Oops! I had a Little (Big) SLIP!

Unfortunately, slips happen, right?

Often, however, slips don't just passively "happen". Most often slips "happen" because of something that we have actively done or not done. The best addiction treatment centers will tell you that sobriety has to become a lifestyle. It has to be the main priority in your life. If it isn't, you are on your way to a "SLIP".

S = Sobriety
L = Loses
I = Its
P = Priority

Once Sobriety Loses Its Priority, your "slip" is right around the corner. Drug rehab, alcohol rehab and addiction treatment trains you how to make sobriety a priority in your life. It teaches you how to transform your life and your thinking. If sobriety becomes interwoven in the very fabric of your being, it will always be a priority for you. Then, you won't have to go through those little (big) SLIPS.

The Addiction Cure

No one has the "cure" for addiction, even though some claim that they do. Let's be realistic. If there were a cure for addiction, we would no longer see it in our society. This is far from the truth.

The reality is that addiction recovery requires a lot of work and focus. That is as close to a cure as we can get. It is very possible, with the right treatment program and focus on your part, to have a sustained recovery from addiction. Hopefully, forever. But it requires an ongoing effort.

Seeking the best addiction recovery program is the other part of the equation. The best drug rehab or alcohol rehab can put you on the path of recovery and give you a road map. Once the map to recovery is laid out, your consistent efforts and passion to remain in recovery are what will allow you to prevail over addiction.

Oahu Drug Rehabilitation

There is a choice for people from the State of Hawaii who want to stay in the islands for holistic, private addiction treatment, including drugs and alcohol. Several years ago, the people of Hawaii had to turn to the mainland if they wanted private, quality help for alcoholics, drug rehab, or treatment for addiction of all types. This is no longer true. We have one of the best drug and alcohol rehabs in the entire country, located right here in our home state!

Give our HelpLine a call, today: 866-478-9898. We will help you get the help that you need.

A California Drug Rehab Alternative

California is famous for many things, including the Malibu-style drug rehabs and alcohol rehabs. Some are good, some are not so good. If you are looking for an alternative to the California rehabs, consider this: there is a drug, alcohol and addiction treatment program located in one of the most beautiful places on earth: beachfront Hawaii.

Not only is this program in Hawaii, it is one of the best drug and alcohol rehabs in the country. With a holistic, integrated treatment philosophy, Paradise Recovery offers an addiction treatment program that is highly private and individualized.

Hawaii has always been known as a spiritual, healing place. Experience the healing of addiction first-hand. Give us a call on our toll-free HelpLine. We can help.

Calming the Waters: The importance of a stable mood in addiction recovery

Have you ever been on a small boat away from shore during a storm? The tides and strength of the ocean is overwhelming and scary. You know there is a force much stronger than you and the boat. You're unsure if you'll be able to manage the boat into safety. Sometimes dealing with emotional instability can feel very similar.

Many people who suffer with mood disorders such as: major depression, anxiety, mania, bi-polar illness, severe irritability, etc. often will describe a life that is not their own. They feel hopeless and helpless in their efforts to bring control and calm into their chaotic and painful emotional worlds. Often, women and men dealing with strong emotional pulls and tugs will try alcohol, drugs, sex and other forms of addition to suppress or alter the emotional state that is causing them stress and discomfort.

When treating an alcohol or drug addiction, a major task of the treatment team is to treat the mood disorder from many different perspectives and disciplines. Often a person needs: a psychiatric evaluation, psychological testing, dietary assessment, physical fitness evaluation, family and spiritual histories. Some of the more effective treatments are: medication, diet changes, exercise, meditation practice and much more. It takes your full attention to manage and change a mood disorder that is complicated by an addiction issue.

Without a stable mood for any significant period of time, it makes recovery almost impossible! The cognitive and learned behaviors associated with the mood issue often makes sobriety a less effective option. The alcohol and/or drugs will be immediately gratifying and will lure you into thinking it is helping you with your problem.

Read the weather reports and know your nautical mapping before you go on your next boating trip! Making significant and conscious transformations are required to attend to these life-threatening illnesses.

If you or someone you love is suffering from a mood disorder and addiction, please call us today on our 24-Hour HelpLine at (866) 478-9898 and speak with one of our trained recovery counselors.

Recuperatio Primoris,
Dr. Bill

"After half a century in psychiatric practice, I know without a doubt that the source of addiction is spiritual deficiency. Irrespective of whether we are religious or atheist, all human beings are spiritual by nature and spirituality is the cornerstone of our recovery.” Abraham Twerski, M.D.

