The Best Possible Outcome

Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use. ~Anonymous

New News in one Place

Whilst searching the web's vast quantities of information overload, I came across some articles of interest:

Delivering Lasting Addiction Recovery In California

It's easy for an addiction recovery center to say it cares about the psychological well-being of its clients. It's harder for that clinic to actually translate its words into action. The unfortunate truth is that many of the most heavily-advertised addiction recovery centers in California offer inferior emotional therapy to their clients. More often than not, these institutions fail to promote meaningful and lasting recovery.

Sunset's Clinical Team, for their part, argues that those shortcomings are inexcusable....(more)

This little piece touches on the importance of addiction treatment and understanding the need for a drug abuse treatment center.


Importance Of Personalized Alcohol treatment In Attaining Lasting Sobriety

'Alcohol abuse is a personal problem. By the same token, alcohol treatment must be a personal process. The most effective alcohol treatment facilities are those which cater to the unique needs of their unique clients. In the end, there's simply no other way to build a solid foundation for lasting recovery.

Those considerations, in turn, form the bedrock of Sunset Malibu's treatment philosophy....(more)'


This delightful little number talks about Sunset Malibu as a luxury drug and alcohol treatment center and other general information about an alcohol treatment program.


What Makes An Inpatient Drug Rehab Center Effective

'Addiction recovery doesn't happen overnight. On the contrary, drug abuse is a resilient disease, and drug treatment can only succeed if it's driven by sustained effort. The most effective inpatient drug rehab center is the one that ensures the long-term health of its clients, with everything from sober living programs to independent 12-Step support networks. In the end, any inferior standard of care is doomed to fail.

Those considerations, in turn, are at the heart of Sunset Malibu's treatment philosophy...(more)'

This wonderful little piece talks about the luxurious alcohol and drug rehab facilities by Sunset Malibu and their long term drug rehab programs.


Critical Elements For Drug Rehab To Be Successful

'Many drug rehab centers acknowledge the importance of holistic recovery. But few institutions actually put their own principles into practice. In fact, many of the most high-priced drug rehabs in California provide one-dimensional care to their clients. As should go without saying, these clinics routinely fail to deliver on the promises they make in their advertising brochures.

Sunset Malibu's Clinical Team, for their part, argues that those shortcomings are inexcusable...(more)'

This piece talks about what is a long term drug rehab center and what to look for in an inpatient drug rehab facility.

There is, of course, but one acceptable end of the drug rehab process, one target for which all rehabilitation programs do and must ultimately aim: drug recovery. Drug treatment that fails to effect meaningful and substantive sobriety doesn’t deserve to be called drug treatment at all; addiction counseling which leaves addiction still standing is, to say the least, a gross contradiction in terms. To get better, you’ve got to get all the way better. In the fight against drug addiction, partial victory just isn’t good enough.

What that means, in a practical sense, is that successful drug rehab programs do and must account for the long-term health of their patients. Concretely, aftercare and sober living services can be vital in promoting lasting sobriety, especially insofar as they provide a bridge between the cloistered security of primary drug rehab and the rugged independence of the real world. The drug rehab center that’s right for you, then, is and must be the one that leaves you on stable footing the day you say goodbye to it. Sunset Malibu is here to walk you to the road of recovery, call today at 1-800-332-9202.

Inner Strength: Everybody Has It

Sunset Malibu's Many Facets

Sunset Malibu has some great pieces out there talking about is many facets within the Rehab community, here are a few great reads:

Getting The Most Out Of California Alcohol Rehabs:
'...drug abuse is a resilient disease, and alcohol rehabs can only succeed if they are driven by sustained effort. The most effective alcohol rehabs are the ones that ensure the long-term health of its clients...(more)'

Winning The Battle Against Clinical Depression:
'..."It's our role as a clinical depression treatment center to help them recover what's been lost, with everything from professional clinical depression treatment to intensive life-skills training. We believe that our long record of success testifies to the soundness of our strategies."...(more).

What The Best Drug Rehab Centers Bring To The Table:
'...On the contrary, drug abuse is a resilient disease, and drug rehabs can only succeed if it's driven by sustained effort. The most effective drug rehab centers are the ones that ensure the long-term health of its clients...(more)'

Dealing With A Bipolar Disorder:
'...The most effective bipolar disorder treatment centers are invariably those which help clients learn to feel good about themselves again...(more)'

The Key To Successful Drug And Alcohol Treatment:
'...The most effective alcohol treatment center is one that brings an addict's family members together for group counseling and therapy sessions. In the end, there's no better way to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone involved...(more)'

Depressive Disorder Recovery Guide:
'...The most effective depressive disorder recovery center is that one that brings an addict's family members together for group counseling and therapy sessions...(more)'

Keep it Simple

Getting down to the nitty gritty

There is so much information on the web these days that sifting through it seems a daunting task. So here are a few great pieces to help the health and wellness of you and/or a loved one.


Overcoming a Major Depressive Disorder

'...A major depressive disorder is a psychologically crippling disease. By the same token, major depressive disorder treatment must promote psychological renewal. The most effective major depressive disorder recovery program is invariably one which will help clients learn to feel good about themselves again. In the end, there's no other way to ensure the long-term success of the healing process...(more)'

This piece talks about schizophrenia and general facts about the symptoms of depression.



The Difference with Holistic Addiction Recovery

'...It's no secret that addiction can tear families apart. What might not be so obvious, though, is that addiction recovery has to entail familial healing. The most effective addiction recovery center is that one that brings an addict's family members together for group counseling and therapy sessions. In the end, there's no better way to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone involved....(more)

This one discusses the unique addiction treatment from a unique addiction treatment facility like Sunset Malibu.



