Self Improvement Site
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
Addiction and Recovery Articles
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.
SelfGrowth.com Recommended Articles:
Coming Out of Our Comfort Zones: Recovery From Addiction - by Candace Plattor- Too Much is Never Enough - by Submitted on Feb 24, 2009 from Greg MooersI was a monk for eight years and have been married for almost as long. Amazingly, the lifestyles are more alike than you would think. In both the monastery and marriage, simplicity is, very simply, a key component of success — and these days, more than ever. All of us are aware that we live in ...
Views: 970 - The Chicken or the Egg?: Psychiatric Disorders and Substance Abuse - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2009 from Sara SmoleyBen is now 25 years old and began smoking marijuana occasionally when he was 21 years old. Ben increased his marijuana usage when he was approximately 22 years old and graduated college. It was also around this time that he began to experience some depression and occasionally use cocaine. His ...
Views: 2137 - CHOOSING HOPE OVER FEAR - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2009 from Keith BrayChoosing Hope Over Fear What a great topic for the times we're in. I received a piece of this blog from the head hunting business and as you can see, received it earlier in 2009. When I got the courage to do what I had felt was my life purpose, I picked a company name that reflected what I had ...
Views: 825 - Coping with Families - by Submitted on Feb 17, 2009 from Keith BraySome universal truths I have learned in my own process of life recovery and in working with hundreds of others. "Family" is an issue I hear about almost everyday, and deal with directly on many occasions in my own life. As today is a statutory holiday here in Ontario-"Family Day",- it is a very ...
Views: 918 - Sports, Drugs, and America's Drug Problem - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2009 from William BerryThere have been a lot of sports figures in the news recently as a result of drugs. Most recently, Alex Rodriguez has been accused of steroid use. This was a major story as he appeared to be one of only a handful of “clean” baseball heroes of recent times. Just prior to the Rodriguez scandal was ...
Views: 3142 - Addicition: Generation Y Seeking Treatment at Much Younger Age - by One out of six people struggle with addiction, and fortunately much has changed in terms of how we go about approaching what was such a taboo subject for so long. One of the ways we see this dramatic shift is through the many young people who speak more openly with one another about their ...
Views: 1370 - How I Quit Not One, but Three Addictions - by Linda Joy Allan can now look fear head-on and do it without taking a drink, smoking a cigarette or binge eating. She can have meaningful relationships and value her friendships. And she can finally enjoy being alone. It wasn't always this way.
Ms. Allan's tell-all journey from addiction to ...
Views: 1081 - Make a Silk Purse from Your Sow's Ear - by Submitted on Feb 11, 2009 from Keith BrayThere was a point in my life, a decade plus ago, I was living in insanity. I was doing things that were negative repeatedly, but expecting a diffrent outcome. I was less than honest, leading a double life- one for the public and a diffrent life inside of me, I suffered frequent depression and ...
Views: 1017 - Commonly Abused Sedatives and Stimulants - by Submitted on Feb 11, 2009 from Sam Etkin*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: 6219 - The Most Abused Prescription Drugs in the U.S. - by Submitted on Feb 11, 2009 from Sam Etkin*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: 6540 - Addiction: Symptoms and Risks - by Submitted on Feb 11, 2009 from Sam Etkin*This article is excerpted from "Overcoming Prescription Drug Addiction". For more information, go to www.prescriptiondrugaddiction.com Prescription drug abuse is often difficult for friends and family to recognize. Contrary to popular belief, one need not abuse drugs daily to have a problem ...
Views: 1411 - Prescription Drugs Abuse in America - by Submitted on Feb 11, 2009 from Sam Etkin*This article is excerpted from "Overcoming Prescription Drug Addiction". For more information, go to www.prescriptiondrugaddiction.com It’s difficult to say with precision just how many Americans are abusing prescription drugs, although estimates are available. According to 2007 ...
Views: 3608 - Understanding Addiction - by Submitted on Feb 10, 2009 from Sam Etkin*This article is excerpted from "Overcoming Prescription Drug Addiction". For more information, go to www.prescriptiondrugaddiction.com Addiction is a pattern of compulsive drug use characterized by a continued craving for drugs and the need to use these drugs for psychological effects or mood ...
