Addiction Recovery Archives - Page 9 of 9

Being Of Service, Because Helping Others Helps Us All

Posted on February 14, 2017August 30, 2017 by JohnAdmin

If you ever attend an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting, you will undoubtedly hear about the program’s 12th and final step:

Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

This important and final step isn’t something that recovering addicts focus on until they gain a strong foothold in their own recovery process, but it is immensely valuable to them when they do. Service to others teaches us everything from compassion to patience and even gratitude for own ability to escape addiction, not to mention the many ways it benefits people in recovery.

Most people have at least a baseline understanding of why volunteering and helping others is such a good thing. But do you understand why it’s so valuable in recovery? If not, you’re in luck; we’re about to break it down right now.

Supports Your Recovery

Before we have the opportunity to help others, we must first help ourselves. Recognizing how service to others benefits you is the first step to understanding what makes it so important.

No matter where you go for assistance with your addiction, you’ll find others who came before you waiting. Recovering addicts often go on to become counselors, therapists, addiction nurses, and nursing assistants in residential facilities all across the country. They lead AA meetings, do outreach work, and sometimes, just lend a helpful ear to other addicts.

Recovering addicts who work within the addiction industry understand what you’ve been through and what it takes to come out the other side. In nearly all cases, they, too, have benefitted from the attention of a recovering addict early on their journey.

The adventure comes full-circle with each newly recovered addict helping those still at rock bottom. In this way, the movement grows and more people reach healing over time. It’s important to be grateful for that help – much of which comes in the form of volunteer work – as you make your way into a sober life.

Improves Your Mood

Whether it’s within the recovery industry or just at your local animal shelter, service to others can improve your mood. This is a fact that science can demonstrate quite clearly; studies like this one show a clear link between regularly helping others and feeling happier, less anxious, and less depressed.

In fact, one London School of Economics study showed that people who volunteered at least once every two to four weeks reported feeling happier than their non-volunteering counterparts – to the tune of almost 12 percent. In the recovery industry, where mood disorders and dual diagnoses are common, that’s a significant improvement.

Gives You Purpose

One of the most common complaints from people struggling with recovery is that they feel like they’ve lost their purpose or identity. Our lives become so entrenched in finding substances or seeking out behaviors that it becomes our entire being, even if it’s also what’s killing us at the same time. When that substance or behavior is suddenly removed from the equation, we’re left with facing up to our original selves and finding our place in life all over again. That can admittedly feel terrifying.

By volunteering or giving back to others, you give yourself a purpose, even if that goal is temporary. It’s a constant reminder of the fact that you are worthy of life (a sober life, at that), that you have something to offer, and that you deserve love just as much as everyone else. There’s nothing quite like feeling needed, and people who are fresh into sober living can certainly benefit from the lessons you have to teach them after you’ve walked the path for a while yourself.

There’s also nothing quite like the satisfaction of talking someone out of using when they call you, their sponsor, in the middle of the night. Sometimes what we need most is just a friendly ear. Never doubt how much you provide just by offering someone a friendly ear.

Teaches You Valuable Social Skills

For most of us, re-learning how to socialize after we get sober is…well, challenging. We’re so used to the effects of drugs, alcohol, or even sex soothing awkwardness and getting us through challenging social situations that we’re sort of lost and delirious after it’s taken away. But that’s not a bad thing; learning to socialize without substances can lead to deeper, richer, more meaningful relationships with family, lovers, and friends.

Serving others (particularly other addicts) is always a learning experience, especially when it comes to social skills. It’s no secret that it can be challenging to watch other recovering addicts go through what you once went through. But the fact that you will learn how best to support them at rock bottom while still caring for your own mental health? That’s a life lesson you can apply all across the board.

Volunteering teaches us how to meet people where they are without risking ourselves in the process. We learn how to draw safe boundaries, how to hold onto those boundaries, and when to cut the rope and back off if it’s unhealthy. Best of all, we learn how to interact and appreciate the goodness inherent in people from all walks of life.

