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Coming Out of Our Comfort Zones: Recovery From Addiction - by Candace Plattor- What Makes Addicts Stop Caring? How Empathy Gets Hijacked by Addiction - by Submitted on Nov 14, 2011 from Dr. David SackWhen you walk into a 12-Step meeting, one of the first things you may see is a sign that says, “We Care.” Though short and seemingly insignificant, this message highlights one of the components of 12-Step recovery that makes the program so effective: empathy. What Is Empathy? In its ...
Views: 18752(1 vote) - What Qualities to Look for in a Sponsor - by Submitted on Nov 23, 2010 from Tim GrayHere are some qualities to look for in a sponsor. I have set the standard high since this is a very important relationship for you and your recovery. You may not be able to find someone with all the qualities I suggest due to many factors including the size of your town, number of people who ...
Views: 4152(2 votes) - What to ask when choosing a treatment center - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2010 from Amy LashwayWhat Treatment Coordination and Advocacy Suggests you Ask When Choosing a Treatment Center Choosing a treatment center can be an overwhelming and confusing process for anyone, let alone someone who is scared, anxious and may be seeking treatment for the first time. This is one reason why ...
Views: 1178(1 vote) - What to Do About Tactics to Avoid Accountability - by Submitted on Jan 13, 2011 from Tim GrayI started this article as a reply to a question related to these two articles: * Tactics Used to Avoid Accountability 1 * Tactics Used to Avoid Accountability 2 There are more tactics coming in the near future. Here is the Question. "So when we notice these things in a ...
Views: 3524(2 votes) - What to Expect in Alcohol Addiction Treatment - by Submitted on Dec 22, 2011 from Damlin RekerstanAlcohol addiction treatment helps thousands of alcoholics across the United States make lasting recoveries each year. Although many laypeople still believe alcoholism to be a matter of willpower rather than a disease, it is a neurological condition which requires clinical alcohol addiction ...
Views: 688(1 vote) - What to Expect When You Return Home from Detox or Rehab - by Submitted on May 25, 2013 from Lara SchusterFor most people, after they have successfully completed detox, they will return home and begin their new life drug and alcohol free. Others may decide to enter a rehab treatment program or another alternative program before they return home to help increase their self confidence so that they ...
Views: 683(1 vote) - What To Look For In Alcohol Treatment Centers Florida - by Submitted on May 14, 2012 from Tracy LittleAs you begin to search for Alcohol Treatment Centers Florida you will find that you have a lot of options. Some of them are going to be right for you or your loved one. Others may not have as much to offer and are not worth considering any further. Your job is to find the center that is the best ...
Views: 708(1 vote) - What You Don't Know, You Don't Know - by Submitted on Aug 03, 2015 from Patricia NollExactly what does “what you don’t know you don’t know” mean? To many, it might sound like a bunch of psychobabble, so let me explain the concept. First, imagine all the knowledge that exists in the universe in the shape of a large pie, divided into five slices. Four of the slices are ...
Views: 1150(1 vote) - When is Alcohol Treatment Needed? - by Submitted on Feb 11, 2013 from Gareth CarterAre you asking yourself ‘when is alcohol treatment needed?’ The fact that you are asking this question indicates that there could be a problem at hand. In this article, we’ll tell you how you to determine when alcohol treatment is needed. Knowing the Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol ...
Views: 1894(1 vote) - When Is It Time to Seek Treatment for Drug or Alcohol Addiction? - by Submitted on Nov 27, 2018 from Jaclyn TengAddiction can be sneaky. It's all too easy to convince yourself that you're fine when you're actually heading down a dangerous path of drinking or drug abuse. If you are wondering whether you need help with quitting your drinking or drug use, that in itself is a sign that it's probably time for ...
Views: 904(1 vote) - When to Consider Looking for Inpatient Drug Rehab Centers? - by Submitted on Nov 15, 2011 from John WilliamsonUpon reading this article, it is helpful to know that there are well over a million teenagers who are currently suffering from drug addiction and that figure rises as each day passes by. We can’t deny the fact that prohibited substances has been the single most destructive entity to ever hit ...
Views: 1295(1 vote) - When Your Child's Addiction Becomes Your Own - by Submitted on May 07, 2011 from Kristin WhitelawFrom the moment you give birth, an innate force within secures a powerful and concentrated intent at the deepest level to protect your precious child, protect them from harm. As a parent, you accept this role with reverence as it carries the highest priority. Holding your child carefully, ...
