Candace Plattor is The Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to "Addiction and Recovery". You can find complete information on Candace Plattor and her products by visiting Candace Plattor.
Ok, so you have decided that your life needs a little help and to accomplish this, you have decided to quit smoking pot. You have flushed or given away your stash. You have gotten rid of the paraphernalia. It has been a couple of days since you smoked pot and you're feeling cranky. You are not ... Views: 8206
I recently received an e-mail from a woman who believes her husband is a functioning alcoholic. Joan (alias) recently took the Alcoholism Test and then emailed me.
Although a few details are changed or left out for privacy reasons, Joan began with:
"I was researching functional alcoholism ... Views: 8203
Tracy, a 30 year old love addict shares her story of a relationship break up:
"When he said it was over, I stopped breathing. I could not gather my thoughts. I felt like it wasn't happening, but it was. It was surreal. My stomach turned up side down, my mouth was dry, I was sweating, my ... Views: 8153
“Angry”, “mad”, “irritable”, “frustrated”, “annoyed”, “irate”, “seething”, “agitated”, and “cranky” are all labels for anger. This list, although it could be a lot longer, reflects varying degrees in intensity of anger. Anger, although a normal emotion, can be problematic for recovering ... Views: 8108
One of the most important tasks necessary for maintaining abstinence and growing in recovery is learning how to appropriately work through feelings. Many people use alcohol and other drugs in place of dealing with or managing emotions. Alcoholism/drug addiction often involves skill deficits. ... Views: 8101
If you’re looking for advice on how to stop drinking and taking drugs, hopefully I can help.
But before I do that, let me give you the bad news first ...
If you’re looking for a genuine solution to alcoholism or drug addiction and really want to stop drinking and using, ultimately ... Views: 8001
Most spouses and loved ones of addicts, that have not helped themselves, do feel resentment and anger. They feel resentful for taking care of the alcoholic. They feel resentful for taking the brunt of the abusive behaviors that come with addiction. They feel resentful because they are spending ... Views: 7888
A girl who is twelve years old comes home from school and notices that her father is acting strange. She can smell something on his breath as he starts to talk and begins slurring his words. She is aware that something is wrong. Her father begins to tell her that she is fat and needs to lose ... Views: 7847
Alcoholism, drug abuse and eating disorders are often misunderstood.
These diseases include a soul-sickness. The people in the grips of these afflictions are spiritually ill, too. The illness can even spread to family members and friends.
The recovery process has produced countless untold ... Views: 7773
ROCKETED INTO a 4TH DIMENSION of EXISTENCE
Over the past weekend, I had the privilege of attending a “spiritual retreat” at a wonderful place of peace called Manresa .
What is a spiritual retreat? Sounds out there!
For me it is like taking a time out from life and listening to a leader lead ... Views: 7609
Do you know these warning signs of problem drinking?
Maybe you’re not sure if drinking is a problem in your family. Alcohol can be in our lives without it being a problem. But can you tell when it goes from “no problem” to “problem”?
What’s the Cat in the Hat got to do with warning signs of ... Views: 7599
A frequently overlooked phenomenon within the recovering community, aka 12-step oriented fellowships, is a true understanding of the difference between compliance and acceptance with respect to one’s addiction[s]. As most professionals and addicts themselves have come to understand, addiction is ... Views: 7594
Things do not change; we change.
--Henry David Thoreau
For a man who is in the coaching business, and is on the life journey I’m on, I find the title statement PROFOUND. Think on it and see if you can see the depth of the thought.
I spent a good portion of my life thinking I could change ... Views: 7556
When people choose to let go of addictive patterns or behaviors they often are successful in doing this using their personal willpower. They set a conscious intention and then terminate the behavior.
This may work successfully for many, but for others it is not enough to consciously put ... Views: 7484
My dad and mom owned a bar so at a very early age it became very easy for me to be around people who drank all the time. From the time I was a kid I thought that the whole world drank and got drunk. My dad was a binge drinker and he would go off on a bender every six months or so. He would be ... Views: 7432
Many people, while active in addiction, engage in deceptive, dishonest behavior, and diversionary tactics. These are part and parcel of addiction and the need to keep the extent of their problem hidden. It is difficult to juggle all the demands of being addicted with all the "normal" demands of ... Views: 7164
Ok, so what do I do about it?
