Addiction and Recovery Articles

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

The Life And Death Of Joe Rowley. The funny thing is, I didn’t know Joe that well. He was only an acquaintance really, a drinking acquaintance, not a close friend of mine by any stretch of the imagination. A ship that passed in the drink and drug soaked long dark night of my soul. So why was it that when I heard of his death, six thousand miles away, and more than a sober year or two after our last contact, that I was moved to tears?

Yes. Most experts in the medical and scientific community agree that alcoholism is a disease. The American Medical Association identified alcohol as a physical disease and condition in 1956. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcoholism is like any other disease. It is chronic, symptomatic and has a predictable pattern or course. The chances for developing alcoholism can be influenced by both genetics and lifestyle. Alcoholics experience an o

The false message that alcoholism and drug addictions are incurable diseases has been forced upo Americans for so long that most people stopped believing there is a way out. Many addiction treatment programs and traditional recovery support groups have even resorted to telling addicts they expect them to relapse. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies pay big money in marketing and lobbying to get their drugs prescribed to addicts in hopes of treating the symptoms for a lifetime. Sound grim?

That is the question. When you talk to some people they will tell you it is. Even if you only try it once or twice and don’t get addicted there are some dangers. Did you know? By 1995, less than 10% of Ecstasy that you could get your hands on was pure MDMA. When a user takes Ecstasy they are taking a mix of a wide variety of drugs and often toxic substances. Bottom line: you don’t know what is in that pill. Another danger is that if you are taking Ecstasy then to feel the

When we experience deep loss in life – whether from the death of a loved one or a “death” in some other area of our lives – grief is a natural response, and it looks different for everyone. From outpourings of sadness or anger, to feeling shut down and closed off, to the countless variations in between that we may encounter day by day and month by month, grief is an emotional farewell tour we each must navigate in our own unique way. That said, there are some tools that can help us find our way through it with more grace and ease, and one of the most powerful of these is mindfulness.

The list of illegal drugs is long and the list of people addicted to these drugs is way longer as roughly 38% of American adults battle an illicit drug use, another word for illegal drug use, disorder. Almost all illegal drugs are unregulated substances, including, but not limited to heroin, cocaine and marijuana. But illicit drugs could also encompass prescription drugs that are acquired illegally and chemically compromised, like fentanyl, which is often combined with heroin

Have you ever had the experience of sharing your life challenges or problems with an empathic listener who gave you his or her undivided attention? A kind of listener who did not judge you and really cared about what you had to say. Someone who was not quick to give you advice and solutions but was interested to hear how you felt about your life challenges. When I recall my experiences of feeling heard and deeply understood by someone I know how much the experience helped me to cope with whatever I was dealing with at the time.

Withdrawal is never easy, but it a necessary step on the road to recovery. Once you are sober, you must create new relationships, change your lifestyle and take on new healthy habits to stay sober. Meditation is one thing that you should make a part of your daily routine that can help you manage the constant temptations while you alleviate stress. If you are debating whether or not you would like to learn to meditate, here are some of the ways that meditation can help you sta

Desktop publishing isn't one of those career you would associate with working from home, but is certainly one worth considering, and a career which with a bit of foresight and planning could be made into a highly successful business. Desktop publishing , or DTP was one of the first real killer apps of the pc, along with word processing and spreadsheets. It enabled individuals and companies to produce documents and pamphlets and books that previously had always had to be done, by publishers and specialist companies.

TEEN GAMING ADDICTIONS ON THE RISE IN U.S.rnStudy Finds 10 Percent of Children Addicted to Online and Video Games HUNTSVILLE, Ala.- Parents often joke that their children and teens “Just can’t tear themselves away from their video games.” Studies show parents it’s not a joking matter. About one in 10 children are addicted to video and/or online games, a study from the National Institute on Media and Family found. “Video/online games stimulate the brain’s “reward

It's no secret that our health care system is broken, while insurance costs keep rising, yet a major problem that continues to be overlooked is the addiction treatment system and its deteriorization of success. Gone are the days where people are responsible for their own condition, only to be replaced with "it's not your fault, here's a pill to treat your symptoms". The notion that addiction is an incurable brain disease and that relapse is a part of recovery is driven by people who profit from not getting results, such as ineffective treatments and pharmaceutical companies.

Seduction And Romantic Loven We are seduced into relationships for many reasons, for support and approval, to overcome our feelings of loneliness, fear and insecurity, to explore our passion and sexuality, to feel power and control, to be needed, to have fun, to love and be loved, to have ...

Preparations for Launching the “Stick with the Winners!” Workshops, Meetings, Conferences, Guidebook, Video Series, and Supportive Resources Almost Completed in Readiness for May 14-21 Events in Califo ia By Dick B. International Christian Recovery Coalition A massive amount of learning and preparation have taken place in the last six months. First, we met a group of Mariners Church leaders who seemed eager to put together an "old school" A.A. regular meeting to let the r

Alcoholism and other forms of addiction were once considered to be a problem of morality or weak will. Unfortunately, much of society still holds these archaic views despite increasingly overwhelming evidence that addiction is a complex, multifactorial disease including biological, psychological and sociological elements. From a biological perspective, family, twin and adoption studies demonstrate that addiction has a biogenetic basis that is transmitted within families.

Gestalt Theory states that “Change happens when one becomes who he really is, not when he tries to become what he is not” (Beisser, p. 77, 1970). This principle of change implies that in the process of maturation an individual introjects familial and societal attitudes and beliefs about himself that may eventually interfere with healthy organismic self-regulation. Messages (Gremlins) such as: “You’ll never amount to anything,” “You are just like your father,” â€

This article will be important to remember as you gather this holiday season with the men you know and love. It is not a festive topic, which I would prefer, but it is a topic that has been filling my thoughts as of late. The Penn State scandal weighs heavy on my heart and my being having effects on those around you, or yourself.

With all the various psychological theories that have over time dissolved, the newest addition is making its way to universities and private practices country wide. This upcoming treatment uses Buddhism and yoga as a basis and according to several studies, appears to work. This type of therapy helps to keep patients focused on their bodies and breathing. They are instructed to give no consideration to their thoughts and to be alone in the moment. Stefan Hoffman, who is a psyc

Addiction is a terrible thing. I can guarantee you not one person ever begins to take a substance or drug with the hope that they become addicted. Care to argue? Would you agree that addiction to prescription medication is reaching epidemic proportions? Would you agree that addiction to prescription painkillers is rampant?r

Drug abuse vs. drug dependence. As the neurobiology of addiction has come into clearer focus over time, our ability to separate fact from fiction in the field of drug dependence has grown rapidly. Beliefs that have been common wisdom for years--that anyone who uses cocaine or heroin inevitably ...

©Arlene R. Taylor PhD

As someone who has spent the last 20 years trying to help people recover from alcoholism and other drug addictions, I whole heartedly support the 12 step programs of AA and NA. They are the best and most successful support groups out there for those in recovery. If utilized on a regular basis AA and NA can greatly decrease the chances of relapse and vastly improve the quality of life for the addicted person. In this article however I’d like to discuss some other important things that can be done as well.

How alcoholism effects your health can be quite severe. The health issues associated to alcoholism can range from anemia, to more serious problems like blood clotting, liver poisoning, and heart conditions. Alcoholism increases the risk of cancer in the esophagus, liver, mouth and pancreas. It can cause both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Alcohol can lead to liver disease, kidney disease, and heart disease. If the alcoholic continues to drink over long periods of time, they

Alcoholism and depression often go hand in hand and there is good reason for this as we will see later. Firstly, though we should take a look at some of the basic depression symptoms: Eating disorder Sleep disturbance Decreased interest and pleasure in one's daily activities Feelings of guilt or worthlessness Low energy, fatigue Difficulty concentrating or thinking It's amazing to see how similar the depression symptoms are when compared to those of alcoholism. When alcohol d