The Addicted Brain: Breaking free and training your Brain to Coherence and Recovery

We know from recent nuclear medical technology, that addiction clearly changes the brain and is often resistent to reverse. PET Scans, FMRIs, Neuro- and Biofeedback have shown how the brain responds to toxic substances, or even "toxic", addictive behavioral patterns in our personalities.

When you choose a high quality rehab today, you need to ask them if they pay attention to any diagnositc interventions that offer detailed evidence as to how your particular brain may have been responding to your addiction(s). After a thorough assessment, the clinician usually begins a series of sessions that attempt to train the brain away from cravings and towards more coherence and increased functionality in the key centers of your brain.

Clients at Paradise Recovery have testified to the efficacy of the treatments. It not only identifies areas that may be under-functioning, but also assists with higher levels of performance, which many of our clients desire in their high performing jobs and career choices.

The brain’s reward system (Harvard Medical School Newsletter)

Addictive drugs provide a shortcut to the brain’s reward system by flooding the nucleus accumbens with dopamine (the neurotransmitter focusing on pleasure). The hippocampus lays down memories of this rapid sense of satisfaction, and the amygdala creates a conditioned response to certain stimuli. Stressors or something associated with substance use can trip the mental machinery of relapse.

Without the substance, you can see how detox and treatment needs to begin to reward the brain with non-toxic substances, and practice healthy ways to affect pleasure and manage pain without drugs, alcohol or other self-destructive, mood altering substances and behaviors.

If you or someone you know is addicted to a substance or behavior, you should call our 24- Hour HelpLine at (866) 478-9898 today! We have a trained recovery counselor waiting to assist you and your loved ones.

Recuperatio Primoris! (Recovery above all else)

Dr. Bill

Fight or Flight: Common Responses to Addiction Recovery

When making a decision about seeking treatment for an alcohol or drug addiction, often there's a primal response to either confront the situation or flee and never stop running. We call this the fight-or-flight response. Animals clearly react to acute stress in one of two ways: they will attack (confront), or they will flee (flight) and take shelter in a safe place. This response is an automated response that goes back to pre-historic behavior to protect oneself against lions and tigers on the prowl!

As humans, we too, react in similar ways when we are confronted with stress. Even though this response is more physiological, it also has psychological and emotional consequences.

Often, the "tiger" we're either attacking or avoiding is inside our minds. Whether it be a childhood learned response, or supported by parents and loved ones, your response to stress is significant and requires attention. Especially, if your response is creating problems in your life!

Addiction is often a response to stress and chaos in our lives. Ironically, we may think that alcohol, drug, sex or gambling are ways to reduce stress, but you just have to ask millions of people in recovery...it isn't! The illusion is that when I am high and have adjusted my mood, then I'm in control and all is well in the world. Sorry to burst your bubble, but when you think you have control, while addicted to a substance or a process, then that is when you are precisely "out of control" and most likely "out of your mind!"

Turning to trusted friends, loved ones and letting them know of your stress and permitting them to support you and maybe even "lighten" the load, would be a MUCH better way to cope with stress.

If you or a loved one is seeking help for addiction treatment, please call our 24-Hour HelpLine at (866) 478-9898 today!

Recuperatio Primoris, (Recovery above all else!)
Dr. Bill

Does Rehab have to be painful? A New Generation of Drug Rehab

The treatment philosophy is important when choosing an alcohol/drug rehab. There appears to be a lingering bias from families, mental health professionals, family physicians, etc. that checking into an alcohol and drug rehab needs to be a painful and demoralizing experience. Lets talk about what NEEDS to happen in rehab, some of which may be painful, but the program should not take a sadistic, self-righteous approach towards treatment.

We often say, at Paradise Recovery, that we wouldn't treat cancer patients, persons with diabetes, or AIDS patients with this level of blame and medieval penitential attitude that some practitioners and treatment centers still advocate. I'll say, that many individuals who feel that the addict has to "hurt" before they can bask in the light of a clean and sober life, often experienced this type of rehab themselves, and want to "share the wealth".

What needs to happen in rehab is the following:

1) Disclose - be able to speak about your life as an alcoholic or addict. Particularly, how your abuse of substances, sex, gambling, etc. has increased chaos in your life and the life of loved ones around you.