Views: 1253 - Addicition: Say No to Cold Turkey - by Many detoxification procedures have received criticism for acting so uniform in design that the ability to assimilate effectively into a drug treatment program can become subdued thus impeding the recovery process. Due to this issue, CARE Florida, a holistic Florida-based drug rehab clinic, ...
Views: 794 - What Is Addiction? - by Submitted on Feb 02, 2009 from Chad RatliffeAddiction is a condition characterized by repeated, compulsive seeking and use of drugs, alcohol or other similar substances despite adverse social, mental and physical consequences. It is usually accompanied by psychological and physical dependence on the abused substance and the appearance of ...
Views: 813 - Coping with craving - by Submitted on Jul 15, 2009 from Tom HorvathIf you have had strong cravings, you may not need a description of one! Like hunger (which is what we call craving for food), craving is a complete (cognitive, emotional, and physical) experience. Your mind is distracted. You feel tense and/or frustrated. You get physically uncomfortable. ...
Views: 1654 - How society should view addiction - by Submitted on Jul 15, 2009 from Tom HorvathAlthough individuals will view addictive behavior in many ways, based on their own beliefs and situations, society needs a comprehensive view of it. Addiction is one of the compelling problems of modern life. Almost all individuals need to manage desire better in a world increasingly filled ...
Views: 1630 - Addiction the Equal Opportunity Destroyer - by Submitted on Jan 30, 2009 from Karen MayfieldI remember the day as though it was yesterday. I was standing in the garage with my two sons who were three and six at the time. Together we watched their dad load everything he could in his truck as he prepared to leave. My oldest son held tightly to his dad’s leg and begged him not to leave, ...
Views: 918 - The Dark Side of Prescription Drugs - by Submitted on Jan 28, 2009 from patti geier"I lost everything when the police raided my house looking for prescription drugs. My husband and two little children were home that night. I was so ashamed I couldn't even look at them. I was arrested, put in handcuffs and locked up. My husband divorced me. My children were taken away from me. ...
Views: 1412 - Eating Disorders and Chemical Dependency - by Submitted on Jan 27, 2009 from Marty LernerThose of us who have been in and around the “recovery community” are all too aware of the prevalence of eating disorders among the chemically dependent. The purpose of this article is to heighten awareness of both the nature and prevalence of eating disorders particular to the community of ...
Views: 2549(1 vote) - Feel Good Messages for Your Soul - by Submitted on Jan 27, 2009 from Elena LelchukThere 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: 5932 - Addiction to Being "All Together" - by Submitted on Jan 26, 2009 from Margaret PaulI often have the experience of someone showing up at one of my 5-day Inner Bonding Intensives and presenting themselves as "all together", or "fine." "I'm not sure why I'm here," they state. "I really don't know what to work on. I've been through years of therapy and to a ton of workshops and ...
Views: 3316 - How Addiction Starts - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2009 from Chad RatliffeAddiction begins with a problem, discomfort, or some form of emotional or physical pain for a person. This person is, like most people in our society, basically good. But he encounters a problem that is causing him physical or emotional pain and discomfort and for which he does not have an ...
Views: 1451 - Clinical Needs Assessments - by Submitted on Jan 21, 2009 from Amy LashwayAs the Director of Admissions for a residential treatment center for over seven years, I learned the hard way why initial assessments are crucial. I have found it to be essential from the inception of a clinical relationship to have as much information and as broad an overview of your new client ...
Views: 2540 - That God Thing - by Submitted on Jan 18, 2009 from Keith BrayAs I reflect on the week that was, I can’t help but remember how many times a fear of god and not understanding spirituality came up. My own belief is that to have any real contented success in life, you need a “spiritual”, not necessarily a religious, foundation. Why do many ...
Views: 832 - Are Your Roots Deep? - by Submitted on Jan 17, 2009 from Keith BrayFortunate are the people whose roots are deep. --Agnes Meyer Co-Creative Life Recovery is a program of action and change. It has a spiritual (not religious) component as part of a holistic approach to getting the life YOU want. It is a process that is taught and requires commitment and work. It ...
