The psyllium eliminates constipation upon breaking the fast. Two or three teaspoons of whole psyllium husk or two teaspoons of flax seeds a day (available at health food stores) as a regular supplement to a diet or while juice fasting can be beneficial…>

Article Tracking: enema kit, psyllium husk, flaxseeds, bulking agent, demulcent, intestine, diarrhea.

For those who are uncomfortable with using the enema kit, psyllium husk or flaxseeds are an alternative. You can safely juice fast for extended periods using psyllium husk. The substance is a bulking agent (mucilage). It swells within the intestine to a gel, helping to absorb toxins and speed transit time of waste through the intestine. This reduces the toxic build-up that can occur during juice fasting. Both psyllium and flaxseeds contain a demulcent, which is an agent that soothes and protects the lining of the intestine. It also reduces occasional diarrhea that can be caused by fruit juices. The psyllium eliminates constipation upon breaking the fast. Two or three teaspoons of whole psyllium husk or two teaspoons of flax seeds a day (available at health food stores) as a regular supplement to a diet or while juice fasting can be beneficial. A drawback of using psyllium or flaxseeds during a fast is the mucus-forming effect that slows down the healing process. Using psyllium while on a water fast has a definite sinus-clogging effect. The enema kit is still the best for assisting healing. Using psyllium husk and flaxseeds to help cleanse the colon is a compromise.

After my first 30-day juice fast, I was hooked and did two more 30-day fasts consecutively, eating for 10 days in between. From drug addiction to being a health zealot was a definite improvement, but my approach remained the same. Fasting and eating healthy became my new obsession. Eating a cookie brought days of guilt and shame. My thoughts dwelled on the horror of all the deadly toxins I had just injected into my bloodstream. I had to be in the gym 5 days a week. I was totally focused on my body and food. It was all I talked about and it irritated people. Now, fasting is just part of my life and eating healthy is normal. I don

A man once bought a very expensive suit for a formal occasion. On the way to the event, an ash fell from his burning cigarette onto his lap. Before he noticed it, the ash burned a hole through both the suit coat and the pants. In a rage, the man crumpled the pack of cigarettes, threw it out the window and never smoked again. Previously he had smoked three packs a day.

Anger Can Be Motivational

Anger is a powerful weapon against addictions and habits. If you can see clearly what destruction it is causing and get angry at it, you will build the determination to quit. If your decision is unshakable and resolute, you will not fail due to temptation! Make a list of all the harmful effects of your addiction and get angry.

There are some very effective products in cleansing the colon…

Article Tracking: colon, colon cleansers, psyllium husk, toxins, fiber, fruit.

Colon Cleansers are even more effective when juice fasting but do not used them during water fasting.

, which is the base for most colon cleansers, turns into a soft gel. It neutralizes toxins and fermentation in the colon during fasting, passing it harmlessly through the body. Psyllium husk is not needed in a raw food program because of the abundant soft fibers in fruit. However, there are various herbal blends designed for the recovery and healing of the intestines.

For six days, gradually increase the amount of raw fruits and vegetables in your diet. To break a fast and gorge on meat, bread or junk food will be a disaster. Jarring the system this intensely, when the digestive system is re-awakening, can cause stomach cramps, nausea and weakness, negating some of the benefits of a fast.

First day: Eat a piece of fruit in the morning and a small bowl of raw vegetable salad for lunch; vegetable broth also is good. Drink freshly made juice for the rest of the day.

Second day: Soaked prunes or figs for breakfast. Small bowl of fresh vegetable salad for lunch. Vegetable soup made without salt at dinner. Two apples or a fruit salad eaten between meals. All this in addition to freshly made juices and broths.

Third day: Same as the second day, but add a handful of dates or raisins.

Fourth day: You may return to the diet you have chosen, but it is important to listen to your stomach, eat smaller meals, chew your food and eat according to hunger.

