How addiction affects your brain

Addiction’s effects can be felt most profoundly in the user’s brain. Drugs effect the brain’s limbic system, which is also known as the brain’s reward center. As drugs effect this system, they cause a release of dopamine, a chemical in the brain that regulates feelings of pleasure, which causes the “high” that is associated with substance abuse. As the user’s external world and relationships begin to crumble, the user relies more heavily on the feelings of pleasure and anxiety relief that dopamine provides. Over time, repeated and increased substance abuse can actually alter the chemistry of the brain. The brain is rewired to be unable to function without the assistance of drugs or alcohol.

As the user attempts to stop using, the brain responds with intense cravings and withdrawals, forcing the user back to drugs to relieve the symptoms. As substance abuse increases, the user begins to feel the effects of this seesaw of dopamine release and withdrawal. This manifests in anxiety, as the user waits for their next dose of the substance. It also causes depression, as the effects of the dopamine wear off and the user is exposed to their raw emotions. Finally, substance abuse can cause paranoia, as the brain begins to distort reality in an attempt to maintain the flow of drugs into the brain. 

Addiction is treatable

The important takeaway from all of the science and research about addiction and the brain and the body is that all of these effects are treatable. The most important part of treatment is recognizing that you have a problem that you cannot solve on your own. Once the user makes the decision to seek treatment, there are a variety of options available. The trained counselors at Asana Recovery can help determine the best course of treatment for each client, depending on their addiction and their needs. Most of the time, a combination of medical and therapeutic treatment can be the beginning of a sustained recovery. Treatment can lead not only to increased physical and emotional health, it can also lead to increased self-esteem and start the repair of relationships with family and friends. But none of this can start unless the user makes that all important first step. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, the decision to seek treatment is vital to the recovery process. Let Asana Recovery help you with this difficult and emotional decision.

You Deserve a Fresh Start (What recovery can do for you)

Everyone deserves the opportunity to start over and learn from past mistakes. No one is “beyond hope” when it comes to recovery. Often when a user attempts recovery and fails, for a variety of reasons, they begin to feel that recovery is not a possibility for them. We at Asana Recovery disagree. All users are deserving of recovery and our trained professionals will work with each client to determine why past attempts have failed and tailor a treatment plan that ensures success. By taking the step to begin the recovery process, you can begin down the path toward a life you never dared dream was possible. You can have a life that is free of suffering, shame and guilt. You can rebuild healthy relationships with your loved ones. You can have a life that is free of destructive thoughts and behaviors. You can heal your body and your mind. You can have a successful and fulfilling career. At Asana Recovery, we will arm you with the tools and the coping mechanisms you will need to face your addiction head on and build a recovery life that is fulfilling and sustainable.

Asana Advantages 

Why choose Asana Recovery as your treatment facility? Because we have a unique approach that you won’t find at any other facility. Our full-service approach to your recovery, coupled with our core values and our exceptional staff create a recovery environment that has proven successful for hundreds of clients. We know that you have a variety of options for your recovery treatment and we commit to providing exceptional care in a healing environment.
Detox, residential and outpatient as a full circle approach

Recovery is a process. Most patients will need to work through all three steps of the recovery process, from detox, to residential treatment, to outpatient treatment. When you arrive at our Orange County Residential Facility, you will enter a recovery process that starts with removing your dependence on drugs, moves into understanding the reasons why you began abusing drugs, and ends with a gradual re-entry into your daily life through outpatient treatment. This three-step approach has been proven to provide the best foundation for long term recovery from substance abuse.

Our core values will change your approach to life

One of the most unique things about treatment at Asana Recovery is the commitment we show to our core values in the course of treatment. The “Asana Way” is the core principle by which we at Asana Recovery work and live. At the center of the “Asana Way” are our core values of gratitude, mindfulness, teamwork, stewardship and creativity. These five values underlie every treatment we provide.

