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- A Relapse Prevention Tool - Emotional Cues for Cravings in Relapse Worksheet - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2009 from Peggy FergusonWe experience sensory, emotional/psychological, cognitive, environmental, and physical cues on a daily basis in early recovery. These cues or triggers, if left unchecked can turn into powerful cravings for the chemical. Cravings can lead to relapse. In order to avoid relapse it is crucial that ...
Views: 13957(2 votes) - Addiction and Recovery: The Cross Addiction Worksheet - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2010 from Peggy FergusonMany recovering people who begin the process of becoming clean and sober, harbor the notion that they can continue to hang on to some remnants of an old drinking/using lifestyle. They often initially believe that specific drugs are The Problem. Initially alcoholics/addicts may not consider use ...
Views: 13551(4 votes) - Addiction Recovery Worksheet For Identifying Healthy Replacements for the Alcohol and Drugs - by Submitted on Jun 16, 2010 from Peggy FergusonOne of the most important tasks of early recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction is learning to replace the chemical with health living skills. When you have taken the chemical out of your life, it leaves a big gaping hole, where something of substance was. Alcohol or other drugs have ...
Views: 11104(2 votes) - Addiction and Recovery: The Social and Environmental Triggers Worksheet - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2009 from Peggy FergusonAssociations between particular feelings, people, places, and events becomes intertwined with the alcoholic or addicts drinking and drugging behavior. When alcoholics and addicts find their way to recovery, the old associations between the drinking and drugging and the old feeling, people, ...
Views: 10513(2 votes) - Top 10 Best Alcoholics Anonymous Alternatives List - by Submitted on Aug 31, 2010 from Melanie SolomonOver the past few years, I have examined the effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous and a lively discussion has followed these posts. AA is a group that many have very strong feelings about - both positive and negative. For some, AA has been a life-saver and allowed them to manage their ...
Views: 10095(2 votes) - The Health Benefits of Giving Up Alcohol - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2011 from Mike MillerOften when I teach alcohol awareness classes clients query me , "Is drinking really that bad for me?" This article will talk about some of the main physical benefits of abstaining from alcohol, and then will discuss the mental and psychological advantages of ...
Views: 9768(4 votes) - Why Alcohol And Drug Rehab Doesn't Work For So Many - by Submitted on Feb 01, 2008 from Mark HoustonTens of thousands of addicts have been through drug and alcohol treatment programs; so why is it that so many can't achieve permanent sobriety? Short term programs are extremely valuable for detoxifying the body and introducing addicts to the principles of the 12-Step program. But real recovery ...
Views: 8977 - Alcohol Withdrawal Can Be Fatal - by Submitted on Jul 27, 2008 from Karen PriceAlcohol withdrawal can be fatal. If you are having some physical problems, and you think they may be due to drinking alcohol, or quitting drinking alcohol, then read on. You may be suffering from alcohol withdrawal. It can be a serious health risk that may lead to a withdrawal seizure, and even ...
Views: 8567(1 vote) - Sexual Addiction Behavior Types (Patrick Carnes) - by Submitted on May 30, 2011 from Ross Rosenberg, M.Ed. LCPC CADCAccording to Patrick Carnes, there are 11 sexual addiction behavior types. This information is important when when working with sexually addictive or codependents or co-addicts of sex addicts. As you will see, sex addiction comes in many forms and types. Anything from the lone web surfer who ...
Views: 8379(5 votes) - Codependency: The Dance - by Submitted on May 30, 2011 from Ross Rosenberg, M.Ed. LCPC CADCThe "dance" of codependency requires two people: the pleaser/fixer and the taker/controller. This inherently dysfunctional dance can only happen with one partner who is a codependent and another partner who is a narcissist (abuser or addict). Codependents do not know how to emotionally ...
