Addiction and Recovery Articles

A substance abuse evaluation is an assessment of an individual to disce whether the drugs or alcohol use is a problem in the person’s life. There are basically three general categories of using drugs, which are social use, abuse and addiction.r

THE BASICS – “Where it all begins!” In the last decade an explosion has occurred. The Laws of the Universe – the laws of attraction – the laws of abundance are now being made available to the masses. An electrical current is running through the planet as a plethora of information reaches the mainstream in a new way. Workshops offered by Esther Hicks who brings forth the group of Light Beings called ABRAHAM and J.Z. Knight who channels a being referred to as RAMTHA are being attended by the thousands.

When people talk about abandonment, or fear of abandonment, they often feel it is something that either happened to them, or what happens to other people in childhood, often without a really clear sense of what it might mean. There is some truth in this interpretation of abandonment, but its long-term effects, as well as its initial impact can have a much more powerful impact on people than they realise.

According to statistics for first marriages listed as “very happy,” there has been a decrease from over half in 1976 to a little more than a third in 1996. I recently attended a conference where the presenter stated “half of marriages end in divorce, while another third of the remaining are ...

Often when potential students contact me looking for an alcohol awareness class, they aren’t sure the length of course they should enroll in. Our alcohol awareness classes, for example, come in 8 hour, 16 hour and 24 hour lengths. These are also called our Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 classes. How to choose the right class

The Five Keys The Five Keys to freedom and recovery 1. I admit to constructing a “Core Belief System” that does not supported me living through my Artistic Self, my authenticity. 2. I commit to exploring my “Core Belief System” and come to an understanding of the beliefs that support my ...

Anyone in recovery desires several things. You want to remain free of the drug you had been using and you want to alleviate the negative physical and emotional conditions that were created by that addiction. Hopefully, you also want to lead a healthier life in general. In order to move along a new path in life in which you are becoming and staying healthier, you must not only stay free of your previous substance abuse, but you should live in a more wholesome manner, one that

In The Functioning Alcoholic: Gaps in Functioning I argued that doing one’s job is not one’s only function in life. For the alcoholic to consider himself to be “functioning” he has to function in various areas of life, not just on the job. In Can the Functioning Alcoholic Last?: Part Three I tackle the issue of using the term “functioning” when the alcohol leads to an early death. Abandoned Dreams and Under-achievement

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR MOST EFFECTIVE DRUG OR ALCOHOL TREATMENT PROGRAM (A Chapter from “AA Not the Only Way” By Melanie Solomon http://www.aanottheonlyway.com Note: This is NOT a free product. You do not have the right to give it away or sell it without proper written consent from the author. The product is copyright © by Melanie Solomon. No part of this product may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any other means: electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written consent of the copyright holder.

Intervention means to interfere in the affairs of another person in order to bring about a positive change. The common use today in the mental health field is to interfere in life of a person who is in a self-destructive cycle. Most of the time, the self destructive cycle has to do with habitual use of alcohol or drugs, yet it could also be self-destructive behaviors such as overeating, gambling and compulsive sexual behavior. If a person is in a self-destructive cycle they will be intervened upon at some point by the legal system, financial institution, employer, spouse or the grave.

Members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) generally assert that their use of alcohol is out of control and that even one drink is too many. AA espouses total abstinence from alcohol for life. But is it possible for a person who has abused alcohol to gradually cut back on their use of alcohol and reach a point where they can handle a drink or two without losing control? There are many who say that tapering off alcohol is indeed possible and has been accomplished by many people. Is

Personal development is a linear progression where we are always striving to better our self. We begin life vulnerable and dependent on our caregivers. We progress to become independent and strike out at the world on our own. As we mature further, we realize that we cannot take on the world alone and learn to become interdependent working in harmony with those around us. The goal of development is to reach a state of interdependence, where we are self aware enough to understand that there is strength in developing strong relations with those around us.

I was recently invited to speak at an event in the same small Virginia town where I started my recovery journey and had the chance to be with some of the people with whom I first got sober 17 years ago. There were the guys I called the Fantastic Four: my first sponsor, my first best friend in sobriety, the man who taught me how to say “Hi” to other people, and the man who had what I wanted. And there were the incredible women—especially Mama T and all the adopted grandmas.

