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First Responders, PTSD & Substance Abuse Disorders

First Responders, PTSD & Substance Abuse Disorders

Who Are Our First Responders?

First responders are highly trained professionals, such as paramedics, police officers, firefighters and other emergency personnel who provide urgent care in emergency situations. According to Safe Work Australia, there are over 335,000 first responders in Australia. First responders play an essential and critical part in the community by providing time-sensitive help to vulnerable people who are injured, in heightened states of distress and danger, or deceased. 

Every day, first responders are exposed to extremely challenging work conditions where their safety, and the safety of their peers, is at risk. These jobs involve very unprecedented work conditions and frequent exposure to traumatic events. 

Their Role in Our Communities:

First responders must undertake intense training and study to qualify for their chosen frontline roles in the community. Part of first responders’ training includes psychologically preparing for predictable and unpredictable events and managing stress and building resilience to respond and manage danger and risk such as social disorder, natural disasters, homicides, suicides, road accidents and other horrific incidents. 

Frontline workers are generally not affected after a single traumatic event. Repeated exposure to trauma over time can result in PTSD and other mental health disorders. If left unaddressed, worsening symptoms can lead to early discharge from duty and substance use disorders. 

First Responders And PTSD:

Many factors influence the mental health and well-being of our frontline workers. Throughout their careers, first responders are exposed to repeated traumatic and often life-threatening situations daily. Such circumstances can include violent crimes, road trauma, suicides and horrific accidents. 

Other stressors contributing to emergency personnel’s psychological distress are lack of sleep due to long shifts, physical demands of the job, limited mental health resources, and workplace conflict. 

There are countless studies and published journals indicating how frequent exposure to trauma can manifest into serious psychological illnesses such as depression, anxiety and PTSD. According to United Workers“emergency service personnel have a significant risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder in the course of their working career. The risk is more than double the general population and is higher than for police officers or firefighters. An estimated 10% of all emergency service personnel are reported as having PTSD.”

The most significant barrier to first responders asking for help is the attached stigma as many believe if they need support, it means they are weak and incompetent for the job. 

When PTSD and other mental health symptoms are left untreated, there is a higher risk of first responders turning to substances to help cope with their pain and grief.

First Responders and Substance Use Disorders:

When we think of alcoholism and addiction, first responders may not come to mind. However, those who work in the emergency service fields exposed to recurring trauma are also susceptible to developing substance use disorders. 

Substance Abuse Amongst Police Officers:

The role of police officers in the community is to serve and protect society from harm. The nature of their jobs can be enriching and rewarding; however, they face a lot of stress and trauma daily.

Besides the threat of physical harm to themselves, individuals in law enforcement are exposed to horrifying events like homicide, domestic violence, filicide, overdoses and car wrecks, to name a few.

As a result of their compounding trauma and working primarily in a hypervigilant state, police officers are at an increased risk of substance abuse disorders, specifically alcoholism.

The law enforcement community’s culture can be one of stoicism and sharing a few drinks after work to “take the edge off” a hard day. In an article published by Police Health, they explain 11% of male police officers (and 16% of female) are at risk of alcoholism” which indicates individuals use alcohol as a means to cope with their psychological distress. 

Substance abuse Amongst Firefighters:

Firefighters spend their days fighting fires, saving people from car wrecks and managing collapsing buildings to keep civilians safe. Confronted with similar traumatic events as law enforcement, firefighters are at risk of being severely burnt, lung damage and other physical ailments.

Unpredictable and often terrifying circumstances coupled with long work shifts can lead to mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression and anxiety disorders. Like police officers, firefighters are more inclined to turn to alcohol and drugs to combat stressful and overwhelming symptoms. As outlined by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, “29% of firefighters engage in alcohol abuse, and as many as 10% of firefighters may be currently abusing prescription drugs.”

Substance Abuse Amongst Paramedics and EMTs

Despite being a crucial part of the community, emergency medical technicians, or EMTs, are personnel dispatched to emergencies such as car wrecks, fires, shootings, overdoses and other tragic events. EMT’s provide life-saving emergency response treatment before patients arrive in hospital. The unpredictable environment means EMTs are under constant pressure and must quickly avoid life and death situations. 

EMTs often work long shifts and carry an enormous responsibility regarding their patients’ lives, drug dosages and type of treatment to administer. 

According to an article by the ABC“paramedics in Australia have the second-highest rate of suicide of any emergency services workers, including police, firefighters, and prison guards.”

Like their police officer and firefighter peers, EMTs are also at significant risk of developing stress-related disorders and PTSD, making them susceptible to developing substance use disorders.

Because EMTs have easy access to highly addictive prescription medication, they are more likely to become addicted to drugs such as opioids, fentanyl and ketamine. Since 2010, Freedom of Information studies shows there have been over 100 investigations into the theft of addictive drugs by ambulance workers. 

Recovery Is Possible:

There are no doubts that first responders witness and experience horrifying circumstances daily. We may never understand their exhaustive efforts to serve, protect and treat the community in times of need. Our first responders, especially those struggling with PTSD and substance use disorders, need a safe and compassionate environment to begin the recovery process. It may be difficult for first responder personnel to ask for help, as they are usually the ones dependent on for assistance.

Treatment programs, like Seasons Bali, will provide programs that comprises of:

  • Medically supervised drug and alcohol detox
  • Individual and group therapy sessions
  • Mindfulness exercises such as yoga and meditation
  • Family programs 
  • 12 step meetings 

If you or your loved one need treatment from substance abuse, you are not alone. Seasons Bali can offer the environment you need to heal and recover from your trauma and addiction. 

Please reach out to speak with a member of our client liaison team. All our conversations remain confidential, and the anonymity of our clients remains our number one priority.

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Addiction and PTSD In Veterans

Addiction and PTSD In Veterans

Veterans returning home from military service face several challenges when adjusting back to civilian life. The transition is a significant lifestyle change that can be overwhelming and stressful. Often, we think of military personnel affected by PTSD as those who participate in dangerous combat; however, any member of the defence force can be exposed to traumatic events during their service.

Some of the issues defence force members face include losing their sense of identity and belonging, trouble adapting to lack of structure and discipline, dealing with traumas such as serious injury, witnessing a peer’s death, or sexual assault. These traumatic events can lead to co-occurring disorders which can include PTSD and substance abuse disorders.

Veterans and PTSD

Many veterans riddled with addiction are unaware they have underlying PTSD, and their use of substances can be a way to cope with their symptoms. PTSD affects the mind and body in unimaginable ways and can be debilitating.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war, or rape or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence or serious injury.”

Veterans who have returned home from their service may find everyday life triggering or anything that is a reminder of the traumatic incident. Often, we think trauma affects only the mind and our emotions; however, symptoms can manifest physically also. In a 2017 study,  5,826 United States veterans were surveyed, resulting in a staggering 12.9% being diagnosed with PTSD.

