How Many Recovery Meetings Should I Go to in a Week?

Posted on May 4, 2015 by MainAdmin

When you’re in recovery, the number of meetings you attend affects your ability to get well. As a result, you need to develop a strategy to fit the right number of meetings into your program. When planning your schedule, consider the following reasons and strategies.

Importance of Recovery Meetings

When you enter a 12-step recovery program, you’re embarking on a journey to a better life. Part of that journey includes group meetings where you discuss your addictions, enablers and other issues with substance abuse. Meetings are an important part of the healing process, because they allow you to seek support from like-minded individuals who have empathy for your situation. Meetings can help you get through the hard times and stay clean while on the road to addiction recovery.

Strategies for Meeting Attendance

You can plan your attendance strategy around your overall emotional and physical stability while in treatment. Some people attend meetings every day for the first 90 days of their 12-step recovery program while others attend every other day or even less often. The magnitude of your addiction will likely determine the frequency of your meeting attendance. If you are suffering from grief or another emotional stressor, then you may want to attend meetings every day until you’re well on the road to addiction recovery. The more you’re struggling, the more meetings you need to attend.

Consequences of Foregoing Meetings

If you decide that meetings are not for you, you’re substantially lessening your chance for successfully completing your recovery program. You need to talk about your addiction and learn about how others are coping with their urges to relapse if you’re going to beat addiction. Without meetings, you’ll feel alone and have a harder time letting go of bad habits, which can keep you from reaching your full potential.

Attending recovery meetings can help you overcome addiction and live a cleaner, happier life. The number of meetings you attend matters, making it important to develop an effective attendance strategy.

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What Is This Al-Anon Thing?

Posted on April 27, 2015 by MainAdmin

What Al-Anon Is All About

Al-Anon began as an adaptation of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step recovery process to focus on the support of friends and loved ones of recovering alcoholics. Friends and family often feel guilt, anxiety and sadness when loved ones suffer from an alcohol addiction, but Al-Anon provides a means by which friends and family achieve peace and happiness even if the alcoholic they love continues to drink. Al-Anon focuses purely on alcohol related issues, not narcotics. Al-Anon uplifts and galvanizes family units that are affected by someone else’s drinking.

The Al-Anon Process

The most important principle of Al-Anon’s 12-step recovery process is that the focus is on family members who are affected by alcoholism. Hours spent worrying about the alcoholic’s choices are what lead most people to Al-Anon. The 12-step process focuses on the strengths, hopes and experiences of its members in order to help them grow in how they deal with people, especially the recovering alcoholic. In the process, members share the story of their life’s journey while listening to the real-life stories of others, which helps all of the Al-Anon members recover in the process.

An essential component of the process is that there are no judgments regarding how any member feels. If one person has felt a certain way, odds are great that others have felt the same at one point or another. At its core, Al-Anon is a mutual support group where everyone shares and listens while transitioning into a triumphant recovery.

Al-Anon Promotes Healing and Restoration

As members move through the recovery process, the end goal is to feel restored and healed. Once members recognize that they have choices and their choices can be made to improve their life regardless of whether or not a loved one drinks, then attitudes can be changed. At its core, Al-Anon is designed to help members realize that their life circumstances do not define their existence. Choices can be made that promote healing and restoration, which in turn fosters the attitude necessary for living a fulfilling and healthy life.

For anyone affected by drinking and alcoholism in their family life, a loving Al-Anon community is waiting with open arms to provide members with a community of openness and healing. Al-Anon has helped the lives of millions, and will continue to be a success story for millions more in the years to come.

 

 

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Am I Depressed? Or Do I Just Feel Depressed?

Posted on April 20, 2015 by MainAdmin

Stressed young woman sitting on couchHave you been feeling down in the dumps? More tired than usual? Are you suffering from anxiety? If so, you may need to visit a professional to talk about your feelings. In many situations, without proper intervention, these situations can become worse; however, with help, depression can be managed.

One of the first things to understand is the difference between situational depression and clinical depression.

Situational Depression

Situational depression is often referred to by doctors as an adjustment disorder. It is a short-term type of depression that usually takes place after some type of traumatic change in your normal, day-to-day life. This includes the death of a loved one, loss of a job, or a divorce. However, there are other triggers as well, such as natural disasters, accidents, or other traumatic events.

While the symptoms associated with situational depression can be similar to clinical depression, there are a number of key differences.

Clinical Depression

Also known as major depression, clinical depression is often accompanied by feelings of despair and hopelessness almost all of the time.  It is often difficult to work, concentrate on studies, and even to sleep or eat.  Oftentimes, clinical depression is generational and occurs more frequently in women.

