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Articles by Peggy Ferguson

Browse published articles attributed to Peggy Ferguson, with full-archive search.

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By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction and Recovery: The Cross Addiction Worksheet

Many recovering people who begin the process of becoming clean and sober, harbor the notion that they can continue to hang on to some remnants of an old drinking/using lifestyle. They often initially believe that specific drugs are The Problem. Initially alcoholics/addicts may not consider use of other drugs (including alcohol) as problematic. When the idea of being addicted to all mood altering drugs does come up, the idea is often dismissed as not being applicable.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

13,678 views4.5/5 (4)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction Recovery Worksheet For Identifying Healthy Replacements for the Alcohol and Drugs

One of the most important tasks of early recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction is learning to replace the chemical with health living skills. When you have taken the chemical out of your life, it leaves a big gaping hole, where something of substance was. Alcohol or other drugs have served many purposes over the course of addiction. They have played many roles. They had meaningful functions in your life. When the chemical is removed from your behavioral repertoire, how will you deal with stress, an annoying coworker, insomnia, and task overload?

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

11,223 views5/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

A Relapse Prevention Tool - Emotional Cues for Cravings in Relapse Worksheet

We experience sensory, emotional/psychological, cognitive, environmental, and physical cues on a daily basis in early recovery. These cues or triggers, if left unchecked can turn into powerful cravings for the chemical. Cravings can lead to relapse. In order to avoid relapse it is crucial that you identify your cues, take action, and not let them turn into cravings. One powerful set of cues that can set off cravings are emotions or feelings.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

14,068 views4/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Using The “Cognitive Therapy for the Holidays” Worksheet To Reduce Your Holiday Stress

Try a little cognitive therapy to reduce your holiday stress. Cognitive therapy examines the thoughts and beliefs that lead to feelings, and thus to behavior. Everyone has some cognitive distortions which are irrational ideas, thoughts, or beliefs, that get in the way of optimal functioning. People acquire these cognitive distortions in many ways, including family of origin, cultural norms or biases, and personal experiences. Cognitive distortions are often a major symptom of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

5,875 views5/5 (3)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction and Recovery: The Social and Environmental Triggers Worksheet

Associations between particular feelings, people, places, and events becomes intertwined with the alcoholic or addicts drinking and drugging behavior. When alcoholics and addicts find their way to recovery, the old associations between the drinking and drugging and the old feeling, people, places, and events persist, often triggering cravings to drink or use. When these cues trigger drinking or using memories and perhaps euphoric recall, unless you take action to prevent cravings and possible relapse, you remain extremely vulnerable to losing your recovery.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

10,628 views4/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Quitting Pot: 16 Steps to Help You Quit and Stay Quit

Ok, so you have decided that your life needs a little help and to accomplish this, you have decided to quit smoking pot. You have flushed or given away your stash. You have gotten rid of the paraphe alia. It has been a couple of days since you smoked pot and you're feeling cranky. You are not sleeping well. You feel anxious and jittery. You're sweaty; you're experiencing shakiness and you're sick at your stomach. You just don't feel good and you keep thinking that just a couple of hits from a joint will take the edge off. Those detox symptoms will go away if you don't use.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

8,334 views4/5 (3)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction and Recovery: Don't Let Grief Over the Loss of Alcohol Derail Your Transition Into Recovery

One of the common experiences of the earliest efforts toward quitting drinking and becoming sober, is grief over the loss of the chemical. For many people with an alcohol or other drug problem, the chemical, (whether it is alcohol or oxycodone) has become the addict's best friend and constant companion. When this best friend is given up, the alcoholic/addict experiences grief. The chemical plays all kinds of roles in the alcoholic's life and these roles are necessary and meaningful.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

4,752 views5/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction and Recovery: Do You Need Detox After Relapse?

