#1 Sober Living in California
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Sober Living California

Coastal Sober Living California

Early recovery is not a bed of roses.  It can be hard. REALLY difficult. Even after the detox, focused therapy and recovery work accomplished at an inpatient treatment program, making the transition from a life revolving around alcohol or drugs to sobriety is challenging.  You know intellectually that you had to give up your precious substance of choice in order to stay alive, but you may still long for it. Like breaking up with a lover, it is bound to hurt for a while. Imagine trying to go straight home right after treatment.  In this vulnerable state, with that sometimes-ambivalent attitude poking its head in and testing your resolve, is it really the smart thing to do, to go back home right away?  Recovery exists on a continuum. It isn’t a single point in time you can point at and say, “See there, on April 9th I completed the program and now I am safely in recovery.”  Recovery is a slog, beginning in fits and starts and gaining traction as the months pass and you hang in there.   The very best chance of achieving that dream of lasting recovery, of being free from the substance that nearly choked the life out of you and everyone around you, is to plan on spending 3-6 months in a sober living community.  Surrounding yourself with like-minded sober people motivated to stay that way is key to surviving those early months of recovery. A diverse selection of sober living California options are out there, so why not find one in the most edifying location for healing and serenity, the coast.

About Sober Living California

An excellent aftercare plan following treatment includes outpatient counseling, recovery support, and a sober living environment.  Living in a drug and alcohol-free space that provides the structure and support needed during early recovery offers the best opportunity for avoiding relapse.  In a well-managed sober living home there is a zero-tolerance policy for drug and alcohol use or possession, meaning residents are tested regularly. This acts as a powerful deterrent to remain strong in sobriety so you don’t get kicked out and can truly enjoy all that the sober living home has to offer. A sober living house will have clearly stated rules and responsibilities that residents must adhere to.  This keeps the living space safe, sober, and supportive. It provides an opportunity to develop new healthy dietary and fitness habits, to gain employment or return to school, and to be accountable to people other than yourself.  Required participation in a 12-step program reinforces social support in recovery.

Benefits of Coastal Sober Living in California

Selecting a coastal sober living home California creates the very best of both worlds.  You will form new friendship and lifestyle habits in a safe and supportive sober environment while also enjoyed all the gifts of nature in a coastal location.  At your fingertips will be an array of outdoor activities to participate in that can stoke newfound energy and soul-level joy. Coastal sober living communities feature such activities as surfing, sport fishing, cycling, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, horseback riding, and more.  Even just jogging along the shoreline is invigorating. If your life story has taken you through addiction and into recovery, why not make the most out of this new life chapter and get the aftercare you need at a sober living community near the beach.

Riviera Recovery Provides the Finest Coastal Sober Living California at Malibu

Riviera Recovery is a beachside sober living community located in Malibu, California.  With striking ocean views and rolling hillsides to nurture your newfound sober lifestyle, Riviera Recovery can enhance your early phase of recovery with activities such as surfing, stand up paddle boarding, hiking, fishing, rock climbing, and kayaking.  Being sober does not mean life isn’t fun—on the contrary, in your new sobriety you will experience authentic joy for the first time in probably years. For more information about our sober living community, please contact Riviera Recovery today at (866) 478-8799.  
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Recovery Residences

How Recovery Residences Enhance Addiction Recovery

After investing sometimes months in treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction, too few give much thought to the potentially difficult transition back to regular day-to-day living.  It is understandable that after being in a treatment environment for an extended period of time one would clamber for the familiarity and comfort of home. But, alas!, that is exactly the place where a relapse could be triggered.  Family members who actively use substances, or memories of cultivated habits like using alcohol or drugs in a particular room or at a certain time of day, or lingering interpersonal issues at home can all trigger a return to substance use. Recovery residences offer a kind of safe retreat that act as a transitional living environment that bridges the super structured days in treatment and the full freedom of normal life. Sober living allows the needed time to develop new sober lifestyle habits and friendships.  Spending a few months in a sober living home can help the newly sober individual rediscover the benefits of living an orderly existence versus the chaos in active addiction, and embrace it.

Why a Recovery Residence is Beneficial to Addiction Recovery

It is no secret that the individual new in recovery is particularly vulnerable to relapse.  Following the completion of an inpatient program, the newly sober individual is still emotionally fragile and still in the process of restoring overall health following active addiction.  By spending some time in a sober living recovery residence, they will be surrounded by other adults in recovery who share the same goal. This social support is essential to developing a fulfilling sober lifestyle. Going hand in hand with the fellowship found in sober living is the newfound sense of responsibility to others, of getting outside of self and learning how to be of service and also accountable to the other housemates.  Establishing a healthy daily routine is supported in a recovery residence, where the house schedule usually sets a time for rising as well as a curfew in the evening. This helps prepare the individual for returning back to normal daily responsibilities and obligations by establishing a daily routine.

What to Expect in Sober Living

In most sober living environments there are posted house rules that are expected to be abided by, the most important one being the zero tolerance policy for the use or possession of drugs or alcohol.  Adherence to the house rules provides a sense of safety and order for all residents during the early phase of recovery. A well-managed sober living home will provide regular drug and alcohol tests to deter substance use, and enforcement of the house rules. When looking for a sober living recovery residence it is advisable to seek a program that offers mentoring toward reestablishing a productive life.  This might involve support for seeking work or teaching life skills and goal setting. The expectation or requirement that residents actively participate in both the weekly house meetings and regular 12-step meetings is also an important feature in sober living.