Views: 1494(1 vote) - When Your Teenager Has a Drinking Problem - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2011 from Mike MillerAmong the many nightmares that parents encounter is catching your adolescent child has been drinking. This might have happened when you smell vodka on their breath after coming home from an activity with friends Or perhaps it's actually catching them drinking at a party, or in your house. ...
Views: 1432(2 votes) - Where Did Early A.A. Come From? - by Submitted on Feb 15, 2010 from Richard Burns, J.D. (pen name Dick B.),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 ...
Views: 1564(1 vote) - Where There Is A Will There Is A Way - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2013 from Moreen DuFermontWhere There Is a Will There Is A Way The truth is that we are living in our physical bodies and have “this” one life to live. We each can only take it one day at a time! Of course, I know that this is nothing new to you. In fact, its a philosophy you’ve heard dozens of times before; ...
Views: 1284(1 vote) - Why A Drug Rehab Is Important - by Submitted on Dec 15, 2011 from Alice TanstonDrug abuse and dependency is the type of thing that can lead many people to living unhappy lives full of regrets and depression. When an individual finds that they are unable to stop using drugs and that their life has become to feel out of control it might be in their best interest to invest in ...
Views: 757(1 vote) - Why Christianity is Dying While Spirituality is Thriving... - by Submitted on Oct 23, 2012 from Dr. Steve McSwain,I published this article first with the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-mcswain/christianity-is-dying-spirituality-is-thriving_b_1950804.html The title of this post alone will put some branches of the Christian church immediately on the defense. The fact is, however, I ...
Views: 1886(1 vote) - Why Drug Treatment Is Necessary - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2011 from Alice TanstonWhen it comes to seeking help for a drug or alcohol problem, many abusers or addicts will ignore there problem until it becomes unmanageable or it is too late. It is important to understand the symptoms that go along with drug dependency and realize when it is time to seek help with a drug ...
Views: 645(1 vote) - Why Everyone in Recovery Must Be Trauma-Informed—For Men’s Sake (Part 2) - by Submitted on May 24, 2011 from Dan GriffinI 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 ...
Views: 1864(1 vote) - Why Everyone in Recovery Must Be Trauma-Informed—For Women and Children's Sake (Part 3) - by Submitted on Jun 18, 2011 from Dan GriffinMy passion in looking at men and trauma comes primarily from my personal experience as a young boy, first growing up in a violent alcoholic home and then having to deal with the impact of that trauma long into my thirties — and long into my sobriety. I still have vivid memories sitting on the ...
Views: 1912(1 vote) - Why Is Alcohol Rehabilitation So Important? - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2013 from Johan HedinAlcohol dependence is a serious problem today, with an increasing number of young people being affected annually. This translates to loss in productivity as well as a significant amount of money being directed to health care. If you or your loved one has developed a drinking problem, it is ...
Views: 972(1 vote) - Why People Start Using Drugs (and Why They Sometimes Don't Stop) - by Submitted on Sep 30, 2011 from Dr. David SackMany 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(1 vote) - Why Should I Sign-Up for An Alcohol or Drug Class Online? - by Submitted on Apr 24, 2012 from Ari NovickThe reality is that some of us, at some point in our lives, will either use or abuse drugs and alcohol. This usually comes during college, a time and place where people are expected to find their own identities and veer away from the influence of their parents. Whether trying to fit in, trying ...
Views: 1036(1 vote) - Why Substituting Addictions Can Doom Your Sobriety - by Submitted on Apr 29, 2009 from Tricia GreavesSubstituting addictions – you see it all the time; gatherings of smokers outside the AA meeting door, boy meets girl on AA campus (“13 stepping”), maxed out credit cards, a rapid gaining of 20 extra pounds. People entering the rooms of recovery typically lean on other vices to help them cope ...
Views: 5045(1 vote) - Will an Addiction Vaccine Work? - by Submitted on Oct 21, 2011 from Dr. David SackFor more than 25 years, scientists have been hard at work formulating vaccines for nicotine, cocaine and other addictions. Growing recognition of addiction as a brain disease has spurred renewed interest in medical solutions such as vaccines. Despite a number of close calls, success has been ...