Reminds You of Your Roots

One of the most important ways helping others find their way benefits us in recovery is through the simple fact that it reminds us of our own recovery roots. Losing your connection with your recovery community is dangerous; immersed in an average life with no focus on recovery, it becomes easy to forget all of the struggle. We start to lose sight of that severe detox, the withdrawals, the people we hurt, and how much we lost because of substances.

You may even start to view occasional use or indulgence through rose-colored glasses, especially if you’ve had a drink or two without going overboard in the past. We can begin to convince ourselves that we’re normal, our lives are normal, and there’s no longer a reason to work our steps our plan. That’s exactly what leads to sudden and extreme relapses, many of which can have devastating consequences.

By helping others find their way, you stay humble and cognizant of how far you’ve come. Sure, it’s not easy to see someone struggling during the worst of times, but it is a stark reminder of how fast casual use can get out of hand. Cultivating compassion for people in that situation can even help us to reflect and cultivate compassion for ourselves.

The Right Recovery Community Can Help You Heal

Posted on February 10, 2017February 10, 2017 by JohnAdmin

Do you have a recovery community on your side? If not, you may be missing out on one of the very best elements that sober living has to offer. The recovery “community” is vast and can be broken down into an endless number of groups and organizations. From Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) to private support groups and residential treatment centers, recovering addicts all across America are helping each other to face their fears and heal from the past.

But jumping head-first into one facet of the community isn’t always wise; it’s important to take your time and find the community that suits you best. Not every group or meeting will be right for every person, as the recovery from addiction is not a one-size-fits-all process or journey, and that’s okay!

Once you find your group, the benefits of association are extensive. Forging new relationships with people who understand your story is a priceless gift that you simply can’t buy with money alone. But that’s not where the healing ends; there’s much more to the story. Let’s take a look at how the right community can help you heal.

Sharing Your Vision

Your ideal recovery community should share your vision of what recovery looks like. For some, that could mean total abstinence, while for others, it may include harm reduction strategies like methadone replacement therapy or SMART Recovery strategies instead. There’s no one approach that’s right for every person, so it’s okay to spend some time talking with your care team about what might work best for you.

When you belong to a community that shares your overall vision for recovery, you instantly become connected to people who strive to achieve the same lifestyle and recovery goals as you. That not only makes you feel more supported but can also have a positive effect on everything from accountability to attendance at meetings.

On the other hand, choosing the wrong recovery community can be a bit of a disaster if the others within it don’t share your vision. For example, someone who is particularly prone to relapses may find SMART Recovery communities triggering simply because the approach makes allowances for harm reduction instead of abject abstinence. In contrast, someone who finds the AA program too restrictive to their current situation may stop attending simply because of the pressure.

Healing often requires going back to the nitty gritty basics, so starting from wherever you are is best. Choose your recovery community based on where you are right now, and always recognize that your needs may change down the road.

Remember: Good recovery communities stay true to the recovery path at all times, no matter what the activity or meeting topic. Safety comes first!

Staying True to the Cause

The best recovery groups are focused on the cause at all times – recovery. While the community may meet for socialization, volunteer together, or even just spend time hanging out together outside of meetings, the overall focus needs to remain the same throughout.

Communities that schedule events at drinking establishments or host parties where substances are readily available should raise red flags, regardless of whether you happen to be an alcoholic or not.

Likewise, communities that continually allow members to attend meetings intoxicated, or allow otherwise disruptive behaviors freely, are often more focused on the drama that happens within them than the cause in the first place.

Good communities have strong, experienced leaders (be it a therapist or just your peers) with the ability to set guidelines, rules, or goals as needed to keep the group in check. When problems arise, they’ll handle issues privately or within the group only after getting permission. They’ll check in with the group and verify everyone’s recovery goals, too, and show a willingness to adjust when adjustments are necessary.

