Addiction and Recovery Articles

As a drug counselor, I receive many questions. This next one is typical: Q: I think my spouse may be addicted to his pain medication. He had knee replacement surgery several months ago and has gone back to work, but says he still needs to take pain pills. I think he is actually taking more now than he did right after the surgery. I'm not sure about all of this, and I don't know what or how to say something. His dad is a recovering alcoholic.

Treatment for people with addiction problems, particularly in a residential rehab, is notoriously expensive. The fees for such treatments often run into thousands of pounds or dollars a month. Unfortunately, most people who have addiction problems cannot afford such expensive treatments, and so have to go without this kind of help. Recent developments on the internet have brought a new range of treatments that are more within the price range of those who need them.

Long-term sobriety requires personal engagement in your recovery. Real engagement goes beyond just attending meetings or calling your sponsor. Engaged recovery requires that you constantly learn new, concrete skills which support long-term sobriety. When I think of concrete skills that support recovery, several things come to mind: Resilience - This generally refers to a person’s ability to cope with adversity, or the ability to bounce back from problems and setbacks. Resear

The Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation network is one of the fastest growing types of treatment in the world. Narconon treatment is also different from most other drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers available to those struggling with addiction. The philosophy of Narconon has always been simple; to - Free the individual from the physical effect of drugs. - To rehabilitate the spirit and help one to become a drug-free, ethical and productive member of society. Na

Although individuals will view addictive behavior in many ways, based on their own beliefs and situations, society needs a comprehensive view of it. Addiction is one of the compelling problems of modern life. Almost all individuals need to manage desire better in a world increasingly filled with tempting activities and substances, and decreasingly filled with counterbalancing forces. Rather than just relying on individual self-control, perhaps our larger communities and society itself can help us respond better to our desires. Addiction affects nearly everyone.

Starting a new job can be exciting. You still feel the honor associated with being chosen (which in this economy has become more selective) and you are optimistic about the journey ahead. During your interview, you asked exceptional questions about benefits, salary, future opportunities, and even about your job description. You have decided that you are prepared to deliver your best and know that you are a great fit for this position.

New Need for Comprehensive Christian Recovery Planr Dick B. © 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved Tens of thousands of alcoholics, addicts, A.A. members, conce ed Christians, professional recovery workers, old-timers, and desperate family and other conce ed friends and associates have contacted me over the past 20 years. They usually ask how they or their loved ones can get God's help. And do so within existing A.A., Christian, treatment, and counseling boundaries. Twenty ye

Often when I teach an alcohol class I tell my students to think about their drinking. I want them to think about going beyond their historical drinking patterns, but study how it affects their mood and happiness. Have you become more unhappy since your consumption of alcohol has increased? Are You Happy Now?

Belief Systems

As I reviewed the recent articles on the Expert Pages, I ran across articles by Kathy Williamson, whom I have not met. And her articles stand out like a beacon. Here is someone who seems to have grasped what the early A.A. Christian Fellowship was doing when it insisted that every member must believe in God--the Creator, Yahweh, Almighty God, "The God of the Scriptures" as Bill Wilson described Him after his famous white light experience at Towns Hospital. Also, every member

Reflection is one of those terms that can sound a bit pompous, but actually has a lot of value in it in for many people for different reasons. Most of the major religious and spiritual traditions advocate a sort of review of the day, where people take a bit of time out to look back over their day and assess what had been going on, what happened to them , how they reacted etc.

Addiction is a devastating condition that no one wants to find themselves dealing with. Who says as a child that when they grow up they want to be an addict? nnIt sneaks up on you before you know it and can wreak havoc on your life and that of your loved ones. It can seem hopeless when you are in the depths of the disease but I'm here to prove to you it's not. nnYou can overcome your addiction. nnYou are not doomed to an unhealthy life and believe it or not, addiction can be

Whether it’s a job interview, an examination or even sport, for most things in life, the key component to doing well is preparation and when it comes to alcohol treatment, it’s no different. If you or a loved one is addicted to alcohol and have just decided that getting professional help is the only way that you will get better, you may have just made one of the most important decisions of your life.

