A Guaranteed Cure for Hangovers

I know you have searched for a remedy for your current hangover. A headache, disorientation, lethargy, etc. after some binge drinking the night before. I am not going to recommend some of the "short cuts" to getting through your hangover...something that you probably want at this time.

What I am recommending is a guaranteed way to cure any hangover - the answer is RECOVERY! Once you begin to use your own God given wisdom and realize that your life is out of control with the alcoholic binge, and you need help, then you are on your way to your hangover cure!

Medically, "veisalgia" (medical term for a hangover)there are many theories about what a hangover is and how it affects you. It is commonly agreed upon that is has something to do with your liver's response to a toxic or close to toxic levels of alcohol. Also, there is almost always dehydration and headache. All affects from over consumption of alcohol.

If you, or someone you love is struggling with the effects of alcohol in your body and more especially in your life, then please call us today at (866)478-9898 and speak to one of our recovery counselors for treatment options.

Recuperatio Primoris! (Recovery above all else)

Dr. Bill Heran

Private Rehab: The 10 Commandments

When choosing a rehab for your recovery services, you want to know what is the standard, so you can make your choice with an informed perspective. The following are a list of 10 key components that should be present in a quality rehab experience:

#1 Thou shalt be engaging with each potential client.
The quality rehab puts resources and high level staff up front in their call center. Each caller is a potential client. A client of either your rehab, or another rehab. We make sure you get the help you need. Hopefully with Paradise Recovery. If not, then with another quality facility.

#2 Thou shalt be respectful, yet frank with the client.
It is the responsibility of the rehab to inform you what they've found what works! You are not an expert in addiction recovery. They are. However, the staff should have a respectful and professional manner. For many clients it is a matter of life or death, so the work is critical. The message needs to be clear and consistent. Our message is: "Recuperatio Primoris (Recovery above all else)!"

#3 Thou shalt not be over accommodating.
When choosing a private rehab primarily whether the facility has a "private flat screen television" or "total use of your cell phone" or "days for shopping sprees" works against you and a sustainable recovery. All these things have NOTHING to do with your recovery. The quality rehabs know what their mission is: To help you transform from an addicted person to a person in recovery. They do this by providing you with a structured, practice-based environment with consistency. You can watch all the television shows, cell phone conversations and shopping sprees after you leave your treatment experience.

#4 Thou shalt offer quality individual recovery-focused psychotherapy.
Most addicts are dealing with not only the substance addiction, but also an emotional instability or even a major mental illness. Therefore, individual therapy is crucial to discover the family or origin issues, childhood traumas, personal belief systems, practice expression of feelings/emotions.

#5 Thou shalt not advertise non-scientific rates of success..
Some facilities are bold enough to say they have "the cure" of addiction. This is just not true. Be careful not to be sold a twenty-first century "hair growing tonic". Scientifically, there is NO cure for addiction. In fact, relapse is often inevitable, but the difference is how you manage the relapse makes all the difference.

#6 Thou shalt offer traditional and complimentary medical interventions.
Many facilities accept you for admission during the detox phase of recovery. It is critical that you are care for by medical professionals that monitor and intervene with the best supports possible to make your detox as comfortable as possible. Working with a registered dietican during this phase of your treatment is critical to provide the necessary vitamins and nurtrients needed to get you through the detox.

#7 Thou shalt not cater to laziness and sloth during the first ninety days of treatment.
Your primary treatment program (rehab) should be a rigorous, scheduled program filled with individual, group, family and community groups that attempt to transform you away from addiction and self-desctruction to a life of healthy, right ordered living. Choosing a program that permits you to be lazy and not work their program is not doing you any good. They're just taking your money.

#8 Thou shalt use the 12-Steps as a foundation and offer alternatives to those needing another path towards recovery.
It has been proven time and time again that the 12-Steps and 12-Traditions of AA have worked for millions of women and men for over 50 years. Of course, some people, for ligitimate reasons, do not wish to engage in the 12-Steps. However, a program needs to assess WHY the person is not willing to engage in a process that has proven to work. If they insist, then other options are open to them: Christian-based/Scripture recovery, Intensive therapies (individual, group and family) along with acupuncture, neurofeedback, EMDR, etc.