NOTE: When breaking a fast over ten days, a good rule of thumb is that the break-in period should be extended one day for every 4 days of fasting. When breaking from water fasting, go to a juice fast for two days or eat sweet fruits like oranges, mangos or pears.

Healthy Eating Habits

1. Eat slowly and chew your food well. Saliva has enzymes that assist in digestion. The enzymes in saliva can digest up to 80 percent starch, 30 percent protein and 10 percent fat.
2. Do not overeat! Listen to your body. Discover the amount of food that your body needs to live a vibrant, healthy life.
3. Decide ahead of time what you want to eat and the amount rather than eating from an urge.
4. Make juices during the breaking period. Juice is gentle nourishment to the body. Most fasters continue to include juice in their daily routine for the rest of their lives.
5. Be relaxed. Try to unwind when eating.
6. Stay focused on eating rather than on unsettling thoughts. Pay attention to the texture, smell and the sensation of eating. Be aware of how it feels in the stomach.
7. Enjoy eating to the max. People are starving and you have the privilege to eat.
8. Work at making healthy food appealing. A banana and pear taste great without preparation but having them sliced into a fancy bowl, sprinkled with chopped dates and chilled in the refrigerator will maintain your enthusiasm for eating healthy.
9. Discern the difference between cravings and hunger. Never feed your emotions by eating from stress, depression or boredom.
10. You will feel satisfied with smaller amounts of food and sluggish and tired when overeating. Rich foods full of fat, salt and processed sugars will cause nausea, headaches and weakness. A handful of fruit will be thoroughly satisfying. Because the digestive system has to work less, there will be boundless energy to spare.
11. Have an exit activity for after eating. Make it something you want to do. It will be easier to move away from the table.
12. Educate yourself on how to begin a lifestyle of healthy eating. Fasting is a wonderful new beginning, a foundation for a lifelong, healthy diet.

From glistening crystals of snow to the multicolored hues of a rainbow, H2O takes on a myriad of shapes and shimmers. Daily, it is used to cleanse our floors, cars and toilets. Yet, the greatest value of water is that it internally cleanses our body.

To fast on water is a test of discipline. I do not enjoy water fasting; I do it for the results. Having a very fast metabolism, no excess fat and being muscular, my body demands a continual supply of calories. I live mostly on fruit and get hungry every two hours. About four hours into the fast, my body starts to feel the lack of calories. Twenty-four hours later, I am lying around with little energy to expend. From then on, I may get little bursts of energy but mostly I feel lazy, tired and achy. Occasionally there are peak moments where I feel amazing and faith burns bright but, for the most part, water fasting requires great resolve and determination for almost every day I fast.

Juice fasting is just the opposite of water fasting, blasting the body with more nutrition than it has ever seen. Cantaloupes, oranges, carrots, beets and pineapples create nutrient-filled juices packed with enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, cell salts and trace elements flood the blood with enough nutrition to get every cell zinging with energy. Fruit sugars keep the body supplied with perfect fuel. I get more accomplished on a juice fast than when I am eating. Except for a few dips, headaches and cankers, the detox is mostly painless.

Not so with water. You can feel the body scouring trillions of cells checking for dead, diseased or dying cells to be dissolved with micro-biochemical surgery. The dissolving, biochemical action irritates the surrounding cells. The more cells being dissolved, the more the body feels irritated. The effect is that the body, mind and emotions feel agitated and irritated. Not only do you have to endure the scouring action of catabolism at full intensity, but also the body and mind are subjected to years of toxic residues being drained from the cells.

Water fasting demands the maximum amount of calories and the body catobolizes as quickly as it can. The body is fully focused on burning up and clearing toxins, carcinogens, mucus, trans-fatty acids and other by-product of the North American diet. Water fasting is the speediest way to detoxify or lose weight but the other side of the coin is that water fasting will dump years of toxins into the bloodstream within hours and, once the process starts, eating cannot stop it. Eating will only make matters worse as digestion puts an additional strain on a toxin-loaded bloodstream and causes a slowdown of the clean up extending the period of discomfort.

