The Alcoholic Addict and Step Three

STEP THREE: “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.”

After having come up with our own concept of a higher power in step two This seems like it should be an easy step to take but it’s not so easy for alcoholics who were used to running their own lives and acting based on their own will. After all it says in the big book that we were perfect examples of self will run riot. How can we have that level of blind faith with something most of us had either negative or little experience with? The reality is that whether we are aware of it or not we had that level of blind faith in alcohol. Alcohol was def a power greater than us. We had faith  in it every day. we had faith that it would do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, that we would be taken care of and that it would do for us what we needed it to do. So you see we had no problem turning our will and our lives over to a higher power. This continued on until we sought out alcohol addiction help. The big fact for us was that we were very familiar when it came to the concept of faith. We only had the illusion of control and even though we were acting on our own will, we were still powerless. If we were willing to have even a quarter of the faith in a higher power that we had in alcohol then we would be set. There are many places designed to help with this and the other eleven steps such as; an affordable rehab, AA, and drug addiction detox. You or your loved ones don’t have to do this on your own. It can be scary to make an honest decision to turn your will and your life over. The payoff though is the removal of fear, peace, serenity, and an amazing fulfilling life.

The Benefits Of California Alcohol Rehab

Once an individual has committed his or herself to the California alcohol rehab process, a line of obstacles lie in wait. Alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex addiction, are all real world issues that will likely present themselves in one form or another once the addict has left treatment. In order to avoid relapse, rehab patients must make the most of their rehabilitation experience. In this entry, we will offer up a few tips to help you get the most from your treatment plan.

Step 1 – Make sure to keep in touch with your treatment counselors, while keeping close friends and family members up to date on your progress. Having a strong support system following treatment is vital to the success of any program.

Step 2 – During your stay, you will be provided with a variety of print materials to help you through your recovery. Make a point to digest these resources, write down your thoughts and reflect on your emotions on a daily basis while in treatment.

Step 3 – Education is key. Many addicts may be initially unaware of the battle they’re involved in. In order to combat the addiction disease, it’s important for patients to educate themselves about their individual condition. Discuss your findings in group/individual therapy sessions and with peers to gain an sense of camaraderie and support with in your addiction program.

Step 4 – Relapse, depression and codependency are all real possibilities in any recovery. Make sure you are aware of the potential triggers and warning signs associated with each to keep yourself grounded. If possible, encourage friends and family members to seek help of their own to better aid in your recovery and their own. In this way, your support group will be properly prepared to deal with these types of issues if and when they come to light.

Step 5 – Express yourself with a daily journal during your Los Angeles rehab stay. This will serve as a valuable resource if relapse happens to occur or is under consideration. By reading the emotions and lessons gained during recovery, addicts may be able to postpone and avoid the potential of relapse.

Step 6 – Choose a new activity. Boredom is often a trigger for relapse. By keeping occupied and stimulated with healthy and productive hobbies, recovering addicts will lessen the chance of boredom, which may aid in avoiding relapse down the road.

Los Angeles Rehab: The First Step Walking Away from Fear

“Selfishness- self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. Sometimes they hurt us, seemingly without provocation, but we invariably find that at sometime in the past we have made decisions based on self which later placed us in a position to be hurt. So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn’t think so. Above everything, we alcoholics much be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kill us!” How it Works pg 62 from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics know fear all too well. We are terrified of almost everything: fear of not getting what we want, losing people in our lives, doing things wrong, death, life, success, or failure. If you can name it we probably have fear around it. At times it can be debilitating and often times we don’t realize how fear affects us, or those around us. It’s an isolating feeling that is usually not based in reality. It pushes people away and dictates our actions. If we look back through our using we can see how most of the things we did we driven by fear. Whether it’s being afraid of people leaving, or people not liking us. So we take the actions needed to push them away before they can leave. Out of fear of not getting something or enough of what we need, alcoholics may steal. Fear is one of the biggest things that keep us from getting sober; fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of getting sober, and fear of losing something. It takes a lot of courage to walk through these fears and make the decision to go to a California alcohol rehab. But when you are willing, there is always a Los Angeles rehab ready to help and many of them also offer support for family of addicts. Through places like these you can begin to walk through fear and recover. We no longer have to be crippled by this thing that has run our lives for so long.