It’s also important to recognize that the “right community” should contain leaders sourced from within the community itself. People who have directly experienced addiction or recovery personally have much to share, and learning from their triumphs and mistakes can help you achieve or avoid your own goals and problems, too.

Remember: a recovery community takes its strength from its members, and leaders who come from the group are a sign of its longevity and strength.

Supporting Accountability

We’ve talked about the importance of accountability in recovery before; being honest and truthful about where you are is really the only way to move forward, even if reality isn’t particularly appealing to look at right now. You have to start from where you are, no matter how low your rock-bottom is. After all, if you don’t judge how deep the hole is, you can’t possibly know whether to jump out, use the ladder, or ask your support network to extend you a rope.

Unfortunately, within the realm of recovery communities, this can lead to uniquely challenging and difficult situations.

Here’s an example: When your meeting group smells alcohol on your breath but you claim you haven’t been drinking (even though you know very well you have), and they don’t call you on it, they aren’t requiring you to be accountable for your actions. That’s a problem simply because it allows you to continue with your destructive behaviors unchecked.

But demanding accountability, especially in early recovery or relapse, can sometimes be perceived as a slight. You’re sensitive, already aware of your failings, and they want you to admit it, too? Ouch.

Despite the fact that it can seem like your recovery group or community is pushing you too hard to be honest, both with them and yourself, their request for accountability really is in your best interest. They’re not trying to hurt you; they’re trying to keep you on track and to give you the insight needed to get back on the track altogether when you’ve lost your way.

Your community depends on you just as much as you depend on them, and they deserve honesty about how you’re doing. Good group leaders know that just the requirement of accountability itself can help prevent future relapses and slips.

There’s one small thing to keep in mind with regard to groups that demand accountability; don’t confuse it with aggression. The very best communities will temper the request with patience, understanding, and support, not with verbal aggression, anger, or complete and permanent ousting.

Remember: If you are attacked, insulted, ostracized, or disrespected, walk away. It’s not okay for anyone to abuse you, be it verbal or physical in nature.

Encouraging Holistic Healing

The recovery community might be focused on recovery as its first and primary vision, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that recovery should be the only focus or topic tabled for discussion.

Good recovery communities go the distance and are frequently less of just a group and more of an overall virtual village. They encourage healing from a holistic perspective and support you in achieving a healthier overall lifestyle, teaching you how to have fun and live life free of substances and dangerous behaviors. As recovery is a lifelong process, this is important.

Look for communities that encourage a broad range of activities and support methods first. Lots of options mean plenty of opportunities to get involved, keeping you engaged, interested, and committed without growing bored.

Regular holistic health activities could include weekly walks, events at safe and sober locations, movie nights, hobby groups, yoga classes, or even something as simple as social hours where recovering addicts can interact and have fun in a safe space. Or it could be as complex as a leader who creates referrals for you to ensure that you’re seen by a doctor, therapist, or medical care team instead.

As you interact, you’ll recover from addiction and potentially heal other areas of your life at the same time, growing happier and more at peace.

Remember: Find a recovery community that supports you holistically to increase your chances of success. Whether it’s a sober living facility or meeting group, addressing your overall health is important!

Connecting with the right recovery community or group isn’t always easy, but the research shows that it’s research shows that it’s more than worth it. That’s why many patients decide to start with inpatient treatment or sober living facilities first. Having that safe, guided experience during the first few days and weeks of detox and recovery can be invaluable, especially if you’ve struggled or failed with other outside resources in the past. Finding the right recovery community, be it inpatient or out, isn’t just a temporary fix; it’s a stepping stone to getting the right support, healing your traumas, and forging lifelong friendships, too.

Modern Dating As A Recovering Sex Addict

Posted on February 2, 2017September 28, 2018 by JohnAdmin

Sex addiction can devastate your life. It compromises your relationships, has the potential to put you in serious physical danger, and can even convince you to take actions you’d never otherwise engage in – like cheating on a long-term partner. It breaks up marriages, sabotages families, and drives a wedge between friends. It can also steal your ability to date for years – leaving you seriously lost and confused when you begin once again.