Common symptoms of PTSD can include:

  • Re-occurring flashbacks in the form of intrusive thoughts and images
  • Nightmares
  • Inability to regulate overwhelming emotions
  • Easily startled 
  • Anger and aggression
  • Disassociation 
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Familial and social isolation
  • Feeling unsafe and distrusting of the world
  • Persistent feelings of shame and guilt
  • Aches and pains

Consequently, many veterans turn to drugs and alcohol to escape the harshness, anguish, and confusion attributed to PTSD. 

Risk Factors for Developing PTSD and Substance Use Disorders Amongst Service Members

Not all service personnel will be affected by traumatic events in active duty. Many exposed to dangerous, life-threatening situations have the resiliency to re-adjust to civilian life with the support of family, friends and mental health services. 

Others may not be so lucky. Vulnerabilities such as past trauma, drug and alcohol use, limited social support and history of mental illness are just some of the risk factors which can leave individuals predisposed to PTSD and substance use disorders. 

Studies have also shown genetics may make specific individuals more likely to develop co-occurring disorders than others. A survey by Molecular Psychiatry stated, “29 per cent of a group of American and European women, who had PTSD, had a genetic risk factor for mental illness.” 

It also concluded that “those people who had other mental illnesses were at a higher risk for developing PTSD after exposure to trauma.”

Possible Causes of PTSD in the Military

There are several possible causes of PTSD in the military, and unfortunately, some are unavoidable. Some possible causes can include:

  • Combat trauma: Witnessing the death of their service peers and civilians, having their life regularly threatened, injuries and seeing dead bodies. 
  • Sexual harassment/abuse: Sexual assault can affect individuals of all genders, ages and ranks. The topic of sexual harassment and abuse in the military is often left unspoken. Studies show both men and women can be the target of sexual violence. Most of the time, victims of this type of violence refuse to speak out in fear of losing their jobs or suffering retaliation. As a result, cases concerning sexual violence are underreported, making it difficult to determine the prevalence of sexual abuse amongst defence force personnel. An American study reported “approximately 6.2% of active-duty women and 0.7% of active-duty men ages 17-24 experiences sexual assault in 2018.”
  • Training: Studies show that simply participating in defence force training can potentially cause high levels of stress and anxiety in individuals susceptible to these symptoms. Strict training regimes, being controlled from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep, verbal, mental and physical abuse can either make or break people in training.  

The Relationship Between Addiction and PTSD

Although several veterans who come back from service eventually overcome their traumas through therapy and support groups, others have extreme difficulty recovering from their experiences. A study focused on patients seeking treatment for PTSD found “60%-80% of these patients had concurrent diagnoses of substance abuse, alcohol abuse, or dependence.” 

Veterans often try to deal with their trauma symptoms by abusing alcohol and drugs and other process addictions such as gambling and sex. Even if an individual did not have addiction issues before joining the defence force, they are more likely to begin abusing substances during and after service.  

Some factors which can trigger an individual becoming dependent on drugs and alcohol. These factors can include:

  • Being prescribed opioid painkillers for chronic pain and injuries
  • Being prescribed benzodiazepines to treat PTSD symptoms
  • Inability to cope with re-occurring PTSD symptoms 
  • Unable to re-adjust to civilian life and maintain stable work 
  • Relationship breakdown, death or divorce
  • Insomnia and nightmares 
  • Fear and paranoia
  • Family stress and pressure
  • Financial hardship
  • Lack of interest in hobbies and recreational activities 
  • Isolation
  • Survivors guilt and shame

Common Addictions Amongst Veterans

  • Alcohol: Studies show veterans are more prone to binge drinking and alcoholism. Alcohol abuse often begins during active duty to connect and pass the time between service duties and can continue long after military service has ended. The Department of Veteran “affairs estimates around one-third of veterans drink at risky levels.”
  • Prescription medication: Veterans suffering PTSD or chronic pain, or injury are more likely to be prescribed anxiety medications and opioids, most of which are highly addictive. While individuals might begin taking these medications as prescribed, once recreational misuse increases, so do the risks of developing a full-blown addiction.
  • Illicit drug use: Illicit drug use is also highly prevalent and concerning among veterans. According to the NCBI, studies show “marijuana accounts for the vast majority of illicit drug use among veterans (3.5% report marijuana use, 1.7% report use of drugs other than marijuana in one month).”

Recovery Is Possible

There are no doubts that veterans have experienced things the general public would never have known possible. Many of us may never understand their exhaustive efforts or relate to their painful experiences. Therefore, it is imperative to provide veterans with a safe and compassionate environment that understands the interrelationship between military service, PTSD, and addiction. 

For long-term recovery to begin and stick, a holistic treatment program encompasses the individual as a whole through the use of different therapeutic techniques, mindfulness exercises and co-curricular activities.

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides former service members with treatment options for mental health and substance use disorders if you are a Gold or White DVA Health Cardholder. Thankfully Seasons Bali is now a DVA approved treatment provider which may make you eligible for a 90-day program with us, at no cost. 

Seasons Bali can offer the environment you need to heal and recover from your trauma and addiction. Please reach out to speak with a lovely member of our client liaison team. All our conversations remain confidential, and the anonymity of our clients remains our number one priority. 

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Bali or Thailand For Addiction Treatment?

Bali

Bali or Thailand For Addiction Treatment?

As the cost of private rehab centres continues to increase and, waiting lists for public rehab clinics become more inundated, in recent years, Bali and Thailand have seen an influx of addicts and alcoholics seeking addiction treatment from all parts of the world. 

Researching and finding a rehab facility can be an overwhelming and confusing task for most. There are many factors to consider if you or your loved one are contemplating travelling abroad for treatment. Removing yourself from the environment, which triggers further use of substances can be conducive to beginning life in recovery. 

Both Thailand and Bali offer irenic landscapes and cultures that promote healing and tranquillity, but which one do you choose? Let’s take a look at how treatment in Thailand and Bali compare. 

Travel Logistics In Our Current Climate

Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, governments put travel restrictions in place to prevent further spreading of the coronavirus between countries. As a result, struggling addicts were unable to access treatment abroad. 

To curb local transmission, the Thai government has refused to open their borders to foreign travel. Rehab facilities that were once popular spots for people seeking treatment have consequently had to shut their doors due to the pandemic.

On the other hand, Bali has eased its travel restrictions and has commenced issuing visa options to those looking to travel to Bali long-term. The ease has provided opportunities for those battling with addiction, who have limited access to resources in their home countries, to travel to Bali to seek help. Bali has subsequently seen an increase of addicts travelling again to seek treatment at rehab facilities such as Seasons Bali.