Differences between Clinical and Situational Depression

There are quite a few different reasons clinical depression can take place, but situational depression is the result of a person not adapting to changes brought by some type of event or change in their life.

Some of the symptoms that occur in situational depression, which typically appear within 90 days after the trigger event include: sadness, anxiety, lack of concentration, restlessness, poor concentration and withdrawal from work and loved ones. Even though those suffering from clinical depression can have these symptoms as well, they usually appear in groups of at least five at once. Clinical depression can also cause a number of forms of psychosis such as delusions and hallucinations.

There is no question that both situational and clinical depression can take a toll on someone – mentally, socially, and physically. This is why it is so important to use the help that is available. From visiting your doctor to taking part in therapy sessions and in daily activities that get you up and moving and socializing, you can find a number of ways to help yourself feel better.

Help to Overcome Depression

In addition to medication and therapy, there are a number of other ways to combat the feelings associated with depression.

  • Set goals for yourself so that you can overcome the feeling of not being able to accomplish anything.
  • Eat right. When you eat a healthy diet, you will be able to avoid overeating; a symptom that often accompanies depression.
  • Exercise. There is nothing better than a brisk walk or swim to boost your endorphins and help you get into a new mindset.

Fighting depression is not something you have to do alone. There are a number of ways to overcome the symptoms and begin to feel happy and whole again.

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I Can’t Stop Eating – Eating Your Feelings

Posted on April 13, 2015 by MainAdmin

Woman Can't Stop EatingWhen your overeating is triggered by stressful situations, you can become a victim, turning to high-calorie and high carbohydrate foods that often have very little, if any, nutritional value. When you struggle with emotional eating, you regularly have factors that might trigger your overeating episode. Emotional eating is a real addiction often diagnosed by health assessments that evaluate physical, emotional, or mental wellness.

A major part of addiction recovery involves teaching the individual better, healthier ways to look at food while creating healthier eating habits. This wellness step begins when you are able to recognize triggers that prompt overeating behaviors. Prevention begins as you learn healthier ways to cope and alleviate stress. Emotional eating, like other addictions, has the potential to grow into other problems, such as obesity or diseases that include diabetes type 2 or other health problems.

Addiction recovery involves teaching the sufferer healthier ways to view food, learning better eating habits, recognizing triggers that evoke such behavior, and developing appropriate ways to prevent and alleviate stress. As you begin your journey towards breaking the cycle, you learn to view food as a source of fuel, not a problem solver. Recovery involves finding constructive ways to deal with your emotions instead of turning to food. Many former drug or alcohol addicts turn to emotional eating in a process called shifting addictions. An ongoing part of their recovery remains learning healthy ways to deal with emotions.

Emotional eaters crave foods known as comfort foods. These foods are described as high carbohydrate or high calorie junk foods with very little nutritional value. Emotional eaters are diagnosed by professionals as sufferers of atypical depression. Many emotional eaters are not clinically depressed, but are chronic sufferers of stress who turn to eating as a means of coping.

Research shows girls and women are at higher risk for eating disorders, but men are not immune. Cortisol is a hormone that produces symptoms similar to those produced under stress, like increased breathing and faster heart rate. This response to stress results in emotional eating of comfort “junk food.” Also, studies show that emotional eaters try to fill a void with food. Some studies suggest a lack of nutrition or food used as a reward or punishment in youth could have played a role in creating the emotional eater.

Recovery opens up a whole new world of possibilities. With a greater understanding of your emotions, you choose alternatives that keep you in control. This strengthens you more and more each day as you emerge a winner over emotional eating.

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12-Step Recovery Saves Lives: Warning Signs of Meth Addiction

Posted on April 8, 2015 by MainAdmin

Addiction recovery is never easy. When you’re in recovery, it can feel like you have to deal with the same junk over and over again. In Greek mythology, Sisyphus had to roll a boulder up a hill and watch it roll down again, continuing this action indefinitely. Sometimes it feels like immense pressures are placed upon a person to take up harmful habits, but the pressure of addiction recovery is so much more. The best thing to do is to avoid that path to begin with. Meth has effects on the brain and the body. Know the signs of meth addiction and save yourself or a friend the pain of addiction.

