Why Speaking in a Group Setting is So Important for Recovery

Why Speaking in a Group Setting is So Important for Recovery

Addiction and alcohol recovery is a journey often marked by profound personal challenges, growth, and transformation. One of the cornerstones of this journey is gaining the courage to open up and speak in group settings. For many, this can feel like an insurmountable hurdle, especially for those who have historically turned to substances to navigate social anxiety or mask feelings of inadequacy. Yet, the act of sharing in a group is not just an exercise in vulnerability; it’s a critical component of the healing process. Here’s why.

Overcoming Fear and Social Anxiety

For countless individuals struggling with addiction, substances became a tool to manage social anxiety—a way to silence the inner critic or numb the fear of judgment. In recovery, confronting these anxieties head-on by speaking in group settings can feel overwhelming. However, group meetings provide a safe and supportive space to gradually rebuild confidence.

By sharing your thoughts and experiences, you begin to challenge the deep-seated fears of rejection or inadequacy. Each small step taken to speak up fosters personal growth and helps dismantle the false belief that you need substances to navigate social situations.

A Problem Shared is a Problem Halved

The old adage “a problem shared is a problem halved” holds particular weight in recovery. Addiction thrives in isolation, where shame and secrecy can fester. Speaking openly about your struggles in a group setting lightens the emotional load and allows others to provide perspective, empathy, and understanding.

Group members often discover that their experiences aren’t unique—others in the room have walked similar paths, faced similar demons, and overcome similar obstacles. This shared understanding fosters connection and reminds participants that they are not alone in their journey.

The Benefits of Sharing Your Story

Sharing your story in group therapy, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), or other recovery meetings is more than just cathartic—it’s transformative. When you articulate your journey, you not only process your own experiences but also contribute to the healing of others. Here are some key benefits:

  1. Building Authentic Connections: Sharing openly fosters genuine relationships built on trust and mutual support.
  2. Developing Self-Awareness: Speaking about your experiences helps clarify your thoughts, identify patterns, and gain deeper insight into your behaviors.
  3. Inspiring Others: Your story, no matter how messy or imperfect, may be exactly what someone else needs to hear to find hope and strength.
  4. Practicing Vulnerability: Opening up in a group setting builds emotional resilience and demonstrates that vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.

The Role of Group Therapy and Meetings

Programs like AA and other recovery groups are structured around the principle of collective healing. The shared stories, mutual accountability, and collective wisdom of the group create an environment where members feel seen and supported.

In these spaces, individuals often discover that their voices matter. They learn that by speaking up, they not only heal themselves but also contribute to the recovery community. This mutual exchange of stories and insights can create profound shifts in perspective and foster a sense of belonging that is vital for long-term sobriety.

Tips for Speaking in Group Settings

For those new to group meetings, the thought of speaking can be daunting. Here are some tips to help ease the process:

  • Start Small: Begin by introducing yourself or sharing a brief thought. You don’t need to dive into deep or painful topics right away.
  • Remember You’re in a Judgment-Free Zone: Everyone in the room has faced their own struggles and understands the courage it takes to speak.
  • Focus on Authenticity: Speak from the heart and be honest. There’s no right or wrong way to share your story.
  • Listen Actively: Hearing others’ stories can inspire you and provide a sense of direction for your own sharing.

Speaking in a group setting is not just about overcoming fears or checking a box in the recovery process; it’s about reclaiming your voice and your sense of self. It’s about breaking the chains of isolation and connecting with others on a deeply human level. While the first step may feel intimidating, the rewards are immeasurable—for you and for those who have the privilege of hearing your story. Remember, recovery is not a solitary journey, and every word you share brings you closer to healing, connection, and lasting change.

If you or a loved one needs help, you’ll feel at home at Northstar Recovery Center, where your voice truly matters. Give us a call at (888) 927-4097 or contact us today.

Avoiding a Relapse Over the Holidays

Avoiding a Relapse Over the Holidays

John Lennon famously sang, “And so this is Christmas / and what have you done / another year over / and a new one’s just begun.” Regardless of what winter holiday one celebrates, it is a time of reflection and goal-setting for the future. This can be especially true for those individuals in treatment and recovery. Over the holidays, it is important to keep a positive mindset that doesn’t dwell too much in the past or get too wrapped up in the uncertainties of the future. The good news is there are many tools and techniques that can help one avoid a relapse over the holidays.