Travel to Bali is entirely safe if you or your loved one follow airport and airline security measures. Bali has stringent hygiene protocols in place to keep residents safe and healthy. Seasons Bali can take care of everything needed to facilitate visa applications for entry to Indonesia.

Quality and Efficacy of Treatment

South-East Asia has become home to several types of addiction treatment programs. It is important to note that not all approaches will work for everyone. 

In recent years rehab facilities in Thailand, run by business people and those with little to no recovery experience, have housed between 30-120 clients, making it challenging to deliver an individualized treatment plan designed to meet each client’s needs. Many of these programs are run by business people and those with little to no addiction or recovery experience, making program quality and deliverance questionable. 

Seasons Bali, the only ISO certified addiction treatment centre in South-East Asia, headed by Professor Richard Smith, was the first to open an addiction rehab on the tropical island of Bali. With over 35 years of continued recovery, treatment experience and a Bachelor of Psychology under his belt, Richard created an addiction treatment model that has generated remarkable success compared to the other rehabs on the island. Seasons Bali only employs those with the highest qualifications and lived experience with addiction and recovery.

Seasons Bali offers a boutique, beachfront eight-bed facility in the North of Bali, far away from the hype and buzz of the South. Richard believes, “a client-to-staff ratio must be a low one, as this is the key to best meet each client’s individual therapeutic needs.”

Thailand

Spirituality

Both Bali and Thailand are renowned for their rich spiritual cultures where temples, offerings, ceremonies and religion are deeply entwined in daily life.

As soon as you step off the plane in Bali, Indonesia, you are immediately greeted with nurturing and calming energy, giving you a sense of safety and peace. These feelings are vital when embarking on your new recovery journey. 

The Balinese wear their spirituality with pride and are always open to including visitors in their ceremonies and rituals. For newly recovering addicts, exposure to Hindu religion is a perfect way to begin forming a relationship with a Higher Power, the beginning stage of the twelve-step recovery model

Fun and Adventure

For treatment centres in Bali and Thailand, it is not only about treating addiction and doing therapy. Clients are encouraged to participate in local community activities, fitness and some fun in the sun! It is imperative to start trying new and exciting activities, so you know what life can be like without using substances. 

Thailand is a vast country that comprises mountains, beaches, rainforests, jungles, and other islands, making it tricky to get around. If you are looking at rehab in Chiang Mai, the chances of picking up a hobby other than stone-throwing at the local river are quite slim. Chiang Mai does not offer much inspiration and stimulation with regards to fitness, group activities and exploring. 

On the other hand, Bali is a smaller island that is so much easier to navigate, with phenomenal stuff to do! Seasons Bali’s encourages clients to participate in some of the following co-curricular activities: 

  • Dolphin watching
  • White water rafting
  • ATV riding
  • Bathing in waterfalls
  • Participating in ceremonies
  • Exploring rice terraces
  • Visiting temples
  • Jungle trekking
  • Surfing
  • Snorkelling and diving
  • Mountain biking
  • Balinese cooking classes

Bali is the perfect place for those looking for rehabilitation, healing, finding spirituality and living a life beyond their wildest dreams, substance-free! 

If you or your loved one are looking to attend a rehab facility close to Thailand, Bali may be the destination that kick-starts your new life in recovery. Please contact us today for more information. 

All work conducted by Seasons Bali is carried out in the strictest of confidence and conforms to all current privacy legislation. None of the information on this site is intended as medical advice

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What Is Online Rehab and How Can It Help?

What Is Online Rehab and How Can It Help?

Some of the crippling consequences addicts face on any given day include isolation, loneliness, depression, shame and fear. These feelings are just some of the reasons why individuals hesitate to seek treatment. When an addict has a moment of willingness, they only have a small window of opportunity to get the help they need. Placing addicts into a social environment, such as a rehabilitation facility, is crucial in forming early recovery connections.

The pandemic has caused the complete opposite of connection and socialisation. Uncertainty of the future, lockdowns and restrictions have forced those in addictive addiction and those trying to remain clean and sober further into isolation and despair. The New York Times mentions in a recent article “Addiction is often referred to as a disease of isolation, and overcoming that challenge has only become more difficult during a pandemic that has forced people indoors — in some cases to live lonely lives, with drugs and alcohol as a way to cope with the stress.” 

Recent studies show that binge drinking and process addictions, such as gambling, have increased due to the pandemic. A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mentions a “concerning acceleration of opioid-related overdoses last year”. All in all, substance abuse, relapse and binge using is on the rise and access to inpatient facilities is declining, leaving little to no options for those struggling.

Furthermore, many drug and alcohol rehabs have had to restructure their programs by reducing inpatient admissions, stopping visits from family and friends and removing outings from their schedules. 

Other facilities having taken their treatment program online, making a chance at recovery accessible to those who need it at a fraction of the cost.  

What is online rehab?

Online rehab is an addiction treatment program, the same program used in an inpatient setting; only it is delivered to clients virtually. 

What does online rehab offer?

Just like a traditional inpatient program, online rehab offers clients a structured schedule filled with a variety of therapeutic and spiritual modalities, from the comfort of their own home.

Certified and licensed online facilities provide 24/7 support, one on one and group therapy, interactive educational sessions, meditation and yoga and 12 step meetings, all of which will provide clients with the skills and tools needed to begin and maintain a sober lifestyle.  

What are the benefits of online rehab?

  1. Convenience

Clients can attend online rehab from the privacy and safety of their own home. Schedules are often flexible so individuals can continue participating in work, study, and their family’s needs. All you will need is stable internet access! 

2. Privacy

Online addiction treatment offers the luxury of privacy as clients do not need to check into an inpatient facility. Reputable facilities should use state of the art, high-security virtual technology to maintain their clients’ safety and anonymity. Clinical staff must adhere to all individuals’ confidentiality by ensuring they are in a private space when delivering the program.

3. Community Support

Online rehab does not offer the same face-to-face social interaction all humans crave; however, clients can still interact with the clinical team and other clients. Online group sessions and 12 step meetings allow clients to share their progress with their peers, show support to one another and listen to the stories of other recovering addicts who have gone before them. 

Seasons Bali, concerned with the lack of addiction recovery resources available globally for those seeking treatment, has turned their aftercare app ‘SeasonsCare’ into an online platform called ‘Home-Hab’.

The clinical team at Seasons Bali has designed and put together a comprehensive four, eight and twelve-week program that includes daily therapeutic activities and weekly online individual counselling. The ‘Home-Hab’ program will enable users to identify substance misuse and abuse issues and begin taking steps to live a life of abstinence, all from the comfort of their own home. 

All members will receive access to the App and following an assessment will be paired with a qualified counsellor to provide personal and professional support.