While most people realize that relapse is a common experience for addicts in recovery, they often do not know how to get back on track after relapsing on alcohol or other mood altering drugs. Although relapse is commonplace, it is predictable, and thus preventable. For many recovering people who relapse, the idea of a return to twelve step meetings may bring on a panic attack, or an overwhelming sense of shame. Although the recovering person knows that going back to meetings is the appropriate thing to do, s/he prevent themselves from doing so, due to false pride.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

6,497 views3.7/5 (3)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Six guidelines on how to improve your patience and tolerance for your family during the holidays

Most people experience a great deal of stress in that period of time betwee Thanksgiving and New Years, fondly known as “The Holidays”. Many of us, find ourselves becoming irritable, with our patience and tolerance stretched to the limit. Much of the impatience and intolerance involves unrealistic and/or unreasonable expectations of others, especially those we are closest to. Being raised in our own individual families of origin seems to set us up for conflicts about expectations for the holidays.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

6,534 views2.4/5 (7)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction and Recovery: Who Will Enable Your Addicted Loved One When You Quit?

"Enabling" can be described as a behavior pattern of the significant people in the life on an addict or alcoholic. "Enabling" involves rescuing the alcoholic/addict from the negative consequences of his or her behavior. When the addict has those negative consequences of his/her addiction removed, the significant other is, in effect, "enabling" the addict to continue drinking/drugging. The significant other enablers the addict to stay in active addiction. This effect is usually not the intention of the worried and caring family member or friend.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

3,415 views4.5/5 (4)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Six Super Simple Guidelines for Developing Your Communication Skills By Improving Your Ability to Listen

Building a solid foundation for the development of good communication skills involves learning how to listen effectively. There are several elements of effective listening. These elements include attention, reflection, ability to tolerate tension, and ability to challenge the assumptions that are usually made. When teaching couples how to change how they talk to each other, active listening is stressed. Much of the time, poor listening skills are at the heart of couple communication problems. You can't have effective communication without good listening skills.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

3,967 views3.8/5 (4)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction and Recovery: "Treatment" and "Recovery" Are Not The Same Thing.

"My spouse went to recovery. Now they tell me that he needs to go on to additional counseling. What is that all about?" "Recovery" and "treatment" are not the same thing. Inpatient treatment, detox, or outpatient treatment, in and of itself, is not "recovery". Recovery is generally a return of good health, and a restoration (or acquisition) of effective functioning in one's life, in all areas including relationships, work, and community. Treatment for addiction is not a pill, a therapy, a place, or even a slice of time.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

3,031 views5/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Staying Sober After In-Patient Treatment: Ten Reasons To Follow Through With Continuing Care Even If You Don't Want To

The majority of patients who successfully complete inpatient and have the desire to stay clean and sober relapse in the first year after acute care treatment. Anyone who has been to inpatient treatment has noticed that the among the other patients around them, that there is a large percentage who have been through inpatient treatment before. This is largely because addiction is still being treated as an acute illness rather than the chronic disease that it is.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,986 views5/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Working Through Feelings in Addiction Recovery

One of the most important tasks necessary for maintaining abstinence and growing in recovery is learning how to appropriately work through feelings. Many people use alcohol and other drugs in place of dealing with or managing emotions. Alcoholism/drug addiction often involves skill deficits. When the chemical is eliminated, the roles that the chemical played in the addict's life must be replaced by healthy living skills. Sometimes recovering alcoholics/addicts must re-lea to do routine daily tasks without aid of the chemical.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

8,231 views3/5 (1)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Guide to Eliminating Deception and Dishonesty - How to Get Real in Addiction Recovery

Many people, while active in addiction, engage in deceptive, dishonest behavior, and diversionary tactics. These are part and parcel of addiction and the need to keep the extent of their problem hidden. It is difficult to juggle all the demands of being addicted with all the "normal" demands of living, plus hiding the addiction from others. Other people in an addict's life are affected by the addiction. Conflict is inevitable. Performance in various areas of an addict's life begins to slip as the disease progresses.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

7,295 views2.5/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Family Dynamics of Addiction and Recovery - How Can I Tell If My Partner Is Serious About Recovery?

