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Coming Out of Our Comfort Zones: Recovery From Addiction - by Candace Plattor- AND WHO HEALS ME? - by Submitted on Jan 29, 2010 from Keith BrayAnd Who Heals Me? Over a year ago, I went on a journey to look at some real fuzzy philosophical questions. “Who Am I?”was dealt with years ago, but “What Is My Purpose?” remained vague. I went on a real journey to discover what it is about past employment that I loved and was good at, and what ...
Views: 1354(3 votes) - How Drugs Work - by Submitted on Jan 27, 2010 from Aaron PeterDrugs have become an important element in the history of medicine to cure or increase the immunity in humans against various diseases. Due to continuous innovation, research and development in the past 4-5 decades, drugs are now available to cure majority of diseases. When taken in prescribed ...
Views: 1375(1 vote) - Advantages of Multi-Panel Drug Test - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2010 from Aaron PeterDrug testing at homes, workplaces, schools, and sports is important as it helps to identify drug addiction among teenagers, employees, students, and athletes respectively. Performing drug testing using multi-panel urine drug test is easy, convenient, and provides quick results. Multi-panel urine ...
Views: 1697(2 votes) - MORE on THAT FIRST STEP (forgivenes/living help) - by Submitted on Jan 21, 2010 from Keith BrayMORE-THAT FIRST STEP (forgiveness) As usual, my coaching mentor, Dr. Randin Brons has hit a very good topic with this week's Idea Engineer. Recently I did a blog on that first step that sparked very good response. Response indicates that it caused some thought, and I love to do that internally ...
Views: 1271(1 vote) - NO GAIN WITHOUT PAIN? - by Submitted on Jan 14, 2010 from Keith BrayNO GAIN WITHOUT PAIN Man, those words flowed from the lips of my old football coach Mr. Fleming many years ago. I still remember them well. Back then, you knew exactly when the pain would end (right after practice) and after playing a while, you got smart and learned you in deed could make ...
Views: 1823(2 votes) - WANT A USEFUL LIFE? - by Submitted on Jan 04, 2010 from Keith BrayWant A Useful Life? Well, here I sit well into a new year. Over this period, I love to take time to reflect back, look at journals that go back many years, and appreciate the journey that has unfolded and what was the underlying motivation to take the journey I continue on. To the headline ...
Views: 1377(2 votes) - Overcoming Anxiety: The Importance of Emotional Mindfulness - by Submitted on Jan 03, 2010 from Ron FrederickAnxiety is a common problem that plagues a lot of people. Many times people are only remotely in touch with their feelings. We divert our attention from our feelings by texting, surfing the net, zoning out in front of the television, or getting overly involved in work or other distractions. We ...
Views: 1233(1 vote) - How to Overcome Seven Obstacles to New Year's Resolutions Success - by Submitted on Dec 31, 2009 from Peggy FergusonI love the New Year. I feel like I am the threshold of a new year. I am glad that there is a week between Christmas and the New Year because it gives me a chance to recover, regroup, and rethink. Of course, I would like to think of a new year as a fresh, blank, Big Chief Tablet to write ...
Views: 2436(2 votes) - Do Interventions really Work? - by Submitted on Jan 19, 2012 from Dean SunseriIntervention 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 ...
Views: 1776(2 votes) - Overcoming Sexual Addiction - by Submitted on Aug 06, 2010 from JJ SempleHave you ever watched TO CATCH A PREDATOR, the Dateline-NBC show with Chris Hansen. The show that breaks for commercial with the guy lying face down on the ground and a policeman’s knee in his back. These men, the ones busted on Dateline-NBC, don’t seem able to control themselves. And that’s ...
Views: 2802(4 votes) - HOW TO STOP GAMBLING: Belief And Attitude - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2009 from J COvercoming A Gambling Problem involves many techniques and methods. Some are simple, some more complex. Some are external,such as our actions, and others are internal. Today, we'll be covering two internal aspects: Belief and Attitude. As you read on, you're going to discover how to better ...
Views: 2322(3 votes) - Change Your Internal/External Environment If You Are Addicted to Porn - by Submitted on Dec 31, 2009 from Jay VanIf you are someone who has become concerned about your ever increasing interest and focus on pornography use, you may be able to stop porn addiction by changing your environmentally externally and internally. It will require a great deal of thought and consideration about the external ...