If you put on weight easily, eat small amounts of food and have trouble losing weight, you have a slow metabolism. The slower your metabolism the easier water fasting will be. I have seen people with a slow metabolism who were terrified of juice fasting start out with juices and, within two days, go to water fasting because they did not feel the need for juice. One lady walked 5 miles per day, felt no loss of energy and bragged about how easy it was to fast.

When I ran fasting retreats, I often would fast with the folks who came. A new couple booked in and I said that I would fast with them expecting them to be juice fasting. They told me that they came to do a 10 day water fast. Inwardly I groaned but said sure, I will fast with you. I felt good for the first 5 days and even had some energy, but, as usual, I got a little crazy and broke the most important guideline of water fasting which is to rest, conserve energy not overexert. I had made the mistake before and was about to do it again. The day was perfect for water skiing, and I just had to show off with eight hard miles of skiing until exhaustion hit. The next day I could not even move. My two friends, Ron and Elaine, also were exhausted from the energy needed to drive the boat. On the eighth day, the retreat looked like an opium den. No one moved or even talked; only slow breathing represented life.

If you

Fruits and fruit juices have a natural laxative effect. Some believe this assists detoxification after all pruns are a fruit. The soft fibers have a cleansing effect on the intestine. This laxative effect stops after the colon happily adjusts to the soft fibers. (If fruit juices cause excessive diarrhea during fasting, use psyllium or the enema to eliminate the problem.)

If used moderately for short periods, laxatives can help remove toxins from the intestine during a fast. Some people feel that the most effective cleansing is in using the enema kit combined with natural laxatives. Others prefer using psyllium and a glass of prune juice or senna tea.

If you choose herbal laxatives, never take them for prolonged periods. Moderate use of natural laxatives, while juice fasting or while on a mucus-less diet is a matter of personal preference.

Warning: Excessive dieting, fasting, continuous use of laxatives, low-self-esteem and preoccupation with weight loss are the signs of an eating disorder. If you are suffering these symptoms please read the compulsive eating sections of extremefreedom.org

Genesis House is located in beautiful Palm Beach County Florida and is a private family style recovery center. Our facility sits on five lush acres of manicured lawns, towering pines, and coconut palms. We have a small number of treatment beds that helps the new client develop a bond with their peers, counselors, and staff. Genesis House has been in operation for 15 years offering quality Addiction Treatment and Mental Health services to our community. Genesis House Recovery Residence Inc. is a registered corporation within the State of Florida and licensed by Palm Beach County and the Department of Children & Families to provide substance addiction treatment. We at Genesis House are dedicated professionals committed to providing quality mental health and substance abuse services. It is our overall goal to enhance the quality of life for the individuals and families. Our belief is that all people are valuable and unique and should be treated with dignity and respect. While recognizing the potential for change, an assessment of the client’s emotional, physical, spiritual, and life experience is provided in a caring environment. The growth of the individual is promoted through a course of treatment developed and execited in a timely and cost effective manner.

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Our mission is to rebuild lives, restore families and improve communities. This is accomplished by providing quality, individualized and comprehensive treatment for those experiencing problems with alcohol, drugs and associated mental illnesses. We are committed to excellence in the delivery of care and services to our clients and their families.

Whiteside Manor is a not-for-profit organization providing a wide array of drug and alcohol abuse and related services. Our values include.

* Hope
* Affirming the possibility of change for all
* Empowerment
* Seeking to enhance people’s strengths and enabling them to speak and act for themselves
* Honesty, integrity and professional ethics
* Upholding honesty, openness and responsibility in all our interactions
* Excellence
* Upholding the highest of standards and encouraging improvement in all we do
* Respect, compassion, kindness
* Accepting people as they are and acting with care, respect and consideration
* Dedication to justice and equity
* Supporting the right of all people to be treated equitably and with dignity
* Embracing diversity
* Embracing and celebrating difference
* Commitment to development and collaboration
* Seeking progress, growth and expansion along with creating partnerships to achieve common goals

In all areas of our organization we apply our core values this includes our business practices as well as our clinical drug and alcohol treatment programs. Our counselors receive ongoing training from the Meadows, the premier treatment center in the United States.
Our Treatment Philosophy

Whiteside Manor Newly Designed Handicap Accessible bedroomAs a way to provide our clients with the optimum opportunity to remain clean and sober, Whiteside Manor takes several approaches in dealing with addictions, alcoholism and associated mental illnesses.