Originally this article was entitled “Being Happy.” But “Being” seems more appropriate. We are caught in an endless strive to be happy. We want to increase our pleasure and decrease our negative emotions. This article will discuss ways to accomplish this, while at the same time not neglecting ...

Chubby Hubby doesn't even have to answer that one. He better not! The worst part is that we know the answer. In our hearts that dress is perfect for the big event. We also have eyes, and can see our B and B, (butt and belly) is not. Here we go again with the time-honored solution - the crash ...

rnhttp://www.addictsfriend.com/tara-m---me-and-my-recovery.php rnby: Tara M. Me And My Recovery rn rnThe last week has been a very busy week. The school semester is winding down, and finals are here. The pressure I put on myself is so great, today I hold myself to a higher standard. And it is because of who I once was and where I’ve been. ......Yesterday I was reminded of these things as I drove down the street. I saw someone carrying all their stuff and looking lost. Not k

As a substance abuse counselor I have worked with many clients who were on the fence about their addiction. They would have some issues in their life that made then think they were addicted but they would also have some reasons why they couldn't be addicted. I have found it helpful to explore various ways to help them get off the fence and let go of any possibility that they might not be addicted. Denial is expected in alcoholics and addicts. I have met many Jack Whinery, homesteader, repairing fence whi...professionals that complained about a client in denial.

Self-improvement has become something of a mantra and a watchword for a vast industry that has grown up around it in the last 30 perhaps 40 years. A lot of the self-improvement industry has flourished in the last 10 or 15 years with the growth of the Internet. Perhaps an inevitable consequence of the growth of the web, has been a freedom for people to peddle whatever wares they like online, alongside a lot of highly reputable and good sources of information.

To first understand opioid addiction, you must first understand what opioids are. The term opioid refers to any drug or chemical that attaches (like a key fits into a lock) to sites in the brain called opioid receptors. The human body makes its own opioids (called endorphins) but the opioids we are conce ed with when we talk about opioid addiction are those that are manufactured in a laboratory or made by plants. For instance, morphine and codeine are found in the extract (the opium) of seeds from the poppy plant, and this opium is processed into heroin.

Everyone feel anxious from time to time, especially if his life is stressful, but, if he has an anxiety that is going out of control and interfere with your ability to function and relationships and makes it hard to enjoy life, he may have generalized anxiety disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by chronic anxiety, exaggerated worry and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it. Symptomsr Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms can vary in combination and severity. They can include:r

Children should be able to trust their parent completely. This is a person who, usually, helped bring them into the world. But what happens when the parent is suffering from an addiction? Addiction doesn’t just affect the addict . It has far-reaching effects, many of which impact children and the relationship a child has with their parent. Here are 5 ways addiction can harm that relationship. 1. Decreased Trust Parents are supposed to be protectors, but someone who is strug

Choosing the right clinician for your needs is a complicated matter. There are some simple steps to begin heading in the right direction. It is important to understand your needs and what you are looking for. There are several different types of clinicians in the helping profession. I want to ...

Everything that has an impact on us from within or without is stressful. Heat, light, sound, job and relationship expectations, change, etc. all create a certain amount of stress. Only when this stress builds to the point of DISTRESS within an individual is the FEAR (Fight- ...

Most of the men I’ve talked to over the years in the journey through recovery can identify some point in their lives when they realized it was not okay to express certain feelings or behaviors, especially if those feelings showed weakness, vulnerability or sensitivity. Crying above all was strictly discouraged. They also learned—sometimes through everyday interactions with other men but frequently because of abuse or traumatic experiences—that the only appropriate way to express things like fear, hurt, rejection or sadness was through the conduit of anger and violence.

Determining the right time for drug and alcohol treatment is different for each person. Some individuals will go and get help as soon as they feel like they're developing a problem. Others seek treatment when they feel they're becoming dependent on drugs or alcohol to cope with life. Still, others will have to hit rock bottom before they become willing to get help. Many people fall somewhere in the middle. The problem with addictions is every one is different. Each person has their own set of circumstances that's unique to them, and that makes it difficult to judge their situation.

