Author: aboveitalltx

Families often struggle when they watch a loved one go through addiction and they do not know how to help. Sometimes family members are too afraid to speak up and encourage their loved one to enter rehab. If no one confronts the person, however, the addiction will continue to develop and worsen.

In the best interest of everyone involved, families should address the problem, and offer to help in any way possible. Confronting a family member can happen in several different ways. Sometimes it takes a simple conversation with the person in need of rehab. Other times, families reach out to professionals for added support in confronting a loved one during an intervention.

In a recent case, Above It All was mentioned on OWN’s Iyanla Fix My Life where one sister called on host Iyanla Vanzant to provide some healing to a family in crises and to support her sister in getting help for her drinking problem.

Whether your family has held an intervention for you, or someone has simply suggested you go to rehab, how should you react? Below are some things to think about if your family has concerns about your substance use.

Listen. The first thing you should do is listen closely to your loved ones. Hear what they are really saying. Families often agonize over how to approach a loved one — they want you to know they love you and care about what happens to you. They do not want to see you struggle with addiction any more, so they have taken the difficult step and confronted you.

Examine Your Life. Your family has made some observations about your life, your habits, and your needs. Now it is time for you to evaluate your situation. Taking to heart what they share with you, look at your life and consider your drug or alcohol use. Could they be right? Have they seen something even you have not noticed, or could you be in denial that you have a problem? Be honest and take action if necessary.

Use this Opportunity. If there is any chance you could be addicted to drugs or alcohol, accept help and enroll in rehab. Look into the benefits of rehab, and start preparing for a new, sober life. This is the opportunity to go to rehab, seriously consider taking advantage of that opportunity. Use this as a wake-up call and let your family serve as motivation to get sober.

You can do this, and with the help of a treatment program like Above It All and your family’s support, you will soon be on your way to recovery.

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Lamar Odom is recovering from a possible drug overdose, and while many are wondering what this means for the athlete, his family is hopeful about his progress so far. News of the former NBA star’s hospitalization shocked the country, but the athlete is making strides toward recovery.

It was just one week ago when an unresponsive Odom was rushed to a hospital in Las Vegas for an apparent drug overdose and later transported to a Los Angeles hospital. The basketball player’s condition has been kept confidential, but friends and family are pleased with his “miraculous progress” so far.

Odom, like many professional athletes, has struggled with substance use in the past. Two years ago he was arrested for drunk driving, and has been in and out of treatment for drug and alcohol use. Also like many athletes, Odom has reportedly continued to use substances even after treatment. Now, as his condition is as serious as ever, many are wondering if it will be possible for Odom to ever really recover from drug and alcohol abuse.

Recovery Is Possible

The answer is that with the right kind of treatment, Odom, like anyone, can recover. There is hope, even for the most “hopeless” individuals. Recovery is possible, even for those who have not been able to succeed in recovery before.

What it takes to recover is an individualized treatment plan with skilled therapists at a professional facility. It takes long term care that will help prevent relapse. It also takes the support of family or friends who can provide encouragement and support when days are tough.

At Above It All, our thoughts are with Odom and his family, and we are wishing for his full recovery. We know the road might be long and difficult, but we also know that Odom has what it takes to beat this. We are hopeful that he will get into a rehab program that will help him get and stay sober.

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Forgiveness is a term we hear often in our society. It is a necessary step toward healing wrongs and repairing relationships. Forgiveness plays a huge role in addiction recovery as well. There are many others that have been hurt by your addiction-controlled actions and it is important to find forgiveness among those you have wronged. It is also important for you to forgive those that have wronged you, and let go of past mistakes that might have led to your addiction. Another type of forgiveness that is imperative is self-forgiveness in addiction recovery. You will always have to live with yourself, and true recovery will not come until you are ready to forgive yourself for your addiction.

Overcoming Guilt will Help You Forgive Yourself

Anyone who has suffered with addiction feels a deep sense of guilt and shame. This is normal. You are embarrassed and ashamed of your actions. You know you have hurt others by your words, broken promises, and lies. It might be difficult for you to ask for forgiveness. In fact, you might not think you deserve it because of the chaos you have caused, but you will not be able to heal broken relationships or achieve recovery until you forgive yourself.

