Of course, having confidence and being mentally strong will undoubtedly help you maintain your sobriety. But that doesn’t mean that it will always be easy to find or tap into your inner strength.

These tips may help you find the courage and strength you need.

• Be patient and kind to yourself. Unfortunately, negative thinking can become yet another bad habit to break for many in recovery. With time, you can learn to turn negative chatter into positive thinking. Your first step: Remind yourself that recovery takes time and that there will be a lot of ups and downs and curves along the way.
• Practice positive thinking. Believe it or not, you do have control over how you choose to view situations. For example, if you wake up feeling defeated or guilty about not meeting a recovery goal, you can make a conscious choice to accept those feeling and then move forward with your recovery plans for the day.
• Avoid comparing yourself to others. Everyone’s journey toward recovery is different (and should be), so comparing your progress with the progress of your peer is counterproductive. Instead, focus on your own experiences, how far you’ve come and how much hope and good is ahead for you.
• Lean on your support system. If you find yourself feeling like you can’t do this or that you are a failure, you need to talk with your pastor or addiction counselor. These feeling are perfectly normal but can be a slippery slope into relapse if not addressed properly.

Finding Strength in Christ
You’ll find that strength comes easily and your willpower is seemingly fortified by the presence of the Lord in your recovery process, and we are here to ensure you find a facility that leads you down his path and into sobriety for the rest of your life. To learn more about our addiction services, call today: 877-310-9545.

More and more studies have linked good friends to good health, including a lower risk of anxiety and depression and, of course, loneliness. Friendships can be a powerful part of your long-term recovery plan. After all, the right people can help you through the ups and downs and curves as you embark on the road toward lasting sobriety.  

That said: Making friends isn’t always easy — and it can be even harder when you’re just getting comfortable with socializing sober. These steps can help ease the process:

• Start with a smile. A simple smile is a great ice breaker. After all, wouldn't you rather speak to someone who has a smile on their face rather than a frown. Take a deep breath and flash a winning smile.
• Put your fears aside: Whether you’re worried about saying something wrong or that the other person won’t like you, try to push those negative thoughts away. Instead, focus on your assets and the qualities that can make you a good friend.
• Take time to give back. Volunteering is a great way to meet like-minded folks who may very well become friends. It will also help make you more confident in yourself as you put yourself out there socially.
• Try a new hobby or social sport. Sign up for a yoga class, adult soccer league or local running group. This will help keep you busy, provide a great outlet for stress release and allow you to get to know others with similar interests.
• Put together a social event: Playing host by setting up a sober activity or get-together will help you feel more at ease so you can get to know people better and they can get to know you. Some ideas: a book club, a Bible study, a painting party, game night.
• Take it slow: Developing friendships can take time, so try to be patient. If you choose your friends carefully, you’ll have a lifelong support system.
• Remember that practice makes perfect: The more you make an effort to meet others and socialize, the easier it will become. And by socializing with others, both those in recovery and those who are not but understand your situation, you’ll continue to improve upon your social interactions without the crutch of drugs or alcohol.

Continual Growth at Christian Rehab
At Christian Rehab Network, we can help you explore your own recovery journey while learning to heal relationships and build a sober social network. If you are searching for help strengthening your relationship with Christ while overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol, call today: 877-310-9545.

You’ve likely heard that addiction is a family disease. And, along the same lines, recovery is a long, hard road for both you and your loved one with a substance use disorder. In honor of Mental Illness Awareness Week, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) created some articles for caregivers to help support and encourage family members and friends struggling with mental illness. Here, we take some of their best tips and talk about how they can help you on your loved one’s journey toward sobriety:

• Maintain your own mental health. This means eating right, sleeping, exercising and managing stress. The more effort you put into your own health, the more energy and encouragement you’ll be able to devote to your loved one.
• Learn about your loved one’s addiction. The more you know about addiction and its treatments, the more you’ll be able to be supportive and understanding as your loved one undergoes rehab. Along the same lines, don't be afraid to ask your loved one’s addiction counselor or therapist questions or for recommendations on where to go to learn more.
• Listen carefully. Simply listening is perhaps the best way to show your support. Your loved one is going through a tough time and may say some hurtful things. Do your best to recognize the emotions behind the words (anxiety, confusion, fear) rather than focusing on the words themselves, notes the NAMI.
• Resume "normal" activities and routines. While caring for your loved one is a big part of your life, it’s not everything. Do your best to return to your regular routine and don’t forget to make time for fun activities like watching a movie or going to the park.
• Find support. Outside support and encouragement is critical for everyone in the family, not only the person struggling with addiction. And face it: Stress is easier to handle when you regularly talk to people who understand your experience, notes the NAMI.

Healing Families at Christian Rehab
If you or someone you care about is caught in the bondage of drugs or alcoholism, Christian Rehab Network can help. We help families to find faith-based drug rehab programs based in Biblical truth. To learn more, call today: 877-310-9545.

Nature can play a pretty powerful role in your recovery – boosting your physical and mental health. For one, nature is a natural stress killer. Just think about how relaxed (in mind, body and spirit) you felt last time you spent an afternoon in the sunshine. Spending time in nature has been linked to lower heart rate, decreased blood pressure, better cholesterol and heightened immunity.

Plus, here are a few more benefits that can help your recovery:

You’ll have…

• Less anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. This is especially true if you add exercise to the mix. Bonus: The color green (think trees, grass, plants) may even help make exercise easier, according to research.
• Improved sleep. Crack those windows and let the fresh air help you fall (and stay) asleep.
• Reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Smell the flowers; the scent of many flowers has been study-proven to kick the body into relaxation mode.
• More positivity. A stroll through nature can help tame negative, obsessive thoughts, according to scientists.
• Improved social life. Why not ask a recovery peer to accompany you to the park or on a hike.

The Bible says that nature speaks to us of God’s character and His attributes. Spending time in nature gives us a chance to slow down and notice what it’s communicating.

Here are a few ways to enjoy the fall and head outside:

• Go for a stroll and admire the fall foliage.
• Take a long hike.
• Head to your local farmer’s market.
• Plan a picnic in the park.
• Sit under a tree and get lost in a book.
• Start your morning with outdoor motivation.
• Walk or jog outside each morning.

Your Spiritual Guidance
Many rehab services address the physical, mental, and emotional facets of your care, but we believe that spiritual guidance is just as critical. Integrating Bible-based truths into each of our behavioral health and addiction recovery programs, we will work with you to customize your behavioral health or dual-diagnosis plan. To learn more, call today: 877-310-9545.

Despite the many life-changing benefits of addiction treatment, many people view it negatively. For instance, you might see it as an embarrassing or unmentionable part of life.

This type of thinking can get in the way of your recovery, however. Remember, committing to rehab is a positive and healthy decision so you can achieve sobriety and regain control of your life.

Here are a few more reminders why you should never feel embarrassed about seeking help:

• You’re not alone. Millions of people are struggling with some form of drug or alcohol addiction. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence notes that one in every 12 adult Americans abuse alcohol or have a severe dependence. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 23.5 million Americans ages 12 and older need treatment for a substance use disorder – and yet only 11.2 percent receive proper treatment at a specialty facility.
• Addiction affects everyone. Addiction does not discriminate and can impact men and women, young and old, rich and poor, all races, all religions and all walks of life. While drug use is highest among 18 to 20 year olds, drug use is increasing among people in their 50s and 60s, according to a SAMHSA survey.
• Addiction is a chronic disease. Becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol is not a sign of weakness, nor is it a symptom of questionable morals. Prolonged use of addictive substances can change the structure of the brain, making it difficult to control impulses or focus on anything other than using drugs.
• Your genes are to blame. Genetics play a major role along with such environmental factors as family life, upbringing and peer influences. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, genetics accounts for 40% to 60% of your predisposition to addiction.
• Seeking help means you’re strong and smart. Overcoming a drug or alcohol addiction alone is nearly impossible. You should feel proud (not embarrassed) for taking a brave step to take back control of your health and get the help you need to heal safely.