Views: 1116(3 votes) - Tired. A matter of acquiescence or despair. - by Submitted on Dec 21, 2009 from Bill White“Tired.” Just pause for a moment and ponder the word. Actually, it’s a very deep state of mind and heart, isn’t it? I mean, we all know what it’s like to be tired and ready for bed after a long day. However, I’m presenting the word within the context of being emotionally, mentally, and ...
Views: 1330(3 votes) - Neptune: Alcoholism, Addictions & Spiritual Awakening - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2009 from Carmen Turner-SchottA 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: 7753(3 votes) - Recovery: What are your Re-Covering? - by Submitted on Jan 19, 2012 from Dean SunseriWhen I use to run an outpatient substance abuse program, there were many standard phrases that we spoke often, such as, “How long have you been sober?,” “Do you have a sponsor?” or “I am in recovery.” What does that really mean to be in recovery? Were you hurt in an accident, and are you ...
Views: 1073(3 votes) - LYING TO FEEL ACCEPTED - by Submitted on Dec 15, 2009 from Keith BrayLYING TO FEEL ACCEPTED I blog frequently for several reasons. I have “journalled” or blogged for years as a part of my life recovery. Simply, it lets me get things that are on the inside to the outside. I was taught that this was healthy behaviour and guess what? It helps. Honest sharing is ...
Views: 2800(6 votes) - Two Things You Can Do Now To Reduce Your Holiday Stress - by Submitted on Dec 11, 2009 from Peggy FergusonWe know that once Thanksgiving is over, we will be having an increase in our stress. This yearly event, when the demands for our time, energy, money, and other resources increase exponentially, and our stress levels rises accordingly, is lovingly known as "the holidays". And each year, we just ...
Views: 1315(2 votes) - Six guidelines on how to improve your patience and tolerance for your family during the holidays - by Submitted on Dec 11, 2009 from Peggy FergusonMost 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: 6335(7 votes) - Helping the Alcoholic You Love to Total Sobriety - by Submitted on Dec 11, 2009 from Angie LewisTo help the alcoholic you love you first must help yourself. You will never be able to help the alcoholic until you help yourself. Alcohol addiction tends to involve everyone the alcoholic is in contact with on some kind of level. Those who are in the path of the alcoholic, usually a spouse, ...
Views: 3378(4 votes) - David Hassehoff's Alcohol Addiction – A Common Problem Often Easily Solved Says Michael George - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2009 from Michael GeorgeAddiction strikes an untold number of people across all walks of life. For many, alcohol addiction and drug addiction can be a slow, perhaps more acceptable form of suicide masquerading as addiction. Addiction can take many forms; from alcohol to drug addiction, food to gambling addictions and ...
Views: 966(2 votes) - How A Life Coach Can Help With Chocolate Addiction - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2009 from Amanda MillerIn my first session with a client we explored what made her realise that her chocolate consumption had become a problem, and the trigger for her to seek help from a Life Coach rather than her Doctor or a nutritionist. She had said that she eats when she feels depressed, she feels unattractive ...
Views: 2079(3 votes) - Alcoholics Anonymous: Great Organization For Alcoholics - by Submitted on Nov 30, 2009 from Menno SpijkstraThroughout the entire day, should you feel the urge or necessity to drink alcohol or over indulge in alcohol consumption or suffer from memory lapses associated to alcohol, then the bad news is that there’s a high possibility of being an alcoholic. But the good news is--there's a cure and with a ...
Views: 743(1 vote) - ***Avoiding Your Feelings by Focusing on Your Partner - by Submitted on Nov 25, 2009 from Margaret PaulWe all have many addictive ways of avoiding feeling our painful feelings and taking responsibility for them. Some of the ways are obvious, such as using substances and processes. Some of the ways can be very subtle.Leon often struggled with feeling empty inside. Inner emptiness is a symptom of a ...
Views: 5286(3 votes) - Family Dynamics of Addiction Exposed: Identifying The "Real Problem" and What To Do About It - by Submitted on Nov 19, 2009 from Peggy FergusonMany non-addicted spouses complain about how their addicted significant other is driving them crazy, making them depressed, or leading them toward suicide or homicide. These comments only illustrate the destructive nature of the family dynamics of addiction. The addicted and non-addicted ...
