Shannon Zastrow

What’s not to like about healing in a resort-like setting? Countless drug and alcohol rehab centers throughout the U.S. are designed to make recovery as comfortable as possible. When you’ve been through the ringer of a difficult addiction, a luxurious mansion or hotel might seem like the perfect place to recover.

However, luxury rehab is not right for everyone. You may find that the most expensive facilities spend your money on high-end amenities and skimp on the deep psychological work necessary for lasting recovery.

We are all familiar with the idea of substance use relapse. But are all relapses the same? What does it mean when relapse becomes chronic? In this post we answer these questions and identify the root cause of chronic relapse.

Most of us are familiar with the image of the “shoulder angel” and “shoulder devil” each competing for our will. Each whispers in one ear....”that piece of cake looks delicious, you deserve to eat it!”...“Don’t do it, you’ll regret it later!”

But where do they come from, and what’s their function?

Many people feel overwhelmed by choosing the right place to go through rehab for addiction treatment. It is a big decision. There are so many things to consider - treatment approach, cost, and success rate, among others. 

But what about the rehab environment? Meaning, the physical surroundings, the staff, the makeup of the participants? These things can easily be overlooked, yet are some of the most important factors in recovery.

If you are an adoptee or adoptive parent you may be familiar with the term "adoption trauma." We deal with all forms of trauma as underlying causes of addiction at The Clearing, and what we know is that what is traumatic for one individual, isn’t for another. It’s all about how each person holds an event in our memory and consciousness.

Many people struggle with finding healing from substance abuse, and finding the right physical environment plays a critical role in their success. For some, residential treatment centers are the best way to heal from the underlying traumas that cause substance abuse. But different treatment centers offer different types of environments, and selecting the right one for you is critical.

Physical drug or alcohol dependence develops over time, which makes stopping the effects difficult. Without a proper detoxification process, withdrawal symptoms can shock the system. However, what is medical detox, exactly?