The SeasonsCare App provides the following:

  • Daily check-in
  • Weekly CBT sessions and activities –
  • Journal Therapy 
  • One individual counselling session per week
  • Meditation 
  • Reminder notifications 
  • Location Check-in (optional) 
  • The App is for 12 weeks and can be accessed either as 12 weeks upfront or four-week blocks. 
  • Cost for four weeks is $1500 AUD ($998 USD)

If you or your loved one are looking to access treatment online, Seasons Bali could be the help you need. Please contact us today for a free consultation with a member of our clinical team. 

Transformation Starts Here

Taking that first step towards recovery is one of the most powerful things you can do. If you or a family member need help and you want to get the best treatment possible, get in touch with us now. With over twenty years of helping people to find peace in recovery, we are South East Asia’s Leading Addiction Treatment Centre.

All work conducted by Seasons Bali is carried out in the strictest of confidence and conforms to all current privacy legislation. None of the information on this site is intended as medical advice

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Family and Addiction – Top Tips to Surviving the Holiday Season

Family and Addiction - Top Tips to Surviving the Holiday Season

As the end of 2020 approaches (and what a year it has been), families around the world are frantically preparing holiday gatherings filled with food, connection, love and joy. Yet for those who have a loved one in active addiction, a heavy fog shrouds what should be a celebratory season.

Teresa, the mother of a drug-addicted daughter now in recovery, states “Living with a loved one, who had a drug addiction, was like living with an imposter. Lying awake at night, waiting to hear the sound of her car, hoping she was safe wherever she was.” So if every day with an addict is a heart-wrenching challenge, the stress and anticipation of the Holiday Season will only amplify these feelings.

Coping With the Holidays With a Family Member in Addiction

On top of having to organise a month’s worth of holiday activities and events, parents, siblings, children and spouses must also contend with the worry, fear, anger and sadness of not knowing what this time of year will bring with their addicted family member. Do not fret. There is hope! You and your family can enjoy and get through the Holiday Season this year by following these five simple steps.

1.Focus On Those In Front of You

Addiction is a family disease that impacts the whole family system in direct and indirect ways. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence advises, “one in every 12 adults, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence.” As a result, those who have a family member in active addiction live in a state of hyper arousal and anxiety is the norm.

The social effects of living with an individual who actively uses can be devastating. Loved ones can often face stigma, judgment and gossip, causing them to feel ostracised and alone.

When special occasions like the holidays arise, the thought of what people are thinking and having to explain where your loved one is can be incomprehensible. You may have the urge to cancel events and isolate from family and friends. Isolation may seem like a great idea; however, it can lead to further feelings of stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness.

Dealing with an addicted family member can be an exhausting task. For most of the year, the attention is taken away from siblings, spouses, parents and other family members as you try to come to terms with your circumstances. The key to creating a united and festive atmosphere over the holidays requires you to focus on your loved ones who have suffered enough.

Arrange events with people who are aware and supportive of your circumstances and make you and your family feel safe. Let your support system know how you feel and what your needs may be over the Holidays. When it comes to cooking and gift-giving, keep it simple and try not to overwhelm yourself.

You cannot control the addict in your life but you can control how you choose to live this Holiday Season with the ones you love.

2.Identify Your Expectations and Let Them Go

As the Holiday Season approaches, many families create an image in their minds of how it ‘should’ or ‘could’ be. You may even have different scenarios playing in your mind like:

“Will she show up this year?”

“If she does show up, what state will she be in?”

Maybe we can keep a better eye on her if she is home.”

“Being away from her using environment may help us get through to her.” “With her home, we can control her using.”

“Maybe she will have a miraculous spiritual awakening and show up to Christmas lunch clean and sober and full of merry cheer!”

Unfortunately, this wishful thinking is setting yourself, and your addicted loved one up for failure. Instead, put aside some time to reflect on the expectations you may have in your mind. As they start to become apparent, jot them down and share them with someone you trust like an Al-Anon member, therapist or friend.

Lastly, as stated by Teresa, “Christmas is a special time for our large Italian family. When my daughter was in active addiction, Alanon taught me that ‘a problem shared is a problem halved.’ In sharing my deepest fears and sadness with trusted support my expectations started losing their power, I was able to move into a place of acceptance and become present for the people who really needed me.”

3.Avoid Giving Money and Gifts

The purchasing of sentimental presents for your loved ones and, seeing the happy look on their faces when they open them is priceless. The exchange of gifts over the holidays can be the most rewarding part of the year. When it comes to your addicted loved one, you may be feeling torn between wanting them to feel included in the festivities and not wanting to enable their using. Although it may sound harsh, you and your extended family and friends should avoid giving gifts or money to your addicted family member.

You might think a new necklace or $50 to buy groceries is a safe and loving gesture; however, the reality is what you are gifting them is drug and alcohol money.

There are many ways you can help your loved one feel included. You can write them a card letting them know how much they mean to you, offer to take them out for a nice meal, suggest paying for outpatient treatment such as drug and alcohol counseling or if you are in a financial position to, pay for inpatient treatment.

4.Set Boundaries and Be Ready To Say NO!

Setting boundaries with a loved one in active addiction can be difficult and almost impossible. Their demands are relentless, as Teresa mentions, “The lies and harassment for money became a regular occurrence, day or night”, which often leads to family members saying ‘yes’ in exchange for some peace rather than sticking to your guns and saying ‘no.’

Around this time of year, your loved one is more likely to begin pushing the boundaries and breaking the rules. Ways in which the addict could begin manipulating you include:

  • Asking for money to purchase Christmas presents for family and friends.
  • Guilt-tripping you into giving them money if you choose not to purchase them gifts.
  • Start saying things like “you are never there for me, you owe me.”
  • Bringing their using buddies to your house or family event to intimidate or cause a scene.
  • Rocking up to gatherings when they were asked not to.
  • Going through you and your families valuables such as purses and gifts.

For most addicts, this time of year is a goldmine of opportunity if they are let loose in your home. If you are planning on inviting your loved one to any Holiday events, you and your family must prepare physical and internal boundaries.

Finally, let the addict know before they arrive what the rules of the house are. Be sure to support each other in sticking to ‘no’ if the addict demands money, gifts or alcohol. You may ask them not to use or drink around you, to remain in the living area only and, if there is an escalation of violent or abusive behaviour, they will have to leave. It is also imperative to lock away any valuable items such as jewelry, electronics, and large sums of cash or anything of high value in a safety lockbox. Setting up mutual boundaries will give you and your family the strength to get through the holidays united and keep focused on each other rather than the behaviour of the addict.

You might think a new necklace or $50 to buy groceries is a safe and loving gesture; however, the reality is what you are gifting them is drug and alcohol money.