Views: 8284 - Quitting Pot: 16 Steps to Help You Quit and Stay Quit - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2009 from Peggy FergusonOk, 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(3 votes) - Family Dynamics of Addiction: Anger in Early Recovery - by Submitted on Feb 04, 2011 from Peggy Ferguson“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 - Working Through Feelings in Addiction Recovery - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2009 from Peggy FergusonOne 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(1 vote) - "No Intimate Relationships During the First Year of Sobriety" - by Submitted on Mar 14, 2007 from Daniel LinderRecovering addicts hear this all the time in 12-step programs. However, this sound bit of wisdom is rarely heeded. Many have a hard time accepting that a hiatus from intimate relationships is necessary. In their minds, dating and new relationships seem benign. “As long as I’m not ...
Views: 8091(2 votes) - Addiction Bible Scriptures - by Submitted on May 21, 2009 from Robert And Shelley JakobsenAlcoholism, 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(3 votes) - COMPLIANCE VERSUS ACCEPTANCE AND SURRENDER - by Submitted on May 22, 2014 from Marty LernerA 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(1 vote) - Sane After Bipolar Disorder - by Submitted on May 12, 2009 from Marilyn RedmondIn the past, the medical community and most people were under the impression that Bipolar Disorder would be a life long ailment. Often Bipolar Disorder is destructive to relationships, careers, can wreak havoc on family life, and is a potentially fatal disease. According to Edgar Cayce, the ...
Views: 7353 - Guide to Eliminating Deception and Dishonesty - How to Get Real in Addiction Recovery - by Submitted on Jul 29, 2009 from Peggy FergusonMany 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(2 votes) - Two Essential Questions for Men in Recovery - by Submitted on Apr 23, 2011 from Dan GriffinIt 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(2 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: 6369(3 votes) - Family Dynamics of Addiction: Family Systems Can Work for or Against Your Recovery - by Submitted on May 24, 2009 from Peggy FergusonAlcoholics/addicts do not normally live in a circle made up exclusively of alcoholics and addicts. Most people suffering from addictions have a multitude of people in their lives who are affected by the addiction. Even alcoholics and addicts that are estranged from their significant others, ...
Views: 5462 - An Approach To Recovery Using Alchemy And The Twelve Steps - by Submitted on Aug 25, 2008 from John SmethersWhat is alchemy? Many of us are drawn to the mysteries of the past to enlighten the quality of the present. Mythology, astrology, the tarot, runes, and I-Ching have drawn the interest of many in recent years, and is being enjoyed and utilized in fresh and innovative ways. Ancient wisdom imbued ...
Views: 5376 - "If You Spot It, You Got It!" - by Submitted on Oct 10, 2007 from Michael ZOh how quick I am to judge and find fault in others. Before the program I was quite self righteous - I could see and tell you what you and others were doing wrong, but I was largely blind to my own faults. It was so easy to point my finger, but in the program I learned that when I do, there are ...
Views: 5307(1 vote) - Bible - Alcoholics Anonymous - Refresher - by Submitted on Jul 07, 2008 from Richard Burns, J.D. (pen name Dick B.),Bible – Alcoholics Anonymous – Refresher Dick B. © 2008 Anonymous. All rights reserved What the Bible has to do with Alcoholics Anonymous What documented relationship does the Bible (which early AAs affectionately called the Good Book) bear to the basic text of Alcoholics ...
Views: 5306 - 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) - The Call of Love: A Relationship Koan - by Submitted on May 24, 2019 from Brenda ShoshannaTHE CALL OF LOVE Dr. Brenda Shoshanna “Each miracle is a gentle winning over from the appeal of guilt to the appeal of love.” Here we are in the beginning of spring, when all is blooming and the heart, too, reaches for love. And yet, this is a painful time of year for many. There is ...
Views: 5168(1 vote) - Are You in Control? - by Submitted on Jul 15, 2012 from Darlene LancerWhere is your power center? Is it in you or in other people or circumstances? Paradoxically, controlling people often believe that they don’t have control over their lives or even themselves. Control is important to codependents. Many attempt to control what they can’t – other people – rather ...
Views: 5046(3 votes) - Spiritual Terms - How Do You Give Hope to Someone? - by Submitted on Apr 22, 2013 from Peter MainGiving hope to someone who needs it, whether their situation be a desperate one or simply a need for inspiration is perhaps the most important gift one can give, as well as in many ways being the most difficult thing to help instigate. It is often easier to give a false sense of hope than a real ...
