Rebuilding Trust During Recovery Takes Times

Posted on August 1, 2016 by MainAdmin

Addiction is a hard road to walk, but recovery can also be difficult. Although it’s not an easy path, the journey to recovery is very worthwhile for you and for the family and friends who care about you.

As you move through recovery, you may find that one of the things you need and want to do is rebuild trust with family and friends that you may have distanced yourself from during your addiction period. That rebuilding can take time, but can also be very valuable to helping you recover and strengthen the ties you have to the people who care about you.

Don’t underestimate how much your friends and family still love you. When they see how hard you’re trying to get better and live a good, happy life, they will support you.

Rebuilding Ties With Your Family

While it may be uncomfortable at first, going to each member of your family and talking to them openly about your addiction and your recovery can really start the process of rebuilding some of the ties that may have unraveled. Your family loves you, and do n’t want to see you hurting yourself or others through the pain of addictive behavior. Instead, they want to see you happy, healthy, and whole, the way they remember you before any problems may have begun.

You may want to bring them a small gift that’s sincere and personal, which can show you understand the journey you’re on and how dedicated you are to staying on the right path as you head toward a brighter future. That will help them see the seriousness you have for the task at hand, and help them start to trust you again.

Reaching Out to Your Friends

Some of your friends may have drifted away from you, too, but you can reach out to them. If they were true friends and addiction got in the way, they will still be true friends as you work through recovery. By reaching out and making amends you take an important first step toward showing your friends you’re serious about being healthy and living a better life, free of the trappings of the past.

Let your friends know what they mean to you, and give them time to come around if they’re uncertain. Keep your promises to them, so they can see the changes you’ve made and learn that they can once again rely on you. In time, true friends will regain their trust in you.

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Meditation Can Reduce Stress and Anxiety During Recovery

Posted on July 25, 2016 by MainAdmin

Meditate to Reduce Stress and Anxiety During Recovery

Recovering from alcohol or drug addiction often requires a comprehensive treatment plan that may include therapy, support groups and medication. Learning to take one day at a time and put your trust in a higher power is vital to success. Meditation can help you by reducing both anxiety and depression, two common triggers that cause people to reach for drugs or alcohol.

What is Meditation?

Meditation is an ancient practice thought to improve both mental and physical health. While there are several variations, it typically involves sitting quietly and focusing your attention inward. It may involve focusing on your breathing or a special mantra and learning to let all thoughts float away. Meditation that promotes mindfulness involves exploring your feelings and emotions and learning to choose how you will respond to them.

How Do You Meditate?

You can take classes or watch videos to learn meditation techniques. You will need a quiet place to sit comfortably where you will not be disturbed for approximately 20 to 30 minutes. To learn the basic technique for meditating, wear comfortable clothes and sit in a relaxed position. Close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing.

You can repeat a phrase if you prefer. Many find it useful to use daily affirmations or inspirational quotes to focus their attention. Let all the cares and worries of the world float away. Some find it easier to learn if they concentrate on the sounds of nature. You could sit beside a brook, at the lake or in your own backyard and tune into the sounds or scents of nature as you breathe. If you are an urban dweller, try using a CD of nature sounds playing softly in the background to take advantage of the power healing force of nature.

What Are the Benefits of Meditation?

Meditating is beneficial for nearly anyone but is especially true for those recovering from addiction. It reduces the underlying causes most recovering addicts experience that causes them to relapse. It reduces both stress and anxiety and creates a feeling of peacefulness. The practice of meditation changes the brain. A study conducted on recovering addicts who meditated 30 minutes a day for eight weeks revealed that the subject’s brains had increased grey matter in areas of the brain that control self-awareness, introspection, learning and memory and decreased grey matter in the areas related to stress and anxiety.

Meditation is another effective tool for those undergoing alcohol or drug addiction recovery. It helps to reduce negative feelings while boosting your sense of well-being and peacefulness. When added to your treatment plan, meditation can help you avoid relapses and build a stronger sense of confidence.

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Experiencing the 5 Stages of Loss During Recovery

Posted on July 18, 2016 by MainAdmin

Anytime there is a big loss in life, such as a death or a divorce, people grieve. It’s normal and natural. Sometimes recovering addicts experience grief at the loss of their addiction. After all, it has been a constant presence in their life for a long time and it may have been tied to a social group they no longer are a part of.

