The Recovery Journey For An Alcoholic: The Balance Approach

Awareness of The Problem

The first step to recovery at The Balance is to gain an understanding of how the mind works when it is addicted to something. There is a scientific explanation for substance abuse and the human behaviour that surrounds it. With the advancements of science, we now understand exactly what is happening in the brain when a person is addicted to something.

When a client begins their addiction recovery journey, they often come with a lot of shame and regret. “It’s important to remember that a person does not willingly ruin their life. They are not exercising free will when they wake up and do something crazy, lose their job, or scare their children.” The behaviour is a result of the change of function in the brain.

When an addict is having a craving, the prefrontal cortex turns off. This part of the brain is responsible for analysing a situation, being rational, and ultimately making a choice. When an addict is craving, they act upon their internal needs, not their beliefs. This overrides their decision-making process. Once a client understands this change and what is happening, they are able to look inside with a more educated eye and identify how their own mind operates. They can see the internal traps they have set for themselves. When you know what is happening, you take the first step in changing it. Torres says: “Awareness is a crucial part of the recovery process.”

Identify all Triggers

When an individual enters rehab, one of the hardest steps is taken for them just by arriving. In a rehab, all triggers are removed from your life. This allows you to distance yourself from the problem and take the necessary time to reflect and identify what it is that caused your addiction to begin and what has allowed it to continue.  The second step in recovery is identifying all triggers associated with the substance. Torres explains: “We have to understand a person’s reality and environment on a deep level. Everything that is emotionally difficult for them needs to be laid out and analysed.” This is a core aspect of behavioural therapy.

Plan of Action & Executive Function

The next step is creating a plan of action. This is the beginning of a life-long journey. The first year is the most important part. We have to lay out a change of behaviours and dynamics that works for their schedule. This aims to re-balance the brain and give you back control over your decisions. In order to change the brain in this way, we have to counteract their previous behaviour. We have to develop skills that control their impulses and emotions. “The best way to do this in behavioural therapy is with the knowledge that actions are more important than thoughts. We have to create a plan of action. If someone has to decide what to do, they will act on their internal needs. That’s why we must break down the day into thirty-minute increments and plan everything. This discipline, over time, changes the way the brain works.”

While at The Balance, this executive function plan is built and evolved with you in real-time. We have an extensive team of experts from massage, acupuncture, and martial arts to art, music, and equine therapy. We explore different practices that ground you safely in the present and allow you to take back control over your body and mind.

Family Therapy

When clients are nearing the end of their treatment programs, we open the door to family and loved ones to visit for sessions together and one-on-one with them. Torres says, “The people who will be with the client when they return home need to understand what is happening and where they are at.” If the schedule of the loved ones allows for it, we invite them into the healing process and prepare them for the imperative year ahead.

Aftercare & Follow-Up

The last step to recovery is to schedule follows ups with the client. We update and identify any new triggers appearing now that they have returned to their environment. Our clients often live high-intensity lives with constantly fluctuating schedules. We have to review the plan of action that we’ve created and see if it still makes sense, making amendments where necessary to stay on track. This is a pivotal part of the healing process.