Self-forgiveness in addiction recovery comes through understanding of addiction and getting to the heart of the substance use. You need to face the thoughts and emotions that led to addiction, and learn how to change them when necessary. Admit what you have done wrong, but then let those guilty thoughts go and don’t dwell on them. Overcoming guilt means allowing yourself to put those wrongs in the past and only look toward reshaping the future.

Self-forgiveness takes time, but it is a necessary part of your recovery. You don’t have to carry the weight of your guilt on your own. Find self-forgiveness through residential treatment, support groups or faith-based programs which will help you find peace and the hope of a new life.

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If you have been struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction and are ready to make a change in your life, you first need to give up your substance, and then commit to a life of sobriety. Staying sober is not always easy, but with the right kind of help, you can accomplish this worthy goal.

Withdrawal is the first step toward recovery, but withdrawing from a substance is not enough. You must also develop the skills to lead a sober life. A treatment program designed to help you get to the heart of your addiction and help you heal all areas of your life is the best way to achieve sobriety. There are many types of therapies that can help you understand your addiction and work through the emotional and psychological areas of your life in which you struggle. Therapy is the foundation for a life free from substances, and by continuing to apply what you learn in treatment, you can learn how to stay sober.

Three Tips to Stay Sober

 Staying sober is definitely possible with some hard work and planning. Below are some tips to help you stay sober.

1. Stay connected to others. One of the fastest ways to relapse is to pull away from family, friends, and the recovery community. In order to stay sober and avoid relapse, continue with therapy sessions, participate in support group meetings, and accept the encouragement of family and friends. These people all want to see you succeed and can provide you with reasons to stay sober when you are feeling low.
2. Focus on your health. Once you’ve kicked your addiction, you should continue to focus on your health. Living a sober life is easier when you make wellness a priority. Eat right, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and develop stress-management techniques to help maintain your sobriety.
3. Take it one day at a time. You will have days that are a struggle. Going from a life of addiction to a sober life is not always an easy transition, but by knowing this and by being willing to take it one step at a time, you will find that a sober life is fun and fulfilling.

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When looking for a treatment facility, many individuals and families feel overwhelmed, and this often leads people to either get the wrong kind of help or not get help at all. If you need treatment for alcoholism, be sure to know your needs and options so you can find the right facility. Alcohol detox can be dangerous, and it is important to find a detox center that is qualified and experienced in treating alcohol withdrawal.

Withdrawal from drugs or alcohol is never an easy process, but substances like alcohol can cause life-threatening complications in certain patients. Normal side effects of alcohol withdrawal include:

• Anxiety
• Nausea
• Headache
• Irritability
• Sweating
• Increased heart rate

Sometimes a more serious condition occurs, called delirium tremens, which is characterized by:

• Extreme confusion
• Hallucinations
• Seizure
• Tremors

Inpatient Alcohol Detox is the Safest Method for Alcohol Withdrawal

The best method for treating alcohol withdrawal is through an inpatient alcohol detox program. An inpatient program will provide supportive care to manage your pain, discomfort, and insomnia, but it also puts skilled medical staff in place in case there are complications to your withdrawal. Safety should be the number one concern when looking for an alcohol detox facility.

Also important is a program that can provide support and healing as you begin to rebuild your life without addiction. Even as withdrawal is being completed, you should be focusing on your determination to live without alcohol. You will need to develop certain skills that will help you manage cravings and triggers to drink, and this can and should happen as detox is finishing up. Look for a detox program that can help you transition into therapy right after withdrawal.

There are certain things you don’t want to do alone, and detoxing from alcohol is one of those things. Leave it to the experts to ensure your safety, and for your best chance at success.

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Prevention Works, Treatment Works, People Do Recover

A variety of government agencies have come together to bring public awareness to the importance of treatment and prevention for mental and substance abuse disorders during the month of September, which is National Recovery Month. The message: prevention works, treatment works and people do recover. National Recovery Month calls for the visibility of those who have found recovery and are willing to talk about it.

While mental and substance abuse disorders have been cause for shame and cover-up in the past, today SAMHSA encourages recovered individuals to come forward and speak up for recovery. To get in on the action around National Recovery Month and boost personal recovery through service to others, here are some suggestions for those who have experienced recovery first-hand and who can pass along viable information and genuine encouragement.

