Remaining clean and sober through the holidays in Long Beach and Los Alamitos can be fun and supported by community events. Try some of the following:

 

North Orange County Central Office AA CENTRAL OFFICE VOLUNTEER

1661 E. Chapman Ave., Ste 1H, Fullerton, CA. 92831, (714) 773-4357 (24 Hours),  http://www.aanoc.com, Office Hours: Monday Thru Saturday: 9AM to 7PM Sunday: 9am – 1pm

 

Holiday Ice At Battleship Iowa

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 2016 TO SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 2017, $15 (skate rentals included) Hours: 3 Sessions from 3:00 pm to 10:30 pm

LA Kings sponsored outdoor ice rink Long Beach

 

Whale and Sea life Cruises

(562) 983-6880, Harbor Breeze Cruises – Dock #2, 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 100 Aquarium Way Long Beach, California 90802

 

Holiday Hoedown & Ranch Style Breakfast With Santa

(562) 431-3541, Rancho Los Alamitos, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 2016, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 6400 E. Bixby Hill Road, Long Beach, California 90815

 

34th Annual Parade Of 1,000 Lights

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 2016, (562) 435-4093, 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM, Shoreline Village, Rainbow Harbor and from the Queen Mary

 

Naples Island Annual Holiday Boat Parade

Saturday, December 17, 2016, Around Naples Island, Admission: Free Start at 6:00 PM and will assemble along Lido Lane and off the sea wall in front of Naples Plaza

 

Twin Town Treatment Centers is immediately accessible to all Los Angeles and Orange County residents, is accredited by The Joint Commission, and is certified by the California DHCS. All network HMO/PPO/EPO insurance plans and Medi-Cal contract with Twin Town Treatment Centers to provide drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Our phone is answered by real people. We can see people on the same day you call. (866) 594-8844

Many people have a difficult time finding pleasure or coping with distress and pain. In the beginning, alcohol and drugs often provide some of them a solution- a short-cut to relieving discomfort/ pain and access to pleasurable sensations.

When people cease to develop or practice new paths to accessing pleasure or managing pain/ distress due to their reliance on chemicals, they lose the interest and ability to use relaxation, recreational and social skills. This addiction/ alcoholic “short-cut” to pleasure or pain reduction becomes a habit- the “short cut” continues to be used in the face of problems and consequences it creates.

The consequences of drug addiction and alcoholism result in experiences of profound loss and shame. Learning and practicing new skills and coping strategies rather than falling back to the “short cut” of addictive drug and alcohol use is the progressive and therapeutic solution. Tolerating discomfort, emotional upset and craving requires support and training.

Drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs (rehabs) should instill insights into the progression of each individual’s drug and alcohol misuse. Skills which will be used to avoid chemical use in the future requires coaching. Achieving pleasure or reducing discomfort and pain without chemicals requires education and direction.

The term “rehab” implies picking up skills which were lost and now relearned. Drug and alcohol rehabilitation should teach and support the practice of forgotten and new solutions toward achieving pleasure and managing distress and pain without substance abuse.

Following are examples of solutions that drug and alcohol rehabs should provide. These are a few of the “recovery skills” which are needed to sustain sobriety and to replace destructive drug and alcohol “short cuts”.

• Explore and practice the most effective/ least risky means of reducing or managing craving, pain and distress.
• Learn how to have fun, achieve pleasure, and to socialize without chemicals. Set aside time for daily recreation, hobbies, exercise and play.

• Actively participate in daily mutual recovery support activities and meetings. Maintain an awareness of the benefits of recovery and the risks of sliding back.
• Identify situations and triggers which lead to personal discomfort, cravings and potential relapse. Establish and practice a plan for managing your feelings and behavior.
• Practice following your step-by-step plans through to completion.
• Asking more senior people in recovery to help sponsor or mentor you in recovery activities. Practice asking others for help.
• Practice expressing your feelings and reactions to others in recovery.
• Inform family and friends of your recovery needs and establish boundaries to protect against conflicts, triggers and relapse. Establish and practice setting boundaries with friends and associates at work, school and recreation to protect your recovery.
• Reach out to fellows in recovery and build a practice of fellowship and sober social activities.
• Clean up your living environment to eliminate drug and alcohol triggers, and to create a relaxing and safe space for recovery.
• Establish a routine for caring for self- physically, emotionally and spiritually.
• See your doctor for a thorough health screening and treatment of medical problems. Inform your doctor and therapist of your recovery needs and risks.
• Revise your social media habits to eliminate triggering sites and activities, replacing them with recovery enhancing activities.
• Take actions which are consistently responsible and caring for others.
• Take responsibility for your own actions and feelings. Avoid blame.

Twin Town Treatment Centers is immediately accessible to all Los Angeles and Orange County residents, is accredited by The Joint Commission, and is certified by the California DHCS.

All network HMO/PPO/EPO insurance plans and Medi-Cal contract with Twin Town Treatment Centers to provide drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Our phone is answered by real people. We can see people on the same day you call. (866) 594-8844

Q. If drug abuse, addiction and alcoholism are diseases, why do people start using drugs or alcohol in the first place?

A. Many people have a difficult time finding pleasure or coping with distress and pain. In the beginning, alcohol and drugs often provide them relief- a short-cut to pain/ stress relief and pleasure.

Q. What are some of the reasons why people continue to use drugs and alcohol to the point of their addiction or alcoholism?

A. When people cease to develop or practice new paths to pleasure or pain/ distress management due to their reliance on chemicals, they lose the interest and ability to use recreational and social skills. This addiction/ alcoholic “short-cut” becomes a habit, being practiced repetitively even in the face of problems and consequences.

