Taking a Social Media Detox: My Mental Health Reset (Residential Therapy Program) Part 2
This is Part 2 of my mental wellness journey: Taking a Social Media Detox: My Mental Health Reset at a Residential Therapy Program.
In last week’s video, Part 1: Why I Took a Break from Social Media: My Mental Wellness Journey, I shared the mounting obstacles that led me to a mental break and why I needed to detox from social media and life.
In this video, I will explain where I went, what it is, and what I gained from this residential therapy program.
DISCLAIMER
This video is for mature audiences, and my channel is set to 18 and up. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please consider reaching out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 for immediate support.
On February 3, 2025 I checked myself into the Lakes Addiction Treatment Center
There are many dual-diagnosis facilities across the country, but I chose The Lakes for two main reasons. First, it was personally recommended to me, and second, it was only two hours from my home, making it possible to see my boys on the weekends.
Beyond that, I was drawn to the beautiful setting—situated on a lake, offering wake surfing, a pool, and a layout that felt more like a hotel than a hospital.
In my previous video, I shared how I had been coping with alcohol and THC. While my primary goal was to detox from social media, this experience also helped me step away from these substances.
Since I had never been to a program like this before, I know many of you might be unfamiliar with how it works as well. So, I wanted to share what a typical day and week looked like at The Lakes and how the program is structured.
Lakes Cost $$$
First the cost because I know I will be asked.
A month-long stay at The Lakes costs $19,500 if you’re paying out of pocket. However, depending on your insurance provider and coverage, a significant portion of this fee may be covered, making treatment more accessible.
Location
The Lakes is located on Lake Tulloch in Northern California, about an hour north of Yosemite and 15 minutes from Sonora. The facility itself is a converted hotel, giving it a more comfortable and welcoming feel compared to a traditional treatment center.
One unique aspect of The Lakes is that it sits in a cell phone dead zone, making it the perfect place to truly disconnect—not just from social media but from the outside world entirely.
Rooms
During my stay at The Lakes, I lived in four different rooms.
My first room was the detox room, which is designed for residents stabilizing from substances like meth or opioids. It includes a TV, allowing those feeling unwell to rest without the expectation of attending group therapy. Since I arrived sober around noon and was eager to begin, I jumped straight into the 2 PM group session that same day.
The next day, I was moved to the east side, where all new residents begin their stay. My first room was Room 17, and a week later, I switched to Room 15, with a different roommate in each. The biggest difference between the east side and the west side is that east-side rooms are closer to detox and don’t have balconies.
After two weeks, I was moved to Room 45 on the west side. My first week there, I had a roommate, but during my last week, I had the room to myself.
Since residents arrive and leave almost daily, roommates can change frequently—especially on the east side. However, once you move to the west side, room changes tend to slow down.
If you are interested in my community and our skin and wellness app you can find it linked here in this video and in the description. If you like reading this video is also a blog found on Naturalkaos.com and again linked below.
As I mentioned in my previous video, I had been self-isolating, but one thing I loved about The Lakes was that isolation wasn’t an option.
Every morning, I woke up at 5 AM and headed to the onsite gym to lift weights. There was almost always someone there to train with, which made it even more motivating. I also worked on my pull-ups—a goal I had been chasing for over a year.
Since filming wasn’t allowed, you’ll have to use your imagination for most of this video. But I have some exciting news—on my last day, I finally hit my first unassisted pull-up! That was a huge personal achievement for me.
After lifting, a group of us would cold plunge in the freezing pool. I’ve always dreaded the cold—it’s one of my biggest fears—but I told myself each time, this is the hardest thing you’ll do all day. Having a group to do it with made all the difference.
These activities weren’t part of The Lakes’ official program, but they were things I added to my routine to stay in shape and keep my mindset strong.
Breakfast was served between 6:30 and 8 AM, with options like eggs, oatmeal, yogurt, fruit, granola bars, and, of course, coffee.
At 9 AM, the first group session of the day, called “Community”, began. We shared:
✨ A feeling word
🙏 Something we were grateful for
🎯 Our daily goals
💭 A personal affirmation
I genuinely looked forward to this every morning, and since coming home, I’ve continued the habit using my Five-Minute Gratitude Journal.