Dating as a sex addict is very different from dating as an average person. Much like an alcoholic who works in a bar, it is possible, but only with a steadfast dedication to work your recovery plan and stay accountable along the way. It is immensely easy to slip into bad habits and cross-addictions (like love addiction) along the way.

This, unfortunately, very often leads recovering sex addicts to avoid meaningful relationships altogether, sometimes for years or even decades.

Make no mistake: early recovery – regardless of which addiction you struggle with – is certainly not the best time to test the dating waters. But if you have years of reliable recovery under your belt, and your care team is confident in your ability to manage your addiction while dating, there’s nothing wrong with getting out there again. Figuring out how to do that in a way that’s healthy and positive?

Well…that can admittedly feel a bit awkward.

Recognize That Dating Is Awkward for Everyone

If you’re finding it difficult to manage awkward feelings, understand that this is really not something specific to the sex addict. Everyone experiences awkwardness, uncomfortable moments of silence, and squirm-worthy early relationship milestones like discussing your sexual or relationship history. Someone will inevitably spill a drink, drop pasta on their shirt, or say something completely inappropriate eventually – all you can do when this happens innocently is laugh it off.

The first date or two is especially nerve-jangling, especially if you and your date are just meeting for the first time or don’t have a past friendship to rely on.

Go into dating with the understanding that it will occasionally be awkward (and that’s okay). Don’t push those feelings down; instead, take stock of them. Write them down in a diary or discuss them in advance with your group or therapist. Work through them and develop healthy coping mechanisms rather than slipping into old behaviors (like being overly sexual too soon).

The awkwardness in early dating can actually be a learning experience; it teaches you much about what you want, what you don’t want, and what’s best for you – but only if you’re paying attention.

Be Honest about Your Motivations

Following healthy dating safety guidelines is a must. That means being honest with yourself about how your date makes you feel, how things are progressing, and whether or not you want to develop things further or are just seeking sex. Question your motivation regularly and be willing to admit when you’ve faltered.

Are you really attracted to them, or just slipping into old patterns? Are you considering sex on the first date, and if so, what’s motivating you to do that? Perhaps you find yourself going to bars and other high-risk locations; if so, why? Rushing things is often an indicator that you’re slipping back into your addiction – and that can go from bad to worse fast.

To be clear, sex early within the relationship (or often) isn’t always negative. There is no shame in enjoying a healthy, robust sex life, at least not when you go about it the right way and for the right reasons. And yes – even recovering sex addicts can go on to have healthy sexual relationships in the future.

Safety and Dating

For the recovering sex addict, there is a tendency to rush into relationships (or even just into sex) without paying careful attention to subtle red flags. Beware avoiding serious issues just for the sake of instant gratification. Doing so can place you in harm’s way, either right away or somewhere in the not-too-distant future. You might overlook a date’s pushy, brash attitude, or allow someone to convince you to have sex early on in the relationship. Or, a date might treat you poorly, but as they demonstrate sexual interest, you let it slide.

Having respect for your safety (and that of your date is a must for recovering sex addicts.

Start with basic dating safety guidelines:

Always meet in public for at least the first handful of dates; if something goes wrong, you’ll have other people around you to help.
Be sure that someone (whether it’s your mother or your support group) knows where you’re going, when you’re going, and when you can expect to be back.
If you carry a smartphone, have a friend text you mid-date to confirm that everything is going okay.
Be honest with your motivations. If a date asks for sex, and you’re not ready, say so and stick with your decision.
Pay close attention to how your date treats waiters, ushers, and other service staff. This is almost always a predictor of how they will treat you.

Sometimes the issue is not about sex, but about avoiding red flags simply for the sake of intimacy. Are they overly sexual or aggressive? Are they pressuring you to go to a more private location when you’re not sure you’re ready? If so, it’s okay to cut your losses and end the date. Walking away is better than putting yourself in a potentially dangerous situation.

