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The goal for parent is to see their child grow into a confident, capable, content adult. Setting addiction and mental health issues aside, the transition into young adulthood is tumultuous to say the least. Navigating independence, developing functional life skills, establishing one’s identity, and determining an academic or career path are just a few of the items on the to do list. For young adults in early recovery, you can add in learning to manage emotions without previous coping mechanisms, establishing new friendships, grieving life as you knew it, and probably moving to an entirely new place. Once the crisis of active addiction [...]

My name is Max and I was in Alpha 180 for a little over a year and it was quite a journey. I was forced into residential treatment in Mississippi when I was 17 years old and it was there I found out that I would be going to aftercare. I was anything but thrilled, but my parents gave me an ultimatum, so I quickly realized I would need to get open-minded about my future. Truth be told, I had a rough start at Alpha 180 because I wasn’t willing to give it a chance. I was angry all the time, [...]

Everywhere I look I hear the word “trauma”, whether I am with my colleagues, browsing social media, or perusing the latest specials on Netflix. Why is it so important that we understand trauma, not just as clinicians, but as parents, friends, teachers, coworkers, etc.? Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. It can also be thought of as the pasts’ ability to affect the present. No matter what our background is, most people carry some degree of trauma. Perhaps this is why the phrase “do unto others as you would have done unto you” is so popular. However, trauma affects everyone differently. A [...]

As a student in long term recovery, the transition to a virtual learning environment has been frustrating and at times scary. Succeeding in school and in recovery has been the result of finding routine and balance, and online classes for the foreseeable future has presented a need to rapidly adapt my daily disciplines. Students in recovery are resilient, uniquely equipped to face adversity head on, and willing to go to great lengths to succeed. The virtual semester ahead will give us an opportunity to let our assets shine while developing resilience and new skills. While reflecting on what has been important [...]

Each student arrives at Alpha 180 with a unique academic history, trajectory, and needed approach for their success. It’s our job to walk alongside them as they navigate back into the classroom safely and sober. In an effort to provide the highest level of individualized academic specialization, Alpha 180 has partnered with Boutique Educational Services in Austin. Boutique Educational Services are a group of highly experienced Educational Specialists offering one-on-one academic and life skill coaching to students. With a background in the intersection of mental health care and education, a subset of the BES team will be working directly with Alpha [...]

Behind-the-Scenes in Bandera - Alpha 180 from Nico Doorn on Vimeo. Alpha 180 temporarily relocated to the Texas Hill Country in Bandera to shelter-in-place in safety during the COVID-19 epidemic. Take a look behind-the-scenes with Executive Director, Nico Doorn.

The million-dollar question: “What do you want to do for the rest of your life?” I had no idea because who truly does with a fixed mindset? According to Carol Dweck (2016), “a fixed mindset is believing that your qualities are carved in stone and having a growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things that you can cultivate through your efforts, your strategies, and help from others” (p.6-7). I knew I wanted to help and mentor others but was still unsure exactly how this would translate into my career. I had a couple higher [...]

When I wake up in the morning, which happens around 6 o’clock a.m. these days, I am rarely thankful that I am not sick or hung over. It is not something that crosses my mind, it is just the way things are. All too often, I take for granted that I have so much to be proud of and to work to keep. My journey has not always been an easy one. I am in recovery, which means that I have had a period when substances ruled my life. I do not intend to go into details about it, but [...]

The support of family and friends often plays a large role in addiction recovery. Everyone in the family will need to go through their own recovery process, and nobody should do it alone. Below are some ways that the family, spouses and friends can help a loved one in their recovery: Stay Involved & Supportive Our students are trying to figure out that balance between recovery life, old and new relationships, academics and work life. Having the support and understanding from close friends and family can really benefit their success in sobriety. Staying involved and supportive does not mean knowing [...]

The faculty or state of being able to see. The ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom. This is the definition of vision. What does the process of getting sober mean to you? Personally, I did not get sober to strictly maintain the ability to keep mind altering substances out of my body. I got sober to utilize the tool of abstinence and catapult my life into a reality that I previously could not see. In essence, I was blinded by drugs and alcohol only to have the veil lifted from my eyes revealing a [...]