HOPE for the concerned person

Are you a concerned person? If someone you know is struggling, there are resources available. We are here to help, even if you aren’t looking for our specific program. Maybe you are just looking for someone to talk to — Maybe you are just wanting to hear there is hope — Maybe you need to know who to call or where to go. If so, Valley View Recovery Center can help guide you through whatever process you are experiencing.

A concerned person is anyone who is worried about or affected by another person's use of alcohol or other drugs, whether they are a spouse, significant other, parent, child, employee, or close friend. Valley View Recovery Centers’ Hope Program offers help sessions designed to provide education and options to help yourself and the individual you are concerned about. The Hope Program is offered to individuals on an as-needed basis and is free of charge.

If you or someone you know is in need, contact us today for confidential help.

It’s truly amazing what can be accomplished when a community comes together!

Navigating a Sober Summer

Summer is a wonderful time of the year when everyone is out and about enjoying the long sunny days. But for people in early recovery, it can be a difficult time. They often wonder how they are going to be able to enjoy the things they used to enjoy such as backyard barbecues and fishing without alcohol or drugs. However, the good news is, is that you can have fun while sober! There are a lot of reasons why being fully present for all the good times summer has to offer is desirable over numbing through alcohol or drugs, or believing we need substances to somehow enhance our experiences. Here are  a few tips to get through the summer sober:

Know your limits - Because a healthy self-image is essential to the recovery process, setting boundaries and limits is crucial to the recovering addict. When addicts say ‘yes’ but their mind and body are actually saying ‘no’, their self-image is negatively impacted, resulting in discomfort and low self-esteem. If a recovering addict feels uncomfortable enough, he or she is more likely to drink or use again. Recovering addicts must learn to be assertive and to speak up if others aren’t respecting the boundaries they have set.

Stay connected - Staying connected in recovery is one of the best methods for relapse prevention. Because addiction is a disease of isolation, it is important for addicts and alcoholics to establish a healthy and strong support system in sobriety.

Plan fun things - Having a plan is important in an persons recovery. There may be activities you aren’t comfortable doing yet without using, and that’s okay. That will come in time, or you will find other things you like to do instead. An easy way to plan is to put pen to paper. When you write something down it helps you visualize what exactly you will do and how you will do it. You will also be able to identify any negative thoughts associated with the activity and process how to minimize your risk. 

Be kind to yourself - Learning to love and care for yourself is one of the most challenging things you will ever do, but having love, patience, and compassion for yourself is a foundation of getting and staying sober.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please contact us for help.

Author: Jacob McGuire, CEO

Sober Saturdays: Importance of Recreation

Odds are anyone in recovery will tell you that staying sober involves more than just avoiding alcohol and drugs and reading The Big Book. Being well and staying sober requires a lot of lifestyle changes. This can include cutting ties with unhealthy relationships, avoiding triggering places, people, and events, as well as finding new ways to stay occupied and feel purposeful while in recovery. Addiction is exhausting - physically, mentally, and emotionally, and for some it can mimic a full time job. Because of this, people often find themselves with a lot of new free time now that they’re no longer engaging in using behaviors.

As a Recreational Therapist, my job is dedicated to helping people learn they can have fun in recovery, while teaching them that purposeful activities are critical to staying well. Its common for clients to say "I can't socialize unless I've had a couple drinks." or "I've never been bowling sober." My role is to assess client’s interests and use those to determine what recreation activities they may enjoy trying while in treatment. 

When talking about recreation activities and leisure time, the definitions are important to consider. Recreation "is an activity that is done for enjoyment when one is not working.” Leisure Time "is time when one is not working or occupied; free time.”  Basically, this means the things you do when you're not occupied with obligations like employment, taking care of children, or attending to personal needs like showering, going to a doctor appointment, or grocery shopping. 

Just as someone may take a daily vitamin or an antidepressant each morning to stay well, it's my philosophy that people need to have recreation activities they do on a regular basis to stay well. This can include going on a daily walk, weekly coffee dates with a friend, or if you're like me, watching an episode of Parks and Recreation for the 100th time after the kids go to bed. In addition to these regular activities it's important to have "PRN" or "as needed" recreation activities (aka coping skills) to use when we're having a particularly challenging time - similar to how someone may occasionally take ibuprofen for a headache.  Examples of these PRN activities/coping skills include deep breathing exercises, guided meditation, listening to music, mindfulness, and grounding techniques. While this philosophy holds true for everyone, it's especially important for people in recovery. If we don't find ways to live an enjoyable and fulfilled life and establish ways to cope with our symptoms and urges to use, it is easy to fall back into our old using habits.

