What are the 5 Elements of Recovery?

A person in addiction recovery raises their arms in happiness while watching the sunset.

Addiction recovery is so much more than physically improving your health. Addiction recovery encompasses a range of factors, from improving your mental health and well-being to growing your self-confidence, rebuilding your relationships, and more. If you are struggling with addiction, it’s crucial you seek professional help to not just improve your physical health, but take back control over your relationships and quality of life for the better. In this article, you’ll learn more about the five elements of recovery that work to help you lead a healthier, happier quality of life.

At Outpatient Los Angeles, we are a top-rated outpatient drug rehab that offers a wide range of addiction treatment options to help you safely achieve long-lasting sobriety. We understand that each client’s recovery journey is different. That’s why we provide tailored outpatient care to ensure you receive the right care that most aligns with your recovery needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your road to recovery. 

5 Elements of Recovery You Need to Know About

While improving your overall well-being is a major component of addiction recovery, there are many components that are tied into that. Keep reading to learn the five elements of recovery you need to know about to help motivate your own progress toward recovery. 

1. Mental Health 

First, addiction recovery involves improving your mental health and well-being. Unfortunately, many people who struggle with addiction also struggle with a mental health disorder. According to SAMHSA, nearly 22 million adults struggle with a co-occurring disorder. Your mental health and well-being play a crucial role in your overall recovery. This is why improving your mental health is one of the five elements of recovery that is critical to achieving long-term recovery. 

2. Physical Health

One of the most obvious elements of recovery is improving your physical health and well-being. Addiction greatly harms your body’s physical health. Not only can it destroy your physical health and cause you to become fatigued and irritable if you don’t keep up with your addiction, but your addiction can potentially lead to life-threatening consequences. This is why it’s crucial if you are struggling with addiction you seek treatment to help your body safely heal so you can lead a healthier life. 

3. Relationships with Others

Addiction fractures relationships; therefore, another element of recovery is rebuilding relationships you may have hurt at the hands of your addiction. Many addiction treatment centers offer family therapy to help you rebuild the relationships that may have become damaged because of the impact of addiction. It’s crucial you ask for forgiveness from the loved ones you may have hurt so you can work toward rebuilding relationships with your friends and family members. 

4. Quality of Life & Personal Growth

Another element of recovery is improving your overall quality of life and improving your personal growth and development. This may look like setting goals to try new hobbies or passions. This can also look like learning new skills, incorporating self-care into your daily life, or making goals to improve your career. Having goals and pursuing passions that interest you will not only develop your self-confidence but keep you accountable as you progress through your recovery journey. 

5. Long-Term Recovery & Relapse Prevention 

Finally, another major element of recovery is relapse prevention and achieving long-term recovery. Seeking professional addiction treatment does not guarantee long-lasting recovery. Addiction recovery is a life-long journey. This is why it’s essential you prioritize relapse prevention, such as practicing healthy coping strategies and identifying your triggers, so you can reduce your risk of jeopardizing your recovery journey. 

Help Is Available 

Now you know more about the five elements of recovery. From improving your mental and physical health to rebuilding your relationships, there are multiple elements to recovery. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, it’s critical you seek professional support to safely break free from addiction once and for all.

At Outpatient Los Angeles, our compassionate team of addiction specialists is here to help you lead a healthier, happier life. We offer a comprehensive range of outpatient treatment options to ensure you receive the best possible care to regain control over your health and quality of life. Contact us today to learn how we can help you overcome addiction for good and lead a healthier life. 

The Importance of Investing in Resources for Long-Term Sobriety

Relapsing is the main threat to achieving long-term sobriety. Around 40-60% of people treated for substance use disorders relapse.  This staggering statistic highlights that overcoming addiction and seeking treatment doesn’t guarantee life-long sobriety. However, fortunately, there are various resources for long-term sobriety from seeking counseling to attending support groups that can support your recovery journey. Keep reading to learn why investing in these resources is so important to your recovery journey’s success.

At Outpatient LA, we are an outpatient drug rehab in Los Angeles committed to helping as many patients as possible achieve life-long sobriety. We understand that every recovery journey is unique. That’s why we offer a wide range of addiction treatment in Beverly Hills so you can receive the individualized care you need to best support your recovery journey. Ready to break free of addiction for good? Contact us today!