The first is to provide a safe, comfortable, family-style living environment where our clients can be surrounded with supportive friends, exemplary role models and well-trained leadership. This allows each client to experience a different way of life for themselves in a positive family atmosphere, to develop new habits and begin to feel comfortable and confident with a clean and sober lifestyle.

In addition, our program is a 12-Step based and highly structured program that stresses the importance of long term exposure to recovery oriented activities such as l2-Step recovery program involvement, sponsorship and fellowship. We expect and encourage all our clients to continue a strong commitment to the 12-Step philosophies and traditions for the rest of their lives.

We also believe that there are other modalities and tools that can support and enhance recovery. We believe that the disease of addiction affects the entire person; encompassing the body, mind and spirit and we want to address each of these areas while helping with discipline and structure.

And finally, the family can play a positive and powerful role in the recovery process. We invite and encourage family members and/or significant others to come to our Family Program to address issues which center around these relationships.

When drugs or alcohol have touched your life, you need to be made whole again. Because an addiction affects more than just one part of your body or life, you need a treatment solution that will help you put all of the pieces back together. Those who are serious about treating their addiction understand that a holistic approach is necessary to help them beat their addiction for good. At A New Day Rehab, patients can get the individualized treatment and support they need to heal their bodies, minds and spirits – ensuring that the road to recovery is a permanent one.

Intimate setting with a 25 client maximum Comprehensive alcohol and drug education
Tranquil, serene, ocean setting Dual Diagnosis w/psychiatric care
Holistic Approach (body/mind/spirit)

Individually based treatment programs 30-90 days
Small groups Most Insurance accepted. Affordable treatment
Experienced, licensed clinical staff
Twelve-step based (AA/NA)

The old adage, “This is the first day of the rest of your life”, is true at A New Day drug treatment center – and our goal is to assist you to make it a better life that is free of alcohol or drug addiction. We first provide to you a smaller drug treatment center that offers a more serene and healing environment than larger facilities. Our drug treatment center location is on beautiful Singer Island in South Florida, a safe and secure setting that attracts many clients from all over the United States. We provide our clients a high quality, comprehensive treatment process that is cost effective and centered on their particular needs.

A New Day drug treatment center will assist you, through passion and commitment, to find the courage to choose a life of recovery from your disease of addiction. Call A New Day drug treatment center now, if you are in need of immediate assistance or would like more information – Admissions are accepted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Combining the structure and discipline of an intense therapeutic program with the resocialization and experience of sober fun.

Proud of a Lasting Heritage
Pride in a Unique Program
Beach Comber Rehab

Joseph Bryan has been named Executive Director of The Beachcomber. He follows in the path of his father, James Bryan, who founded the facility in 1976 and whose career spanned decades of leadership in the field of alcoholism treatment and addiction treatment. James died on December 1, 2005.

Jim had begun changes at The Beachcomber as plans for retirement dawned. It was then his son, Joe, expressed interest in management. He had worked at the facility since 1980 then in 1987, with a degree in business administration from Florida Atlantic University, Joe was ready for the health care career that has followed.

First as marketing director and community spokesman for The Beachcomber, Joe learned the importance of a “homelike atmosphere.” He noted how residents responded positively to the program and felt ready to share his knowledge with a broad range of referral agencies.

By 1992 Joe had advanced to program director with Jim Bryan available for consultation. Changes were smooth and orderly so as Executive Director Joe’s transition is now complete. The Beachcomber’s experienced staff faces the future with confidence in a program developed over a thirty year span.