Pace Yourself

Variety is the spice of life. In that vein, dating multiple people before you settle into a long-term relationship can be very healthy. Along the way, you’ll learn exactly what it is you want from a relationship, what you don’t want, and where your boundaries lie. This is a healthy, positive thing, especially for sex addicts who may be relearning how to have healthy relationships in the first place.

That said, don’t let your new foray into dating rush you. Pacing yourself is important; seeing a different person every night of the week is more likely to be indicative of addictive behaviors than of a genuine willingness to form healthy relationships.

That’s especially true when multiple dates end with some form of intimacy. For as much as the media will tell you that dating is a “game,” the reality is that healthy dating requires time to digest the experience had on each date so that you can determine how you feel about it.

There are no hard and firm numbers here, but if you’re scheduling more than a date or two a week, bring it up with your support network. Talk about what’s motivating you. That’s where abject transparency comes in.

Transparency: The Sex Addict’s Most Important Tool

In an everyday dating situation, you would be solely responsible for factors like choosing a partner, deciding what to disclose to them of your sexual history, or deciding when to take your relationship to the next level. As a recovering sex addict, you must be willing to admit that your decision-making process could be influenced by addiction, and thus, might be biased or unhealthy. Transparency – not just to yourself, but to one or more persons outside of yourself – is one of the most important tools you have for maintaining healthy relationships.

That’s usually where support groups (or in some cases, therapists) come in.

Before you start dating, reevaluate your support network. Do you have people who you can talk to, people who you can relate to and who will understand your struggles? Are you absolutely willing to bring up issues of intimacy with them when they arise? If the answer is no, bolster your support network first.

Find a Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) group, a local support group, or a therapist who can be a stop check your emotions and motivations along the way. Work out a recovery plan and follow it to the letter before and during your dating experience. If you catch yourself being dishonest, either about your feelings or about something that happened on a date, report it back to your trusted support group as quickly as possible.

Getting the support you need as a sex addict is the best way to achieve your goals, be they simple sobriety or meaningful future relationships. Understand that slips and intimacy problems aren’t just probable; just as with any addiction, they’re nearly guaranteed. That doesn’t mean you won’t be successful – it just means you need to be willing to stick with it long-term to see the results. That isn’t always easy when you’re used to instant gratification, but it’s very worthwhile. Practicing honesty while ensuring that you have sobriety support in place is the best way to dust yourself off and recommit to your recovery plan.

If you’re struggling with sex addiction and don’t know where to turn, contact us today to see how we can help: 877-394-8810

Learning From Addiction Recovery Success Stories

Posted on January 19, 2017January 19, 2017 by JohnAdmin

One of the main tenets of recovery, whether you attend AA or a residential treatment center, is service to others. The theory is that by helping others, we also help ourselves, especially when it comes to people who are still mired in their own rock bottom struggles. It also allows us to give back to the recovery community that’s given us so much help along the way. Of course, all of this takes time; jumping directly into a life of service in the first few weeks of sobriety can often be too much.

If you’ve recently decided to get sober, it’s very likely that you’re experiencing a wide range of emotions about doing so. The prospect of spending the rest of your life without your drug of choice can seem daunting (that’s why we advocate taking one day at a time). So, too, can relapse and setbacks seem like you’ll never recover again. Fortunately, this is mostly negative internal dialogue; there’s so much hope for you, regardless of where you’re starting.

Learning from the success stories of others who have gone before us is one of the best ways to remember that recovery from addiction is not only possible, but is also so rewarding too. Here, you’ll discover important lessons learned by three individuals, a life coach, a celebrity, and a medical professional, each of whom has much to teach you about the journey to recovery.