The Prevalence of Addiction in the U.S.

Every day, addiction affects millions of people in the U.S. and beyond. This is especially true of alcohol use disorder (AUD), which is also the most common addiction that occurs today. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), “28.9 million people ages 12 and older (10.2% in this age group) had AUD in the past year. This includes 16.8 million males ages 12 and older (12.1% in this age group)” and “12.0 million females ages 12 and older (8.3% in this age group).”

Many people also struggle with opioid use disorder (OUD) in the U.S. This has been bolstered in recent years by the uptick of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Also, fentanyl is now showing up in many illicit substances, leaving unsuspecting individuals in the crosshairs of addiction, overdose, and overdose death. It is also true that many people struggle with co-occurring disorders of addiction and mental health.

How Common Are Co-Occurring Disorders?

Co-occurring disorders are significantly more common than many people may think. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders….Of the 20.3 million adults with substance use disorders, 37.9% also had mental illnesses. Among the 42.1 million adults with mental illness, 18.2% also had substance use disorders.”

These co-occurring disorders can be particularly damaging because one issue can often overshadow the other. This can lead to a misdiagnosis or an underdiagnosis. That is why it is so critical to see a specialist who focuses on both addiction and mental illness if there is any suspicion that a co-occurring disorder may be present. However, before seeing a specialist, it is also important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of addiction.

Better Understanding the Signs and Symptoms of Addiction to Avoid a Relapse

Now, of course, the signs and symptoms of addiction are always going to vary based on the individual. However, one can look out for many universal signs and symptoms. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:

  • Having trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
  • Experiencing physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
  • Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
  • Isolating away from family and close friends
  • Feeling anxious, nervous, or overly “stressed out”
  • Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness
  • Not being able to stop once starting drinking or using
  • Experiencing trouble at work or school
  • Loss of appetite and a lack of care regarding physical appearance and wellbeing
  • Exhibiting excessive mood swings
  • Causing harm to oneself or others
  • Having suicidal ideations

Now, many people can minimize addiction or falsely categorize it. However, as one can see, these signs and symptoms are significant and can be deadly. This is why reaching out for professional help sooner rather than later is critical. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences.

The Importance of Detox for Avoiding a Relapse

Many people don’t realize just how prevalent relapses can be. According to the peer-reviewed thesis Addiction Relapse Prevention by Doctors Guenzel and McChargue, “One primary concern in addiction treatment is the high rate of relapses within a short period after even the most intensive treatment. Many studies have shown relapse rates of approximately 50% within the first 12 weeks after completion of intensive inpatient programs that often last 4 to 12 weeks or more and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.”

One of the best ways to avoid becoming one of these statistics is to begin the recovery process the correct way. For many individuals, this involves starting with a safe and secure detox. A professional detox will ensure that the individual gets all of the direct attention they need at a crucial time in their recovery. It will also ensure that an individual is physically and mentally safe.

Many people don’t realize that detoxing from certain substances, especially alcohol, can be very uncomfortable and even deadly. A professional detox setting will ensure that an individual gets all of the nutrient replenishment that they need, as well as making sure that they remain hydrated. An effective detox will also connect an individual to the next stages of their recovery.

Avoiding a Relapse With Day Treatment

Many people are confused when it comes to day treatment. They feel that it may be less rigorous or effective than residential care. This is simply untrue. Day treatment has been shown to be highly effective and is a comprehensive and intensive form of recovery.

Day treatment generally involves five eight-hour days a week, including many means, methods, and modalities. These modalities include (but are not limited to) psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy and art therapy, and holistic healing methods like yoga therapy and mindfulness meditation.

Day treatment can also be highly beneficial to the individual who needs to keep on foot in their everyday lives. This individual may have familial or occupational responsibilities that need attention. However, even though individuals remain active in their everyday lives, they will have the tools to avoid a relapse. This includes a relapse over the holidays.

Avoiding a Relapse Over the Holidays

The holidays can be a difficult time for anyone. However, this can be especially true for individuals in treatment and recovery. These difficulties can easily lead to a relapse if an individual does not have the tools set in place.