There are many ways you can help your loved one feel included. You can write them a card letting them know how much they mean to you, offer to take them out for a nice meal, suggest paying for outpatient treatment such as drug and alcohol counseling or if you are in a financial position to, pay for inpatient treatment.

5.Self-Care Alone and With Your Family

Tending to your emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being should be a priority during the holidays for you and your family. The high energy of spending time with family along with dealing with the absence or behaviour of the addict can leave you feeling spent.

As a family or alone, find some time in the day to meditate, check-in with each other and share feelings or concerns, watch a movie together, get to a few Alanon meetings and have regular naps. Finding things to do that relieve stress and anxiety can give you the strength to get through the holidays as well as coping with your addicted love one.

If you would like more information on how addiction affects families, the team at Seasons Bali have made their E-Book ‘Am I Living With an Addict’, written by Jackson Oppy, available free of charge over the holiday season.

For more information on our treatment program and how we can help you loved one, please contact us today.

 

Transformation Starts Here

Taking that first step towards recovery is one of the most powerful things you can do. If you or a family member need help and you want to get the best treatment possible, get in touch with us now. With over twenty years of helping people to find peace in recovery, we are South East Asia’s Leading Addiction Treatment Centre.

All work conducted by Seasons Bali is carried out in the strictest of confidence and conforms to all current privacy legislation. None of the information on this site is intended as medical advice

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© Copyright 2020 Seasons Bali    |   Site Support 

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Top Tips for Staying Sober During the Holiday Season

Top Tips for Staying Sober During the Holiday Season

So, the Holiday Season is just around the corner. The Christmas and New Year Festivities bring to mind images of family gatherings and cheer, gift-giving and lots of yummy food while for others feelings of anxiety, stress, grief and, fear.

This time of year can be a challenging time for those not in recovery also. The Alcohol and Drug Foundation of Australia advises “rates of alcohol-related harms reach a high in the summer months, beginning from the last working day before Christmas.”

T’is the season to be Merry right?

Well, for those already in recovery or newly sober, this time of year can be incredibly challenging and overwhelming. Common triggers which may leave you vulnerable to relapse include:

  • Financial pressure to purchase gifts.
  • Unrealistic expectations from family and friends to attend holiday gatherings and not feeling like you have a choice to say no.
  • Jam-packed schedules can leave you spending less time plugged into your recovery support system and daily routine.
  • Family dynamics and unpleasant childhood memories.
  • Travelling through old drug haunts where substance abuse occurred.
  • Being around family and friends who drink and use drugs.

You may be wondering how staying sober through the Holiday Season is possible. We are here to tell you there is a way to prepare and safeguard your mental health and recovery. It will take some planning, commitment and imagination.

Staying Sober During the Holiday Season

Being aware of your triggers and planning ahead of time are some of the best ways you can prepare to enjoy the holidays while staying sober. Following these practical tips will have you fully engaged in holiday gatherings and cruising into the new year, substance-free!

1.Plan Your Schedule Ahead of Time and Prioritise Events.

With recovery being your top priority this year, allow yourself the space to pick the parties you would like to attend. Ask yourself, ‘Will this gathering be filled with connection and joy? Or will it be fueled with alcohol use and triggering dynamics?’

You may decide to say NO to that boozy end of year work function and YES to Aunt Betty’s Christmas roast. Run your schedule by your support network and ask for feedback. Feel empowered to make healthy, recovery centred decisions to protect your sobriety.

2.Limit Time with Family and Friends

While your family and friends may have the best intentions when offering you that glass of wine over dinner, you don’t need the extra stress. These situations may lead you to justify why that one drink won’t hurt. Arriving and departing early from parties and spending little time with pushy people, it will make staying sober over the holidays more achievable. Make sure to surround yourself with those who will offer you the love and support you need in staying sober.

3.Nuture Your Mental Health - See a Therapist

Participating in the Holiday Season when newly sober can be daunting and anxiety-provoking. Checking in with a therapist ahead of time could help to minimise emotional triggers as they arise during interactions with people and environments.

Learning to recognise your triggers and adding some new coping skills to your recovery toolbox will allow you to better cope with uncomfortable situations as they arise.

4.Take A Sober Friend With You

Bringing a sober friend to a gathering you are worried about is a great way to keep you safe and accountable. Your friend may notice you are feeling flustered and pull you outside for a little break and debrief. It sounds cheesy but ‘a problem shared is a problem halved.’ Sharing your feelings and triggers with your sober friend can give you the confidence to remain focused on the solution and your recovery.

5.Practice Self-Care Between Gatherings

Nurturing your emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being should be on the top of your priority list during the holidays. The high energy of seeing family along with travel can leaving you feeling depleted.

You don’t rely on substances to get you through anymore so find some quiet time throughout your day to meditate, check-in with your feelings, journal, have a massage or watch an episode of your favourite TV series. Find things to do that will give you mental clarity and make you feel nourished, no matter how busy your schedule is.

6.Rehearse Your Responses

You are bound to be offered a drink or a drug throughout your new life in recovery. The risk of this occurring increases significantly over the holidays. To avoid any potential of relapse, you can respond to tricky questions by saying things like, ‘I have stopped drinking for health reasons.’ ‘No thank you, I am not drinking today.’ ‘I am happy with a Diet Coke.’ If family and friends are aware you a newly sober, you can gently remind them that you cannot drink.

If you have an incredibly boozy or pushy person who is not respecting your boundaries and you feel yourself beginning to fret, remove yourself from the situation immediately. Call a friend in recovery or your sponsor to help ground you.

7.Up Your Recovery Support and Routine

Being busy over the holidays is inevitable. You may find yourself spending less time participating in your daily recovery routine. Let your recovery support system know in advance, which times and events may be most challenging for you so they can offer you extra support. Start a recovery group text where you can quickly access connection. Attend an in-person or online meeting or call a friend before, during or after each gathering. Tap into all of the support and resources available, so you have the strength to get through the holidays sober.

8.Selfless Service

Finding ways to serve others can take the spotlight off ourselves and help us find serenity and gratitude during the holidays. Schedule in some time at a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Make a traditional family dish for a recovering addict who may be spending this time alone. Spreading kindness to others will make you feel good about yourself and others.

One Day at a Time

Staying sober during the Holiday Season is possible with a little bit of planning, determination, honesty and cheer. If you keep your mind in the day and access your support system when needed, you will be many steps closer to long-term recovery. Each year you participate and practice, the easier it will become.

If you do feel like you are not coping with the holiday hype, please click on the following two links to find online meetings lists.

Stay safe and sober. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Transformation Starts Here

Taking that first step towards recovery is one of the most powerful things you can do. If you or a family member need help and you want to get the best treatment possible, get in touch with us now. With over twenty years of helping people to find peace in recovery, we are South East Asia’s Leading Addiction Treatment Centre.