Rita was married to Jimmy for twenty years before she finally “got it.” She had begged Jimmy to stop drinking many times, but words did not change his behaviors. Words such as, “if you want a relationship with me, you will have to stop drinking,” or “If you keep drinking, you will die young” appeared to be a waste of breath. He seemed to crave alcohol as much as hungry people crave food. She realized that she was powerless to change Jimmy. It was not fair that she

Sobriety is a lot more than not picking up a drink or chasing that drug. It is a constant process of preventing relapse. The reason that the process is constant is because there are certain factors and obstacles that cannot be avoided and only stand to complicate the process of recovery. This makes recognizing triggers that much more important. Recognizing will help to avert the problems associated with triggers and relapse.

n“Despite that we’ve learned a lot about healthy exercise practices, healthy diets, and good medical care, the bottom line is that the most significant way of contributing to our own good health is through the quality of our thought processes. This power is a valuable gift, in light of the lack of control we have over other aspects of life,” ……Every thought and every perception you have changes the homeostasis of your body. Will it be the brakes or the accelerator, a health a

Check out this quick list of alcoholism facts. I'm sure you'll be surprised at some of the items in this list. Alcoholism cuts across gender, race, and nationality. Learning about the disease and how to protect yourself from it is essential.rnHere are the ten facts on alcoholism you should know (at least in my opinion). The Top Ten Facts on Alcoholism: 1. For most adults, moderate drinking is considered to be - up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.

We meet people everyday who have recovered or are in recovery from a major life changing event. Some deem themselves as survivors, and some just positively live their lives looking forward to the future (a thriver). What are the differences between a thriver, a survivor and a person in recovery? A thriver is someone who grows vigorously, flourishes, or realizes goals despite circumstances. Thrivers are active agents in creating their futures. They look forward to an ever better future. They have a knowing that when setbacks come, they will land on their feet.

With a choice between literally thousands of rehab center facilities across the country, it’s vital for any addict to make a choice that can change their lives. Here are three very important factors to consider. For anyone who has suffered through the anguish and despair caused by drug abuse, they may finally get to a point in their lives when they are ready to enter a rehab center in order to deal with their addiction. When they have reached that ultimate decision, the nex

Here are five tips that I have received from people who are struggling with binge eating disorder. When I was bingeing I used some of these exact tips. The tricks really helped to curb a binge or two. Try them out ad let me know how they work out for you. 1. Become a vegan. I’ve heard ...Here are five tips that I have received from people who are struggling with binge eating disorder. When I was bingeing I used some of these exact tips. The tricks really helped to curb a binge or two. Try them out ad let me know how they work out for you. 1. Become a vegan.

As I have been studying men and recovery from addiction off and on for more than 15 years, I have arrived at some nascent ideas that I am sure are not unique to me, but are compelling nonetheless. In essence, something happens to us as men and women during the process of recovery from addiction that changes how we express ourselves at the foundation of our very identity, our gender.

This is a beautiful 11th step prayer. Although compact and seemingly simple, it is one of the purest ways of working this step. In the first part, "God, help me to go from where I am," I am strengthening my conscious contact as I partner with my Higher Power and invite Him to guide me on my ...

The term prior authorisation has a specific meaning within the concept of health care and health insurance, and has a fundamental effect on virtually all of the procedures and clinical assessments that an individual is likely to come up against in the context of their health insurance policy.

Do you need to WANT to get well for treatment to work? We have all heard the line… “You can’t force someone into treatment, they have to want to get well for it to work”. I must say, I wholeheartedly disagree and I believe this fallacy has lead to devastating consequences for people who really needed help.r

Holiday survival? You better believe it!! With the holidays round the corner, most of us find ourselves searching survival skills. About two to three weeks into the season we feel we are ready to collapse. Thanksgiving, Christmas – even if you celebrate nothing, you end up involved in the hype: Shopping, parties, buying gifts, cooking, gift wrapping, writing, mailing or e-mailing cards, baking, planning and a whole lot of deadlines cause big stress – not good for anyone with addictive behavior.

Eating disorders in men are more common than people think. Unfortunately, they often go undiagnosed for many years if diagnosed at all. The reasons for this vary from professionals in the field being uninformed about signs of eating disorders in males, to men being resistant to seek help due to the perception that eating disorders are a “female” problem. The fact is that many men suffer with eating disorders yet we as a society tend to normalize the behavior and it is never addressed as an issue.

