Tag Archives: addiction treatment

addiction, Addiction treatment, Always Hope, How addiction affects family, recovery, relapse

Caution: Warning Signs

Caution: Warning Signs

CAUTION 4

HALT-B

H – Hungry     A – Angry      L – Lonely     T – Tired      B – Bored

HALT-B is an anagram for the most common reasons for relapse.

Take caution if your hungry, this may sound silly but it has been found that the human brain, once addicted to a substance, will reach for this substance as a cure for any discomfort as it cannot discern between needs. A person will get a craving to drink, even though he/she is really just having hunger pangs and a quick healthy snack can resolve the craving to drink or drug.

• SOLUTION – HAVE A BITE TO EAT.

Continue reading Caution: Warning Signs →

addiction, Addiction treatment, recovery, relapse

Addiction Movies: My Favourites

Addiction Movies: My Favourites

There have been many films made that involve the abuse of drugs and or alcohol, and these are some of my personal favourites. Most of these addiction movies only show the dark side, but some share the strength and hope required to overcome as well as the hellish experiences. One of the videos is more of an educational documentary that helps explain in laymans terms the struggle with the addiction/personal choice argument. Many people affected by addiction, both the addict and the family can learn from this documentary. In no particular order my favourite addiction movies are:

addiction movies3

Pleasure Unwoven

Pleasure Unwoven is a short informational documentary that can be easily found on youtube. I found it explain addiction in an easy to understand the way drugs or alcohol react with the chemicals in the brain. The movie is narrated by Kevin McCauley, who is both a man who struggled with his own addiction and a qualified medical doctor. He focuses on the important question about addiction: “Is it really a “disease?”

28 Days

28 Days stars Sandra Bullock who has a good career, but is forced to enter rehab after she ruins her sister’s wedding; she gets drunk and crashes a car. In the beginning Gwen is against any type of help. She views rehab as being similar to a prison sentence and will not admit that she has a problem with alcohol. Gwen refuses to put any real effort into the rehab program. When she does find herself becoming involved in the lives of the other clients and starts to notices uncomfortable similarities. In the end circumstances force Gwen to take an honest look at her life. She acknowledges that life has become unmanageable, and that alcohol was a part of the problem. 28 Days is a realistic representation of how people can find a new perspective of life when they become willing to face the truth.

Basketball Diaries

Basketball Diaries is a true story based on the life of Jim Carroll and stars a Leonardo DiCaprio. It tells of how a teenager goes from being a successful basketball player to a homeless heroin addict. As his addiction worsens he completely loses any sense of self-respect as he quickly spirals downhill. It is a great depiction of how the sneaky nature of addiction has a way of ruthlessly corrupting the innocence of young high-schoolers on the look out for a good time.

Trainspotting

Trainspotting explores heroin and the devastating grip it takes on lives. The process of getting the drug, the ritual of doing the drug, and how the drug sucks you back in time after time. The movie ends with the quote “I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin’ else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you’ve got heroin?” Although this movie may glamorize drug use, it also reveals the deep grip opiates take on a persons life and soul and how many people can’t find a way to break the hellish cycle they seem trapped in.

Requiem for a Dream

Requiem for a Dream shows a harsh view of the lives of few young addicts. The movie manages to capture the essence of the insanity of addiction but without glorifying drug use. This movie will at the very least make your skin crawl, and there’s the chance that you’ll be questioning the meaning of life, too. This movie is not for the faint of heart, and doesn’t show the strength and hope required to overcome. But this is a realistic, yet cinematic portrayal of how drugs can rip apart your life.

I realize there are many addiction movies that show the good, and ugly sides of drug and alcohol use and I haven’t seen  them all. But these 5 are a short list of my favourite addiction movies at this time.

1-829-932-0123

Call us at Always Hope for info on how we can help.

addiction, Addiction treatment, Caribbean

Addiction doesn’t take a Holiday

Addiction doesn’t take a Holiday

Addiction is cunning, baffling and powerful, it doesn’t rest just because the holiday season is here. We at Always Hope addiction treatment facility realize this and are available to help before, during and after any holiday.

Many people believe that the holiday season is an improper or inappropriate time to go to treatment. Excuses are made and addicts are enabled to continue their downward spiral during this giving time of year.

“It just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without….”

“It’s not so bad we will get through the holidays first.”

Call 24/7 to speak with us 1-829-932-0123

The best gift any family could receive is their loved one taking the first step towards dealing with their addiction and coming back healthy and happy. The alternative is a very stressful holiday and possibly the addicts last. Drugs, alcohol, and suicide may take an addicts life at any time and this unfortunately could be their last Thanksgiving.

Truth is the holidays may be the best time to reclaim their lives from the grip of addiction. It is supposed to be a time of happiness and joy, but can quickly turn to dysfunction, stress, shame and fear. There may be no better place for a struggling addict to be at this time of year than the safe environment of an addiction treatment facility.

Here at Always Hope we will be celebrating the holidays a little different than usual. Sure we will have the usual turkey dinner, but we will also take time to head to the beach which is not normal for us from the Great White North. Why not join us to begin your path to recovery and enjoy the Caribbean paradise that surrounds us? If you or someone you know needs help please contact us. We are here to talk or provide assistance as needed during this grateful time of year.

contact always hope

addiction, Addiction treatment, recovery

Fight or Flight

Fight or Flight

We all have the primitive instincts in the face of what we fear, whether positive or negative, which is either to retreat or aggressively react to what threatens us. This is the natural “fight or flight” instinct. But if I limit myself to these choices, I rend myself truly powerless to find the serenity of acceptance, or the courage to change.