Here we go and lets get right down to it!
Mental Chatter versus Emotions
Victim Behavior is associated with many emotions, Shame is probably the most prevalent. Feeling overwhelmed is another. Feeling shame and being overwhelmed isn't particularly useful-
so ... Views: 7137
All people to some extent have a narcissistic personality, in that they are self-interested and want to secure well being, love and success for themselves. These are the defining factors of a person who has a healthy self-esteem and wants to progress in life. There are however, great differences ... Views: 7113
It is widely understood in the treatment field that addiction is a chronic brain disease, but it takes time for the associated stereotypes and stigma to fade. A common misconception is that all addicts are tragically flawed individuals who can’t hold down a job or support their families. ... Views: 6947
It goes without saying that choosing to enter treatment or a Twelve Step program presents a unique set of challenges. One that many people do not anticipate is the experience of entering a culture in which people communicate. For men especially, this can be an unfamiliar and uncomfortable ... Views: 6920
Two men walk into 12 step meeting.
One will leave gambling in his past forever.
The other will be forever controlled by his addiction to gambling.
There are many mistakes we can make during recovery.
We've all made a mistake or two.
We're given so many rules to apply in so little time, a ... Views: 6788
(Judith Rich Harris is a former writer of college textbooks on child development. One day she had an epiphany and realized that what she was writing about didn't jive with her or her neighbors experiences of raising children. She stopped writing textbooks and began studying why children turn out ... Views: 6777
"We always have free will in how we choose to deal with our body karma as it arises and this choice determines our destiny."
After doing thousands of psychic readings and past-life therapy sessions dealing with the health of the physical vessel, I've decided it would be helpful to ... Views: 6640
Cortisol and DHEA - The thing that makes you smoke
Part of my research is going to be into the short term mental issues of smoking. For instance when we talk to kids about smoking we always tell them about the long term effects that may or may not take place forty or fifty years after starting ... Views: 6631
Like any disease, there are signs or symptoms of alcoholism. Some of them is very easy to recognize whilst others are less obvious. Most of us can go out maybe once a week or just on special occasions and have a few drinks and it is no big deal. Anyone can be an alcoholic including teenagers. ... Views: 6569
*This article is excerpted from "Overcoming Prescription Drug Addiction". For more information, go to www.prescriptiondrugaddiction.com
According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network, prescription drugs are among the most abused substances in the United States; these drugs are abused more than ... Views: 6563
Most people experience a great deal of stress in that period of time between Thanksgiving and New Years, fondly known as “The Holidays”. Many of us, find ourselves becoming irritable, with our patience and tolerance stretched to the limit.
Much of the impatience and intolerance involves ... Views: 6426
Affirmations
1. I have the STRENGTH to face and conquer alcohol.
I AM STRONG!
2. I am fighting to get my life back.
I HAVE COURAGE!
3. I REFUSE TO LIVE A LIE. ALCOHOL IS A LIE.
I LIVE ONLY TRUTH!
4. I REFUSE to be dragged down by alcohol ever again. I retain my own power.
I WILL NOT BE ABUSED OR ... Views: 6425
While most people realize that relapse is a common experience for addicts in recovery, they often do not know how to get back on track after relapsing on alcohol or other mood altering drugs. Although relapse is commonplace, it is predictable, and thus preventable.
