Getting The Most Of Your 12 Step Recovery Program

AA – The most widely known of the 12 step recovery programs – is based on the idea that an individual can succeed in their recovery from addiction through the process of letting go of problems they are unable to control. Members are taught to “be in the moment”, while placing their faith in a higher power to help guide their recovery. In this entry, we will offer up a few tips and tricks to help you get the most of your AA experience.

1 – Hop online and search for a local 12 step addiction recovery program in CA that is close to home and work. Though you will likely find a favorite meeting around town, it’s nice to have an idea of where you can turn in case a craving or mood should arise unexpectedly.

2 – Attend a few different meetings to gain a better understanding of your options. In some cases, it may take a few tries to locate a solid fit. Avoid becoming discouraged if you don’t find your match immediately.

3 – Once you’ve located a favorite, do your best to attend meetings regularly. If you’re fairly new to the program, you’ll want to make a concerted effort to attend 90 meetings during your first 90 days.

4 – Look and nail down a sponsor. A sponsor should be a longtime member who is able to guide you through the program, while offering support and encouragement throughout your recovery. If you ever find yourself in a tight spot… this will be the person you call.

5 – Get involved, and ask how you can contribute to the organization! Positions can include anything from conducting a meeting from time to time to traveling as a representative. The more involved in the program you are, the more devoted you will be to maintaining your sobriety.

6 – Make a point to read the “Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous” and other types of organization literature on a daily basis… especially in cases where you are unable to attending meetings in person.

7 – When you find yourself feeling to urge to use, or have gone through a rough day, take the time to recite the Serenity Prayer. It may seem like a trivial action initially, but the focus it brings is indisputable.

8 – Your recovery is not going to happen overnight. Know this, and take comfort in how far you’ve already come on a daily basis.

9 – Ask for help when needed. Recovery is never an easy process. If you feel the urge to use again, it’s important to put your pride away and contact someone who can help you through your situation and feelings. Whether a sponsor, addiction counselor, or friend, the simple act of reaching out is paramount in maintaining your sobriety if and when difficult situations present themselves.

10) Smile. Laugh. Love. Listen. Think happy thoughts.

If you’re searching for additional tips on maintaining your sobriety, or are interested in your available addiction treatment options, our Above It All addiction specialists are on hand now to answer your questions. Give us a call today!

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.

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.

Uncovering the Alcoholic Ego

“Our eyes begin to open to the immense values which have come straight out of painful ego puncturing.” –Step 7  pg. 74 from the Twelve and Twelve

When we first receive alcohol addiction help and get sober many of us have a huge ego that we might not even be aware of. We are some of the most entitled people. We are either feeling less than or greater than others because as ourselves we are not enough but When we go to a 30 day rehab or AA a shift happens. After drug addiction detox we learn how to live life sober. When we work the steps we become “right sized”. We no longer have to act on fear and ego. We cease fighting everything and everyone because we don’t need to .We are able to see beyond our wants and needs, we are able to see the bigger picture, and what is best for us and our fellows as opposed to just us. We can start looking at how everyone can win instead of just being out to get ours. As a result of this we gain a beautiful and fulfilling life full of amazing friends. Our broken friendships are repaired, and we are finally right with ourselves and our higher power. Things come together in ways unimaginable, and we lose interest in ourselves and gain interest in our fellows. This is beneficial at every stage of our sobriety because when I’m worried or concerned with you and your life then I’m not wrapped up with me and my problems and can finally experience peace.

Blessings in Sobriety Part One

“That he has no attitude of holier than thou, nothing whatever except the sincere desire to be helpful; that there are no fees to pay, no axes to grind, no people to please, no lectures to be endure- these are the condition we have found most effective. After such as approach many take up their beds and walk again… we feel that elimination of our drinking is but a beginning. A much more important demonstration of our principles lies before us in our respective homes, occupations, and affairs. If we keep on the route we are going there is little doubt that much good will result.” – pg 18-19 There Is a Solution from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Through research we might stumble upon an affordable rehab, or read drug rehab blogs and realize that we too have just as good of a chance as others to recover. For most alcoholics we are so broken and lost that even the hope that we might be able to recover in itself is a blessing. Some of us come in and don’t know where to go for drug addiction detox, but once we find a place and get sober we realize we are much more blessed than we thought. We gain a group of friends and a support group. Loneliness fades and is replaced with love and happiness. Some of us go on to have families, go back to school, get our dream job, or our dream life even, but more importantly than any of that is the new set of thoughts, feelings, and actions we have available to us. We are no longer victims or full of self-pity. We come to learn how to love ourselves and others, as well as how to be comfortable in our own skin. Before we know it our lives and ourselves become much bigger than those people who came in just hoping to be able to survive long enough to get sober.