One of the best ways to avoid a relapse over the holidays is to stay connected to one’s recovery plan. This means continuing regular therapy sessions, maintaining a daily routine of physical and emotional health (such as meditation and exercise), and connecting with others in recovery (such as attending 12-Step meetings).

The good news is that one does not need to be glum over the holidays to avoid a relapse. For example, many people feel that they cannot be around others who are drinking over the holidays. This does not need to be the case. As long as one maintains their recovery “fitness” and stays connected to their plan, they will have the tools to navigate nearly every situation and avoid a relapse.

Enjoying the Holidays in Recovery

People don’t get sober to shut down and no longer enjoy life. They get sober because they want a new sense of freedom, out from under the thumb of drugs and alcohol. Perhaps, this is no truer than around the holiday season.

Enjoying the holidays in recovery simply requires a little preparation. It requires having alternative plans when a situation begins to feel triggering. It involves having a “game plan” when going to a holiday function, such as having nonalcoholic beverages available and knowing what to say if asked why they don’t drink. One of the best ways to avoid a relapse and enjoy the holidays is to connect to others in recovery.

Avoiding a Relapse: Connecting With Others Over the Holidays

Working with others in recovery is an essential part of staying sober. It is so essential that there is even a chapter entitled “Working With Others” in the primary text of 12-Step recovery (most commonly referred to as the Big Book). The chapter states, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking [and using] as intensive work with other [people in recovery]. It works when other activities fail….You can help when no one else can.”

Day treatment is an ideal place to meet others in recovery. This is where one can build a healthy “sober network” that one can rely on when situations arise over the holidays. Working with others also gives people a purpose in recovery, which can be an essential aspect of the process. One of the best places to make a connection to other people in recovery is via group therapy, but that is not the only therapeutic modality that can help one recover.

Avoiding a Relapse: Means, Methods, and Modalities

One must take a multi-angled approach to recovery. This means focusing on all aspects of the “Self” during treatment – the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

The reality is that the recovery industry is worth billions of dollars. Unfortunately, this reality has created many predatory recovery centers that care more about their bottom line than their client’s well-being. They offer only overarching “cookie-cutter” recovery plans that don’t consider the individual.

Here at NorthStar Recovery Center, we know that this approach rarely works. That is why all of our recovery plans are individualized and comprehensive, including psychotherapies like CBT and DBT.

Better Understanding Dialectical Behavior Therapy

DBT comes out of the school of CBT and was originally focused solely on suicidal women with borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, it has since moved into the realm of other aspects of addiction and mental health recovery.

DBT can be particularly effective because it focuses on the underlying issues of addiction and mental illness and helps to address the negative way that one views oneself and the world around them. This therapy then works to adjust the negative cognitions (thoughts), emotions (feelings), and behaviors (actions) that drive an individual’s addiction.

DBT works with five functions. The three most critical are enhancing capabilities, generalizing capabilities, and enhancing motivation. Regarding enhancing motivation, the peer-reviewed journal Psychiatry (Edgmont) states, “A third function of DBT involves improving patients’ motivation to change and reducing behaviors inconsistent with a life worth living. This function primarily is accomplished in individual therapy. Each week, the therapist has the patient complete a self-monitoring form (called a “diary card”) on which he or she tracks various treatment targets (e.g., self-harm, suicide attempts, emotional misery).” This therapy also works well with other types of modalities, like experiential therapy.

Better Understanding Nature-Based Therapies

Nature-based therapies can be essential for recovering at the cellular level. Many people lose touch with nature because addiction isolates them away from these types of healthy experiences. However, connecting to nature can be incredibly healing.

Nature immersion therapy also offers many other benefits, especially something known as “connectedness to nature”. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “While cognitive restoration and physiological well-being are the prominent and renowned benefits of nature exposure, there is one important construct that is often overlooked in environmental psychology research studies – that is, the human-nature relationship; also known as connectedness to nature (CN). Various environmental psychologists have different interpretations of the term. For some, CN refers to the emotional bond between humans and nature; the extent to which individuals perceive themselves to be part of the natural environment and their relationship with it.” This “CN” can also be bolstered by additional holistic healing methods.