#9 Thou shalt work on an optimal aftercare and monitoring program after discharge from the program.
It has been said, that a program is only as good as its aftercare approach. A quality program understands they cannot sustain your recovery without establishing the scaffolding needed for you to rest upon during moments of relapse. Monitoring is seens as an optimal way for an individual to stay clean and sober after they complete at least 60 days of primary treatment and have a sponsor to call in difficult times.

#10 Thou shalt have follow-up contact with the client after they complete the program.
The therapist making contact with you after you leave the program is an important offering. You have done good work with this therapist and hopefully, if you completed the program, have established a healthy relationship (maybe for the first time in your life) with someone. That they call you reguarly for up to one year, is critical in maintaining that trust and hopefully a sustained recovery from alcohol, drugs or whatvever your addiction may have been.

These commandments are designed to assist you when choosing your private rehab. Paradise Recovery obeys all the above commandments and subscribes to best-practice principles with each and every client that comes through our beachfront home in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Call us today and speak with one of our recovery counselors at (866) 478-9898 24-hours a day.
Recuperratio Primoris!

Hawaiian Island Treatment: An Integrative Recovery Experience

The Hawaiian Islands: Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and the Big Island of Hawaii are a series of Pacific islands that are blessed with ideal weather and some of the newest earth on this planet. Millions of residents and tourists have benefited from our "aina", or "the land". Some say when you visit Hawaii and arrive home you "want to be a better person!" Oahu offers an experience of serenity, which is desperately needed in early recovery from alcohol and drug addiction and dependence.

Paradise Recovery offers an integrative treatment experience. We integrate best practice traditional and complimentary addiction recovery medicine, spiritual enhancement, fitness and diet changes, positive psychology, acupuncture, breath work and Qi Gong practices. It's not enough to bare your soul in treatment. You need tools and practices that will replace and fill the proverbial "void" that most addicts and alcoholics speak of.

If you or someone you love is seeking a private, quality addiction recovery experience in Hawaii call our 24 Hour HelpLine at (866) 478-9898 today!

Recuperatio Primoris!

Dr. Bill Heran

"Physician, don't heal thyself" The impaired physician in treatment

In recent surveys, physicians are being asked about their colleagues and how they would respond if a physician they knew was addicted to alcohol or drugs and their judgment was impaired. Surprisingly, only 65% of the physicians responded said they would report a colleague to the state medical board or hospital administration.

No one wants to imagine that their physician's judgment may be impaired by drugs or alcohol. However, the disease of addiction cuts across all professions, ages, socio-economic classes, races, sexual identities and religious affiliations. Doctors have an advantage and a disadvantage, most people assume that their doctor is healthy and is not addicted to substances or processes. The socialization of physicians as "the elite" and their training experiences, do not lend itself to immediate acknowledgement of their disease and seeking help.

There are committees in each state medical boards that work with Doctors needing treatment and monitoring secondary to an addiction problem. A physician often is required by the board to seek treatment and begin a process of accountability. Their recovery is important not only for themselves, but for all the patients whose lives depend on their sound analytical skills and judgment. Of course, when you are in the throws of your addiction, most cognitive abilities are not performing well.

The physician needs to seek out a residential program that is both respectful to her or him and also provides the difficult challenge to get through the active phase of using and begin to practice recovery in a holistic and integrative manner. A physician should not be treated any differently than another addict, but their resistances and barriers may be different and may require certain therapeutic interventions to assist them in their early phase of recovery.

If you, or someone you know is struggling with addiction. Please call our 24-Hour HelpLine at (866) 478-9898 and speak with one of our recovery specialists.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Author Unknown

Recuperatio Primoris,

Bill Heran, PhD

The Importance of Place: Choosing the right Rehab

It's been quite a ride! Dealing with the personal, interpersonal, emotional and spiritual fall out of alcohol and/or drug addiction. There's been a lot of judgment, blaming, attacks, and loss!

Now, you need a place that provides you with both the right healing environment and treatment philosophy that fits your goals and provides you with the education and tools to move forward in your life without altering your mood with alcohol and drugs. When choosing a rehab you need to remember a few things.