This, too, is normal and simply a part of the recovery and healing process. There are five stages you will go through, and some people stay at one stage longer than others. Understanding the stages and knowing they are a part of recovery can help you move through them more easily and with less anxiety.

1. Denial

When someone is addicted, they often deny that they have a problem. They may insist they have it handled, or that they’re just having a little bit of fun. At that point, you don’t really realize how deeply ingrained that behavior is becoming or how much you would do in order to keep the addiction going. Eventually, though, you will come to terms with it and where you are in your life.

2. Anger

When you move into anger, you see the addiction as a problem, but you may not be ready for recovery or treatment just yet. You might feel angry at what the addiction is taking for you, or upset at yourself that you have let things get out of control. Change is not what someone generally looks for during this stage because there is still more to be discovered before that change can take place.

3. Bargaining

As you advance into the next stage, you begin to bargain with your addiction and with yourself. You see that things are going wrong, but you want to find a way to keep your addiction and still be all right. It’s like a toxic relationship with another person, in that you are so involved in the relationship that you can’t see yourself without it.

4. Depression

Reaching the depression stage means you have realized that you can’t keep your addiction. That can make you very sad because you love your addiction in many ways. Still, the cost is simply becoming too high, and you know you have to do something differently in order to live a healthy life. Getting help at this stage can be critical.

5. Acceptance

Recovery and acceptance go hand in hand. You see the addiction for what it is, or was, and are able to move past it and realize the true value of avoiding the problems of the past. You feel and look better, and are happier without the addiction weighing you down. Like someone leaving a bad relationship, you accept that you can never go back, and that is just fine with you.

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How Yoga Can Help You Through the Recovery Process

Posted on July 11, 2016 by MainAdmin

How Yoga Can Help You Through the Recovery Process

For those in recovery, yoga can help create a fresh new outlook on life. There are many ways to feel better during recovery, and one of the ways to do that is to make new connections between things that make the body feel good and healthy behaviors. Yoga can be a big part of that, and can help you move through your recovery more easily. To understand how that works, it’s important to know what yoga is and what it really offers.

What is Yoga?

Yoga is an Indian practice that has been around for thousands of years. Most people think of it as some type of exercise, which is true, but there are also spiritual, mental and emotional components to the practice. It includes ethical principles, spiritual practices, physical poses, breathing techniques, withdrawal of the senses (such as meditation) and concentration. As you move through the poses and concentrate, meditate and breathe, you learn to understand your body and mind so much better than ever before.

What Does Yoga Offer?

Among the biggest benefits of yoga is helping people handle stress more easily. Since stress can be what turns people toward drugs and alcohol, having another outlet for that stress can be vital to making sure you stay in recovery and are successful. You will also be more relaxed, which will help you sleep better, and the yoga poses can make you more physically fit and healthy. You’ll also see your circulation improve, and you may even find that your weight is better under control.

How Can Yoga Help You?

For those in recovery, yoga can help by getting them back in touch with their body and mind. The practice can help you feel comfortable in your own skin again, and you can reduce any emotional stress you’re experiencing. Recovery is a journey that can be difficult at times, but it;s one that is extremely worthwhile. Because addiction is mental, physical, and spiritual, it makes sense for the treatment of that addiction to encompass help and guidance in all of those areas. Yoga is able to offer that, so it can make your recovery an easier and more fulfilling time.

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Plan for a Fun and Sober Summer

Posted on July 4, 2016 by MainAdmin

Sober living is all about making the most out of life and finding fun and happiness without alcohol or drugs. Luckily, summer makes it easy to appreciate life and the world around us. The sun is out, the flowers are in bloom and there are plenty of activities and events to help you let loose.

But the summer can also be a challenging time for those in recovery. For many, summer becomes the partying season where friends and family spend time together quite often. People tend to enjoy backyard barbecues and outdoor concerts with a few drinks, which can put you in a difficult position. So, is it possible to blend summertime fun with sobriety? Of course it is!