Better Understanding Holistic Healing Methods

Healing holistically (meaning physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually) can be essential for long-term recovery and avoiding a relapse. There are many ways to make this holistic healing happen. One highly effective way is via yoga. Yoga offers both physical and spiritual components that are highly productive tools for people in recovery. It can also connect an individual to a meditation practice.

Meditation offers a myriad of benefits. According to the International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda (AYU), “During the process of meditation, accumulated stresses are removed, energy is increased, and health is positively affected overall. Research has confirmed a myriad of health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. These include stress reduction, decreased anxiety, decreased depression, reduction in pain (both physical and psychological), improved memory, and increased efficiency.” Additionally, ”A study on the effect of meditation on the executive attentional network found that meditators were faster on all tasks.”

Another way to combine the positive effects of connectedness to nature and meditation is via horticulture therapy. Horticulture therapy can be an ideal way for one to bolster their recovery. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “People’s interactions with plants, through goal-orientated horticultural activities in the form of active gardening, as well as the passive appreciation of nature, could be therapeutic to people with mental disorders in many ways. First, horticulture could have emotional benefits, such as reducing stress, reducing psychiatric symptoms, stabilizing mood, and increasing the sense of tranquility, spirituality, and enjoyment. Second, it could help people to reduce fatigue and restore attention and cognitive ability.”

A Focus on the Individual at NorthStar Recovery Center

John Lennon concludes his song, “A very merry Christmas / And a happy New Year / Let’s hope it’s a good one / Without any fear.” That is one of the gifts of sobriety – no longer having any fear or anxiety about what the future may hold.

Here at NorthStar Recovery Center, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” That is why our recovery plans are comprehensive, individualized, and focus on the future. This can best ensure that there are no relapses over the holidays.

Recovery is out there. There is hope, and we can help. The key is to take that first step and reach out, especially over the holidays.

Relapses can be very common over the holidays. This is why it is critical to understand the prevalence and dangers of relapse, as well as be aware of some solutions to avoid a relapse. Many tools, like relapse prevention plans, can ensure that the entire family has a safe and healthy holiday season. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about avoiding a relapse over the holidays, please reach out to NorthStarRecovery Center today at (888) 311-0911.

Handling Day Treatment Over the Holidays

Handling Day Treatment Over the Holidays

The iconic American author and philosopher Joseph Campbell famously said, “We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.” This is especially true for individuals in recovery. However, many people avoid getting the help they need because they don’t feel it’s “the right time.” Many people also worry about handling day treatment over the holidays. The good news is that, with the right recovery center, this worry is unfounded. There are many effective ways to recover from addiction, even during the holidays.

The Prevalence of Addiction in the U.S.

Many people don’t realize just how prevalent addiction is in the U.S. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “In 2022, 48.7 million people aged 12 or older (or 17.3%) had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, including 29.5 million who had an alcohol use disorder (AUD), 27.2 million who had a drug use disorder (DUD), and 8.0 million people who had both an AUD and a DUD.”

Now, while these statistics can seem overwhelming, the important thing is not to get discouraged. Recovery is possible; it’s just a matter of reaching out for the right help. Unfortunately, many people are unable to do this. This may be for many reasons, but one of the primary ones is that people don’t realize that they have a problem. This is why it is so important to be able to detect and understand the signs and symptoms of addiction when they manifest.

The Signs and Symptoms of Addiction

Of course, the signs and symptoms of addiction are going to vary based on the individual. However, there are many universal signs that there may be a problem. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:

  • Isolating away from family and close friends
  • Losing interest in activities and hobbies once enjoyed
  • Experiencing otherwise unexplained physical symptoms like headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
  • Trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
  • Feeling an overwhelming sense of dread
  • Not being able to stop using or drinking once started
  • Feeling overly anxious, nervous, or “stressed out”
  • Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness (depression)
  • Experiencing alcohol or substance-related trouble at work or school
  • Committing self-harm
  • Having suicidal ideations

As one can see, these are significant issues, which is why if any, many, or all of the symptoms manifest, it is important to seek help sooner rather than later. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences.

The Prevalence of Trauma and PTSD

Many people who struggle with addiction also struggle with mental illness. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders…. Of the 20.3 million adults with substance use disorders, 37.9% also had mental illnesses. Among the 42.1 million adults with mental illness, 18.2% also had substance use disorders.” Many of these people also struggle with issues of trauma and/or post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).

