Learning to Be Teachable in Recovery

A big part of recovery and relapse prevention is being teachable. Your willingness to learn from past mistakes, take direction from counselors and peers and open your mind to learning new things will help you grow in sobriety. It will also help you to build a fulfilling, sober life and be your best self. A big part of being teachable is being humble – some experts even say the words teachability and humility can be interchanged.

Here’s why. When you’re teachable you will…

• Be more aware of your limitations, knowledge and abilities.
• You’re not afraid to regularly ask for help, instruction, guidance and advice.
• You learn from anyone and everyone you can.
• You listen to others carefully and patiently with a desire to learn their experiences.
• You’re ready to move out of your comfort zone, try something different and make mistakes. 
• You don’t give up when you fail but seek help and try again.

The good news is that you can learn to be teachable – and these steps will benefit your recovery, too:  

• Try something new. Whether you learn to cook, knit or speak a different language, do your best to step out of your comfort zone and seek new experiences. The more you learn, the more you’ll get in touch with yourself and the better you’ll relate to others. 
• Make time for reflection. Take a few minutes each night to reflect on and journal about your day. What stayed the same? What was different or better or worse? Answering these questions honestly will help you become aware of any areas that need improvement. 
• Surround yourself with positive people. The right supports will help you grow and learn in daily life. How can you tell if someone is helpful or harmful? Ask yourself how the person makes you feel? For example, energized and inspired or tired and negative?
• Pick up a book. Reading is a great recovery activity that can help you learn new things and gain a fresh perspective – while taking time to relax and decompress.

A Place for Personal Growth 

At Rising Roads Recovery, we provide a safe, support environment that allows our female clients to learn life skills and flourish in their new sober lives. Let us help you or someone you love find the path to your happy destiny. To learn about our programs and services, call today: 866-746-1558.

3 Tips for Setting Emotional Boundaries

Want to create happy, healthy and fulfilling relationships with your friends and family members? One way to do just that is to think about establishing some emotional boundaries.

While this can take many different forms, it’s actually a relatively simple concept. It’s an exercise in thinking through how you want to be treated by others and communicating your needs clearly and directly.

So, why is this so important? By articulating your emotional needs, you can build stronger connections – and avoid feeling “stuck” in relationships that simply don’t serve you well.

And, it is important to note that the act of creating emotional boundaries isn’t about pointing fingers or finding fault in the other person. It’s about being honest with yourself and others to build relationships that work for both parties.

For those on a journey from addiction to recovery, consider taking a few moments out of your day to think about setting boundaries with some of the important people in your life. It can help reduce your risk of relapse by creating a more positive social support system.

Step 1 – First, concentrate on your emotions.
Is there someone in your life who consistently makes you feel bad and has the uncanny ability to lower your self-esteem on a regular basis? That is usually a good signal that you might both benefit from setting emotional boundaries.

Step 2 – Identify what patterns of behavior are putting a strain on your relationship.
Does the other person constantly put you down and criticize your weight? Do you have a friend that tells you personal details about their life and it makes you uncomfortable? Remind yourself that you have the right to own your emotions.

Step 3 - Talk about it. Be direct. Don’t expect people to read your mind. 
Pull the other person aside and talk to them privately about the kind of behavior that you will – and won’t – accept. And frame up the conversation in a positive stance. You value the relationship and want to see it grow stronger and flourish.

Healthy Relationships Coaching at Rising Roads Recovery

There are so many opportunities for growth during addiction recovery and at Rising Roads Recovery, we can help you learn new skills to build healthy relationships, spot the signs of codependency and heal old attachment wounds. By the end of our addiction treatment program, our goal is for you to be able to identify a healthy relationship and actively participate in it. Start your healthy life by calling us today at (866) 746-1558.

3 Strategies for Communicating Better with Your Partner

(Note: It's important to emphasize that focusing on your health should be your priority during the first year of sobriety. But, after you reach that milestone, talk to your treatment team about establishing new relationships. The right time to invest in a partnership is different for everyone based on their individual journey of addiction recovery.)

Have you ever had a conversation with your partner only to find out later that they walked away with an entirely different take on what you were trying to say? If so, you are not alone!