5 Reasons Why Investing in Resources for Long-Term Sobriety is Important 

Investing in resources for long-term sobriety is critical. From seeking professional treatment to help you detox to going to therapy, there are a number of reasons why these resources are crucial to your sobriety journey. 

Prevents Your Risk of Relapse

First, investing in resources for long-term sobriety helps you not only overcome addiction but stay sober. The greatest threat to your sobriety journey is relapsing. To reduce your risk of relapsing, it’s important you seek professional treatment to safely and effectively detox. And it’s also important to continue to seek treatment after you overcome addiction so you have coping strategies in place you can use to reduce your risk of jeopardizing your sobriety. 

Helps Rebuild Relationships

Next, it’s important to invest in resources that will help you rebuild relationships you may have hurt while you were struggling with addiction. This is because you’ll need a supportive network of friends and family members behind you who will support you as you progress along your recovery journey. Investing in family therapy can be a great way to help rebuild these relationships with others. 

Improves Your Health and Quality of Life

When you become sober, you are committing to a healthier, happier quality of life for yourself. Therefore, investing in resources like gym memberships or workout classes that help you continue on your path to living that healthy lifestyle is also important to maintaining long-term sobriety. 

Targets Mental Health Issues

Your mental wellness can significantly impact your long-term sobriety. Therefore, it’s important to address any underlying mental health issues you may have by going to therapy. Talking with a licensed mental health professional will help you target any mental health issues you may have and ensure you are healthy both mentally and physically as you progress along your sobriety journey. 

Raises Accountability and Motivation 

Last but not least, whether you invest in continued outpatient treatment, seek counseling, or attend a support group, all these resources further help support your long-term sobriety. These resources keep you accountable and motivate you to continue to strive to lead a healthy and happy life. 

No two recovery journeys are ever the same. That’s why what resources you invest into your long-term sobriety journey may look a little different than someone else recovering from addiction– and that’s normal! It’s important to keep surrounding yourself with people and resources that motivate you to maintain your sobriety rather than tempt you to fall back into old unhealthy habits. 

Top-Rated Outpatient Addiction Treatment Center

As you can see, investing in resources for long-term sobriety is not just important to reduce your risk of relapse, but it also helps your overall physical and mental well-being. Your addiction recovery journey, without a doubt, will be filled with ups and downs. Yet, by investing in outpatient care, counseling, support groups, and relationships you may have fractured while an addict, all these factors can help support your ability to achieve long-term sobriety. 

At Outpatient LA, our team is here to help you every step of the way on your road to recovery. Addiction is a complex brain disease that can damage virtually all areas of your life for the worse. Yet, if you are struggling with addiction, you don’t have to suffer in silence for the rest of your life. We offer comprehensive treatment plans to support your unique recovery journey. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you on your road to recovery.

Rebuilding Self-Esteem in Recovery: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Healing

Research has found that individuals involved with addiction have lower self-esteem compared with the “ordinary” person. Unfortunately, addiction is a cyclic process that continues to hurt self-esteem for the worse. Those who turn to drugs because of struggles with self-esteem then continue to have low self-esteem because of their addiction.

However, you don’t have to struggle with low self-esteem and addiction for the rest of your life. In this article, you’ll learn five ways you can build self esteem in recovery.

At Outpatient LA, we are a top-rated outpatient drug rehab in Los Angeles that is here to help as many patients as possible achieve lasting sobriety. Our comprehensive addiction treatment in Beverly Hills  includes a range of treatment options so you can receive the right care for your recovery needs. Contact us today to learn more about how you can break free of addiction once and for all.

How to Rebuild Self-Esteem in Recovery

Low self-esteem can negatively impact your health, quality of life, and recovery journey for the worse. Unfortunately, many people struggling with addiction experience low self-esteem, making it that much more difficult to achieve long-term sobriety. However, if you are struggling with addiction and low self-esteem, there are several ways you can rebuild self-esteem in recovery so you can take back control of your life for good. 

Challenge Negative Self-Talk

Negative self-talk is extremely dangerous. It can be difficult to recognize your ruminating negative thoughts unless you are aware of your own thought patterns. Therefore, it’s important to challenge negative self-talk in order to start rebuilding self-esteem in recovery. 

Sometimes, it can be difficult to recognize that you are struggling with negative thinking; therefore, consider keeping a journal or writing in the notes app of your phone whenever you recognize yourself spiraling to get your thoughts down on paper, rather than letting these thoughts linger in your mind. 

