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How to Stay Sober After Rehab: A Comprehensive Guide

Aliya on February 19, 2025

Although it is achievable, it can be very difficult to stay sober if you’ve experienced a personal battle with substances, whether drugs or alcohol. Sobriety is a fundamental goal for you. You may be working towards it currently while in treatment for substance abuse. Or perhaps you have completed treatment and use the relapse prevention tools to maintain your sobriety each day. Maybe you’re still in the midst of the addiction cycle, and sobriety looks like a distant, out-of-reach desire. No matter your situation, you can learn how to stay sober through rehabilitation. During treatment, you will learn valuable skills to help you make sobriety a daily, life-long reality. Here is how to stay sober after you graduate from rehab.

What Is Sobriety? 

You often hear the term sobriety as something to achieve, but what exactly does this mean? Essentially, sobriety is the state of not having any mind-altering substances in your body, including drugs and alcohol. At any given moment, you can be sober (meaning you have not taken any substances) or intoxicated. Being intoxicated means you are under the influence of substances, regardless of whether you feel high or not. But along with sobriety referring to a temporary state, it also refers to a long-term way of life. Another word for this is abstinence, which means refraining from drugs and alcohol. To be sober is to make the personal choice to avoid substances. Usually, people who achieve sobriety are those who have struggled with substance use in the past. Therefore, it takes intentional work to achieve and maintain sobriety. Individuals have to detox from substances, learn coping mechanisms for triggers, and plan for relapse prevention.

What Does It Mean to Relapse?

Relapse refers to when someone returns to substances after beginning or completing the work of recovery. It is possible to relapse at any time in your sober journey. In accordance, you could relapse after trying to quit cold turkey on your own, right after completing rehab, or after being sober for decades. Unfortunately, relapse prevention is the big ongoing goal those who have become sober continue to hold. Although there are tools and skills that can equip you, triggers will arise, and avoiding substances will be a challenge. But the best things you can do to avoid relapse are to attend rehab to build solid foundations and stay connected to a recovery support community.

Why Do People Struggle to Stay Sober After Rehab?

Staying sober after substance use is always going to be a challenge, although it won’t feel hard every day. Sobriety is a roller coaster, where some days you feel easily triggered, and other days you feel strong and powerful. There are multiple reasons why people struggle with sobriety after rehab. Sometimes, drinking or taking drugs is a coping mechanism they feel pulled to return to. This is often the case in people who develop an addiction through self-medicating with drugs or alcohol. Sometimes, people feel the social pressure to use substances, and they want to fit in. Also, since substances are addictive, the brain can still experience cravings long after achieving sobriety.

Substance Abuse and the Brain

Substances like drugs and alcohol are highly addictive. They create dependency by altering your brain messaging, so over time, you require more to function normally. For instance, substances trigger pleasurable feelings by stimulating the reward system (which releases dopamine). As your brain craves more of the feeling, you consume more and more, but still, the effect wears off over time.

Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders

Co-occurring mental health disorders are when a person has both a substance use disorder (SUD) and a mental illness. Mental disorders and SUDs often go hand-in-hand because of the way substances alter brain chemistry. If you have co-occurring disorders, we can help you find healing for both issues together.

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How to Stay Sober After Rehab

It can be difficult to stay sober during substance abuse rehab. Regardless of the treatment you receive, you will experience withdrawal symptoms like cravings once you stop using substances. However, while you are in rehab, you’re surrounded by supportive medical staff and peers. Your days are structured with therapy, skills training, and optional medication management. On the other hand, you may lose a sense of your support system after rehab since your recovery progression will be largely independent. If you’re wondering why stay sober, you simply have to look at the devastating effects drugs and alcohol can have. This includes your health, relationships, finances, future goals and dreams, and quality of life. Although it’s difficult, sobriety after rehab is possible! Here are our best “how to stay sober tips.”

Aftercare

After rehabilitation, we recommend our clients move into our aftercare level of care rather than branching out on their own. Aftercare is a program for graduates of Aliya Health Group’s centers to remain connected to rehabilitation support. Understandably, returning to society after being in substance abuse treatment can be a challenging adjustment. Many people lack a strong family and friend support system that can hold them accountable after rehab. Additionally, some people can’t return to their prior life situations because they will be too tempted to relapse into drugs or alcohol. Therefore, aftercare offers multiple benefits. For one thing, it helps individuals stay connected to the skills and motivation they developed in treatment. For another, it keeps them inside a supportive community of other sober peers who understand the same struggles.

Recovery Support Groups

We help connect graduates to local recovery support groups now that they’re not attending sessions at one of our treatment centers. We are connected with a variety of support groups and can help you connect with one either online or in person. You are invited to join a recovery support group whether you return home or stay in Sober Living housing. Some of the recovery groups we can help connect you with include:

  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
  • Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
  • LifeRing
  • SMART Recovery
  • Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS)

Sober Living

Additionally, we provide various Sober Living houses near our rehabilitation centers across the United States. These are sober houses for graduates of Aliya’s substance abuse programming. In a Sober House, you will live and maintain abstinence with a group of other sober alumni. You’ll share responsibilities with other peers, like cooking, cleaning, and shopping, and you will pay rent. Also, each community has a house manager overseeing the rules that are met. Staff conduct regular drug testing to ensure compliance with sober rules. Essentially, Sober Houses mimic real-world situations but act as a unique opportunity to stay tethered in a sober community.

Establish a Support System

It’s imperative that you stay connected to a support group after rehabilitation. This is to lesser your risk of relapse. Whether you choose to return home, move into a Sober Living House, or start afresh, seek out a support community. They will be able to talk with you and hold you accountable to your own goals. Equally, if someone you love is wrapping up rehab, you want to ensure they maintain support after returning home. If you’re wondering how to help someone stay sober, a good first step is helping them find a recovery support group.

Establish a Daily Routine

One of our best tips for staying sober is to set a daily structured routine for yourself. Setting healthy habits and routines is proven to help people stay committed to their goals, including their sobriety goals. The importance of having a routine starts in childhood and still in adulthood; following a daily structure helps you stick to your goals. This is because a routine creates an ongoing healthy behavior. Thus, create a manageable daily routine that aligns with your goals of sobriety and overall wellness. For example, schedule times for work, exercise, socialization with friends or family, daily responsibilities, and personal care.

Identify and Avoid Triggers

After you leave rehab and return to social plans, be mindful of your triggers and challenges with substances. Avoid people and places that will tempt you to fall back into drugs or alcohol. For example, if you’re wondering how to stay sober from alcohol, a good place to start is to avoid plans that center around social drinking. You know a winery or brewery tasting will be triggering and make it difficult to stay abstinent. Similarly, visiting a bar can be equally as triggering. Fortunately, many places offer non-alcoholic drinks now, and you can plan ahead for some activities by bringing your own beverages. However, be honest with yourself about which activities would likely trigger you to want to fall back into drinking. Equally as important, be honest with your friends and family about your challenges. This way, they’ll be mindful about planning events that don’t center around substances. You can also take the initiative to plan a sober activity.

Practice Coping Mechanisms Learned in Recovery

Leaving rehab means you return to the “real world.” This can be a bittersweet experience as you return to your friends, family, and passions, but new hardships can arise. For example, you’re removed from many of life’s stressors while in rehabilitation, but once you graduate, you have new expectations placed on you. These might look like needing to pay rent or being invited to hang out with people who are using substances. During challenges and triggers, remember the healthy coping mechanisms you learned in recovery. You are strong and equipped with many tools and skills to keep you aligned with your goals. Reach out if you need help coping with anything after rehab.

Educate Yourself on the Dangers of Substance Abuse

Another of our recommended ways to stay sober is to remind yourself of the damage substance abuse causes. This includes damage to your mental and physical health. Also, your sense of identity, values, passions, and spiritual wellness can deteriorate when using substances. Even more, your relationships experience strain and even destruction when you abuse drugs or alcohol. Let yourself feel grounded in your motivation to remain sober by remembering the negative impacts substances had on your life.

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Holistic Options to Help You Stay Sober

At Aliya, we believe in holistic-focused rehabilitation. Thus, we lead clients in a mixture of traditional and holistic healing options that complement each other. For example, our clients engage in behavioral therapy, medication management, and holistic therapy. Here are some of the holistic options we recommend you utilize after graduating from rehab to prevent relapse.

Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness and meditation are practices that help you focus on your body and breathing. As you center yourself in the present moment, you are able to find a sense of grounding. Mindfulness and meditation are beneficial practices because they are deeply calming and restorative for the mind.

Yoga

Similarly, yoga contains elements of meditation and breathwork but also provides the physical benefit of exercise. As you move through different yoga positions, you stimulate blood flow, stretch your muscles, and relax your nervous system. Yoga for substance abuse is effective at helping you find peace in the midst of the storm.

Expressive Arts Therapy

Expressive arts therapy includes a number of different therapy activities that stimulate creativity. We recommend expressive arts therapy because of the way it allows individuals to tap into a safe, childlike desire to play or create. Often, clients experience new breakthroughs during art therapies while they let their guard down. Expressive arts therapy options include drawing, painting, dance, music, storytelling, photography, and movement.

Exercise

Undeniably, exercise has many benefits for mental health, physical health, and spiritual health. As such, exercise is a valuable addition to your routine both during and after rehab. It’s important to move your body every day, even if your personal capacity feels small some days. You will experience the benefits on your mind, spirit, and body right away. And the more you do it, the more you will create a healthy habit.

A Treatment Center Can Help You Remain Sober After Rehab

As we’ve discussed, staying sober on your own is incredibly difficult. The best way to set yourself up for a successful, sober future is to work with a professional treatment center. As mentioned, we provide an aftercare level of care to keep individuals receiving support after they graduate from treatment. Additionally, our alumni have been part of the Aliya family for a long time and can reach out for guidance at any time. The main benefits of working with professionals are equipping yourself with relapse prevention tools and receiving ongoing support. Please reach out today if you’re ready to learn how to stay sober after rehab.

Other Options for Substance Abuse Recovery

If you aren’t yet at a place where talking about sober independence feels realistic, there’s help available to you. If you’re in the midst of your struggle with substances, we can help you get to a place of recovery. Our substance abuse treatment centers are located around the United States. We can help you detox from substances and begin the inner work of healing. If you’re ready to learn how to stay sober, give us a call today to enter treatment.

Using the OARS Communication Strategy During Motivational Interviewing

Aliya on February 19, 2025

As one of the behavioral therapy options we offer at Aliya Health Group, the OARS Motivational Interviewing method is effective at sparking change. Motivational interviewing is a counseling practice that uses empathetic, open conversation to help individuals identify their values. Then, their counselor works with them to define the goals that align with the client’s desires. As such, MI is an evidence-based strategy for replacing ambivalence about change with personal motivation. OARS is an acronym that identifies the main conversation skills used in motivational interviewing therapy. Keep reading to learn how goal-setting and goal-fulfillment are possible with motivational interviewing.