All work conducted by Seasons Bali is carried out in the strictest of confidence and conforms to all current privacy legislation. None of the information on this site is intended as medical advice

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What Is Couple’s Addiction Rehab and Is It A Good Idea?

What is Couple's Addiction Rehab and is it a Good Idea?

The first step towards a life of total abstinence and recovery can be difficult for anyone battling addiction. For couples actively using together, asking for help comes with its own set of challenges. 

If only one individual in the relationship is ready to commit to treatment, the likelihood of the other achieving long-term recovery is unlikely. 

Although there may be several risk factors for couples who complete drug rehab treatment together, those deeply committed to their relationship and well-being have the potential of living a balanced and fulfilling life together in recovery.

Couples and substance abuse

For the healthiest, committed and, loving couple, the stressors of “life on life’s terms” can often create strain and disharmony within an intimate relationship. When adding substance abuse to the mix, issues can become magnified, driving a couple further into the depths of addiction. 

What are the risks if addiction is left untreated?

  • When the use of drugs and alcohol is the focal point of a romantic relationship, emotions and tension can become elevated and overwhelming, leading to conflict and distance between a couple. If the relationship’s existing issues are left unresolved, it can drive the individuals to use more and furthering their chances of achieving long-term recovery. 
  • When substance abuse becomes uncontrollable, the consequences can cause significant damage to familial relationships. The substance abusers may find themselves completely isolated from family members; a family may decide to cut ties due to toxic behaviour and, children may be removed from the home by child services. 
  • Members of the relationship may not be in a position to maintain employment due to their substance use, which gives way to financial problems. These can include mortgage and vehicle foreclosure, asking for loans from family and friends, selling sentimental and valuable items or theft. 

Couple's Addiction Rehab, an empowering option

Treatment options for couples that would like to attend addiction rehab together are minimal. Most treatment programs centre on an individualised process towards a new life in recovery. 

Attending a rehab together is dependent on the couples history with substance abuse and whether or not they are both ready to embark on a new way to live. For the committed and willing, couples rehab can be healing and strengthening journey.

The benefits of attending a rehab facility together can include:

  • Learning about addiction and how it affects the individual as well as the relationship.
  • Individual therapy as well as couple’s therapy to work through the underlying issues that exacerbate substance abuse.
  • Learning to have boundaries, coping skills and resiliency and how to implement them in daily life. 
  • How to maintain individual recovery whilst supporting each other’s recovery. 

Risks to be considered:

  • One member of the relationship is not ready or willing to give up substances. 
  • There is ongoing domestic abuse within the relationship. 
  • Co-dependency may cause an individual to be too passive to participate in the program which results in the individual becoming too focused on their partner’s recovery and not focused on themselves enough to benefit from their time in rehab. 

How does Couple's rehab work

While treatment and recovery is often an individualised process, couple’s rehab programs take a ‘couple centred’ approach to treat substance abuse disorders. For a ‘couple’s centred’ approach to be beneficial and successful, commitment and willingness from both individuals are required. 

Once admitted into the rehab facility, a couple will begin a medically supervised detox. The length of a medical detox will be dependent on their substance abuse history.

Once detox is completed, couples are gently integrated into the therapeutic inpatient community for 30, 60 or 90 days. A treatment plan designed by the clinical team will focus on individualised healing and recovery, as well as the relationship. 

A couple's treatment program may look like this:

Individualised recovery treatment plan

  • Individual therapy with a certified counsellor and psychologist will enable the client to address and heal from the impact of their past and addiction. 
  • Group therapy sessions with or without their significant other. 
  • 12 step meeting attendance can encourage clients to focus on maintaining individual recovery by connecting with members of fellowship on their own. 
  • Creating an individualised relapse prevention plan, which can strengthen the clients’ likelihood of avoiding relapse in the case of relational conflict or relationship breakdown. 

A United recovery treatment plan

  • Couples therapy with a certified counsellor or psychologist will be a platform where clients can learn and practise setting boundaries, resolving conflict, increasing communication and understanding, coping with triggers and implementing new tools to prevent relapse.
  • Dependent on the needs of the couple, the clinical team may use therapeutic methods such as Alcohol Behavioural Couples Therapy and Behavioural Couples Therapy to reprogram their relationship with substances and heal dysfunctional behaviours that can lead to further abuse.
  • Attending Recovering Couples Anonymous (RCA) meetings together to begin forming supportive relationships with other recovering couples.  

Ongoing care and recovery for Couples

Attending and completing couples rehab is a courageous and crucial step for committed and willing couples looking to live a substance-free life. The journey does not end on graduation day. 

Through ongoing therapy, 12 step support group attendance, aftercare programs provided by their treatment facility and their relapse prevention plan, couples can maximise their chances of remaining together and sober. 

How Seasons Rehab can help you and your loved one

The team at Seasons Bali has carefully curated a drug and alcohol program dedicated solely to couples seeking recovery from alcohol, drugs or, other addictions. Our Couples-Centered Program, facilitated by a dedicated team of professionals, aims to break the cycle of addiction and co-dependency, improve relational dynamics and harmful behaviour and implement coping strategies to prevent relapse and achieve long-term recovery.

The team at Seasons Bali recently launched a smartphone application called ‘SeasonsCare’, accessible to clients who complete treatment in our addiction rehab. Seasons Rehab understands how crucial the first few months out of treatment can be for those new to recovery. The SeasonsCare app is the platform of which clients will participate in a twelve-week Aftercare Program, where we provide access to support staff and recovery resources.

If you or your loved one would like more information on how to travel to Bali and complete treatment with Seasons Rehab, please contact us today.

Transformation Starts Here

Taking that first step towards recovery is one of the most powerful things you can do. If you or a family member need help and you want to get the best treatment possible, get in touch with us now. With over twenty years of helping people to find peace in recovery, we are South East Asia’s Leading Addiction Treatment Centre.

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All work conducted by Seasons Bali is carried out in the strictest of confidence and conforms to all current privacy legislation. None of the information on this site is intended as medical advice

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COVID-19 Impacts heavily on people with Substance Use Disorders – Treatment in Bali may be the solution!

The ramifications of COVID-19 on mental health are at an unprecedented high. Social and familial isolation, financial uncertainty, loss of employment and panic about the future.

COVID-19 Impacts heavily on people with Substance Use Disorders - Treatment in Bali may be the solution!

What are the ramifications of COVID-19 on mental health, substance abuse and treatment accessibility?

The ramifications of COVID-19 on mental health are at an unprecedented high. Social and familial isolation, financial uncertainty, loss of employment and panic about the future has caused negative psychological consequences across the world. Subsequently, communities are experiencing mental health and substance abuse crises amongst previously healthy individuals and a resurgence of relapse amongst those with pre-existing issues. Compulsory lockdown measures has seen access to essential resources such as mental health services, substance abuse facilities and support groups move from in person to online. Waiting lists to these services are burdensome.