Gratitude – Through gratitude we teach you to find the positive in your life and use that to combat your demons. A grateful mind will be better equipped to fight the negative and destructive thoughts that often lead to relapse.

Mindfulness – Practicing mindfulness allows you to put that gratitude into practice as you quiet your mind to achieve a kind of peace that you could never find through drug use. Mindfulness forces you to be fully present and helps you to identify triggers and reactions that led to substance abuse.

Teamwork – You will learn teamwork as you participate with your treatment team to discover the best course for your recovery. At Asana Recovery, you will be an active participant in your own recovery team. 

Stewardship – Stewardship is our commitment to care for all of our clients in a way that is worthy of their trust in us.  We know you are taking a leap of faith and we promise to remember and respect that throughout your journey with us.

Creativity – Our commitment to creativity manifests in a variety of ways. First, we encourage creativity as part of the treatment process. Sometimes the best treatment plans are unconventional, and we are open to exploring all avenues to advance your recovery. Second, we encourage our clients to explore creatively as they discover new interests and passions outside of substance abuse. These new interests can provide a framework for a successful and fulfilling life outside of recovery.

As you can see, these core values provide an unparalleled recovery experience that you won’t find in any other treatment facility.

Medical staff, therapists and drug counselors working as your team

The teamwork that serves as one of our core values begins with your dedicated care team. We have a trifecta of trained professionals ready to walk with you on your recovery journey from the moment you enter our doors. Each member of our team is committed to the meaningful and important mission of helping you achieve lasting sobriety. Our medical staff will work with you to tailor a treatment plan that takes into account other conditions and medications you arrive with. They will determine at your arrival whether or not medical detox (a detox that requires the assistance of medication for the patient’s safety) is needed and if it is, they will supervise your detox closely.  Our trained therapists will help you identify the underlying causes of your addiction. Through group and individual therapies, as well as some more creative therapy outlets, our therapists will allow you a safe space in which to explore your past, your emotions and your relationships to identify points where healing can begin. Our drug counselors are the ones who will support you in the roughest times. Those times when it feels too hard and you want to throw in the towel. Our trained, compassionate counselors understand your journey. Many of them have been through that journey themselves and have chosen this work so that they can pay it forward to others. Having a counselor who has literally walked the same path you are walking goes a long way towards making that much needed connection to the world outside of addiction. At all three levels, medical, therapeutic, and counseling, our staff is here for you and will fight for you, even when you find it hard to fight for yourself. 

What Our Clients Are Saying

We know we can help you on your road to recovery, but you don’t just have to take our word for it. Our former clients are our best source of referrals. Gregory said, “I came here a broken man, I left ready to face the world and am working a program and trying to the best of my ability to repay my stay here, and to the wonderful staff of counselors, therapists and chef and all the staff that helped me on my journey to sober living and a better life.” We are proud that our clients credit us with helping them regain their lives and their confidence. We strive daily to be worthy of this trust.
Amanda said, “Asana Recovery changed my life and set me on the path to recovery. I am now 93 days sober. This is the longest I have been sober in years I am so grateful for the employees and owners. They were incredibly compassionate and even dealt with my occasional outburst. They showed me the right path.” Congratulations, Amanda. We are proud to have been a part of your recovery. No recovery journey is the same and our staff is trained to handle your recovery journey, even if it includes some difficult moments.

The Recovery Process

Detox

The first step when you arrive at Asana Recovery is the detoxification process. This is the process of ridding your body of drugs and alcohol so that you can begin learning how to function without substances as a crutch. The detox process can take anywhere from days to weeks, depending on the severity of the addiction. During this time, an individual will likely experience withdrawal symptoms, which may include mild to severe physical and psychological effects. Detox is only the first step toward long term recovery. Many “users” have attempted to quit using on their own and been driven back to substance abuse by the withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are unpleasant and can even be painful, but they signal the beginning of a healthier and happier life on the other side of substance abuse. The staff at Asana Recovery are trained in the process of safe detoxification and will work to minimize the unpleasant effects of detox for each client. The hardest part of the recovery process is not detox, it’s making the call to begin recovery. Call Asana Recovery today to start getting your life back.