Guard Against Summer Relapsing

There’s no way to remove every risk from your life, and recognizing this risk is an important step in protecting yourself. Studies have shown that 50 percent of recovering individuals relapse during their first year. During the summer months, it’s more important than ever to take steps to minimize risks whenever possible so you don’t relapse. Here are some ideas that can help you stay on the straight and narrow path:

  • Be active in an aftercare program or another type of 12-step program. If you’re already involved in a group, consider increasing the frequency in which you attend meetings.
  • Have a sponsor and one that will not simply pretend to be your savior and fail to pick up the phone during this high-risk time. You want someone who truly will have your back and are available whenever you need to talk.
  • Once you develop that relationship with a sponsor, find ways to spend time with him or her. You could even bring your sponsor as your plus-one to a party you were invited to. It’s a great way for you to stay focused on what’s important even in the face of temptation.
  • When everyone else is drinking, find something else to drink that’s still tasty and interesting. Be mindful that you don’t have to give up great food and drinks – just choose non-alcoholic versions. When it gets hard to watch others drink, use one of your 12 step chips or even a sobriety medallion to help. Rub your fingers on it and notice the value it provides to your life. And of course prayer always works in all situations.
  • If the event is going to be nothing but drinking, ask yourself if it really is worth going. Will it put your sobriety at risk? Instead, ask a friend to go see a movie, visit a local park or go bowling! There are plenty of engaging and fun activities out there that don’t involve alcohol.

Staying sober this summer is your ultimate goal. You need to get beyond that 12-month mark to really see the impact it can have on your life. You can have fun. To do so, focus on including the right people in your life, avoid high-risk situations, and participate other activities that are more enjoyable to you that won’t hamper your recovery.

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How to Enjoy Summer Barbecues While in Recovery

Posted on June 27, 2016 by MainAdmin

Summer barbecues can be a challenge when you are going through recovery. You don’t want to isolate yourself from those who may enjoy a few drinks in the sun, but you don’t want to be pressured to join in either. By thinking ahead and making some plans, you can participate with your family and friends without compromising your sobriety.

Have an Exit Strategy

There is no shame in planning an easy escape if things get too stressful or old friends get out of hand. Try these solutions to ensuring you will be able to leave when the time is right for you.

Don’t become the designated driver. Your old buddies may think that now that you are enjoying sober living that you can fill the role of designated driver. Make it clear at the beginning of the night that you aren’t willing to play chauffeur if your buddies get out of hand and aren’t able to drive themselves home. You can call them a cab, though.

Don’t offer rides to and from the event. This sets the stage for you to become stuck and unable to leave if things become stressful. Arriving solo, with a sober buddy or with someone who won’t mind ducking out early if you begin to feel uncomfortable gives you the freedom to leave when you’re ready.

Set a time limit. It is perfectly acceptable to set a time limit for your stay at the barbecue. Let others know at the onset that you only have an hour (or two) and then you must be on your way. You don’t need to explain why, but if you feel more secure with a justified reason, make plans that require you to leave at a specific time. Meeting an old friend for coffee, picking up your dry cleaning or simply getting back to some work waiting at home are all legitimate reasons to leave the party.

Go Easy on Yourself

Gatherings of families and friends have a way of taking on a life of their own. If the barbecue suddenly takes a turn that makes you uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to make an early exit. Give yourself permission to consider your needs first and don’t let anyone make you feel guilty. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that you’re not ready to be around that kind of environment. Recovery takes time, and you don’t want to jeopardize anything by putting yourself in an uncomfortable position.

Reward Yourself

Everyone deserves a reward for a job well done. Plan an activity to help you unwind and relax when you get home. Reading a good book, such as Mindfulness and the Twelve Steps, watching a favorite movie or spending time journaling are all great ways to reward yourself at the end of the day. They also give you something to look forward to and will take your mind off any difficult moments at the party.

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The Newly Sober Pink Cloud: What You Need to Know

Posted on June 20, 2016 by MainAdmin

Today you are sober. And today, your journey in sober living seems like a very good thing. For many individuals who are newly sober, it’s possible to just float on that so-called pink cloud. Life seems very good; everything is on the right path. But pink cloud syndrome can actually be very, very bad for you.

What Is Pink Cloud Syndrome?

Those who have lived through addiction and are long-time sober individuals will tell newcomers to sober living that pink cloud syndrome happens to many people in the first few days and months of sobriety. To define it isn’t easy, but it is the sense that everything is just fine and that life is great right now, even though, in reality, it’s not quite as perfect as it seems.