What It Takes To Make A Detox Program Truly Successful

'...Drug addiction is both a physical and psychological disease. Drug addiction detox, in turn, must entail both physical and psychological healing. The best detox centers are those which meet all the needs of their clients, with everything from detox to emotional counseling programs. In the end, there's no better way to build a foundation for lasting sobriety....(more)'

This article touches on topics like drug addiction detox and heroin detox.


Happy Reading

A Brighter, Joyous Future

'...An intervention only matters if it effects meaningful and long-term substance abuse recovery. Again, the purpose of an intervention is not and cannot be to shame an addict, or take him to task for his drug abuse problem; an intervention succeeds only when it leads a drug addict to seek drug treatment, and only when that drug treatment is a conduit to lasting and substantive sobriety. With so much to lose, nothing less could ever possibly cut it.

It’s hard to focus on the future when someone you care about is mired in the depths of drug abuse. Indeed, the challenge for anyone conducting an intervention concerns itself mostly with Sunset Malibu-only the highest level of care and attention. Hope: You’ve got to keep your focus trained on the prospect of a brighter tomorrow, even as today seems so impossibly broken. A successful intervention, in the end, is one that’s built on faith, and on optimism. If the addict you care about is going to get better, he’s got to be able to see the daylight through the gloom.

But enough about that, for now. You know what’s at stake here, and you know what you need to do: You know that an intervention is an important first step in the fight against drug addiction, and that the addict you care about can’t get better without your help. Now, for your own sake and the sake of the people you love, you’ve got to find the strength to act. And please, don’t wait. There’s no time like the present to start making the future a little bit brighter.(~Sunset Malibu)'

Info for Mind, Body and Spirit

Fantastic reads about drug rehab and the people behind them!

What to Look For:

'...Addiction recovery doesn't happen overnight. On the contrary, drug abuse is a resilient disease, and a drug treatment program can only succeed if it's driven by sustained effort. The most effective drug treatment center is the one that ensures the long-term health of its clients, with everything from sober living programs to independent 12-Step support networks. In the end, any inferior standard of care is doomed to fail...(more)'

This piece talks about finding a drug treatment program and what to look for in drug treatment



 The Right Depression Medication Recovery

'...A lot of people turn to different depression medication regimens in order to help them with their depression symptoms. There is nothing wrong with doing this, but if you want to get the most success out of it then you really need to know what you are doing from the start.

It also gives you a barometer against which you can measure all of the answers that the patient is giving. Experience is therefore very important to the depression medication issue. Our people have experience, which is also why they are so good at what they do...(more)'

This article goes on about mental depression and depression recovery



The Best Methods to Treat Anxiety

'...Anxiety disorders are psychologically crippling diseases. By the same token, treatment for anxiety attacks must promote psychological renewal. The most effective treatment program for anxiety attacks is invariably one which will help clients learn to feel good about themselves again. In the end, there's no other way to ensure the long-term success of the healing process...(more)'

This one is about anxiety depression and anxiety disorders



Whether you suffer from anxiety, depression or have an addiction- these pieces give you much food for thought to better your mind, body and spirit to the fullness of a healthy future.

Best Depression Self Help Resources

'...It's easy for a depression self help treatment center to say it cares about the psychological well-being of its clients. It's harder for that clinic to actually translate its words into action...(more)'

What To Look For...

'...The drug rehab industry is constantly evolving. What is conventional wisdom today may well be obsolete information tomorrow, which makes it especially important that drug rehab facilities keep pace with the progress of modern clinical advancements. In the end, the best drug rehab programs are invariably the ones designed according to the most up-to-date standards and practices.

It's those fundamental truths, in turn, from which Sunset Malibu develops its treatment philosophy and methodology.

Sunset Malibu is hailed both for the skills of its caregivers and the elegance of its accommodations. For years, Sunset has been the preferred destination of upscale patients seeking world-class treatment in a world-class environment. As Sunset enacts its new initiative, the center's administrators hope to make the Sunset Malibu experience even more valuable for clients and their families...(more)'

The Best Depression Support In America

To view the full press release article, please click here:

'...Sunset Malibu, an elite depression support and treatment center on the California coast, has long been a transformational force in the field of depression support and recovery. Now, Sunset is announcing its redoubled efforts in helping clients regain their dignity on the road to wellness.

Being depressed is a psychologically crippling disease. By the same token, depression support and treatment must promote psychological renewal. The most effective depression support and treatment center is invariably one which will help clients learn to feel good about themselves again. In the end, there's no other way to ensure the long-term success of the healing process.

Those considerations, in turn, comprise the core of Sunset Malibu's treatment philosophy.

With its world-class caregivers and elegant accommodations, Sunset Malibu is an unparalleled recovery destination. The center has always catered to upscale clients from every corner of the globe. Now Sunset is renewing its commitment to its core values, with the goal of delivering life-changing care to individuals who seek it. At Sunset Malibu, the client always comes first...' (Sunset Malibu)

perfect?

The Cure For

What causes Depression...Are you ready to finally understand what is causing the depression in your life so that you can overcome these “down” feelings? Read more here.

Guide To Help Find Depression Help!

The following was taken from an article, to read the article click here:

'...It's easy for a depression and mental health treatment center to say it cares about the psychological well-being of its clients. It's harder for that clinic to actually translate its words into action. The unfortunate truth is that many of the most heavily-advertised treatment centers offering help for depression in California offer inferior emotional therapy to their clients. More often than not, these institutions fail to promote meaningful and lasting recovery.