Mental Health Ramifications:

Mental health has been on the decline since the emergence of COVID-19 at the beginning of 2020. Unprecedented restrictions and extreme changes to daily life have resulted in an increase of depression, anxiety and potential posttraumatic stress disorders. Physical access to mental health resources has been restricted due to social distancing measures resulting in government funded and private organisations moving to a tele-therapy or online platform. According to the WHO however, “more than 80% of high-income countries reported deploying tele-therapy to bridge the gaps in mental health, compared to less than 50% of low income countries.” While countries have attempted to implement temporary solutions in the short term, worrisome mental health trends will continue to emerge in the next six to twelve months. High stress and depressive disorders are said to have contributed to an increase in substance abuse use and relapse.

Substance Abuse Ramifications:

COVID-19 has significantly impacted the health and well being of many communities around the world. Government organisations are reporting an increase of alcohol sales since the beginning of the year, which highlights… One community that has been particularly affected are those who are recovering from substance abuse disorders. Individuals in recovery depend on routine, social support and access to addiction services to maintain their sobriety. Social distancing and changes to employment has resulted in many recovering addicts feeling bored, distressed, confused, afraid and isolated from their social support groups triggering relapse in some as means of relief.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare:

– The consumption of alcohol, since March 2020, has increased by 14.4%.

– A poll of 1,045 Australians aged 18 years and over conducted by the Foundation of

Alcohol Research and Education concluded: 

– 70% reported they were drinking more alcohol than usual, and 34% were now drinking alcohol daily.

– 28% reported they were drinking alcohol to cope with anxiety and stress.

– 32% were concerned with the amount of alcohol either they, or someone else in their household is drinking (FARE 2020).

The demand for substance abuse services, such as detox facilities and government-funded rehabs has almost doubled and waiting lists are at capacity. There is hope however for you or your loved one to travel to Bali to seek treatment with Seasons Bali.

Is travel to Bali possible and safe?

Travel to Bali is completely safe – of course travellers are encouraged to follow airline and airport safety and security measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 between countries. Travel exemptions are obtainable in Australia and other countries around the world that may require them for departure from that country. Although country borders are not officially open to international tourism, specialised visas have become available in Indonesia, which can enable individuals to enter Bali. 

Bali was quick to put security measures in place at the beginning of the pandemic to protect the local community from the virus. Hygiene processes and requirements have been adapted in restaurants, cafes, shopping malls, temples, ceremonies and supermarkets with the introduction of body temperature checks, distribution of hand sanitizer to all visitors and compulsory use of masks.

Travel to Bali for the purpose of accessing Addiction Treatment simply requires a negative COVID-19 test; Seasons Bali can take care of everything that is required to facilitate visa applications for entry to Indonesia.

How can Seasons Bali assist you or your loved one?

Seasons Bali is closely affiliated to one of the leading visa agencies in Bali, Bali Visas. Once you or your loved one has made the decision to seek treatment with us, our team will begin the process of applying for the necessary visa to enter Indonesia. In most cases there will be no issues in a visa being approved.

We offer fourteen to ninety day programs for potential clients in our new luxury villa on the north coast of Bali, Lovina. Our boutique site accommodates up to eight clients at a time, ensuring each client receives a high level of care and attention during their stay. The team at Seasons Bali believe it is imperative for our clients to be in a tranquil and safe environment, completely removed from the hustle and bustle the South of Bali has to offer.

If you or a loved one would like more information on how to travel to Bali and complete treatment with Seasons Rehab, please contact us today.

Transformation Starts Here

Taking that first step towards recovery is one of the most powerful things you can do. If you or a family member need help and you want to get the best treatment possible, get in touch with us now. With over twenty years of helping people to find peace in recovery, we are South East Asia’s Leading Addiction Treatment Centre.

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All work conducted by Seasons Bali is carried out in the strictest of confidence and conforms to all current privacy legislation. None of the information on this site is intended as medical advice

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Safely Traveling Overseas For Recovery

Safely Traveling Overseas For Recovery

When considering when and where to seek treatment for an addiction, whether for a friend or family member, sometimes people don’t know where to turn – or where to fly, deemed “medical tourism” by some savvy observers of the phenomenon, it’s recently becoming more and more common for people to seek recovery by travelling overseas to an addiction rehab centre to aid their constant struggles with mental illness and substance abuse in a safe and exotic setting. And this isn’t for no reason.
Travelling overseas for rehab can be a scary idea for some, however. In contrast, for others it may open up minds to the possibilities of what one can do, see, and discover when deciding to make a drastic, positive change in their lives (such as getting sober). Of course, questions arise for the addict as well as their loved ones about the validity and legitimacy of overseas addiction rehab centres – especially when they can’t physically visit one with ease.

Does the rehab in question have a legitimate international accreditation?

An international accreditation ensures that an institution or facility has been assessed and held up against the highest standards of excellence in every department of their business and its operations. For example, Seasons Bali has attained the BSI Group accreditation. When a rehab is accredited by a reputable association like the BSI Group, it means that the facility’s safety, cleanliness and overall quality of care are routinely held up against the highest standards of excellence in the rehab industry – despite its location in the world. Having an international accreditation confirms that a rehab centre’s policies, procedures, and protocols as an institution are recognized as exceptional by a reputable third-party company in the industry of addiction treatment and followed pristinely. It answers many a concerned question, including “Will I (or my family member/friend) be protected and taken care of adequately?” or “Is this business trustworthy?” Yes, it is essential to do your research!
Not only this, but rehabs that are accredited by a reputable association are also audited regularly, checking that the initial accreditation that was rewarded is being upheld in its entirety. That phenomenal standards are being reached and maintained, despite the tests of time and any changes that a rehab may go through. International accreditation will also ensure that the medical and mental health professionals in the facility are appropriately-qualified to treat the addicts seeking aid for their illnesses and that clients are sufficiently medically and mentally monitored.

couple travelling

Sober Companions

Once the actual physical journey to sobriety begins, one precaution that rehab clients and the families of rehab clients have the option to take whilst travelling to and from the overseas facility is something called a sober companion. A sober companion is someone who joins the addict from their point of departure to their point of arrival, and perhaps beyond, in order to safely ensure that the addict arrives well and protected at their rehab destination. This companion can, of course be a family member or friend that is committed to helping the addict or alcoholic stay sober on their flight to/from their treatment center. However, recently there has been a high rise of independent companies and individuals that offer their transportation services to addicts and their family members. In other words, yes, there are professional addict travel companions, and they are experts at giving the addict that they travel alongside a large amount of accountability during their travels – thus getting those in their care safely to their rehabilitation center.