Different Types of Recovery Residences

Recovery residences run the gamut when it comes to varying philosophies, structure, and amenities offered.  Some sober livings are pet-friendly, some are faith-based, some are high-end luxury facilities, and some offer regular group outings and trips, to name just a few examples.  Because of the wide variety of sober living accommodations available, things like personal preferences, lifestyle, and financial resources will help narrow down the best match for the individual. As far as what services are offered, that can also vary from house to house.  The support services all revolve around the essential mission to help residents achieve stability in their new, sober life.  Most will offer transportation to and from 12-step recovery meetings, and other services might include assistance with legal matters, transportation to court dates as well as to outpatient counseling services and doctor’s appointments.

Riviera Recovery Offers Luxury Recovery Residences

Riviera Recovery has created a sober living environment that is a unique blending of order and fun. Yes, a certain degree of structure is needed for the overall health of the recovery residence and its occupants, but Riviera Recovery’s program emphasizes the joy discovered in embracing an active, sober lifestyle by offering a wide range of healthy activities.  These include swimming, yoga, group sports, surfing, and hiking the local Malibu hills. Riviera Recovery is also pet-friendly. For more information about Riviera Recovery, please contact us today at (866) 478-8799.
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Addiction Treatment with Acupuncture

Alternative Addiction Treatment with Acupuncture

To rid themselves of a drug addiction some people will be willing to bring on the pins and needles.  Yes, that’s right, acupuncture is now becoming a common alternative treatment element in many addiction programs.  Right along with yoga, mindfulness, and deep breathing exercises, acupuncture offers a new approach to ending one’s addiction. Addiction treatment with acupuncture is not new.  Though acupuncture has been in practice for thousands of years, it was first introduced for aiding detox and withdrawal symptoms in 1974.  It was initially used to help people ease off of methadone using the ear/lung point, and the results were encouraging.  Reduction in opiate withdrawal symptoms and improved program retention resulted, which led to continued developments in using acupuncture for addiction.  Currently, a five-point acupuncture protocol is the norm, which includes ear point combinations with other major organs.

Opiate Addiction Treatment with Acupuncture

Acupuncture originates from ancient Chinese culture where it has been used for millennia to re-balance the flow of energy in a sick person.  It is based on the belief that the body has a life force that passes through pathways called meridians.  Acupuncturists place the tiny needles in specific spots on the body that are believed to help unblock or re-balance the energy flow. To date, as a complimentary treatment, acupuncture appears to help most with heroin or opioid addicts detoxing from the substance.  Those who have used acupuncture have reported increased relaxation, anxiety relief, improved sense of well-being, and a decrease in the desire to use opiates.  There is some evidence that acupuncture can interrupt the dopamine response when the drug is used, diminishing the reward mechanism and therefore the desire to use again.

How Acupuncture Aids in Detox and Withdrawal

Drug detox is a grueling process that many people cannot successfully complete without relapsing back to drug use.  Acupuncture, as one of several holistic treatments, can reduce the withdrawal symptoms as well as the cravings through restoring the balance between the nervous system and the endocrine system.  Acupuncture is said to release endorphins, which can aid withdrawal by producing a sense of calm and well-being. Withdrawal usually features a sense of agitation, anxiety, and irritability.  Acupuncture can reduce those emotions, aiding in relaxation during the detox phase of recovery.  Acupuncture has no adverse side effects and is well tolerated by most individuals.

Addiction Treatment with Acupuncture and other Holistic Methods

 The concept of alternative, holistic treatments has caught on in the US, with more people embracing such methods as a complimentary form of treatment or as a stand alone treatment.  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 2008 more than a third of the adults in the country utilized complementary and alternative medicine. The trend is also present in the field of addiction treatment.  Acupuncture is just one of several holistic and experiential therapies that are being accessed during detox and addiction treatment in recent years.  Because of the strong correlation between relaxation and well-being, acupuncture can be a helpful tool in treatment, as can yoga, mindfulness training, meditation, massage therapy, art therapy, and equine therapy. All of these holistic activities enhance relaxation and reduce stress, as well as allow for exploration of self.  Coming to terms with the underlying factors—emotional pain, past traumas, dysfunction in family or marriage—can be a powerful tool in addiction treatment and attaining a sustainable recovery.  Treatment that provides nourishment to all dimensions of the person, the body, mind, and soul, will eventually be what leads to a lasting recovery and a newfound joy in life.

Riviera Recovery Offers Access to Addiction Treatment with Acupuncture

Riviera Recovery is a sober living community based in the beautiful Malibu coastal hillside.  The lush natural surroundings make Riviera Recovery a perfect spot for healing the body, mind, and spirit in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction.  Riviera Recovery encourages residents to partake of acupuncture or any of a wide-ranging menu of adjunct holistic therapies by coordinating these services to enhance recovery.  For more information about our recovery community, please contact us today at (866) 478-8799.