12 Step Program Addiction, The First Five Steps

Everyone’s heard of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, but what do they really mean?  Though structure is not enough to solve every single case of drug or alcohol dependency, there are certainly enough accounts of success in california rehab centers that make the 12 steps of AA truly worth trying. Let’s take a closer look at the first five steps

1.We admitted we were powerless over our addiction – that our lives had become unmanageable.

For most addicts who enter 30 day rehab programs, the power of choice has totally vanished and willpower becomes non-existent. When we admit our powerlessness and the inability to manage our own lives, we open the door to recovery.

2.Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

The only guidelines are that this Power be loving, caring and stronger than ourselves. A person doesn’t have to be religious to accept this idea.

3.Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God.

A common recovery phrase heard in long term drug rehabilitation, is “Turn it over.” For the recovering person, it means turning over every aspect of life to a higher power – whatever you understand that to be.

4.Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

This means taking stock honestly of our flaws. Perhaps for the first time in our lives. 

5.Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

The fifth step is not easy but allows us to live clean in the here and now by setting us free to live in truth.

These are just the first five steps, in some ways the most difficult, but there is much more knowledge to come in the following steps. Visit again to read more in the coming weeks, or get alcohol addiction help now, by contacting us.

New Beginnings at a Drug Rehab in California and Rebuilding Trust in the Family

Many times previous to our getting sober, we have done damage to the relationships with our families.  In the midst of drinking and/or using we set fire to the bridges that brought us here.  The relationships we have sacrificed, many times, are the people closest to us and that usually means our families and closest of friends.

When we begin the process of our journey to living a sober life, perhaps our families and friends don’t have any semblance of trust nor are they immediately inclined to rekindle what was broken and lost.  They are skeptical at best.  There are times when, the pain and betrayal we may have caused them supersedes their wanting anything to do with us after such personal attacks, be they direct or inadvertent.

In the throes of our alcoholism and/or addiction we may not only haves set fire to said bridges but, perhaps, we insured our separation by pouring gasoline on the stick of dynamite we threw into the burning flames.  We cannot expect that just because we are in early sobriety that everything that came before is immediately wiped away and our slate is instantly clean.  We have to recognize and take stock of where we have done wrong and what we can do to amend and rectify the situation(s) at hand.

To rebuild the trust and love in our families can become extremely important as we develop our support network.  Time, however begrudgingly we may find this idea, is often the healer of circumstance and can offer us and the people with whom we injured the opportunity to begin anew.

As trust was whittled away over a period of time, even if that time was mere minutes, it takes far longer to return however, fear not, the possibilities of repairing our relationships can happen.  The drug rehab in California is among the rehabs that take insurance and gives us a firsthand view of how to begin reweaving our threadbare, at best, fabric of understanding and trust with our families.  It is not impossible; however, it simply does not occur overnight.  The road is long but through our actions, not just our words, will yield the signposts that lead the way for our friends and family to return.

More Myths About Alcohol Drug Detox

Myths keep millions of people struggling with alcohol and drug addiction from seeking the alcohol and long term drug addiction treatment they need. Rehab can be a positive and life-changing experience that leads to a long, happy life free of drugs and alcohol. While there is no “cure” for addiction, drug rehab is often the first step to this new life. Don’t let the following myths stop you from getting the help you or a loved one needs.

“I have to hit rock bottom before I can go to rehab.”

While hitting rock bottom can lead to powerful change, it’s not the only way. With the help and encouragement of family and friends, many people have gone entered California drug treatment before hitting rock bottom and successfully maintain their sobriety. Why choose to hit rock bottom before you decide to take control of your life?

“Rehab doesn’t work if it’s forced.”

Making the choice to enter drug rehab voluntarily is more pleasant for all concerned, but sometimes drug rehab is court mandated or forced. Those cases have as good of a chance of recovery as any, regardless of the situation that led to taking that step. Sometimes only a stay in drug rehab can make it possible for an individual struggling with addiction to fully grasp the severity of his or her problem.

“Rehab cures addiction.”

There is NO cure for addiction. Unfortunately, relapse happens. The fear of relapse, is not a valid reason to avoid 12 step recovery programs. The key to successful recovery is to stay dedicated to working the steps of your treatment program, surround yourself with support and focus your efforts on healthy behaviors. Recovery is always possible, but not without dedication and self-awareness.

“There is no affordable rehab available to me.”

Yes, there are costs associated with inpatient accommodations, supervised medical detox and therapy sessions, but some treatment centers will work with your individual financial situation. Some insurance policies cover most (if not all) drug and alcohol rehab and many rehab centers offer payment plans or other payment options.