Sunset Malibu's Clinical Team, for their part, argues that those shortcomings are inexcusable.

"The stakes in the fight against depression is enormous," Sunset Malibu's Program Director said. "Our clients trust us to save their lives, and we're deeply committed to meeting our obligations. A treatment center specializing in offering help for depression that can't or won't live up to its responsibilities doesn't deserve to be in business."

It's no secret that depression ruins the lives of its victims. What might not be so obvious is that a successful help for depression programs can make all the difference in the world. Sunset Malibu has a long history of helping its clients heal from the inside-out. As those clients have learned firsthand, no project could ever be more worthwhile than that one...' (Sunset Malibu)

You're entitled to a happy, joyous, addiction-free life

'...The drug abuse treatment industry is constantly evolving. What is conventional wisdom today may well be obsolete information tomorrow, which makes it especially important that drug abuse centers keep pace with the progress of modern clinical advancements. In the end, the best drug abuse programs are invariably the ones designed according to the most up-to-date standards and practices.

It's those fundamental truths, in turn, from which Sunset Malibu develops its treatment philosophy and methodology.

Sunset Malibu is hailed both for the skills of its caregivers and the elegance of its accommodations. For years, Sunset has been the preferred destination of upscale patients seeking world-class treatment in a world-class environment. As Sunset enacts its new initiative, the center's administrators hope to make the Sunset Malibu experience even more valuable for clients and their families.

"Our caregivers are among the best in the world at what they do," said Sunset Malibu's owner. "But that doesn't mean we aren't always trying to get better. In order to provide our clients with the service they deserve, it's essential that we actively seek to refine our methodology over time."

The passion evinced in that statement suggests that Sunset will continue to stand head and shoulders above its competitors for the foreseeable future...'

(You're entitled to a happy, joyous, addiction-free life....learn more here)

Alcohol Rehab and Inpatient Care

'One reason that many people feel more comfortable with [Sunset Malibu's] inpatient Alcohol Treatment Facility rather than other ones is because not only are we able to make the proper accommodations for someone with special needs but we have many therapeutic offers that others do not such as different types of active therapy.

Even small amounts of alcohol affect your body and the larger the amount you take in the more damage it can and will do. The effects that alcohol has on a person can be treated but the primary things that need to be treated are the alcohol addiction itself....' (Stacey Juanalow)

'...Alcohol rehab is an alcoholic’s last best chance. It might sound dramatic, but it’s the truth: You can’t overcome alcoholism without alcohol treatment, and you can’t beat alcohol addiction outside of an alcohol treatment center. If you’re going to get better, if you’re going to get sober and stay sober, you need the kind of help that only alcohol rehabilitation can provide. There is, in the end, no more important decision you could ever make.

So there’s no confusion: Alcohol rehab isn’t easy. The alcohol rehab process is an arduous one, and only those alcohol rehab patients who commit themselves to the struggle can ever hope to achieve lasting alcohol rehab recovery. There is, in the end, no substitute for courage, and determination; if you’re going to get better in alcohol rehab, you’ve got to be ready for a fight...' (Sunset Malibu)

Effective Depression Treatments

Chronic depression is a psychologically crippling disease. By the same token, depression treatments must promote psychological renewal. The most effective depression treatments are invariably ones which will help clients learn to feel good about themselves again. In the end, there's no other way to ensure the long-term success of the healing process.

Those considerations, in turn, comprise the core of Sunset Malibu's treatment philosophy.

With its world-class caregivers and elegant accommodations, Sunset Malibu is an unparalleled recovery destination. The center has always catered to upscale clients from every corner of the globe. Now Sunset is renewing its commitment to its core values, with the goal of delivering life-changing care to individuals who seek it. At Sunset Malibu, the client always comes first. .

"Severe depression strips its victims of their self-esteem, and their sense of self-control," said Sunset Malibu's Program Director. "It's our role as a center for depression treatments to help them recover what's been lost, with everything from professional depression treatments to intensive life-skills training. We believe that our long record of success testifies to the soundness of our strategies."

Click Here to read the full press release!

An ubundance of information...

There are many articles out there that will help you find the right place to seek help. Here are a couple recommended reads:

Inpatient Alcohol Treatment Facility and Intervention
Specialized Recovery Within Inpatient Alcohol Rehab Programs

Committed To Holistic Recovery?

"...Alcohol abuse is a unique disease. By the same token, inpatient alcohol treatment must have a unique process. The only effective inpatient alcohol treatment centers are those which provide specially designed recovery programs to their clients. In the end, there's simply no other way to promote meaningful and lasting wellness.."

(Click here to learn more)

Alcoholism is a problem in many people’s lives, and it affects not only the alcoholic, but also the family members and friends of the person with the alcoholism problem. It can be difficult to admit that you have a problem with alcoholism, but it is unfortunately an admission that you are going to have to make if you ever want to overcome your addiction and build a happy and healthy life for yourself. Are you ready to learn what it takes to overcome your alcohol addiction once and for all? The process may not be simple, and is going to take a lot of work from you – But we can provide you with the most comfortable possible environment, along with an inpatient alcohol treatment program that is actually going to drive results. ~ Sunset Malibu

How To: Choose An Inpatient Alcohol Rehabilitation Center

"[Malibu, CA] - Sunset Malibu, an exclusive alcohol rehabilitation facility on the California coast, has long been a transformational force in the field of rehabilitation and recovery. Now, Sunset is announcing its redoubled efforts in providing clients with long-term support during the residential drug rehabilitation process.