The Body on Meth

There is no free deal here. The high users feel is accompanied by profound consequences on the body. Use of methamphetamine interferes with the body’s innate ability to heal itself. Tissues and blood vessels are destroyed. Wounds take longer to heal. Skin appears decades older and acne emerges. Many users have scabs from skin picking arising from formication. Weight loss may seem like a benefit, but meth users end up looking gaunt, not sexy. Their oral hygiene deteriorates, resulting in stained and rotting teeth. “Meth mouth” refers to the condition where a meth addict’s teeth are blackened, rotting and falling out.

The Effects of Meth on the Brain

The drug results in the brain releasing excessive amounts of dopamine. This neurotransmitter controls feelings of pleasure. Meth produces the “mother of all dopamine releases.” Prolonged use alters the user’s ability to experience pleasure by destroying dopamine receptors. Damage to cognitive abilities may be permanent in areas such as memory, judgment, and motor coordination. Adrenaline is also released during use. This results in “tweaking.” During this time, users show hyperactive and obsessive behavior. Heavy chronic users can show psychotic behavior. They may exhibit paranoia, hallucinations, aggression, and delusions. Use increases sex drive, and people on meth demonstrate high-risk sexual behavior patterns. Chronic use destroys good looks and the ability to perform. “Crystal dick” is a term used to describe the impotence resulting from meth use. Others feel aroused for long period of time without the ability to climax.

There is hope for meth addicts. There are 12-Step recovery programs is available to provide support, education, and inspiration to go another day without using. Addiction isn’t something to mess around with. It’s a serious disease that can destroy a life. Russell Brand said, “Addiction is a serious disease; it will end with jail, mental institutions, or death.” Supporting each other through the recovery process is essential to staying sane, safe, productive, and ALIVE. One day at a time, one story at a time, we are ALWAYS there for each other in addiction recovery.

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Learning to Love Yourself: Overcoming Self-Hate

Posted on March 30, 2015 by MainAdmin

78295386Although there are many forms of love — platonic love, romantic love, love for the family or even love for a beloved pet — people underestimate the need for self-love. Look past the inner voice of self-criticism and create a new mantra that embraces you and creates a source of strength and resilience. Let’s review five ways to foster that love of self and overcome negative patterns of self-hate.

1. Get in touch with yourself.

In order to nurture and support those around us, we need a strong foundation of self-love. Taking time to support your well-being is a way to demonstrate to yourself and others that you are important and deserving of love and attention. Take a walk in the park, meditate, and allow yourself to just be. You will be surprised at how the stress of the day can slough off and how you can begin to hear that inner voice of self-love deep within.

2. Start a new record.

People often tell themselves negative things about their appearance, behavior or relationships. Start a gratitude journal and list the things that you appreciate about yourself instead. Perhaps you’ve put on a little weight. Instead of criticizing yourself, thank your body for carrying you through your day. Be thankful for the beauty that resides within you. Write down a loving thought daily, and post a supportive sentiment about yourself by the mirror. As you reflect on yourself, think also on the gifts that you bring to the world.

3. Foster supportive relationships.

Those who truly love you will want you to love yourself. Surround yourself with the support of family and friends who want to assist in your new perspective. Create a community that thrives together and supports the well-being of each member. The company you keep really does make a difference. Being around positive, loving people makes it easier to be positive and loving to yourself.

4. Face challenges.

Every obstacle is another way to overcome and grow. Acknowledge your strengths and develop a better sense of self by facing problems new and old. As you face challenges, even when they are painful, you build a sense of accomplishment. Instead of hating yourself for not being able to do anything, you can love yourself for trying. Rid yourself of fear and negative self-talk. Celebrate new accomplishments as you reflect upon them.

5. Forgive.

Holding on to guilt or the failures of others does little to benefit self-love. These negative thoughts hold us back from a higher focus. Forgive yourself for past failures. You are human, and life doesn’t come with instructions. At some level, these mistakes were a necessary learning tool. Make amends with those affected. Everyone will continue to slip up as they progress through their personal journeys. Most of life is made of small errors, but persistence gets us to our goals. Forgiveness will release you from shame and guilt and make it possible to build a new relationship with yourself or with others.

A sense of self and a love that encompasses oneself is the nucleus of all future connections. Take the time out to be compassionate to the person who needs it most — yourself. We agree with Lucille Ball who once said, “I have an everyday religion that works for me. Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line.”

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A Day without Pain: When Painkillers Kill

Posted on March 23, 2015 by MainAdmin

If you’ve recently undergone a surgery or endured another event that requires the use of prescription painkillers, it is important to be aware of just how addictive those little pills are. While doctors write scripts for painkillers on a regular basis, these pills can wreak havoc on lives. They can even kill.