Suboxone Cost vs Addiction Cost Let's face it, it takes a lot of money to pay for addiction treatments. But you really have to look at the true addiction cost: all the problems drug use causes, vs. the Suboxone ® cost. The financial cost of Suboxone ® is high. Frequently the financial burden is carried by the patient alone since many insurance companies do not cover the medication. Many are providing some coverage for the doctor visit. The cost of treatment needs to be weig

Suboxone and methadone addiction is spreading among teens. These drugs are used to help teenagers overcome addictions to opiates like heroin and prescription painkillers like OxyContin, but their use has become controversial. Teens are now obtaining them illegally on the streets, as substitutes for the addictions for which they’re being treated. As with the excessive use of most drugs, it is possible to overdose and even die from methadone and Suboxone misuse. What are methadone and Suboxone?

Many of us grew up with the belief that to worry is to love. Those we love most may be in real trouble, and we realize that there is very little we can do to improve the situation. So we worry because we love. Unfortunately, worrying is really nothing more than the active practice of not taking action. Our fear may lead to depression. When we feel out of control we maintain our depressed moods by telling ourselves that by worrying at least we are doing something.

This is Sal's story.nnIt's about diseases caused by smoking, and if you start this story, read it to the end, but don't start if you're squeamish.nnSal's Dad died angry. And guess what? Most smokers die angry, and Sal said not only was her Dad eaten up by cancer, he was eaten up by vitriol against himself and the tobacco companies.nnBefore Sal's Dad got caught with one of the predictable diseases caused by smoking, his favorite saying was, "I'll give up smoking when I'm ready

Substance abuse is a very complex problem, which is characterized by uncontrolled drug craving, irrational and anti social behavior. Drug abuse for most of the time will have devastating consequences on the mental and physical health of a person. Although substance abuse begins as part of unpaid act but very soon the abuser loses his grip over the situation and becomes completely dependent on it. Since drug abuse can affect brain function, it can create havoc in one’s life.

Inpatient drug rehab facilities across the United States help thousands of addicts achieve lasting sobriety each year. However, a condition called Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome – or PAWS – threatens the recoveries of most people who go through inpatient drug rehab. PAWS sets in immediately after the withdrawal of detoxification subsides, and its symptoms often keep patients from effectively engaging their therapies. Thankfully, most clinics now make PAWS mitigation a top

Depression - Your Options: Mindful Therapy: Psychotherapy for the Soul By Sherry Gaba, LCSW n n Introduction n Learning Acceptance Skills n Identifying Negative Thought Patterns and Obsessions n Acceptance and Change Introductio A middle-aged woman is feeling overwhelmed, anxious, ...

I have spent a lot of time thinking about my past. Alte ately feeling sorry for myself or being outraged at the wrongs - real or imagined - that were done to me, a constant theme in my thinking is how much different, better, happier I would be if only I hadn't had these parents, or stepparents, ...

The answer to the question in the title of this article is: “Yes, but with the need to understand the limits of online help.” Definitions The words "alcohol dependence" or "addiction" are often used without definition. So, let's first define some terms. As used in this article, alcohol or drug ...

Some of the old notions about marriage relationships, often stated as wise truths by our grandmothers, are still floating around and are still doing damage. One of my grandmother’s favorites was “Never let the sun set on an argument.” Silly idea number one: never go to bed angry. I swallowed that one at about aged five. Then in my 20s my wife and I would argue half the night rather than go to sleep without settling the issue.

Making the decision to quit drugs and alcohol and get sober was not easy, but the chances of a successful recovery will be increased when you start living a healthy lifestyle which includes not only eating healthy but exercising regularly as well. Something for Everyone! Exercise is movement. The good news is that movement comes in a variety of different forms. Whether you prefer to get your exercise in a leisure or brisk walk, dancing, biking, on skates or in a run – movin