Other considerations

Some other precautions that trustworthy treatment centers anywhere may take in order to reinforce that they are a safe, secure environment are the signing of contracts, video surveillance, and physical security around the campus of the facility.

When people are struggling with hefty environmental triggers for using their drug of choice or drinking, such as toxic family members or abusive relationships, sometimes the absolute best thing is to put some space between these people and the addict suffering with a life-controlling addiction who is seeking treatment. Spiritually, socially, mentally, and physically, a geographic location can prove extremely helpful when deciding to get sober if the addict is ready to make permanent and lasting changes. Physical and emotional distance can sometimes prove to be the safest route for newly-recovering addicts.

bali monument

Overall, it’s important that all precautions of travelling to a different country for rehab are taken into consideration before the addict leaves for treatment, just as if they were truly taking a vacation for leisure. By a reputable and high-standard company, questions of safety and precaution will be welcomed and taken with open arms, because an esteemed and distinguished facility will understand that an ultimate level of care and capacity for healing is the ideal for going to rehab. If research is done on whether a facility attains an international accreditation or if travelling is done with a sober companion, loved ones can rest assured that the trip and stay at an international or overseas rehab will be safe.

Transformation Starts Here

Taking that first step towards recovery is one of the most powerful things you can do. If you or a family member need help and you want to get the best treatment possible, get in touch with us now. With over twenty years of helping people to find peace in recovery, we are South East Asia’s Leading Addiction Treatment Centre.

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All work conducted by Seasons Bali is carried out in the strictest of confidence and conforms to all current privacy legislation. None of the information on this site is intended as medical advice

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ISO 9001 for International Accreditation

ISO 9001 for International Accreditation

Seasons Bali is recognized for our utmost quality of service with the ISO 9001 International Accreditation. The ISO9001 International Accreditation is a world-renowned series of standards, guidelines, and principles that demand the best of businesses in every arena. Becoming certified in Bali for this international accreditation is an immense accomplishment.

What Is ISO 9001?

According to asq.org, the website belonging to the American Society for Quality, ISO9001 is defined as “a set of international standards on quality management and quality assurance developed to help companies effectively document the quality system elements needed to maintain an efficient quality system. They are not specific to any one industry and can be applied to organizations of any size. ISO 9001 can help a company satisfy its customers, meet regulatory requirements, and achieve continual improvement. It should be considered to be a first step or the base level of a quality system.”

ISO 9001 for International Accreditation

Businesses based in the arena of mental health treatment and healthcare provide services that directly affect the state of the mental, emotional, and physical being of clients, and Seasons Bali understands this. For this reason, it is essential that a company’s policies and procedures – from the internal operations of its staff to the external treatment of its clients – measure up accordingly to the standards in which all customers deserve. Any company of substance involved in the treatment and rehabilitation of those with addictions understands that the lives of participating clients are in our hands. We fully accept the responsibility of providing the absolute best quality of services and care to our clients to assist them in saving their own lives.
To adequately answer what the ISO 9001 is, one must first ask themselves what ensuring “quality” truly means when it comes to operating a reputable business of integrity and success. For a company to attain a certification such as the ISO 9001, a certification that belongs to the family of the ISO 9001 accreditations, it must take the substantial time it requires to ensure that every single part of its operations is up-to-par with an internationally-entrusted agency that is continuous. The ISO 9001 has seven quality management principles that are meant for the use of the highest-level executives and leaders in businesses of all sectors. These seven quality management principles include:

Customer focus

The principle of customer focus centres around the quality treatment a business gives its customers and how aligned an organisation’s goals are with its clients’ needs. This principle involves the statistical measurement of customer satisfaction and the assurance that this statistic is up-to-par with what the ISO would define as an exceptionally-satisfied customer base.

Leadership

The leadership principle is designated to making sure our staff members are led in a forward-thinking, progressive, and like-minded direction modelled by our executives in high-level positions. Setting the vision for the entirety of a company, those in prominent leadership positions within a company are trusted with the responsibility of setting a tone for a company’s culture and directing its overall energy, ethics, and motivation. For this reason, it is vital that the ways of leading that takes place in an office are frequently analyzed and, if needed, innovated.

Engagement of people

In continuation of the leadership principle, this principle explains further the way that workplace morale is maintained and assured in companies. Staff members that are less stressed and more motivated are better able to be present with clients and help them in their recovery.

Process approach

The process approach is all about the way businesses handle their day-to-day activities, and how they can consolidate time whilst also optimizing outcomes for the most productive methods of operations.

Improvement

In what ways can a business continue to reform and transform its day-to-day operations to produce a specific desired outcome or goal? Improvement is about the strategies companies use to advance and encourage an ever-growing nature in the disposition of the entire body in their workforce.

Evidence-based decision making

The evidence-based decision focuses on the analytical skills of leaders in an organization and the processes in which they go through to come to rational and lucrative conclusions about the variables facing their company.

Relationship Management

Relationship Management ensures that supplier quality for companies in partnerships and agreements with other businesses is audited and checked regularly for excellence. This principle involves having healthy collaborations that secure success and triumph for firms in every realm or sector.

Why Is The ISO standard Important?

Companies that don’t want the best for their clients and staff do not seek out accreditations or certifications by top-tier organizations that audit frequently – it’s as simple as that. It is crucial that when one is considering attending a drug or alcohol addiction rehab centre that is not in their home country that they also do diligent research on the accreditations and certifications that an institution in question has attained. These accreditations and certifications can assure one who hasn’t visited a facility that they can, indeed, be trusted to provide an exceptional quality of care.

The ISO 9001 International Accreditation is not for any specific area of business. That being said, organizations such as the U.S. Air Force and Bosch Communications of the United States, and The U.S. Department of Agriculture are all also organizations that utilize tools belonging to the ISO 9001.

When the choice to recover is already an enormous task, the decision of where to recover can often deter an addict from seeking treatment at all. When travelling overseas to attend an international addiction treatment centre, it can feel like a more significant and more daunting choice than even just attending rehab in the United States. Seasons Bali makes sure to ensure potential clients that our establishment is one of a safe, supportive, and responsible enterprise by pursuing (and attaining) accreditations such as the ISO 9001.

Transformation Starts Here

Taking that first step towards recovery is one of the most powerful things you can do. If you or a family member need help and you want to get the best treatment possible, get in touch with us now. With over twenty years of helping people to find peace in recovery, we are South East Asia’s Leading Addiction Treatment Centre.

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All work conducted by Seasons Bali is carried out in the strictest of confidence and conforms to all current privacy legislation. None of the information on this site is intended as medical advice

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© Copyright 2020 Seasons Bali    |   Site Support