To Halt means to stop abruptly. The acronym for H.A.L.T., as many people in recovery know, means hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. For recovering addicts and alcoholics, this word is how they monitor their state of physical and mental well-being. Paying attention to whether you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired is extremely useful to make the most of, especially when you are in a new recovery. Newly recovering addicts and alcoholics are experiencing a new way of life, which is challenging. They are learning how to adapt to being clean and sober, and that’s a drastic change.

The acronym HALT helps recovering addicts remember to take care of themselves. When people are drunk or high, the last thing they pay attention to is whether or not they are eating, sleeping, feeling angry, or lonely. In fact, it is these very feelings that cause addicts and alcoholics to use or drink. Therefore, learning to take notice of their physical and mental state is how addicts learn to take care of themselves.

It is Possible You Have Experienced HALT

Everyone has times when they are experiencing hunger, anger, loneliness, and tiredness. However, for people in recovery, these feelings can be dangerous. According to the medical researchers at The National Center for Biotechnology Information and their research on relapse prevention, an emotional relapse is the lack of self-care, which includes eating enough, sleeping enough, and talking about your emotions.

During an emotional relapse, individuals are not thinking about using. They remember their last relapse, and they don’t want to repeat it. But their emotions and behaviors are setting them up for relapse down the road…The common denominator of emotional relapse is poor self-care, in which self-care is broadly defined to include emotional, psychological, and physical care…A simple reminder of poor self-care is the acronym HALT: hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. (NCBI)

Therefore, people in recovery need to practice high levels of self-care to prevent relapse as well as feel better overall. For many people in recovery they are just learning about how much food, sleep, and emotional support they need to remain positive about their recovery, which lowers the desire to get high or drunk.

Hunger Can Lead to Bad Decisions

Feeling hungry causes a person to be easily confused and irritable. Experiencing confusion and irritability will lead to more upsetting emotions if hunger continues. Feeling hungry is often hard for people in recovery to recognize. Most addicts and alcoholics were able to go for days or more without eating. And for many addicts and alcoholics they also used drugs and alcohol as a way to manage their weight. Once a person has recovered their instincts to eat normally, we learn that nourishing ourselves properly requires attention. The problem is that recovery is a slow learning process, but with eating, there isn’t exactly the time to get it wrong.

If a person is not giving their body the fuel that it needs, they will not respond to life’s challenges properly. Addicts and alcoholics who are now sober must break their old habits of starvation. A sober mind needs food. It may seem quite basic to remember to eat, but for recovering alcoholics and addicts, this is a new way of existing. By providing the body with enough food throughout the day, a person’s hormones and stress levels remain closer to normal.

Anger from Experiencing HALT

Anger is a potent negative emotion that can be particularly challenging for individuals in addiction recovery. While it may seem like a straightforward expression of frustration or irritation, anger often masks deeper feelings of hurt, fear, or insecurity. For those in recovery, anger can serve as a coping mechanism, a way to protect oneself from confronting uncomfortable emotions or situations.

One crucial aspect often overlooked is how anger can stem from the experience of the H.A.L.T. acronym as halt stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. These basic needs, when unmet, can exacerbate emotional vulnerabilities, making individuals more prone to anger outbursts or you and loved ones, such as family member’s mental health. For instance, fluctuating blood sugar levels due to hunger can significantly impact mood regulation, potentially triggering anger responses. Therefore, it’s vital for individuals in recovery to maintain stable blood sugar levels through regular, nutritious meals.

Moreover, feelings of loneliness or isolation can intensify anger. In early recovery, when support networks might still be developing, individuals may feel especially vulnerable to these emotions. The absence of healthy coping mechanisms, such as substance use, can make managing anger even more challenging.

Addressing anger in addiction recovery requires a multifaceted approach. Developing self-awareness is crucial—recognizing the signs of escalating anger and understanding its underlying triggers can empower individuals to respond more effectively. Techniques like deep breathing exercises can help regulate emotions in the moment, providing a valuable tool for managing anger.

Seeking support from a sponsor counselor, or attending or check-in to support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or AA meetings (12-step meetings), addiction centers, or getting an addiction treatment from the treatment center and undergoing a rehab program can also be instrumental in navigating anger in recovery. These spaces offer opportunities for individuals to explore the root causes of their anger in a supportive environment, fostering healing and growth.