Alison Cebulla

Looking at life coach Alison Cebulla today, you’d never know that she was once mired in the depths of a methamphetamine addiction. She’s polished, poised, and driven to succeed, but she has had her own share of struggles, too. Alison details her story on Will Powered, painting a picture of how the daily ritual of using once sucked her in and almost claimed her life.

“The whole process was a ritual: getting the drugs, getting a friend or group together at someone’s home, taking the drugs out, doing the drugs, etc. Then the drugs themselves would facilitate talking, stimulating endorphins that would keep us chatting all night until the sun came up.”

Her story is also a strong reminder of how casual use can insidiously turn into more serious, long-term addiction. Alison didn’t use once and instantly get hooked. She was a weekend warrior like many of us are in the beginning, using to remove the awkward and uncomfortable feelings experienced with socialization. But just as it often is with other addicts, she, too, eventually found herself using more and more often.

So what was Alison’s tipping point? Her sign came in the form of a card from her mother, who reminded her that she was loved and cherished by her family. She sought help through her university’s health clinic and committed herself to a program that helped her heal.

Learning from Alison’s Story

Today, Alison gives back to the community in many ways. She is an outspoken supporter of better nutrition, self-love, and intuition. What we can learn from Alison is that dedication to sobriety and a willingness to ask for help is really what leads to success for us, even when we’re in our darkest hour. That commitment to the recovery community, be it in asking and accepting help or in helping others yourself, is one of the most crucial facets of recovery in general.

David Loeffert

To those who don’t know better, David Loeffert may seem like an unlikely candidate for addiction. After all, he didn’t become an addict until later in life. Before David even began experimenting with substances, he had achieved relative success by completing a Bachelor of Science, a Masters in Health Sciences, and a Ph.D in Respiratory Medicine. By 27, his innovative work was published in the well-respected Chest medical journal; an additional 57 published papers afforded him great respect all around the world in his field.

Unfortunately, David’s success wasn’t enough to protect himself from the perils of addiction. After being prescribed medication (painkillers and other controlled substances) in medical school by an unscrupulous physician who later lost his prescribing license, he found himself severely addicted to multiple medications. Despite the fact that David recognized and understood addiction particularly well, being in the medical profession himself, he rationalized his use, much as all of us do before we hit rock bottom.

Many of us need multiple rock bottoms before we finally get it, and David was no exception. Even after being arrested for forging a prescription in front of his colleagues, he continued to doctor shop and take his drugs of choice. As word of his addiction grew, he was alienated from his colleagues and work more and more often, until eventually he became homeless and had nothing left. David tried rehab but repeatedly failed after he returned to everyday life.

What eventually turned David’s story around was deciding to enter a 1-year treatment program. The residential facility he chose removed him from his life long-term, thereby divorcing him from habitual patterns completely. Once removed, he was able to focus on treating his addiction holistically. As David slowly healed his emotional, physical, and spiritual struggles, he was able to leave substances behind, but not without continuous recovery work.

Learning from David’s Story

So what can we learn from David’s story? The biggest lesson here is in the fact that, for the vast majority of us, healing from our addictions means being willing to let go of our old lives altogether and focusing on our programs full-time. For some, that means moving away from a hometown and never coming back (save for the occasional visit). For others, that’s long-term sober living facilities or rehabilitation centers. It’s an allegory of the fact that recovery isn’t something that can be half-done here and there – it’s a permanent lifestyle change.

Carrie Fisher

It might seem strange to include Carrie Fisher in an article about recovery successes, especially given her untimely death in 2016. But truthfully, Carrie is an excellent example because of her willingness to be public and outspoken about her struggles, especially with regard to dual diagnosis. Like many other addicts, her struggles with addiction began early on with trauma and mental illness. Coupled with the pressures of being a leading lady in one of the most popular film series at the time, “Star Wars,” it was a recipe for disaster. At just 13, Fisher was already experimenting with marijuana. A couple of years later, she had moved on to LSD. By 21, she found herself right in the center of a severe cocaine addiction.