2) Detach - be able to detach from the chaos and "calm and stay" with yourself in this process of self-discovery and transformation.

3) Deliver - be committed to a life of recovery and use your own awareness of yourself to make the daily decision to stop the chaos and insanity and move towards health and rejuvenation!

This is what you need in alcohol and drug treatment...the basics! We, at Paradise Recovery do not advocate a medieval, penitential, self-righteous approach. That just makes addicts either angry, or converts them to become self-absorbed and self-righteous clean and sober persons. THIS IS NOT RECOVERY!

Recovery humbly discloses, detaches and delivers! If you, or a loved one needs professional, caring private rehab services call our 24-Hour HelpLine at (866) 478-9898 for more information and admission details.

Recuperatio Primoris! (Recovery above all else!)

Dr. Bill Heran

Individualized Treatment is Key in Drug Rehab

The most recent studies show that individualized treatment is the cornerstone to successful rehab from drugs or alcohol. The best drug rehabs and best alcohol rehabs offer individualized care that is balanced with the other therapeutic modalities.

Let's talk about that balance a little bit. What I mean here is that individual therapy is one of the major components to a successful recovery. Studies also show that group therapy is a very important component when it comes to recovery. What we have then is a need to balance group and individual work. Individual work focuses on your specific core issues that have brought you to this point. There are certain warning signs and triggers that are specific to you and your risk of relapse. There are family dynamics that are special to you and no one else. These issues and more are all addressed in the individual and family therapy process.

On the other hand, addiction is a disease that is not unique. There are many aspects of the disease that addicts all have in common and all must face. Many of these issues are best addressed in group therapy sessions. There is a certain support and knowledge that comes from being involved in group work that can not be gotten from individual therapy alone.

When choosing a drug rehab, alcohol rehab, or addiction rehab center make sure that there is a balance of the right things that you are going to need in order to get on the road of a sustained recovery.

Too Young For Recovery?

There are those out there who feel that recovery can only really happen at or after a certain age. The concept is vaguely attached to the idea that the alcoholic/addict must hit absolute bottom for recovery to begin. In other words, to get sober, the alcoholic/addict must experience the loss of everything s/he holds dear or experience life threatening physical challenges in order to get it; "it" being the motivation to change their behavior and thinking, the very fabric of who they are.

It can be this kind of thinking that occasionally dissuades the young person from seeking effective alcohol or drug treatment. However, make no mistake--recovery can be obtained and maintained at any age. Moreover, not every addict has to lose everything in order for the process of recovery to begin. Rock bottom can look different for different people. Perhaps it is the loss of a job; maybe it takes the form of a divorce; to some it might be the estrangement of children.

But to others, rock bottom may be peer disapproval. Or getting arrested for underage drinking. Or getting into a single fight at a concert.

More and more, younger and younger people are beginning at earlier ages to recognize the ways in which alcohol and drugs may be eroding the quality of their lives. And more and more of them are making the choice (not being forced) to do something about it. Age is no longer any kind of a deciding factor. Nor is the extent to which the person has experienced loss. What seems to matter is a willingness to look at pattern of use and it's effect on one's life and decide that change is possible. Regardless of age

Too young for recovery? Never--absolutely not.

Gay Rehab: A Few Considerations

There is an active discussion about whether an all gay rehab is better suited for a gay client, or a gay-friendly rehab. Well, it's an interesting discussion, especially since both discussions result in a person getting treatment. I would be less interested in a discussion of whether a gay person should go to rehab or not! Ugh!

The answer is, obviously, it depends on the client. Many quality addiction treatment programs provide an affirming environment and make efforts to match the client with therapists who are sensitive to GLBT issues and concerns while in treatment. However, what they cannot provide is a homogeneous environment and a stated mission that their program treats GLBT and its particular issues related to homophobia, heterosexism and affirmation needs.

The gay individual needs to look at their life and what they may need from a program. Sometimes, the need for a homogeneous group in the gay rehab is greater than blending in with a heterogeneous (gay, bi, and straight) treatment group.

Be aware that some drug rehabs are not gay-affirming and you should check this out before agreeing to admit to their program. It could be a disaster!

Above all, each person needs a safe, validating, at times challenging environment to start the all important journey towards recovery.

Recuperatio Primoris!

Celebrity Rehab

We all see the news about the number of celebrities who reportedly are entering rehab. The general public looks on with amazement. There has even been a television show recently that has taken a real-life look at celebrities in rehab.