Trauma is highly prevalent around the world, affecting millions of people daily. According to the peer-reviewed journal Psychological Medicine, “General population studies have shown that a large proportion of people in developed countries have been exposed to at least one TE in their lifetime (estimates from 28 to 90%), with the most common events being the unexpected death of a loved one, motor vehicle accidents and being mugged.”

The same is true with PTSD. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the National Center for PTSD, “About 6 out of every 100 people (or 6% of the U.S. population) will have PTSD at some point in their lives.” Also, “About 5 out of every 100 adults (or 5%) in the U.S. has PTSD in any given year. In 2020, about 13 million Americans had PTSD.” Yet, many of these people don’t get the proper addiction care that they need because they are not properly dual-diagnosed. This is where the importance of individualized care comes in.

The Importance of Individualized and Comprehensive Addiction Care

The treatment and recovery industry is now worth multi-billions of dollars. Unfortunately, this means that there are many predatory recovery centers out there that put their bottom line above their client’s care. These are the types of recovery centers that only offer broad over-arching “cookie-cutter” recovery plans that don’t take the individual into account.

No two people’s recovery journey is the same. This means that their recovery plan shouldn’t be the same either. Yet, across the board, this seems to be what is happening. This is not the case at NorthStar Recovery Center. We find that “one-size-fits-all” recovery rarely works.

Individualized treatment plans that focus on the individual rather than the diagnosis are key. As the father of modern medicine Hippocrates famously said, “It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has.” These individual plans must also be comprehensive, using modalities from multiple areas of recovery. This includes psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy and art therapy, and holistic healing methods like yoga therapy and mindfulness meditation.

How to Get the Help One Needs

The key to getting help is “willingness.” The reality is that if one thinks they may have a problem with addiction, they most likely do. People who don’t have an issue with addiction most likely are not asking the question, “Do I have a problem.”

However, asking the question is the first step toward a better and more fulfilling life. When that willingness exists it is important to reach out for help right away. The window when one is willing can close very quickly. The best way to reach out for help is to tell a loved one. This will ensure that there is someone to advocate for recovery. The next step is to reach out to recovery centers. Any reputable recovery center will be able to either help (with insurance, for example) or find an individual the right place for them. This is how we operate at NorthStar Recovery Center, including over the holidays.

What Exactly Is Day Treatment?

Many people are under the misconception that day treatment is less intense than residential treatment. This is simply untrue. Day treatment offers all of the means, methods, and modalities of residential addiction care, but it also offers the freedom to keep one foot in everyday life.

Day treatment usually entails eight-hour days, five days a week. It will include therapy, recovery meetings, and other exciting types of treatments like nature-based therapies. It will also include some accountability like requiring one to attend outside recovery meetings and alcohol and substance testing. This can be worrisome to some who wonder about handling day treatment over the holidays. The good news is that with the right recovery plan, there need be no worries.

Handling Day Treatment Over the Holidays

The key to handling day treatment over the holidays is to stay connected to one’s recovery plan and to focus on both “one day at a time,” as well as healthy goals for the future. It is also important to stay close to other people in recovery.

Connecting with other people in recovery who have shared experiences can be highly beneficial. This is even discussed in length in the primary text of 12-Step recovery (commonly referred to as the Big Book). The chapter is entitled “Working With Others,” and it states, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking [and using] as intensive work with other [people in recovery]. It works when other activities fail… You can help when no one else can.”

Staying connected to sober people in recovery can also make the holidays more enjoyable and help to avoid a potential relapse. Many people don’t realize just how prevalent relapse can be. According to the peer-reviewed journal Current Psychiatry Reports, “It has long been known that addictive disorders are chronic and relapsing in nature. Recent estimates from clinical treatment studies suggest that more than two-thirds of individuals relapse within weeks to months of initiating treatment.” Also, “For 1-year outcomes across alcohol, nicotine, weight, and illicit drug abuse, studies show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within 1 year of treatment.”

Handling Day Treatment: Better Understanding Means, Methods, and Modalities

The key to effective long-term recovery is to utilize a multi-angled approach that uses many means, methods, and modalities for treatment. This is also how one gets the essential underlying issues that one must address if they are to fully recover at the cellular level.