Additionally, maintaining healthy habits, such as eating healthy snacks and ensuring a good night’s sleep, is essential for managing anger. Fatigue can amplify irritability and diminish cognitive function, making individuals more susceptible to anger-inducing situations.

By acknowledging and addressing anger within the context of addiction recovery, individuals can cultivate healthier coping mechanisms and strengthen their emotional resilience. Through self-awareness, support, and the adoption of healthy habits, individuals can navigate their recovery journey with greater stability and success.

The Loneliness can be Damaging

Feeling lonely when a person is recovering from addiction and alcoholism is usually normal. Beginning a new lifestyle, far removed from the old drug and alcohol abuse atmosphere, causes a person to feel out of place and lonely. The good news is that there are more and more people in recovery every day, and they are there to support each other. It is important to recognize whether or not the loneliness is lasting longer than a day or two. If this is the case, the likelihood of depression is possible. Depression is common among many alcoholics and addicts who are in recovery. These people are getting help for their depression-like they are for their recovery.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Being well-rested and not tired is a good feeling for your body, mind, and soul. For newly recovering addicts and alcoholics, their ability to fall asleep is often challenging. Like many others in recovery, the time that it takes sot to adjust to sleeping normally does occur within about six months. When a person is not sleeping enough, they are out of it and usually resent other people because they are drained. It is perfectly acceptable to try natural sleep remedies when you are in a new recovery and beyond.The goal with HALT is to remind people in recovery to take care of themselves. Recovery is a lifestyle that requires effort and willingness to support it. By practicing HALT, people in recovery are protecting themselves from cravings, stress, worry, and fear. Being Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired causes poor reactions and experiences. For addicts and alcoholics in recovery, they need to do whatever it takes to make their life experiences more positive.

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Published on: 2019-09-11
Updated on: 2024-04-11

In a recently published New York Times article, Brad Pitt opened up about his personal struggles with alcoholism, as well as his time spent in Alcoholics Anonymous. In 2016, the actor split from his long-time wife, Angelina Jolie. The two were involved in a 12-year relationship and parented 6 children together. News of their split sent shockwaves through the nation, as almost everyone had come to consider the two stars one of the most solid and iconic couples in Hollywood.

As it turns out, the divorce (instigated by Angelina), was more a result of Brad’s ongoing struggles with alcoholism than anything else. Many news outlets reported that the final straw between the couple was an intense argument they had while on a private jet. While this very well may have been the case, it seems as though there was a bit more to the story.

The Beginning of a Career in Acting

Brad Pitt began his acting career in 1987 in the television series “21 Jumpstreet”. Since his career began, he has been in innumerable major motion pictures and even landed himself an Academy Word for production. There certainly is a stigma in the entertainment industry as far as drug addiction and alcoholism go – many stars, of all ages and professional backgrounds – have grappled with substance dependency.

The pressure of constantly being in the spotlight becomes too overwhelming, and celebrities turn to drugs and alcohol as a method of self-medication. Although he did not confirm how long his personal struggles with alcoholism lasted, he attributed Alcoholics Anonymous to help him get back on the right track, and ultimately commit to a life of sobriety.

Was Brad Pitt an Alcoholic?

In his interview with The New York Times, Pitt stated that AA was a “safe space where there was little judgment, and therefore little judgment of yourself.” He discussed some of the more dark times he had been through recently, and the impact AA had on his self-discovery. “The fact is, we all carry pain, grief, and loss,” he said. “We spend most of our time hiding it, but it’s there, it’s in you. So you open up those boxes.” He further noted, “It was actually really freeing just to expose the ugly sides of yourself. There’s great value in that.”

Since entering himself into Alcoholics Anonymous in 2016, and remaining actively immersed in the program for a year and a half, it seems as though Pitt has turned over a new leaf. He recently appeared in box office hit “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, and is working hard to continue making reparations with his ex-wife and children.