Addiction recovery doesn't happen overnight...."

(To read the rest of this article click here)

Are these your friends?

The road to recovery starts with you. But you can't beat your addiction alone. Now that you've decided to face your disease head-on, you need the best help you can get. Consider the most exclusive and results-driven treatment available. It's waiting for you at Sunset Malibu. Call now.
1-800-332-9202

Measuring The Quality Of An Inpatient Alcohol Rehab Center

[Malibu, CA] - Sunset Malibu is traditionally regarded among the most successful residential inpatient alcohol rehab centers in California. With the goal of providing even better service to its clients, the inpatient alcohol rehab center is announcing a renewed commitment to family-oriented therapy throughout the recovery process.

It's no secret that addiction can tear families apart. What might not be so obvious, though, is that addiction recovery has to entail familial healing. The most effective inpatient alcohol rehab center is one that brings an addict's family members together for group counseling and therapy sessions. In the end, there's no better way to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone involved.

Those considerations, in turn, comprise the core of Sunset Malibu's treatment philosophy.

Sunset Malibu's caregivers are widely hailed as leading figures in the field. No less importantly, Sunset's elegant inpatient alcohol rehab center offers residents an ideal setting for recovery. Sunset's clinical competence and unique atmosphere have prompted upscale clients from all over the world to seek the center's care. With their latest initiative, Sunset's administrators hope to provide even better service to their patients.

"Our clients invariably come to us with badly damaged home lives," said Sunset Malibu's owner. "Part of our role as a private alcohol rehab facility is to provide a safe space in which family members can work to rebuild the relationships that addiction so often ruins. In fact, our family therapy services are among the most important that we offer."

Unfortunately, that commitment to family therapy is precisely what sets Sunset apart from its competitors.

Study after study indicates the correlation between intensive family counseling and long-term addiction recovery. But not every inpatient alcohol rehab center heeds the lesson. In fact, many of the most well-known inpatient alcohol rehab facilities in Los Angeles actively isolate addicts from their families during the rehabilitation process. More often than not, such strategies prove to be counterproductive over the long run.

Sunset administrators, for their part, assert that such shortcomings are inexcusable.

"Addiction recovery doesn't happen in isolation," said a representative from Sunset Malibu's clinical team. "Our patients can only hope to achieve lasting wellness if they're supported by their loved ones during the healing process. We believe that the robust record of clinical success at our inpatient alcohol rehab facility is heavily dependent on our commitment to family therapy."

Sunset Malibu's expert caregivers are keenly aware of the stakes faced by their clients in the fight against addiction. That's why they invest so much effort and energy in ensuring the long-term success of the healing process. It's also why Sunset's inpatient alcohol rehab center is among the best on the planet. Now more than ever before, the center's residents and their loved ones have reason to believe that tomorrow really will be better than today.

*

Sunset Malibu is a luxury residential inpatient alcohol rehab center located in Malibu, California. For further details about Sunset's treatment strategies, accommodations, or other general facts about our private alcohol rehab facility, please call 1-800-332-9202 or visit our Web site at http://www.drugrehabsunsetmalibu.com/.

Sobriety That Lasts

Here’s a simple truth: Sobriety doesn’t matter if it’s not forever. Drug abuse treatment doesn’t succeed if its patients get better for a few months, or a few years; a drug rehab program can’t be deemed effective if it only provides a temporary fix. In the end, recovery that counts is that which endures, and which enables addicts to continue the fight against addiction long after they’ve left a rehab center.

Drug abuse treatment is, to say the least, a trying process. No one gets better without a fight, and a successful drug abuse treatment experience is invariably the product of sustained struggle, and bitter conflict. There is, in the end, no substitute for individual resolve, and those drug abuse treatment patients who achieve meaningful recovery are the ones who can stay vigilant over the long run.

But the long run, perhaps, is a thing best left to take care of itself. Yes, successful drug abuse treatment is ultimately and only drug abuse treatment that lasts, but for you, now, that’s not what’s important: For you, now, all that matters is the fact of drug abuse itself, and the fact that drug abuse treatment can help. Make no mistake: Drug abuse treatment really can work for you…but not before you let it work, and resolve to make it work, and commit yourself to the idea of the working in a way that excludes the possibility of failure. You are, in the end, the only one in control of your own drug abuse treatment destiny. For your own sake, let today be the day you choose to make drug abuse treatment a reality.

Depression

Depression is, above all else, a disease. Depression treatment patients are just that: patients, unwell individuals who need professional medical help to get better. Depression treatment is vital to the depression recovery process because depression is not a choice, or a function of individual will; no matter how they try, depression treatment patients can’t simply decide to get healthy. If you take anything from this text, let it be that your only hope of beating depression lies in a depression treatment center.

In more specific terms, depression exists as both a physical and a psychological phenomenon. Physically, chemical imbalances in the human brain can substantively impact the mood and thought patterns of depression treatment patients. Psychologically, historical trauma and subconscious pathology can be equally destructive. Successful depression treatment, as should perhaps go without saying, is that which addresses both dimensions of depression itself; if you’re going to get better in a depression treatment center, you’ve got to get all the way better.

Of course, you can’t get better at all if you don’t find the strength to enroll in a depression treatment program. Remember, the depression treatment process can’t start until you say it does: until you admit that you can’t solve depression by yourself, and resolve to seek help from depression treatment professionals. Again, your having made it this far proves you know what’s at stake, and what you have to lose. Now, you’ve got to turn that knowledge into action. In the fight against depression, nothing less than that could ever be good enough.

