Getting Sober and Starting Over

There are different forms of starting over and as alcoholics when we first ask for alcohol addiction help and get sober it’s very much a new beginning for us. There are several options and ways to start over, but when we make the choice to get sober it’s one of the most important choices we can ever make. It’s a choice to live a better life. We choose to let go of our past and the disease of alcoholism that has held us down for so long. Some of us choose to enlist the help of a 30 day rehab, AA, or a drug addiction detox for guidance. We learn that at any given moment we can start over and make a different choice. We can change our minds to find out what Gods will for us is or change our behavior around any situations. We learn we never have to drink to start over we just simply have to choose contrary action as opposed to doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results (insanity).  Starting our day over, redirecting our thoughts and realizing our actions and our thoughts can be beneficial and rewarding. Whether it be by letting go of something, trying something new, or changing our thought process or actions, it can mean the difference between a good day or bad day, a healthy happy relationship or a toxic one, drinking or not drinking, or other healthy or unhealthy choices. When we are able to realize that something is no longer working for us and are able to let go and start a new then we get to have a different experience with life. This is one of the several ways that sobriety work for us. The fact that we don’t have to drink anymore over our feelings, but instead stop what we’re doing and try a new approach and find peace amongst chaos is a miracle. We use to drink over our feelings/thoughts before as well as not getting our way or our fear and now after getting sober we are able to turn everything over to a higher power and realize that there is nothing we cannot do or be if we are willing to just to the footwork.

The Importance of Honesty in Receiving Alcohol Addition Help

When we first get sober we need to get honest with ourselves and others before we can receive alcohol addiction help. For starters we need to admit that we have a problem and that we are alcoholics to our innermost selves and then we can begin to get honest with others. After that we might need the assistance of an addiction program in Los Angeles and we must once again get honest this time about the fact that we can’t do this alone. This necessity for honesty does not stop but gets more important yet easier for most as time goes by. We might have to be honest with our Los Angeles rehab, sponsor, friends, and family if something is going on with us because our secrets can keep us sick and can eventually kill us. Honesty is not a familiar concept at first for alcoholics since we’ve often felt like we’ve had to lie and that it worked for us when we were using in regards to defending our right to drink as well as attempting to hide our disease but as time goes by and we recover sober alcoholics can be some of the most honest and reliable people in this world. We find we no longer have to lie, and can be honest because with our new found life and “ second chance” we have no need to hide things. We have a higher power that can handle any situation when we live an honest and loving lifestyle.

Alcoholics and Their All or Nothing Thinking

Often times alcoholics live in a world of extremes. Extreme ways of doing things and extreme ways of thinking. It’s another way our addiction plays out. We often have all or nothing thinking followed sometimes by all or nothing actions. Things for us are generally black and white. We at times look at things in a way that if we don’t “win” or get our way then nobody wins (especially when we are new and first receive alcohol addiction help). This thought process can actually be harmful to our sobriety in the sense that when we are unable to see any other way not only are we setting ourselves up for a us against the world mentality but we are potentially harming others, living in fear / self will, and we are shutting ourselves off from remaining teachable. If we fail to remain teachable it might lead to a relapse. When we go to a drug rehab in California, AA, or other Los Angeles rehab programs we learn that we cease fighting all places, people, and things. We learn to let things just be so that we can have peace and personal growth. Through this process of learning how to live life on life’s terms we start to rely on faith in a higher power, rely a little less on ourselves, and get to the point where we know that we are going to be ok no matter what even if things don’t look the way we think they should that very moment we know it is exactly how it is supposed to be.

The Big Talk – Teens & Drugs

When it comes to parent / teen conversations, drugs are likely second to sex on the list of topics you’d like to avoid. Though you may find the subject taboo or awkward to speak about, it is important that the job be done in a calm, educational and positive manner. By taking the time to plan ahead, you can actually make the experience a fun and interactive discussion, providing each party with the confidence and peace of mind they deserve. In this entry, we will outline a few tips and tricks to help you through the conversation.