So I’ve found that before I decide to accept or change my circumstances, I need to settle down enough to see them as they are, not better or worse than they are. I need to find clarity, wisdom, and love in the face of them.

But the amazing thing about working a program of recovery is I have learned that I don’t have to give in to these wild swings of emotion. I can see them come up, feel them in all their intensity, and not let them take me down the wrong path. As long as I do a few simple things in response to the feeling of “fight or flight” life goes alright:

Calm my mind.
Be willing to consider alternative options and points of view.
Be more interested in reaching an understanding than in insisting upon agreement.

Call today for more info 1-829-932-0123

addiction, Addiction treatment, recovery

Rehab Reviews and Addiction Treatment

Rehab Reviews and Addiction Treatment

Choosing a rehab or addiction treatment facility can be difficult. There are many options available based on cost, location or types of treatment available. When choosing which rehab is right for you take the time to check out the website of the addiction treatment facility your interested in, call someone from the facility and check out some reviews. Not all rehabs are listed on these sites but they may give you some insight to costs and possible testimonials. We are a new rehab and aren’t listed yet, and we also don’t feel it’s ethical to pay for a review to promote our rehab(so we may never appear on these sites).

If you wish to know more about what we have to offer contact us by email or phone 1-829-932-0123

http://rehabreviews.com/rehab-reviews/

http://www.rehabs.com/reviews/start/

https://www.addictioncenter.com

contact always hope

addiction, Addiction treatment, Always Hope, recovery, Uncategorized

Addiction Treatment with a Caribbean Twist

Addiction Treatment Philosophy

Our philosophy at Always Hope is different then most facilities. We want you to feel at home when you are here. The institutional feel of many places leads the addict/alcoholic to feel as they are less than the staff and counsellors. This may lead to greater struggles as most people who enter an addiction treatment center already have issues being told what to do and how to do it. Actions speak louder than words and we at Always Hope walk the talk. We are all equal, no better and no worse. We have lived through the struggles with addiction and overcame. Theory can only take you so far, but if you work with our highly qualified counsellor who has lived through the grips of active addiction you will learn to regain control of your life.

Call or contact us today to find out more

1-829-932-0123

Continue reading Addiction Treatment with a Caribbean Twist →

addiction, Addiction treatment, recovery, relapse

Relapse Prevention or Refresher Course

Relapse Prevention or Refresher Course

Always Hope is a residential treatment centre located 30 km outside of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. We have developed a 2 week Relapse Prevention and/or a Refresher treatment model for people in recovery that need or want to grow further in their journey of recovery. Or if you aren’t sure the 3 or 4 week program is feasible financially, this shorter program can give you a great start to recovering from your addiction.

Call today to find out more 1-829-932-0123

Continue reading Relapse Prevention or Refresher Course →

addiction, Addiction treatment, Always Hope

Secrets and Fears: Always Hope

Secrets and Fears

Are my secrets out in the public? Does everyone know? How will I be judged? When I decided that I was “sick and tired” of being “sick and tired” and finally took the steps to get healthy I figured everyone would know my “secrets” and that I would be judged accordingly. The truth is that most people are so busy with their own lives, and have their own skeletons in the closet that they aren’t consumed or really care about your past or secrets. People usually care more about how you are as a person “today” are you kind, happy, healthy? Yes, they may notice a difference in your appearance or glow, but until you share your story they may not know why.

Call today if you or someone you love is struggling 1-829-932-0123

Continue reading Secrets and Fears: Always Hope →

addiction, Addiction treatment, Always Hope, Caribbean, Dominican Republic

What Addiction Treatment is right for You?

What Addiction Treatment Centre is right for You?

Many questions come up when choosing which addiction treatment facility may be right for you or your loved ones. There are many places and choices of where, when and how long to go for help to overcome your struggles with addiction. To help you decide we would suggest contact people who may have gone through treatment, or phone and talk to someone from whichever facility you are looking into and ask many questions to find out if they can help or refer you to someone who can.

Contact us today with any questions  1-829-932-0123

Questions to ask if you are considering going to an addiction treatment centre: 

Continue reading What Addiction Treatment is right for You? →

addiction, Addiction treatment, recovery

Fun in Recovery: Just For Today

Fun in Recovery: Just For Today

As we heal our ideas of fun change. In retrospect, many of us realize that when we used, our ideas of fun were rather bizarre. Some of us would get dressed up and head for the local club. We would dance, drink and do other drugs until the sun rises. On more than one occasion, arguments and battles broke out. What we then called fun, we now call insanity.

Today, our notion of fun has changed. Fun to us today is a walk along the ocean, watching the whales or dolphins frolic as the sun sets behind them. Fun is laughing with family and friends. Fun is getting dressed up to go to the banquet and not worrying about any fights breaking out over who did what to whom.

With growth our ideas of fun have changed radically. Today when we are up to see the sun rise, it’s usually because we went to bed early the night before, not because we left a club at six in the morning, eyes blurry from a night of drug use.

Just for today: I will have fun in my recovery!

Contact us at 1-829-932-0123 to find out how you can have fun in recovery.

Continue reading Fun in Recovery: Just For Today →