Practice Positivity

Next, it’s important to replace that negative self-talk with positive thinking. Rather than saying “I’m not good enough” or “No one likes me,” replace those negative thoughts with positive thoughts and actions. In other words, shift your thoughts toward something positive and uniquely special about yourself. 

Avoid Situations that Negatively Impact Your Self-Esteem

Some situations, people, or events may trigger and negatively impact your self-esteem. For example, being around negative people that are self-conscious and critical about themselves and others can easily impact your own self-esteem for the worse. Therefore, be aware of the situations and people you surround yourself with to protect your self-esteem in recovery and beyond.

Forgive Yourself and Others

Forgiveness is a critical component of building your self-esteem. Not only is it important to forgive yourself in recovery, but it’s also important to forgive others who may have hurt you in your past. Carrying feelings of anger, resentment, or sadness with you will only keep your self-esteem low and prevent you from becoming the healthiest, happiest version of yourself.

Seek Professional Help to Heal

And, last but not least, you should seek professional help to build self-esteem in recovery. You should never think that you are all alone in your recovery journey. There are countless addiction treatment centers and mental health facilities around the country ready to help you build your self-esteem and overcome addiction once and for all. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for help when it comes to leading a healthier life. 

Help Is Available 

Rebuilding self-esteem in recovery is critical so you can effectively progress on your path to sobriety. Although increasing self-worth in recovery won’t happen overnight, it is critical that you work daily to rebuild self-esteem. Failure to do so can put your mental health and sobriety at risk.

At Outpatient LA, we offer premier California outpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs to help patients safely and effectively progress on their recovery journey. Addiction can affect every aspect of your life for the worse. If you’re looking to regain control of your life, our compassionate team of addiction specialists is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help support your recovery journey.

Effective Communication Skills in Rebuilding Relationships

A man and a woman talk on the sofa.

According to a Pew Research survey, almost 50% of Americans said they had a family member or close friend who’s struggled with addiction. Addiction can not only hurt the individual, but it can also fracture relationships with loved ones. However, just because addiction may have strained your relationships with loved ones doesn’t mean you cannot heal those relationships. Keep reading to learn about effective communication skills in rebuilding relationships you can use during your own path to recovery.


At Outpatient LA, we provide premier outpatient addiction treatment in LA to help as many patients as possible safely and effectively overcome addiction. We understand how debilitating a disease addiction can be. That’s why we offer a wide range of addiction treatment options to ensure you receive the best care to support you along your recovery journey. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve long-term sobriety. 

Why Rebuilding Relationships Is Important During Addiction Recovery

Unfortunately, addiction is not only harmful to your health and well-being, but it can also cause a significant strain between you and your friends and family. However, during your addiction recovery journey, you can effectively rebuild relationships with your loved ones. It’s important to rebuild these relationships with loved ones during your recovery journey because you can lean on your loved ones for support and accountability along your path to sobriety. Although overcoming addiction may involve many ups and downs, having a strong support system behind you that you can trust can significantly help you maintain your sobriety. 

5 Effective Communication Skills to Help Rebuild Relationships 

Now that you know more about the importance of rebuilding relationships, keep reading to learn about the communication skills in rebuilding relationships you can use in your own recovery journey.

  • Be Open & Honest to Rebuild Trust

First, it’s important to understand that honesty and openness are critical in relationship communication so your friends and family members can start to trust you again. This is because likely as you struggled with your drug addiction, you may have broken their trust in some form (ie. lying about your addiction). Therefore, be honest about where you are at in your recovery journey and be patient as you build back trust in your relationships. 

  • Take Accountability/ Don’t Be Defensive

Next, it’s also important to not be defensive and take accountability for your actions in the past. Although addiction is a debilitating disease that can make you do hurtful and unhealthy things, at the end of the day, rather than blaming your addiction, take ownership that you are working toward achieving sobriety.

  • Improve Your Listening Skills

It’s also important to actively listen to what your family members and friends have to say to fully understand what they are going through. Plus, to understand how your addiction may have hurt them and their lives. While your loved ones are there to support you on your recovery journey, it’s important to acknowledge you have likely hurt them through your addiction. 