Those who are facing addiction and recovery may find themselves in a place of self-delusion. It is a type of self-defense mechanism that individuals face in which they don’t fully accept their current circumstance. But that pink cloud can dissipate very easily when you eventually come to grips with where you’re at in life and why.

You may be facing criminal charges. You can’t drive. You may have lost your job. You might even be seriously injured. The problem with not recognizing and accepting these things now is that, when you do begin to try to put the pieces back together, it becomes much harder to do because you’ve been living in denial for so long. This can, in turn, lead to severe depression and, in some people, relapse.

What Can You Do?

What’s most important is that you have made the decision to get sober. That’s a huge step, and you should be proud of yourself for making it.

Unfortunately, if you’re riding the pink cloud, you may not be as willing to listen to the words and wisdom from friends, family and those in your support group. Only you can begin to recognize that, while sobriety is excellent for you and you are on the right path, you have to understand that recovery is an ongoing journey that needs to be focused on one day at a time. Use daily meditations to help you or even journal about your life right now. Be honest with yourself about what you’re feeling and how you’re dealing with things, and don’t overlook the importance of taking this slow. Attend 12 step meetings where you can share and perhaps you will be able to talk about your situations, maybe others in the group will have solutions from experience that will help you.

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5 Ways to Celebrate Dad on Father’s Day

Posted on June 13, 2016 by MainAdmin

For many people, finding ways to celebrate holidays and special events while also embracing and maintaining sobriety can be a challenge. Todays family for various reasons sometimes has more than one dad or special person that you acknowledge. We are pleased to offer the following suggestions for making the most of this Father’s Day, whether you are planning a celebration for a loved one, thinking of something to do with your dad or coming up with ideas on how to celebrate Father’s Day with your own kids.

Host a Cookout

Summertime is perfect for heading out into the backyard for a good old fashioned cookout. Gather friends and family together and fire up the grill, because a Father’s Day party full of good food and plenty of laughter is an event that everyone will feel comfortable attending. Try asking guests to tell their funniest story about their own dad, and you might just learn something new about your friends and family. By hosting the party yourself or at the home of someone close, it is easy to create a drug and alcohol-free celebration to remember.

Visit Somewhere From Your Childhood

Whether you are the dad or you are spending time with your own father, taking a trip down memory lane can be a fun and rewarding way to celebrate Father’s Day. If you are still in the town where you grew up, think about a place that holds special memories from your own childhood. Then, research ways to recreate those memories or take a stroll back in time. Whether it is with your own kids or with your dad, a day spent at one of your childhood favorite places will be a creative way to spend a summer’s day. Parks, baseball fields, amusement parks, ice cream shops and toy stores are just the tip of the iceberg in planning this type of outing.

Get Outdoors and Active

One of the best ways to have a healthy and enjoyable Father’s Day is to take your family out to get some fresh air. A bike ride, hike or visit to a nearby state park are all great options. Depending on where you live, choices can range from a zip lining tour, a day on the lake or an afternoon on the beach. No matter what the setting or activities, heading outdoors (and limiting electronic devices) is a good way to reconnect and refocus on the importance of family.

Create a Book of Memories

With a little bit of planning and an investment of time, it is possible to create a book of memories to celebrate your father or document your own journey as a Dad. There are several companies that allow you to upload images and type in text to create a finished product that is very impressive. There are templates to help with the overall design, and most companies offer assistance by phone or email if your creative juices dry up. At the end of this project, you will have a book that will celebrate your particular flavor of fatherhood and a perfect gift for your dad.

Have a Father’s Day Movie Festival

Think about the movies that had the biggest impact on your life as a child, and then track down a copy of those films for screening. This is a great way to spend time with your own dad, or to give your kids a peek into your childhood. Popcorn and candy will round out the event nicely.

These are just a few ways to celebrate dad on Father’s Day. No matter what path you choose, there are always plenty of ways to get together with friends and family that also support a choice to embrace sobriety. At My 12 Step Store, we are proud to offer a range of products to both strengthen and celebrate the decision to live a clean and sober lifestyle.

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Top 5 Characteristics to Look for in a Best Friend

Posted on June 6, 2016 by MainAdmin

Top 5 Characteristics to Look for in a Best Friend

It’s during the rough patches in life that we discover our true friends, and going through rehab is no different. Your addiction may have already damaged many of the relationships in your life, but now that you are on the road to recovery you will be able to see what true friendship really means. Sometimes best friends change during different times in one’s life or as people grow in life.