Views: 5012(1 vote) - The Role Of AA's Fundemental Third Step In The Addiction Recovery Process - by Submitted on Feb 01, 2008 from Mark HoustonMost people say that they are excited and hopeful about the principal ideas outlined in the twelve step program, but never truly develop the discipline to incorporate each step into their daily lives. So many people are living proof, that if you develop the habits to truly make these ...
Views: 4964 - 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) - A.A.-Step 10: Teachings of Dr. Bob's Wife Anne Smith - by Submitted on Aug 10, 2010 from Richard Burns, J.D. (pen name Dick B.),A.A.-Step 10: Teachings of Dr. Bob's Wife Anne Smith Dick B., © 2010 Anonymous. All rights reserved We have recently covered Steps One through Nine of the Alcoholics Anonymous suggested steps for recovery. We did so by pointing out the applicable remarks on those topics by Anne Ripley ...
Views: 4765(1 vote) - Cross Addiction and Relapse - Examples and Relationships - by Submitted on Jul 29, 2009 from Peggy FergusonCross addiction is one of the leading causes of relapse in early recovery. Cross-addiction involves being addicted to all mood altering drugs. The following are illustrations of cross addiction. 1. Some people become cross-addicted in their efforts to camouflage their addiction. ...
Views: 4751(2 votes) - Addiction and Recovery: Drinking or Using Dreams as a Normal Part of Recovery - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2009 from Peggy FergusonWhen you have a drinking or using dream, you may wake up not really knowing if it actually happened. Many people in early recovery find it disturbing and frightening when they experience a "using" dream. Drinking and using dreams are those dreams where the central theme or experience is about ...
Views: 4746(2 votes) - Addiction and Recovery: The Emotional Highs and Lows of Early Recovery - by Submitted on Sep 21, 2009 from Peggy FergusonWhen someone makes a decision to get the help that they need to quit drinking and using other drugs, everything begins to change. As an addict’s body begins to detox and as she is consciously trying to interrupt the momentum of addicted use of a chemical (including alcohol), she goes through ...
Views: 4731(2 votes) - Binaural Beat Sound Therapy For Alcoholism - by Submitted on Aug 03, 2011 from Jane Maati SmithYou CAN quit drinking, and you take your life back from alcohol addiction. You can regain your health, have peace of mind, and gain the confidence you need to do the things you really want to do. Simply lay back, close your eyes, and relax; a healthier, happier, longer life can be as easy as ...
Views: 4693(1 vote) - Family Members Know You are Going to Relapse in Your Addiction Before You Do - Listen Up - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2009 from Peggy FergusonThe family dynamics of recovery is rarely smooth sailing. Relapse, which is a process, has a tremendously negative effect on significant others. Family members who have labored and struggled to remain with the addict through all the active years of addiction, to assist them in finding their way ...
Views: 4677(1 vote) - The Oxford Group's Four Absolutes and A.A.'s Christian Roots - by Submitted on Feb 29, 2012 from Richard Burns, J.D. (pen name Dick B.),Alcoholics Anonymous History A.A. – The Four Absolutes –The Facts Again! Dick B. © 2012 Anonymous. All rights reserved. Summary The “Four Absolutes” of A.A. were cherished “yardsticks” in earliest A.A.—standards for determining right behavior as measured through God’s eyes. And ...
Views: 4659(1 vote) - Addiction and Recovery: Don't Let Grief Over the Loss of Alcohol Derail Your Transition Into Recovery - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2010 from Peggy FergusonOne of the common experiences of the earliest efforts toward quitting drinking and becoming sober, is grief over the loss of the chemical. For many people with an alcohol or other drug problem, the chemical, (whether it is alcohol or oxycodone) has become the addict's best friend and constant ...
Views: 4633(2 votes) - ***Beginner’s Basic Overview of 12 Step Programs - by Submitted on Jun 03, 2013 from Sandra LeningtonWhat is a 12 Step Program? In short a 12 step program is any program based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are a design for living, whereby a person can learn to live at peace and joy, without resorting to destructive substances or ...
