fix, a leading addiction news resource, stresses that while your body will eliminate almost every type of addictive substance within five days, it can take 90 to 100 days for the brain’s analytical and decision-making functions to recover. You won’t feel like yourself right away, but every day of sobriety will get you one step closer to reclaiming control of your life.

Call 10 Acre Ranch to Begin Your Recovery

At 10 Acre Ranch, men suffering from drug and alcohol dependence begin their path to sobriety with a safe, comfortable detox supervised by a medical doctor and monitored by experienced nurses and certified support staff. Withdrawal symptoms are addressed with counseling, rest, nutrition, and healthy social contact.

Addiction is the enemy—and we can help. Complete a confidential contact request to learn more about how 10 Acre Ranch can help you back take control of your life.

3 Masculinity Myths: What Is the Truth?

Men and women in recovery

Historically, western civilization has celebrated certain attributes of masculinity and given rise to these myths:

1. Men are unemotional.
2. Men are focused and decisive.
3. Men are competitive.

Societies worldwide have valued these traits so much that they have incorporated them into the upbringing of boys for generations. It is difficult to distinguish which characteristics are innate and which are imposed. Today, with our liberalized views of gender roles, the truth of these myths is being questioned, rejected, and even ridiculed. But the truth is that men, like their role in society, are filled with contradictions.

Men Are Unemotional
Boys are often raised to refrain from showing emotions like fear, uncertainty, and anger. They may be expected to cope with physical and emotional hurt without any outward sign of pain. There is a good reason behind this suppression of emotion. In times of crisis, it ideally allows a man to think rationally and decisively. But the inability to express emotions can leave men without self-understanding—and may lead to self-destructive behaviors such as anger, depression, or addiction. As gender lines begin to blur, men have an opportunity to accept and process their emotions in a more constructive manner.

Men Are Focused & Decisive
Leadership is a prized masculine quality, and men may be expected to know and perform the precise action required by any given situation. Even the most capable person needs time for analysis and exploration before making a decision. The pressures of social expectation and consequences of responsibility are burdens that can leave men with feelings of undue inadequacy, shame, and hopelessness.

Men Are Competitive
This might be more accurately stated as “men are expected to be competitive.” The diverse nature of individual men is likely to dictate whether they are athletic or intellectual, aggressive or amiable, driven or satisfied. Men who know their strengths tend to be self-assured and accomplished, without a need to continually prove themselves. Those who are highly competitive may be searching for an affirmation of their worth.

CA Rehab for Men
The pressures of manhood leave many men with pent-up emotions and uncertainty about the roles they play in work, family life, and society. If you have turned to self-medication or alcoholism in order to cope with the contradictions in your life, 10 Acre Ranch can help. Dial 1.877.228.4679 to learn more about our residential rehab program and begin the enrollment process now.

Scientists Say Complaining Has Health Consequences

a photo of young lady talking to her psychologist complaining about her life

According to researchers, complaining can have measurable adverse effects on human health. After conducting a review of numerous psychological studies, author Steven Parton concluded there is ample scientific evidence to support the theory that frequent venting of frustration and anger takes a toll on both mental and physical health. According to Parton, constant negativity can lead to long-term changes in brain chemistry and a myriad of adverse physical effects resulting from stress.

Can Negativity Rewire the Brain?

Synaptic connections are the chemical pathways that allow the brain to form thoughts and interpret feelings. Parton’s research found that, over time, synaptic connections that become familiar and common could emerge as a kind of psychological default in an individual. In other words, a person who mires himself or herself in negativity risks having this negativity become the lens through which he or she sees the world. Simply put, the synaptic connections formed by negative thinking can end up being hard-wired into the brain.

The same seems to be true of those who surround themselves with consistently negative people. Because of the human mind’s innate capacity for empathy, listening to people complain appears to create the same types of synaptic connections that form actual negative emotions. Parson’s conclusion: it’s far better to seek the company of upbeat people, since this helps create and reinforce positive synaptic connections.