Most spouses of alcoholics or addicts have been down this road before. Something has happened. Some crisis has gotten the attention of the alcoholic/addict and now he is motivated to get clean and sober. This time he is going to AA/NA and going to counseling. Promises made by the addict to stop ...

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,685 views4.3/5 (3)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Standing At The Crossroads: Trying to Quit Using Drugs

People do not easily come to the conclusion that they have an alcohol or other drug problem. The telltale signs have been there quite some time. Addiction carries with it its own camouflage devices. It can look like a lot of other illnesses from the perspective of an outsider looking in. From the perspective of an alcoholic/addict the telltale signs can be chalked up to a million other problems or causes.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,375 views5/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

One More Essential Tool For Preventing Relapse in Early Addiction Recovery

Most non-addicted people have routines and organizing structures inrntheir lives that help provide stability. An addict's lifestyle is often one of chaotic instability and disorganization. A general lack of structure and routine contributes to this disorganization and chaos. An addicted lifestyle is often missing daily routines of fulfilling personal and family responsibilities, engaging in predictable and consistent eating and sleeping habits, and appropriate self care. These missing elements are self-reinforcing in addiction.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

3,459 views3.3/5 (4)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Family Dynamics of Addiction Exposed: Identifying The "Real Problem" and What To Do About It

Many non-addicted spouses complain about how their addicted significant other is driving them crazy, making them depressed, or leading them toward suicide or homicide. These comments only illustrate the destructive nature of the family dynamics of addiction. The addicted and non-addicted spouses get locked into mortal combat over the addiction, even when they have not identified the problem as "addiction". Of course the non-addicted spouse is angry. S/he is picking up all the slack caused by the addict's abdication of responsibility.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

3,318 views3.7/5 (3)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction and Recovery: Why Don't They Just Quit?

Family members are often stymied about how their alcoholic/addicted family member can continue to drink or use in the face of overwhelming evidence that the chemical is destroying their lives. “Why don’t they just quit?” is a question that could rightfully top the list of “FAQs by Family Members About Addiction”.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,150 views5/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction and Recovery: The Emotional Highs and Lows of Early Recovery

When someone makes a decision to get the help that they need to quit drinking and using other drugs, everything begins to change. As an addict’s body begins to detox and as she is consciously trying to interrupt the momentum of addicted use of a chemical (including alcohol), she goes through all kinds of changes. Physical detox can involve a wide range of possible symptoms, including physical, psychological, and emotional. The addict who is involved in trying to separate herself from the chemical often experiences an emotional rollercoaster. Depression is common.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

4,847 views3/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

How to Separate the Help From The Hype In Addiction Treatment

There is so much "information" on the internet about addiction and recovery and unless you already have some knowledge about addiction and recovery, all resources may appear equal to you. This is not the case. There are advertisements, articles, and blog posts about addiction recovery products and services that are pretty much equal to the latest snake oil products for losing weight without diet and exercise. If it seems too good to be true, it is. There are no magic pills, herbal supplements, or miraculous techniques that cure addiction.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,058 views5/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction Recovery Tools: Why You Want to Learn to Forgive in Recovery

Although forgiveness is an important part of working through feelings, and thus, a tool of recovery and the healing process, it is an often neglected topic. People often erroneously equate forgiveness with forgetting. The best definition that I ever heard for forgiveness is simply "giving up the need to punish". This definition doesn't say anything about the actual act of punishing, or forgetting--for that matter. It speaks only of letting go of the compulsion, or fantasy of punishing.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

3,766 views3.5/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction in Ongoing Recovery: Getting Acquainted With Middle Ground

The main task of early recovery is spent in trying to interrupt the momentum of the addiction to achieve sustained abstinence. Most of one's mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual energy is spent on that goal. In ongoing, stable, sustained recovery, the recovering person is no longer struggling to maintain abstinence and is now able to use more of their energy not only cleaning up the debris from their addiction, but being able to consciously move toward being the person that they have wanted to be.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,582 views5/5 (1)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Family Dynamics of Addiction and Recovery: 14 Enabling Behaviors to Quit Now

Family members, in their attempts to solve the problem of a loved one's addiction, try every thing they can think of, to turn the addict's life back around. They usually identify the problem incorrectly for a long time before it becomes obvious to them that addiction is the real problem. ...