Step 1 – Ask your teen to put aside some time to speak with you. Tell them that there is something you’ve been meaning to discuss with them, while communicating the fact that they are not in any trouble. Starting the dialog in this manner puts the ball in their court, and will likely peak their interest in the conversation.

Step 2 – Begin by telling your teen about your own encounters with drugs. If you do not have any personal experiences with drugs, you can recall stories of friends or relatives who do… but be discreet. There is not right or wrong in this conversation. By opening yourself up to your child in an honest way, you will likely gain their respect and confidence. Avoid the horror stories and glamour and stick to the facts.

Step 3 – Ask for feedback and find out what they think about your experiences. Opt for open-ended inquiries that will allow them to open up to you about their feelings and thoughts on the matter.

Step 4 – In a calm and loving manner, simply ask your teen about their drug experiences. Make sure to declare the conversation punishment-free and hope for the best. In order to have an open dialog with your teen, they must feel comfortable communicating with you. A swift punishment for admitting to past drug use will only close them off in the future.

Step 5 – Do your best to react with compassion and empathy. If your teen does not have any experience with drugs, commend them for it in a calm and positive fashion. If they do, your reaction should remain composed. Discuss the circumstances behind their usage to find out more about their interest and history.

Step 6 – Get the facts. Going into these types of conversation without a grounded education will only serve in making you appear silly. Treat this situation as you would a business meeting; with preparation and a healthy dose of respect.

Step 7 – Whether or not your teen is taking drugs, it’s important to offer your support. Outline the potential consequences and ways to avoid future use. If you suspect a real problem, it’s important to consider the possibility of treatment. The quicker you can nip the problem, the better chance your teen will have of a healthy future.

If you’re interested in learning more about your teen’s available alcohol and drug treatment options, Above It All is here to help. Give our addiction counselors a call to find out about our drug treatment plans, philosophies, and financing options. Raising a teen is hard enough without the presence of drugs and alcohol. Get the facts and help you deserve today!

Mending A Relationship Following Relapse

When an addict relapses, it can often revive or create issues within a relationship. The effort required to repair these relationships can commonly be as or more difficult than maintaining sobriety. As such, an individual who has chosen to be in a relationship with an addict must be loving and supportive while working not to enable the negative behaviors associated with the addiction at hand. In this entry, we will offer up a few tips and tricks to help you through the repair.

1)    Be sure to communicate how the relapse has hurt you. This should be done in a non-accusatory fashion, simply stating that you are interested in a healthy and positive relationship with the individual but that it is being prevented by the addiction. Offer your support and love.

2)    Determine whether the addiction has reached a point where it is threatening to end the relationship completely. If is has, make sure that your partner is aware of the situation by offering them an ultimatum. A challenge such as this will often inspire a fight towards maintaining sobriety. WARNING: Do NOT offer an ultimatum unless you are truly committed to it. Failing to follow through with these types of threats will only serve in teaching the addict that they are not to be held accountable for their actions.

3)    Seek guidance and support from your loved one’s family. These people will know the individual just as well as you, and can offer up insight to help encourage your partner’s continued recovery. Communicate your concerns in regard to your relationship status and ask for ideas on how to better reach your partner. In some instances, the family may be unaware of just how bad the addiction has become.

4)    If your options have been exhausted, it may be time to consider an intervention. These positive, calm and loving exercises help friends and family members confront the addiction head-on, while emphasizing the need for treatment. While an intervention may be a painful ordeal for both you and your partner, your relationship will only benefit from the experience long-term.

5)    Locate a support group that caters specifically to loved ones of addicts. These forums offer participant the opportunity to alleviate their frustrations, while offering valuable insight into the addiction from others going through similar experiences. There, you will not only gain perspective on the addiction, but the acknowledgement that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

If you are struggling with the addiction of a loved one, help is available to you. Pick up the phone and call one of our Above It All addiction counselors today to educate yourself on available options and drug treatment plans. With support, patience and determination, you will find that hope is never out of reach.