While you may spend a lot of time together, your significant other will never be a mind-reader so it’s important to work on developing better communication skills as a team. That way, you can reduce your collective risk of interpreting something differently than what the other intended.

No relationship is perfect. But, you can work together to establish healthier communication strategies to grow closer as a couple. 

Here are a few tips for communicating more clearly and directly with your partner!

(1) Be thoughtful about whether it’s online or in person. 
When you think about optimizing your communication skills, instinctually you probably first consider the words you choose. But, it’s also important to factor in your means of communication. 

One good rule of thumb is to reserve email and text messages for everyday topics like where to go for dinner. More serious matters should really only be discussed in person. It’s all too easy to misinterpret the tone of a message when you’re just reading it on a screen.

(2) Don’t put labels on anyone.

During an argument, it’s easy to stereotype the other person. But, ask yourself, would you want anyone to do the same to you? If something is bothering you, focus on the behavior of the other person and how that makes you feel. By avoiding labels, you are respecting their ability as a human being to change and grow as a person.

(3) Ask questions!

If you are working through an issue where you each have differing viewpoints, don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s easy to quit trying to find some common ground on a polarizing issue if you don’t try to learn where the other person is coming from. Instead of just focusing on your partner’s stance, ask follow-up questions to better understand why they hold that opinion. After investigating their underlying emotions, you might have greater clarity into their perspective.

If you or your partner have given up a lifestyle of drugs and alcohol, your relationship may need to be repaired during the journey of addiction recovery. And, focusing on communicating more effectively as a team can help you both grow closer together and build a stronger partnership along the way.

Building Healthier Relationships During Recovery

By the end of our addiction treatment program, our goal is for you to be able to identify a healthy relationship while respecting yourself and your partner in all areas. At Rising Roads Recovery, we can help you create and follow boundaries and learn how do decipher between your inner circle and peripheral people. Start your healthy life by calling us today at (866) 746-1558.

Cultivating a More Meaningful Life: The Power of Empathy

Take a minute to think about your week. In the midst of all of the grocery shopping, laundry folding and email sending, what stands out as a bright spot? If you’re like most, you likely thought about time well spent with someone you care about. Sharing a laugh with a friend at the coffee shop or getting a much-needed hug from your partner on a particularly challenging day.

On the spectrum of life experiences, connecting with others on an emotional level is one of the most fulfilling. And, especially important for those in recovery. Having a solid and close-knit social network not only reduces your risk of depression and anxiety – it also reins in your risk of relapse.

If you’re on a journey towards sobriety, you can repair relationships that may have been neglected by an addiction to drugs or alcohol. And, it starts by simply developing a greater sense of empathy for others.

To start creating more meaningful connections with others, here are three ways you can cultivate a greater sense of empathy.

(1) Start a conversation with someone you don’t know. (Yet!) 

Make the effort to strike up a conversation with someone the next time you’re at a yoga class or on the subway. And, it’s more than simply going through the motions of talking about the weather. By cultivating a genuine sense of curiosity about the lives of others, you’re able to connect with them on a deeper level. Striving to understand their motivations, goals and emotions.

(2) Consider the “bigger picture”. 

Being able to interpret the actions of others in the context of their life story is one dimension of empathy. Instead of taking a reactionary stance to their actions (which may just fuel the fire), consider if they are going through a particularly rough day or chapter in their life. You might reconsider your response.

(3) Challenge judgment. 

When you are talking to a friend, coworker or a family member, it’s all too easy to internally criticize and judge them. But, in doing so, you’re blocking your ability to truly seek to understand them. This doesn’t mean that you have to agree with their values and actions. It’s simply about being an active listener with an open mind.

Transitional Living for Women: Family Addiction Counseling

At Rising Roads Recovery, we offer family addiction counseling. Using individual and group therapy sessions, the entire family unit can learn how to communicate more effectively, honestly and empathetically. To learn more about our comprehensive addiction recovery services for women, call (866) 746-1558.

4 Scientifically-Proven Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is one of the most powerful tools for addiction recovery. It teaches the student to choose mindfulness over impulsivity, calmness over agitation and gratitude instead of discontent.