It can be overwhelming trying to decide where to start when making a leisure lifestyle change. But, try to not over think it. My advice is this: just TRY something, ANYTHING, and see how you like it! Ask family and friends what they do for fun, then ask if you can join them. Use resources like Pinterest and YouTube to get inspiration and tutorials on how to try or learn new things. When deciding what to try, its important to consider a few things:

1) Just because you used to like doing a certain activity in your leisure time, doesn't mean it's fulfilling you now. It's okay to stop doing something if it no longer gives you joy.

2) Contrary, just because you didn't enjoy trying yoga that one time three years ago, doesn't mean you can't benefit from it now! Our leisure interests evolve, so don't immediately dismiss things you've tried in the past. Sometimes it takes a few attempts of a new recreation activity to determine if it's therapeutic to you or not.

3) Consider your triggers and early warning signs and make a safety plan if needed. If your new gym is next to the old bar you used to go to, consider exercising in the morning while the bar is closed. If you're attending an event where you may be around old using buddies or other toxic people, plan a quick way out if need be (if you didn't drive yourself) or bring a sober friend with you. 

4) Remember: recreation activities are things we do in our leisure time. Make sure these activities don't impact you negatively - like missing out on sleep because you binge watch an entire season of your favorite show in one night, or forgetting to feed the dog (and yourself) because you're too busy playing the new Animal Crossing. If our recreation activities impact our ability to take care of ourselves or our responsibilities, it's no longer therapeutic. 

If you're someone that enjoys the 12-Step format, consider ordering the "12 Steps to Sober Leisure" workbook by fellow Recreational Therapist Abigail Bernard. This workbook "incorporates the concept of leisure into the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and brings to light the devastating impact Substance Use Disorder has on a person's leisure, and, conversely, the restorative impact that healthy leisure activities can have on a person's recovery."  

If there is anything positive to come out of the Covid-19 pandemic, I believe that it has helped (or in some cases, forced) people to put a pause on daily life and reevaluate how they spend their leisure time. Chances are, most people’s lives and leisure time have been affected in one way or another, by being forced to work at home, losing a job, or not having access to community supports and activities they once enjoyed. Many people have had to be creative in finding new ways to occupy their time - Netfilx and Disney+ subscriptions skyrocketed, puzzles, books and outdoor games were flying off the shelves, and people are getting outdoors to enjoy nature now more than ever.  During these challenging times try to practice mindfulness and gratitude, and focus on the good. For my family, this pandemic has forced us to find new ways to connect with one another. We now end our day with a video chat with our extended family (Thanks, Facebook messenger!). Despite having loved ones out of state, we've coincidentally became closer than ever, and plan to continue this new ritual long after social distancing ends. 

Author: Andrea Tatge, Certified Recreation Therapist — Care Team Supervisor

Staff Feature Friday: Cynthia Gudahl

Get to know a little about Cindy Gudahl, Treatment Director at Valley View Recovery Center.

About Cindy

Hi. My name is Cynthia “Cindy” Gudahl, BS, LADC. I became a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor in 2008 and my job has become an extension of my life. I have personally lived the struggle of addiction and have enjoyed 30 years of personal freedom from it. As Treatment Director, I am excited about Valley View Recovery Center and the opportunity to interact with those seeking to find freedom from the disease. I am excited about being a part of a team that believes in recovery. I look forward to sharing the joys of life after addiction and watching people thrive in recovery!

When working with family of a person suffering

I want to encourage everyone, family and addict, who is working to make changes to their life and seeking healthy living. It takes hard work, endurance, and perseverance to get to the goals you have for yourselves, friends, and family. DO NOT GIVE UP — DO NOT USE — PRESS ON — ASK FOR HELP — DO NOT GIVE UP — YOU CAN DO IT! Repeat.

Favorite recovery quotes

When I think of different quotes I have learned along the way, these come to mind: “But for the grace of God, there go I” reminds me to not judge others and to remember that once I was there.

“Be a part of the solution — not the problem.” That is my life goal today — to be a part of the solution!

Coming Soon!

Valley View Recovery Center is excited to announce the upcoming opening of its facility in Cannon Falls, Minnesota.

Valley View Recovery Center is a high-intensity residential treatment facility that offers gender specific treatment to 54 adult men and women recovering from substance use disorder. Our goal is to help men and women find recovery through a competent, professional and caring treatment environment.

Our mission is to offer a holistic treatment experience that allows our clients to find joy and hope in recovery. “On behalf of Valley View Recovery Center, we look forward to providing a crucial healthcare service and are confident the opening of the facility will help make our community healthier and more effective for those recovering from addiction, says Jacob McGuire, CEO”

Valley View Recovery Center plans to open its doors in June — Look for updates regarding the official date for accepting clients!

To learn more about our programs contact us today.