Since its opening the program has been keyed to treatment in an intimate, homelike environment. In the words of the founder, Jim Bryan, “it’s a residential program where hope and fulfillment begin to replace fear, anger and loneliness.”

Keyed to the principals of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, a combination of factors makes the residential experience unique for those seeking treatment in the appealing, tropical setting.
A Bit of History …

The Beachcomber was founded in 1976 to help individuals and families afflicted with the devastating illness of alcoholism and drug addiction. We combine the structure and discipline of an intense therapeutic program with the support and experience of a sober community.

What Sets Our Addiction Treatment Center Apart

In our intimate environment, 16 clients interact with four full-time therapists. Hope and fulfillment begin to replace emotions such as fear, anger, and loneliness in the individual, as well as the frustration and hidden suffering of family and loved ones.

The emphasis of treatment is on personal contact. Therapists are not burdened by administrative activities. There are approximately seven hours of therapy per day, seven days a week. This includes group therapy every day as well as seminars covering a wide range of subjects from the disease concept of alcoholism through marriage, sexual dysfunction, and interpersonal relations. In addition, there are two scheduled individual sessions per week for each client plus casual therapy which goes on in a continuous manner throughout our family-like setting.

There are two sessions per week for family members plus additional counseling, if needed. While family members’ participation is not mandatory, diligent efforts bring about a 99% participation of families in our program.

The Beachcomber is geared towards the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Al-Anon, with meetings on the premises. An A.A.N.A. contact is made for each client before leaving as well as a schedule of A.A. and N.A. meetings. Aftercare is provided for both patients and families for a minimum of one month up to a maximum of one year.

Change is what we are really about, and as the number of men and women who begin their sobriety at the Beachcomber grows into the thousands, we are more sure than ever that we are accomplishing what we set out to do.

We invite you to talk with us and to visit our beautiful family-like setting just 305 paces from the uncrowded private beach on the Atlantic Dunes.

Founded in Atlanta in 2000 by a 47 year old native Atlanta businesswoman, nurse, mother and grandmother who a few years earlier who had become uncomfortably aware of a problem in her own community. She was witnessing a painful deterioration of values, morals, and education, an alarming increase in crime and violence, with soaring rates of injury, sickness and death. Upon careful examination of all these negative circumstances, she found drugs and addiction to be the common denominator. In reviewing one of hundreds of reports published by the United States Department of Justice she learned that in most major cites, including Atlanta, over 50 % of arrestees tested positive for the presence of drugs. With that information at hand, it now became necessary to find a way or program that was effective at stopping addiction. After much research and many long hours spent with professionals in the field of recovery, there was one program that stood out from the rest, with a much higher success rate and a non-traditional approach that was based on actually provable scientific research. That was a program called Narconon.

She decided to try a pilot of that program in her community. The clients that would be chosen for the Pilot program would need to be proven hard-core addicts. A local Judge was willing to allow 20 inmates that where in jail, as a result of their addiction, to participate in this evaluation. After countless hours of interviewing inmates to find the right test group, the 20 where finally chosen, and released to the custody of the program.

Local businesses in the community supported this venture by way of donations.

The inmates completed the pilot program in approximately 2 ½ months, and the results where nothing short of incredible. They where all released shortly after the program, and given specific after-care follow up programs. Most continue to do well today, supporting a 70-80% rate of success.

The decision was made at that point; the Narconon program was the program to use.