In an Australian news article, Carrie mentions that for her, it wasn’t even so much that she liked the drugs. Instead, it was more about the escape from life in general that pulled her in.

“I didn’t even like coke that much, it was just a case of getting on whatever train I needed to take to get high.”

Carrie continued to use as the years passed by, slipping more and more from public view. Despite being one of the most popular actresses of her time, fewer and fewer producers would hire her. Rumors circulated that her drug use was the cause, though she refuted it at many points when asked. A marriage to Paul Simon in the early 1980s worsened the problem; Fisher would desperately use in an attempt to keep up with her husband professionally. A short time later, she was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.

It wasn’t until the unfortunate and untimely death of her friend, R. Gregory Stevens, from drug use that Carrie really dedicated herself to sobriety. Though she wasn’t responsible – Stevens himself had an extensive history of drug use, and had died of drug-related health problems – she blamed herself for being unable to save him.

After Stevens’ death, she focused on healing. Her gift to the community came in the form of a book titled, “Postcards From the Edge.” This remarkably funny, often bare and vulnerable fictional story detailed the story of a woman who struggles to understand why people believe in God while undergoing rehab herself. Though it is fiction, Carrie herself has said that the story is (at least in part) inspired by her own struggles with addiction.

Later books, including Wishful Drinking, Delusions of Grandma, Shockaholic, and Surrender the Pink all contained snippets of her story. In this way, Carrie laid bare her struggles and made many people – actresses and everyday people alike – feel a little bit less alone in their struggle.

Learning from Carrie’s Story

Carrie Fisher’s story is a shining example of how mental health and addiction struggles can touch anyone, regardless of financial status, class, profession, or importance. Whether you’re a doctor or someone who doesn’t work at all, it is all too easy to slip into self-medicating stress and mental health problems with substances.

Carrie advocated lessening the stigma surrounding both mental health and addiction. She taught us that there is no shame in admitting that you have a problem or seeking help. Her story is also a tremendous example of how outward appearances can be deceiving; even if we’re pretending we’re okay, it doesn’t make it true. Asking for help and allowing others in is the best way to heal.

These are just three of the many success stories we can draw inspiration from in recovery. Others, like Johnny Cash, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kelly Osbourne, Drew Barrymore, and even the grandfather of modern psychology, Sigmund Freud, all struggled with substances at one point or another. Stories of success, most importantly, teach us that we are not alone and that there are many others out there just waiting to support us in our efforts if we only take the chance and reach out.

How to Boost Your Self-Esteem During Early Recovery

Posted on September 7, 2016June 1, 2017 by JohnAdmin

Early recovery is an incredibly vulnerable time. Even if you feel ready to get sober and you’re prepared to begin rehab, your self-esteem might feel wounded when family and friends call you because they’ve just found out about your addiction. Perhaps co-workers are expressing their shock. Plus, you might be coming to terms with addiction yourself, given the denial you’ve been experiencing for some time.

In fact, one of the first things that needs repairing in recovery is self-esteem. You might think of self-esteem as value or self-worth. To hold something in high esteem means that you highly regard it; you appreciate it and value it. Self-esteem refers to how you feel about yourself.

To help build your self-esteem while in treatment to heal from addiction, consider the following:

Cultivate Connections

One of the quickest and most powerful ways to boost self-esteem is to make new friendships or strengthen old ones. Friendships can help a person feel seen, understood, and appreciated. It’s in relationships that we feel a part of something; we feel as though we belong, and we can feel hopeful about the future. When someone else sees where you are and where you’re going, it can create feelings of possibility. In fact, having a strong community of supportive people is one of the key components to a successful recovery. Connections can be a great way to boost self-esteem.

Practice Daily Mental, Physical Self-Care

Although this might be hard in the beginning, doing so can change your entire outlook on life. When you’re sleeping well, exercising, and eating well, you have greater resilience and inner strength. Typically, when you’re healthy and feel good physically, you’re more likely to feel good mentally and emotionally, too.