  • Maintain a Balanced Conversation

Similar to the above point, maintaining a balanced conversation is another one of the communication skills in rebuilding relationships you must master. In other words, make sure the conversation isn’t one-sided. Open the conversation up so your friends and family members have the opportunity to contribute.

  • Positive Nonverbal Cues 

Last but not least, positive nonverbal cues are an oftentimes overlooked skill when it comes to communicating with others. Positive nonverbal cues include making eye contact and being open and receptive to the people you are conversing with, rather than looking distracted and uninterested (i.e. looking at your phone when someone is talking to you).

Top-Rated Los Angeles Outpatient Addiction Treatment 

Rebuilding relationships with loved ones is a critical part of your road to recovery. While it may take some time and patience to start rebuilding those relationships, the above communication skills in rebuilding relationships can go a long way in mending relationships you may have fractured due to your drug addiction.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available. At Outpatient Los Angeles, we’ve helped many patients break free of addiction once and for all. We offer a comprehensive variety of treatments so you can get the right care you need to best support you on your road to recovery. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you progress on your recovery journey.

Finding Support Groups: AA, NA, SMART Recovery

People talk in a support group.

Millions of people struggle with substance use disorders and mental illness each year. Unfortunately, many people suffer in silence with their condition. Support groups offer a safe space for individuals struggling with addiction (or another condition) to find support and people who can hold them accountable along their recovery journey. Keep reading to learn more about the importance of finding support groups, different types of support groups, and more.

 

At Outpatient LA, we offer premier outpatient treatment in Los Angeles to help individuals safely overcome addiction and lead healthier, happier lives. We understand how isolating drug addiction can be. That’s why our caring staff of addiction specialists are here to help you break free of addiction once and for all. With a range of treatment programs, we offer several treatment options to support you on your road to recovery.

 

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available! Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you take back your life. 

What Are Support Groups?

Before diving into what different types of support groups are, it’s first critical to understand what support groups are and why they can be so beneficial in the recovery process. Support groups are a safe space where individuals share experiences to gain a sense of support and accountability to overcome whatever they may be going through in their lives.

 

There are several benefits of attending support groups, which include:

  • Being surrounded by people who can relate to what you’re going through
  • Opening up in a safe space what you are struggling with
  • Seeking advice and guidance with struggles you’re going through
  • Keeping you accountable to achieve a certain “goal” (i.e. maintain sobriety)
  • Build a community of friends who will support you in this new season of life

 

Finding support groups that align with your recovery needs can be especially helpful as you transition into your everyday life from addiction treatment. This is because support groups provide that additional support system to keep you accountable and maintain your sobriety long-term. 

Different Types of Support Groups

Although support groups can be extremely beneficial to help you maintain your sobriety, it’s important you prioritize attending a support group that fits your needs. This is because there are different types of support groups which inevitably offer variability. Below are 3 popular types of support groups.

What is AA (Alcoholics Anonymous)?

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a 12-step support group program specifically for individuals recovering from alcoholic abuse and addiction. During AA meetings, the goal is to help alcoholics overcome their alcohol addiction and maintain long-term sobriety. Here, you’ll not only face your drinking problem, but you’ll gain a sense of community with other alcoholics striving to achieve sobriety. 

What is NA (Narcotics Anonymous)?

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is another popular 12-step support group program; however, unlike AA which is specifically for alcoholics, NA is more open to any individuals struggling with drug addiction (including alcohol addiction). Like AA, you’ll not only gain a sense of community and accountability to help overcome your addiction and maintain your sobriety, but you’ll also be able to feel less alone in your pursuit of beating addiction. 

What is SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training)?

SMART Recovery is another type of support group that helps recovering addicts overcome their addiction once and for all. Unlike AA and NA which use a 12-step process, SMART is not a 12-step program, but rather a process of shifting members’ mindsets from negative to positive so they can resist urges to abuse drugs, thus lowering your risk of relapsing. 

Ready to Start Your Road to Recovery 

Finding support groups right for your unique recovery needs is important. As you can see, there are several different types of support groups available; however, they are not all the same. It’s critical you research support groups near you so you can find the best support group that most aligns with your recovery needs.


At Outpatient Los Angeles, we offer premier outpatient addiction treatment in LA to help as many patients as possible achieve life-long sobriety. Using an individualized approach, we’re here to help guide you along your recovery journey so you can lead a happier, healthier life.

Contact us today to learn how you can break free of your addiction once and for all.