Most traditional addiction centers ban mobile devices during treatment. They fear that chatter from the outside world will distract from the recovery process. However, is eliminating mobile devices the best rehabilitation approach? What if there was a smarter rehab where mobile devices help in the recovery process? And what opportunities do this antiquated methodology leave behind?
Smartphones as Recovery Gizmos
Today’s smartphones and tablets are 244 times faster than NASA’s Apollo guidance computer that landed America on the moon. Digital devices monitor Type 2 Diabetes, map the quickest route home, and reveal cute cat pictures in a tap of a finger. When used correctly smartphones are also powerful recovery allies.
Morningside Recovery in Orange County, California recognizes the benefits smartphones and tablets provide. Clients can keep their digital devices and use them to develop healthy habits, track treatment goals, receive daily affirmations, and instantly make support calls.
Recovery Essentials
Even in Non-12 Step rehabs like Morningside Recovery, Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) apps can be powerful additions to a client’s recovery toolbox.
12 Steps AA Companion app for iPhone and Android includes The Big Book, daily prayers, and a sobriety calculator to count days sober. The App also features 60+ stories from its 1st & 2nd editions and an AA contacts database.
iSelfChange iPhone app helps people quit drinking by evaluating motivation and providing realistic tips for sobriety.
Recovery Box Addiction Recovery ToolBox iPhone app is designed for addiction recovery and accountability, identifying addiction triggers by tracking activities and monitoring mood changes. The RecoveryBox iPhone app generates a recovery plan based on rehab treatment goals.
Meditation & Affirmation
Mindfulness App for android and iPhone helps to increase self-awareness, reduce stress, and encourage a healthy lifestyle. This straightforward app offers 3-30 minute guided meditation sessions, a silent meditation timer with chimes, and daily reminders to meditate.
Unique Daily Affirmations app sends an uplifting statement or quote every morning. Repeating affirmations gives people courage for the day, thanks to the power of positive thinking.
Essential Media
Digital devices fetch relevant books, movies and music instantly.
Amazon Kindle and iBook apps give rehab clients access to recovery essentials including A Million Little Pieces by James Frey, Dry: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs, and Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp.
Dairo is ideal for Daily Journaling. Easily jot down insights, reflect on the recovery process and “record life as you live it.”
iTunes and Netflix apps allow instant access to movies about recovery like Flight, Post Cards from the Edge and the recent Netflix documentary The Anonymous People.
Pandora and Spotify play music on-demand. A good beat and moving melody can instantly improve someone’s mood, reduce stress, and make addiction treatment a more meaningful experience.
Although Smartphones and digital devices are not a panacea for addiction, they can play an important role in the process. When addiction treatment is complete clients are literally left to their own devices. With a smartphone in hand they are better equipped for the real world.
Morningside Recovery: A Smarter Rehab Experience
A smarter rehab like Morningside Recovery will use clients’ smartphones as tools during recovery. Once clients leave treatment, they’ll have their smartphones again anyway, so why not teach them how to use those phones as one of their coping mechanisms? If you’d like to learn more about our drug addiction treatment and dual diagnosis programs, call us today at 855-631-2135.
