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Reprogramming the Brain: Understanding Early Childhood Conditioning

Posted by Janice Story on August 14, 2024 at 7:30 AM

The Formative Years: Programming the Brain

The human brain is an extraordinary organ, constantly evolving and adapting to its environment. During the first seven years of life, the brain is particularly malleable. This period is often referred to as the "formative years" because the experiences and environments a child is exposed to during this time play a crucial role in shaping their future behaviors, beliefs, and habits. During these early years, the brain operates primarily in a state of theta brainwave activity. Theta waves are associated with deep relaxation, creativity, and suggestibility, making children highly receptive to external influences. It's during this time that foundational beliefs about the world, themselves, and others are imprinted in the subconscious mind. These beliefs can be empowering, but they can also be limiting, especially if they stem from negative experiences, trauma, or dysfunctional environments.

“During these formative years, individuals begin to build piece by piece the foundation of who they are. The direct and indirect messaging from care givers and environmental cues impact the stability of these traits by either confirming or denying these definitions, birthing confidence and safety in growth or fearfulness and insecurity.” – Jodi Stone MA, LPC – Clinical Director.

The Impact of Early Programming on Substance Use Disorder

As these early experiences form the bedrock of an individual's belief system, they also set the stage for how one copes with life's challenges. If a child's early programming includes messages of inadequacy, fear, or mistrust, they may grow up with a predisposition to seek out unhealthy coping mechanisms, including substance use, to manage these unresolved emotions.

For individuals struggling with substance use disorder (SUD), understanding the connection between their early programming and their current behaviors can be a powerful step toward recovery. Many people with SUD find themselves trapped in a cycle of self-sabotage, driven by subconscious beliefs that they are unworthy of happiness, love, or success. These beliefs, often formed in early childhood, can create a perpetual state of inner turmoil, leading to the reliance on substances as a means of escape.

Reprogramming the Brain: It’s Never Too Late

The good news is that the brain's plasticity, its ability to change and adapt, doesn't end after childhood. While the early years are critical, the brain remains capable of reprogramming throughout life. This concept, known as neuroplasticity, means that with the right tools and support, individuals can replace limiting beliefs with empowering ones, effectively rewriting their mental scripts.

At Soberman's Estate, we focus on helping men identify and challenge these subconscious beliefs through various therapeutic modalities. Techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, along with other holistic practices are powerful tools in this process. These

methods help individuals become aware of their thoughts and behaviors, recognize the patterns rooted in early programming, and consciously choose new, healthier responses.

Steps Toward Reprogramming the Mind

  1. Awareness: The first step in reprogramming the brain is awareness. This involves recognizing the patterns of thought and behavior that are detrimental to ones well-being. Journaling, therapy, and meditation are effective ways to become more aware of these patterns.

  2. Challenge the Beliefs: Once you identify a limiting belief, it's crucial to challenge its validity. Ask yourself, "Is this belief based on facts, or is it a product of past experiences?" This step often requires the guidance of a therapist or counselor to help navigate deep-seated beliefs.

  3. Replace with Empowering Beliefs: After challenging a limiting belief, consciously replace it with a positive, empowering one. For example, replace "I am not good enough" with "I am worthy of love and success." This new belief should be reinforced through daily affirmations and visualization.

  4. Consistent Practice: Reprogramming the brain is not a one-time event; it requires consistent practice. Incorporating daily routines that reinforce new beliefs, such as mindfulness exercises, positive affirmations, and regular therapy sessions, is essential for lasting change.

The Path Forward

While early childhood programming plays a significant role in shaping who we become, it does not have to define us. The journey to recovery and personal growth involves understanding and, when necessary, reprogramming the subconscious mind. At Soberman's Estate, we empower our clients to take control of their lives by helping them rewire their brains, replace limiting beliefs, and build a solid foundation for a future free from substance use.

“As an adult, if the messages and environment cues feel untrue, unhealthy or simply unwanted, doing the work to reframe and restructure these thoughts and messages is not only possible, but the magic ingredients needed release pain from the past and pursue happiness.” Jodi Stone MA, LPC

By taking the time to understand the origins of our behaviors and making a conscious effort to change, we can all create a life that aligns with our true potential.

 

Soberman's Estate is a residential men's addiction treatment center that provides discreet, individualized, sophisticated recovery and wellness services for adult men that want to recover from substance use disorders, and or other behavioral issues such as trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, or other addictions.  

If you or someone you know are struggling and wondering about the next step for receiving help, please call our Admissions Director for a complimentary consultation at 480.571.9742, or email info@SobermansEstate.com.  