(Article courtesy of Sunset Malibu)

Health and Wellness News

Sunset Malibu, an exclusive drug rehab center on the California coast, has long been a transformational force in the field of rehabilitation and recovery. Now, Sunset is announcing its redoubled efforts in providing clients with long-term support during the residential drug rehabilitation process.

Addiction recovery doesn't happen overnight. On the contrary, drug abuse is a resilient disease, and drug rehabilitation can only succeed if it's driven by sustained effort. The most effective inpatient drug rehabilitation center is the one that ensures the long-term health of its clients, with everything from sober living programs to independent 12-Step support networks. In the end, any inferior standard of care is doomed to fail.

Those considerations, in turn, are at the heart of Sunset Malibu's treatment philosophy...(To read more go here)

Personal Prescription Drug Detox

People addicted to prescription drugs know how devastating their habit can be. Hiding bottles of pills, lying, and bad behavior lead them to lose dignity and, eventually, hope that things could ever change. Sooner or later, they stop caring about anything but the next pill. Reliable prescription drug detox can stop the vicious downward spiral. Most centers that promise detox don’t think about how important detoxification is to recovery. At Sunset Malibu, we understand. We know that detoxification from prescription drugs is the first important step, and we can help. Many of our experienced staff have been through it. They’ve recovered to lead productive lives, as will you.

No one can do it for you. You have to be willing to commit to and stick with the process. You’ll have to work hard to recover from addiction, but Sunset Malibu stands ready to help. Our professional prescription drug detox staff has experience with proven therapeutic approaches. They’ll create an individual treatment plan that addresses your specific needs. Sunset Malibu has a set of effective tools to help mend damaged families. After your safe physician-supervised detox, you’ll want to have your family’s support, and they’ll need to understand your recovery process. Sunset Malibu’s prescription drug detox professionals offer customized family therapy.

(Article Courtesy of Sunset Malibu)

Understanding Your Detox Program

A successful detox program is one that helps patients make a smooth transition into the rehab process. To that end, detox services work best when they’re tailored to the individual needs of individual addicts. No one has ever experienced addiction quite the same way you have. It follows that your addiction treatment program has to be uniquely your own. At Sunset Malibu, your detox doctors and caregivers can give you the sort of intimate, expert support you need to weather the strain of drug and alcohol withdrawal. No, it won’t be easy, because nothing about drug and alcohol treatment is ever easy. It will, however, be worth it. The medicinal and physical therapy you get in Sunset Malibu’s detox center will set you on a path towards meaningful addiction recovery. In the end, it’s hard to imagine how anything could ever be more important than that.

Pain Killer

Pain killer addiction is a serious problem. If you suspect that you’re hooked on prescription pain killers, call Sunset Malibu right away. We’re a luxury treatment center located in sunny Malibu, California. We’re far enough away from the city that you will feel like your privacy is protected. And our discreet staff work very hard to make sure that your stay is completely private. In addition to privacy, we offer luxury. In fact, our luxury treatment facility rivals the beauty and comfort of a fine resort hotel. This is all intentional because we know that if you’re comfortable, you can better focus on your addiction treatment.

We want you to be comfortable the whole time you’re here. We know that beating a pain killer addiction is hard work. And to do that hard work, you have to have a lot of energy and a lot of focus. That’s why we supply things like a fitness center and a lap pool. You can work out and re-energize yourself to prepare for the hard work of therapy. These kinds of activities also help improve your general health which is important for overall healing. For more information about our pain killer programs call 1-800-332-9202 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-332-9202 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

(Article courtesy of Sunset Malibu)

ED?

ED...Do you know what that is? You may not think you know anyone with an eating disorder but you are probably wrong. Let me shed a little light on this: 'between 5 per cent and 10 per cent of girls and women (i.e. 5-10 million people) and 1 million boys and men suffer from eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or other associated dietary conditions. Estimates suggest that as many as 15 percent of young women adopt unhealthy attitudes and behaviors about food...Because of the guilt and consequent secretiveness of eating disorders (esp. bulimia and binge-eating) it is likely that many instances go unreported. Thus a higher incidence of eating disorders is almost certain. 40 per cent of 1st, 2nd or 3rd grade girls want to be thinner. And 80 per cent of 10 year olds are worried in case they become fat. In another survey, 70 percent of 6th grade girls surveyed said that their concern about their weight, shape and diet started when they were aged 9-11'(Eating Disorder Statistics). Crazy to think about people that young worried about their weight!

Mak and I had a friend in college who was beyond beautiful (in media standards), you know the type. Perfect skin, hair- manicured nails- flawless body....or so we thought. It took us a while to catch on, I think she had a bit of both anorexia and bulimia- 9 times out of 10 she would claim she had already eaten or wasn't feeling hungry at the moment, and the few times we coaxed her into eating anything she would nearly run to the bathroom right after! We tried to talk to her, to help her out but she wouldn't listen. At the end of the year she moved back home to her folks house and I have lost touch with her, so Lillian if you are reading this... Let us know!!!
Here are some inspirational pictures for everyone out there recovering or helping someone else recover-