Views: 3119(3 votes) - Supporting your Partner in Addiction Recovery - by Submitted on Nov 16, 2009 from Rodney StrangeIf your spouse is entering recovery, you still have a tough road ahead you. The recovery process can be just as difficult for the spouse as for the addict. Your responsibilities may seem overwhelming, and your partner may even demand more than you can give. In any case, the most important thing ...
Views: 1971(3 votes) - Mirror Reflects Hunger Within - by Submitted on Nov 12, 2009 from Jan DeniseMirror Reflects Hunger Within Two out of three Americans are overweight, making obesity the second leading cause of preventable death. Instead of eating less, we spend $35 billion a year on weight loss products. We're not stupid; we're in pain. We have an emptiness, a yearning, a hunger … ...
Views: 1376(5 votes) - LET BYGONES BE BYGONES - by Submitted on Nov 12, 2009 from Keith BrayHow to Let Bygones Be Bygones In working with others, I coach clients and sponsees to find tools and answers to issues that prevent them from having the abundant life they want. Things that prevent us from living the life we want and can live are common. Living in the past and collecting new ...
Views: 3348(2 votes) - Overcome Alcohol Dependency - by Submitted on Nov 08, 2009 from Roseanna LeatonWhen you reach a point in your life that you realize that alcohol is creating problems, then you know that a change is required. Some people drink far more than the doctor recommends but are completely happy with the effect upon their life and their health, and that's fine; you are the person ...
Views: 1456(2 votes) - One More Essential Tool For Preventing Relapse in Early Addiction Recovery - by Submitted on Nov 08, 2009 from Peggy FergusonMost non-addicted people have routines and organizing structures in their lives that help provide stability. An addict's lifestyle is often one of chaotic instability and disorganization. A general lack of structure and routine contributes to this disorganization and chaos. An addicted ...
Views: 3245(4 votes) - From addiction towards healing - by Submitted on Nov 08, 2009 from Roger FontaineWhat are the steps to take to go from addiction towards wellness? This is the question which this article addresses as I outline the steps which my personal recovery took and which has been truly a miracle in my life and in the effects on those which I affect daily, mostly including my wife and ...
Views: 2020(4 votes) - HOW TO STOP GAMBLING NOW: 10 Steps You Can Take To Stop Gambling Today - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2009 from J CWhen you absolutely must stop gambling right now, here are 10 steps you can take today. STEP 1: GET RID OF YOUR MONEY If you want to stop gambling right now, the first step begins by stopping to carry money. This includes credit cards, debit cards, access to bank accounts, checks, loans, ...
Views: 32778(3 votes) - Addiction and Recovery: Do You Need Detox After Relapse? - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2009 from Peggy FergusonWhile 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: 6273(3 votes) - Siblings - The Forgotten Ones - How Siblings Get Hurt - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2010 from Judy HerzanekThe Parable of the Prodigal Son While he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with compassion the father ran to the son, threw his arms around him and said, "Welcome home." His son had come to his senses. "Let's have a party!" His brother refused to come ...
Views: 2801(5 votes) - WILL THEY FIND OUT? (Or do they already know?) - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2009 from Keith BrayWILL THEY FIND OUT? (Or do they know?) I sit here today a relatively content man. That is the result of a journey to change that I found the courage to start some 15 years ago. Today, the constant worry about will they find out or even worse, do they already know is gone. What a ...
Views: 1161(4 votes) - ***Addiction to Video Games - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2009 from Margaret PaulEd 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: 6046(3 votes) - HOW TO STOP GAMBLING: The #1 Mistake Compulsive Gamblers Make In Recovery (And How You Can Avoid It) - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2009 from J CTwo 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: 6712(2 votes) - HOW TO STOP GAMBLING: The 7 Immutable Laws To Stopping Gambling Dead In Its Tracks - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2009 from J CIf you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling problem or addiction, then please read this article very carefully. You can win the battle against gambling. Everyday hundreds of people do just that. And there are thousands more maintaining their gamble free lifestyles. This ...
Views: 2907(2 votes) - Couple Communication: Back to Basics To Improve Your Relationship and Restore Happiness - by Submitted on Oct 26, 2009 from Peggy FergusonOne of the most important tools to develop or restore communication skills is the use of “I” messages. "I" messages are not as likely to elicit defensiveness. They actually increase the probability that your message(s) will be heard. With this simple change in how you communicate with your ...