 

Addiction Treatment Centers and Help for the Alcoholic

“An illness of this sort –and we have come to believe it an illness –involves those about us in a way no other human sickness can. If a person has cancer all are sorry for him and no one is angry or hurt. But not so with the alcoholic illness. For with it there goes annihilation of all things worthwhile in life” – There is a solution pg. 17 Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Alcoholism is a disease not so easily understood by many; even an alcoholic might have a hard time grasping the true meaning. Often times it doesn’t just affect the alcoholic, but their loved ones suffer as well. This can make it hard for them to forgive an alcoholic or have empathy. It becomes a vicious cycle. The alcoholic harms or wrongs a loved one, forgets or gets over it, the loved one is still upset and resentful, and the alcoholic doesn’t understand why they are resentful or being mean, and then proceeds to harm them again in retaliation. This continues well into early recovery for some people, which is why support for families is so important when you are seeking addiction treatment. The alcoholic in the throes of their disease has a knack for assuming the victim role. It talks about this in the big book. It says…”we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate seemingly without provocation.” We don’t do this intentionally. After all, if we can’t love or care for ourselves how are supposed to love or care for our fellows? If we are unable to show up for life or trust ourselves how is it possible to show up for and trust others? It’s a disease that centers in the mind as much as it is a spiritual malady. The disease may be out of our control but the solution is not. There are several solutions available that can be found using drug rehab blogs. You can find rehabs that take insurance, check out California rehab centers, and discover AA meetings. When the alcoholic makes the decision to get help, the benefits are felt through the entire family.

Family Involvement In The Addiction Treatment Process

The addiction treatment process poses a great deal of difficulty to an addict’s loved ones. Friends and relatives often attempt to aid the addict through practices that ultimately serve to heighten the addiction rather than reduce it. Because many families rely on members for support, guidance and assistance, involvement and education of family members throughout the recovery process is a vital aspect in ensuring the successful rehabilitation of the addict.

Benefits

Recent studies show a direct link between family and social support and relapse tendencies and behaviors in addicts new to the recovery process. Most experts agree that the family’s involvement throughout the recovery is necessary to a successful result during and following the initial rehab period. Families who make a concerted effort to involve themselves ultimately garner of number of life benefits, both socially, monetarily and personally over time. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that addicts lacking family support throughout the recovery process are much more likely to return to their old habits.

Compliance

The involvement of a family serves in promoting the addict on a compliance level regarding their addiction treatment. Those who show little to no sign of motivation or enthusiasm are able to take from family members who believe in the process, thus helping to ensure a productive and long lasting recovery. In many cases, it is family encouragement that works to stabilize the patient long enough for the treatment to take effect. Over time, the addict learns to live life in a drug-free manner while commitment levels heighten. Educated families can effectively warn recovering addicts of potential relapse signs and encourage them to seek help before a problem arises.

Self Expression

It’s natural for family members of an addict to experience various emotions throughout the recovery process. Common feelings include anger, fear, mistrust and resentment. A family’s involvement in the recovery process enables members to deal with these emotions in a positive manner, while learning how best to support the addict in their rehabilitation. Often times, it is the family who is able to first point out potential issues and relapse symptoms, and as such, their involvement in vital to the success of the individual’s substance abuse rehabilitation experience.

Denial

Through the process of relating various details regarding the addict’s drug use behavior, family members can effectively break down the walls of denial in the addict found so commonly associated addiction. Once an individual is forced to face the seriousness of their addiction, they will be much more likely to gain a personal commitment to sobriety early into the recovery process.

Support

Family members who place an emphasis on addiction education will learn how to focus their attention on their own needs, rather than those of the addict. In this way, both the addict and family members can enter into a new and happy life chapter with a fixation on progress, love, support and accountability. If you’re interested in learning more about your available options, help for parents of addicts can be obtained by contacting a local addiction treatment facility.

Life After Rehab – Sober Living CA

Sober living CA homes are drug and alcohol-free spaces offering recovering addicts a positive environment for integrating back into normal society. Though these facilities are not acute treatment or detoxification centers, they are run in accordance to strict guidelines and quality assurance standards. In the following entry, we will provide you with a general outlook regarding what to expect from a sober living facility.