Some practitioners believe that yoga works, in part, by helping to release negative, residual emotions and traumas from the past – which reduces your risk of relapse. While, at the same time, mitigating the symptoms of withdrawal.

If you’re on a journey to addiction recovery and need a little extra motivation today to hit the mat, here are four MORE reasons to practice yoga on a regular basis. Namaste!

(1) Your cortisol starts to drop. 

While this hormone is a natural reaction within your body to stress, chronically high levels can negatively impact your body. In one study, researchers compared the health benefits of yoga versus simple stretching exercises and found that women who practiced yoga had the steepest decline in their cortisol levels throughout the day.

(2) It reduces inflammation. 

Chronic and systemic inflammation is associated with a myriad of health conditions including heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Though, yoga has been shown to help combat inflammation in the body. Ohio State University researchers monitored women who practiced yoga throughout a three-month period and found that inflammation markers were down by 20 percent.

(3) Yoga helps you fight depression. 

With regular practice over time, yoga can regulate your mood and strengthen your mental health. How? It fundamentally changes your brain chemistry by increasing levels of the hormone oxytocin and GABA, an amino acid, both of which are linked to nervous system regulation. In fact, one study found that the levels of GABA in the brain increased by 27% as a result of practicing yoga!

(4) It can reduce your risk of developing cancer. 

Did you know that nearly 40% of Americans will be given a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime? But, by practicing yoga on a regular basis, you can lower your risk. Multiple studies have shown the protective health benefits of getting regular exercise - including yoga.

Discovering Yoga During Addiction Recovery

At Rising Roads Recovery, we firmly believe in the power of exercise during addiction recovery. Using a combination of boot camp workouts and meditative yoga sessions, we help clients learn healthy life skills they can practice in their new life of sobriety.

To learn more about our comprehensive addiction recovery services for women, call (866) 746-1558.

Mindful Eating: Replenishing Your Body During Recovery

“Never eat carbs after 7:00 PM!” “Always, ask your server if the fish is farm-raised or wild-caught!” You can’t eat ice cream and stay skinny.”

Why is it that so many diets and articles about nutrition only emphasize what you can (and can’t) eat – and to extremes? These days, it can be overwhelming (and downright confusing at times) to know what to eat and what to steer clear of in the grocery aisles.

But, it doesn’t have to be that hard. Many nutritionists recommend a more holistic approach, mindful eating. It’s all about getting back to the basics of eating well – and most importantly, being thoughtful about it. Truly enjoying a meal and taking the time relish all of the textures and sweet and savory flavors.

By taking the time to get in tune with your body and understand when you’re hungry and savor the food you’re eating, you can reduce your risk of eating too much. And, that’s an especially important skill to learn while on a journey to addiction recovery. It can help you sidestep the risk of eating to fill the emotional void that addiction once occupied while also helping you consciously replenish your system with the right foods during and after detox.

Want to stop mindless snacking and start becoming more mindful about what you eat? Here are three tips to help you get started.

(1) Put away your phone and turn off the TV. 
A big part of mindfulness is all about being tuned in to what you’re doing and tuning out the distractions. Before you sit down to eat dinner, take a quick look around. What might interrupt your meal? Get up and turn it down or turn it off before you pick up your fork.

(2) Take a seat at your dining room table, not your coffee table. 
Eating something great, with your friends and family by your side is something worth relishing. It may sound trivial, but the mere act of enjoying a meal with others, can help you appreciate what you’re eating a little bit more.

(3) Skip the drive thru for the grocery aisle. 
When you take the time to cook something, you’re not only enjoying the meal, you’re also enjoying the entire process. From shopping, to prepping to putting the meal together, you’re embracing (and appreciating!) the process from A to Z.

Embracing New Life Skills During Transitional Residential Care 

Our Rise Up Program was created for women seeking additional care after primary treatment. If you are graduating from a stabilization program and realize you need more help, then this program is for you. During transitional residential care, you’ll learn critical life skills for independent living including nutritional guidance, healthy coping skills, relapse prevention strategies and more. To learn more, call today: (866) 746-1558.

3 Reasons Why Doctors Should Prescribe a Daily Dose of Gratitude

Instinctively, you know that being grateful for what you have just feels right. When you think about how fortunate you are, you’re more apt have a brighter outlook, be more productive at work and have more energy throughout the day.