 

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Topics: Addiction, Treatment, Soberman's Estate

Honoring and Celebrating Memorial Day in Sobriety

Posted by Janice Story on May 27, 2024 at 7:30 AM

A message from our CEO Mitch Prager:

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Topics: Addiction, Substance Abuse, Soberman's Estate, Sobriety

Building Bridges in Healing: My Visit with Steve LeVeau of AZ Pinnacle Counseling

Posted by Janice Story on April 29, 2024 at 8:00 AM

A few weeks ago, we held an incredible open house for our professional community. A day that was filled with learning about what makes Soberman’s Estate such an incredible place for professional men to heal. We were able to share our clinical and therapeutic expertise as well as our different holistic modalities with everyone who attended, and hand out some incredible prizes as well! I was honored once again, to meet with one of those professional individuals that attended, when he came to pick up the prize he had won.

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Topics: Addiction, Professional, Soberman's Estate, Mental Health

Understanding the Effect of Alcoholism on Sleep Patterns

Posted by Janice Story on April 15, 2024 at 11:25 AM

Sleep is an essential part of human biology. It helps you revitalize your body and mind over several hours of inactivity. However, sleep issues can be prevalent in those who are recovering from alcohol addiction.

Alcohol’s Effect On An Alcoholic’s Sleep Patterns

Alcohol’s effect on sleep patterns are evident in those who are taking in large amounts of it. The disruptions in the brain’s ability to manage sleep can come from a number of sources. There are a number of reasons why an individual’s sleep quality is negatively affected. These disruptions last several months even after rehab and can be a cause for concern.

Circadian Rhythm Disruption

The circadian rhythm is the internal clock of an individual. It is what dictates when you sleep and how long you sleep for. The circadian rhythm is an essential part of making sure that you have a regular sleep schedule. However, alcohol and other substances disrupt the rhythm by forcing your body to produce chemicals that make you fall asleep quickly. However, these chemicals are shorter lived when compared to the natural release in a non-alcoholic.

REM Sleep Disruption

Another essential part of getting proper evening rest is Rapid Eye Movement or REM sleep for short. REM sleep is the period in sleep that your body gets the best rest. However, alcohol has been shown to consistently disrupt REM sleep and cause an individual to experience a delay in their ability to experience it.

Frequent Trips to The Toilet

Your body over time has grown accustomed to making sure that you don’t need to go to the bathroom during the evening. However, alcoholics will have difficulty managing their bladders under the influence. This is due to the fact that alcohol is a diuretic. Diuretics like alcohol dehydrate your body by forcing liquid out of your body through urine.

Breathing Disruptions and Sleep Apnea

Another cause for concern is that alcohol has an effect on a person’s breathing during sleep. This can cause excessive snoring and even sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous condition where an individual’s breathing is stopped and started during sleep. It can cause an individual to suddenly wake in the middle of the night due to the lack of oxygen. The worst case scenario is that sleep apnea can cause a life threatening heart attack or collapsed airway. 

The Most Effective Solution To Insomnia Caused By Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a difficult condition to overcome especially because of how it impairs judgement and affects your sleep patterns. The first step to proper recovery is always going to be rehabilitation.

Soberman’s Estate has created the ideal combination of medical, clinical, and holistic modalities, including board certified psychiatrists, medical doctors, psychologists, counselors, on-site labyrinth walks, equine therapy, fitness training, yoga, acupuncture, nutrition counseling and Chef prepared meals. Treatment at Soberman’s Estate is discrete and private with 10 beds on 5 acres of pristine Sonoran desert where recovery is adjusted to the needs of the patient.

If you or someone you know is considering treatment for addiction, call us at 480-660-3474 for a professional consultation.

 

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Topics: Addiction, Alcoholism

Celebrating Soberman's Estate: 5 Years of Hope, Healing, and Transformation

Posted by Janice Story on March 26, 2024 at 7:45 AM

This year marks a significant milestone for Soberman's Estate Men's Residential Treatment Center – our 5-year anniversary. In these five years, we've witnessed incredible transformations, shared countless moments of triumph, and built a community grounded in hope and healing. As we reflect on our journey, we want to celebrate the successes, acknowledge the challenges overcome, and look forward to a future filled with even more opportunities to help men in their recovery and personal growth.

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Topics: Addiction, Treatment, Recovery, Soberman's Estate

Navigating the Journey Back to Work After Residential Treatment

Posted by Janice Story on March 18, 2024 at 8:30 AM

Transitioning back to the workplace after spending time in a residential treatment center can be a journey filled with mixed emotions: hope, anxiety, and determination. It's a significant step in your recovery process, signaling progress and the start of a new chapter. Here are a few tips to guide you through this transition, offering practical advice and supportive strategies to help you reintegrate into your work life smoothly and confidently.

