Recovery from alcohol and drug addiction is a process. As addiction develops into a chronic problem, the process of recovery becomes aspects of personal management. Part of this management is the development of coping strategies to be used in critical moments of dealing with a potential to relapse. These coping strategies are learned in
drug rehab. Addiction treatment is usually the first step in the recovery process. Cirque Lodge is a leading alcohol treatment and drug rehab program. Cirque Lodge is known for their unique balance of addiction treatment and experiential activities that teach these coping strategies.
Different Approaches to Coping Strategies
There are many forms of addiction treatment and recovery programs out there. While many are similar, there are still a number of ways to treat addiction.
There are also different approaches to teaching coping strategies in drug rehab as well. The most effective approach to any form of treatment is a personalized program. Treatment, therapy, and activities should be designed with the individual in mind. When the addict or alcoholic is receiving a personalized treatment, there is more of an attention to their particular needs, when it comes to rehabbing them.
A common approach to teaching coping strategies is found in behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy takes a close look at the thought processes and behaviors of addiction. The purpose is to address these thoughts and behaviors and to modify them in ways that make addictive situations less of a challenge. An addictive situation can be a number of things. It can be a person, or a place, or even feelings or moods. Coping strategies are developed to address the addictive situations. It creates an alternative for these situations that does not result in relapse. These strategies are also personalized to assist the addict or alcoholic in ways that are best for them.
There are a number of ways to instruct and develop coping strategies. This page is going to take a look at a unique approach to behavioral therapy and the development of coping strategies. This unique approach is known as experiential therapy. This is made up of a number of activities designed to provide the experience needed to develop coping strategies. These activities can be fun, a challenge, and even relaxing and therapeutic. Incorporated into experiential activity are standards of behavioral therapy to provide instruction and forms of behavioral modification.
Learning through Experience
In treating individuals with a personalized approach, it is imperative to understand what type of learning skills the addict or alcoholic possesses. People have different ways of learning things. Some can learn simply through listening. Others can have a better retention of things when it is applied. Experiential activities provide hands on approach to the development of coping strategies. This is advantageous for both the listener and the applied learner. The activities create an environment for learning through action. The instruction of these activities allows for learning through listening. The goal is a development of strategies to be used in recovery from addiction.
Not all drug rehab facilities and alcohol treatment programs provide experiential activities. However, because of successes in experiential treatment centers, it is growing in popularity as a valuable addiction recovery resource. The activities provided are based on the locale and function of the treatment facility. A mountain based
drug rehab solution can provide experiential activities that incorporate the natural surroundings. Addiction treatment facilities have also built challenge courses and team building exercises. These activities can also help in the development of coping strategies and recovery skills.
Learning through Challenge
It should go without saying that alcohol and drug addiction is habitual. Sometimes it is a habit developed out of comfort, or feeling comfortable. The downfall is this feeling of comfort is damaging; to the psyche and to the body. One coping strategy that is developed is to modify the comfort zone. Making the comfort an environment where addictive substances are not welcome can be beneficial. One way that is done through experiential activity is by challenging the comfort zone. This is done with activities that provide a challenge, and a lesson on the importance of overcoming obstacles like fear and comfort.
There is an array of activities to challenge comfort zones. These can be an individualistic type of activity, or can be based in a team concept. The purpose is to get the alcoholic or addict to use the functions of their brain to overcome an obstacle. This can be taken as an object lesson about overcoming the obstacle of addiction. The activity itself presents somewhat of a challenge; requiring communication and instruction. Through these activities the addict can learn things about themselves, their addiction, and how the addiction is holding them back. Activities vary, but can be quite the challenge. Just ask someone with a fear of heights about their drug rehab experience walking a tight rope 35 feet in the air.
Team building challenge activities are also implemented to assist in building coping strategies. Alcohol and drug addiction are very isolating. An addict or alcoholic can feel very alone and isolated from those around them. Team based challenge activities attempt to tear down the barriers built up by addiction. Through these types of activities, the addict can learn they are not alone in their problem, and receiving assistance is not that daunting of a task. Team based challenges once again force those in drug rehab to use their cognitive functions to overcome the obstacle at hand.
Drug Rehab Activities Build Communication
These activities can also be breakthrough at establishing communication between therapist and addict. Addiction can also suppress and keep things bottled up inside. Developing proper communication can be beneficial to the recovery process. In experiential activities, when a patient is unsure of what to do, they are allowed to ask proper questions to help them. It is the development of this communication that helps them decide for themselves the best results for the activity. In contrast, the answers provided within the activity can also be imperative answers regarding addiction and life.
When an addict or alcoholic is having difficulty with something, the easy cop out is to blame someone else. When participating in an activity in drug rehab, the responsibility is solely on them. It is impossible to blame someone else when they are the one at fault. With communication, instead of getting angry or frustrated, they can ask for help. This is integral, the asking for help. It is steps towards admittance that can mean leaps and strides toward recovery.
Getting the addict to admit they have a problem is the first step in the recovery process. Whether it is the first step of a 12-step program, or a non 12-step therapy that is used, admittance makes all the difference in the recovery process. Alcohol and drug addiction has made their lives unmanageable. When the addict admits they need help with their addiction problem, it can mean change is imminent. Experiential activities can help in this process by making those in drug rehab ask for help with the challenge of individual and team building activities.
An Environment for Change
Experiential activities are not solely for challenge and coping strategies. Some experiential activities are more for the recovery of a spiritual nature. 12-step drug and alcohol treatment programs will provide such spiritual activities to help with a connection to a higher power.
Finding and relying on a power greater than ones own can one of the influential recovery tools. In the tough times, when the thoughts of relapsing are entertained, such a connection can and usually does make a difference. There are experiential activities designed to address the spiritual side of things and provide a healing to a broken spirit. Such a vital spiritual experience can result in a complete change from within.
The right
drug rehab and dual diagnosis program can be the ideal environment for change. A balance of personalized therapy, experiential activities and a spiritual change can provide remarkable results and a successful recovery. The coping strategies learned in addiction treatment must continually be managed during the initial months of recovery. This keeps them fresh on the mind. Many alcohol treatment and drug rehab centers will prescribe aftercare types of programs, to assist the addict in managing their recovery process. More than anything recovery takes time. Every day sober is one more day that the influences of addiction begin to fade and lose control. Continuing drug rehab with certain types of aftercare programs can make this process a little easier.
Cirque Lodge is a private alcohol treatment and
drug rehab in the mountains of Sundance Utah. The surrounding mountains of this well known skiing area are host to a number of fun and therapeutic experiential activities. Cirque Lodge uses these activities in many useful ways for those in treatment for alcohol and drug addiction. The balance of personalized treatment and experiential activities has helped many overcome their addiction. For more on the Cirque Lodge
drug rehab fight against the war on drugs, call 1-877-99-REHAB.