Views: 884 - Gambling Addiction Treatment - by Submitted on Jan 13, 2009 from Rosemary Grace BrooksGambling addiction is an obsessive and compulsive behaviour which involves a person being addicted to gambling. Whether the gambling involves betting on horse racing, casino black jack tables or slot machines, the sufferer falls victim to compulsively seeking the ‘high’ gained from ...
Views: 1769 - Staying Clean During the Silly Season - by Submitted on Jan 13, 2009 from Rosemary Grace BrooksFor many people in South Africa, the summer season (from October to March) is known as the silly season – a time when partying, over indulgence, relaxation and fun are normal occurrences. For recovering addicts and alcoholics in a Twelve Step help group however, this time of year can ...
Views: 1337 - 12 Steps - Life Going Forward| - by Submitted on Jan 13, 2009 from Keith BrayAfter we have worked the 12 steps to the best of our ability, we have started a journey that offers unlimited potential. What we do from here is critical. We have made tremendous change in our life. We have begun the practice of good mental hygiene and are humbly confidant in who we are. We ...
Views: 1091 - Overcoming Addiction Gently and Effectively - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2009 from Dan AdrianThere are many ways you can approach overcoming addiction - some techniques work much better than others, while some are bound to fail in most cases, and identifying the best (or most adequate) technique for you is much more important than most people think. For example, when trying to quit ...
Views: 791 - Facts About Teenage Drug Addiction - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2009 from Brian WalkerDrug addiction is a serious problem in our society, and the most troublesome part is teenage drug addiction. Our children are being exposed to dangerous drugs at early ages, and often times they are exposed through their family members as. With drugs available in many places, it's hard to ...
Views: 1355 - Step 3: Turn it Over - by Submitted on Jan 03, 2009 from Keith BrayEach year I like to run through the 12 steps as written in the book Alcoholics Anonymous. These steps were an adaptation of many works before them, and are a universal truth for all people who want to enjoy good mental Hygiene and an abundant life. They have been adopted by some 150 self-help ...
Views: 2256 - Step 1: The Mirror Told Me So - by Submitted on Jan 01, 2009 from Keith BraySTEP 1/Twelve Steps Each year I like to run through the 12 steps as written in the book Alcoholics Anonymous. These steps were an adaptation of many works before them, and are a universal truth for all people who want to enjoy good mental Hygiene and an abundant life. They have been adopted by ...
Views: 906 - Can You Feel Your Feelings? - by Submitted on Dec 30, 2008 from Keith BrayThis is a time of the year when for a lot of us, emotions and feelings run high. Family, or lack of family; friends or lack of friends; loneliness, big ups and big downs, and of course the lingering resentments, something many feel at this time of the year. One of the big challenges I faced in ...
Views: 1897 - Resentments: Got Any? - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2008 from Keith BrayWith the emotions that go along with Christmas, the topic of resentments is a good one. For many years in my not too distant past, I came out of the Christmas season with some pretty good resentment. They didn’t appreciate; I didn’t get; she said; they should have; they did….. ...
Views: 790 - Why Would Someone Choose a Non-12-Step Recovery Approach? - by Submitted on Jul 15, 2009 from Tom HorvathIf you were a woman with breast cancer, you’d probably want to know that there were several treatment options you had: radical mastectomy, lumpectomy, radiation, chemotherapy, holistic services, nutritional approaches, some combination of these options, or doing nothing, with new options ...
Views: 2904 - Accepting Change - by Submitted on Dec 21, 2008 from Keith BrayChange is a word we hear oh so often. Whether we like it or not, things are going to change; we can influence how they change, and whether the change has positive direction for our life. There is much that directly affects our own well being that is within our control. When the journey to a new ...
Views: 8933 - Your Coach, Your Recovery, Your Option - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2008 from Keith BrayUsing a Life Coach for Addiction Recovery A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and deadline behind it. As I went through a major process to determine what I wanted to focus on for the rest of my life, the answer finally came to me: Helping others. Specifically, coaching ...