1) Location. Not all rehabs have taken the time, effort and resources to make sure that your rehab experience is linked with locations in the world that are rejuvenating! Some feel that all rehabs should be on Skid Row. That addicts should suffer! Well, to be honest. There's been enough suffering had by the addict and their loved ones. Now it's time for healing, big time!

2) Positive Psychology. Make sure when you are shopping around for rehabs that you ask the admissions personnel about their treatment philosophy. This is critical. Their staff have been trained by people who have a certain bias, or philosophy. The program that focuses on resiliency, protective traits and development of character (Positive Psychology) seems to be best practice in private run rehabs. However, watch out for, what I call, "the Penitential Model" programs. The philosophy of these programs is to make you feel terrible before you feel better. It is kind of like the old Quaker tradition of incarceration...we called them Penitentiaries.

3) Holistic Approach. Alcohol and drugs attacks the whole person. As an addict, you have been totally focused on your addiction. Now, in rehab you need to totally focus on recovery and health! It is important that the rehab you choose offers a multi-disciplinary, traditional and non-traditional forms of healing. For example, in a holistic rehab your day may include: morning meditation, acupuncture, massage, group therapy, individual therapy, personal fitness session, nutritional meals and community AA/NA 12-Step meetings.

4)Aftercare and follow-up. It is critical that you continue your goals and life-changing strategies after you leave rehab. Choose a rehab that provides at least a comprehensive aftercare program and follow-up with your primary therapist from the rehab. Accountability and dedication to your recovery plan will ensure greater success and sustained recovery!

I hope this has been helpful. If you have any questions, please call our 24-Hour HelpLine at (866) 478-9898 and speak with one of our recovery counselors today!


Recuperatio Primoris,
Dr. Bill

"Sorrow looks down, Worry looks around, Faith looks up." Anonymous

Extreme vs. Restraint: The Path towards Addiction Recovery

I have often met people who say they are in recovery from alcohol, drug or any other type of addiction. Sometimes people in recovery go from being addicted to a substance or process (e.g. sex, work, love, etc.) to being addicted to recovery!

You've met them. They've SEEN THE LIGHT! They are apostles for the Gospel of clean and sober living. They have memorized the Big Book and carry the message like a zealous apostle. They may have the same intensity and desire as they had when they were using. True, being addicted to AA/NA meetings, strictly adhering to a clean and sober life will not kill you, but you may end up with very few friends and missing out on what it means to be in recovery in the first place. Are they truly in recovery? Have they truly transformed?

You don't have to be a "Meeting Nazi" to experience the transforming effects of recovery!Recovery usually occurs from the inside-out. We transform as individuals seeking to thrive and experiencing life...FULLY ALIVE!

Restraint is a much better virtue to practice than the extreme practices of an addict. The recovering addict needs to transform that extreme energy into a practice of questioning, examination and prudent decision-making. It takes a while to consistently make the right choices for yourself. Relapse is a too often element of this disease, but if you embrace recovery and prioritize your recovery "above all else", then you are more likely to have healthy and sober options when stressed, triggered or tempted to act in an "extreme" manner.

If you or anyone you love has an addiction problem, please call our 24-Hour HelpLine at (866) 478-9898 and speak with one of our recovery counselors.

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

There are limits to self-indulgence, none to restraint!
Mahatma Ghandi

The Benefits of an Exclusive Drug Rehab

There are numerous drug rehab centers out there. However not too many compare to Paradise Recovery. Offering the drug addict or alcoholic a private, serene atmosphere, we are only an eight bed treatment program. Being in an exclusive drug rehab, the alcoholic or drug addict need not worry about being mixed up in the crowd. We offer personalized, individual and group therapy, along with Acupuncture, Qi Gong, Personal Fitness Training, Yoga, Therapeutic Massage. Your meals are prepared fresh daily by our Executive Chef.

When privacy and individualized therapy are important factors to you or a loved ones recovery, we are it! Paradise Recovery. Please call our 24 hour help line at
1-866-478-9898.

Humility: A great virtue for alcoholics and addicts in treatment

We know from decades of successful recovery work that one key character trait that aids in recovery work, and without it hinders recovery success, is humility. Humility comes from the Latin root "humus" meaning earthy, or without airs. So, to be humble is to be "real".