Many people find taking liquor a pleasant way to relax and beat stress. It has become an acceptable and common practice to take booze at social gatherings. There is a very fine line between drinking at parties, occasions and alcohol abuse. Many people cross this line, without even knowing that there drinking habit has turned into an addiction. Excessively drinking can cause physical and mental damage to the drinker as well as adversely affect people around him. Mild drinks d

Why can’t they just stop drinking or using drugs? Can't they see the damage they're doing to themselves, to their families and to their careers?nnFor those that have never endured addiction or alcoholism, it can be tough to understand how anyone could continue to drug or drink even in the face of mounting adverse consequences. If the answer to the problem is as easy as to just stop doing something harmful, it seems a bit ridiculous that it ever gets so bad!nnAnd the tru

The conscious awareness that we are ill and lack health, happiness and energy does not necessarily mean that we are ready, willing and able, at an unconscious level, to ask for and receive the health, energy and life changes that our Healing would bring about. Many individuals more safely manipulate, through their lack of energy and illness, the love, attention and support they desire and, in addition, protect themselves from any responsibility, failure and the expectation of others.

Anyone ever hear of Robert Muller? I hadn't until I just happened to catch him on a "Great Conversations" show. Muller used to be a Deputy to the Secretary General of the UN. He's been nominated 19 times for the Nobel Peace Prize. Now that's quite an honor. There have been a lot of NPP awards that were definitely more politically motivated than empirically justified. However, I think Muller is the real deal in the Peace Prize arena, and he should have gotten it. I don't agree with everything he says.

Oklahoma has long been known for many things, surprising to some, things like football, country music and meth labs. Home to Wiley Post and a few other famous people Oklahoma has a rich history that tells quite a story. From the dust bowl era back in the Great Depression and Oklahoma Land Run. Outlaws and moonshine ran through the backcountry hills and across the sweeping plains. Moonshine stills now being replaced by meth labs. There are more tha 3.5 million people in Oklah

I wrote this comment in response to a writer who raved against addicts for not being held to some standard of getting better, and my take on his article was he was frustrated with the addicts for relapsing in such high numbers, which is true -- and is outrageously expensive. I think there is another reason for all the relapsing, however, and that yes I agree, something needs to be done about it. Anyhow, the comment was too long to be accepted so here it is: Dear XYZ:r

Shyness is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a social phobia. Depending on the degree of introversion they have, some people may actually find that it can be debilitating, depriving them of a healthy social life. It not only affects their relationships, it also affects their careers, keeping ...

Sam has been charged with impaired driving twice. He drinks every weekend and he drinks a lot. His wife and other family members report that his personality changes when he drinks and he becomes mean. The next day he can’t remember much of what happened when he was drinking.

There’s no doubt that Alcoholics Anonymous has become a huge part of the world of addiction recovery since its founding in 1935. The 12-step program is designed to lead members to a spiritual awakening to achieve sobriety. Many programs – including those operated by Pyramid Healthcare – incorporate the teachings and tenets of Alcoholics Anonymous into the care that they provide. In some cases, inpatient facilities will host AA meetings on-site, or transport clients to off-site meetings in the community.

One who, as a result of having an attachment to a chemical, a person, an emotional state, or to anything else, ends up consistently behaving or living in a manner that he or she begins to view as “destructive,” which means in a manner inconsistent with his or her ideals or goals, has been called an “addict.” Similarly, one who not only develops an attachment to a chemical, a person, an emotional state, or to anything else, but who also tends to do this on more than on

Asia has one of the best alcohol rehabs in the world i.e. DARA (Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Asia). Asia's rehabs offer private, professional and world-class rehab treatment programs. Asia is a favorite destination for English speaking clients because of Asia's central location among many other reasons discussed below. 1. Asia offers the most cost effective medical services in the world: One of the main reasons why many people prefer to go for alcohol rehab in Asia is becaus

Who would have thought that my meanderings over “What is Addiction” in my last blog would lead me to an Ezine article by Melanie Solomon, July 11, 2010 and her amazing book AA-Not the Only Way — Your One Stop Resource Guide to 12-Step Alternatives–Second Edition? In it she cites many statistics based on government research and other reputable institutions that validated my experience working in the treatment field for 30 years. I felt happy for my clients gratified gi