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Topics: Addiction, Treatment, Recovery

Welcoming Charlie, The Newest Member of our Equine Therapy Team

Posted by Janice Story on March 11, 2024 at 8:00 AM

What qualities are required to be a therapy horse? Inspired by our recent addition, Charlie, I thought maybe we’d take a look into what makes a horse suitable for this important role. Born on June 28, 2003, Charlie, a very handsome buckskin quarter horse, quickly proved his natural aptitude for therapy work during his very first session. His journey offers insights into what it takes for a horse to become a partner during the process of therapeutic work.

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Topics: Addiction, Treatment, Equine Therapy

The Long Term Effect of Drugs on The Body

Posted by Soberman's Contributor on February 10, 2024 at 10:46 AM

Drug abuse is a common problem in many households. Over 19 million individuals aged 12 and above experience its effects. These individual’s personality and behavior are severely hampered by their use of illicit substances. However personality and behavioral disorders aren’t the only risks. They are also at higher risk for long term illnesses and diseases that otherwise healthy individuals would not have.

How Drugs Affect The Body’s Long Term Functions

The long term effects of substance use can be seen in many individuals who have taken in drugs for an extended period of time. It is essential to be aware of these effects in order to be able to identify solutions to this problem.

Increased Risk for Brain Damage and Strokes

We’ve previously mentioned how an individual’s personality and behavior are affected by drug use. The primary reason why this happens is because the brain physically changes to adapt to the new substance. This is especially true for substances that affect the release of dopamine in the brain, like cocaine.

Cocaine forces the brain to create more dopamine while also actively destroys brain cells. The destruction of brain cells causes the aforementioned behavioral and psychological problems and increases the risk of strokes and dementia in long term users. Cocaine is known to expedite the production of dopamine in the brain, however, it kills brain cells while doing so.

Major Problems In Other Systems in The Body

Another problem area for individuals who have histories of extended drug use are problems with their various systems. One of the most impacted are the endocrine and urinary systems of the body. These problems are due to the drug's effect on the body’s hormonal balance while also requiring extra effort from both the kidneys and liver to filter the substance out of the body.

The body’s cardiovascular system is also affected to some degree. Specific categories of substances can cause irregular heart spasms during the early stages of drug use. Over time these will develop into more severe congenital heart diseases.

Tolerance and Dependency Effects on The Body

Tolerance and dependency on these substances are common as it rewires the brain of the individual. These dependencies can be an issue for an individual in the long term due to their bodies adapting to the foreign substance. This adaptation of the individual is a way for the body to cope with the substance’s effects. This is how tolerance develops.

Individuals will eventually need more and more of the drug to placate their needs. Suddenly stopping the use of the drug or substance can cause extreme cases of withdrawal which impacts the rest of the body and increases the magnitude of already existing problems.

The Best Solution to Fixing Problems with Extended Drug Use

Soberman’s Estate has created the ideal combination of medical, clinical, and holistic modalities, including board certified psychiatrists, medical doctors, psychologists, counselors, fitness training with NFL coach, on-site labyrinth walks, equine therapy, meditation, yoga, acupuncture, nutrition counseling and from-scratch prepared meals by the Executive Chef . Treatment at Soberman’s Estate is discrete and private with 10 beds on 5 acres of pristine Sonoran desert where recovery is adjusted to the needs of the patient.

Soberman's Estate is a residential men's addiction treatment center that provides discreet, individualized, sophisticated recovery and wellness services for adult men that want to recover from substance use disorders, and or other behavioral issues such as trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, or other addictions.  

If you or someone you know is considering treatment for addiction, call us at 480-571-9742 for a professional consultation.

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Topics: Addiction

Is My Husband an Alcoholic? Here's What You Need to Know

Posted by Hannah Prager on January 22, 2024 at 12:05 PM

Maybe your husband or loved one is exhibiting questionable behavior related to alcohol, and it doesn't feel right. Know that you are not alone. 12.7% of American adults have an alcohol use disordercolloquially known as alcoholism. We’re going to talk about signs you’re in a relationship with an addict, as well as strategies to cope and heal. 

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Topics: Addiction, Executives, Functioning Alcoholic, Treatment, Functioning Addict, Recovery, Substance Abuse, Soberman's Estate, Intervention, Music Therapy

So you’ve made a decision to change your life in 2024?

Posted by Janice Story on January 15, 2024 at 7:45 AM

As the calendar turns to January, many of us find ourselves reflecting on the past year and setting goals for the year ahead. It's a time of new beginnings, resolutions, and renewed hope. For those struggling with substance use disorder (SUD), the New Year can be a particularly significant time to consider treatment and embark on a journey towards recovery. Here's why January may be the ideal time to start this life-changing process.

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Topics: Addiction, Treatment

The Estate Blog

Soberman’s Estate’s blog has a primary goal to connect with those in need, support the recovery community, and provide inspiring articles, opinions, research, and information to help others make the right decisions about treatment, and help them reach their potential in recovery.

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