Being humble requires shifting from a self-centered, addictive existence,to a more other-focused existence. For example, we limit phone calls in rehab precisely because our new clients will call family members and loved ones and harangue about themselves and why they should or should not (more often) be in rehab. They actually may attack and blame others. A humble response would be to consider what my behaviors may have done to affect my loved ones and commit to treatment, and follow the instructions of the rehab staff, since I know I am not an expert in recovery.

Humility is not easy. It is not an innate American trait. You just need to travel a bit and realize the reputation we Americans have throughout large portions of the planet. Often in our country, humble people are seen as weak, vulnerable and inactive. Regarding recovery, humility is the mortar that keeps the foundation alive and strong. It is by far, not an inactive, vulnerable position. Arrogance, pride, self-absorption is what we need to avoid as persons in recovery.

We need to fight the prideful, arrogance that often is associated with addiction and realize that this attitude is going to kill me!

If you, or a loved one needs help with their addiction, please contact us on our 24-Hour HelpLine (866) 478-9898.

The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have!
Norman Vincent Peale

Recuperatio Primoris! (Recovery above all else!)

Exclusive Drug Rehab and Personal Accountability

Sometimes people get the wrong idea about private or exclusive drug rehabs. They might think it is a spa or mini-vacation. Some people may think that personal accountability goes out the window as soon as they enter a private rehab. There may even be some drug rehabs that are very much like this.

In the best private rehabs, nothing could be further from the truth. The best private drug rehabs are those that take care of you but also expect personal accountability. You need to have personal accountability for yourself, your thoughts, and your actions in order to be successful in recovery. That accountability starts the moment you walk through the door in the best private rehabs. I didn't say that the surroundings are not nice. Or that the food is not great. I am saying that it is not easy. Recovery is a challenge. And personal accountability can be a challenge. You will have to work hard in rehab in order to be a participant in saving your own life. You will be personally accountable for your actions. Personal accountability can be as simple as needing to follow the house rules and as complicated as committing to attending meetings/therapy no matter what else is going on in your life. (Remember, "recovery above all else" is your new mantra).

Sometimes personal accountability feels like a real downer. It means accepting consequences for your actions. But it can also be a beautiful thing. Especially when it becomes the one thing that sustains a lasting recovery.

What makes private rehabs work?

The term "rehab" has become quite sexy in the past year. From the Spears to the Lohans, from most members of the Baldwin Family to dozens of trust fund babies across the country. We even have award-winning Amy Winehouse singing about rehabs! Rehab has become "cool".
Imagine not even ten years ago when the social stigma attached to rehabs, otherwise known as primary treatment were "low life" or "down and out" or "weak". Today, people from all segments of society are checking-in to rehabs with less of a stigma. Their families are hiring interventionists, in some cases forking out big bucks, and taking more of a total family approach to the disease of addiction, instead of merely blaming the alcoholic/addict of their flaws and infirmities.
Studies are showing that the 'ole 28-Day model is becoming a preferred treatment of the past. Today, we are seeing people staying in rehabs from 30 to 60 to 90+ days. They are extending their experience of "stopping to smell recovery" much longer than there alcoholic and addict predecessors. Why is that? Is it because there is a new way to treat alcoholics and drug addicts? Are alcoholics and addicts more patient than addicts in the past?
The private rehab experience ensures that the client will receive individualized care and begin to touch on the core issues that may be maintaining their drinking or using. I don't believe there's been independent studies that look at the outcomes of private rehabs vs. state operated rehabs, but I wouldn't be surprised that the outcomes would be similar.
The purpose of rehabs, in general, is to introduce the client to many tools, ways, or therapies that they may continue after their relatively brief stay in primary treatment. The rehab experience is sort of a retreat, a calming of the chaos, insanity that has affected their loved ones and families.
What makes rehab work? YOU! If you feel you may have an addiction of some kind, please contact a trusted friend or family member...someone who will not judge you, but support you in making a courageous move to get the help you need and want.


Recuperatio Primoris!


Aloha,

Dr. Bill Heran
Honolulu, Hawaii
March 14, 2008