Doing Training Routines at Narconon Gave Me Better Understanding

One of the first parts of the Narconon Arrowhead drug rehab program is the Training Routines Course. This course has a series of drills that help former drug users with communication, to raise their confront and teach them to use good control. This is what one Narconon Arrowhead patient had to say about his experience on the course:

Narconon Patient’s Graduation Speech Outlines Program Wins

One of the most difficult actions for a substance abuser to undertake is to look inward and confront himself and his problems with drugs or alcohol.  In fact, most substance abuse occurs because an individual encounters some difficulty in their life that they cannot face and resolve.  Drugs can suppress the sensations or emotions involved in dealing with life problems, and make the user feel temporarily relieved or freed from difficulties.  Unfortunately, drugs can also take over the individual’s life, making them feel unable to truly live life happily and prosperously.  Luckily, successful drug rehabilitation treatment can help an individual confront himself and the problems he faces in life, resolve his problems with substance abuse and restore their hope of a healthy, happy future.

A Narconon Graduate’s Successes

Lisa is a recent graduate of the Narconon Arrowhead rehabilitation program.  At her graduation ceremony Lisa shared her experiences and many successes with the program.  Her wins not only illustrate the effectiveness of the Narconon program, but they also give hope to others who are struggling with substance abuse and perhaps feel there is no way out.

The Narconon program begins with a drug-free withdrawal and sauna detoxification program, helping the individual eliminate the immediate effects of drugs.  As Lisa’s body rid itself of drug chemicals and toxins, Lisa began to feel healthier and happier than she had in years.

After withdrawal and detoxification, Narconon program students move on into life skills courses that teach them how to confront and resolve their past problems and the damages they created for themselves and others.  They also arm an individual with the tools they need to create a prosperous, happy future.  Lisa says that the first course was difficult because it made her confront herself, something she was terrified to do.  At first, she couldn’t understand why it scared her so badly to close her eyes, but over time Lisa came to understand that she was having difficulty confronting herself. With support and encouragement from Narconon staff, Lisa was able to overcome this difficulty and comfortably confront herself and her life.

In Lisa’s next course, she learned to face problems in life and finish things once she had started them.  While on this course Lisa went through many different emotions and strengthened many areas that she felt had been weak.  She learned the true meaning of the phrase, “The way out is the way through,” and pushed through to course completion.  Eventually, Lisa felt she was shedding her old self and gaining the knowledge she needed to confidently move forward and create a good life.

Lisa really appreciated the life skills course that helped her determine the characteristics that define a dangerous personality so that she could stay away from these individuals.  She understood that while it was her own choice to use drugs, dangerous personalities around her could drive her toward poor decisions in life.

As Lisa began the final Narconon life skills course, she felt that everything she had worked on and learned to that point was finally coming together to allow her to complete her full rehabilitation.  She realized that there is the possibility of being loved by individuals who have no hidden agenda or ulterior motives.  She restored her feelings of self-confidence, self-respect and dignity and understood that she alone determined her future. 

Lisa says that after years of struggling with addiction she was able to not only get her life back, but also gained the tools and ability to create an even better life than she’d previously imagined was possible.   She arrived at Narconon broken and lost, unable to see a way out of the struggles she found herself in.  With help and support, she found herself, clean and clear of drugs.

How Narconon Arrowhead Saved My Life

Many substance abusers will firmly assert that they do not have a drug problem, that they can stop their drug use at any time, that drug use does not affect them, that they don’t need help and a host of other similar false statements.  Some of them truly do not believe that they have a drug problem because the physical, emotional and psychological changes that have occurred as a result of their drug use may have been so subtle as to be undetectable.  Others may be ignoring the problem because they feel that they must take drugs to feel normal or to survive a certain condition or pattern in their life.  Then there are those who know that drugs are ruining their life and that if they don’t get help and resolve their addiction, it is likely that they will lose their life.