An Inspired Poem

A simple smile, a loving word, a joke to brighten up the day, A phone call when you're not at your best, a light to lead the way, An ear to listen a heart to accept, to love and understand, The simple way you came to me, the gentle touch of your hand. The way we think a lot alike on fun or serious things, It seems to be this friendship has taken to it's wings. Through days and weeks and even months we have shared a lot "deep" within, but guaranteed with love and trust, that's a good way to begin. For when two people such as us, can meet and almost blend, I've read your heart, I know your mind, and am "grateful" to call you Friend. By: Angel7

Diary of an Anorexic By: Christy Heitger-Casbon

February 15, 1986

I'm so gross! I don't know how anyone stands to look at me. All the skinny girls in my classes get the boyfriends, the attention, and what do I get? I get called a pig. Jason is the worst. I know brothers exist to make their sisters' lives miserable, but I think the reason Jason's comments hurt so much is because I know they're true. I am a pig. I eat way too often and way too much junk food. Mom says 110 pounds is fine for being 5 feet 3 inches tall, but I don't like how flabby I feel. I think I'm going to try to lose a few pounds—just enough so Jason will stop teasing me.

April 15
I'm not doing too bad—six pounds and counting. Another six or eight and I might look OK. I'd love to lose these thunder thighs. Jason doesn't call me "oinker" anymore, but I think that's only because Mom and Dad told him to stop.

April 24
I've made a pact with myself to cut out all "munchies" (like potato chips) from now on. And I've decided to cut out all desserts, too. That should really make a difference! Guess what I found out? A McDonald's cheeseburger has over 500 calories! And the fat content is super high! I will never eat there again!

May 21
I want to learn the caloric content in everything. I wonder how many calories are in a postage stamp. Do vitamins have calories? I know a stick of gum has 10 calories, but if I were to chew gum instead of eating lunch, I'd come out way ahead.

May 26
I've lost 17 pounds since I started dieting. It's getting harder to do, though, because Mom and Dad are noticing that I poke at my food rather than eat it. Tonight they practically force-fed me. They lectured me on eating a full meal, then made me drink a whole glass of milk—that's 110 calories! I didn't want it! It makes me sick to think they made me do something I didn't want to do.

June 1
I've noticed lately that Mom's been putting extra globs of peanut butter on my celery. I think she's trying to trick me into eating more calories, but I'm the one who's tricking her! When I get to school, I throw my lunch away. Then, while my friends scarf down their fat-filled lunches, I spend 30 minutes walking the halls. So not only do I resist consuming calories, I actually burn some! Ha! Who's in charge now?

June 15
Tomorrow we leave for Michigan for the summer. I'm kind of glad to be getting out of town because the cabin has always been a relaxing place for me, but I worry that Mom and Dad will be studying my every move.

July 1
I haven't weighed myself since I left Indiana because there's no scale here, but I think I've lost weight. I hope so—I'd love to go home at the end of the summer all skinny, pretty and tan. All my friends would be blown away!

July 15
I'm having a hard time getting a tan because I'm always wrapped in a sweatshirt and blanket. I'm sick of being cold all of the time. It was 88 degrees today, but I couldn't warm up. I'm tired a lot, too, and I'm constantly napping, but at least when I'm asleep I'm not thinking about food.

August 5
Today Mom asked me if I knew what anorexia nervosa is. She and Dad think I have it. That's crazy. Yes, I eat less now, but so what? Why do they have to criticize me for it? I get good grades. I try to make them happy. Why can't they let me have this one thing? Why do they have to control what I eat?

August 15
Time to go home. I'm worried, though. Mom and Dad say they're taking me to see Dr. Kirby when we get home. Why do they have to do that? I'm fine! What are they trying to prove?

August 24
OK—I wouldn't admit this to Mom and Dad, but I'm scared. Today when I stood up in church to sing a hymn, I blacked out. It was freaky! My eyes were open, but all I could see was darkness. I fell back into the pew, and Mom asked what was wrong. When I told her, she spazzed. I've never seen her look so petrified. Jason asked what kind of funky lipstick I had on, but I wasn't wearing any. He said my lips were completely white.

(These stories are more and more true with modern media, do you really think the women you see on the covers of magazines look like that? Airbrushing techniques are so good they fool a lot of people but they aren't perfect take a closer look....And Yes! These were published for the youth of America to compare themselves to.)

Depression

Having dealt with my own depression for 5 years when I found this article it really hit home. I thought maybe it might be a wake up call for someone...

"Depression hurts us on all levels; physically, it can cause headaches, insomnia, ulcers, and acid reflux disease, just to name a few. Depression can also cause heart conditions and even brain dysfunction.

On an emotional level, depression hurts us because we no longer find a joy in our lives, or can not release the guilt of the past. This depression in the form of regret and guilt can leave us feeling paralyzed, hopeless, and unable to cope with the prospect of the future.

Depression hurts our children when we feel like sleeping instead of spending time with them, it hurts our spouse because they don't know what to do for us, and well meaning friends who would be our support tend to shy away, letting us have our space when we really need to talk.

Most people do not know how to deal with depression, and give the erroneous but well meaning advice for us to "get over it," or "pull ourselves out of it." If you've ever had a bout with depression or are feeling it now, you know that it's easier said than done.

And if you have chronic depression, you may not even be able to put your finger on why you are feeling so bad. This can sometimes be scarier than knowing that you're depressed at all; you can't fix something when you don't know why it broke!" (Article courtesy of Depression Help)

Alcohol Rehab

I wanted to share this article because I know some people will use anything as an excuse to drink and with St.Patrick's Day just around the corner....well I thought it would be good to get the word out to a few people and maybe help a few while I was at it.