Q. What are some of the physical effects of drug and alcohol use, which replace recreational and social activities?

A. Addictive drugs and alcohol increase the neurotransmitter, dopamine at the receptor site, which produces an experience of reward/ pleasure, dulling unpleasant sensations. Social connections and communication, exercise, relaxation, meditation, intimate relations, etc. produce a similar but less intense effect in the brain.

Q. How does the treatment of addiction and alcoholism help people replace drugs and alcohol when they become a problem?

A. The consequences of addiction and alcoholism usually result in an experience of profound loss and shame. Learning and practicing new skills and coping strategies rather than falling back to the “short cut” of addictive drug and alcohol use is the progressive but therapeutic solution.

Q. Can’t other chemicals be used to replace those that created the problems in the first place?

A. In the absence of learning new, healthier ways of achieving pain and alleviating stress and pain, different chemicals usually become another short-cut which eventually result in similar problems and consequences.

Twin Town Treatment Centers is immediately accessible to all Los Angeles and Orange County residents, is accredited by The Joint Commission, and is certified by the California DHCS.
All network HMO/PPO/EPO insurance plans and Medi-Cal contract with Twin Town Treatment Centers to provide drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Our phone is answered by real people. We can see people on the same day you call. (866) 594-8844

Q. When surfing the web for alcohol and drug rehabilitation, why do all of the expensive and distant drug rehabs rank first in any search?

A. Money to advertise and optimize on a national level is best made in expensive, residential drug rehab settings. Often the highest ranked drug rehabs rely upon high, out-of-insurance-network charges, which help pay for extraordinary marketing campaigns and patient acquisition strategies, including paying for referrals.

Q. Is celebrity endorsement and fantasies of luxury and fame important considerations when selecting alcohol and drug rehab?

A. Recovery, especially long-term recovery is attained by learning to “check” your ego, not to defend ingrained feelings of shame and loss with flights into grandiosity. Endorsements from people successful with their recovery are important, especially when you can respect their humility.

Q. Why are so many of the exotic and luxury drug rehabs located in Hollywood, Los Angeles/ LA, and Malibu.

A. Los Angeles/ LA, especially Hollywood and Malibu are easy locations to advertise and acquire patients. Often people burdened with addiction fantasize about escaping their sense of defeat and humiliation with grand and exotic people, places and things. Recovery is actually based in authenticity and humility.

Q. Are all drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers (drug rehabs) in Los Angeles, Hollywood and Malibu based in fantasy and priced out of range of most people in need?

A. No. Los Angeles, just as any community has affordable and accessible drug rehabs which contract with HMO’s and MediCal. Go to the provider directory provided by your insurance carrier to find an affordable and reputable alcohol and drug rehabilitation provider.

Twin Town Treatment Centers is immediately accessible to all Los Angeles and Orange County residents, is accredited by The Joint Commission, and is certified by the California DHCS.
All network HMO/PPO/EPO insurance plans and Medi-Cal contract with Twin Town Treatment Centers to provide drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Our phone is answered by real people. We can see people on the same day you call. (866) 594-8844

Science and medicine have determined that about forty percent (40%) of an individual’s addiction or substance use disorder arises from their genetic predisposition. Several genes are suspected in passing the “code for addiction” which creates and individual’s dulled response to the brain messenger (neuro-transmitter) dopamine. Family histories and twin studies have for years provided science strong evidence of the inherited addictive predisposition by one generation from the former.

What can I do if one of my parents or grandparents had a drinking or drug problem?

Start with reading more information about addiction/ substance use disorder. Becoming aware of the characteristics, signs and symptoms will help you in the event you begin to lose control over your drug or alcohol use.

Are there risk factors which can lead to or detect the development of a substance use disorder/ addiction?

Interpersonal conflicts and/or neglect within families and other relationships can coincide with addiction/ substance use disorder. Impulsive or emotionally reactive behavior, emotional instability, depression or anxiety are also common. Trauma, unresolved grief or shame often correlate with the development of substance use disorders. Using friends and access to drugs and alcohol enable increased use and the development of addiction.

Are their signs or symptoms that I should watch which can lead toward or indicate the beginning of a drinking or drug problem?

Behaviors indicating a problem or the development of a problem include: drinking under the influence; riding in a car driven by someone under the influence; drinking or using more than attended; forgetting or being embarrassed about drunken or drugged behaviors. One of the best indications of addiction/ substance use disorder is continuing to drink or use after encountering consequences from drug or alcohol use (i.e. shame, guilt, loneliness, illness, hang-overs, legal or career entanglements, interpersonal problems).

What can I do if I believe that a relative or child might be developing the “family affliction” of addiction?

Define addiction as an inherited disease. Take the shame and stigma out of it. Be open and honest, and talk about the family secrets openly. It is only by looking at the facts in the light of day do we start to develop a real understanding and plan. Don’t keep secrets but also be respectful and compassionate.

Can I or my family take steps toward preventing addiction/ substance use disorders from developing?

Many people who come from alcohol or addicted families avoid alcohol and drug use. If you don’t drink or use drugs, addiction can’t develop. (Watch for overeating, compulsive spending, sex or gambling, or excessive risk-taking). If you can’t drink or use in moderation, talk with someone in recovery or a professional.

Talk openly about your concerns and plans to keep track of your or other’s alcohol and drug consumption and related behaviors. Share your concerns and plans with loved ones and people with whom you share alcohol or drugs. If you are losing people with whom you can share these concerns, seek help.

Set a plan regarding drinking and using occasions and stick to them. If you can’t follow-through, ask for help from someone in recovery or a professional.