Get the Help You Need

If you or someone you love has grappled with alcoholism, help is available. In more severe cases, inpatient treatment comes as a highly recommended first step, followed by immersion in an ongoing treatment program (such as Alcoholics Anonymous). Because substance dependency is such a personal battle, it is important to accurately determine which method of treatment is right for you. Our experienced clinicians are available to discuss treatment options at any time of day — please feel free to give us a call. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

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Published on: 2019-09-09
Updated on: 2024-02-06

15 Motivational Quotes About Addiction Recovery

Addiction is a condition with far-reaching consequences. Families are torn apart, and trust is often broken. Not only the addicted individual but also friends and family suffer because of the actions of those struggling. The good news is that many addicts have been able to turn their lives around and begin a life of recovery.

If you or a loved one are faced with addiction, know that there is hope beyond the dark tunnel. It all comes from making the right decisions and sticking with them regardless of the difficulties that come along in the journey. The following addiction recovery quotes have inspired many to reach out for much-needed treatment. Hopefully, it will help you do the same.

The best idea and the best expression of it amount to nothing without action to back them up. – Unknown

Wishing for recovery isn’t enough. No matter how good your intentions are, they amount to nothing if you fail to take the necessary steps to make them happen. Take the first step by accepting help from an addiction treatment program.

Recovery is hard. Regret is harder. – Brittany Burgunder

You may experience painful withdrawal symptoms and relapse while in recovery. However, they are nothing compared to the regret you will feel for not seeking help sooner.

One small step is worth more than a thousand steps planned. – Unknown

Don’t keep delaying the act of asking for help. Finding the courage to speak with an addiction professional may be the first most significant step on your journey to recovery.

Believe you can and you are halfway there. – Theodore Roosevelt

You have to trust that full recovery is possible for you. With the right mindset, you can overcome the worst of addiction.

Great acts are made up of small deeds. – Lao Tzu

Successfully breaking free from addiction requires taking it one step at a time. You don’t have to get it right immediately.

Courage isn’t having the strength to go on – it is going on when you don’t have strength. – Napoléon Bonaparte

Even at your lowest point of discouragement, you can still find the strength to overcome substance abuse as long as you take actionable steps to achieve this goal.

Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in. – Napoleon Bonaparte

It is essential that you carefully plan your recovery program with family, friends, and therapists. However, no good can be accomplished unless you show up for your appointments and counseling sessions.

A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault. – John Henry Newman

Fear of failure often holds people back from taking action at the right time. Failing is a good thing because it allows you to learn from your mistakes. It allows for improvements over your past actions. Do not let fear of relapse prevent you from entering the world of recovery.

Don’t let the past steal your present. – Terri Guillemets

The past is not always an indication of your future. Do not engross yourself in grief and shame over past deeds. Forgive yourself and move on.

He conquers who endures. – Persius

The path to recovery isn’t a sprint; instead, it is an endurance race with many hurdles to overcome. You must be prepared to face the many challenges associated with your recovery program.

People become attached to their burdens sometimes more than the burdens are attached to them. – George Bernard Shaw

You must forgive yourself and leave the guilt and shame behind you. Don’t go about carrying your past mistakes as a burden on your shoulders. Make the necessary amends and push forward.

Experience is not what happens to you, it is what you do with what happens to you. – Aldous Huxley

Even if you have experienced several relapses, the struggle is not over yet. It is helpful to learn why, where, and how they occurred never happen again.

My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened. – Michel de Montaigne

Sometimes our greatest fears are only in our imagination, which tends to hold us back. Reality isn’t always as bad as we expect it to be.

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mistakes are bound to happen. Everyone makes them. Every time you experience a relapse, tell yourself it is not over yet. Pick yourself up and try one more time.

Even in the midst of devastation, something within us always points the way to freedom. – Sharon Salzberg

No matter how far gone you are on the path of addiction; there is always an inner voice telling you to find relief by changing your habits. You were not born to be enslaved by drugs or alcohol.

Inspire Yourself With Addiction Recovery Quotes

Breaking free from alcohol and drug abuse is not an attempt at achieving the impossible. It is the direct opposite. Millions of people have successfully reclaimed their lives after a long downward spiral on the destructive path of substance abuse. We hope that these motivational addiction recovery quotes will give you the courage to begin your journey towards lasting recovery.

If you are already under the guidance and support of professional help, we sincerely encourage these addiction recovery quotes to reinforce your determination to stay in recovery and experience the happiness that comes from living a life of sobriety once again. As one of the premier addiction rehab centers in the country, Garden State Treatment Center is available to assist you every step of the way.

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Published on: 2019-01-29
Updated on: 2024-02-06