The Warning Signs of Relapse

photo of a man who can't sleep because he's starting to have a relapse

At 10 Acre Ranch, we know that recovery is far from a straight path – with lots of ups and downs and successes and disappointments. This is why throughout every phase of our rehab, we give our male clients the tools to understand and prevent a return to drug or alcohol abuse.

The first step: Having an awareness of the emotional triggers that often signal impending relapse. Here are a few common signs:

  • You’re feeling negative or hopeless. If you have a growing feeling of a heavy weight on your shoulders, or if everyday tasks become burdensome, you may be in danger of relapse.
  • You’re easily angered: When small things start to set you off, it’s a warning sign that shouldn’t be ignored. Another signal: You’re getting into more arguments with friends, family members and even co-workers.
  • You’re becoming complacent: Being confident in your recovery is great, but overconfidence that leads to neglected recovery tasks or reckless behavior is a telltale sign of impending relapse.
  • You’re more stressed: We all have worries – and some days are easier than others when it comes to managing anxiety. However, if you find yourself at a breaking point – and it’s negatively impacting your relationships, career and daily tasks – you need to seek help.
  • You’re becoming isolated: Isolation is a slippery slope into relapse. On the other hand, surrounding yourself with supportive, sober people will help reinforce your recovery.

Relapse Prevention at 10 Acre
Our clients participate in groups in order to learn from and support one another as they develop individualized post-treatment plans. In some cases, private therapy sessions may also be needed to delve into relapse motivation, addiction history and coexisting diagnoses. To learn more about our social treatment model and relapse prevention program, call today: 877-228-4679.

The Role of Empathy in Your Recovery

photo of two women comforting each other showing empathy

Do you often find yourself struggling to relate to and connect emotionally with others? If so, you’re not alone. A slew of research links a lack of empathy to addiction. Active addiction makes it hard to see beyond your own needs or beyond the next “fix.” Those struggling with substance use disorder often lack the capacity to tune into the emotions and behaviors of others.

Empathy and empathetic listening is vital for lasting recovery from drug or alcohol abuse, however. This is partly because when a person has empathy, he or she will consider another person’s needs before making any decisions. Plus, empathy can help you feel less isolated. When you relate to how other people feel, you are more likely to connect. For example, have you ever told someone, “I can completely relate to that!” How did it feel? Probably pretty good and you likely bonded with that person.

Other ways empathy can help you along your path toward sobriety include:

  • Better ability to connect with others
  • Improved relationships
  • Enhanced communication
  • Increased positivity
  • Reduced feelings of bigotry, racism, sexism and other types of intolerance
  • Less self-absorption
  • More open-mindedness

How We Foster Empathy
At 10 Acre Ranch, we’ll help you or someone you love learn empathy as part of the recovery process. During our 12-step group times as well as our interpersonal didactic groups, our male residents are taught valuable skills to grow their empathy and begin to heal emotionally. These include the ability to:

  • Listen constructively rather than defensively
  • Be honest
  • Show compassion and understanding
  • Be vulnerable
  • Develop new friendships

Reach Out to 10 Acre Ranch
It’s never too late to learn how to become a more empathetic person. Our counselors and credentialed team members encourage residents to repair family relationships, enjoy fellowship with peers and construct a support network they can rely on throughout addiction treatment. To learn more, call us today: 877-228-4679.

4 Tips for Setting Your Greatest Goals

photo of a man creating a list of his goals in life

At 10 Acre Ranch, our self-realization therapy helps residents love themselves again and embrace their gifts, talents and skills. And an important part of this is learning to develop meaningful and purposeful life goals. After all, you only have one life and you deserve to plan for the best possible one.

Here are some smart goal-setting steps to get you started:

Make your goals yours. Your goals should be yours and yours alone – not the goals of your spouse or friend. Start by asking yourself: “What’s really important to me?”

Be specific. It’s best to avoid any vague generalizations. Consider using the popular goal-setting strategy called “SMART,” which stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely or Time-sensitive. For example, a SMART Goal might be to walk one mile, every day, for five days a week, starting on Monday morning.

Make your goals well-balanced. At 10 Acre Ranch, we believe that there is boundless joy beyond drugs and/or alcohol abuse. To this end, make sure that your goals include fun, healthy recreation as well as some time to relax and enjoy your closest friends and family members.

Be sure to share your goals. You don’t have to reveal your goals to everyone you meet, but confiding in a family member or friend will give you extra support and help hold you accountable.

A few more questions to keep in mind while goal setting, include:

  • What do I want to do in life?
  • Where do I want to go?
  • What type of contributions do I want to make to society?
  • What new things do I want to learn?
  • What type of people do I want to meet?
  • Who do I want to spend my time with?
  • How much money do I want to save?
  • What will I do for fun?
  • What will I do to stay healthy and sober?

Realize Your Full Potential
At 10 Acre Ranch drug and alcohol recovery facility, our addiction treatment programs incorporate self-realization therapy to help residents replace destructive patterns with healthy ones. Our team helps residents view themselves as whole, worthwhile people with unlimited capabilities. To learn more, call today: 877-228-4679.

3 Signs You’re Eating Too Much Sugar

photo of sugar cubes on pink background

Did you know that the average American consumes nearly 22 teaspoons of sugar per day?

According to the guidelines by the World Health Organization, Americans should limit sugar to no more than 10 percent of daily calories or no more than 12 teaspoons a day on a 2,000-calorie daily diet.

Controlling your sugar intake is important for everyone, but it’s especially crucial for people in recovery. Research has linked high levels of sugar consumption to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Eating too many processed, sugary foods can also cause erratic energy levels and may even trigger a sugar addiction.

Slashing sugar isn’t always easy, however. Sugar is sneaky — you’ll even find it in so-called “healthy” foods like soup, yogurt or cereal. You best bet is to read those food labels and listen to your body.

Here are some telltale warning signs to watch out for:

  • You begin to breakout more often: A high-sugar diet can wreak havoc on your complexion. This is because sugar causes insulin levels to spike, leading to inflammation throughout the body.
  • You are battling with fatigue: You’ve likely experienced sudden fatigue, headache or irritability after eating, say, a candy bar and soda or even a bagel with jelly. High levels of sugar flood the blood and create sudden spikes and drops in blood sugar levels.
  • You are feeling depressed: Studies show that people who eat high levels of sugar have a higher risk of depression. Sugary foods can cause unstable blood sugar, which leads to mood swings, anxiety and depression.

Rehab Your Diet at 10 Acre Ranch
During rehabilitation, male clients are urged to avoid sugar, caffeine, convenience foods and empty-calorie foods. We emphasize the importance of healthy eating as part of a radical lifestyle change. To learn more about our nutritional therapy program, call us today: 877-228-4679.