Of course with all the news of Jesse James & Tiger Woods and of course Dr. Drew Pinksy’s new Celebrity Sex Rehab show, the question most often asked is, Is there such a thing as sexual addiction? As I have stated in other articles addiction is a complex issue. People find themselves doing behaviors, which they feel great shame and remorse about. The traditional definition of addiction has always been connected with physical addiction and withdrawal. But what kind of withdrawal comes from a process, like sex or food, not drugs or alcohol? If you did watch Dr.

With diabetes, an attitude of 'ignore it and hope it goes away' can kill you. Literally. Diabetes is basically a disease that interferes with the ability of our bodies to use food for energy and growth. One thing that happens when we digest food is that some of it is converted into glucose ...

Many people will hear the word boundaries and immediately think that it only applies to someone who works in or understands the world of therapy or counselling. In fact healthy boundaries are something that hopefully will be developed in most families with kids, and are essential for any children or growing adolescents to have in order to feel an inner sense of security that allows them to grow.

In the early 1900s when drug and alcohol addictions were first studied, they were thought to be simply a result of moral failure and a lack of willpower. Today, many scientific studies have brought about a new train of thought. Most organizations that deal with additions now acknowledge that there are many more factors that can fuel an addiction. According to NIDA, the National Institute of Drug Abuse in America, addiction is a disease that affects behavior as well as the bra

When most of the people hear the word Hypnosis, they will automatically imagine a person waving a pocket clock in order to make another person to act like a chicken, dog or walk like’s zombie or even do action against their will (kill someone, rubbing people). But the reality is different; hypnosis is a mental state (according to "state theory") or imaginative role-enactment (according to "non-state theory"), in which the hypnotized person is not in a semi-sleep state but b

Drug abuse is rampant and the drug of choice is changing. The onslaught of abuse of prescription drugs is being done by teens and young adults by the thousands, if not millions. So, can this new drug of choice be stopped? Besides taking prescription pills out of medicine cabinets of parents and grandparents, how do you stop the sales from the street venders? Is it the supplier whom we need to stop – or the buyer? Well, there’s the law of supply and demand. Reduce the demand

I currently see millions of dollars being spent on rehab, counseling, drug courts, and other resources to try and stem the tide of drug addiction among teenagers. Unfortunately, these are all 'after-the-fact' repair mechanisms and do not deal with the root cause. In my opinion we do not give ...

Imagine if you saw the following headline in the mornings paper. How would it make you feel ?nn' LANDING ON THE MOON WAS A HOAX 'nnVirtually all adults not only in the U.S but all over the world accept that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the 20th July 1969 walked on the moon, everyone has built up a belief system around that fact and that people can travel in space and comeback again. But what if I was to tell you that it was a hoax. There are many conspiracy theories abou

Top 10 Best Alcoholics Anonymous Alternatives List Over the past few years, I have examined the effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous and a lively discussion has followed these posts. AA is a group that many have very strong feelings about - both positive and negative. For some, AA has been a life-saver and allowed them to manage their addictions, while for others, the experience has not been as positive, and, in fact, has been quite horrible. Based on all of the heated discu

When we are talking about addictions, there are many ways to really describe it and to pin the tail on the donkey, the actual root of your addiction is actually in your mind. How so? Well this is because the five senses is closely entwined with many of the brains and the body’s function, which comes from the cerebral cortex of the mind. Anything that we do that affects our senses (basically everything that we do in our life) will be experienced in the mind itself, and this

Once in a while, during a moment of apparent moment of personal insight and enlightenment, I am compelled to write a poem. These poems seem to have a life of their own; they almost write themselves. Until the poem is finished, the emotio I am feeling or the insight I have reached, won't subside. And when the poem is is completed, I then reach deep feelings of satisfaction--a moment of catharsis.

Where Did A.A. Come From? Dick B. © 2010 Anonymous. All rights reserved. The Variety of Stories I’ll venture a guess: When most of us come into the rooms of A.A., we probably don’t hear, or learn, or even care where A.A. came from. Lots of us are sick, confused, frightened, and more worried about our problems than we are about how A.A. began. There are some other hindrances. Some like to say that A.A. has no teachers. In general, this is true today though there are notable

n nDrug addiction is considered a pathological state. The disorder of addiction involves the progression of acute drug use to the development of drug-seeking behavior, the vulnerability to relapse, and the decreased, slowed ability to respond to naturally rewarding stimuli. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) has categorized three stages of addiction: preoccupation/anticipation, binge/intoxication, and withdrawal/negative affect.