I have seen that show. Even though the people in the show are celebrities, I must say, they have the same issues and problems in drug rehab as everyone else does. Celebrities are no different than anyone else when it comes to addiction.

Even though there is media sensation around celebrities entering rehab, I must say that addiction is a disease that spares no one. No matter who you are. And no one has an easy battle with the disease. Again, it doesn't matter who you are, it is a difficult battle. But it is a battle not to be undertaken alone. There is help out there. Most of the best drug rehabs and alcohol rehabs are located right here in the U.S.

I am thankful for much of the news around celebrities entering rehab. It highlights the disease of addiction and some of the addiction treatment programs that are out there. It also highlights what happens when you are not fully invested in your own treatment: you come back to rehab! Well, hopefully you come back.... with a renewed sense of getting down to serious business and beating the disease.

Addiction Treatment and Children: The Problem of Cheese

Another newly evolving trend in abusable substances includes the introduction of what is called "cheese." It derives its name from its look, given that it resembles grated Parmesan cheese--the type that is shaken over servings of spaghetti and meat sauce. Cheese is made up of low grade heroin mixed with ground up Tylenol PM. It has been recently discovered in parts of Texas where it is ingested by snorting.

Sadly, many of the users are children. Hospitals in parts of South Texas have reported numerous youth in their teens admitted to drug treatment centers for detoxification. And there has recently been reported an addict at the age of nine. Not yet an epidemic, clearly, but frightening nonetheless. At this young an age, state of the art treatment does not yet exist.

The field of substance abuse treatment has some sense of how to go about treating the adult alcoholic/addict. We have an awareness that a combination of individual therapy, group therapy, and recovery based exercises along with a thorough understanding of the 12 steps of Alcoholic or Narcotics Anonymous can lead to a fulfilling lifetime of abstinence and recovery from addictive substances and behaviors. But we don't know if this applies to children. We may be at an unfortunate juncture where our ability to treat substance dependence has fallen behind. Regardless, nine year old addicts are a scary prospect.

Beating Up The Addict

It is the nature of addiction treatment that the addict must be forced to confront his or her true self in order to crack through the shell of denial and begin a path of recovery. Early in many addiction treatment centers, clients are asked to share their autobiographies, and to express the litany of behaviors that led them to seek (or be forced into) drug rehab. This sharing often takes place in a group format. Once the client has completed a review of his life and addiction, the rest of the group is allowed to provide feedback.

This is not a pleasant process. It often looks not unlike a piece of meat being dragged through a tiger's den. It doesn't look nice to an outside observer; and it never feels good to the alcoholic/addict, the piece of meat. It's uncertain if the entire process is effective, if it works.

Having reviewed his or her history, the addict receives feedback in front of others that generally runs along these lines:

"Given what you just told us, you're a pretty worthless individual."

"Your family must be totally disgusted with you. I know I am."

"You're wasting your entire life. Pathetic."

Positive and supportive affirmations aren't generally forthcoming. And unsurprisingly, the alcoholic/addict receiving the feedback in the early days of drug rehab is probably not hearing anything new.

Cutting edge addiction treatment has led to a bit of a paradigm shift in recent years. It's not a movement to coddle the addict, quite the opposite. A realistic appraisal of the events and circumstances that led to and maintained an addictive lifestyle can develop insight and potentially insulate against relapse. But the manner in which this process occurs can make or break the early phase of recovery.

Most clients come to Paradise Recovery already beaten down, knowing that they are in severe need of addiction treatment. We work to move them along the stages of change rapidly and with potency. Sobriety and sustained recovery can be achieved and without the public flogging and humiliation and bruising. Addiction is painful by itself, maybe it's time to reconsider whether addiction treatment has to be.

The Disease that says it's Not a Disease

One of the most curious phenomena of people in need of alcohol or drug rehabilitation is the defense of denial. Denial serves to prevent the sufferer from fully comprehending the extent to which their alcoholism or drug dependence is affecting their physical health, their relationships, their employment, their entire lives. Despite lives that are falling apart or in disrepair, alcoholics and drug abusers are notorious at their ability to turn a blind eye to reality, to what is actually happening. They suffer from a disease that can actually say to them, "You're not really sick. This is all to be expected. You don't need addiction treatment." Alcoholics and drug addicts are uniquely able to trick themselves into thinking they don't need addiction treatment or drug rehabilitation. Despite the deadly consequences of this thinking. When people are diagnosed with cancer, they often will actively seek to find an appropriate treatment. The light goes on quickly and they jump into pursuit of saving their own lives.