Zero-Tolerance:

Above all else, the single most important guideline in a sober living facility is a zero-tolerance policy in regard to alcohol and drugs. This includes use both on and off the facility premises. Most sober living Los Angeles homes even extend this prohibition to over the counter items, such as high-proof mouthwash and certain cold medicines. In addition, many facilities will also incorporate random drug tests and room searches to ensure the property and residents remain clean and drug-free. Resident who refuse to participant in tests or provide search consent will typically be discharged from the program.

Chores & Health:

Most sober living facilities also keep to a strict line of rules regarding personal hygiene and daily chores. Residents will be placed on a rotating chore system of daily tasks, while assuming responsibility for the home’s continued cleanliness. Residents are also required to bathe daily, wear clean clothing, and wash their bedding regularly.

Financing:

Residents in a sober living community must be self-sustaining, including food and clothing purchases. Rent must be paid on time each month, with failure to meet these payments resulting in eviction. Rent varies according to the home’s location, the number of occupants, and special services that may be included with the residency package. Additionally, sober living communities will also require their residents to gain steady employment or enroll at an accredited educational institution.

Safety & Order:

Disorderly conduct is strictly prohibited in a sober living community. As such, residents are required to conduct themselves in a calm and positive manner at all times, avoiding any behaviors that might potentially jeopardize the structure and safety of the environment.  Threats or acts of violence, theft, fighting, property damage, harassment, unexcused absences and curfew violations will hold varying degrees of consequence, up to and including expulsion. Residents are also required to interact with one another in a respectful manner, adhering to privacy, light, noise and attire standards. Unlike residential treatment centers, these types of facilities work in creating structured real-world home environments where the relationships between residents reflect that of a family. Residents who do not abide by these standard place themselves as risk for disciplinary action. Those who take advantage of the lessons afforded by sober living facilities stand to benefit greatly in their integration into real-world sober living.

Finding The Best Addiction Treatment California Has To Offer

Locating a quality drug rehab in California can be accomplished in a number of ways. Whether you decide to seek the advice of a physician or visit a directory support group, the options available are vast in number. In this entry, we will offer up a few tips to help you determine the best facility to best suit your individual needs.

Step 1 – Educate yourself in regard to addiction and recovery. Though many people associate addiction with alcohol and drug dependency, the subject matter stretches across a wide array of topics, including depression, sex addiction, self-mutilation and eating disorders. Some patients are required to attend 90 or 30 day drug rehab programs via family physician or court order, while others are persuaded to seek help through the process of intervention. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding treatment, the basics of recovery are largely the same.

Step 2 – Learn about in-patient treatment programs. Within an in-patient program, patients are required to live at a specified facility under the supervision of a team of physicians, counselors and specialists until the patient is deemed fit to re-enter society. Individual programs will differ, though the majority offer both group and individual therapy, detox programs alongside after-care and sober living resources.

Step 3 – Determine which treatment facility best suits the needs of the individual in question. Some facilities cater specifically to alcoholics, whereas others employ holistic treatments to treat eating disorders in women. Programs run from specific to general depending on the type of care you are hoping to locate. Choosing a program that is able to properly address the addict’s individual needs and goals is vital in ensuring the best possible outcome during and post treatment.

Step 4 – Locate and visit a local support group. There you can communicate with recovering addicts to obtain a better perspective on your available options. Do your best to speak with individuals who possess a minimum of 3 years of sobriety and inquire as to whether they were satisfied with the care provided to them. If you like what you hear, obtain contact information for the facility and call them up to schedule a tour. This will afford you the opportunity to ask questions pertaining to sober living programs, in-patient living arrangements, facility procedures and anything else you feel is pertinent to our decision-making.

Step 5 – If you require treatment for yourself or a dependent; call up your insurance provider to obtain a list of California alcohol rehab facilities. Be sure to provide your representative with information pertaining to the type of rehab facility you are interested in, as well as a brief statement regarding the situation at hand. This will help ease the financial burden associated with treatment, while narrowing your options into a pool to choose from.

Alcohol Drug Rehab Before a Holiday?