Benefits of Seeking Addiction Treatment
You should never feel embarrassed about making the decision to seek help for your own addiction. It’s likely the biggest and most important choice of your life. Let us lead the way. To learn more about our Christian rehab, call today: 877-310-9545.

A recent study proved what many of you already have come to know: faith-based addiction treatment works.

Researchers asked a small group of individuals with substance use disorders about various types of addiction treatment and how effective they were – and 92 percent favored programs with spiritual or religious guidance.

The study was spurred by a phone call three years ago between Eric Kocian, an assistant professor of criminology, law and society at St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania, and county detective Tony Marcocci. During this time, local officials were just starting to fight back against the heroin epidemic.

“This is one sample, this is one study,” Kocian said. “We'd like to replicate it.”

The Benefits of Spirituality as Part of Addiction Rehab
This certainly isn’t the first or last study to prove the benefits of faith-based addiction treatment. In fact, those who choose Christian rehab have been found to have a greater chance of getting and staying sober. Beyond fewer relapses, rehab treatment that includes a spiritual component can also help you or someone you love to:

• Believe that recovery is possible
• Ask for forgiveness and make amends
• Learn to handle life’s emotional highs and lows
• Improve anger management and emotional control
• Navigate moral choices after rehab
• Develop strength and resilience
• Achieve a sense of family and community
• Discover a higher life purpose
• Gain a more positive life outlook

More About Christian Rehab
Making the decision to seek help for your own addiction, or helping a loved one to decide to seek help, may be the biggest and most important choice of your life. Let us lead the way. At Christian Rehab Network, we can help you learn valuable life skills to build a fulfilling life of sobriety and reduce your risk of relapse. You’ll learn to strengthen your relationship with Christ while overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol. To learn more, call us today: 877-310-9545.

There’s a fine line between helping and enabling a loved one struggling with addiction. But how do you tell the difference? And how do you know when your “help” isn’t actually helping and may even be delaying treatment?

Let’s start by looking at the definitions:

• To help someone means to do something for someone else that they are not capable of doing for themselves.
• To enable someone, on the other hand, means to do something for someone else that they can and should be doing for themselves.

So “helping” by doing a loved one’s chores or completing his or her school or work obligations is really enabling him or her to shirk responsibilities in favor of pursing the addiction.

It’s perfectly natural to want to help your loved ones, whether a child, spouse or sibling. And even if your desire is well intentioned – you could be causing more harm than good. This is because picking up the pieces or pretending that everything is OK can prevent him or her from dealing with the consequences, getting help and getting well.

Here are a few more examples of “helpful” acts that are actually enabling your loved one:

• You make excuses to his/her employer or teacher about why he didn’t show up or is always running late.
• You pay bills or debts.
• You cover up any acceptable behavior or make-up lies or excuses to others (even yourself).
• You take on more to compensate for your loved one’s failure to meet responsibilities.
• You bail out your loved one from disasters created due to active addiction.
• You put your own needs aside to continually take care of your loved one.

Healing Families at Christian Rehab
If you or someone you care about is caught in the bondage of drugs or alcoholism, Christian Rehab Network can help. We help families to find faith-based drug rehab programs based in Biblical truth. To learn more, call today: 877-310-9545.

Facing your addiction and taking a giant leap to get help takes a lot of courage. Recovery is a tough journey and that’s without having to also deal with the many damaging rumors and stereotypes out there about addiction. By knowing the facts, you can have more confidence in your decision to get help. You’ll also be better equipped to educate any loved ones along the way.

Here we address some of the most common misconceptions (along with the truths) about addiction.