God and Meditation Part Three

So far we have looked at building your own concept of a higher power, having a conscious contact with a higher power, and touched a little on meditation. Today were going to take a deeper look into the concept of meditation and what it can do for us. There is so much to be said about this subject. Meditation is such a personal thing and there are many different ways that people can and do meditate. For example Buddhists pursue meditation as part of the path toward enlightenment and nirvana. Some of their meditation practices include breath meditation, over fifty methods for developing mindfulness and forty for developing concentration as well as thousands of visualization meditations. Christian meditation is generally the process of deliberately focusing on specific thoughts (e.g. a biblical scene involving Jesus and the Virgin Mary) and reflecting on their meaning in the context of the love of God. Christian meditation contrasts with cosmic styles of eastern meditation as radically as the portrayal of God the father in the Bible contrasts with discussions of Krishna or Brahman in Indian teachings. Unlike eastern meditations, most styles of Christian meditations do not rely on the repeated use of mantras, but are intended to stimulate thought and deepen meaning. Christian meditation aims to heighten the personal relationship based on the love of God that marks Christian communion. Within Hinduism There are many schools and styles of meditation. Yoga is generally done to prepare one for meditation, and meditation is done to realize union of one’s self .The Jewish mystical tradition, kabbalah, is inherently a meditative field of study. Traditionally Kabbalah is only taught to orthodox Jews over the age of forty. Corresponding to the learning of Kabbalah are its traditional meditative practices, as for the Kabbalist, the ultimate purpose of its study is to understand and cleave to the Divine. While there is many forms of meditation out there (kriyas, deep thought, breath meditation, silence, prayer, visual meditaion, etc.) it all seems to boil down to one thing a source or power greater than ourselves. recovered alcoholics may choose one, or several of the above options along with other ones not listed but our purpose is not only a means to get closer to our higher power but for us it’s a part of how we stay alive after receiving alcohol addiction help not just spiritually but physically as well. It is our 11th step. When we go through AA, a Los Angeles rehab, or any drug rehab in California we get the opportunity to learn how to be comfortable with ourselves, be alone, and gain several other tools that will help us on our path toward finding a way to meditate that’s right for us. There have been some alcoholics who have tried all forms of meditation. There is no wrong way provided we keep at it and it brings us a sense of peace and grounds us.

God and Meditation Part Two

“In thinking about our day we may face indecision. We may not be able to determine which course to take. Here we ask God for the inspiration, an intuitive thought or decision. We relax and take it easy. We don’t struggle. We are often surprised how the right answers come after we have tried this for a while.” pg 86 Into Action from the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Yesterday we talked about coming up with our own concept of our higher power and what that looked like. Today let’s take a look at meditation and the role your higher power plays in that. Many of us might have a hard time with meditation when we first got sober. This makes sense considering our need or reasoning behind seeking alcohol addiction help probably didn’t stem from our constant meditation practices or the constant state of peace we were in. Many of us were spiritually bankrupt when we got sober and couldn’t even believe in ourselves, let alone a higher power or some guy in the sky belief system. Eventually we learned /came to believe this through doing the work at 30 day rehab programs, on our own, AA, or other California rehab centers. Regardless of where we found our higher power the important thing is that we found a power as that’s an imperative part of working the steps as well as meditation. The incentive of meditation is different for man. Some of us just wants peace. Some of us want a conscious contact with their higher power, and many of us want both. Meditation has several benefits and is vital in our recovery. According to our 11th step it’s not just a time for us to sit silently and reflect but also a time set aside for reviewing our day, and sitting still waiting for answers on what Gods will is for us.