Drug rehab educates the addicted individual and their loved ones, creates a strong support system, and imparts the life-skills necessary to lead a productive life without the use of alcohol or drugs. Don’t let a myth stand in the way of a bright tomorrow.

Recovery Stories on Drug Rehab Blogs

As our sobriety continues and we begin to feel better, we may see our lives rebuild in a material fashion.  They may even be re-upped or improved upon with the things we lost while we were getting loaded; be it car, house, job, partner, etc.  There is also the distinct possibility these things may not come our way.  We are guaranteed nothing in the material.

We may hear stories on drug rehab blogs or from people in 12 step program addiction groups who have received everything they lost and then some.  There are times when, while listening to someone sharing and/or a speaker in a meeting, we may hear that person say they live a life beyond their wildest imagination, all the while delivering a message that is only connected to the physical items they now have.  Perhaps after the statement regarding “A life beyond… imagination.” they relay their tales of material acquisition without covering what brought them there.  They may have left out the important details of how they got to that place in their life and focus solely on all of the seemingly fine and fabulous things they now own.

It can be frustrating and maybe even feel near-deceiving when we don’t have those same results.  Perhaps we’re thinking we are supposed to have those very same things, on a similar timeline, to whomever we’re listening.  Maybe then we begin to think the program isn’t working.  We cannot understand why we feel like whatever program to which we are affiliated isn’t doing what we think it should.

The fact of the matter is participating in a program is not an insurance policy regarding acquiring “things” we may want to have.   If worked as instructed by the suggestions in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, we are given the ability to connect with our Higher Power, who subsequently allows us to match calamity with serenity.  That ability is a gift that far outweighs any material item.

Affordable Rehab and Recovery

“(b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.” – The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 60

With reading that statement, we may not entirely grasp the gravity of its suggestion.  Many times, in a drug rehab  in California, we may put the counselor or therapist to whom we feel the most connected on a pedestal.  Perhaps after leaving this affordable rehab, we begin to refocus our attention from the counselor/therapist to our sponsor, assuming we are working with one.  If not our sponsor, maybe we put the onus of our belief of that power greater than ourselves on another person, boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, public figure, etc.

This is a definitive problem and can further the concept of having a lack of power.  As we attempt to rely on others, we find that, invariably, the human condition, which includes the inevitable mistakes and whatnot, is not a stable and reliable source for us.  We find this direction, if we attempt it, isn’t the best within where to reach/attach our faith.

It may be a struggle to come to the notion that we cannot rely upon others as an insurance policy against our drinking and/or using.  With everything we hear about working with others, being available, being of service, it can be, especially in early sobriety, confusing as to where we are to place our firm assurances.

When we rely on others for our sobriety, we are setting ourselves and the other person up for failure and for the possibility of him or her building a large resentment toward us or, conversely a resentment from us toward the person with whom we want to believe will save us and/or keep us sober.  When that other person doesn’t act, behave, give, respond, in the way we need, this can be used as our impetus to drink and/or use, before we have a spiritual foundation on which to stand.  This can, given resentments are our number one offender, propel us toward taking a drink and, therefore, quite possibly drive us straight through the gateway of misery into the waiting arms of death.

In order for us to follow the well-worn path to success in the program of Alcoholics Anonymous using the design for living provided for us in the The Big Book, it is strongly suggested we find a power great than ourselves and that power may very well need to come in the form of a burgeoning concept of our Higher Power. This is to be a power greater than ourselves and that does not mean another living being or inanimate object, as people can let us down and material items can get lost and/or break.  We are not saviors for others, as they cannot be for us, & just as we cannot, of our own will, save ourselves.

Considering Short or Long Term Drug Rehabilitation

How long should inpatient treatment last in a 12 step recovery program? Can a short 30 day program really make a life-changing difference, or would a longer stay encourage better results? Although the choices can be overwhelming, if you or someone you know is searching for help, it’s here. Below we’ll explain a few of the differences between short and long term rehab.

Short term treatment is the most common form of drug and alcohol rehabilitation and is classified as continuous in 30 day treatment programs, while long term treatment ranges from 60-90 days to a full year.

Some studies have demonstrated longer lasting results with longer treatment times. Addiction takes time to develop and recovery can also take time. The most obvious benefit of long term care is that the individual is given time in order to discover and resolve the bedrock issues which led to the use in the first place.