And, for those pursuing a new life free from addiction – the benefits are much more profound. Filling your heart with gratitude can reduce your risk of relapse too. But, did you know that the benefits of practicing gratitude can go much deeper than that? Multiple scientific studies have proven that it can do wonders for your health overall.

In addition to helping you walk towards a life of sobriety, practicing gratitude on a regular basis can help boost your emotional, psychological and physical health too.

If you need a bit of encouragement to start making more time for gratitude in your routine, here are three reasons to help you get inspired and give it a try!

(1) You’ll feel better about yourself. 
It’s a fact. We could all benefit from a boost in self-esteem from time to time. And, gratitude can help you do just that. In fact, in a 2014 study that appeared in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, athletes who practiced gratitude on a regular basis reported higher levels of self-esteem.

(2) Your heart will thank you.
Literally. In recent study, researchers compared the rates of heart damage among two groups of adults – those that practiced gratitude frequently and another cohort that didn’t. They found that heart damage was substantially lower among those with higher levels of gratitude. That same group also reaped even more health benefits including more positive moods, less inflammation and better quality sleep.

(3) You’re more likely to make heathy choices at the dinner table. 
You might be surprised to know that the simple act of giving thanks also correlates to better nutrition. One study actually found that people who keep gratitude journals have reduced dietary fat intakes up to 25 percent lower than those who do not.

Practicing gratitude on a regular basis can help improve your quality of life in lots of ways and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Grab a notebook, find a quiet spot and write down a few things (and people!) you are thankful for today.

Reduce Your Risk of Relapse by Learning New Life Skills

Rising Roads Recovery wants to help you educate yourself on your very own patterns. Addiction is a chronic disease and a previous relapse does not mean failure – nor is relapse necessary for long-term recovery. Just like everyone’s recovery plan looks different, so does everyone’s relapse avoidance plan. You have a unique history that needs to be accounted for in your plan. And we’re here to help; we’re here to plan, support, and love. To learn more, call today: (866) 746-1558.

The (Not So Secret) Art of Forging New Friendships

If you’re traveling the road from addition to recovery, you’ve likely weathered many emotional storms along the way. Bouts of self-doubt, anxiety and depression may have riddled your past – likely serving as addiction triggers where you turned to drugs or alcohol to push down uncomfortable thoughts and feelings.

Though, it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t have to wake up with a hangover the morning after a stressful day or worry about failing a drug test at work. No matter where you are on your journey, you can learn to navigate life and discover healthy coping mechanisms to avoid turning to negative and destructive behaviors.

You may be surprised to learn that having a solid, supportive social network is actually one of the most powerful tools to boost your physical and mental well-being and reduce your risk of relapse. Research has shown that individuals with strong social relationships are less likely to die prematurely, experience less stress and report a greater quality of life.

And, it’s never too late in life to invest in growing your friend group – especially if you are working towards creating a new life – one free from addiction. If you’re interested in protecting your sobriety and searching for a more meaningful life – consider making your social networks more of a priority.

Here are a few tips to get started.

(1) Create a social routine. Most friendships are forged by consistently spending time within social networks. So, for new friendships to form, try joining some groups or clubs in your community that meet on a regular basis. That way, you’ll have the opportunity to get to know like-minded people and learn more about them over time.

(2) Invite “friends of friends” to hang out. Planning a dinner party or rounding up the crew for a Saturday morning yoga class? One of the best ways to meet new people is actually by extending your existing social networks.

(3) Volunteer for a cause you love. One way to meet people in your neighborhood and your community is by donating your time to a worthy cause. By working side-by-side cleaning up a community garden, fundraising for a local nonprofit or helping dogs and cats find a “forever home”, you’ll have the opportunity to meet new people who share the same interests and passions.

Learn More About Transitional Living 

At Rising Roads Recovery, we can help you find sobriety and learn new life skills to create a vibrant, fulfilling life – one that includes profoundly meaningful relationships with friends and family. We are here to help; we are here to plan, support, and love. To find out more about Rising Road Recovery’s transitional living program for women, call today: (866) 746-1558.