Residential

After the detoxification process is complete, the client faces life without the use of drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism. This can cause the client to begin to face issues and emotions that they have suppressed for a very long time. They are also faced with learning how to handle daily life without drugs or alcohol as an “aid.” Residential recovery allows clients to bridge the time between using and re-entering their daily life as a recovered addict. In residential treatment, clients will work with Asana Recovery’s trained therapists to learn about addiction and to uncover the emotions, relationships and events that led to substance abuse. Residential treatment also eases clients into the routine of daily life without the influence of drugs or alcohol. Our counselors are there to assist you with learning life skills that might have been forgotten during your bout with addiction.

Outpatient

After they leave our residential facility, our clients transition into Asana Recovery’s outpatient treatment program. Outpatient therapy has been proven to be vital to long-term recovery success and works best as the third step in a recovery process that begins with detoxification and residential treatment. In our outpatient program, clients re-enter their daily life and work armed with the knowledge and skills learned from residential treatment to help them work through any issues. Weekly therapy sessions and meetings with their counselor also help clients to get back to daily life but maintain the support system they need to resist any triggers that might exist at home. Outpatient treatment meetings and sessions can be scheduled at a variety of times and days to ensure that clients can fit them into their daily lives. Once a patient completes our residential and outpatient programs, they will be on solid footing to fully re-enter their daily lives and achieve long-term sobriety.

Our Location is Perfect for Recovery

Environment can play an important role in recovery. The ability to devote all available energy to a long and difficult recovery process requires the ability to let go of the stresses and responsibilities of daily life. The location of our Orange County Residential Treatment Center provides an idyllic setting in which to begin your recovery journey. Our facility is minutes from the ocean and provides a sunny and temperate climate year-round. Orange County is home to 42 miles of year-round beaches and some of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. The county averages 14 inches of rain per year, less than half the national average. Sun has been proven to release serotonin, which helps you feel calm and focused, and Orange County gets more than its fair share of sunny days.

Our facility is luxuriously outfitted to provide optimal relaxation and comfort for our residential clients. Our clients have comfortable rooms, chef-prepared meals, and access to a variety of recreational activities, both structured and unstructured. Asana Recovery will provide everything you need to be successful as you begin your recovery journey. Our setting and our luxurious facility provide the solid foundation you need. Our trained medical personnel and therapists, in cooperation with our addiction counselors will build on that foundation. 

How Long Does Recovery Take?

The recovery process will look different for every individual that goes through it. Recovery takes into account your unique medical history, your medication needs, your mental health history, your family history and your demographics. That being said, the typical recovery stay is anywhere from 28 to 90 days. It is understandable to be concerned about the amount of time that you will be away from your daily life when you take the step to get help for your addiction. The process seems intimidating enough, but the idea of putting your life on hold, and leaving loved ones for an indeterminate amount of time, can add another level of anxiety. Recovery is primarily focused on retraining the brain to function without the aid of drugs or alcohol. There are no shortcuts. The process will be different for each person. It will be easier for some and more difficult for others. At Asana Recovery we will work as a team to find the treatment protocol that is right for you. We will work with you to minimize the disruption of your daily life and make the transition from treatment to outpatient recovery as seamless as possible.

How Do I Pay For my Treatment?

At Asana Recovery, we never want concern over finances to negatively impact your choice to get help for your addiction. We accept most PPO insurance policies. Our trained admissions counselors are well versed in navigating the complicated insurance landscape and can help you with the approval process. We understand that this is a difficult time and that asking for help is hard enough without adding paperwork and financial bureaucracy to the equation. We will do everything in our power to make the admissions process easy and remove this stress from your plate.