It is often said in recovery rooms and 12-Step meetings, “We come for our drinking, and we stay for our thinking.” This is because addiction recovery is about much more than simply putting down the drink or the drug. It is about addressing what caused one to pick up that drink or drug in the first place. This is where psychotherapies like DBT and CBT can be so helpful and effective.

Handling Day Treatment: Psychotherapies

CBT is particularly effective at treating addiction because it gets to the underlying issues and negative ways in which one views oneself and the world around them. It also helps to address essential negative cognitions (thoughts) and emotions (feelings) to best address and modify negative behaviors (actions).

CBT is also highly effective because it offers autonomy and makes the individual part of the recovery process. According to the peer-reviewed journal Cognitive Therapy Research, “Consistent with the medical model of psychiatry, the overall goal of treatment is symptom reduction, improvement in functioning, and remission of the disorder. In order to achieve this goal, the patient becomes an active participant in a collaborative problem-solving process to test and challenge the validity of maladaptive cognitions and to modify maladaptive behavioral patterns…. Although these strategies greatly emphasize cognitive factors, physiological, emotional, and behavioral components are also recognized for the role that they play in the maintenance of the disorder.”

CBT is also highly effective when used with other psychotherapies like DBT and trauma-informed therapy. It is also benefitted by the use of experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy and art therapy.

Handling Day Treatment: Experiential Therapies

As its name suggests, experiential therapy is more about having experiences –rather than merely having discussions in “talk therapy.” Often these experiences are either adventure-based or involve creative output. This is the case with art therapy.

Art therapy is particularly effective for people who struggle with addiction and co-occurring mental illness. According to the peer-reviewed journal Cureus, “Art therapy is used most commonly to treat mental illnesses and can aid in controlling manifestations correlated with psychosocially challenging behaviors, slowing cognitive decline, and enhancing the quality of life. [It] can help people express themselves more freely, improve their mental health, and improve interpersonal relationships. The basis of art therapy is established on the idea that people can recover and feel better via artistic expression.”

Nature is also highly effective when engaging in experiential therapy. This is because nature offers a myriad of benefits. According to the U.S. National Park Service, “5 minutes walking in nature improves mood, self-esteem, and relaxation. Frequent exposure to nature reduces anxiety and depression while promoting a sense of wellbeing and fulfillment.” Also, “Physical activity in a green space can reduce stress and lower cortisol levels by 15%.” Also, many holistic healing methods like yoga can be utilized outdoors.

Handling Day Treatment: Holistic Healing Methods

The iconic yogi and spiritual leader B.K.S. Iyengar famously said, “Yoga is like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.” Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years. Originally it was solely a religious and/or spiritual practice, but it has since moved into the recovery realm.

The benefits of yoga therapy are vast and varied. According to the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), “Therapeutic yoga is defined as the application of yoga postures and practice to the treatment of health conditions. Yoga therapy involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent reduce or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional, and spiritual pain, suffering, or limitations. Yogic practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility, promote and improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.” It can also help manage stress over the holidays.

Handling Day Treatment Over the Holidays: Setting Healthy Goals for Long-Term Recovery

Setting goals in recovery can be pivotal. This is because it gives an individual purpose and drive.

There is perhaps no better time to set healthy recovery goals than around the holidays and the new year. As is often said, “New year, new you.” This is what handling the holidays in recovery is all about: positive forward momentum. As previously mentioned, it can also help to reduce the chances of a potential relapse.

Healing Over the Holidays With NorthStar Recovery Center

Here at NorthStar Recovery Center, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” We also believe in handling the holidays in healthy ways like celebrating milestones and safe and sober gift-giving.

Joseph Campbell also famously said, “Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.” Yes, handling the holidays in recovery can be challenging. However, it is also a time to show us that the choices we have made will forever make our lives more fulfilled and beyond our wildest dreams.

Entering addiction treatment can be difficult at any time, but this can be especially true over the winter holidays. The good news is there are many effective ways to navigate being in day treatment over the holidays, as well as some effective modalities that can help with recovery in the long term. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about handling day treatment over the holidays, please reach out to NorthStar Recovery Center today at (888) 311-0911.