For many recovering ... Views: 6369
*This article is excerpted from "Overcoming Prescription Drug Addiction". For more information, go to www.prescriptiondrugaddiction.com
Sedatives are drugs that depress the central nervous system and are frequently used to treat anxiety, panic disorder, or insomnia; some are also used for ... Views: 6246
Ed consulted with me because he was concerned about his 16 year-old son. "He doesn't have any friends. I'd like to spend more time with him but there doesn't seem to be anything he likes to do.""How does he spend his time?" I asked."Playing video games."Betsy ... Views: 6162
Cybersex is the use of electronic communications for sexual diversion and includes email, texting, and internet porn. The American Bar Association cites that in 2011 a whopping 50% of the divorces it handles have cybersex implicated in the couple’s demise. The harm and emotional wreckage to the ... Views: 6123
Many people are deciding, for various reasons, that they should give up drinking alcohol. Tea is becoming increasingly popular as a substitute due to the natural health benefits that it provides. Like the fact that all wines come from grapes, all teas come from the Camellia Sinensis plant or a ... Views: 6111
I look back on my own life through breakups, low-self esteem and depression and can clearly say that I used alcohol as a crutch. I understand now that I learned this concept of sadness equaling alcohol from movie, tv and our culture in general. I now have accepted that stress, trauma, and ... Views: 6048
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The Emergence of Female Sex Addiction: Understanding Gender Differences
Ross Rosenberg, M.Ed., LCPC, CADC
Clinical Care ... Views: 5972
There is no doubt that the world is a hard place to live in today. With the job market down, real estate prices in the gutter, global warming, the war in the Middle East, and oh yeah…an economic recession looming over our heads, it’s no wonder that the majority of us are merely ... Views: 5950
Very often, in my work with my clients, when I ask them what they are feeling they say, "I feel sad." Often, they do not know why they feel sad.Sadness comes from two very different sources.Core SadnessCore sadness is sadness that is in reaction to something that is happening or has ... Views: 5884
Procrastination can be the hardest part about starting your quit smoking program. Procrastination hypnosis can be just the thing you need to really cement the concept in your conscious and subconscious mind. There are many tools and programs available for you to help you in your progress, so ... Views: 5879
Take a moment to go inside and see how you define success. Is your success defined by:How much money you have?Having a big house and an expensive car?How expensive your clothes are?Traveling first class on airlines?How attractive you are?How attractive your partner is?How famous you are?Winning ... Views: 5799
When we were growing up, we experienced many life situations that caused us deep heartbreak. Any time we lost someone we loved, or we were yelled at, ridiculed, shamed, ignored, not seen or connected with, physically or sexually abused, or treated in any other unloving ways, our little hearts ... Views: 5748
Many believe that people just use drugs to get high. It turns out that there are several reasons why people start to use drugs.
The first reason obviously is to experience intense pleasure: people want to feel that rush so they start to experiment with drugs to experience it. But there are ... Views: 5689
A real true friend sent this to me. She is going through a lot with a husband who is unfortunately being taken slowly by cancer. Patti is hanging in, hanging on, and despite all that is happening to her and around her, she is so often there for others.
This small piece of prose is part of her ... Views: 5671
Smuggling drugs in body cavities is the stuff of movies and urban legends. Countless movies, television shows, films and books have been created about this subject, and in many cases the subject matter is either glorified or made to appear comical. But while some audiences may find humor in ... Views: 5666
I believe that every person on this planet, without exception, uses at least one addictive behavior designed to distract them from having to deal with difficult feelings and painful situations. As controversial as that statement may be for some people, I stand by it.
THE MOST COMMON “COMFORT ... Views: 5648
Are you worried that you may be involved in a codependent relationship? You are not alone. Most people associate codependency with a partner who has an alcohol and substance abuse addiction, but there are other situations that can foster a codependent relationship. Following ... Views: 5642
Cough syzurup
For some people, getting high is an endless experimental pursuit and in the past few years, the powerful narcotic effect of a certain kind of cough syrup was discovered. Starting in Houston and spreading from there, cough syrup containing Codeine and Promethazine was taken up ... Views: 5628
There are many ways people with addictions avoid accountability. Here is the first of several articles discussing these tactics. These tactics are what addicts and alcoholics use to to take the focus off them and continue doing what their addiction wants them to do. These tactics are used by ... Views: 5516
If you’re a smoker, whether you’ve been smoking for weeks, months, or years, then you’ve probably looked for the best way to stop smoking. Maybe you’ve considered, or even tried, the reduction method or just quitting cold turkey.
What is Stop Smoking Hypnosis?
Have you ever considered ... Views: 5501
Often when people come to one of my alcohol awareness classes, they know that they need to stop drinking alcohol. But they don’t know exactly how they should stop. Here are some tips that you might find useful:
1. Don’t hang around people who are drinkers or who might tempt you to ... Views: 5479
Fred had a very stressful day at work. Now he's home feeling tired, tense and edgy. He wants to relax. He tries watching TV; he gets bored. He goes out for a walk; he feels lonely. He listens to music; he can't concentrate. Nothing seems to be able to relieve his stress except his old standby ... Views: 5470