Not so with alcohol rehab and drug rehab. Alcoholics and addicts often do the exact opposite--they go to great ends to avoid treatment, to avoid taking the medicine that will save their lives.

The problem is very real. The need for treatment quite obvious. Curious that the patient is the last to recognize this.

Is drug addiction a choice?

Addiction is a disease. Just like hypertension or diabetes is a disease. Did you make a choice to be hypertensive? How about a choice to be diabetic? Of course not! Given the choice, obviously no one would choose to have diabetes, high blood pressure or addiction.

By the same token, can you choose to no longer have the disease? No on that count as well... the choice we have is to treat the disease. With high blood pressure and diabetes, we choose to get education, information, see a doctor and a nutritionist. The doctor and nutritionist follows our case as we move through the recommended course of treatment. Periodically, the doctor checks our blood pressure or sugar level to see if the treatments are working. Medication may need to be added to get the disease under control. Ideally, a treatment plan is worked out that provides a management solution to the disease without the use of medication on a long-term basis.

Addiction is no different. As a disease, it requires treatment. You can't simply decide that you no longer suffer from addiction. Treatment of addiction (just like diabetes or hypertension) can be a life-saving action. Notice the word "action". Treatment implies action. You must be the first one to act to save your life. No one can make the choice for you to accept addiction treatment. You can be sent to treatment against your will in some circumstances, but accepting the addiction treatment and taking it to heart is altogether different.

Make the decision to save your own life! Call a top addiction treatment program today to start your path to recovery.

Getting sober in Hawaii

There is no better place to get sober. Hawaii has an intangible spiritual and healing environment that is difficult to describe. You feel it when you get here. I don't know if it is the blue Pacific waters, the lush green mountains, or the purest air and natural water in the world. Something about these Islands is very special. Maybe it's the people. Hawaii is known for its mature recovery community. There are a lot of people active in recovery here in the Islands. They take their recovery to heart and are great people to help you along the way.

No other place on earth can compare with the beauty, spirit and power of healing that Hawaii has to offer. That's why this is the best place on earth to have a drug rehab center. Addiction treatment is a difficult process that is made so much easier when the forces of nature are behind you. Not to mention a lot of beautiful people who are on your side.

Enjoy Paradise.

Making treatment your own!

Entering an addiction rehab center is, well, a sobering experience! You will experience a number of emotions as you go through the experience. It is not easy. But it can be life-saving!

Drug rehab or alcohol rehab is a highly personal experience. At least it should be. There are many elements that brought you down the road that you are on. Those elements, some healthy, some not, are uniquely your own. That's why the treatment you should receive is going to be individualized according to your individual needs.

Keep in mind, you are unique. The disease of addiction, however, is not unique. The treatment, therefore, is a delicate balance between treating the non-unique disease with the unique issues that you brought with you. You will not be asked to just "go through the motions" of treatment. You will not be a passive participant in your own treatment. You are going to be an active participant in making the addiction treatment experience your own. This will require a lot of hard work on your part, but with the proper guidance, it will all be very much worth it.

Drug Rehab Fights

We are not talking about shouting matches or fist fights here... When you enter drug rehab, you are making a commitment to put up a fight. A fight against the disease of addiction. It is going to be a life or death battle. Addiction can be overwhelming. Therefore, the fight against addiction needs to be even more overwhelming.

What kind of fighting will you be doing when you enter a treatment program? That depends on the individual. Sometimes it is a fight to focus on one's own self. Let's face it; it's not usually a fun process to focus on yourself. It is much easier to look at others and their faults. Then there's the fight of "do I really need to be here?" There's the fight of craving. The fight of feeling like you don't deserve to get better. I mean, you've done so much damage already, right? There's the denial.... oh, the denial.... You see, addiction is a very, very clever disease. It plays all sorts of mind games. The mind games all revolve around trying anything and everything possible to get you to not focus on yourself, get you out of treatment, blame others, pity yourself, make excuses, etc, etc, etc!! This is the fight that is going to take place as soon as you enter treatment.

Remember, this fight is normal. Everyone goes through this battle. Just persevere through it. Don't fall for the clever ways that addiction will try to de-rail your recovery (there will be many). Just remember, recovery above all else!

John Neuhaus, M.D.