One unavoidable problem with short term care is that the initial drug addiction detox period may extend one or even two weeks into treatment. Depending on the substance of addiction, patients can still feel the fog of addiction until week three. This leaves just one week of care, free of the acute withdrawals, for the person to deal with their issues and get back to their lives. Most people begin their  stays in rehab  ready to do whatever it takes to get clean and sober, but by the end of their stay, they simply focused on doing whatever it takes to get out.

It is not uncommon for addicts to require multiple 28 day stays before the rehab “sticks.” That can be   an emotional and financial drain on  both the addict and the family supporting them.

The bottom line is that every  person is different and the rehabilitation they undergo needs to be customized for them. In choosing what length of time to put into treatment it is most important to remain as objective as possible regarding the situation. To speak with an intervention specialist Los Angeles and learn more, contact us.

California Drug Treatment and Learning to Steer Away from Deliberate Drinking

“In some circumstances we have gone out deliberately to get drunk, feeling ourselves justified by nervousness, anger, worry, depression, jealousy or the like.  But even in this type of beginning we are obliged to admit that our justification for a sprees was insanely insufficient in the light of what always happened.  We now see that when we began to drink deliberately, instead of casually, there was little serious or effective thought during the period of premeditation of what the terrific consequences might be.” – The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 37

As we travel along this new path of sobriety, we will be squarely confronted with issues in our lives that we may have, in our life previous to this new route of no longer imbibing, used to justify our drinking and/or using.  Issues where we allow a vast power, the power of our reactive feelings, to swoop down over us; in effect supplanting our connection with our Higher Power and replacing it with said feelings regarding our current trials and tribulations.  These might be situations that we would have, previously, used to assert ourselves alongside our drink or drug of choice.

During these difficult times, we may feel righteously deserving of going out and filling ourselves with whatever drink or drug we please.  We may use the excuse of our situation, whatever that may be, like a shield between us and our Higher Power.  We may, possibly, even believe we are due a time out from our entire acquired sobriety thus far since, perhaps, we had been “good” for so long.  Perhaps we may fall prey to the idea of taking that particular moment and using it to jump at what may seem like a golden opportunity to drink and/or use.

These moments can be deadly.  Who knows if we will be able to return to the path of sobriety.  Maybe, just maybe, this self-indulgent, righteous tear we go out on doesn’t lead us, eventually, back to being sober but into an institution or, worse yet, a grave.

In this California drug treatment, the staff help us learn about the pending potential for our lives to take a turn in a difficult direction or when to recognize we are embroiled in an issue so deeply that it may seem insurmountable without the use of drugs and/or drink in order for us to get through it.  Whether we are there for one of their 30 day rehab programs or a longer stay, they show us that this is one of the insidious ways our alcoholism and/or drug addiction has aggressively taken hold of us, keeping us pinned to the proverbial ground and separated from what we have learned and experienced thus far.  We learn what to do when these feelings encompass us and these tools, in effect, save our lives; much like CPR saves the lives of so many, our embracing and enacting these new ways of living through difficult times will do the same.

Help for Parents of Addicts: Alarming Trends from The NIDA

Looking for help for Parents of Addicts? You are not alone. According to the most recent findings from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drug use among teens in the United States is on the rise – especially in young teens. The Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey has measured drug, alcohol, and cigarette use and related attitudes among adolescent students in the U.S. since 1975.  At its inception, the survey included high school seniors only, but in 1991 it was expanded to include 8th- and 10th-graders as well.

One major factor thought to be impacting the current statistics is the overall lowering in perceived risk, perceived social approval, and perceived availability for several drugs. The more risky or less accepted a drug is thought to be, the less likely it will be used by teens. Perceived availability often correlates with social approval – meaning that a drug that’s readily available is considered socially acceptable and will be more commonly used.

Teens don’t just consider the physical risks when using drugs, but also emotional, social/relational, and aspirational factors. Physical risks include may include addiction, and social risks include disappointing friends or family, entry into long term addiction program and losing friends. Aspirational risks include losing a job, or getting in trouble with the law. All of these perceived risks – physical, emotional, social, and aspirational – are different with each drug, and contributing factors include things like anti-drug campaigns, family counseling and discussion.

The following information was gleaned from the most recent study may be frightening to parents, but you will do well to be armed with this information and be aware of behavioral changes in children. If you suspect your young teen is using drugs or alcohol, please contact our addiction counselors for information on affordable rehab.