Monday through Saturday always started at 9 AM with Community.
From 10 AM to 12 PM, we attended either “Conscious Recovery” or “Life Skills”, depending on the day.
Lunch was at 12 PM, followed by a break until 2 PM. On sunny days, I took advantage of the time to lay out by the pool and recharge.
Afternoons from 2 PM to 4 PM were dedicated to counselor-led discussions on various topics.
Between 4 PM and 5 PM, we completed chores and worked on homework assigned by our individual counselors, tailored to our specific needs.
Dinner was served around 5:15 PM each evening.
Our final session of the day ran from 7 PM to 8 PM, featuring something lighter, such as a therapy movie, music night, or art recovery.
Lights out was at 10 PM.
Weekends had a slightly different structure.
On Saturdays, following the morning group, we had “double scrub”, a deep-cleaning session where we tackled chores, tidied our rooms, and changed our bedding.
On Sundays, the first session didn’t start until 10 AM and focused on orientation for new arrivals. Unlike weekdays, our rooms remained unlocked, and the public phone was accessible all day. On regular days, bedrooms were locked during group hours, and phone access was limited to before 8:30 AM, at lunch, dinner, and after the last group before bed.
One group I particularly enjoyed was Phone Group, held on Tuesdays at 3 PM. This was when we were given our cell phones for 45 minutes. Initially, it felt like losing a limb—considering my usual screen time was around 20 hours a day. However, by the second week, I found that I didn’t even need the full 45 minutes.
Activities
I was at The Lakes during the winter, so outdoor activities weren’t as frequent as they would be in warmer months. However, I still had some incredible experiences. One day, I went off-site to an escape room with a handful of residents. On another, we hiked in Yosemite, taking in the breathtaking scenery. And even though the water was freezing, I managed to wake surf three different times—a huge personal win!
I really looked forward to these activities because they helped break up the monotony of the weeks and added some excitement to the routine.
Who goes to the Lakes?
Most of the residents were from the Modesto area, and many knew each other from the drug community. But there were also nurses, professionals, and even another influencer. Despite our different backgrounds, the support and love I received from everyone were truly incredible.
On my last weekend, I had the chance to give back to this amazing group by bringing in a ton of skincare and beauty products. At first, I thought only the women would be interested, but I was surprised to see all the guys diving in—asking questions, picking out products, and wanting to look their best too! It was such a fun and unexpected way to connect with everyone before I left.
My Meds
At The Lakes, we were able to fine-tune my psych medications to the right doses. When I was first hospitalized, I was prescribed 15mg of Abilify, which did stabilize my mood—but it also left me feeling emotionally numb. After adjustments, I now take 10mg of Abilify daily, 25mg of Hydroxyzine twice a day for anxiety, and 75mg of Seroquel at night.
I’m sharing this to be completely transparent and to help break the stigma around psych medications. Mental health treatment is personal, and for me, getting my meds dialed in has made a huge difference.
I truly appreciate your support, understanding, and kindness as I continue this journey. 💙
Takeaway
My biggest takeaway from The Lakes was learning to slow down—to accept that not everything needs to be fixed immediately and that it’s okay to simply be. I also realized how important it is to embrace downtime instead of constantly trying to fill every moment.
Another huge benefit was getting my psych meds dialed in. I had reached a point where I wasn’t really feeling anything, but now my mood is stabilized, and I can actually experience life in a more balanced way.
This experience also taught me the power of daily reflection, the true value of friendship, and most importantly, how to take a deep, much-needed breath and move forward with more clarity and peace.
Life can be very challenging, and some might think what I did was extreme but I didn’t see another option. I’m grateful I took this time to put my air-mask on because without it I could never care for my family the way I intended. This was an incredible reset and one I will be grateful for for the rest of my life. I’ve included the gratitude journal and the Lakes information in the description box if you want more details on what they offer.
Lastly, I want to thank all of you for your support on Instagram and in my Skin and Wellness App. You have been a huge element in my recovery and being able to stay the course. Thank you my friends. xoxo Kim
Again, if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please consider reaching out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 for immediate assistance.