"To beat alcoholism, alcoholics have got to understand alcoholism: how alcohol addiction works, and why it results in chronic addiction. Only those alcohol rehab patients who have a firm grasp of their condition can hope to overcome it, is the point, and so it is that education plays a vital role in the alcoholic recovery process. The bottom line: Before you get better, you’ve got to get smarter. There’s no other way out of the depths of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol rehab is vital to the alcohol recovery process because alcohol addiction is a disease: a clinical disorder with clinical causes. Alcoholics can’t beat alcoholism without alcohol rehab for the simple reason that alcoholism is not contingent on individual will; alcohol addiction isn’t a choice, and alcohol addicts can’t simply decide to get better. Don’t wait another day, start on your road to recovery today, 1-800-332-9202.

Think of it like this: A diabetic would never try to beat diabetes without enlisting the help of a doctor. The same is true of alcoholics and alcohol rehab: Only a fool would try to fight alcohol addiction without help from alcohol rehab professionals. Clinical diseases demand clinical treatment. For prospective alcohol rehab patients, that’s the only truth that could ever matter.

It’s important to note too that alcoholism exists in both physical and psychological dimensions, and that effective alcohol rehab programs are those which confront the disease in all its forms. Alcoholism is a comprehensive condition; it overwhelms its patients, and infects every last inch of their beings. Alcohol rehab, it follows, has got to measure up to its enemy: Alcohol rehab that works is alcohol rehab that covers every base, and fights every battle. There’s no such thing as partial alcoholic recovery. Alcohol rehab has got to be an all-or-nothing proposition."

(Article courtesy of Sunset Malibu)

I had a Grandmother that had a Pain Killer problem, she would pop 8-12 800mg Tylenol with Codine and a chaser of Vodka because as she put it "Nothing else helped". I, myself, refuse to take any meds unless I have too...i.e. a migraine. Some people think I am crazy, but I don't want to be her. She not only was, as far as I was concerned, addicted to the meds but her stomach lining was deteriorated and causing ulsers because of all the meds! I like my spicy food, and would like to be able to eat it without coughing up blood.

Pain killer addiction is a serious problem. If you suspect that you’re hooked on prescription pain killers, call Sunset Malibu right away. We’re a luxury treatment center located in sunny Malibu, California. We’re far enough away from the city that you will feel like your privacy is protected. And our discreet staff work very hard to make sure that your stay is completely private. In addition to privacy, we offer luxury. In fact, our luxury treatment facility rivals the beauty and comfort of a fine resort hotel. This is all intentional because we know that if you’re comfortable, you can better focus on your addiction treatment.

When you suffer from pain killer addiction, your body stops producing its natural painkilling substances called endorphins. These types of substances are naturally released to help you handle pain and feel better when you’re healthy. But if you have a pain killer dependency, they are not released properly. This helps keep you addicted because you need to take the prescription drugs to have any kind of relief.

When you start to heal from painkiller abuse at Sunset Malibu, your body’s natural pain killing instincts will kick back in. You’ll find that you don’t crave the drugs as much, and eventually you’ll stop craving them altogether. We achieve this through many different strategies. The luxury we offer helps you feel good. You have physical activities like swimming, hiking, horseback riding and more available to you. And you can also relax in many different ways at our luxury treatment center. Call us today so we can further explain our programs to you. For more information about [Sunset Malibu's] pain killer recovery program, call 1-800-332-9202.

"My daughter's journey to heroin and back"

"I know this amazing and beautiful young woman, in fact on October 1st, 1988, I gave birth to her. Ariel was what some have said was a magical child. She was born an "old soul". Meaning, she seemed to know about things at a very early age. She carried on deep and meaningful conversations about all sorts of things with her teachers, her Grandfather, my husband and I...she was just amazing. I have 3 children and I realize everyone always thinks their child is "gifted, unique". My other two, I love them no less, but they didn't have Ariel's gift to touch the heart of even the most callous person she came in contact with.

Fast forward to Ariel at 12, she took on the very daunting (at least to me) task of reading the entire Dune series. As well as the ever popular Harry Potter and so on. She was never without a book. Puberty hit and then we had her baby sister when she was 14. By this time she was struggling in school after being in TAG all through elementary. We moved to a small town to see if a change out of the overcrowded high school she was in would help. With the added space in our new house ,she became engrossed in her art. She was so passionate about it, but still there was something terribly wrong. She started hanging out with a young man who had graduated the summer before. My husband and I saw a dramatic change in her for the better. She was happy, she seemed centered, eager to participate in life again.

This lasted about 6 months and at 16 we found her in a ball in her bed, bleeding from her slit wrists. We rushed her to the ER and called her therapist. She stayed for about a week on the psych unit and then was transferred to a youth in-house substance abuse program. I was astonished. This kid won the district wide DARE essay contest in 8th grade!" Mrs. M, your daughter has traces of cocaine, thc, ecstacy and xanax in her system' I don't know why I felt like I was punched, I could not believe my baby girl, the one with so much potential was on this path! She watched her dad go through rehab twice for alcohol and drugs! She was so against it, or so we thought!
She somehow manipulated us to get her out and she didn't need that place. We also found out she was failing school. Her grandparents wanted to help and paid for her to go to an artsy school in the Laurelhurst neighborhood in Portland that all the rich but alternative parents send their kids to in Portland. She got on trimet everyday at 7am to get there by 9am, and seemed on the right track. She loved the free thinking spirit of it and did some amazing work. She was still dating her boyfriend and they were reading Burroughs and Bukowski together.

