Building Your Future in Recovery

When you develop a substance use disorder (SUD), it can overtake every part of your life. Your self-esteem may plummet, making self-care more difficult. Intoxication becomes uncontrollable, and your work performance might decrease in quality. Perhaps your identity starts centering around harmful terms like “addict,” “drunk,” or “junkie.” Relationships strain and fracture with enough pressure; family members worry about your health and safety. The destruction can feel catastrophic.

If you are facing SUD, everything might seem ruined. Know that your situation is not irreparable, though. You just need hope. Addiction is not an ending point. Treatment programs offer you a safe, supportive environment. They help you prioritize your sobriety and mental health. These facilities also help you to start building your future from the ground up.

Learning in Therapy

Though SUD makes the brain dependent on substances, therapy teaches you new skills to manage your thoughts, emotions, and triggers. Neuroplasticity allows your mind to reprogram its synapses and neurons. The more you practice and repeat the therapy techniques, the stronger the neural pathways become. As you discontinue drug-seeking behaviors, those neural pathways weaken.

It is important to understand the role of neuroplasticity in addiction recovery. Neural pathways help the brain communicate and make decisions. It encourages conditioned actions like substance use. The more developed a neural pathway, the longer it takes to make it defunct. Over the treatment stay, you work to strengthen other pathways and weaken those related to substances. By the end of treatment, ideally, your neuroplasticity will have allowed you to take steps in the direction of long-term healing.

Discovering Yourself Through Hobbies

In the height of active addiction, you lose your hobbies. Normal activities do not provide the same dopamine release as drugs or alcohol. Plus, your thoughts may continually shift towards ways to use, ways to obtain more substances, and ways to hide your SUD. Your mind is too busy to engage with hobbies.

Luckily, rehab centers usually offer many more activities than just psychotherapy and group therapy. Experiential therapies provide opportunities to explore different interests. Music therapy, art therapy, and play therapy may allow you to connect with your creative side. Journaling could spark your emotional awareness. You could feel more at home in your body through exercise and yoga.

While developing your new interests, your brain begins healing. Your dopamine receptors begin responding to normal levels again. Anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure, can decrease as you find fun and new activities. Eventually, you begin developing an identity that does not center on substance abuse.

Re-Establishing Social Connections

The systems theory suggests that you function as a small part of a larger unit. Your actions, illnesses, and traits impact everyone around you, such as your friends and family. This includes addiction.

Your loved ones may create mental distance to minimize the harmful impact of SUD. The establishment of barriers may seem like a personal attack against you. It can feel discouraging to experience this isolation. You should remember that this is often an act of desperation, not malice. They probably feel lost and confused about how to help you. They may not understand the mechanics of addiction.

Fractured relationships can often mend. When you enter into drug rehab, you will show the people in your life that you are dedicated to healing from your mental illness. They will likely offer more support the longer you are sober. Depending on past interactions, your friends and family might seem skeptical, but they do want you to get better. People may reach out through letters or phone calls. They may ask to visit you. All of these things help re-establish your connection.

Additionally, many rehab programs offer family therapy of some kind. It can provide mediation that builds trust. Mental health professionals can help reframe negative incidents, bridging the understanding of each person’s experience.

Grounding Yourself in Nature

SUD takes over your life. Rumination and thought spirals could prevent you from fully engaging with the world around you. Many treatment centers surround themselves with some kind of nature⁠—parks or trees. This can greatly benefit clients.

Walking in nature engages the traditional five senses. You see various colors, smell flowers, hear grass under your feet, feel the breeze, and taste the water from a bottle. You prioritize your health by moving your body and lightly exercising. You appreciate natural ecosystems, finding beauty in the smallest things. As you engage with nature, you simply become more connected.

Starting Your Future at Healing Pines

Situated between Colorado Springs and Denver, Healing Pines Recovery focuses on holistic treatment. Our treatment is not just individualized. We believe in client-driven care. We begin the process by asking you what you want. Then, we expand based on your mental health assessments. We provide as many 1-on-1 sessions as you need.

By providing experiential therapies like yoga, drum circles, meditation, walking, and equine therapy, we allow you plenty of time to discover new hobbies. You never know which activities will stick with you in the long run.

Every person you encounter will understand the experience of living with SUD. As a tight-knit group with a maximum of eight clients, you will receive social support from your fellow residents. Additionally, we allow long phone calls with your family members to build strength and connection.

You will also engage with one of the most breathtakingly beautiful environments. It is no wonder they call the state “Colorful Colorado.” From Elizabeth, you can distantly view Pikes Peak. Earthy color palettes will fill your days. The evening sky is painted with vivid sunsets against the Rocky Mountains. In the winter, you will see the sun glisten off morning snow. You will find true peace and clarity as you walk through our 40-acre ranch.

Due to SUD, you may feel out of control. Drug and alcohol treatment programs allow you to regain that control. Some pieces will look the same, but most of them will feel unfamiliar. You learn new coping skills in therapy and make use of your brain’s plasticity. You find non-substance-related hobbies to engage in during your long-term recovery. You receive an opportunity to mend old social systems. You connect with the world around you by existing in nature.

Healing Pines Recovery allows you to do all these things and more. We’re available to assist you around the clock. We can answer all your treatment-related questions. We’ll set you up with a substance abuse evaluation. After completing all the pre-admissions requirements, we’ll provide you with your admission date.

It’s time for a change. When you’re ready for a new adventure, please call at 720-575-2621.