Narconon Arrowhead Was My First Rehab and My Last

The following is a testimonial from a Narconon Arrowhead Graduate named Christina M. on her experience with the program:

Hi everyone! I'm Christina, a 20 year old from Ohio, and also a former student and employee of Narconon Arrowhead. I came there without intentions of what Narconon was all about. It was my first rehab and my last! I finished the program in four months and worked there for two. There was so much I learned about whom I truly feel I am. With the help of the staff members and each and every one of the courses, (sauna being my favorite), the program helped me change how I thought of everything mentally, emotionally, and physically.

My Life Improved After Doing Courses Through Narconon Arrowhead

When you look at me, you would never think I had any addiction problems. I never had an addiction or any major behavior problems growing up, however it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a problem in my life. I’m sure a lot of people can relate. For me, I never had a problem until Christmas of 2010 when everything from addiction to uncontrolled behavior intertwined. Prior to that day, at age 24, I had a brand new house which was paid by a successful construction company ran by my husband and myself. I just had a newborn and a two year old. Life couldn't have been better. Until he relapse after eight years of sobriety.

Looking back, there were obvious signs. However I was in complete denial. The late nights partying; the missing money; and the missing belongings didn’t alarm me. Then in November, he left the state with me holding my week-old baby in my arms and my one year old girl holding tight to my leg standing on a patio that was about to be bank-owned because he had gambled our mortgage payments away while he was high on speed for the third day straight. I believed him when he said he was going to get our money back and come home. Of course, this didn’t happen. A week went by, two weeks, then three. He promised me to take me out on dates and we even spoke of having another baby. However Christmas was around the corner and he hasn’t made any plans to come home. And this is another month we are late on our mortgage. As you can imagine, this left me in a state of fear and depression. A mixture of emotions overwhelmed me and I was diagnosed with severe depression. Out of curiosity of this little pill, I accepted it and it caused me to become a vegetable in mind and body. I had to get off 

of the medication.

What To Expect The First Few Days Of Rehab

Arriving at a drug treatment facility, you are likely to experience a number of different emotions and anxieties about what journey you are about to embark upon. Many addicts enter treatment feeling strong regret for their actions and use this as fuel or motivation. Others experience strong self-doubt, fear and hyper-critical tendencies, causing a dislike of the treatment staff and environment. Whatever you feel upon arriving at drug rehab will be entirely up to you. Knowing what to expect the first few days of rehab can be helpful. Upon arriving, it may put your mind at ease to know what kind of daily schedule you will have while in treatment. Be sure to ask your treatment registration staff for all this information prior to your arrival.

 

The Effects of Withdrawal

The effects of withdrawal can vary greatly depending on the addict himself and the substance one is withdrawing from. Generally speaking, when used excessively, drugs and alcohol rid the body of essential nutrients and hydration. This alone will produce feelings of mental fogginess, depression, anxiety, irritability and a list of other physical reactions. Keep this in mind during your first few days of treatment. While you’re getting settled and meeting fellow clients and staff, you may feel tired, experience headaches and other adverse reactions. Drink lots of water and keep in close contact with the facility’s medical staff to get you back on track nutritionally. 

 

Getting Acclimated to Treatment

Most treatment programs waste very little time. Once you arrive, there may be a short time for you to get acclimated, but because there is a lot of work to be done, program work usually starts right away. The staff will work with you to set up a schedule and orient you to the facility, rules and guidelines, safety protocols, etc. As you become more comfortable and settled in your lodging space, start branching out.

• Meet other program participants. You may learn something from these individuals and make life-long friends.

• Make a routine. Having a daily schedule with consistent activities helps to establish mental stability and a distraction-free environment in which you can get through your program.

• Stay busy. It’s perfectly normal to feel homesick or wish to go home. Staying busy and active within the treatment community can be very helpful with this. Ask your counselors about what activities you can get involved in and what areas of the facility you can help. Being productive boosts one’s morale and feeling of self-worth.