A blended family or step parenting can be a very big challenge for everyone involved. The following are some guidelines to make the new family unit function more effectively. 1. Be Patient – A natural family is created slowly, yet a blended family is more abrupt. Allow time for adjustment. 2. Make Respect a Rule – Demand that each member of the family is treated with respect. Members may not like each other, yet acting with respectful actions and attitude is mandatory. Discipline behavior and character.r

TOBACCO is one of the few legal substances available in stores as a consumer product, that will kill or harm when used as intended. It is the #1 killer over-the-counter drug the world has ever seen. Why is it we believe there’s enjoyment in something that is literally killing millions of people every year. nnBelieve me.. no other consumer product in the history of the world has even come close to inflicting this amount of damage on mankind. If anything else of this magnitud

Former professional hockey player and Narconon Trois-Rivieres spokesperson, Claude Lapointe has joined the fight against drugs. Mr. Lapointe has signed on to help raise awareness about drug addiction , and help educate today’s youth concerning the truth about drugs. Claude will also be donating his time to help fundraise for drug awareness and prevention. Working along the drug prevention team of Narconon Trois-Rivieres drug rehab, he will be attending some of the drug prev

Apart from a John Lennon song, mind games is an expression often used by football managers and others to imply some sort of psychological manipulation of another person to gain some sort of advantage over them.This is normally fairly innocuous stuff at press conferences to try and rattle their opponents. Mind control is really a much more creepy term and tends to be applied to any sort of situation or relationship where someone is trying to manipulate your thinking so it agrees with their own.

The success of community based substance abuse treatment programs is based, according to Dr. Darryl Inaba, on the fact that they are uniquely able to provide care and support that is sensitive to culture, gender and place. As one of the original founders of San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury Free Clinics, Inc., Dr. Inaba has a long history with treatment programs that "come from the street" and so was greatly impressed with what he saw during a recent visit to Los Angeles based

n nA residential treatment center , often referred to by the acronym RTC, is a live-in therapy/behavior modification facility for adolescents who suffer from a variety of emotional conditions, ranging from drug abuse to violence to sexual behavioral problems to video game addiction and disrespecting parents. Different RTCs work with different grades of problems, and so the structure and methods of RTCs varies. Some RTCs are lock-down facilities; that is, the residents are loc

What do you think it is going to take in order for rational thinking people to finally speak out in huge numbers? How much more do we need to see? How many more stories to we need to hear before we can comfortably speak the simple truth that pornography is the master exploiter of our world and has created a moral epidemic?

Breaking bad habits are not as hard as you may think. Let's say you want to quit smoking, lose weight, or change any addictive behavior. You're doomed for failure unless you know the way you think, and what will or will not work for you. Simply put - you have to know yourself to change yourself. Two Brain Concept Right brain and left brain thinking stems from research in the 60s by psycho-biologist Roger W. Sperry.

It seems like each generation has a different trend that they follow when it comes to drugs and alcohol. One year drinking alcohol is on the rise and the in thing to do but two years later the majority of kids are smoking marijuana. Never has the US been faced with the illogical dangers that are present today. There is no proof or evidence that indicates today’s teens are in big trouble except for what has been witnessed thus far.

The normal answer is, if you are asking the question then it is already a problem. True it is a bit of cliché but unfortunately it is also true. People seldom raise the issue to someone outside the relationship until they can no longer ignore it. You may have thought that there is a problem. You may have even brought it up with the drinker. You were almost certainly met with a dismissive denial that there could possibly be a problem and you were probably more than happy to accept the reassurances and bury the concerns and doubts till another bout of drinking makes them surface again.

Addiction is not only an unhealthy habit, but it can also have adverse affects on one’s personality. When a person becomes addicted to a behavior or habit, he or she slowly undergoes a transformation in personality. To understand how addiction affects personality, it is important to first realize what causes addiction. According to school speaker and addictions expert Scott Gallagher, all addicts have at least one thing in common. They believe there is something wrong with

Wedding Invitation Cards is a superlative way to announce that you are entering into a new life! Wedding invitations are a superb thought through which people know more about your style of wedding, theme and venue. Unique wedding invitations can be kept as a souvenir to remember the happy couple after the wedding.rnWhether the wedding party is outstanding or average, luxurious or not, stimulating or a tire. You should plan your wedding invitation card, with full concentration

When You Want To Hurt - A Letter To Those Who Suffer -r