Daily Marijuana use is on the rise in all age groups. Among 12th graders included in the study, use is now at its highest point since the early 1980s. The study also found that perceived risk of regular marijuana use is definitely on the decline, which may predict a future upward trend in use.

Second to marijuana, prescription and over the counter medications account for the drugs most often abused by 12th graders. While non-medical use of Vicodin has decreased slightly, OxyContin use remains steady across the 9th and 12 graders, and actually increased in 10th graders over the past 5 years. Non-medical use of Adderall and over-the-counter cough and cold medicines among 12th graders remains high.

After declining for several years, use of the dangerous party drug Ecstasy has risen among 8th and 10th graders. From 2009 to 2010, lifetime use of ecstasy among 8th graders increased from 2.2% to 3.3% which also demonstrates a marked drop in perceived risk in using the drug.

The challenge in curtailing teen drug use is that the so-called “benefits” of using a given drug spread faster than perceived risks. The “benefits” of a drug are immediately evident, and electronic forms of communication like chats and text messages allow these “positive” experiences spread quickly among groups of young people.  Gathering information about the drug’s risks takes time, but when aggressively distributed through discussion with friends and family, the results are dramatic and positive.

Healing Relationships and Support for Family of Addicts

Many times previous to our getting sober, we have done damage to the relationships with our families.  In the midst of drinking and/or using we set fire to the bridges that brought us here.  The relationships we have sacrificed, many times, are the people closest to us and that usually means our families and closest of friends.

When we begin the process of our journey to living a sober life, perhaps our families of origin and/or our families of choice, i.e. close friends, don’t have any semblance of trust nor are they immediately inclined to rekindle what was broken and, subsequently, lost.  They are skeptical at best.  There are times when, the pain and betrayal we may have caused them supersedes their wanting anything to do with us after such personal attacks, be they direct or inadvertent.

In the throes of our alcoholism and/or addiction we may not only haves set fire to said bridges but, perhaps, we insured our separation by pouring gasoline on the stick of dynamite we threw into the burning flames.  We cannot expect that just because we are in early sobriety that everything that came before is immediately wiped away and our slate is instantly clean.  We have to recognize and take stock of where we have done wrong and what we can do to amend and rectify the situation(s) at hand.

To rebuild the trust and love in our families can become extremely important as we develop our support network.  Support for family of addicts is one of the major benefits of many residential treatment centers in California. Time, however begrudgingly we may find this idea, is often the healer of circumstance and can offer us and the people with whom we injured the opportunity to begin anew.

As trust was whittled away over a period of time, even if that time was mere minutes, it takes far longer to return however, fear not, the possibilities of repairing our relationships can happen.  The California rehab centers give us a firsthand view of how to begin reweaving our threadbare fabric of understanding and trust with our families.  It is not impossible; however, it simply does not occur overnight.  The road is long but through our actions, not just our words, will yield the signposts that lead the way for our friends and family to return.

Discarding Old Ideas and Starting a New Life in an Addiction Program in Los Angeles

“Is not our age characterized by the ease with which we discard old ideas for new, by the complete readiness with which we throw away the theory or gadget which does not work for something new which does?”  – The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 52

How many times have we changed our minds about a situation, a person, an idea?  Our beliefs may have fluctuated throughout our lives depending on what we’ve learned, seen, heard and/or come to understand regarding a situation where initially we may have thought differently.  So, in this, we can look back and realize that perhaps our initial ideas weren’t always correct or as informed as we may have thought.

As we approach sobriety and enter an addiction program in Los Angeles, we may need to reevaluate our belief systems, recognizing that the ones we have relied upon have not always led us to make the best choices and/or place ourselves in the optimum situations.  Perhaps it is time to rely on a different source for direction.  In this, we begin to realize our own concepts haven’t been as reliable.  Maybe, in our initial belief systems we were sure there was nothing greater than ourselves, that there wasn’t a greater Intelligent Power to guide us.

If we are as inclined to discard old ideas for new based on what we’ve learned through our lives, doesn’t it stand to reason that, perhaps, we may want to reevaluate our idea of relying on a Power greater than ourselves?  Just as we once could not imagine a sober life and are now learning a new life in an affordable rehab, we can see where perhaps our new life may have room for a power greater than ourselves. Even if we are still unable to fully grasp that idea, an idea which is constructed as we move forward by our own respective understanding, it could be conceivable that we function under the premise that there is a Power greater than us, whether we are ready to accept that in full or not.  When we live through the idea of something bigger than merely ourselves, we begin to live in a way that allows us to extend past our own designs and schemes and we bring the better part of ourselves into the world.