God and Meditation Part One

“Much has already been said about receiving strength, inspiration, and direction from him who has all knowledge and power. If we have carefully followed directions, we have begun to sense the flow of his spirit into us to some extent we have become God conscious. We have begun to develop this vital sixth sense, but we must go further and that means more action. Step 11 suggests prayer and meditation. We shouldn’t be shy on this matter of prayer. Better men then we are using it constantly. It works if we have the proper attitude and work at it.” Pgs 85-86 Into Action from the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

We have come into AA and receive alcohol addiction help we may read or hear people talking about god and depending on our previous experiences we may have a negative reaction or thought around it. Just to hopefully clarify AA and other drug addiction detox are not religious based programs but rather spiritually based programs unless otherwise specified form the drug addiction facility in LA. Those of us who have been in recovery for a while encourage the people that are newly sober to create their own concept of a higher power. All that is suggested is that it’s not another person and that it is a source of love and something you believe can carry you through any rough spots, as well as something bigger than yourself. Ultimately we want you to find a higher power of your own understanding. Your concept of a higher power is something that can continue to grow as you do and becomes such a valuable and amazing gift.

Making Changes for a Better Life Through Sobriety

Sometimes we have to give up everything we know for the hope of something better. That’s exactly what sobriety is about. When we first get sober either through AA, or a drug rehab facility in LA most of us are afraid of the unknown and what our lives will look like. Most of us live in fear that it won’t work and we will never be able to stay sober and if we are able to then what? What if our lives are boring because were sober and what if we can’t have any more fun in life? After receiving alcohol addiction help, taking the first step, and going to an addiction program in Los Angeles we come to find that the opposite is true. There is tons of fun to be had in sobriety. We have also seen time and time again several success stories. We’ve seen homeless people become doctors, thieves become honest bankers, addicts become therapists, and helpless drunks turn their lives around and make something of themselves. In other words we’ve seen nothing short of miracles happen on a constant basis. We’ve seen people that should be dead recover and live amazing lives. Through seeing this and through having our own experience we begin to see that not only are we going to be ok but we are going to be able to have fun and stay sober. When we make the decision to start living this lifestyle we begin to see that the skies the limit. Our dreams are no longer just dreams they are reality waiting to happen. Dreams without action = fantasy but through getting sober we can finally find enough courage and strength to take that action and make the most out of our lives.

How To Maintain Your Sobriety

When it comes to recovery, achieving sobriety is often said to be the easy part; staying sober is the real challenge. Though the withdrawal and rehabilitation process is often difficult for many addicts, the lessons learned within our treatment facility will do little if not implemented daily following your release. In this entry, we will discuss how to maintain your sobriety following your rehab treatment completion.

1 – One simple rule: Don’t use. If you do not ingest, snort, smoke, etc. you will not become inebriated. While this rule may seem simple and self-explanatory in regard to relapse prevention, it is often one of the hardest rules to follow. As such, there will be no “for old time’s sake”, or “just a taste”. If you don’t pick up your addiction, the cycle will remain stagnant.

2 – Find yourself some positive support outside of the Above It All substance abuse rehabilitation facility. Though our counselors will always be available to help you through the hard times, it’s important to immerse yourself within an environment that caters to your drive and determination to remain sober. Select hobbies and activities that boost confidence and increase your self-esteem. The more active you are, the better you’ll feel. The better you feel, the more likely you’ll be able to maintain your sobriety.

3 – Set some goals. From alcohol drug detox to program completion, you’ll have plenty of time to reflect on past experiences and the mistakes that have been made. Use these ask a guide to better yourself following rehab. A plan of action will keep you focused, determined and driven to succeed. By choosing your goals ahead of time, you’ll have less opportunity to question your sobriety and decisions moving forward.

4 – Keep an eye our for triggers. Different times of the year can be more stressful and difficult than others. When these dates approach, be sure to place yourself in a supportive environment with people who are sympathetic to your sobriety. Hit up AA meetings and avoid putting yourself in situations or around individuals that may trigger negative emotions. Stay positive and remain strong. This too shall pass.

5 – Go easy on yourself. Recovery is never an easy process. If you fall down, take the opportunity to learn from your mistake and get back on track. Never give up on your goals and fight the good fight. Your recovery may not be as graceful as you might have thought, but as long as you stay in the game, the rewards remain the same.