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

4,473 views3/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

How to Overcome Seven Obstacles to New Year's Resolutions Success

I love the New Year. I feel like I am the threshold of a new year. I am glad that there is a week betwee Christmas and the New Year because it gives me a chance to recover, regroup, and rethink. Of course, I would like to think of a new year as a fresh, blank, Big Chief Tablet to write whatever I like on, but that is not really the case. Our lives are not marked off in 365 day intervals, where everything begins a new on day one. There are many things, situations, circumstances, and processes that transcend years and even decades.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,655 views4/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Cross Addiction and Relapse - Examples and Relationships

Cross addiction is one of the leading causes of relapse in early recovery. Cross-addiction involves being addicted to all mood altering drugs. The following are illustrations of cross addiction. 1. Some people become cross-addicted in their efforts to camouflage their addiction. Alcoholics may change to a different drug of choice to hide the smell, or the impairment of fine motor skills. 2. Cross addiction can occur in the process of withdrawal mediation. This is where you use a different drug to avoid or reduce the symptoms of withdrawal. 3.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

4,876 views2.5/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction and Recovery: Prevent Relapse By Making Good Choices

Relapse is a process that occurs over time, in the context of significant decisions. Many people who relapse say that drinking or using was the furthest thing from their mind just before they consumed the chemical. In reality, most of the time, relapse was in process some time before the chemical was ingested. The relapse process involves a return to old thinking, old feelings, and old behavior. When someone is addicted, consumption of their mood altering drug of choice is almost automatic. It is a deeply ingrained and somewhat unconscious action. It has become "first nature".

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

4,591 views2.5/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

What Can We Do to Improve Our Relationship? Answers from "Ask Peggy"

Communication is not only the life's blood of a marriage, it is the cornerstone that the foundation of relationship skills rest on. You have to have good communication skills to be able to convey your love, affection, and commitment to your loved ones. You can not effectively problem solve without good communication. Inadequate communication creates or worsens the struggle to maintain the positive emotions in the relationship. All people want to feel loved, appreciated, and a sense of belonging.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

3,057 views3/5 (3)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Communication in Recovery - Ten Steps to Fair Fighting

Use the following ten steps to replace old, ineffective arguments with an effective fair fighting session: 1. Fight to resolve an issue or solve a problem. 2. Identify the problem to be solved. 3. Take turns stating your case, using I messages. 4. Practice active listening. 5. Generate ...

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

3,184 views4/5 (1)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Family Members Know You are Going to Relapse in Your Addiction Before You Do - Listen Up

The family dynamics of recovery is rarely smooth sailing. Relapse, which is a process, has a tremendously negative effect on significant others. Family members who have labored and struggled to remain with the addict through all the active years of addiction, to assist them in finding their way into recovery, find their hopes and dreams dashed in the midst of relapse. Anyone in a relationship with an alcoholic/addict is affected by addiction. Loved ones would understandably be upset and angry with the alcohol/other drug (AOD) addict when they relapse.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

4,786 views3/5 (1)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction and Recovery: Preventing Relapse After Surgery

You are ultimately responsible for your own addiction recovery. When you know that you have to have surgery, it is important to keep everyone treating you informed about your recovery and addiction history, including the names of the drugs, the amounts, the lengths of time that you took them, ...