Views: 3453(1 vote) - Work the Program - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2010 from Tim GrayI think one of the main reasons people relapse is they stop working their program of recovery. In my years as an addictions counselor I have heard it over and over again when I ask what led up to a relapse…”I quit working the program.” There are many ways you can quit working the program. ...
Views: 2040(2 votes) - Workaholic Breakdown Syndrome _ The loss of INTIMACY - by Submitted on Feb 04, 2019 from Roberto CIaldiniTo be truly loving and compassionate, one must feel and be able to express not only genuine emotional support, but also grateful appreciation. The language, behavior and values of the Feeling function do this best. The challenge becomes how to develop mutual respect, trust and loyalty, while ...
Views: 1125(1 vote) - Working One's Way to Alcohol Rehab - by Submitted on Mar 13, 2012 from Alice TanstonOne of the most exciting parts of finally growing old enough to do every thing you watched your older siblings do first, is hitting that magic number of twenty-one, where you can legally enter any establishment and have a drink. Of course, with each new phase of one's life, a new level or need ...
Views: 567(1 vote) - You ARE Love - by Submitted on Jan 03, 2012 from Jan DeniseYou ARE Love By Jan Denise From the time we learn the word “no,” we begin to get the message that what we would do naturally is “bad.” As young children, we can’t make a distinction between our behavior and ourselves, so we buy into a lie—the lie that in order to be good enough we have to ...
Views: 1395(2 votes) - Your emotional journey in the early days following your relationship break up or separation-What to Expect! - by Submitted on May 07, 2011 from James RichardsonFollowing your divorce,relationship break up or separation,you may be surprised and alarmed to experience both the strength and range of emotions that you are currently feeling. You may notice that your emotions are different to other people who are separated. This appears, in part,to depend ...
Views: 2950(1 vote) - Relationship, Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Medication - by Submitted on Feb 11, 2010 from James HendrixThere are mental health, relationship issues and emotional problems that are beyond or at least at the edge of behavioral control. People are not trying to be depressed or crazy – they act that way because of complex brain, hormone, environment, and background issues. There are times when ...
Views: 1820(5 votes) - Exercise and Recovery - by Submitted on Nov 04, 2010 from Kristi AbbottExercise can be a helpful tool when recovering from an addiction, as it provides a way for you to keep busy and be healthy. According to Dr. Nora Volkow of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, exercise can help relieve stress and reduce depression, both factors that can help reduce the rate of ...
Views: 1956(4 votes) - The Serenity Prayer: How it Can Help Your Recovery from Addiction - by Submitted on May 10, 2010 from Candace Plattor?The Serenity Prayer: How it Can Help Your Recovery from Addiction God, grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference. These days, a lot of people have heard of the Serenity Prayer. Anyone who ...
Views: 5239(4 votes) - Toxic Conversations Vs. Bulimia Recovery - by Submitted on Aug 23, 2011 from Catherine LibertyWe’ve all been there. Your sister calls you to let you know how many calories she burned at the gym tonight or one of your friends fills their Facebook status with self-hating nonsense about how much they loath their body. It seems like something is always waiting to trigger us In ...
Views: 1822(4 votes) - 12 Steps to nowhere. - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2012 from Andre PelserThe emergent nature of reality is that all systems, whether it is knowledge, society, technology, philosophy or any other creation will when uninhibited undergo fluid perpetual change. What we consider commonplace today, such as modern communication and transportation, would have been ...
Views: 3908(3 votes) - ***Alcoholic Neuropathy: Signs and Symptoms - by Submitted on Feb 25, 2011 from Dr. Neill NeillRecently a reader left a question on my site about the symptoms of neuropathy. Her question was, "What is alcoholic neuropathy? I have heard the term and am interested in understanding it." She went on to add the comment, "It is just amazing when you read the comments from other people, and ...
Views: 2402(3 votes) - ***Can a Functioning Alcoholic Be Affected by One Drink? - by Submitted on Aug 25, 2011 from Dr. Neill NeillWe normally associate alcoholism with increased tolerance to alcohol. Alcoholics often are able to drink a great deal before the usual symptoms of intoxication kick in — slurred speech, falling asleep, getting loud, poor balance, and poor judgment which could lead to and accident or a DUI ...
Views: 2395(3 votes) - ***What Will They Think? - Love and Approval Addiction - by Submitted on Aug 25, 2010 from Margaret PaulWhen you were growing up, how often did you hear, "What will they think?"Who are "they?" Unfortunately, "they" are everyone. Many of our parents and caregivers were love and approval addicted and geared their behavior to try to have control over getting love and ...