The Physical Dangers of Stress

There is also a large body of scientific research that documents the physiological consequences of psychological stress, which raises the body’s levels of a hormone known as cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels have been associated with high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and a weakened immune system, among other health conditions.

Your Path to Better Mental Health

The men’s mental health program at 10 Acre Ranch is specifically designed to help patients achieve inner harmony while building the skills to maintain it over the long term. Our dual diagnosis programs are recommended for those experiencing the doubly damaging effects of addiction and mental illness. To connect with a caring and understanding admissions counselor, please contact us today.

Getting Your Spring Budget on Track

photo of a calculator, pen and notebook in the grass

Men struggling with compulsive alcohol or drug use often find themselves under heavy financial stress due to job loss, substance-related debt, or increases in insurance premiums. By the time they enter rehab, many substance abusers have gone down a path of total financial destruction. Just like people who declare bankruptcy or struggle to overcome a shopping compulsion, those in addiction recovery may need to start over financially.

“Starting over” looks different for everyone, but generally includes:

  • Getting on a written budget. Nobody likes the “b” word, but it is an essential part of tracking how and when you are spending. Your budget should prioritize basic needs (food, clothing, shelter), as well as accounting for debt repayment and savings. Check out proven programs like Suze Orman’s Money Class or Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps if you don’t know where to start.
  • Educate yourself about needs & wants. Throughout your chemical dependency, your life revolved around instant gratification. You “needed” a fix, a drink, or a pill—even when you ran out of money. As you gain traction with your addiction recovery, re-evaluate spending priorities to incorporate long-term savings goals such as retirement, dream vacations, or a return to college.
  • Get debt counseling. Chances are there are free community programs and affordable debt counseling tools and services available in your area. Visit the National Foundation for Credit Counseling®, a non-profit organization, for a list of resources. Coming to terms with your addiction debt is a key part of restoring your finances—and your peace of mind.

Investing in Yourself with High-Quality Addiction Rehab Care

If you or someone you care deeply about requires counseling or inpatient rehab for drug or alcohol misuse, don’t let finances get in your way. 10 Acre Ranch men’s addiction rehab is one of best investments you will ever make—and one that delivers excellent returns in the form of restored health, relationships, and career opportunity.

Our team of admissions specialists works directly with your insurance company to maximize recovery benefits and advocate for you each step of the way. To learn more about how you can begin CA addiction treatment at 10 Acre Ranch, call our CA men’s rehab specialists: 877.228.4679.

The Link Between Social Anxiety & Substance Abuse

photo of a sad woman with social anxiety issue using mobile phone

Social anxiety disorder is a condition marked by high levels of apprehension in social situations. Some men facing this condition cope with it by withdrawing, but others turn to drugs or alcohol to manage their symptoms.

While consuming alcohol or using drugs may deliver a temporary degree of relief to those suffering from social anxiety, a chemical dependency reinforces the problem over the long haul. Habitual misuse of alcohol, street drugs, or prescription drugs has been shown to contribute to psychiatric symptoms like anxiety, creating a vicious cycle that may lead to long-term substance misuse and dependency.

Statistics published by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America suggest that up to seven percent of the American adult population struggles with symptoms consistent with social anxiety disorder. Of those people, an estimated 20 percent also suffer from alcohol or drug dependence.

Healthy Long-Term Solutions at 10 Acre Ranch Rehab

Thorough screening and accurate diagnosis are keys to addressing the root causes and underlying problems of social anxiety-related substance abuse. The counselors at 10 Acre Ranch provide dual-diagnosis treatment that addresses an individual’s substance abuse history and co-occurring anxiety through a customized recovery plan.

We are among the few CA men’s addiction treatment facilities that have the resources and expertise to effectively treat these dual-diagnosis clients. Our integrated programs help recovering individuals pursue sobriety while taking control of underlying psychiatric disorders through the application of simultaneous treatment models.

Dual-diagnosis cases require an evaluation that includes an understanding of the client’s mental health and substance use histories. If you or someone you love is affected by co-occurring social anxiety and substance misuse issues, we invite you to contact one of our caring staff members for information about getting help through group therapy, individual therapy, and disease education.