At 17, she was burning alot of incense in her room, she had friends and seemed happy again. Then everyrthing fell to pieces...I was cutting the hedges near her room and noticed the strong smell of vomit. I went in her room and she was getting high by smoking heroin with her boyfriend and another girl. I was so shocked. I had never even seen heroin. but I knew the smell...the incense I kept smelling was really the smell of heroin smoke. It smells like burning cookies, actually. I smelled it a zillion times! We were old Deadheads so the thought of incense in our house was no big deal.
We put her in rehab #2, that lasted a week, and she again manipulated her way through it. It was a horrible time in our lives. I kicked her out, but she was my kid, I could not leave her on the street, despite what her Dad thought. We almost divorced over it. I found out her dealer was around the corner from her school. She was getting high before class and she was slipping away from me.

We went through the very horrific life of living with a heroin addict for over a year. She continued to see her boyfriend off and on. I don't know why, but I saw all these kids as hurt, lost souls that needed help. I never blamed anyone. Ariel got herself into this. Anyhow, her boyfriend's Dad came and screamed at me in front of my little girl and Ariel was mortified. He threatened to call child protective services because Ariel and her boyfriend were getting high at home in the shed. When she heard this, something switched on. She came to us that night and asked for help one more time. I got a bed for her in her 1st adult rehab, that wasn't based on the 12 steps or NA, per say.It cost every penny we had, but it was my child's life. She dropped to 90 pounds and was a mess. I don't know why or how it worked, perhaps it was because she was with people from all walks of life, her age on up to 60 or 70. She took so much from their stories, experiences. They called her "the kid" and she spent 36 days, many of these people much older than even myself pulled me aside to tell me what a remarkable child i had and that she made a huge difference in their recovery!. She went in December 8, 2006. During her stay her boyfriend went to jail for 60 days. They both realized they were together because of the drugs. Both are clean to this day and they still talk sometimes on the phone.

I am not fool enough to think that Ariel's hard earned sobriety will be an easy thing for her, but I must commend her. She spent almost a year trying to rebuild her life again with us in our town. But no matter what, someone was always calling her or stopping by trying to get her to succumb to the life of a heroin addict again. We changed her phone twice, still people were trying to contact her. She kept in touch with a childhood friend from Texas, whom she met through her cousin when she was 13 and visiting. She visited every year and this guy somehow always seemed to call her when she was at her worst. She was telling him how noone would leave her alone and he hitchiked from Texas to Oregon and ended up on our doorstep in October 2007. For Christmas he gave her a toy plane. They flew to Texas, she got her GED, enrolled in college, and works for a caterer. She loves her life and I miss her like hell. But there was no way she could continue to live here, on the I-5 corridor and stay clean. No one wanted her sobriety more than she did. She has her ups and downs, but somehow she manages to get through it without getting high. She has built a stong support system and is again an amazing young woman of 20, into art, poetry, baking, her dog, her family and a boy who cared enough to hitch across America to save a girl he knew was in trouble.They may not last, 20 is so young! But then again I was 19 when her Daddy and I had her...Everyday I wake up and pray my baby will have one more day of sobriety.Every day is precious." By: mothersuperior

This story hit home hard, a girl I met a few years back lived a story very close to this, she and I are still in touch, I pray for her to keep her sobriety one more day. I know that with each step she is that much happier.

Drug Addict

Desire
wanting and needing it everyday
Rage
overtakes me when the high goes away
Ugliness
so horrible I get numb inside
Guilt
knowing that I have lost my pride

Ashamed
of the constant cravings I get
Desperate
looking around for one more hit
Dishonest
telling more lies all for dope
Irresponsible
getting high in order to cope
Controlling
so intense that sometimes I go insane
Temptations
when I sleep, I hear dope calling my name

by: dillydally
This reminds me where Mak went and doesn't want to go again...it puts things into simple perspective, no over thinking required.

When One Door Closes....Another Opens

"Here I open a new door, and close the one of my old life, lock it, bar it, nail it shut, post hazardous waste signs. That door is no more, it matters not, I will not think of it, it is not who I am or ever will be anymore. I drop the key in the trash, I hear it hit the bottom of the dark within the pail, a sound that brings a smile to my face as I turn and walk away, head help high and the only noise echoing the long, endless hallway are my shiny red stilettos ringing out as I come to my new door. Without a backwards glance I walk through the new doorway into my new life." ~Makenzie


They were a gift to Makenzie for turning over her new leaf, starting her fresh life. She has finished her rehab, she is working on her "Life Rehab". Reinventing herself. She is my inspiration, my muse for this place. Her story and many others need a voice, I want to give it to them.

This place will be a place of growth, discovery, reflection and on occasion possibly remembrance but only if it teaches a present lesson. Here I will share stories, articles, thoughts and inspiration to those in their own hallway to get their own shiny red stilettos.

Her first step was getting help, when I searched only one place had the answers I sought, offered the help she needed. It was their philosophy that spoke to me:

"Your needs are unique. Your treatment program should be, too. There is no such thing as one-size-fits-all when it comes to addiction treatment. That's why we do not have a standard drug rehab program. Our counselors will develop a treatment plan that is unique to you. This is one of the reasons why we have been so successful at helping others achieve true long-term sobriety.

To personalize your program, our addiction treatment philosophy incorporates a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional methods, employing both Western and Eastern medical techniques. Plus, we utilize the talents of some of the best practitioners in the world." (article courtesy of Sunset Malibu)

With a statement like that, how could you go anywhere else? And Makenzie did it!