Views: 4623(2 votes) - The 4 A's of Healthy Relationships - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2011 from Marty LernerOne of the more challenging aspects of recovery from an eating disorder is learning to “navigate” through our relationships with family, friends, and co-workers. One certainty that exists for people regarding their ongoing relationships prior to entering recovery is that no relationship will ...
Views: 4534(2 votes) - 12 Step Programs for Eating Disorders and SMART Recovery - by Submitted on Oct 10, 2014 from Marty LernerSMART* Recovery and 12-Step Programs In the world of addiction treatment there are several choices one has in the way of utilizing and attending a community based support group. Should one look more closely at what is offered to those with an eating disorder the choices are somewhat more ...
Views: 4484(4 votes) - Addiction and Recovery: Prevent Relapse By Making Good Choices - by Submitted on Jul 29, 2009 from Peggy FergusonRelapse is a process that occurs over time, in the context of significant decisions. Many people who relapse say that drinking or using was the furthest thing from their mind just before they consumed the chemical. In reality, most of the time, relapse was in process some time before the ...
Views: 4478(2 votes) - Addiction and Recovery: Preventing Relapse After Surgery - by Submitted on May 19, 2009 from Peggy FergusonYou are ultimately responsible for your own addiction recovery. When you know that you have to have surgery, it is important to keep everyone treating you informed about your recovery and addiction history, including the names of the drugs, the amounts, the lengths of time that you took them, ...
Views: 4438(1 vote) - Addiction Recovery: 12 Do's and Don'ts For the Family While the Alcoholic is in Rehab - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2009 from Peggy FergusonYour significant other finally went to rehab. With all the events leading up to his agreeing to go to treatment, it may feel like a let-down. You may have breathed a big sigh of relief as you drove away from the airport or the treatment center after dropping him or her off. You may feel hope. ...
Views: 4412(2 votes) - Have total control over body and mind - by Submitted on Jun 17, 2009 from Greg FrostWe are living in a state of flux. We are living in a state where we are in total un control of your mind and our body. This statement comes from the very fact that we are no longer a focused, organised and empowered race of humans walking on this earth. Why do we say this? We say this because ...
Views: 4329(2 votes) - RECOVERY IN THE TWELVE STEPS - A SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION - by Submitted on Sep 25, 2010 from Darlene LancerMany mental health professionals do not understand the 12-Step recovery process, unless they have participated in a 12-Step program. Although they may encourage their clients to do so, they may feel perplexed or intimated, or act patronizing. Often, therapists don’t realize that the 12-Steps are ...
Views: 4320(1 vote) - Voting the Lord's Prayer out of A.A. Meetings - by Submitted on May 21, 2011 from Richard Burns, J.D. (pen name Dick B.),Voting the Lord’s Prayer Out of A.A. Dick B. © 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved More and more efforts are being expended by a few members of the A.A. fellowship to move Almighty God out of the A.A. and other 12-Step and "anonymous" meetings. A Common technique is to call for a "group ...
Views: 4318(1 vote) - ***Are You Addicted? 6 Simple Signs the Say, "I am addicted." - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2013 from Sandra Lenington"Is it just a harmless habit, OR is it addiction? 6 Simple Signs that Say, “I am addicted.” Listed below “The six sure signs of addiction” are the “official” diagnosis criteria for addiction that appear in the DSM. I LOVE playing with ...
Views: 4275(4 votes) - Alcoholics Anonymous History: Silkworth: The Little Doctor Who Loved Drunks - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2011 from Richard Burns, J.D. (pen name Dick B.),Silkworth: The Little Doctor Who Loved Drunks A Contemporary Perspective Dick B. © 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved An Introductory Look at Silkworth as One of A.A.’s “Co-founders” William Duncan Silkworth, Jr., was born in Brooklyn on July 22, 1873. His family remembers him as a ...
Views: 4221(2 votes) - Oxford Group - Alcoholics Anonymous - Refresher - by Submitted on Jul 13, 2008 from Richard Burns, J.D. (pen name Dick B.),It’s Time Once Again to Visit the Oxford Group and Alcoholics Anonymous There has been a resurgence of interest by AAs and 12-Step programs in the relationship of Oxford Group ideas and Alcoholics Anonymous principles, practices, and steps. My own title, The Oxford Group and Alcoholics ...
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