With St Patrick’s Day right around the corner getting sober might seem like a lost cause. There are so many times when someone thinks about getting sober yet that thought is followed by a million reasons why the timing just isn’t right….thoughts such as “I’ll get sober  tomorrow,”  “I’m just so stressed out right now maybe when things calm down a bit,”  “I’m dealing with x y and z I just can’t deal with all of that and get sober,” or what seems to be the most common justification of all  “(insert holiday here) is coming up and its unrealistic to think that I can stay sober through it and I want to have fun so I’ll get sober after (insert holiday here)…”

Regardless of the date or the circumstances anyone can attain sobriety at anytime. Here are a few suggestions and places available to you …

1. Check out rehabs that take insurance

2. Check out some local drug rehab blogs .they are here to provide information on rehab programs in California.

3. For alcohol addiction help you can check out California rehab centers or perhaps a 12 step centered recovery house

There is all sorts of information available via internet. Getting sober isn’t easy but well worth it. If you decide to get help you don’t need to go through anything alone ever again. It doesn’t matter if it’s just another day or your favorite holiday today can be the first day of the rest of your sober life…may it be full of joy and peace!

 

Support for Parents of Addicts: Tips for supporting your Children Through a Difficult Time

During and after rehabilitation, it is not just the patients that need support, the family needs support as well.  There are many ways to get this support, one of which is Family Counseling.   Another way to support the family is to have everyone on board with treatment and the changes that will have to be implemented into their lives.  Here are some tips on supporting each other, and the patient in question:

Stress management through social interaction: Many of the effects of stress can be reduced by social support; that is support from family and friends. So go out into the world, do something fun with friends and family; Picnic, Adventure Park, hike, etc.

Family Counseling: sometimes having therapy for individuals isn’t enough. The individual may need help voicing concerns over what you think of them now, and you may need help expressing your concerns. This kind of therapy gives you a space to talk safely with a referee present.

Understand that occasional relapses happen: when this occurs it is important to get them the treatment they need in a rehab program without being judgmental and offering support.

Help practice social and coping skills: go with them into a no-threatening social situation and help them interact with others in a kindly way.

Help them create a contingency contract: create a plan that outlines the psychological and financial consequences of relapse. This can help motivate them knowing that they have people who care reminding them of what’s at stake: their life.

Just be there: listen, talk, and love each other. It will all be ok in the end.

Remember that there are generally two different windows of vulnerability for drug and alcohol abuse, the first of which is between the ages of 12 and 21, and is more of a chemical vulnerability. The second window is later in life and dependency usually comes from a desire to cope with stressful situations. Social support from family and friends, particularly the effects of a confidante, can help prevent relapse as well as help everyone through the difficult life changes ah

30 Day Rehab Programs – The Right One For You

Different 30 day rehab programs offer various approaches to recovery and treatment. When it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, there is no one-size-fits-all method. Each case is as unique and personal as the patients themselves. Locating an inpatient facility that will prove most effective to a particular patient is a matter of research, questions and education regarding what each facility has to offer. If you or someone you know is in need of professional help, the entry below will provide you with a few tips to help locate the care you’ve been searching for.

1 – When researching various facilities, be sure to ask about each treatment center’s philosophies. Having a basic understanding of the approach used during treatment will help determine which place is best suited for the individual in question. Some programs are based in traditional medicine, while others incorporate holistic treatments.

2 – Patients who are dependent on alcohol or opiates will often require detoxification prior to entering rehab. Some facilities will offer this service in-house, while others will concentrate solely on recovery.

3 – Determine how to pay for your treatment. There is no guarantee that treatment centers accepting insurance will be able to obtain approval from your provider. If finances are an issue, be sure to get in touch with your insurance provider prior to researching facilities to obtain a list of facilities that can be covered under your current plan.

4 – Inquire as to whether the facility offers a family counseling program. Some facilities may discourage patient contact with friends and family members during their stay, while others will recommend involvement.

5 – Take a look into any aftercare services that are provided by the program. Patients attending treatment for 30 days without seeking outside help post-treatment are at a much higher risk for relapse than those who do. Plan ahead to determine your available options and avoid finding yourself in a poor spot down the road.