What Is Motivational Interviewing (MI)? 

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a counseling approach that helps individuals create change in their lives by adapting their beliefs and behaviors. It was created in the 1980s by a pair of psychologists, William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick. They created MI on the premise that people are more likely to want to change when it aligns with their values. Thus, a main tenet of motivational interviewing is goal-setting. In sessions, the therapist and client unpack the client’s values and beliefs to create goals that align. Many people feel a sense of fear about change. Yet, those who face substance abuse and mental disorders desperately long for real change in their lives. Notably, motivational interviewing helps individuals see change in a positive light. Through goal-setting, intentional listening, and question-asking techniques, MI helps people find motivation to change.

What Can Motivational Interviewing Help Treat? 

Motivational interviewing is an effective counseling method for the treatment of substance use disorders and mental health disorders. It can target a variety of illnesses, disorders, and issues. Essentially, MI is useful for anyone who would benefit from positive change in their life but doesn’t yet have the tools to begin the process.

Motivational Interviewing for Substance Use Disorders

Substance abuse is a major issue in the United States and around the world. Over 15 million people struggle with drug use, and over 76 million struggle with alcohol abuse. Motivational interviewing was first developed in the 1980s for the treatment of individuals with substance use disorders (SUD). It’s understood that people resist change when it’s forced onto them, even if they desire for things to be different. Therefore, individuals with substance addiction can find motivation to change by considering their goals for themselves. Motivational interviewing helps people develop their “why” when it comes to changing. Then, we help prepare you to focus on these goals in our comprehensive levels of care in rehab.

Motivational Interviewing for Mental Health Disorders

Similarly, mental health disorders are widespread issues that affect millions of people. An estimated 1 in 8 people struggle with their mental health, yet many people never receive the help they need. Having a mental disorder can really strip away your sense of identity and belonging. Those with mental illness often feel wrong or “other” while also battling extreme pain, exhaustion, and other symptoms. Although they have the desire to change, they don’t know how. Because their struggles come from within them, they often begin to believe there’s no hope of a better life. Also, it can feel exhausting to begin the process on their own. Motivational interviewing is a valuable resource for individuals with mental health disorders. Counselors affirm that the person isn’t beyond help and can change their behavior through intentional work. We believe effective change happens in a safe and supportive environment, which we provide at Aliya Health Group’s rehab facilities. Change happens through MI therapy for mental disorders.

How Does Motivational Interviewing Work?

You might be interested in the concept of motivational interviewing to overcome challenges in your life, such as substance abuse. Yet, you’re probably wondering how MI works. Typically, motivational interviewing therapy is a short-term method. Individuals may meet between 1-4 times with their MI counselor. The basis of MI is talk therapy. During sessions, your therapist will lead you in thinking about your struggles, decision-making, and values. Rest assured, this is a non-judgmental space. Your therapist won’t cast criticism on you but will prompt you to think through possible outcomes of either changing or staying where you are. Together, you will come up with your goals for how to achieve the things you want in life. Overall, motivational interviewing sessions help you define your goals and build motivation to pursue them through focused conversation. Your case manager can help you begin to work towards your goals concretely once you develop a desire for change.

Core Principles of Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing has several core principles built into the practice. Knowing them helps you understand MI’s intention to create a safe environment where the client better understands themself and prepares to change. The core principles are:

  • Expressing empathy: Your therapist will accept the information you share without judgment or offering unsolicited advice. They will exhibit empathy by listening attentively and validating your experience.
  • Developing discrepancy: Discrepancy refers to the client realizing their habits and goals do not align. This is a valuable realization because it’s the first step towards realizing the need for change.
  • Rolling with resistance: In motivational interviewing, resistance will surface. The aim of MI is to acknowledge it and relate it back to the individual’s discrepancy. MI shows resistance, which simply means there’s a need to make an adjustment.
  • Supporting self-efficacy: Throughout their experience with motivational interviewing, individuals develop a sense of self-assurance and capability. By the end of their MI programming, the client believes their therapist’s confidence in them. And the client feels as though they have the ability to change.

What Happens During Motivational Interviewing?

The process of motivational interviewing counseling is like an open, non-judgmental conversation between therapist and client. Notably, collaboration is a key to MI. You are not alone in it; instead, you are working through your thoughts and outcomes with your therapist. They will ask you open-ended questions about your situation, your choices, your beliefs, and future outcomes. You should speak freely during sessions because this will help you get to the root of your inner motivations. Also, during sessions, you experience the empathetic presence of your therapist, who toes the line between listening and offering advice. Overall, MI meetings should feel collaborative and informative as you learn about yourself.

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What Is OARS in Motivational Interviewing? 

OARS is an acronym for the key skills in motivational interviewing therapy. What does OARS stand for in motivational interviewing?

O = Open-ended questions

A = Affirmations

R = Reflections

S = Summarization

The OARS communication strategy is a key component of MI that aligns with its aim to facilitate a supportive environment. Thus, in every MI session you attend, expect your motivational interviewing therapist to use these conversation skills. The reason OARS is effective is because it leads clients into a place where they feel seen, heard, understood, and respected. These are necessary base comforts they need to experience in order to feel empowered to change.

Open-Ended Questions

Motivational Interviewing questions are open-ended and prompt deep reflection. Your therapist won’t ask you questions that have a “yes” or “no” answer, but instead ones that cause you to think in a new way. This question-answer style of conversation aligns with MI’s goal of self-reflection. We often don’t get asked such open questions because they require the other person to really listen and ask follow-up questions. The goal of motivational interviewing is to build rapport and trust with your counselor as you contemplate your answers together.

Affirmations

Affirmations are positive, encouraging, and validating statements that have a beneficial effect. When clients receive affirmations from their therapist, they feel supported in the midst of their trials. Additionally, they feel accepted because they’re being lifted up even as they admit to their struggles. Thus, motivational interviewing creates a safe and encouraging space where the desire to change can bloom.

Reflections

During sessions, your therapist may reflect on the things you’ve shared. Restating points you’ve addressed helps you better reflect on what you’ve said. They are also leading you to hear your own statements and explore them deeper. Reflections foster a greater sense of empathy and trust.

Summaries

During and at the end of your therapy session, your therapist may summarize statements you’ve made and topics you’ve discussed. This allows you to dwell on key insights that you’ve gained throughout your conversation. Also, it ensures both parties are understanding each other so there aren’t any miscommunications.

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What is the Goal of OARS During Motivational Interviewing?

The goal of motivational interviewing’s OARS method is to foster better conversation. Communication and open conversation are key in the process of developing a desire to change. Your therapist will use the OARS communication skills throughout your conversations because it creates a space where growth can occur.

How Does Effective Communication Aid in Recovery?

As shown, the communication skills of motivational interviewing play an important role in the MI process. The OARS communication techniques allow individuals to feel heard and understood. The easy back-and-forth of dialogue creates rapport and trust between therapist and client. It also opens the client’s mind to the deep values they hold that should influence their willingness to change their current situation. Overall, effective communication in motivational interviewing leads to lasting change by sparking self-efficacy.

Tips for Someone Undergoing Motivational Interviewing for the First Time

Starting motivational interviewing for the first time doesn’t need to feel nerve-wracking. Remember that the session will feel like a good conversation about your beliefs, habits, feelings, and values. Together, you and your therapist will be able to identify goals that will improve your life. Thus, go into each session with an open mind. Let down your guard because OARS motivational interviewing is proven to be effective at helping individuals overcome their substance abuse and mental disorders. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our intake team with any questions about the process.

Alternatives to AA: How Non-12 Step Rehab Can Empower Recovery

Aliya on February 19, 2025

Recovery support meetings offer support for addiction recovery through a variety of programs, including 12 step and non 12 step rehab. Simply put, both 12 step programs and non 12 step programs are recovery support programs for individuals who battle substances. At Aliya Health Group’s facilities, we offer a variety of programming and can connect clients to any peer support groups they are interested in. Notably, different support groups resonate with different people, as they have different approaches to sobriety management. What matters is that each person receives the support they need to make sobriety a reality. Thus, we offer clients a variety of programs to choose between, including 12-step and non-12-step recovery. This guide will walk you through some of the recovery support programs that fall outside of popular 12 step rehab.

What Are 12 Step Programs for Substance Abuse Recovery?

Let’s first unpack what 12 step rehab entails. 12 step programs are recovery support groups that have their own methodology and teachings to aid individuals in overcoming addiction. Recovery support groups exist for a wide variety of issues, including alcohol addiction, drug addiction, eating disorders, behavioral addictions, and mental disorders. Additionally, recovery support groups exist for friends and family members of those who are facing challenges with addiction. Undoubtedly, recovery support groups offer encouragement, motivation, and accountability in the healing journey.

To distinguish recovery support groups are meetings that can be attended during and after professional rehabilitation. Thus, 12 step programming also refers to a specific teaching program that can help one overcome their addiction during rehab. At Aliya, we offer 12 step programs in accordance with our own programming, which combines traditional and holistic therapy with medication management.

When it comes to 12 step programs, these have core components, including a spiritual element and 12 actions. They were first created in the 1930s with Alcoholics Anonymous and have since branched out to cater to more people.

What Are the Different 12 Step Programs?

There is a wide variety of 12-step programs, all stemming from Alcoholics Anonymous. As mentioned, 12 step programs exist for people battling alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and behavioral addictions. All in all, there are over 30 different types of 12-step groups you can join. These groups offer specific support for addictions, mental disorders, and other issues. Further, there are 12 step support groups for families of those who require treatment for their addictions.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, is a well-known recovery support program, but not everyone knows to link it to the 12 step model. Notably, AA was the original 12-step group that sparked the other programs. Alcoholics Anonymous is a group for individuals who struggle with alcohol misuse, abuse, dependency, and alcohol use disorder (AUD). To elaborate, there are multiple definitions of unhealthy drinking patterns that range from moderate to severe. AA is a place for all people who struggle with alcohol, regardless of the intensity of their issue. Additionally, Al-Anon Family Groups is a program for the families of people with alcohol addiction that also follows the 12 steps.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

Narcotics Anonymous, or NA, is a 12 step program for individuals who struggle with drug use. Similarly, it is available to all people, no matter their specific relationship with drugs. Regardless of whether you abuse substances, misuse prescription medications, or have a drug use disorder, you can benefit from NA. Markedly, Narcotics Anonymous doesn’t differentiate between what types of substances you are using but treats all drug conditions with the same approach. It aims to help provide tools and motivation to overcome your drug use, no matter what that looks like. Similarly, Nar-Anon Family Group is a program for the loved ones of those with drug abuse issues to support them in the challenge of addiction.

Specific Substance 12 Step Programs

In addition to more generic 12-step programs, there are also specific 12-step groups for substances. Some of the 12 step recovery programs that offer a more tailored support experience are:

There is value in joining a support group that’s tailored to your specific drug addiction. You can discuss substance-unique concerns and meet peers who fight the same battle.

Behavioral 12 Step Groups

Along with 12 step groups that focus on substance addictions, there are programs that help individuals with behavioral addictions. Using the same approach of 12 actions or principles, behavioral support groups offer a community for people who are struggling. Some of the behavioral addiction 12 step groups are:

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Do 12 Step Recovery Groups Work for Everyone?

12 step groups are popular, with many people aware of AA even without a history of substance abuse. However, the 12 step model doesn’t resonant with everyone. At Aliya, we believe Recovery should be personalized and flexible. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing. Sometimes, it takes some experimentation to find the right fit. Other times, individuals have a good idea of what won’t work for them. Although many people find motivation to leave their addiction in the past through the 12 steps, some find it unsuccessful. 

Here are a few potential reasons why you might prefer to look at non 12 step rehab.

Focus on Religion and Spiritual Forces

Notably, 12 step recovery groups include a spiritual elements as a key part of programming. There are 12 actions or principles to work on that lead you further down the path of healing. Throughout these 12 steps, the program prompts you to look towards a higher power as a source of strength. However, everyone is allowed to interpret it differently. Individuals can carry their religious beliefs into 12 step programming. On the other hand, they can take a more spiritual approach. Yet, the basis of the program requires a willingness to believe in a higher being as a source of motivation.

Lack of Individualized Approach

Another reason why people may prefer to look beyond 12 step programs is the uniformity of the methodology. The 12 steps are well-understood and widely used across many issue-specific recovery programs, as discussed. However, the 12 steps remain the same across all types of groups. Whether you struggle with a behavioral addiction, a history of trauma, a mental disorder, or a substance disorder, the steps are the same. Because Recovery cannot fit into a box, some people may have trouble connecting the 12 steps to their unique situation. Although some people find relief that the 12 steps are the same for everyone, others feel as though some element is missing.

Peer-Led Meetings

12 step meetings are peer-led, meaning they are run by a group leader. These leaders are trained in the 12 step methodology and have often completed the program themselves. They are skilled at fostering the group support mentality and promoting a space where belonging and acceptance flourish. Group support is a key tenet of the 12 steps, as they are run by peers. Without a doubt, this can be a huge draw for people who long for the connection with other sober peers. However, for rehab run by licensed medical counselors or therapists, you will need to work with a professional treatment center. Peer-led meetings are a better option for those who’ve graduated from rehab, like those living in our Sober Living Housing.

Non 12 Step Programs for Substance Abuse  

Understandably, 12 step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous are not the right fit for everybody. As part of our mission to make rehab accessible and flexible to meet everyone’s needs, we also offer non 12 step rehab. If you’re interested in meeting with a non 12 step program, we can connect you to a variety of recovery groups. Some of the addiction recovery options we support are SMART Recovery, LifeRing, Women for Sobriety, and Moderation Management. Surely, rehab without 12 steps exists for your concerns, whether they be substance abuse, mental disorders, or behavioral addictions. Let’s discuss some of the non 12 step options. If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery is a secular recovery program that stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. Additionally, it utilizes SMART goal-setting that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Instead of focusing on a higher power, the emphasis is placed on self-empowerment. Along with the above principles, SMART Recovery has four main pillars: motivation, coping with cravings, living with balance, and managing oneself. All in all, SMART Recovery programming aims to help individuals improve in attainable ways.

LifeRing Secular Recovery

LifeRing Secular Recovery is an anonymous program for those struggling with substance addictions, whether alcohol or drugs. This organization also has a secular focus when it comes to motivations, empowerment, and goal-setting. LifeRing’s programming stems from Organizations for Sobriety, so there is some overlap. It has a 3-S core philosophy, which is: sobriety, secularity, and self-help. As such, individuals draw their fundamental inspiration to stay abstinent by picturing their Sober Self and making decisions to become them.

Women for Sobriety

Women for Sobriety is a non 12 step rehab program for those with all kinds of substance disorders. This women-only recovery program focuses on the ways women experience addiction, covering topics like guilt, low self-esteem, and mental health. Their non 12 step alcohol rehab and drug rehab is based on peer community and their 13 acceptance statements. These are to be reviewed, reflected on, and lived out every day, thus shaping the individual’s overall thinking.

Moderation Management

Moderation Management is an online community resource for those who want to drink in moderation without relapsing into unhealthy patterns. It aims help individuals change their behavior and make healthy lifestyle choices, whether that looks like moderation or sobriety. Notably, the MM program is free and available online at all times. Members can choose to connect with a core group or simply utilize the program resources.

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Looking for quality treatment for substance abuse and mental health that’s also affordable? Aliya Health Group's treatment facilities accept most major insurance providers. Get a free insurance benefits check now!

Check Your Coverage​

Other Options for Substance Abuse Recovery

Now that you understand the basics of 12 step and non 12 step rehab programs, you can make an informed decision. Along with recovery support groups, professional rehabilitation in a treatment center will help you overcome your substance use disorder (SUD). In fact, you can connect with recovery support groups while attending Aliya Health Group, both during and after treatment. Our non 12 step rehab centers are located across the United States. There is value in attending recovery support rehab through an addiction treatment provider.

Addiction treatment is a multifaceted process that requires a combination of evidence-based approaches to address both substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. Many addiction treatment centers offer a range of addiction therapy programs, including individual therapy, family therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy, to help individuals overcome drug and alcohol addictions. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a common approach for opioid addictions and Adderall addiction, providing medical support during medical detox and beyond. Drug and alcohol rehab centers operated by Aliya Health Group offer inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization programs, and intensive outpatient programs, depending on the levels of care needed.

While traditional 12-step and 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous are popular, many individuals seek non-12-step rehab centers that offer 12-step alternatives, such as Refuge Recovery and Secular Organizations for Sobriety. Whether someone chooses a residential treatment facility or an outpatient program, a comprehensive addiction treatment program should include relapse prevention, motivational interviewing, and holistic behavioral health strategies. Those considering treatment should always verify insurance and check their insurance coverage to find the best treatment facility that aligns with their needs.

If you want to learn more about our addiction and mental health rehab, as well as recovery support meetings, please reach out today!

Using Socratic Questioning and CBT to Improve Mental Health

Aliya on February 10, 2025

Socratic questioning is a widely used and highly beneficial therapy technique used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In fact, the Socratic method of questioning is a standard practice in psychotherapy, including other behavioral therapies. When engaging with Socratic questions, you practice deep, rational thinking to help you come to logical conclusions. Often, mental health disorders cause negative thinking patterns that aren’t based on reality. Thus, Socratic questioning is effective at teaching individuals better patterns of thinking, which also influences their feelings and responses.

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of behavioral therapy. This psychotherapy, or talk therapy, began in the 1960s and has remained a popular therapy method. Since its origin, it has been extensively studied and concluded to be effective for treating issues in children, adults, couples, and families. Notably, it’s an effective treatment for a number of behavioral disorders, trauma disorders, mood disorders, substance disorders, and dual diagnoses. CBT focuses on helping individuals recognize their negative patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Further, the concept of the CBT triangle connects feelings, emotions, and actions into one repetitive cycle. Because negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence each other to lead to overall unwellness, CBT breaks the cycle.

Key elements of CBT include rationality and logic. These principles are used when viewing one’s thoughts and feelings to assess them for validity. During therapy sessions, your behavioral therapist will help you identify and challenge your negative patterns. They will also help you replace bad habits with positive ones. One of the CBT techniques they may use is Socratic questioning.

What Is Socratic Questioning in CBT?

Socratic questioning is a teaching method that is utilized in cognitive behavioral therapy. The intention is for clients and therapists to have a conversation that leads to greater rationalization of their negative thoughts. The therapist will ask open-ended questions that lead the client to realize the answers are simple and true. Most importantly, they’ll realize the answers are in opposition to their original negative beliefs. A large part of Socratic questioning is the client coming to conclusions as led by their therapist. Thus, the individual forms a better sense of reality. This process is called cognitive restructuring because it leads people to reassess their thoughts and thinking habits.

Where Did Socratic Questioning Come From?

As the name indicates, the Socratic method of questioning originates with the famous philosopher Socrates. He believed a deep understanding of complex ideas could be gained from asking intentional questions. Notably, Socrates is attributed to developing the concept of critical thinking, which is a key part of cognitive behavioral therapy. As a whole, psychotherapy is largely influenced by Socratic questions. Therapists lead clients to discover truths about themselves by answering questions rather than giving out answers.

What Can Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Treat?

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a beneficial treatment method for a wide range of mental health disorders. Typically, people with psychiatric disorders have similar negative thinking habits that are defined as cognitive distortions. For instance, they may engage in catastrophizing, predicting outcomes, overgeneralization, and focusing on the negative. Since many mental illnesses have such thinking patterns in common, CBT can treat them similarly. Its focus on the logical assessment of thoughts and feelings leads clients to better mental management.

CBT for Substance Use Disorders

Substance use disorders (SUD) include drug abuse and alcohol abuse. These mind-altering substances affect the brain by modifying neurochemistry over time. As such, SUD causes changes in one’s mood, behavior, and thinking, similar to the way mental disorders do. Substance use disorders are chronic conditions unless treated by a professional treatment center, as drugs and alcohol lead to lasting addiction. CBT helps individuals break free from the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors centered around their dependency on substances. As part of our intervention for substance addiction, we offer a complementary approach, including medication and traditional and holistic therapy.

CBT for Mental Health Disorders

Additionally, CBT is a beneficial treatment for mental illnesses, including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders. Additionally, trauma-focused CBT is beneficial for trauma disorders like PTSD. In sum, mental illnesses that have symptoms of unhealthy or unrewarding thinking, feeling, or behaving can be treated with CBT.

CBT for Co-Occurring Disorders

Oftentimes, individuals with a substance use disorder also battle with a mental disorder and vice versa. The exact roots of co-occurring disorders vary on the case. Sometimes, poor mental health leads to substance abuse, while sometimes, heavy substance use leads to mental illness. Regardless of the onset, there is a strong link between SUDs and mental disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy is just as effective at treating illnesses together as it is one-on-one. Because they are connected, they worsen each other. Thus, entering therapy for your connected issues is a wise choice.

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How Does Socratic Questioning During CBT Help?

CBT Socratic questioning asks open-ended questions to lead to deep thinking about a problem, such as a negative belief system. Markedly, the process is about dialogue that leads to a greater overall understanding, and sometimes there is no answer. Instead, the goal is to create more logical thinking habits rather than being led by personal emotions and thoughts. Thus, Socratic questioning in therapy helps the individual better understand themself and their situation. They can also better rationalize other people’s motivations, intentions, and behaviors. Then, in troublesome situations, the individual focuses on their response while staying open about the other person’s feelings or thoughts. Additionally, Socratic questions foster better critical thinking skills that a person can use when faced with triggers. CBT tends to be fairly short-term, as the individual learns tools and skills they carry with them into the future.

Identify Cognitive Distortions

As mentioned, cognitive distortions are thinking patterns many individuals struggle with across a wide range of mental health disorders. These thought habits can be automatic, emotion-based, and unrealistic. Yet, the person having the thought feels certain about their logic and can’t see other viewpoints. Cognitive behavioral therapy for cognitive distortions is an extremely helpful teaching. Essentially, individuals work to re-train their minds to dismiss distressing thoughts as they view each thought and feeling for validity.

Catastrophizing

One common cognitive distortion is catastrophizing, which is when one focuses on a negative outcome. People who get trapped in the pattern of catastrophic thinking naturally believe the worst possible outcome is most likely. Thus, their minds will dread the negative outcome they believe is coming. This can put them into a state of hopelessness. Additionally, catastrophizing leads to feelings of intense overwhelm about the situation when, in reality, it is manageable.

Black-and-White Thinking

Black-and-white thinking is a mental pattern where a person sees things under one of two poles. With this type of thinking, situations, people, and feelings fall under one opposite category, and there is no grey area. For instance, they will believe an outcome can either be amazing or terrible rather than somewhere in the middle.

Overgeneralizing

Overgeneralizing is when one applies one situation or outcome to all other ones. To a large degree, overgeneralization leads people to form negative core beliefs. On the other hand, overgeneralizing can help you pinpoint a core belief that is triggering the thought. For example, an overgeneralization is that one rejection means you’re unlovable.

Promoting Alternative Perspectives

Socratic questioning in CBT helps individuals get outside of their heads and consider others’ perspectives. Sometimes, it can be impossible to understand other viewpoints on your own because you reach the end of your knowledge. However, with CBT, it’s possible to feel a greater sense of peace about others’ behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. Your therapist may lead you through different cognitive reframing tasks, like considering other people’s perspectives about a situation.

Reframing Negative Thoughts

Additionally, positive reframing is a CBT technique where individuals practice intentionally shifting their negative focus to a positive one. For example, they could consider the positive side of a “bad” situation. They could also think about whether a negative outcome is more likely than a positive one and why. They will be led to consider the opposite to be truer. Such CBT practices retrain the brain to be more positively positioned.

Building Problem-Solving Skills 

Through thought reframing, alternate perspective exploration, and asking deep questions, CBT clients develop problem-solving abilities. In fact, the ability to problem-solve independently is one goal of CBT. Then, when faced with situations in their daily life, clients can tackle them in healthy ways.

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Examples of Socratic Questioning During CBT

Clearly, asking Socratic questions is a beneficial practice that helps improve the mental health symptoms of cognitive distortion. The six types of Socratic questions are:

  • Questions for clarification
  • Questions that address assumptions
  • Questions that ask for evidence
  • Questions about perspective
  • Questions that address consequences
  • Questions asked about questions

If you still aren’t sure what the Socratic question method looks like, here are some Socratic questioning examples.

  • What are the consequences of that assumption?
  • What’s the worst-case scenario, and how likely is it to happen?
  • What is a different way to look at it?
  • What’s the evidence for and against this belief?
  • Is this an assumption, or do I know it is accurate?

Finding a Therapist Who Offers Socratic Questioning During CBT

If you’re ready to begin the process of cognitive behavioral therapy for your mental health, Aliya Health Group is a great place to start. Our licensed therapists are well-trained in the Socratic method. They are equipped to lead you to develop better thinking habits.

Along with Socratic questioning in behavioral therapy, we offer a variety of therapy techniques to help individuals heal from unhealthy patterns. Please know there is no shame in needing help to manage your mental illness symptoms. Our mental health services can help you overcome your mental disorder, substance use disorder, and co-occurring issues. Please reach out today to begin CBT therapy at one of our comfortable facilities.

Radically Open DBT: How This Therapy Approach Can Help You Heal

Aliya on February 10, 2025

Radically open DBT is an evidence-based psychotherapy designed to help individuals who struggle with specific mental and behavioral health challenges. Whereas dialectical behavioral therapy helps people accept and manage their emotions, RO-DBT focuses on the struggle of overcontrol. While less talked about, overcontrol is an issue that ranges from moderate to severe. In many cases, it leaves the individual feeling trapped inside themselves while struggling to open up to others and new life experiences. Let’s talk through radically open DBT to discuss who it’s for and how it can help.

What Is Radically Open DBT?

Radically open dialectical behavioral therapy (RO-DBT) is a form of dialectical behavioral therapy. Dr. Thomas R. Lynch created RO-DBT in the early 2000s based on DBT concepts. DBT itself is part of the larger picture of behavioral psychotherapy, which is a therapy that treats unhealthy patterns and destructive habits. Often, people who enter behavioral therapy have mental health disorders. As such, RO-DBT was created for people with personality disorders who also struggle with overcontrol and emotional inhibition. For example, overcontrol can look like perfectionism, which commonly shows up in obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder, and eating disorders. As a result of emotional blocking and over-control, individuals can self-isolate and struggle with interpersonal relationships. RO-DBT is offered through behavioral therapists and mental health treatment centers, including Aliya Health Group.

What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

Dialectical behavioral therapy was developed from behavioral therapy concepts in the 1970s by psychologist Marsha Linehan. Cognitive behavioral therapy is another popular behavioral therapy treatment which DBT stems from. CBT focuses on rationalizing negative patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and then working to improve them. Similarly, dialectical behavioral therapy has the same focuses but with an additional emphasis on emotional regulation. In fact, DBT teaches clients to accept their negative thoughts, emotions, and actions but also works to change them. This fosters a greater sense of self-worth and acceptance amidst the pain and frequent shame of mental illness.

Radically Open DBT vs DBT: What’s the Difference?

Dialectical behavioral therapy is a beneficial treatment for those with mental health disorders with symptoms of poor emotional regulation. DBT was originally created to treat borderline personality disorder, but it can also help with behavioral disorders, trauma disorders, and symptoms of self-harm. However, individuals who struggle with these issues but also have symptoms of overcontrol and emotional inhibition benefit more from RO-DBT. This is because RO-DBT was explicitly designed to help individuals overcome their controlling habits and guarded emotions.

What Is Emotional Overcontrol?

Emotional overcontrol is a behavior pattern that acts as a defense mechanism. Usually, emotional overcontrol stems from childhood experiences. People can struggle with overcontrolling their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Commonly, this develops into perfectionism, emotional inhibition, restrictive behaviors, and fear of vulnerability. Because overcontrol is a coping mechanism, people associate core beliefs with their overcontrolling tendencies. They may believe showing vulnerability makes them weak. They may doubt their ability to make choices about their life and instead resort to social isolation. There are a variety of reasons behind overcontrol. Common mental health disorders that exhibit overcontrolling tendencies are:

  • Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)
  • Avoidant personality disorder (APD)
  • Paranoid personality disorder (PPD)
  • Anorexia nervosa
  • Melancholic personality disorder (MDD)

Emotional overcontrol is a damaging coping mechanism. It can block the individual from being known by others, lead to low self-worth, and reduce their quality of life. RO-DBT addresses overcontrolling tendencies to help individuals break out of their patterns.

What Does Radically Open DBT Treat?

Dialectical behavioral therapy is an ideal treatment for a variety of mood disorders, behavioral disorders, and substance use disorders (SUD). This is because the treatment is effective at helping people with emotional and psychological distress. Understandably, individuals who are struggling with a disorder often find themselves trapped in their thoughts and feelings. The cycle can be repetitive and challenging to break free from without outside intervention. DBT is a recommended treatment for people who experience destructive emotions, including the urge to self-harm. This form of DBT is especially recommended for people who struggle with overcontrol in their disorders.

Radically Open DBT for Addiction

Many people around the world struggle with addiction. Substance use disorders (SUD) affect millions of people around the globe. Roughly 48.7 million people in the United States age 12 and older have a substance use disorder. Addictions include drugs and alcohol, but also food addiction and eating disorders. This form of DBT for substance abuse benefits people with addictive tendencies and dependence on substances. The treatment teaches coping strategies and behavioral modification to aid in the process of overcoming addiction.

Radically Open DBT for Mental Health

As discussed, RO-DBT is recommended for a variety of mental health disorders, including many personality disorders. Radically open DBT for mental health is most beneficial for those who battle inner control issues and struggle to open up emotionally.

Radically Open DBT for Co-Occurring Disorders

Co-occurring disorders are disorders that co-exist at the same time in a person. For example, having both alcohol use disorder (AUD) and melancholic personality disorder (MDD) is a case of dual diagnosis. In such situations, we believe it is important to treat both issues together as one larger problem. This is because disorders will always worsen each other, and treating only one issue doesn’t heal the root problems. In RO-DBT, you can learn how your co-occurring disorders are jointly affecting your mental health. You will learn tools to manage both disorders consecutively for a higher quality of life.

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What are the Core Principles of Radical Open DBT?

Radically open dialectical behavioral therapy has multiple core principles that shape its treatment approach. Knowing these main focuses of RO-DBT lets you better understand how it can help you in your mental health struggle.

Radical Openness

Radical openness is the main principle behind RO-DBT. It refers to a state of mind that determines behavior. The three features of radical openness are flexibility, social connection, and openness. To engage in radical openness is to pursue opportunities to face what you don’t know. Thus, it requires a willingness to be uncomfortable, humble, and let down your guard. Radical openness connects with RO-DBTs emphasis on mindfulness, yet radical openness is a way of life where you seek your unknown.

Self-Enquiry

Self-inquiry is a mindfulness practice in RO-DBT. It leads individuals to search for themselves to find where their understanding ends and the unknown begins. This often looks like asking questions to help them find the “edge” of their knowledge. It’s easy to stay trapped in your head and circle through the same beliefs and ideas unproductively. Notably, the core basis behind self-inquiry is learning new things about yourself through skillful self-reflection.

Social Connectedness

Because individuals who overcontrol commonly struggle with emotional inhibition, their relationships are often strained. Although individuals have their reasons for why they block their emotions from others, RO-DBT teaches them to be more vulnerable. Hiding one’s true feelings also hides one’s true self, so they can’t get close to others. Thus, social connectedness refers to an intentionality to be more socially open and vulnerable.

Mindfulness Skills

As mentioned, mindfulness plays a large role in radically open DBT. Behavioral therapy focuses on teaching individuals how to productively self-reflect with the goal of learning more than their current understanding. Thus, RO-DBT uses mindfulness as a continual search to better yourself and improve your thinking habits.

What Is Radically Open DBT Like? 

Although you now understand the background and core elements of radically open DBT, it can still feel daunting to begin therapy. The more you know about RO-DBT, the more you will feel comfortable using this behavioral practice to heal. Three of the expectations around RO-DBT are to be aware of skills classes, homework, and individual therapy sessions.

Individual Therapy

Some behavioral therapies include components of individual and group therapy sessions. However, radically open dialectical behavioral therapy is largely a one-on-one therapy treatment. Thus, you will work closely with your DBT therapist to unpack the root issues you struggle with. Be prepared for them to guide you through talking exercises to help you better understand yourself and your mental health challenges. Additionally, they will guide you through the core principles of RO-DBT.

Skills Classes

Although RO-DBT is an individual therapy treatment, skills classes are a component of the DBT method at Aliya Health Group. These are opportunities for you to practice using the tools and skills you gain through RO-DBT training. Radically open DBT skills are based on the core principles of RO-DBT: radical openness, self-inquiry, social connectedness, and mindfulness. Thus, skills classes are designed to help you feel comfortable using RO-DBT skills independently whenever you feel triggered to fall into old habits. You will benefit from them for the rest of your life.

Homework         

Radically open dialectical behavioral therapy can include a homework component. This means your therapist may assign you tasks or worksheets to work on before your next session. The point of therapy homework is to grow further during your time in therapy and best use your session time. For example, radically open DBT exercises can look like being more vulnerable in conversations or self-inquiring about a core belief.

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Radically Open DBT Techniques

Now that we’ve covered the main principles of RO-DBT and what to expect, let’s unpack the therapy’s techniques. Here are some of the activities you can expect to work on in your therapy sessions and skills classes.

Loving-Kindness Meditation

Loving-kindness meditation is a mindfulness activity that helps with the habit of overcontrolling. People with overcontrol issues tend to struggle with emotional openness. They often feel a sense of fear around being vulnerable. Further, this can stem from feeling less empathy or feelings of love towards others as a coping mechanism. Thus, a loving-kindness meditation aims to lead the person into a place of safety where they can reflect on warm feelings towards others. In this way, it trains the brain to feel differently about sharing yourself with the people in your life.

Self-Enquiry Practice

Self-inquiry is a reflective practice that helps individuals get comfortable with finding the edges of their understanding. Self-inquiry is also a state of mind where you are looking for new experiences and viewing them positively. Therefore, practicing helps you get into the right frame of mind. Additionally, this practice helps you pinpoint where you can lean in.

Social Signaling Exercises

Social signaling is the cues and signals people exhibit that communicate their feelings and intentions. For example, smiling, eye contact, and hugs are social signals. People with emotional inhibition struggles often don’t use social signals, which makes it hard for others to connect with them. Social signaling exercises help you understand signals and practice being more open in this way.

Flexible Thought Patterns

Flexible thinking is the ability to contemplate other viewpoints besides your own to open up your understanding of a situation. Thus, having flexible thought patterns is a healthy, positive thinking pattern. In this exercise, individuals practice using flexible thinking to work past the edges of their own understanding.

What Are the Benefits of Radically Open DBT? 

 Radically open dialectical behavior therapy (RO-DBT) is an accessible behavioral therapy method with many benefits. During treatment, you’ll learn to let down your guard, open up to others for stronger relationships, and escape your overcontrolling thoughts and behaviors. People who work through DBT therapy are able to feel a stronger sense of freedom, openness, and trust. If you think you are a good fit for RO-DBT, reach out to us at Aliya Health Group. We offer comprehensive mental health services to aid you in improving your quality of life. Change your life today with radically open DBT at one of our facilities!

The CBT Triangle: The Connection Between Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors

Aliya on February 10, 2025

The CBT triangle is a therapy technique for identifying unhealthy patterns in one’s life. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for mental health is a well-recognized treatment method. Individuals with mood disorders, behavioral disorders, substance disorders, and co-occurring issues can benefit from CBT. Essentially, this behavioral psychotherapy practice teaches individuals to reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to see patterns. Once they identify their repetitive habits, they discuss whether they are healthy or not and learn to replace them with alternative patterns. Notably, cognitive behavioral therapy is effective for mental health issues, as it is one of the most used and most studied psychotherapies. Yet, you might feel nervous about starting CBT and have questions. Treat this article as a practical guide to CBT and the CBT triangle to better understand how it can help.

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a talk therapy that falls under behavioral therapy. It is an effective healing method for a variety of mood disorders, behavioral issues, trauma disorders, and mental health challenges. CBT originated in the 1960s and has been widely used in mental health treatment ever since. This evidence-based therapy is well studied and utilized in therapy settings, including at Aliya Health Group’s rehab centers. The basis of CBT is developing a clear understanding of your own patterns—of thinking, feeling, and acting. It stems from the Latin term that means “to recognize.” Cognitive behavioral therapy is used differently according to each client and their issues and needs. However, the same core principles are consistent across CBT and apply to all individual situations.

Main Principles of CBT

The main principles of cognitive behavioral therapy are thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. More elaborately, CBT focuses on the way one feels, the way thinks, and behaves. Thinking refers to patterns of thought that influence what people believe. Feelings refer to the way one feels about any given situation. Behaviors are the ways people respond to their situations based on their thoughts and feelings. Notably, CBT focuses on recognizing habits pertaining to these three principles. Then, the CBT method allows individuals to work towards new, healthy goals.

Connection Between Thoughts, Emotions, and Behavior

To continue, CBT maintains that there is a strong connection between one’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. In fact, unhealthy patterns exacerbate each area. CBT is customized to each individual, so it helps clients find connections between their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Changing Unhelpful Patterns of Thought

Crucially, cognitive behavioral therapy does not leave people in the understanding that they have unhealthy patterns. Instead, after helping them identify these habits, CBT teaches them how to change them. Growth and change are key components of CBT, so a willingness to adapt is important. Using CBT techniques like the CBT model, individuals learn the difference between their types of thoughts. For instance, they identify the difference between conscious thoughts, automatic thoughts, and schemas. Also, they learn how to regulate their behaviors using techniques like self-monitoring or role-playing.

Problem-Focused and Goal-Oriented

Notably, cognitive behavioral therapy has a goal-oriented focus. The aim is to teach individuals better self-awareness, understanding of others’ motivations, and new, healthy patterns. CBT works well when clients bring a base understanding of their unhelpful habits or issues. However, as long as the individual is open, therapy can work towards a deeper understanding.

What Is the CBT Triangle?

This guide aims to explain the CBT triangle. Take a look at the CBT triangle graphic below.

CBT TRIANGLE

In essence, the CBT triangle is a model that believes the principles of CBT (thoughts, feelings, and actions) are interconnected. Further, it believes one leads to another in an endless cycle. For example, a person can feel rejected by someone. This can lead them to create an idea in their mind that they’re unworthy and must have done something wrong. As a result, they will behave in response to their belief and the feelings it incites in them, like shame or embarrassment. They may close themselves off or be the first to reject in the future to avoid the same situation. As evidenced, the CBT triangle can be a devastating cycle to remain trapped in.

Thoughts

The way you think is an important part of your sense of self. Also, your thoughts shape your view of the world, yourself, and others every day. Yet, psychotherapy believes that psychological problems can be at least partially due to unhelpful thinking patterns. For instance, if you have a mood disorder like depression, you likely have some disparaging views of the world or yourself. Commonly, individuals with depression struggle with their sense of self-worth and have trouble imagining a positive future for themselves. In CBT, you will identify such faulty ways of thinking. Then, the CBT thought triangle identifies how such thoughts can lead to negative outcomes in your life.

Emotions

It’s easy for your life to become run by your emotions, especially if you have a mental health disorder. When your emotions overwhelm you, they can exacerbate mental illness symptoms, disturb your sleep, and cause you to lean into destructive behavior patterns. This is shown by the CBT triangle, as each part of the self is connected. Thus, cognitive behavioral therapy helps you to identify your feelings. Often, people are confused about where their thinking stops and where their feeling starts. CBT utilizes techniques like journaling and mindfulness to help you understand how your thoughts influence your feelings and vice versa.

Behaviors  

The way one behaves obviously plays a huge role in one’s life. Essentially, much of your wellness is shaped by how you act, including how you care for yourself and manage your responsibilities. It’s easy to slide into an unhealthy place in life due to taking the wrong actions that lead you there. The CBT triangle helps clients understand how their thoughts and emotions play a role in their behaviors. Additionally, behavioral therapists help their clients work towards goals by practicing healthy actions.

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How Does the CBT Triangle Establish Negative Patterns?

As mentioned, negative patterns can spiral into overall unwellness. Your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are all closely linked when it comes to establishing patterns. You probably aren’t aware of many of the unhealthy habits you’ve developed and come to rely on. Often, these are developed during childhood and never challenged. Yet, operating within the CBT triangle creates a pattern of negativity that impacts your life.

Here is an example of a negative spiral of the CBT triangle:

Thought: “That person hasn’t responded to my message. They don’t like me anymore.”

Feeling: Anxiety, sadness, rejection, and/or guilt.

Behavior: Avoiding that person, losing the relationship, and withdrawing from social interactions.

How to Break the CBT Triangle Cycle  

Undeniably, the CBT triangle is not a healthy loop in which to be trapped. It keeps individuals stuck within themselves, constantly perpetuating their own ideas and validating them based on their faulty belief system. As a result, people remain stuck repeating their patterns, often causing more and more damage in their lives. Since negative thoughts largely drive negative emotions and behaviors, it’s important to focus on breaking the thinking cycle. Often, thinking patterns are learned behaviors over time, but by using CBT techniques, it’s possible to reshape your mental habits. For example, the following steps are actions your therapist may walk you through during your CBT therapy sessions.

Identify Negative Thoughts

Firstly, it’s important to name negative thoughts. Taking a moment to realize that it was an unhealthy or toxic thought helps you center yourself in reality. Otherwise, your brain can lead you into a place of fantasy where you believe things that aren’t true. Some examples of negative thoughts are:

  • They are mad at me
  • I’m a failure
  • I mess everything up
  • They don’t like me
  • I will never get better
  • I’m not good enough

Thoughts like these incite emotional responses in you that then cause you to behave in ways that aren’t productive for your goals.

Challenge and Replace Negative Thoughts

Once you’ve identified that a thought comes from a negative or irrational place, you can begin to reshape it. Replacing unhealthy thoughts with healthy ones takes time. Yet, you can start the process by challenging your negative thinking patterns. For instance, your therapist will help teach you these steps in your sessions. Together, you may focus on one predominant thought that you wrestle with. Once you identify it as negative, they’ll help you spin it in a way that’s more logical, rational, and healthy. As an example, the thought they are mad at me can be challenged by thinking logically about the situation.

What happened to make you think that? Why is that your response? How likely is this thought? What other outcomes could just as likely be true?

As you chip away at the logic of the thought, you begin to replace it with healthier ideas.

Engage in Positive Actions

Next, CBT techniques encourage engaging in positive responses rather than self-destructive ones. Instead of isolating as a natural response to your emotions, you can be more open and reach out to others. Instead of overthinking a situation, you can take a walk or engage in an activity. Instead of ignoring your feelings, you can journal or talk to a friend. The more you pivot towards positive actions, the more this will become a habit.

Acknowledge and Process Your Feelings

In behavioral therapy, it’s important you acknowledge your feelings. Rather than shoving them under the rug in an effort to replace them, you first identify and acknowledge them. Then, you can set them aside for healthier alternatives. But feelings are valid and lead back to important root belief systems you hold. In cognitive behavioral therapy, you have a safe space and a trustworthy person to unpack and process your feelings with. They won’t let you stay in a negative place but will instead help you create better habits.

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Finding CBT for Mental Health and Addiction Near Me

CBT for mental health has many concrete benefits. This is evidenced through the way the negative patterns of the CBT triangle are identified and overcome. If cognitive behavioral therapy sounds like a program that would positively influence your life, you don’t have to look far. Our treatment centers through Aliya Health Group offer CBT as part of our comprehensive approach to recovery.

CBT can help with a variety of mental health, behavioral health, and substance abuse issues, such as:

  • Alcohol addiction
  • Stress management
  • Emotional regulation
  • Controlling negative thought patterns
  • Anger management
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Eating disorder
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Suicide prevention

We can help you find a location near you, understand how to use your insurance for therapy, and get you registered at one of our facilities. Simply reach out today if you’re ready to leave the negative patterns of mental illness in the past. Soon, you will be stepping into a healthy, fulfilling future!

Alcohol Detox: The Value of Professional Help

Aliya on February 5, 2025

Individuals can quickly develop an alcohol addiction when they’re heavily drinking, at which point they require outside help. Alcohol addiction is a prevalent issue that requires detoxification, but it isn’t wise to attempt alcohol detox at home. Most people relapse back into drinking when they don’t have professional help because withdrawal symptoms can be strong. Let’s discuss what detox is like and how you can have a safe alcohol detox.

What Is Alcohol Detox?

Detoxification is the process of removing toxins from the body to stop them from causing damage. As such, detox is the first step towards allowing the body to reset to its natural, healthy state without being slowed down by toxins. In the case of alcohol use disorders (AUD), individuals undergo an alcohol detox as the first stage of recovery treatment. That is, rehab begins with detox for anyone who enters our detox center with alcohol currently in their body. If you’re wondering how to detox from alcohol, the answer is important. Detoxing from alcohol in a medical detoxification facility is the only safe way to reach base sobriety.

Why Is Alcohol Detox Important?

Detoxing from alcohol is a necessary first step in the alcohol addiction recovery process. As long as you have alcohol in your system, it will continue to control your behaviors. This is because alcohol has an extremely strong addictive effect on the brain and body. To elaborate, individuals originally become dependent on alcohol because of the way it acts on the brain’s reward system. Essentially, alcohol addiction happens the same way drug addiction does. When intoxicated, your brain experiences pleasurable effects like euphoria. Through repeated activating of the reward system, you become dependent on the positive feelings. Notably, your brain actually adapts over time to need alcohol to function properly.

Thus, removing alcohol from your system is the first step towards undoing the damage alcohol repetition causes in your brain.

When Does Someone Need Alcohol Detox?

When you can’t stop drinking on your own, it’s time to remove the negative hold alcohol has on you. This is one of the main signs someone has developed an addiction and needs outside help. There are some typical behaviors that signal someone needs to receive medical treatment for their alcohol dependency. If you see these in yourself or someone you love, it’s time to seek help.

  • Unable to stop drinking alcohol, even though it’s harming you
  • Always thinking about your next drink
  • Skipping social plans in order to drink
  • Drinking alone
  • Losing interest in former interests and hobbies
  • Having a high tolerance for alcohol
  • Needing more drinks to get the pleasurable effect
  • Missing important events, obligations, or deadlines
  • Mental fogginess

Alcohol Abuse Statistics

Alcohol addiction is no small matter. It is an issue across the world, especially in the United States. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 29 million people over 12 have an AUD. Around the world, roughly 400 million people have an alcohol use disorder. And yearly, an estimated 2.6 million people die from alcohol abuse, according to statistics. Looking at these facts, it is undeniable that there’s a need for comprehensive alcohol abuse treatment to prevent alcohol-related harm.

What Happens When Someone Undergoes Alcohol Detox?

Alcohol detoxification is a straightforward process that typically lasts between 4-8 days. With the target to remove toxins from their body, individuals live in our detoxification facilities for the duration of their detox. Here, they receive around-the-clock medical care to monitor their vitals, ensure their comfort, and administer nutrients and fluids as needed. Additionally, in our medical detox centers, we can provide comfort medications to alleviate discomfort from withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

The hardest part of alcohol detoxification is the withdrawal symptoms. You will experience them regardless of whether you try to complete alcohol detox at home or in a medical center. However, individuals are unequipped to handle the force of withdrawal on their own, whereas we can minimize discomfort through professional treatment. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be painful, frustrating, and exhausting. Some of the potential symptoms are:

  • Cravings
  • Headaches
  • Sweating
  • Nausea
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Hallucinations
  • Confusion
  • Restlessness

How Long Is Alcohol Detox?

Alcohol detox is a fairly short process, typically between 4 and 8 days, depending on the person. The detox timeline depends on how long it takes for your body to adapt to physical sobriety. However, after detoxification, you may still experience lingering symptoms like cravings, mood swings, or restlessness as your body heals further. After detox, clients transition into inpatient treatment and continue to receive 24/7 support.

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Is Alcohol Detox at Home Safe?

It is not safe to try to attempt detoxing from alcohol at home. Many people aren’t prepared for the force of their withdrawal symptoms and relapse back into drinking.

There are many potential health dangers when detoxing from alcohol that you aren’t equipped to face in a home detox, such as:

  • Pancreatitis
  • Gastritis
  • Internal bleeding
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Liver disease
  • Vitamin and nutrient deficiencies

Professional Medical Detox for Alcohol Addiction

Professional alcohol addiction treatment offers more than a safe and comfortable detox. We also offer the full continuum of care for AUD recovery. Each client can move between our levels of care to achieve whole-body healing during their time spent in treatment.

Individualized Treatment Plans

Addiction treatment is fully customized to our clients and their needs. Each individual works with their medical team to create an individualized treatment plan for their recovery journey. Further, we offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) plans for those who benefit from medication in combination with therapy.

Expert Medical Staff

Aliya Health Group’s facilities are staffed by licensed and knowledgeable experts in the field of addiction healing. We implement evidence-based treatment options to give individuals the best recovery experience.

Relapse Prevention

Professional alcohol addiction treatment helps prevent relapse. Our addiction recovery program will teach you coping skills to manage alcohol withdrawal at home after treatment when cravings linger. Thus, you will be able to maintain sobriety even after graduating from treatment by having the necessary tools and skills. We help improve your mental health so you can approach alcoholism treatment programs with confidence.

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Alcohol Detox Center Near Me

Aliya Health Group can help you identify the warning signs of alcohol abuse and safely detox from alcohol to complete the inner work of healing. We desire for all our clients to achieve fulfilling, sober lives so our programming is accessible to everyone. Our program helps reduce drug and alcohol cravings so you can move on to a happy and healthy life. The treatment team uses MAT to provide medication that reduces withdrawal symptoms in severe alcohol abusers. We can also help you understand the alcohol detox timeline and educate yourself on the treatment of alcoholism.

Reach out to a medical professional today to discuss how your insurance provider can pay for treatment programs like detox, as we accept most major insurance companies. Don’t attempt alcohol detox at home. Call us today to ask any questions about rehab and to reserve a spot in one of our medical detoxification facilities for substance abuse and reduce the amount of alcohol you consume.

ABC Please and the Value of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills

Aliya on February 5, 2025

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a behavioral therapy method that teaches life-applicable skills like ABC Please. If you aren’t sure what DBT entails and are asking, What is ABC please?, you’ve come to the right place. We will unpack dialectical behavioral therapy and DBT skills like ABC Please in this guide. Additionally, we’ll explain how DBT helps individuals with substance use disorders and mental illness so they can achieve a healthy life.

What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?

Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT for short, is an evidence-based behavioral therapy. It can help individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and mental disorders. Notably, a key theme of DBT is working within opposites. For example, “dialectical” means “the existence of opposites” and in DBT therapy, individuals embrace the discomfort of conflicting feelings. DBT is split into four stages through which the individual works. As part of the opposite teaching, they learn to first accept their situation and then work to change it.

What are DBT therapy’s goals? Through the DBT skills training, clients learn how to manage their emotions, behaviors, and illness by responding positively to situations. DBT therapy is conducted by licensed therapists and counselors in rehabilitation clinics focused on holistic healing, like Aliya Health Group.

Are DBT and CBT the Same Thing?

Dialectical behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are different behavioral therapy methods. Some of the key differences are the focus of treatment and the structure of sessions. In CBT, clients learn how their negative thoughts and behavior patterns play a destructive role in their lives. Thus, the emphasis of treatment is altering those patterns for healthier outcomes. In DBT, which is based on CBT, clients focus on emotional regulation and building healthy relationships. Thus, when it comes to DBT vs. CBT, both are helpful, but your treatment goals might determine which is a better fit for you.

What Can DBT Treat?

Because DBT focuses on managing emotions, acceptance of your situation, and creating healthy habits, many people benefit from the approach. In fact, dialectical therapy is an effective treatment for substance use disorders, mood and behavioral disorders, and co-occurring illnesses.

Substance Use Disorders

Substance use disorders (SUD) are present in people who have come to the end of their rope. They know they have a problem with drugs or alcohol, but due to the addictive effect on the brain, the person can’t quit on their own. Thus, dialectical behavioral therapy is a strong therapy method for treating individuals with SUD. Notably, DBT helps people manage their destructive behaviors and the emotions that actually hinder their success. For instance, people with SUD have daily responses to their addiction yet feel powerless to change them. In DBT, they learn to accept their situation as well as how to start creating change in their life.

Mental Health Disorders

Additionally, DBT for mental health is recommended due to the way psychotherapy helps individuals find renewed strength and restoration. With its emphasis on emotional regulation and fostering healthy relationships, it helps people escape destructive behaviors and self-harm. DBT utilizes mindfulness practices and hands-on relationship maintenance through group therapy sessions (mixed with individual sessions). 

Co-Occurring Disorders

Co-occurring disorders are ones that exist consecutively in a person. There are different risk factors increasing one’s likelihood of developing a second issue. Often, one disorder will lead to another. For example, substance addiction leads to worsening mental illness, or mental disorders lead to substance abuse. In sum, comorbid disorders appear differently in each person. Co-occurring issues can cause individuals to feel especially out of control, but DBT therapy can help. The behavioral treatment addresses both concerns collectively and examines how they aggravate each other.

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What Is ABC Please?

ABC Please is a set of skills in dialectical therapy that helps individuals develop healthy lifestyle patterns. ABC Please is an acronym that stands for many of the key healing goals of DBT.

A: Accumulate positive experiences

B: Build mastery

C: Cope ahead

P: Physical

L: Illness

E: Eating

A: Avoid mood-altering substances

S: Sleep

E: Exercise

In DBT, clients focus on these goals to find healing from their substance or mental illness and live a fulfilling life.

ABC in Dialectical Behavior Therapy

By following the ABC Please DBT tool, individuals set themselves on a smart, healthy path for their future. During therapy in rehab, clients work on understanding and developing these skills. Fortunately, with the catchiness of the acronym and time spent practicing, they can return to ABC Please after leaving treatment. As such, ABC Please and other DBT training helps people stay sustained in their wellness goals. Thus, even people who feel independent in their recovery journey can rely on evidence-based therapy tools.

Accumulate Positive Experiences

Accumulating positive experiences is an important focus of DBT because it’s a form of mindfulness. To elaborate, focusing on the positive elements in your life restructures your thinking habits. As a result, you feel less stressed, more capable, and more appreciative of your situation. This intentional gratitude approach positively shapes individuals so they feel less overwhelmed by their emotions when trials arise. Further, DBT practices that fall under this category help people actively create positive experiences. These can include exercise, talking to a friend, working on an artistic hobby, or exploring your city.

Build Mastery

Building mastery refers to accumulating talents, hobbies, and new skills both within and apart from ABC Please skills. The theory behind this goal is that people who have interests and hobbies have greater happiness and wellness. In fact, studies show that individuals who regularly spend time on their hobbies even have fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety. Hobbies and activities are beneficial on multiple levels, from physical wellness to mental stimulation to increasing one’s sociability. Plus, having mastery in skills makes you want to return to them, giving you something to look forward to in tough times.

Cope Ahead

Coping ahead is a preparation tactic for an upcoming stressor. Often, people who struggle with their mental health find that facing something stressful or uncomfortable puts them in a bad place. Instead of staying trapped in dread or anxiety, DBT teaches individuals to do what they can to prepare. For anything big and troubling on the horizon, coping ahead is about mentally, emotionally, and even physically getting ready.

PLEASE in Dialectical Behavior Therapy

After the ABC’s of DBT, PLEASE stands for ailments of the body that can occur when a person isn’t taking good care of themselves. Part of being a healthy human is learning how to help your body thrive. In the midst of substance addiction and mental illness, your physical health can deteriorate. Thus, DBT’s ABC PLEASE reminds clients to prioritize their bodily health.

Physical Illness

Physical illness is one of the biggest reasons people feel unwell, which can spread into affecting their mental wellness. DBT emphasizes the importance of taking care of your body to stay healthy.

Eat Well

Similarly, eating well is a key component of your actual well-being. This entails eating enough nutrients, vitamins, and minerals through your diet. As part of this dialectical behavioral therapy practice, we offer nutrition counseling at Aliya. We know illness often pushes healthy eating to the wayside. Thus, our nutrition counselors teach clients how to eat balanced meals that pull from all the food groups.

Avoid Mood Altering Substances

Whether you begin DBT for your substance use disorder or not, staying away from mood-altering substances is a big part of DBT. Undeniably, substances like drugs and alcohol change your mood. Further, they can contribute to your unhealthy thinking and behaving patterns. The only way to be a truly healthy and fulfilled person after struggling with an SUD is to maintain sobriety. The one exception to this rule is prescription medications that are being properly used. On the other hand, we treat prescription medication abuse in rehab and help individuals with medication management in treatment.

Sleep Well

Sleep is crucial for overall health. This includes getting enough sleep and having quality sleep at night. Often, mood swings are significantly alleviated once a person starts sleeping better.

Exercise Regularly 

Similarly, physical exercise seriously impacts one’s moods and feelings for the better! Exercise stimulates the reward system like drugs and alcohol, but in a healthy way that can be maintained long-term. DBT uses exercise as a form of emotional regulation through ABC Please.

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What To Expect During Dialectical Behavior Therapy

There is no reason to feel nervous about beginning dialectical behavioral therapy. Firstly, know there is no shame in needing help for your substance disorder, mental disorder, or comorbid issues. Rather than staying trapped in a cycle of hopelessness and devastation, you are doing the right thing by seeking treatment.

When preparing for DBT therapy, it’s important to keep an open mind. Dialectical behavioral therapy takes a more emotional approach to healing than CBT, which tends to be more rational and logical. In DBT, you will examine your feelings, actions, and relationship patterns. No topic is off the table, so come prepared with any discussion points you want to cover. Additionally, your therapist may assign you DBT worksheets to complete between sessions. This will help you cover more ground in sessions by completing some of the deep-thinking work on your own time.

As far as the structure of DBT sessions, they typically last between 45 minutes to 1 hour. During intensive rehabilitation treatment, you will have multiple DBT sessions per week, sometimes individually and sometimes in groups. Above all, behavioral therapy sessions are safe spaces to grow, heal, and feel positive emotional improvement.

What Are the Benefits of Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

Individuals who begin dialectical behavioral therapy set themselves on the path of deep healing from their emotional wounds and triggers. One of the key benefits is the stronger sense of self-awareness and resilience clients develop during treatment. This is largely because of the work they put into understanding their feelings and reactions and then working on healthier alternatives. Further, DBT helps individuals form stronger relationships with the people in their lives. Overall, DBT is beneficial in the way it helps individuals escape the chains of substance abuse and mental illness.

Managing Emotions

As mentioned, the ability to better manage feelings and emotions is a major takeaway for individuals in dialectical behavioral therapy. Instead of staying trapped in unhealthy patterns of thinking, reacting, and feeling, clients accept their feelings and then modify them.

Promoting Resilience

Because of all the deep inner work individuals do while in DBT, they emerge after their behavioral therapy rehab with a stronger sense of self; often, addiction and mental illness can strip people of their sense of identity. A person may rely on substances to get them through each day and lose the trust of their family. Self-resilience is a key teaching of DBT that has widespread benefits in one’s life.

Who Offers ABC Please and Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

Now that you understand DBT’s teaching ABC Please and have considered how it would help you, you need a provider. If you aren’t sure where to go to receive DBT for your addiction or mental illness, you’ve come to the right place. Behavioral treatments like DBT can be provided through an accredited treatment center like Aliya Health Group and our connected rehab providers. Along with clinical mental health counseling, such as CBT and DBT, we offer continuing levels of care to help individuals overcome their illnesses. During treatment, you can move between detoxification, inpatient rehab, outpatient treatment, and aftercare.

The DBT skills you learn during treatment will be ones you utilize for the rest of your life. Reach out today to reserve a place in one of our state-of-the-art treatment centers today!

Can Zyn Pouches Help End Nicotine Addiction?

Aliya on February 5, 2025

For the first time, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved nicotine pouches to overcome addiction through Zyn pouches. Zyn is a brand of nicotine pouches that are dissolved in the mouth. Because they allow nicotine to enter the bloodstream, they’ve never been authorized for use in the past. Yet, Zyn pouches have gained popularity over the last 10 years as an alternative to cigarettes and vapes.

Essentially, the decision to approve Zyn pouches doesn’t mark them as a safe product. Rather, they are believed to be less harmful than other nicotine products like cigarettes and vapes. With this in mind, Zyn pouches can be useful for weaning off of nicotine. Yet, they should be used wisely and with awareness of the potential risks. Let’s deep dive into Zyn nicotine pouches to discuss how to best utilize them.

What Are Zyn Pouches?

Zyn pouches are nicotine pouches made by the Swedish Match Company and marketed towards individuals who are trying to quit their nicotine addiction. Regardless of whether one is hooked on cigarettes, cigars, or vapes, Zyn pouches can be beneficial in helping them reduce dependency. So far, 20 Zyn nicotine pouch products have been approved by the FDA. This is largely because Zyn products have a lower risk of cancer, with less harmful toxins than other nicotine products.

Zyn pouches are made from plant fibers, with nicotine extracted from tobacco leaves yet free from tobacco. Additionally, Zyn uses food-grade ingredients and eliminates other harmful toxins found in competitors of nicotine. You can purchase Zyn pouches with either 3 or 6 milligrams of nicotine per pouch. Further, they come in a variety of flavor pouches, including peppermint, citrus, and coffee.

What Is Nicotine? 

Nicotine is a chemical compound found in tobacco plants. Yet, it can also be created in a lab. Nicotine is a stimulant that causes the brain to adapt over continued use. Thus, nicotine is highly addictive and habit-forming. It produces a dopamine response in the brain so that using nicotine products feels relaxing, calming, and even euphoric. Similar to other drug addictions, once you’re addicted to nicotine, you will experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit.

Is Nicotine Dangerous?

Nicotine itself is dangerous because of how highly addictive it is. Once you’re dependent, it modifies your brain to require more in order to function normally. However, the most dangerous part of a nicotine addiction is the sources where you receive your nicotine. Alarmingly, many nicotine products, like cigarettes, cigars, and tobacco, are linked to cancer. The smoke itself contains cancer-causing carcinogens, and additional flavors and other additives increase the risk. Tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars, chewable tobacco, and vapes contain thousands of harmful toxins that increase your chances of developing cancer. For example, these include:

  • Nickel
  • Arsenic
  • Lead
  • Tobacco-specific nitrosamines
  • Formaldehyde
  • Radioactive elements

Even with casual nicotine use, such as casual smoking, nicotine can stay in your system anywhere from 1-10 days later. If you’re worried about your loved one’s nicotine addiction, you can help them find treatment through an empathetic intervention.

How Do Zyn Pouches Work?

Zyn pouches can help individuals overcome their addiction to other nicotine products like cigarettes and e-cigarettes. They work by allowing nicotine to absorb into your bloodstream through the mouth’s soft tissue between the gums and lips.

Is Using Zyn Healthier Than Smoking or Vaping?

According to the FDA’s latest findings, Zyn is a safer method of receiving nicotine than alternative, tobacco-based products. This is because Zyn pouches do not contain many of the harmful and cancer-causing ingredients in tobacco products and vapes. Zyn pouches’ ingredient lists include powdered nicotine, sweeteners, flavors, food-grade fillers and additives, and the stabilizer hydroxypropyl cellulose. Although more research continues to be done, Zyn pouches are so far more condoned than alternative nicotine products.

Can Nicotine Pouches Help Me Quit Vaping or Smoking?

Zyn nicotine pouches come in two different levels of nicotine per pouch. If you want to use Zyn to help you quit, be careful, you don’t raise your tolerance. To elaborate, using nicotine pouches can actually backfire if you end up taking more nicotine than you were before. However, if done strategically and carefully, you can use nicotine pouches to help you wean yourself off of nicotine products.

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How to Quit Vaping or Smoking with Nicotine Pouches

Nicotine pouches like Zyn pouches are short-term solutions to help individuals quit using tobacco products without experiencing intense nicotine withdrawal. However, note that the long-term effects of Zyn pouch use are not known, so they should only be used as a temporary alternative. However, you can use Zyn to quit vaping or smoking by going at a slow, manageable pace.

Educate Yourself on How the Pouches Work

In order to quit tobacco products, be prepared to face some withdrawal symptoms during the process. Zyn pouches work by releasing nicotine into your bloodstream via the mouth. Thus, you can cut back on tobacco products by allowing yourself a predetermined amount of nicotine pouches per day.

Set a Timeline for Your Quit Date

It’s important to set a concrete goal for when you will be fully free from tobacco products. At that point, you’ll be fully reliant on Zyn pouches instead, so also set a stop date for nicotine as a whole. As you get closer to your quitting date, reduce the amount of nicotine you ingest each day or week. As a rule, holding yourself accountable makes it easier for you to stick to your goal. So, tell your support system, write it down, and make it official in your mind.

Use a Gradual Stepdown Approach

As mentioned, you will want to take a gradual step-down approach by reducing your nicotine consumption over time. Quitting cold turkey is not recommended because your nicotine withdrawal symptoms will be intense and distracting. Based on your determined quit date, reduce your nicotine levels so your body adjusts. You can do this by starting with higher-strength Zyn pouches and stepping down to lower-strength ones.

How Long Does It Take to Quit Nicotine Pouches?

When considering how to quit Zyn, you’re probably wondering what a reasonable timeline is to fully wean yourself off nicotine. Overall, this depends on each individual person. What is a manageable pace for you that won’t lead to the temptation to fall back into smoking or vaping? Consider your lifestyle, your routine for the next few months, and any anticipated hardships you should be aware of. As noted, having a strong support system while quitting nicotine will significantly help you!

What Are the Dangers of Zyn Pouches?

A big question since the FDA’s announcement about Zyn pouches is Whether nicotine pouches are safe. While the FDA approves Zyn nicotine pouches as a safer alternative to other tobacco-based products, a lot is still unknown. For example, Zyn pouches haven’t been studied for long-term side effects. Keep this in mind when using nicotine pouches and use them as a short-term tool to wean off smoking. Here are some of the concerns about Zyn pouches and their popularity.

Flavors that Target Young People

Zyn pouches come in many enticing flavors that capture the attention of non-smokers and adolescents. Although fun flavors make it easier to quit smoking, they also draw young people in and cause nicotine addiction.

Gateway for other Tobacco Products

To continue, Zyn pouches can act as the gateway product to using other nicotine products, like cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and cigars.  Zyn pouches have risen in popularity through social media. With the colorful packaging and fun flavors, people who don’t smoke may become hooked on nicotine for the first time through Zyn.

Oral Health Concerns

Further, because Zyn pouches are dissolved in the mouth, they can cause poor oral health. Some potential nicotine pouch side effects are:

  • Periodontal disease (like gingivitis and periodontitis)
  • Gum recession
  • Inflammation of the mouth
  • Bone loss

Research shows the flavors in nicotine pouches may pose further risks to your oral health. This is in addition to the damage caused by nicotine in the mouth.

Nicotine’s Effect on the Brain

Undeniably, nicotine is an addictive stimulant. With the high levels of nicotine in Zyn pouches, Zyn products are addictive as well. Yet, Zyn rewards the brain by releasing dopamine and feelings of pleasure. Nicotine addiction stems from the repetitive triggering of the reward system until you require more nicotine to get the initial effect. Notably, nicotine directly impacts the brain, which is especially dangerous for young people whose brains are still developing. Ingesting nicotine can cause memory issues, poor attention, and reckless behavior.

Lack of Research

Unfortunately, there is currently not enough research to know all the potential long-term risks of Zyn pouches. Thus, only use Zyn pouches temporarily to wean off tobacco products and make a plan to quit Zyn afterward.

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Tips for Ending Nicotine Addiction

Struggling with a nicotine addiction is really difficult, but you’re not alone. When wondering the best way to quit Zyn, you can work on weaning yourself off nicotine over time. Or you can turn to a rehabilitation center to support and assist you through the process of quitting nicotine products. Zyn pouches are one temporary fix for nicotine addiction, but sometimes people require more help. At Aliya, we can help you break free from your addiction. If you’re worried about the cost of treatment, ask us about using your insurance for rehab.

Above all, know that freedom from nicotine addiction is possible and within reach!

What Is Laced Weed and Why Is It So Dangerous?

Aliya on January 28, 2025

Marijuana, commonly known as weed, is a psychoactive drug derived from the cannabis plant. Various parts of the plant can be used, including the leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds, though not all contain psychoactive properties. The primary active compounds are cannabinoids, with THC being the most prominent. THC, classified as a Schedule I Controlled Substance, is responsible for the “high” associated with cannabis. While some individuals develop an addiction to weed’s hallucinogenic effects on its own, the dangers increase significantly when marijuana is laced with other potent substances. Laced weed may contain powerful drugs or harmful additives, making it extremely risky to consume without knowing exactly what’s in it.

Laced weed is a prevalent concern that heightens one’s risk of addiction and overdose. The best way to overcome an addiction to cannabis and other substances is to seek treatment through a rehabilitation center. Let’s further discuss the dangers of laced weed so you can use caution. 

What Is Laced Weed?

Marijuana is a natural plant-based substance that can cause psychoactive reactions (through THC)  or non-intoxicating effects (through CBD) like relaxation or sleep. Street names for cannabis include:

  • Weed
  • Marijuana
  • Pot
  • Grass
  • Ganja
  • Mary Jane
  • Herb
  • Dope

Laced cannabis is marijuana that contains other ingredients, including substances, in the flowers or buds. Essentially, substance lacing refers to mixing other products into the original one so the substance is tainted. Most concerning is the fact that individuals have no idea what exactly they are consuming. Alarmingly, smoking or ingesting laced weed puts you at risk of an addiction to a drug you didn’t know you were taking, like heroin. It also puts you in danger of overdosing because you took too much of the drug you didn’t know was in your weed.

Why Do People Lace Weed With Other Substances?

Most commonly, drug labs lace their substances in order to use less of the product but still bulk up the size. Usually, lacing is done in the context of illicit drug selling, such as black-market drug rings. While this saves the drug seller money, it is a dangerous and dishonest behavior. Drug lacing aims to allow the drug seller to use less of their product but still make the same amount of money. Thus, they need to add some other ingredients to their product. Sometimes, laced black-market drugs are mixed with other substances, such as fentanyl. Other times, they are mixed with dangerous toxins that shouldn’t be consumed, like lead.

What Other Drugs Do People Lace Weed With?

Here are some of the substances that can potentially be used to lace weed: 

  • Fentanyl
  • Cocaine
  • Heroin
  • Phencyclidine (PCP)
  • Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
  • Methamphetamine (meth)
  • Ketamine

Unfortunately, laced weed is furthering the drug crisis. For example, fentanyl is one of the major causes of opioid overdose deaths in the United States. Weed laced with fentanyl is common and dangerous.

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What Are the Dangers of Laced Weed? 

Certain substances do not mix well because they can cause serious health issues in your body. For example, Xanax and weed are not a safe combination because benzodiazepines and weed increase the others’ effects. Thus, if you take both together, you can experience intense sedation, panic attacks, or mental fogginess. The same concept applies to weed laced with other substances, like fentanyl-laced weed.

Simply put, you can experience adverse reactions to substances that are not to be interacting in your body at the same time. Additionally, substances are extremely powerful and have major effects on your brain and body that you may not even realize. When you take laced weed, you don’t know how much you’re taking, nor what reaction it will cause. Another risk of laced weed is the inability to track what substances and how much of them you have consumed. Thus, you put yourself at a high risk of overdose.

How to Tell If Weed Is Laced

In order to avoid laced weed, only ever buy from trusted and reputable sellers. Additionally, get your drugs tested if you can. Some signs that weed is laced are if it’s glossy, has a different smell, or has unusual coloring or markings. Always protect yourself by avoiding any cannabis that is questionable.

Get Help for Marijuana Abuse

As the use of marijuana becomes more widespread, the risk of consuming laced weed poses a growing threat. Unknowingly smoking marijuana tainted with substances like crystal meth, fentanyl, or even heroin can lead to severe health consequences, including addiction and life-threatening overdoses. These dangerous additives can trigger unexpected psychoactive effects and worsen existing mental health disorders like bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. Statistically, 30 percent of cannabis users meet the criteria for a substance addiction, yet most people don’t seek help. Marijuana abuse is a risky pattern and will affect your life, like causing you to fail a drug test or miss social events.

Addiction Treatment Programs for Cannabis

Fortunately, comprehensive addiction treatment programs offer a pathway to recovery. Whether through partial hospitalization programs (PHP), residential rehab, or intensive outpatient programs (IOP), individuals receive tailored care to address both substance use and co-occurring disorders. Medical detox, including fentanyl detox, heroin detox, and cocaine detox, provides critical medical assistance to safely navigate withdrawal symptoms. If you’re dependent on weed, you’re more likely to settle for low-quality weed like laced marijuana. There’s no shame in needing help for a weed habit that got out of control. We can help you and your loved ones heal from addiction.

Therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are effective in addressing the emotional triggers behind drug use. Family therapy, relapse prevention, and dual diagnosis treatment can also support long-term healing. For those transitioning out of rehab, sober living homes and alumni programs help maintain stability and accountability.

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Supporting a Loved One Battling Marijuana Abuse

Cannabis can be addictive on its own and is significantly more likely to lead to addiction and substance abuse when laced. Whether you are concerned for yourself or someone you care about, there are options for receiving help. Laced weed can lead to co-occurring disorders, where someone struggles with consecutive issues. These can include mental health struggles and substance use disorders. For example, laced weed, like marijuana laced with PCP, can cause you to develop an addiction to both cannabis and PCP.

Finding the right drug and alcohol addiction treatment can be life-changing for individuals seeking a path to recovery. Many centers offer comprehensive treatment programs designed to address the unique needs of each client. Services often include drug detox and alcohol detox to help individuals safely manage withdrawal symptoms in the early stages of sobriety. For those seeking flexibility while maintaining their daily responsibilities, an outpatient program provides structured care and support without requiring overnight stays. These programs empower individuals to build a strong foundation for lasting recovery while integrating healthy coping strategies into their everyday lives. We can help you get your loved one help by assisting them in choosing the right recovery center—whether offering women’s addiction treatment, men’s addiction treatment, or support for eating disorders—is essential for a lasting recovery.

Using Insurance for Rehab

Many treatment centers accept insurance plans, helping individuals access vital care. If you or a loved one is struggling with laced weed use, reach out today to verify your insurance and begin your journey toward freedom and healing while quitting laced weed. Simply reach out to us to discuss your circumstances, and we can get you connected to our rehabilitation programming!

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Aliya Health Group

Aliya Health Group is a comprehensive network of addiction and mental health treatment centers, with locations spanning nationwide. 

We are driven by our commitment to empower individuals, families, and the community by providing education, tools, and support, to help them lead healthy, fulfilling lives in recovery. 

To Heal. To Teach.
To Empower. To Amaze.
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The Joint Commission
NALGAP
NAADAC, National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors
ceu training, ceu trainings, NAADAC
Wellbriety Certified Treatment Center