A Truly Unique Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Program

The Cedars Rehabilitation Center is a unique and precise treatment program for drug and alcohol addiction. We focus not only on the individual and set treatment methods around their specific needs, we offer hope to the individual and their family. Having available trained and professional staff, versed in several different treatment methods, we also incorporate traditional and spiritual methods of healing, connected with the Native American culture. An individual is met by a licensed therapist, who will collect information while they are still in detox, and begin putting their treatment plan together and the most optimal methods of treatment that are offered.
Individual Specific Treatment

It is known that most addicts will attempt one or more rehabs. Because we know this, we believe that repeating the same course of treatment may only result in the actual number of days sober, being the actual number of days in the program. That is why we offer several different methods in planning their program. Some can not grasp the traditional 12 step methods; while others could not adjust to alternative programs. Getting clean is about the addict and what they need to find within themselves to end the cycle. Often times, a dual diagnosis is attached to their addiction – depression, anxiety, bi-polar, etc. Through Intensive Individiual Therapy, it may be determined that the secondary diagnosis, is a direct result of the addiction. Kind of the chicken and the egg. Removing the drugs and alcohol, is the first step either way.
Our Philosophy

Our philosophy recognizes people as individuals and the treatment they receive, should be indvidualized to meet their needs. Their treatment plan is developed to provide them with the most optimal opportunities for a successful recovery. We are all connected through body and mind to our spirit. On staff also, are nationally recognized Native American Traditional and Spiritual Healers, who will assist our therapists in creating a balance, and further recognizing and reuniting the body, the mind and the spirit as one.
Program Duration

The Cedars Rehabilitation Center is a varied length of stay treatment facility (30, 60 and 90 days), that services both men and women, 18 years and older, with addiction problems. We specialize in the latest therapeutic methods to meet the needs of the individual. Recognizing that with addiction, many times secondary disorders are present (depression, anxiety, bi-polar). Our team also addresses the psychological aspects associated with addiction, further responding to the needs of the individual.
Our Mission

Our mission is to teach you about your addiction and about you as a person with the addiction. We can help you make an informed choice about the course you want your life to take. Individuals come to The Cedars to “learn to change the behavior that controls them and their addiction”. Your life can be better because of your experience here at the Cedars Rehabilitation Center.

Peak Addiction Recovery Center (PARC) is a nonprofit agency offering freedom from the bondage of alcohol and drug addiction. Through professional, comprehensive treatment services – from inpatient treatment to outpatient care – we offer solutions to a deadly disease….

HOW IT WORKS…

PARC believes that recovery occurs on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels – and does not happen overnight. Residential Treatment begins with a thorough assessment and evaluation process that produces a thorough individual treatment plan for each client. Treatment consists of numerous structured activities designed to implement healing. These include individual counseling, behavioral and motivational therapy, relapse prevention planning, relaxation and exercise therapy, nutritional counseling, community re-entry planning, 12-step introduction and meetings, spiritual discovery, step-down sober living, after-patient care, out-patient therapy and much, much more.(test)

WHY WE ARE HERE…

Drug and alcohol addiction impacts the lives of 63% of all americans. There are more deaths and disabilities each year in the U.S. from substance abuse than from any other cause. Most alcoholics and addicts cannot achieve long-term sobriety by themselves – over 90% will die from their disease.

WHAT WE BELEIVE…

Go to “about us” to see our beliefs and commitments that determine our approach to treatment.

A Note From The Director…

Peak Addiction Recovery Center is proud to be accredited through The Colorado Department of Behavioral Health and The Joint Commission. We strongly encourage you to choose only accredited treatment facilities.

Narconon Freedom Center is the most successful drug addiction treatment program in the country, with a history of an astounding 70%+ success rate. That means that more than 3 out of 4 of our graduates leave clean, and stay clean. This far exceeds that success rate of traditional 12-step programs and other alternative methods of drug rehab.

1. Addictions That We Treat
2. How Our Program is Different From Others
3. Proven Results
4. The Life Cycle and Mechanics of Addictions

Our Drug Addiction Treatment Program

To reduce drug and alcohol use the Freedom Center knows that greater results can be achieved by helping to educate students.