• Myth #1: Addiction is a choice.
  While the decision to use alcohol or drugs is voluntary, people don’t choose to become addicted. Genetics play a major role along with such environmental factors as family life, upbringing and peer influences.
• Myth #2: Addiction is caused by a lack of willpower.
  While willpower certainly can help prevent relapse, it can’t cause addiction. Nor will willpower alone help someone stop using. This is because prolonged use of addictive substances can change the structure of the brain, making it difficult to control impulses or focus on anything other than using drugs.
• Myth #3: People who abuse drugs and alcohol are immoral and bad.
  Certainly, many people lie, cheat and steal during active addiction, but these behaviors are driven by changes in the brain brought on by a substance use disorder. Addiction is a sickness, not a character flaw.
• Myth #4: Addiction is a man’s disease.
  In fact, women are among the fastest-growing segments of drug users in the U.S. – and more than 4 million women are in need of addiction treatment, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD).
• Myth #5: Treatment won’t work unless it was your idea.
  According to research, people seek treatment for two reasons: they were persuaded by a loved one or court ordered to do so. And regardless of the reason they sought treatment in the first place, drug treatment programs produce successful outcomes for the majority of people suffering from addiction.

Is Christian Rehab Right for You?
Making the decision to seek help for your own addiction, or helping a loved one to decide to seek help, may be the biggest and most important choice of your life. Let us lead the way. To learn more about our Christian rehab, call today: 877-310-9545.

Addiction recovery can feel overwhelming at times and we can all use a few encouraging words to remind us that we’re not alone and that recovery really is possible.

In fact, the perfect quotation can help lift your spirits and put you in a positive mindset for the long road ahead. Here are a few inspiring quotes we love – print out the ones that inspire you and tape them where you’ll be sure to see them.

1. "Life is a journey. When we stop, things don't go right." – Pope Francis
2. "Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” – Mother Teresa
3. “Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher
4. "Someday, everything will make perfect sense. So for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason." – Unknown
5. “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." – Theodore Roosevelt
6. “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” – Maria Robinson
7. “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
8. "Continuous effort – not strength nor intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential." – Winston Churchill
9. “When everything seems like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.” – Unknown
10. “Amazing how we can light tomorrow with today.” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Being Inspired By Faith
You’ll find that strength comes easily and your willpower is seemingly fortified by the presence of the Lord in your recovery process, and we are here to ensure you find a facility that leads you down his path and into sobriety for the rest of your life. To learn more about our addiction services, call today: 877-310-9545.

Staying physically active is one of the best things you can do for your mind and body – and it should also rank pretty high on your list of recovery to-dos. Here’s why:

• You’ll fill a void. If you’re like most people in early recovery, you may find yourself with a lot of free time on your hands – time that you used to spend thinking about, getting, using, and recovering from drugs or alcohol. Exercise is a great activity to occupy several hours, especially if you factor in getting ready for and getting cleaned up after a workout.
• You’ll increase confidence. Setting small, achievable exercise goals and meeting them can be a great confidence booster. And these little “wins” can give you the extra motivation you need to stick with your recovery and make lasting changes to your overall health.
• You’ll improve focus. Years of addiction can take a toll on your brain and you may be struggling with a lack of focus or brain fog caused by withdrawal or even neuronal damage. A recent study showed that as little as 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (like walking) could increase a person’s performance on cognitive quizzes.
• You’ll remain strong-willed. Being physically active will help you beat back any cravings and ease any withdrawal symptoms that could trigger relapse.
• You’ll tame tension. Mind-body techniques like yoga, Pilates, and tai chi can help you to unwind, focus, and better deal with stress, which is a common relapse trigger.
• You’ll be in a better mood. As exercise invigorates the heart and lungs, it stimulates the brain's reward pathway and heightens mood-boosting neurochemicals, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Building a Better You
At Christian Rehab Network, we can help you learn valuable life skills to build a fulfilling life of sobriety and reduce your risk of relapse. If you are searching for help strengthening your relationship with Christ while overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol, call today: 877-310-9545.