In Balance Counseling, Author at In Balance Counseling

Five Stages of Recovery From Addiction

Written by In Balance Counseling on December 30, 2022. Posted in Intensive Outpatient Program.

When you prepare to recover from your addiction, you benefit from understanding the stages of recovery. When you can identify your progress, you’ll better understand what you need to maintain sobriety in moments of struggle. At In Balance Counseling, our counseling service in Tucson help people overcome their addictions and live healthier lives.

Below, we outline the five stages of recovery from addiction. Remember that the recovery process is not linear. Call us at (520) 722-9631 for substance abuse counseling options.

Stage 1: Acknowledgement

When you first begin moving away from addictive substances, you acknowledge that you have an addiction. This step is crucial in dispelling common misconceptions on addiction, such as the belief that one can control their substance abuse without help. Before this acknowledgment, you may have dodged the problem by rationalizing your addiction.

Eventually, you realize that the substances control you. You need the substances to function. At least a few parts of your routine revolve around acquiring and using the substances.

Stage 2: Action

Stage two includes making conscious decisions to move away from your addiction. During this stage, you might express desires in private or to others about wanting to let go of substances. You may also begin cutting back on the substances you use.

However, acting alone can have dangerous consequences. Use caution when cutting substances out of your life. You may need help from a treatment center to go through withdrawal safely.

Stage 3: Recuperation

Recuperation occurs immediately after withdrawal. Out of all the stages of recovery from addiction, many recovering addicts identify this stage as the most difficult. It involves learning how to live day to day without the assistance of addictive substances.

You will experience psychological and physiological changes during this period. Addiction counseling can help you manage daily stress, past trauma, and other factors contributing to your desire to use. In addition, you can learn skills and coping mechanisms to push past substance cravings.

Stage 4: Recovery

Once your body and mind adapt to a life free from substances, you begin the recovery state. Recovery involves three phases:

Early recovery changes your thought patterns
Middle recovery improves your lifestyle
Late recovery identifies bad habits that lead to addiction

Each of these phases could last years. You could find yourself repeating different stages or phases, especially if you relapse. However, everyone’s recovery looks different.

Stage 5: Preservation

Also called the maintenance stage, preservation occurs when you find comfort and stability in your newfound life. It takes time to get here. You may make mistakes during the other stages of recovery from addiction.

However, persistence and belief in yourself can help you find substance-free life. During this last stage, you will flourish.

Find Your New Balance with In Balance Counseling

If you struggle with addiction, you can find hope for a full and continued recovery. The compassion and empathy we provide at In Balance Counseling provide the gentle guidance you need.

Call us to enter the ‘action’ stage today at (520) 722-9631 and learn more ways to recover, like exercise for addiction recovery.

When Should You Get Therapy for Anxiety: Six Signs

Written by In Balance Counseling on November 30, 2022. Posted in Individual Counseling.

We all have times when we feel overwhelmed, nervous, apprehensive, or exhausted. Sometimes our work or home life can get stressful and make it hard to get through the day. However, some people struggle with a generalized anxiety disorder that makes them worried or fearful for no direct reason.

Severe anxiety disorders can even manifest in physical symptoms that can be unnerving if you don’t know what’s happening to you. This blog discusses the signs that you may need therapy for anxiety. At In Balance Counseling, we provide comprehensive cognitive-behavioral therapy for people with all types of anxiety disorders.

If you suspect you have an anxiety disorder, contact our Tucson counseling service office to discuss your treatment options by calling (520) 722-9631.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

The mental health community recognizes many forms of anxiety. Knowing someone with an anxiety problem with different symptoms than you does not make your problem any less real. Some of the most common types of anxiety disorders are:

Social anxiety disorder: A fear, paranoia, or panic experienced when someone attends social functions or events with many people
Separation anxiety: A condition that causes a child to panic or become fearful while their parents are absent
Panic disorder: A condition that causes frequent panic attacks that include physical symptoms
Agoraphobia: This condition makes sufferers uneasy in open spaces or crowds and can even render them unable to leave their homes
Substance-induced anxiety: People with substance abuse problems, prescription medication side effects, or sensitivity to caffeine can experience anxiety attacks

Signs You May Need Therapy for Anxiety

Below are six signs that you should consider starting therapy for anxiety.