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

4,529 views3/5 (1)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Couple Communication: Back to Basics To Improve Your Relationship and Restore Happiness

One of the most important tools to develop or restore communication skills is the use of “I” messages. "I" messages are not as likely to elicit defensiveness. They actually increase the probability that your message(s) will be heard. With this simple change in how you communicate with your loved one, you are more likely to actually accomplish your communication goal.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

5,108 views2/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction and Recovery: Plan Your Vacation, Not Your Relapse!

When facing the loss of most of one’s structure in situations like vacation or business trips, relapsive thinking can return, even in established, stable recovery. The relapse thoughts can include some of the below, but this is not an all inclusive lists. When planning a vacation or business trip that takes you out of your established routine and structure, listen to your own “self-talk”. Pay close attention to those ideas that may place you in slippery places, around slippery people, or in slippery activities.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

4,029 views2.5/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Sexual Addiction: A Brief Description, Part 1

If you see yourself in this brief description of sexual addiction, it can be the beginning of achieving recovery and getting your life back. The hope is that there is recovery, that it is possible. "The journey of a thousand miles begins by taking the initial step". The good news is that you ...

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,775 views4/5 (1)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction and Recovery: Drinking or Using Dreams as a Normal Part of Recovery

When you have a drinking or using dream, you may wake up not really knowing if it actually happened. Many people in early recovery find it disturbing and frightening when they experience a "using" dream. Drinking and using dreams are those dreams where the central theme or experience is about drinking or using.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

4,862 views2/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction and Recovery: Ten Common Myths about Alcohol and Drug Addiction

People who don't know much about alcohol and other drug addiction, often buy into common myths and stereotypes about addiction and addicts. It is important to replace mistaken assumptions and judgments about addiction, so that you can approach those afflicted with the illness, with compassion and understanding. Many people mistakenly believe that if you call addiction a "disease" that somehow it exempts the alcoholic or addict from responsibility of their behavior. Below are some myths in italics. The truth is in regular print. 1. Addicts are losers and skid-row bums.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

4,173 views3/5 (1)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Why People Have Marital Affairs

Why, when most people believe in monogamous marriages, and that affairs are "wrong", are so many couples struggling to recover from infidelity? Most people do not intend to have an affair and most couples never would have believed that it would happen to them. Affairs happen in the marriages of all kinds of people. Not bad people. Not people whose marriages are "doomed". The reality is that any marriage could be vulnerable to an affair, given the right conditions. One of the first questions that the partner asks when they learn of the affair is "why?".

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,544 views3.5/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction Recovery: 12 Do's and Don'ts For the Family While the Alcoholic is in Rehab

Your significant other finally went to rehab. With all the events leading up to his agreeing to go to treatment, it may feel like a let-down. You may have breathed a big sigh of relief as you drove away from the airport or the treatment center after dropping him or her off. You may feel hope. You may still be waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

4,537 views2/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Couple Communication: How to De-escalate A Discussion

Many couples get into a dysfunctional pattern of conflict escalation and withdrawal as they attempt to discuss the problems and issues in their life. Each unsuccessful attempt to solve the identified problem sets the tone for the next time that they attempt to resolve the issue. Unresolved issues tend to be self-perpetuating and can persist over decades. A common pattern is where a couple identifies some relationship issue or problem to discuss and starts talking. They begin to get upset, bring out the dirty fight tactics, and the argument is "on".

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

6,851 views1/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Family Dynamics of Addiction And Recovery - Deciding What to do about an Adult Child's Addiction

When an adult child with addiction problems lives with his parents, those parents are faced with hard choices. The addict believes that he is only harming himself, yet the truth is that the addiction is hurting everyone and is typically tearing the family apart. Parents and significant others of alcoholics/addicts in deciding upon a course of action must make decisions based on what they can live with. There is a huge difference between bottom lines and threats.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

1,890 views4/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Getting to the Other Side of Grief: Sixteen Helpful Guidelines to Help You Navigate Through Your Grief

You may be wondering if it is even possible to survive the loss of someone you love. You may be thinking that you are going crazy, or that you will never quit crying. You may think that you will never be the same and will never feel better. Grief is one of the most devastating experiences that human beings have and it is universal. Sooner or later, we all experience grief. When we experience the loss of someone that we love, we often find ourselves at a loss for what to do with ourselves, with our daily lives, and with the grief.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,046 views3/5 (3)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Sexual Addiction: Are You a Sex Addict? Part 2

Sexual addiction is a dysfunctional pattern of compulsive sexual behavior that continues even after the addict knows that it is causing major problems in their life. The sex addicts has a compulsion to engage in the problem behavior despite the fact that it has become emotionally dissatisfying ...