The International Christian Recovery Coalition-A Snapshot The International Christian Recovery Coalition is an informal, international fellowship comprised of Christian leaders and workers in the recovery arena, together with Christians in recovery and others seeking the power and love of God as a means of recovering from the ravages of alcoholism, addictions, and other life-controlling problems. Our Mission Statement Mission Statement: "To glorify God by: (1) sharing accu

Unless you've been under a rock for the past few years, you are aware of the economic problems that the U.S. has been facing. Although we are not the only country coping with this hardship, it doesn't make things easier. The majority of the population has learned to tighten their belts. Families are no longer spending money on extravagant wasteful items or ignoring balances in bank accounts or credit cards. One of the biggest impacts of this economic crisis has been the rising unemployment rate.

People in recovery need to understand the concept of honesty. Developing an understanding of the importance of honesty is the key to recovery. In the Therapeutic Community, honesty is probably the most important concept. Without honesty your recovery is nothing, it is built on sand, with no firm foundation. When the storms of life come, and they will, your house of lies will crumble and fall. It is impossible to achieve long-term change without being honest to yourself. A lie

The most widely-known group when thinking of where to send people with an alcohol or drug problem is AA (or any 12-step program). However, most widely known does not equal the most effective. In fact, it doesn't work for most people, so they are still out there not getting the help they need. It is imperative that we do something, and one thing to do is to start making people aware of the other methods that are available. Addiction is not a "one-size-fits-all problem, and it'

Developing skills to manage your emotional states is crucial if you want to develop long-term sobriety. While the initial phase of recovery is often met with a 'Pink Cloud' or Honeymoon period, it is very likely that once the newness of recovery wears off the newly sober addict or alcoholic will encounter depression, mood swings, confusion, memory loss and an inability to regulate their emotions due to brain chemistry that has yet find Homeostasis. In this article I offer con

If you have hurt someone over the years by your drug or alcohol use, making direct amends for what you have done to them as directed by 12 step programs may not be advisable for your future success or for the relationship. Even though you may have lied, cheated, been hurtful or intolerant with people involved in your life; these people don't necessarily want amends from you, no matter how sincere you may be.

Drug and alcohol abuse is much more common now than it was in the past. When illegal drugs first surfaced in the 1960s and 70s, drug use was completely unheard of in the social settings, and when the casual users became addicts, there was no help or solutions for them. As the use of drugs and alcohol became more popular in the clubs and on the streets, there was a greater need to find rehabilitation and recovery centers. They were typically mainly in established hospitals unt

When trying to figure out if you or someone you care about is a drug addict or alcoholic, knowing what the alcoholism symptoms or drug addiction signs are, can be very helpful. There are various symptoms and signs of addiction - but rather than tell you what they all are here (don't hesitate to ...

Most of us have heard of drugs like Xanax, Valium, Ambien, or Klonopin. These drugs are most commonly used to treat anxiety, which affects well over 40 millio American adults. What you might not know is that these drugs can cause physical dependence and lead to addiction with long-term use. The scope of the problem These medications are all Benzodiazepines, one of the most commonly prescribed classes of psychoactive drugs used for their sedative properties. Xanax is the mos

Drug addiction rates are climbing faster than ever in the United States. Despite the federal government’s massive War on Drugs, millions of citizens continue to use and abuse billions of dollars’ worth of controlled substances every year. Some of the most commonly abused drugs include marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines. Prescription drugs such as Oxycontin and Fentanyl are also frequently diverted to street dealers for illicit distribution and consumption. M

A person seeking help for addiction and guidance about how to stay clean from their addictive behaviours will have a wide variety of options to choose from. However, most do not realise that in order to stay clean once out of treatment, a daily programme of recovery is needed such as a Twelve Step Programme to keep them present and aware.nnWhen a person is immersed in obsessive and compulsive behaviours, their life revolves around this behaviour. Whether it is substance abuse