Views: 5378(3 votes) - A Few Alcohol Awareness Tips - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2011 from Mike MillerAs a counselor for both in class and online alcohol awareness classes my students and I often discuss the possible ways a person can drink socially without becoming intoxicated. Of course the answer is simple, have one drink and make sure you are well hydrated, well rested and well fed. But ...
Views: 2887(3 votes) - Alcoholics Anonymous Origins and Early History:What the Searchights Reveal (Part 3) - by Submitted on Jan 02, 2012 from Richard Burns, J.D. (pen name Dick B.),Alcoholics Anonymous Origins and Early History What the Searchlights Reveal Part Three By Dick B. © 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved Darkness, Be Gone! Let There Be Light If there is one thing I believe for sure about Alcoholics Anonymous, as I have experienced A.A., for ...
Views: 3833(3 votes) - Assertiveness Really Does Work - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2011 from Mark LamendolaBy Mark Lamendola www.mindconnection.com/BehaviorMod Many people are afraid of being assertive, or consider assertive behavior to be impolite. Usually, that’s because they confuse assertive behavior with aggressive behavior. Instead of confronting a problem, they use other strategies. And ...
Views: 2273(3 votes) - Breaking up: The Love Addict in Withdrawal - by Submitted on May 09, 2013 from Jim HallTracy, 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(3 votes) - DIALECTICAL ABSTINENCE – HARM REDUCTION FOR EATING DISORDERS - by Submitted on Aug 05, 2016 from Marty LernerA colleague and good friend of mine, Molly Carmel, LCSW who directs an eating disorder clinic in NYC [The Beacon Program] introduced me to the concept of “dialectical abstinence.” Although I don't know of any source the concept appears, I will credit Molly with adding this to my understanding of ...
Views: 4820(3 votes) - Life after Drugs: A Life worth Living - by Submitted on Mar 14, 2013 from Tom DiffenderferIn the article Relax and Recover Part 1, I whole heartedly endorsed the 12 step programs of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. And I think that deserves repeating. Both the Big book of AA and the basic text of NA outline a clear path to recovery that has helped millions of people ...
Views: 2038(3 votes) - My Spiritual Journey in Reovery - by Submitted on May 07, 2011 from Patt MannaMy Spiritual Journey in Recovery The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost influenced my personal interpretation that I wrote for my ENG 190, Arizona Western College 1996. I hope you enjoy and feel the depth of my passion in recovery. “The Road Not Taken revealed the message to me, that if I ...
Views: 1711(3 votes) - Psychology In Trouble - by Submitted on Sep 18, 2010 from Peter StoneThe Human Condition Volume 1, Part 01 Have you ever wondered what is the platform for our one and only human experience? I have, for I once destroyed 99.9 percent of my human experience. With one tenth of my experience left, I took the time to learn how to learn from my insecurities. I ...
Views: 1652(3 votes) - The Beacon of Hope: Recovery by the Power of God - by Submitted on Mar 02, 2010 from Richard Burns, J.D. (pen name Dick B.),As I reviewed the recent articles on the Expert Pages, I ran across articles by Kathy Williamson, whom I have not met. And her articles stand out like a beacon. Here is someone who seems to have grasped what the early A.A. Christian Fellowship was doing when it insisted that every member must ...
Views: 1633(3 votes) - Healing from Addictions - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2010 from Michael HoareWhat are addictions? The Merriam Webster dictionary explanation is: 1: the quality or state of being addicted 2: compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; ...
Views: 2214(5 votes) - Principles of Effective Treatment - by Submitted on Feb 04, 2012 from C Bowster1. Meth addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior. Drugs of abuse alter the brain’s structure and function, resulting in changes that persist long after drug use has ceased. This may explain why drug abusers are at risk for relapse even after long ...
Views: 1684(5 votes) - *** The 1-2-3-4 of Overcoming Addiction, Obesity and Disease - by Submitted on May 11, 2009 from Paul ChekCan you imagine a world without addiction, obesity and disease? If so, you may also wonder why, with our advanced medical systems, we are unable to improve the relative number of people suffering from these conditions. In this short article, I will overview what may be the world’s simplest, ...
Views: 2785(2 votes)