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Articles from Todd Branston | Selfgrowth.com
- Some Thoughts About My Mom and Her Mental Illness - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2016 from Todd BranstonMy mom was a single mother. I don’t necessarily think this was a bad thing. I was born in the 60’s, and while it appeared my mom was pretty self-sufficient, where I lived in the working-class neighborhood of Brooklyn it was considered a faux pas to give birth to a child out of wedlock. My mom ...
Views: 1436 - Secular Spirituality - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2016 from Todd BranstonIn a previous article I noted that I would talk about why I opted not to follow-through with my rabbinical studies. I was raised in a fairly orthodox Jewish household by grandparents that survived the Holocaust. I attended shul on a weekly basis, spent hours studying with various rabbis, and was ...
Views: 1475 - Commitment - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2016 from Todd BranstonSuccess isn’t owned, it’s leased,,,,,and rent is due every single day – JJ Watt, Defensive End, Houston Texans I’ve been spending a fair amount of time thinking about commitment and how that manifests in my life. When I got sober I made a commitment to my grandmother that I would stay sober. ...
Views: 1685 - My Anniversary - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2016 from Todd BranstonJune 12th found me celebrating 36 years of sobriety. As I approached the eve of my anniversary I am reminded of the model of recovery that has made this milestone possible. When I got sober my grandparents (both of whom survived Auschwitz) asked me to develop a mission statement that would guide ...
Views: 1571(1 vote) - Being of Service - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2016 from Todd BranstonI haven’t posted any new material for well over a year. Apologies. My goal is to create at least two blog posts per month and strive towards two new podcasts per month. I’ve suffered from horrible writer’s block, and until today I couldn’t move past my current ‘block’ If you’ve followed me on ...
Views: 1604 - Engaging Compassion in Addiction Recovery - by Submitted on Dec 30, 2014 from Todd BranstonIt’s been suggested that you can improve the quality of your life by cultivating compassion. Compassion has been described as 1) a feeling of deep sympathy for another person, 2) to suffer together, or 3) concern for the misfortune of others. Not only is compassion praised as a desired human ...
Views: 1601 - Increasing Self-Esteem in Recovery - by Submitted on Aug 22, 2014 from Todd BranstonIf I spend time thinking about the various issues specific to addicted clients I come up with a few central themes. Many people need to find a sense of purpose, some need to find a sober place to live, and others need to find a way to earn income or repair family relationships. However, what is ...
Views: 2724 - Approaching Change in Recovery - by Submitted on Jun 20, 2014 from Todd BranstonOver five weeks ago I was approached by one of my patients on the unit who let me know that he hated his life. He talked about the various experiences he had and he was concerned that a short stay in rehab wouldn’t offer him the opportunity to find any kind of comfort or relief. I suggested that ...
Views: 2380(1 vote) - Emergency Sobriety Card - by Submitted on Apr 17, 2014 from Todd BranstonOne of the larger challenges in recovery is learning how to overcome a desire to use alcohol or drugs. In previous articles I've offered a host of tools to support recovery and encourage you to think about recovery in ways other than a conventional approach to sobriety. In this article I would ...
Views: 3156(2 votes) - An Alternate Path to Recovery - by Submitted on Dec 31, 2013 from Todd BranstonSobriety is an interesting thing, especially as most people initially attempt to find recovery at a 12-step meeting. The focus of this article is to discuss a different way of staying sober that is outside the confines of AA or NA, or a traditional approach to recovery. I used alcohol and ...
Views: 2713 - Mindfulness in Recovery - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2013 from Todd BranstonStaying sober requires that we develop skills that further long-term abstinence. While there are many ways to achieve recovery, I would like to discuss Mindfulness as a tool that has been valuable to me and a host of clients I’ve worked with over the last 28 years. Mindfulness is a concept ...
Views: 2710 - Dealing With Boredom in Recovery - by Submitted on Feb 18, 2013 from Todd BranstonOverheard at meetings and treatment rooms are stories of how clients report that there's nothing to do now that they're sober or how they feel like they won't have any friends once they get sober. While I can certainly understand the concern, there are a lot of people engaged in a full life who ...
Views: 2564(1 vote) - Recovery Is For Anybody - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2012 from Todd BranstonMany years before I found my way into a group room or sat in a chair before a client, I listened to a recording of Dr. King and his "I Have a Dream" speech. Having listened to his speech I knew I wanted to help people in some way and I knew I wanted to affect change, I just didn't know how. I ...
Views: 1803(1 vote) - Emotional Management: A Skill For Mastering How You Feel - by Submitted on Nov 10, 2012 from Todd BranstonDeveloping skills to manage your emotional states is crucial if you want to develop long-term sobriety. While the initial phase of recovery is often met with a 'Pink Cloud' or Honeymoon period, it is very likely that once the newness of recovery wears off the newly sober addict or alcoholic ...
Views: 1487(1 vote) - Addiction Treatment for Homebound Clients - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2012 from Todd BranstonFor over 27 years as an addiction treatment professional I have applied various treatment approaches in various communities. In helping my clients find success I have learned that treatment approaches should vary not only by community, but also by client experience and milieu. Many clients ...
Views: 1829 - Developing Juicy Goals For Recovery - by Submitted on Jul 10, 2012 from Todd BranstonIt is likely there are a few things you’d like to accomplish in your sobriety. The reality is that the machinery that helps your goals manifest is the same no matter the subject, time-line, or importance. I would like to posit that in order to reach your goals there are specific ways of ...
Views: 2013(1 vote) - Anatomy of a Relapse - by Submitted on May 12, 2012 from Todd BranstonA random poll among newly sober clients, recovery counselors, and people who have achieved years of clean time would probably produce a varying consensus about the most pressing need for successful recovery. Most respondents, however, would likely agree that relapse is often an indicator of ...
Views: 2996(1 vote) - Having a difficult time staying sober?? Maybe it’s not you – maybe it’s brain chemistry. - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2012 from Todd BranstonYou know the drill: you have spent countless hours in meetings, on the phone with your sponsor asking endless questions about your desire to use. You have worked the steps and you’ve even consulted specialists. In a moment of desperation you found help by attending treatment. You’re able to ...
Views: 1552(1 vote) - Skilled Sobriety - by Submitted on Feb 29, 2012 from Todd BranstonLong-term sobriety requires personal engagement in your recovery. Real engagement goes beyond just attending meetings or calling your sponsor. Engaged recovery requires that you constantly learn new, concrete skills which support long-term sobriety. When I think of concrete skills that support ...
Views: 1595(2 votes) - Staying Sober Utilizing Mandates and Injunctions - by Submitted on Sep 06, 2013 from Todd BranstonWhen a person decides to get sober the idea of staying sober can be overwhelming. The fear of relapse looms large. A quick review of the literature suggests that the success rate is relatively small when compared to the number of people who attempt to find sobriety. According to a 2003 study, ...
Views: 3610(1 vote) - Introduction to Chemical Dependency - by Submitted on Jan 31, 2012 from Todd BranstonNot everyone who drinks regularly is an alcoholic or has a drinking problem. But substance abuse is a major problem within the older population. It is not always obvious, because many older adults drink in private rather than in bars. Because our culture generally identifies problems with ...
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