We Teach Students:

* To confront situations
* To control situations
* To communicate effectively
* To purge the body of drug residues
* To use tools needed to acquire and retain knowledge
* To overcome living in the past
* To avoid harmful situations
* To restore ethics, morals, responsibility and integrity
* To improve problem-solving skill

Information about our addiction treatment program:

1. The Therapeutic Training Routines Course
2. The New Life Detoxification Program
3. The Learning Improvement Course
4. The Communication and Perception Course
5. The Ups and Downs in Life Course
6. The Personal Values and Integrity Course
7. The Changing Conditions in Life Course
8. The Way to Happiness Course
9. After Care Program

The Therapeutic Training Routines Course

This is a basic drug treatment course which rehabilitates anStudents Learning about our Drug and Alcohol Rehab Program individual’s ability to confront, control, and communicate. It has been found that through the cycle of addiction these skills are lost or suppressed. These skills are rehabilitated through simple drills that are done in a course room setting. Upon completion students find that they are better able to exist comfortably in the present moment, communicate in a much more rational manner, and control themselves in situations that they would previously lose control in.

What is the Core Problem?

“Drugs aren’t even the real problem, but symptoms of an underlying problem”

Many people mistakenly think that drugs and alcohol are the problem, and focus all their energies on handling the substances, rather than the true problem. Time and again, we see addicts removing themselves from their drug of choice (jail, treatment, hospitalizations) and yet they return to active addiction. The drugs are no longer in their system, we like to think…therefore the drug problem should be gone. But, of course, it is not.

And, in addition, if their “drug of choice” becomes less available (moving to another area, lack of finances, needing to take drug tests, etc) then many substance abusers will switch from their drug of choice to another more available or cheaper substance. This includes addictive behaviors such as gambling or sex. Again the drug problem doesn’t seem to be much of a drug problem, but a behavioral or thinking problem.

If the drugs aren’t even the problem, what is the problem then? In it simplest form, the problem with a substance abuser isn’t so much the drugs, but a problem of avoiding uncomfortable feelings, things and situations. Drugs alleviate uncomfortable feelings, they make us feel better. But so do other behaviors that we see common to supposed “drug addicts”.

In addition to the substance abuse, we also see many of these common traits with substance abusers:

* Postponing or delaying uncomfortable responsibilities such as paying bills, going to school, finding work, etc. “I’ll take care of this tomorrow”
* Shutting down. “If I sit here and don’t talk, sooner or later they will go away and quit yelling at me.”
* Reacting explosively when confronted to make things go away. “Leave me alone!”
* Lying to avoid uncomfortable confrontations. “I swear I didn’t use drugs today”
* Avoiding uncomfortable confrontations of any type. “I don’t want to talk about this right now. Can we deal with this later?”
* Avoiding uncomfortable problems by immersing themselves for long periods in distractions such as television, music, or even gambling.
* Playing the victim to make them feel more comfortable. “This isn’t my fault. If you had my problems, you’d use too.”
* Shifting the blame. “If you wouldn’t give me such a hard time, then I wouldn’t use.”
Not taking accountability for their actions. “This wasn’t my fault.”

In other words, a substance abuser isn’t actually addicted to drugs (although he may have become temporarily physically dependent) , they are actually addicted to is avoiding uncomfortable feelings, things and situations . This manifests itself in so much more than just the drug abuse.

If we do not work on the real problem, this instinctive avoiding of uncomfortable things, then no matter how long we take the substances out of the abuser, they are probably going to eventually seek it out again…and in the meantime continue avoiding facing uncomfortable life situations which will create its own share of problems.

At the Freedom Treatment Center, after successfully withdrawing off of drugs or alcohol, the first area of recovery that we need to focus on is composed of three parts found within our Therapeutic Training Routines:

1. Raising our ability to confront uncomfortable feelings, things and situations.
2. Being able to effectively communicate problems, things and situations in such a way as to not create further discomfort.
3. Being able to control ourselves and our surroundings in a healthy manner.

We accomplish this by having our students perform 8 basic drills that are designed to increase ones ability to effectively confront, control and communicate. We consider these the basic foundation, without which it is impossible to successful apply the remaining steps of our program to recovery and freedom from active addiction. This step is considered so vital that it is repeated again, at a much higher level, further down the program.