Views: 4880(2 votes) - Overcoming A Crack Habit: The Hardest Substance To Kick - by Submitted on Oct 24, 2009 from Lisa SimmonsCrack is a designer drug. It was designed to be extremely addictive and it is. While it's certainly possible to recover from a crack habit, know that it'll be a major challenge and that you'll need all the help and support you can get. It won't happen overnight. Recovery from crack is a lifelong ...
Views: 4587(1 vote) - Recovering From Anorexia -- Learning To Trust Food - by Submitted on Oct 24, 2009 from Lisa SimmonsAnorexia is an addiction to food deprivation. While anorexics do eat, they derive pleasure from limiting and restricting their calories, sometimes to the point of starvation. Anorexia can cause serious health problems as the body struggles to cope with an absence of nourishment. The challenge of ...
Views: 2273 - Recovery From Binge Eating -- Learning Moderation - by Submitted on Oct 24, 2009 from Lisa SimmonsRecovery from a food addiction requires the practice of moderation rather than abstinence with respect to food.Moderation can be more difficult to learn and practice than abstinence. The first step, especially if you are overweight or obese, is to see a physician. Your doctor will perform an ...
Views: 1699(1 vote) - 10 Stop Smoking Self-Hypnosis Affirmations to Help You to Quit Smoking - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2011 from Nancy PhilpottAs you begin your smoke free life, it is important to constantly remind yourself of why you quit smoking. An excellent and effective way to do this is to use a form of self-hypnosis. Stop smoking hypnosis can be used at all stages of consciousness. You don’t have to be in a deep trance in order ...
Views: 13178(8 votes) - HOLISTIC HEALTH/BALANCE - by Submitted on Oct 13, 2009 from Keith BrayHOLISTIC HEALTH/BALANCE “Health is wholeness and balance, an inner resilience that allows you to meet the demands of living without being overwhelmed.” — Andrew Weil, MD Health is wholeness, and health is multi-faceted. When major areas of health are addressed, balance results. With an MD ...
Views: 1410(1 vote) - Signs of Sexual Addiction - by Submitted on May 30, 2011 from Ross Rosenberg, M.Ed. LCPC CADCSigns of Sexual Addiction (Based upon Patrick Carnes work) 1. Loss of Control • Out of control sexual behavior predominates • The addict cannot control the extent, duration and regularity of his/her sexual behavior • Behavior excesses continue despite clear signs of danger ...
Views: 3204(1 vote) - Tips to Stop Enabling - by Submitted on Oct 12, 2009 from Beverley GlazerThere are very fuzzy boundaries between helping and enabling. If you’re enabling, you think that you’re helping, but what you’re doing is anything but helpful. Here's some information so that you don't confuse the two. Helping When you help someone you are doing something that they cannot ...
Views: 15525(4 votes) - How to Stop Procrastinating and Accomplish Your Goals with Hypnosis - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2011 from Nancy PhilpottProcrastination 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: 5775(2 votes) - Stop Smoking Hypnosis--The Best Way to Stop Smoking Without Gaining Weight - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2011 from Nancy PhilpottIf 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: 5385(4 votes) - Marry Your Self First: Addiction, Depression, Divorce.... - by Submitted on May 20, 2010 from Ken DonaldsonI had a client say something very interesting to me last week…she suggested that because I was a mental health counselor, I, therefore, have minimal issues or challenges in my life. Ha! I wish! I shy away from sharing much of my personal story with my clients, as that is all part of ...
Views: 1728(3 votes) - TIME to BLOSSOM - by Submitted on Oct 06, 2009 from Keith BrayTime to blossom "The voice of our original self is often muffled, overwhelmed, even strangled, by the voices of other people's expectations." -- Julie Cameron Ah, the expectations of others. They had a huge (negative) impact on my life, how about yours? I lived many years feeling that I had ...
Views: 1184(2 votes) - GET REAL (with expectations) - by Submitted on Oct 05, 2009 from Keith BrayGET REAL (with expectations) Another one of those readings that struck a chord, and reminded me of universal truths in life and recovering an abundant life! I am a very avid golfer; some have even accused me of being addicted to the sport. Funny, what I really like about golf is the ...
Views: 749(3 votes)