10 Ways to Celebrate National Recovery Month

• Make sure family and friends are aware of the extent of mental illness and substance abuse within their communities. Talk about what it means to recover.
• Ask to do a presentation at a local PTA group, making sure that parents are aware, that recovery is possible and that they know the options for finding help.
• Get together with a few friends and put on a National Recovery Month event – a movie, a short community walk, a party or something bigger – maybe local sponsors would be willing to support the event. Publicize it.
• Write a press release or op-ed piece and send it to the right person at a local news outlet.
• Attend and support National Recovery Center activities in the community.
• Make an announcement on Sunday morning at church. Ask to put the announcement in the church bulletin.
• Use social media to publicize National Recovery Month.
• Pass out fliers and brochures; ask if you can leave them in doctor’s offices, the church lobby, or on the community bulletin boards of local retailers.
• Sponsor a recovery night at your home with a couple of recovering individuals and a video that highlights the possibilities for recovery.

Most important:

• Go to https://recoverymonth.gov/ for a Recovery Month tool kit that will provide everything needed for making the above activities happen.

Self-pity plays a part in the negative thinking patterns of substance abusers, and their family members tend to pick up the habit right along with them. As the grip of addiction takes hold, it sets a downward spiral of self-pity and depression in motion. Alcohol and many other drugs are depressants, which not only contribute to but also compound the problem. Self-pity often presents itself in the form of blame. Alcoholics and drug addicts who feel sorry for themselves because of the mess they are making of their lives blame everything and everyone outside of themselves.

• “If you had a (wife, husband, mother, father) like mine, you would drink, too.”
• “If your boss treated you like mine does, you would drink, too.”
• “It’s too hard for me to make friends unless I go out drinking with people.”
• “I can’t face the stress of my day without some wine to calm me down.”

With this kind of negative thinking in place, addicts and alcoholics not only refuse to take responsibility for their actions, they build up a storehouse of excuses in order to give themselves permission to continue drinking and using.

Families Not Immune To Negative Thinking And Self-Pity

Families of addicts and alcoholics are caught in an emotional whirlwind. They often believe the lies their loved ones tell them when they are under the influence. They fall into despair because they cannot fix the problem for the one they love. They make themselves sick with worry. This turmoil affects the self-esteem of every individual in the family. Low self-esteem breeds even more negativity. When family members feel victimized, they cannot see their way clear of the situation they are in. They cannot seem to find a solution, and their despair mounts. Only when family members detach themselves emotionally from the addict’s behavior can they begin to recover.

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Everyone experiences fear in facing the unknown. Alcoholics and addicts, however, have the general tendency and uncanny ability to take that fear to a whole new level. They can go from zero to 60 in a heartbeat when it comes to projecting the worst possible scenario in any situation.

The depths of those fears may be subconscious and not verbalized, but fear can trigger the urge to drink or use drugs. This kind of impulsive negative thinking can happen in everyday situations, such as misplaced keys. Addictive thinking goes almost immediately to visions of someone stealing the car and, along with it, our wallet and every piece of identification, which we left on the seat. Thinking in fear can send an alcoholic or addict into a tailspin.

The popular recording star Macklemore, who recently shared his journey into relapse in a Celebrity News article, said fear began to overwhelm him, which led him back into negative thinking and destructive habits. Fortunately, he has returned to a program of recovery, but not everyone makes it back. The best relapse prevention is learning how to stay in the moment and avoid projecting fear into unknown situations.

Managing Feelings Of Fear Helps Prevent Relapse

People in recovery soon come to learn and accept that they have no control over other people and over life situations. No one goes through life without difficult decisions, loss of loved ones and other tragedies.

The gift of recovery is learning how to face those circumstances and the fear that accompanies them. Recovery gives alcoholics and addicts the tools to stop seeing themselves as victims and to choose how they are going to react to people and situations.

By staying in the present and by giving up the irrational desire to control other people and life situations, we actually gain power. We gain the power to choose our actions and let the outcome be what it will. Call us today, and our professional staff will be happy to talk with you about the process of letting go of fear.

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