1. Lacking Emotional Control

It’s normal to feel sad when the anniversary of a loved one’s death comes around or you miss your family during the holidays. However, you may need therapy for anxiety if you find yourself getting unreasonably sad or angry without a clear cause.

2. Your Relationships Are Suffering

People with anxiety disorders can withdraw from friends and family or lean on them too much for support. It can put a strain on your friendships and romantic relationships.

3. You’re Always Overwhelmed

Life can get stressful, but if you constantly feel like you can’t keep up, there may be more to the issue.

4. Stress Is Affecting Your Physical Health

Chronic anxiety and stress can cause physical issues like:

Chest pains
Headaches
Nausea
Trembling
Hyperventilating
Light sensitivity

If stress causes any of these in you, it’s time to consider therapy.

5. Forming Bad Habits

Using sex, alcohol, or drugs to cope with emotional or mental issues is a temporary solution that will only exacerbate things.

6. Old Hobbies and Activities Have Lost Their Appeal

People with anxiety disorders often feel detached from the real world and no longer have the drive for things that once pleased them.

Call In Balance Counseling

If you think you need therapy for anxiety, In Balance Counseling is here to help. Consult our dedicated mental health professionals if you live in the Tuscon, AZ, area. Why is cognitive behavioral therapy effective? Learn more by calling us at 520-722-9631.

The Significance of Exercise for Recovery From Addiction

Written by In Balance Counseling on October 30, 2022. Posted in Intensive Outpatient Program.

Recovery From Addiction

People often talk about “fighting” addiction, but you can’t win a fight without preparing your mind and body. You also need a team you can trust at your back.

In Balance Counseling, the top choice for counseling in Tucson, believes in a holistic approach to recovery that includes a commitment to an intensive program. We use physical fitness and exercise for recovery from addiction.

Overcoming addiction is also about transitioning to a new lifestyle that gives addiction less power and control. Exercise can enrich and reinforce that new lifestyle so patients can surmount obstacles on the path to recovery.

Here are just a few roles a regimen of physical exercise can play in an effective active recovery plan.

Restore Your Normal Sleep Pattern

Addiction can lead people to sacrifice their basic biological needs. Altered sleep patterns is one consequence of addiction. People in recovery from addiction can suffer from insomnia that depletes their energy stores during the day. An intensive workout during the day tires out the body in a healthy way, preparing the body for restful sleep.

Better Cardiovascular Health

Drugs of abuse and other addictive substances and activities can take their toll on the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. The body of a person recovering from addiction bears the aftereffects of psychological and physical stress.

Physical activity gets the heart pumping, improves blood flow to vital organs, and increases energy levels. Using intense exercise for recovery helps patients build the stamina they need for the other elements of an intensive treatment program.

Changing Scenery

Even if you aren’t up for a tough workout, simply going to the gym regularly is a great way to break the patterns of addiction. Establishing a new routine in new surroundings opens your mind to new ways of thinking.

As addiction progresses, the brain associates certain places (bars, casinos, old hangouts) with cravings and highs. If you don’t usually go to the gym, it can be a healthy place to find a fresh start.

Stress Reduction

Many people with addictions turn to them to escape stress, only to find their troubles growing and multiplying. Exercise is a productive and sustainable way to reduce stress. During the recovery process, it offers a better way to cope and regroup when life seems overwhelming.

Rediscover the Natural Joys of Life

A healthy, well-balanced life offers many pathways to pleasure, satisfaction, and a sense of purpose. A person in the grip of addiction sees those other sources of pleasure fade as their addiction takes over. Physical exercise provides a sense of accomplishment, provides measurable goals, and gives you a natural sense of euphoria.

Find Balance and Strength with Intensive Counseling Services from In Balance Counseling

Do you struggle with addiction? In Balance Counseling has information and guidance for people in every stage of the recovery process. For help with addiction in Tucson, AZ, and advice on how to use exercise for recovery, call In Balance Counseling at 520-722-9631. For more information, read our tips on avoiding addiction relapse.

Author: In Balance Counseling