The 12 Steps, Fact and Fiction

The 12 Steps – Fact & Fiction

The number of negative stigmas associated with 12 step recovery programs is numerous. Whether through media, television or personal experience, a great number of people have been provided with ideas designed to debunk the benefits associated with these support forums. Those seeking aid in their addiction recovery must sift through the myths in order to obtain a better understanding of the true process and rewards found within a 12 step community. In this entry, we will seek to illuminate some of the more common myths and questions surrounding 12 step meetings.

1 – 12 step programs are most certainly a religious or cult affair. This is common knowledge due to the fact that they meet in churches and keep to themselves.

False – 12 step programs can be found in a wide variety of places. Though some certainly hold their meetings in houses of worship, others can be found at the local YMCA, a coffee shop or independent AA facility.  Some meetings can cater towards religion, while others choose non-affiliation.

2 – What’s with all the god talk?

The “Higher Power” concept that is referenced throughout AA is employed as a way to help participants accept that there are forces in this world that are greater and more powerful than them. In this way, participants can better grasp the concept that they require help to overcome their addiction. A “Higher Power” can refer to a belief in god, nature, or anything else that holds a power greater than your own.

3 – What if I quit on my own… Do I still need AA?

Yes ma’am! Whether you achieve sobriety through Above It All Treatment Center or on your own, the need for 12 step recovery programs is one and the same. Sobriety is an ongoing struggle, and one that should not be fought alone. Committing yourself to continued recovery practices, such as AA, will provide you with the support, guidance and confidence you need to maintain your sobriety while learning the proper coping techniques to control it long-term.

4 – How long must I continue attending these meetings?

Attendance at 12 step meetings is very similar to working out. Even after you’ve achieved your fitness goals, you must continue working out to maintain your progress. Those who begin slacking at the gym will ultimately revert back to the same old starting point. Maintaining your sobriety is key, and will serve as your relapse prevention. And hey… ya never know… you just might learn to enjoy it!

5 – I’m much too busy to attend these types of meetings.

No you’re not. Consider how much time and effort went into keeping your addiction alive and well. You were able to find plenty of time to call into work, miss appointments and get your fix. What the heck are you doing with all that free time now? Nothing worth having is every easily obtained. If you’re intent on your sobriety, it will be your priority.

More on the Alcoholic and Acceptance

“AA and acceptance has taught be there is a bit of good in the worst of us and a bit of bad in the best of us, that we are children of god, and we each have a right to be here. When I complain about me or about you, I am complaining about god’s handy work. I am saying that I know better than god. For years I was sure the worst thing that could happen to a nice guy like me would be I would turn out to be an alcoholic. Today I find it’s the best thing that has ever happened to me. This proves I don’t know what’s good. And if I don’t know what’s good for me then I don’t know what’s good for or bad for you or for anyone… before AA I judged myself by my intentions, while the world was judging me by my actions.” Acceptance Was the Answer pg. 418 from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

Leave it to alcoholics to always think we know best. What’s best for us, what’s best for others, what are the best choices for god to make for us? We are always trying to control everything, always trying to manipulate our environment to fit our expectations. It isn’t until we let go, fully surrender, and receive alcohol addiction help that we start to realize we don’t know what is best for us or our loved ones. We learn in places such as, a 30 day rehab, AA, or an affordable rehab how to get to the place where we can turn it over and realize that there are bigger and better things planned for us then our small plans we have for ourselves.

Acceptance (Part 1)

An acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation- some fact of my life- unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is suppose to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in god’s will by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life’s terms I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and on my attitudes.

When we first get sober there is potentially a lot of willingness and desperation, but very little acceptance. Most of us are full of fear when we get sober. How are we suppose to accept life on life’s terms sober when the only way we know how to live and cope is through drinking and using? The whole idea of acceptance is a hard thing to grasp when first seeking alcohol addiction help. It is something that we can begin to understand fully and incorporate into our everyday lives the longer we stay sober through the help of places like an addiction program in Los Angeles, AA, or other forms of 12 step program addiction help. Once we learn how to truly accept things we can begin to appreciate the blessings we do have in life. Instead of worrying about what we don’t have or what we have lost we can begin to live in the moment and be grateful for what we do have.

The Alcoholic Addict and Step Ten

“Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.”

“This brings us to step 10, which suggests we continue to take personal inventory and continue to right any new mistakes as we go along. We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime.” – Into action pg 84 from the Big book of Alcoholics Anonymous

In step ten we continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When they crop up we ask God at once to remove them. Step 10 is a maintenance step. We review our fears, resentments, and parts on paper. We then look at where we had been selfish, self seeking, and dishonest. We ask ourselves where had we been dishonest? Did we arouse jealousy? Whom had we hurt? If anyone was harmed we immediately make it right. We admit our faults and amend our behavior. When we sought alcohol addiction help we agreed to go to any lengths to stay sober. Cleaning our wreckage up is a small price to pay as well as a rewarding experience. Through places like drug addiction detox, 12 step programs, or perhaps a drug addiction facility in LA we are taught how to work the steps, and adapt to this new way of living. Those of us in recovery are given an amazing life beyond our wildest dreams. All we have to do is ask for help and be willing to do the footwork.