The decision to pursue rehab or a 12-step program is an important one, and it is vital that you disconnect from the negative influences in your life.

Here are 5 characteristics to look for a best friend.

Understanding

A true friend will understand what you are going through and will appreciate that you are trying to get your life back on track. If at any time you feel your friends are working against your rehabilitation and new journey in life, it is time to cut ties. Sometimes a friend who just listens to you as crazy as you may sound without judgment is how you become best friends.

Support

A best friend should support you on your road to recovery without question. This includes removing some risky temptations and places you may have gone to together before recovery, but don’t expect your friends to change who they are. Supporting someone is very different than enabling someone. When you support someone you’re supporting a friend’s positive actions in recovery to move forward. If you’re enabling someone you might me supporting friend’s negative actions that prevent someone from moving forward.

Forgiveness

True friendship like any relationship is hard to come by, so when you find one that works, you should be willing to fight for it. Forgiveness is the key to remaining best friends while one of you or both of you suffer from addiction. You’ll never move forward if one of you is still hung up on the past.  Forgiveness is key to move forward with any serenity at all.

Respect

This is an important one. Respect comes in many different forms and functions. Respect for your recovery can trump respect for privacy and personal space. While a true best friend may not always agree with you, they will value your perspective. Respect in friendship is also a two way action. If you want respect from a friend you also have to be able to offer it back.

Dependability

A very big part of friendship is simply showing up. No matter what, a true best friend will always be there for you when you need them. This includes a new life in recovery. No matter how far off course you have gone, your best friend should always be willing to help you back on track or allow you to meet your needs to stay on course.

Finding a friendship that encompasses all these characteristics can be difficult, so when one comes along, it is probably worth fighting for. Even if that means having to say you are sorry. Because remember, at the end of the day, we choose the ones we want to be around and those are the people worth sticking around for.

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Vaping vs. Smoking: Is it Still Addiction?

Posted on May 30, 2016 by MainAdmin

Vaping vs. Smoking: Is it Still Addiction?

A lot of people are wondering whether vaping is the new smoking. An addiction to smoking can be gradually weakened with a transition to vaporizers yet there is no guarantee that the smoker won’t merely replace one vice with another. E-cigarettes and vaporizers really are a double sided coin. On one side is their potential to wean smokers off of real cigarettes. Yet these nifty little vaporizers might also be addictive in their own right.

Are Vaporizers the New Nicotine Fix?

E-cigarettes are generally thought of as a comparatively safer means of nicotine delivery than traditional cigarettes. Yet they still send nicotine to the lungs (without combustion), creating the very real potential for users to become hooked just like they were with real cigarettes. Anyone who is considering making the switch should be aware that there is still an element of risk with e-cigarettes and other vaporizers. In some cases e-cigarettes have become easier to get your nicotine fix on with because smokers are vaping in public indoor areas and restrooms where it is illegal to smoke traditional cigarettes. While smokers may not smell the e-cigarettes odor themselves, it does produce a visible, detectable and sometimes scented smoke.

Other Vaporizer Safety Issues to Consider

Another important consideration is the heavy metal exposure claims made by researchers at the University of California at Riverside. They found that some vaporizers exposed users to potentially harmful heavy metals. It is also interesting to note that a separate study shows that vaporizing liquids can cause users to come into contact with potentially dangerous levels of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is known to cause cancer.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University studied the impact of e-cigarette vapor on mice. Mice exposed to such vapors suffered a weakened immune system. The study also showed that those dangerous free radicals typically found in tobacco smoke are also present in e-cigarette vapors. The number of free radicals was actually significantly higher in e-cigarettes.

Are We the Human Guinea Pigs for Vaporizers?

Nobody knows the long-term effects of e-cigarettes because they have not been around for very long. Though they seem to be healthier than traditional cigarettes, no one knows for sure whether they are merely another unhealthy substitute for addictive cigarettes. Those who rely on e-cigarettes as a means of weaning off of cigarettes should not be alarmed by this article. There are plenty of proven benefits to making the switch to e-cigarettes and other vaporizing devices. However, in the long run, the goal should be a complete cessation of nicotine products and a life that is free from all addictions.

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