 

Points to Remember

 1. Treatment is your decision. Entering rehab is a big step and a responsible choice. Despite the fact that many addicts are in rehab because of a court sentence or a family wish, most treatment facilities are at-will, and you can leave at any time. However, remember what/who in your life is at risk if you fail to successfully recover. Make drug and alcohol rehab your decision rather than anyone else’s, and you’ll get the most out of it you possibly can. 2. Take home what you learn. Every aspect of rehab is an opportunity to make a fresh start, develop new habits and make a new life—free from the dependency and addiction. The skills you learn in rehab are for application in everyday life once you return home. 3.  Rehab is a privilege. There are countless Americans who cannot afford treatment or are wait-listed and hence unable to get clean. Bear in mind that the treatment staff are there to help you and afford you the opportunity to become drug free. Don’t fight against these individuals. They are on your team, so work with them. Take rehab day-by-day and work hard to resolve those issues that come up during the treatment process. Remember that one important component of this process is results. For more information on this see our Narconon results study.

The physical side affects of daily alcohol intake

Four Effects of Drinking Alcohol Daily Hard narcotics like meth and heroin deserve their reputation as being incredibly destructive to the human body. A lot of time and public money are rightfully spent on awareness campaigns and law enforcement efforts to eradicate the use of these drugs. Alcohol, however, often misses this list of dangerous drugs. While everyone knows that getting drunk can result in embarrassing yourself at a party or waking up with a hangover, not everyone knows the many serious and long-term health effects caused by drinking alcohol regularly.

The Effects of Alcohol

Here are four serious health risks you should know about:

1. Blood Troubles 

The main function of blood in the body is as a carrier system. It brings oxygen and nutrients to cells and carries carbon dioxide and waste away. Heavy drinking can also severely decrease the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, contributing to the drinker suffering from the shortness of breath, lightheadedness and fatigue that are characteristic of anemia. Blood also carries plateletsÑcells that clot together to prevent blood loss when you have a cut or other injury. One major effect of heavy drinking is that it can slow the production of blood platelets, contributing to a condition called thrombocytopenia. In this condition, the body can experience internal bleeding or fail to stop external bleeding.

 2. Liver Disease 

One of the main functions of the liver is to remove toxins from the bloodstream. As the body treats alcohol as a toxin, heavy drinking can cause major damage to the liver as it struggles to perform this function. Over time, a heavy drinkerÕs liver becomes inflamed and then scarred as it continues to filter out alcohol. Finally, the liver reaches a condition called cirrhosis, in which scarring and fibrosis (excess fibrous connective tissue) almost completely replace healthy liver tissue. Cirrhosis is incurable, and some of its symptoms include bleeding and bruising easily, yellow discoloration in your eyes and skin, nausea, loss of appetite and weight loss. If detected early enough, further damage can be prevented, but the body can never repair this damage once it is already done.

3. Cancer 

In addiction to all the other damage alcohol can do to your body, it can also cause seven different types of cancer, including liver cancer, bowel cancer and breast cancer. This may be due to the fact that the body converts alcohol into acetaldehyde, a known carcinogen (a cancer-causing substance.) The more you drink alcohol, the more of this substance is being created in your body before it can be broken down into less-harmful substances. The risk is even higher when a heavy drinker also smokes regularly. People who both drink and smoke are up to fifty times more likely to get some types of cancer than people who do neither.

4. Dementia 

Any amount of drinking can cause the familiar symptoms of loss of coordination, slowed reflexes and slurred speech, but heavy drinking over time can actually cause permanent brain damage and dementia. DementiaÑthe severe loss or impairment of the ability to think, reason and rememberÑcan occur even in younger people due to the destructive effect of constant binge drinking. The potential damage is so serious that experts estimate up to one fourth of all dementia cases in Great Britain, for example, are actually caused by alcohol-related brain damage. These are serious health risks that cannot be overlooked. Talk to your family today about the serious effects of alcoholism so that your loved ones can stay safe and healthy.

References: 

• Slowed Blood Platelet Production: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/thcp/printall-index.html 
• Alcohol and Anemia: http://www.livewellwinona.org/get-the-facts/risk-factors-related-illnesses/alcohol/  
• Cirrhosis: http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cirrhosis/DS00373/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print 
• Alcohol and Cancer: https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/check-the-facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/effects-on-the-body/alcohol-and-cancer#drinkingandsmoking 
• Alcohol Converted Into a Carcinogen: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA72/AA72.htm 
• Dementia: http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/alzheimers-dementia 
• Dementia in Great Britain: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5303917/Binge-drinking-causes-up-to-one-in-four-dementia-cases.html