Create SMART Goals

For goals to be powerful and healthy, they should be designed to be SMART. The essence includes: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.

When SMART goals are successfully achieved, such as overcoming a strong craving, you’re more likely to feel good about yourself. Over time, continued successes in your recovery can be a great way to boost the way you feel about yourself. When you move closer and closer toward your goal of sobriety, you’re more likely to feel like you’re making progress in your life.

Focus on Your Strengths

An important part to boosting self-esteem is focusing on your strengths. If you know, for instance, that you are great with organization, then perhaps you can spend time organizing your own life now that you’re in recovery. You might even volunteer your time to help others get organized. Volunteering and getting involved in charity work is a great way to feel good about yourself. And it’s a great way to give back while recovering from addiction.

Find, Face Your Weaknesses

Just like knowing your strengths is important, it’s just as important to know your weaknesses. When you know this about yourself, you’re more likely to avoid circumstances that can be problematic for you. For instance, if you know that you’re not good at being social, then perhaps avoiding social events during this time can support your overall recovery. Knowing both your strengths and weaknesses can help you make choices that support your self-esteem and overall well-being.

A person’s self-esteem is incredibly vulnerable during the first 90 days of sobriety. These are suggestions for boosting your self-confidence so that you can continue to heal from drug or alcohol addiction.

A Roadblock to Recovery: The Stigma of Addiction

Posted on July 19, 2016May 12, 2017 by JohnAdmin

For many, stigma can be the one obstacle that keeps them from getting sober. And understandably so. Stigma is the judgment society places on people and behavior. In addition to judging addicts, society also tends to judge those with a mental illness. Yet, people tend to judge that which they do not understand.

Fortunately, there are those who are fighting to reduce the effects of stigma. They recognize that the stigma of addiction can prevent someone from calling for the help they need. They recognize that people might fear reaching out for support because they don’t want to be judged by family, friends, coworkers, or community members. For these reasons, there are many individuals and organizations who are working hard to break through stigma.

One way to reduce the effects of trauma is to send the message that the length and quality of life is much more important than what others think. Although it’s sometimes difficult to ignore the judgment of others, here are five actions you should consider taking for moving past stigma and getting the help you need.

Recognition

Recognize that you need help to get sober. Often, a stigma may not get in the way until you’re faced with the challenge of calling for help. It’s then you’ll have to admit that you’re struggling with an addiction. And once you’re getting the support you need, you might not like the idea of having to talk about the difficulties you’ve faced. Yet, despite the judgments and opinions of others, a recovering addict finds help by admitting that he or she needs assistance with breaking through the barrier of addiction.

Connection

Connect with others who once struggled with the stigma of addiction and moved through it. When you’re at the beginning of your journey, the stigma of addiction might feel the strongest. However, once you’re past that point and you’ve made connection with others, it’s likely that you’ll hear that the stigma is no longer an issue. Forming relationships with others can be a significant part of pushing through stigma and finding support for your sobriety.

Attention

Keep your attention on your recovery. If you’re past the beginning stages of recovery and you’re still feeling the stigma of addiction, place your focus on your sobriety and recovery goals. A common beginning goal to sobriety is 90 days sober. Staying focused on this goal can help you break through the effects that the stigma of addiction might have on your life.

Preparation

Make a plan for your recovery. Remember that the journey of recovery is about you and not anyone else. If the stigma of addiction continues to get in the way, shift your focus on where you are now in your recovery and where you want to be. Having a long-term plan can help plant the seed in your mind that at some point in the future you’ll be sober and free of the struggles of addiction.

Participation

Participate in community events aimed at breaking the stigma of substance use addictions. Frequently, there are community organizations holding events that help break down the stigmas of mental illness and substance abuse. Participating in these events can bring the company of those who have seen past the barrier of a stigma.

These are suggestions for moving past stigma. Although it can be hard to ignore what others think, it’s possible to move past that in order to save a life – your own or someone you love!