What do Florida drug treatment centers have in common with SMART Recovery? If you’ve heard of SMART, you may be wondering this. If you have a problem with substance abuse and are considering going to rehab for help, you may have wondered what kind of programs these rehabs offer. This article will discuss SMART Recovery and also some common alternatives. The information in this article will help you make the right choice for you, and the conclusion will provide some further options.
The 12 Steps
Everyone has probably heard about Alcoholics Anonymous. They offer a faith-based, 12-step program that has helped millions of people conquer their drug abuse problem and remain sober in the long-term. However, faith-based programs may not be a comfortable fit for everyone. AA requires group meetings where you will be encouraged to reveal personal details about your substance abuse, yourself and your life. The first step of AA requires that you turn over control of your life to a higher power, because you have failed to manage it yourself.
This is intimidating and implies that someone isn’t capable of running their own life. The eighth and ninth steps compel you to make amends to everyone you have harmed because of your substance abuse. This is daunting, to say the least. It’s also impractical and may well do more harm than good.
Other Programs in Florida Rehabs
Florida is an ideal location for recovery from substance abuse. It has a warm climate and generally temperate weather with blue skies and lots of sunshine. This has an uplifting effect on the spirit in itself. Many Florida rehabs offer dual-diagnosis treatment, so if you have another health condition contributing to your substance abuse, such as depression, it can be treated, too. A very high percentage of people who abuse drugs also have a mental health condition. CBT, which is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and DBT, which stands for Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, are two other common and effective methods of evidence-based therapy. Evidence-based means that it’s been proven to work. Another type of behavior modification is called SMART Recovery. It’s available at a number of rehabs in Florida and across the country.
SMART Recovery
SMART stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. It’s a four-step, non-religious program. Contrary to AA, SMART teaches that self-reliance is a major part of your recovery. It has its headquarters in Ohio, but there are many chapters throughout Florida and elsewhere. After your release from rehab, it’s likely that there will be SMART meetings nearby. If not, they also have an online program. Whether it’s in person or online, SMART includes lots of positive support from others who understand exactly how you feel as you work towards permanent sobriety.
Let’s take a look at the four steps of SMART:
Step One: Building and Maintaining Motivation
This is where you identify your motivators to eliminate substance abuse from your life. You will learn new ways of understanding how sobriety will make your life better. Once you understand that substance abuse has been holding you back, your motivation to stay clean will rise and empower you. In other words, it’s much easier to fight for something when you have no doubts as to what you’re fighting for.
Step Two: Coping with Urges
Drug cravings are a serious obstacle to recovery. They cause many people to fail and relapse. SMART teaches that cravings are an impulse behavior that jeopardizes your progress. With tools learned in SMART, you can learn how to resist a sudden, recurring urge to return to your drug of choice.
Step Three: Managing Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviors
This step involves a type of therapy called REBT, which stands for Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. It teaches a new way of coping with the kind of thinking that fuels the desire to return to substance abuse. REBT helps you to manage your thoughts, so they don’t get in the way of recovery.
Creating a Balanced Life
REBT teaches that a healthy lifestyle, social relationships, work and interests like nature walks or hobbies all work together to make you a whole person who is happy and fulfilled without drugs or alcohol.
Help is Here
If you’re interested in learning more about SMART in Florida rehabs, call us at 844-639-8371. We’re a group of drug treatment counselors familiar with SMART. We will guide you to the best Florida substance abuse centers that feature SMART as part of their recovery services. We look forward to speaking with you.