How Painkiller Addiction Starts

The use of pain killers usually starts innocently enough. Most people suffer an injury at work and need corrective surgery or need a dental procedure. Their doctor prescribes them painkillers to help them make it through the pain caused by the operation. The patient takes these painkillers in the aftermath of his surgery and oftentimes gets a refill. Unfortunately, many patients continue to seek the high provided by painkillers long after they’ve recovered from surgery. It is very easy to get hooked. Painkillers interact with the brain’s receptors and drastically reduce pain perception. They provide feelings of ecstasy that are followed by dysphoria. There is no doubt that these pills are incredibly addictive and dangerous.

Signs of Prescription Painkiller Addiction

There are several signs that indicate addiction to painkillers. An individual addicted to painkillers will often exhibit significant behavioral changes like a loss of interest in friends, family, responsibilities, work, and sex. Just about everything becomes less important once an individual becomes addicted to painkillers. An addict craves pain pills day and night and is unable to stop swallowing them even when they cause harm. Another telltale sign of painkiller addiction is doctor shopping. This means that the addict obtains multiple prescriptions for his painkillers from several different doctors.

How to Prevent Painkiller Addiction

Those who are prescribed pain killers should be aware that these drugs are not only addictive, but they can also slow breathing and even result in death if too many are consumed. The risk of death is heightened when the patient combines pain killers with alcohol.

While it might seem like it is difficult to avoid an addiction to pain killers because they make people feel so euphoric, if one approaches them with caution, they can be used in a responsible manner. Those who suffer injuries and require pain pills to help with the pain should consume only the number of pills in the specific time span advised by the doctor. The patient should also strive to avoid obtaining a refill of his pain medication if at all possible. By limiting the amount of pain pills that one consumes, that person will improve the likelihood that they’ll be able to taper off taking them without enduring withdrawal symptoms.

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What If My Child Is Smoking Marijuana?

Posted on March 16, 2015 by MainAdmin

Talking with your teen about marijuana

If you are a parent, you should be aware of a few telltale signs that your child is using marijuana. While certain liberal members of the media would like the American public to believe that marijuana is harmless, it is not. It can have a devastating impact on a person’s life, especially if he hasn’t yet reached adulthood. If you do think your child is using, what should you do? We’ll discuss some signs of using and how to approach your child about it.

Signs of Marijuana Use

Monitor your child’s behavior closely before confronting him or her. When he returns home from an outing, find a reason to walk toward his vicinity to determine whether he smells like marijuana. Look into his eyes after his outings. If they are consistently bloodshot, he might be smoking marijuana. Another sign is finding empty Visine bottles. Many people use Visine to mask the redness associated with smoking pot. Oftentimes, kids who use marijuana lose interest in their hobbies. If your child or teen has quit extracurricular activities, doesn’t have an interest in his typical passions, and has deteriorating grades, he might be spending his free time smoking marijuana. This sign can also be indicative of other problems such as depression, so start by asking general questions that will open communication, not accuse.

Why Is Marijuana Dangerous?

Although marijuana is not as physically addictive as some other drugs, it still presents a danger. It is a gateway drug that often leads to the use of “hard” drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine and others. Many teens try marijuana, get a buzz, and think that other drugs will be similar. Unfortunately, marijuana is fairly tame compared to “harder” drugs. It’s a slippery slope, and your child or teen might not realize just how much his life can spin out of control when he experiments with marijuana.

How to Approach Your Child

Marijuana use is more popular at the moment, and the unfortunate truth is that the majority of youngsters will give it a try before graduating from college. If you suspect that your child or teen is smoking marijuana, don’t confront him in an accusatory manner. Start by asking questions when you see signs. Does your child smell like weed when they come in the door? You can comment that they smell different, then decide how to proceed based on their reaction.

Once you have come to the point where you need to confront your child, sit down with him to have an open, honest talk about drugs. You should come prepared with a printout of testimonials from those who have used marijuana and now regret it. Tell your child all about these people and how they wasted years of their lives smoking marijuana. Instead of interacting with their peers, looking for a significant other, and developing their talents, they spent their time smoking marijuana. It will also help to print out a list of top employers who test for marijuana.

If your child understands that marijuana has the potential to take over his life and ruin his career, he’ll be less likely to use it. No matter what, you should make it clear that you will always be there to lend your support. If your child knows that he can talk with you about anything, especially sensitive subjects such as peer pressure and marijuana use, he’ll be more likely to be honest with you.

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Is Rehab for Me?

Posted on March 9, 2015 by MainAdmin

If you are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, you should give serious consideration to rehab. Many addicts think that rehab isn’t for them, but rehab can really kick-start the healing process. While there are several different treatment types, one of the primary distinctions is between inpatient and outpatient. Let’s take a look at the merits of each.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient

Inpatient programs require that the patient reside at the treatment center 24 hours a day. Outpatient programs treat patients at the facility during the day. Patients leave the outpatient facility after treatment and spend their night hours at home. So there is a treatment solution available for you, regardless of your current employment or living situation. Addiction counselors in both types of treatment programs are available and flexible enough to help your overcome substance abuse. Most rehab programs work hand-in-hand with 12-step recovery groups to give you the tools that you’ll need to maintain sobriety and grow in health and healing.

Inpatient Rehab Programs

Those who choose to participate in an inpatient program will live at the treatment facility for a fixed period of time. It usually takes between one month and three months for the typical patient to pass through his withdrawal phase. Being away from one’s normal living environment and the accompanying bad influences can work wonders for an addict in recovery. There are even programs available that last longer than 3 months. These are called therapeutic communities. They typically last half a year. Inpatient programs do more than simply separate the addict from his former living environment. These programs help recovering addicts develop relationships with staff members and fellow patients. It is an opportunity for a patient to change his attitude toward drug use and get a fresh start.

Outpatient Rehab Programs

Outpatient treatment provides addicts with a number of helpful programs. This type of rehab program allows patients to visit treatment centers at regularly scheduled appointments for counseling with addiction specialists. There are usually group therapy sessions available as well. Other therapy approaches used in the outpatient setting are wide ranging. They include motivation incentives, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and multidimensional family therapy. Especially in outpatient programs, recovering addicts are encouraged to participate in 12-step programs to build supportive, sober communities.

Outpatient multidimensional family therapy is designed to end addiction by including the addict’s family in the treatment sessions. It aims to improve the habits and attitudes of a recovering addict’s family members to create a living environment and relationships that are more conducive to sobriety. This type of outpatient treatment is typically utilized with adolescents who are struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to help a patient handle sensitive situations that are likely to trigger a relapse. Motivation incentives use rewards to help a patient avoid drug use. The motivational interviewing approach attempts to reform a patient’s desire for drugs.

The type of outpatient therapy used will depend on the unique pieces of the recovering addict’s personal struggle. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There is a therapy solution available for everybody, whether he is addicted to alcohol, cocaine, pain killers, marijuana, or another substance.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, you can find a rehab center in your area here. The best part is that it’s completely confidential.

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Addiction: It’s All in the Family

Posted on March 2, 2015 by MainAdmin

Whether an addict is in denial of his or her disease or facing addiction recovery, family plays an important role. A great source of love, strength and support, the family is a force to be thankful for. At some point in a 12 step recovery program, it becomes clear to the addict that addiction is a disease suffered and survived by both the addict and the addict’s family; but addiction affects a family long before recovery begins. In fact, family members may not even realize how much the addiction has affected them.

Unintended Consequences on Family

  • Physical:Addicts may love their families more than life itself, but it’s often under the influence of an addictive substance that physical abuse occurs. The addict may not even remember committing an abusive act. Additionally, family members may suffer sleep deprivation, headaches, digestive trouble and serious illness due to the stress of having an addict in their lives.
  • Emotional/Spiritual:Those close to the addict often suffer depression and anxiety. Watching a loved one self-destruct can even cause a loss of faith. At a time when God offers unconditional love, help and guidance, He gets left out. Yet the power of faith is immeasurable when it comes to recovery.
  • Financial:The cost of dependency invariably usurps the family budget. Families may find themselves forgoing basic needs or suffering more dramatic losses; homes are lost, college becomes unaffordable, and savings vanish.
  • Other: Addiction and addiction recovery are unintentionally fraught with dysfunction. Deciding if and how to assist an addict, or considering whether to leave or stay with the addict, can take a toll on family members.

Recovery, Together

The good news is that addiction recovery is possible. There is hope! Addicts must first admit that they are powerless over their addictions; it is a family disease. Help is available from doctors, psychologists, therapists, clergy and recovery programs. Families can help addicts by lovingly supporting them without judgment, developing better communication skills, not enabling the addict through codependency, not engaging in denial or blame, and by getting help for themselves. There are myriad supportive communities and 12 step recovery programs available to addicts and their families, including AA, Al-Anon, Alateen, Nar-Anon and others. What works for one family may not be the right solution for another. It’s appropriate to seek the kind of help that is best for you. Most importantly, remember that the battle against addiction can be won — together.

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