Views: 928 - Differences- Sponser/Coach - by Submitted on Dec 12, 2008 from Keith BrayDifferences:Sponsor / Coach Twelve Differences between your Sponsor and your Coach: As I chose coaching as my profession, and shared with others that I’d look at working with addicted people and those affected by addiction as a niche within my practise, some who have the honesty to be up ...
Views: 844 - How to Beat Drug Addiction - by Submitted on Dec 11, 2008 from Brian WalkerPeople use drugs for various reasons. Essentially, though, drugs give us a desired effect producing a feeling of euphoria that makes us feel better - at least temporarily. This is where the thought process gets a little skewed. People begin to crave the feeling of euphoria that they get when ...
Views: 5105 - Prescription Drug Risks - by Submitted on Dec 11, 2008 from William BerryRecently we have had several clients present for psychotherapy treatment who are court stipulated to a drug program because of drug charges. Of course this is no surprise. But what is surprising is the level of charges and the clients we are seeing. For example, one of our clients could be ...
Views: 2062 - LEADER or FOLLOWER? - by Submitted on Dec 09, 2008 from Keith BrayLEADER or FOLLOWER? The best leaders are those who know how to follow. --Anonymous Coaching is about asking powerful questions. Leader or follower falls into that category, and it is one I contemplate often because of the wide spread implications. Give it some thought. Am I a leader or a ...
Views: 3390 - Simplicity - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2008 from Keith BrayThere is an old expression that rings true so often. “I could complicate the Lord’s Prayer”. Not withstanding that the Lord’s Prayer is a complicated document, I think we all know the intended thought behind complicating it. Often wonder how nice it would be to walk the ...
Views: 786 - Impact on Family/Dad May Die - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2008 from Keith BrayThis week, I think I’ve gone through the most impactful and emotional occurrence of my recovery journey. I have watched death several times as people start, and then leave the journey to a better life. Addictions are a terrible disease. They kill. So does the impact of poor mental ...
Views: 693 - How to Cure Any Addiction—Holistically and Completely - by Submitted on Nov 25, 2008 from Marie Antoinette KelleyWhenever I have used the word cure in speaking about alcoholics or addicts in the presence of people who work in substance abuse treatment, they’ve cut me off in mid-sentence, as if I had uttered an obscenity. “There’s no such thing! Alcoholism and addiction are forever!” I was told again and ...
Views: 10387(1 vote) - Do you know how alcohol use progresses from pleasureable to addictive? - by Submitted on Nov 23, 2008 from Jeff JonesOnce upon a time there was a chief sitting at the edge of the village, obviously deep in thought. He sat there for hours and hours, seemingly unmoving. The tribe was beginning to get worried and restless, but nobody wanted to disturb him. An elder eventually got up his courage and walked ...
Views: 1065 - Breaking the Outdated Paradigm of Treating Addiction - by Submitted on Nov 21, 2008 from Marie Antoinette KelleyI have visited many different meetings where recovering alcoholics and addicts meet to provide comradeship and support to each other. At those meetings, when the members take turns speaking to the group, I hear in their speeches and conversations the struggles of members who only have a year or ...
Views: 1268 - Internet and Computer Addiction - by Submitted on Nov 20, 2008 from Menno SpijkstraIs there really such a thing as computer addiction? With most of our jobs these days which require the use of computers and anybody can enjoy the internet, can one become really addicted? But how can you differentiate from simply using or enjoying the computer as opposed to becoming full blown ...
Views: 4084 - Breaking the Outdated Paradigm of Treating Addiction - by Submitted on Nov 17, 2008 from Marie Antoinette KelleyBreaking the Outdated Paradigm of Treating Addiction I have visited many different meetings where recovering alcoholics and addicts meet to provide comradeship and support to each other. At those meetings, when the members take turns speaking to the group, I hear in their speeches and ...
Views: 977 - 7 Steps to Break any Bad Habit or Addiction - by Submitted on Nov 16, 2008 from jonathan highstead1. Identify What You Really Need You know what you don’t want, but until you’ve clearly identified what you do want, how can you see any options to get it? The first step is to identify the subconscious needs that are driving your behavior. Once you understand what you are really ...
Views: 4489