You might have heard: Christmas is literally right around the corner! By now Thanksgiving is a few weeks away, and while we may or may not still have any turkey left in the fridge, we can probably all attest to experiencing a generally more pleasant mood when we’re out and about. People tend to be nicer, friendlier, and happier throughout the holiday season, and we can’t say we’re complaining!
In fact, one of the joys of our outpatient treatment model here at Thrive Treatment℠ is the fact that many of our clients are able to enjoy quality family time at home with those they love during these times of peace and relaxation, and down time, peace, and relaxation can all be perfect supplements for a number of ailments– addiction included.
Sometimes, during treatment, we can become so inundated with learning and growing as much as we can that we forget just how amazing simply being able to get the treatment we need for our addictions really is. The idea of addiction treatment only took off less than a hundred years ago with Bill W. and Dr. Bob’s founding of Alcoholics Anonymous (there were other sobriety programs before, but none with as much of a lasting impact), and since then, countless men and women have been able to return to even more fulfilling and gratifying lives as leaders, teachers, and mentors in their own communities thanks to what they’ve learned and experienced in treatment.
Addiction treatment has helped numerous people make strides in their lives that they wouldn’t have otherwise been able to make, and as members of the recovery community, we have the joy of being able to spread their victory stories to many more men and women everyday. Our mission is simple, and designated by The Big Book– to be a guiding light for others seeking freedom from addiction and restoration. As The Big Book says, “many could recover if they had the opportunity we have enjoyed.” Our goal is to make that opportunity available to them.
Here’s to all of the good the addiction treatment community does for the men and women it touches day in and day out!
Treatment gives us our lives back
This one almost goes without saying! The Big Book indicates that entering treatment signals “the beginning of the end of [our] old life, and the beginning of [our] emergence into a new one.” When we’re addicted, we can feel like our lives have been ripped apart. Addiction can change us into completely different people, and, through no fault of our own, we can become isolated from those we love and care about. Through treatment, however, reuniting is possible! Treatment teaches us how to address the problems that caused our substance use, how to make amends with those that we’ve wronged, and how to start over on the right track.
Additionally, treatment gives us the ability to extend our family through new relationships with our peers, and creates new outlets for us to find purpose even beyond sobriety. Here at Thrive Treatment℠, for instance, many of our former clients form lifelong bonds with the people they entered treatment with, and can count these friendships as some of the best relationships they’ve had in their lives. They go on to champion the treatment process with men and women in their communities, start businesses, and become pillars of their respective societies, using the guiding principles they learned right here as background.
After graduating from treatment, not only is addiction a thing of the past– but we have a new attitude and outlook on life that can take us to incredible heights in all kinds of fields. As The Big Book suggests, many find the lessons learned through addiction treatment to be of great help with many other avenues of their lives. A new shot at life is certainly something to be thankful for this holiday season!
The treatment community accepts us
When we’re addicted, we can quite often be shunned, even by the people who say they care about us and wish us the best. People who have never had the addiction illness don’t always understand it, and it’s no secret that we tend to fear what we don’t know. However, there’s always one place that will accept us for who we are, understand our struggle with mental obsession, spiritual maladies and physical allergies, and not judge us for it. That place is the treatment community. Even a hundred years back, before all of the rules of what would become Alcoholics Anonymous were fleshed out, there was one rule that was concrete: “The Alcoholics Anonymous groups oppose no one.” What a joy to know that now, even decades later, that same rule applies in our modern treatment communities!
There’s no better feeling than knowing that we always have somewhere to turn that understands us, and somewhere to go when times are tough and we need a shoulder (or a few) for support. With alumni programs, mixers and outings designed specifically to reunite graduates with those currently in the initial treatment process, the sense of community fostered by treatment programs is second to none, and that’s a holiday blessing if we’ve ever seen one!
Thrive Treatment℠ is an outpatient addiction treatment center in beautiful Santa Monica, California. We have over thirty years of collective experience in some of the most innovative and effective addiction treatment practices in the world, and one focus: making our clients better mentally, physically, and spiritually. Let this holiday season be one where addiction isn’t invited. Call us today at (888) 975-8474, and see how we can help you!