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,079 views4/5 (1)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

First Sober Fourth of July: Surviving the Holiday Without Addiction Relapse

The fourth of July is significant for alcoholics and addicts in several ways. The Declaration of Independence was a statement of separation from a tyrannical ruler. With separating from the past they embarked on a new way of life. Many people come into treatment just after the Fourth of July, after having had a "close call", a DUI, a wife who left, or after totally embarrassing or humiliating themselves in drunken or drugged stupor.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,962 views3/5 (1)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction and Recovery: Understanding The Nature of Addiction to Understand Cross Addiction

Early addiction recovery is a fragile thing. One of the most frequent contributing factors in relapse is something we call "cross-addiction". Essentially what cross-addiction means, is that if you are alcoholic or addicted to other mood altering drugs, you a potentially addicted to all mood altering drugs. To truly understand cross-addiction, you must appreciate the character of addiction and the nature of mood/mind altering drugs. Addiction is a disease. It is frequently described as a primary, chronic, progressive, and relapsing disease.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,871 views3/5 (1)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction and Recovery: Do You Really Have to Hit Bottom to Recover?

There is a generally misguided notion that you have to "hit bottom" to be able to get sober and stay sober. "Hitting bottom" is usually seen as the loss of the things that you value in your life. It is an individually defined event and the concept has probably hindered the recovery efforts of a lot of people or at least served as a rationalization for continued drinking. For some people hitting bottom is embarrassing themselves in public-once. For another, it may be spending so much money on their drug of choice that they can't pay the bills.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,786 views3/5 (1)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Essential Definitions for People Trying to Gain Assertiveness Skills

Although most people have some pretty clear-cut notions about what assertiveness is and isn't, assertiveness is often confused with aggression. Assertiveness is not necessarily about having your will prevail over the will of others. That is actually more descriptive of aggression. Especially when there is little regard to the rights or feelings of others. Instead, assertiveness is simply about being able to stand up for your own rights without trampling on the rights of others.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,017 views3/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Getting Started: "Ready, Set, Talk!"

Sometimes couples wish they felt more emotionally close to their spouses. You may feel taken for granted and might even recognize that you take your spouse for granted. One or both of you might be daydreaming about dedicating some time and energy to restoring that eroding emotional connection. You are probably both aware that marriage, like anything else we value, requires nurturing and sustained effort to maintain it. One spouse might even mention that he or she wants to set aside some time to spend together—just the two of you.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

1,534 views3/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Two Things You Can Do Now To Reduce Your Holiday Stress

We know that once Thanksgiving is over, we will be having an increase in our stress. This yearly event, when the demands for our time, energy, money, and other resources increase exponentially, and our stress levels rises accordingly, is lovingly known as "the holidays". And each year, we just seem to accept that this time of year will be stressful and continue our holiday tradition of being stressed out during the "silly season".

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

1,507 views3/5 (2)

By Peggy FergusonRecently published1 topic

Addiction As Disease Does Not Equal "Get Out of Jail Free"

Sometimes family members have a hard time with the idea that addiction is a disease. When this is the case, it often has to do with the issue of responsibility. Sometimes family members believe that "disease" is equated with a "get out of jail free card" or not being held responsible. This is not the case. An addict has responsibility for choosing recovery over choosing to stay in the illness.

Primary topic: Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and Substance Abuse

2,274 views2/5 (2)

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