In early recovery, it can be somewhat challenging to grasp, let alone “get on board” with, the importance of “having the willingness,” a phrase often repeated or emphasized in alcohol and drug treatment centers and 12 Step programs. So, what does “having the willingness” mean in the context of addiction treatment? It would probably be…
A friend of mine who is an anesthesiologist relapsed on alcohol, because he had not truly surrendered to recovery during his first treatment (an impaired professionals rehab program). He told me his story. Instead of surrendering to recovery, he remained a “dry drunk” for a number of months, but when he went back into treatment…
Make no mistake, vaping behavior is a gateway to harder drug use. Getting hooked on nicotine through smoking is already the top addiction. Now, vapor delivers nicotine to the brain much more effectively than smoke. Higher blood concentrations of nicotine occur in “vapers” versus smokers, generally. But set aside physical addiction, the chemical and structural…
PART ONE Once a ‘Functioning’ Alcoholic/Addict, Now an “Acceptable, Responsible, Productive Member of Society” “The obsession with instant gratification blinds us from our long-term potential.” – Michael Dooley I clearly remember that my attitude (well, at least part of it) coming into my first 12-Step recovery meeting was: “Although I’ve got a problem with drinking…
“We may not always be able to control what we are, but we can control what we do.” – Akiroq Brost When many of us first come into treatment or 12-Steps fellowships, we’re informed rather quickly that it’s wise to “avoid the people, places and things” that remind us of our former using lifestyle. This…
Feeling that no one really understands us can keep us from recovery for many years. – Just for Today (April 5) When we first arrive at the doors of recovery, certainly we all have our own personal story of how we got here… meaning, each of us has a unique tale of how our lives…
“No personal calamity is so crushing that something true and great can’t be made of it.” – Bill Wilson, Author of Alcoholics Anonymous More often than any of us could ever know, something we say from the heart about the challenges we’re facing in our recovery—and how we’re handling such—may end up benefitting another person…
A Personal Reflection on Living “Just for Today” “You are what you choose to be today, not what you’ve chosen to be before.” – Dr. Wayne Dyer In the rooms of recovery, I’ve found there are a number of ways in which the term “just for today” can be interpreted and applied. Recently, I thought…
The answer to the question, “Am I an alcoholic?” is simpler than you think. If you or someone else has noticed that you are experiencing multiple ongoing problems that are associated with your drinking, then you may be an alcoholic. With that in mind, it is essential to distinguish the differences between alcoholism and alcohol…
In Recovery, We Learn That Facing the Truth WILL Set Us Free “Truth has no special time of its own. Its hour is now – always.” – Albert Schweitzer In a heated courtroom scene in the movie A Few Good Men, Col. Nathan Jessep (Jack Nicholson) famously yells at military lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom…