Answer Addiction

Author: The Fix

  • "Bird Box" Raises Mental Health Concerns Among Some Viewers

    "Bird Box" Raises Mental Health Concerns Among Some Viewers

    The Netflix blockbuster has received some backlash for its portrayal of individuals with mental health issues.

    If you read the news or take part in social media, you’ve likely heard of the new Netflix sensation Bird Box.

    The film, starring Sandra Bullock, is classified as a psychological thriller and is based on a novel that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. The film is quite graphic at parts, and, according to Psychology Today, could have some underlying messages about mental health. 

    In a recent column, Shainna Ali, PhD, notes that some viewers have voiced that the movie should contain trigger warnings for certain parts. While Bird Box is rated R, implying there may be “adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements,” it’s not quite clear to viewers exactly what the film will entail. 

    “While this rating is a helpful, it’s rather broad and fails to include specific elements pertaining to mental health,” Ali writes. “A system designed to flag potential warnings for children is an excellent start, but adults are not immune to being affected by triggering themes as well. The current classification could benefit from specifiers pertaining to mental health trigger warnings for themes such as anxiety, trauma, self-harm, and suicidality.”

    Some viewers, such as Twitter user @seraphfem, took to social media to voice their concerns.

    “trigger warnings for bird box on netflix: suicide, self harm, gore. lots of blood, graphic depictions and sounds of death/suicide. suicide via oncoming traffic, building jump, self inflicted gunshot, self inflicted head bashing, and self inflicted stab wound to the neck,” seraphfem tweeted.

    In addition to triggering scenes, Bird Box has also taken some flak for the way it portrays individuals struggling with their mental health.

    “Bird Box has received criticism for perpetuating negative portrayals of individuals living with mental health concerns, specifically those who are hospitalized,” Ali writes. “Some hidden messages could be gathered as well, such as the inability for others to see the problem and the subsequent tendency to minimize the gravity of the problem.”

    Additionally, Ali adds that the way the film is interpreted depends greatly on the life experiences of the viewer. 


    “Some people may experience triggers pertaining to their lived experiences, while others may not,” she says. “Some people may view the film as negatively depicting health disparities, while some may point to scenes that highlight positive portrayals. Some people may see a statement on the state of society, while others may feel a poignant connection to their own life.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Alcohol, Inflammation, and Chronic Illness: My Story

    Alcohol, Inflammation, and Chronic Illness: My Story

    For my particular condition as well as other inflammatory chronic illnesses, alcohol can actually mess up your gut flora, which is where many diseases originate.

    During graduate school—about seven years ago now—I was partying wildly. I was part of a theatrical show, which had me out late very often. Drinking was a sort of currency; it’s how we bonded, how we synced our feelings, how we operated. Alcohol was almost always used as a way to create our art; we believed the night was magical only if filled with wine and sparkling cava and fancy martinis. And I don’t blame us. We were young and energetic and in love with our lives.

    But as someone with both serious education debt and a full-time job, it was hard to balance my copious drinking. Real life—the daytimes—were sober and slow, and my evenings were wild and loud and, yes, usually drunk. Too many mornings were impossible. Too many days I’d show up late. Too many conversations half-remembered, blurry, embarrassing.

    And then my chronic illness kicked in. The official diagnosis was about a year ago, although I had been experiencing symptoms for years before that—and alcohol only ever made them worse, I’ve now realized.

    Living with a Chronic Disease

    I have ankylosing spondylitis (AS). It’s an inflammatory and degenerative spinal disease that causes immobility, disfigurement, and issues with my joints, eyes, stomach, and heart. Inflammation is the name of the game with this condition: my immune system attacks itself, leading to painful inflammation that, if left untreated, could prevent me from walking and moving in the future.

    Before my diagnosis, “wellness” wasn’t even in my vocabulary. I didn’t sleep enough, I didn’t take care of my mental health, I didn’t stretch or work out often, I didn’t put clean foods into my body. And I certainly didn’t look at alcohol as a problem.

    Around the time I hit my late 20s, I stopped wanting to be so wild, so I cut back on the partying and the drinking. I suffered from all sorts of AS-related symptoms—horrific pain, joint immobility, digestive issues, constant eye inflammation—which forced me into periods of rest. I realized that a life without all that alcohol was a better life. Not only was I sleeping more often, but my pain management was easier. I was able to quiet my mind, go inward, and find and develop tools to soothe myself. Life was better when I wasn’t filling my calendar with endless parties that were all centered around the idea of getting wasted.

    I don’t regret my younger days and I don’t judge people who drink. I still adore a few glasses of wine here and there, but I have learned that alcohol is something that doesn’t necessarily contribute to a person’s wellness.

    For me, and for many other people dealing with chronic illness, inflammation is our enemy and we must be proactive in preventing it. If alcohol plays a role in inflammatory processes, we need to know about it so we can make informed decisions about our health.

    What Is Inflammation?

    Inflammation is the body’s response to harmful toxins or infections. Acute inflammation is good. It protects you when you’ve got a cut by sending white blood cell soldiers to the area. Chronic inflammation is very bad. It creates a state of constant internal fighting.

    According to the Canadian Institute of Health, “Despite its crucial role in protecting the body, inflammation can also be inappropriate and ‘misplaced’ leading to a wide range of chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and multiple sclerosis. Inflammation also plays an important role in the most common causes of death worldwide, including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic obstructive lung disease. Taken together, it is clear that inflammation contributes broadly to chronic illnesses.”

    Alcohol and Inflammation

    According to the World Journal of Gastroenterology, chronic usage of alcohol can lead to systemic inflammation.

    But what about less-than-chronic use of alcohol? According to Vincent M. Pedre, M.D. at mind body green, “Large amounts of alcohol can create intestinal inflammation through multiple pathways.” For my particular condition as well as other inflammatory chronic illnesses, alcohol can actually mess up your gut flora, which is where many diseases originate.

    When I got serious about taking care of my body, I spent a lot of time learning about the potential factors that could make me worse. I didn’t want to give up on all pleasures in life, and I’m not practicing complete abstinence, but I have cut drastically back on alcohol. If I didn’t, my pain levels would be through the roof.

    Learning to Take Care of Myself

    Part of growing up and taking accountability has been making this one particular change. I now say no to “another glass of wine” more often than I say yes. I now have to decline nights out because my health is a priority. And I now try to create experiences that don’t center on alcohol. I won’t lie and say it’s easy—because it’s not. Our society loves alcohol and most social and work functions utilize alcohol as a lubricant and a sort of badge of bonding. But knowing what’s at risk is more important than ordering that fancy martini.

    As a child of two people who suffered through addiction, I am aware of my own potential downfall when it comes to addictive behaviors. I try to be both cognizant and accountable when it comes to caring for my future health, and my body today.

    Living with a chronic illness means constantly managing your output, your pain, your relationships, your doctor appointments (or lack of healthcare). Adding dangerous variables that could erase all that effort just isn’t worth it to me anymore.

    Some people, especially those who live with chronic pain, use alcohol to self-medicate and manage their pain. We desperately need more advocacy and resources around this issue. According to Andrew Haig, MD, “Alcohol use must be understood in individuals with chronic pain, both because of the drug interactions induced by alcohol and because of the independent effect alcoholism has on disability and suffering.”

    It’s not an easy road. I’m a writer who lives in New York City—a city known for its nightlife. Drinking is part of the culture here. And I can be fairly introverted. These are all things that drinking is rumored to help with: alcohol makes you more creative, more outgoing, more fun. Right?

    In the end, the answer doesn’t matter, because today I choose my body. I choose my future. I choose to stay balanced and mindful. And when I do, my body responds in kind.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Does Pot Use Really Affect Sperm Count?

    Does Pot Use Really Affect Sperm Count?

    A Duke University study explored the possible correlation between THC concentrations in urine and viable sperm count.

    The research on whether marijuana can have a detrimental effect on sperm production in men has produced varying results, with some studies suggesting that usage may result in a lower sperm count and/or abnormal sperm genetics, while others claim no correlation exists.

    New research from Duke University Medical Center supports the former position by showing that high concentrations of THC – the compound in marijuana that produces a euphoric response – in urine appeared to correspond to a lower sperm count as well as changes to the DNA structure of the sperm. Though the test subject group was limited to 24 participants, and additional research would be required to identify the specific risks of marijuana use to sperm, the study data did appear to correspond to results from previous studies.

    According to Live Science, the Duke University study – published in the journal Epigenics – is the first to illustrate the correlation between THC concentrations in urine and viable sperm count.

    Of the 24 participants – 12 of which were marijuana users and 12 of which were not – the sperm concentration in the latter group was twice as high as that of the former group. The study also noted epigenetic changes in sperm DNA among the former group – alterations to the “chemical tags,” as Live Science described them, that regulate gene expression. 

    The higher the concentration of THC in the test group’s urine, the more significant the changes to the sperm DNA, most notably in genes that help bodily organs reach their full size and for basic growth during development. A corresponding study on rats revealed a similar pattern in the same genes. However, such changes may not be permanent; sperm, damaged or not, are reabsorbed in the body if not ejaculated after 70 days.

    As lead author Susan Murphy – chief of the Division of Reproductive Sciences in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Duke – noted, “The sperm DNA . . . is not mutated in the traditional sense” by marijuana, and “epigenic alterations can affect gene regulation without changing the DNA sequence.” 

    Ultimately, the study could not determine whether the changes to sperm count and DNA determined by their study had an actual effect on fertilization or offspring, but Susan Murphy suggested that damaged sperm could have an adverse effect if it resulted in a viable embryo. In that case, individuals who are trying to conceive should consider abstaining from marijuana use 

    “In the absence of a larger, definitive study, the best advice would be to assume these changes are going to be there [in sperm],” she noted. “I would say, as a precaution, stop using cannabis for at least six months before trying to conceive.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • KTLA News Anchor Chris Burrous Dies After A Suspected Overdose

    KTLA News Anchor Chris Burrous Dies After A Suspected Overdose

    Burrous had been a morning news anchor at KTLA since 2011.

    Broadcaster Chris Burrous, who anchored the morning news on Los Angeles’ KTLA, was found unresponsive at a Days Inn motel in Glendale, California and died on December 27, 2018 at an area hospital.

    Police in Glendale issued a statement which noted an individual who was with Burrous at the time of his death indicated that he had possibly suffered a drug overdose, and was administering aid when firefighters arrived at the motel. The 43-year-old who was a fixture at the CW affiliate since 2011, was a familiar face to Los Angeles television audiences, and colleagues expressed their condolences to his family via social media.

    According to the Glendale Police report and a news briefing by Glendale Police Sgt. Dan Suttles, members of the city’s fire department responded to an afternoon call from the aforementioned male individual, who had contacted police to report that Burrous had passed out and was not breathing due to a possible overdose while both were at the Days Inn.

    Suttles, who said that the individual “appeared to be a friend” of the news anchor, did a “good job of trying to render aid” when firefighters appeared at the scene. Burrous was given CPR and then transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

    The report noted that Glendale detectives are investigating the case, and while suicide appeared to be ruled out as a cause of death, they are currently awaiting a toxicology report from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. No additional details of the police investigation were available.

    Burrous, whose family hailed from California’s Central Valley, joined the KTLA news staff after serving as a reporter and anchor at various locations across the United States, including KGET in Bakersfield, where he met and married fellow journalist Mai Do-Burrous, with whom he had a nine-year-old daughter.

    As an anchor at KTLA, Burrous helped to expand its morning news programming to seven days a week, while also serving as correspondent for other telecasts, including coverage of the recent California wildfires. Burrous also hosted a regular segment titled “Burrous Bites,” which focused on restaurants throughout the state.

    In a statement issued in the evening of December 27, KTLA President and General Manager Don Corsini and News Director Jason Ball wrote, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Burrous family. Chris loved sharing the stories of Southern California and connecting with our viewers. He will be remembered as a great journalist and a wonderful friend to many.”

    Their sentiments were echoed by numerous social media posts by fellow KTLA reporters like fellow weekend desk anchor Lynette Romero, who wrote, “My tears now are for your sweet little girl, your wife Mai and your dear parents. We will miss you so.” 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Pennsylvania's Top Court Issues Ruling About Drug Use During Pregnancy

    Pennsylvania's Top Court Issues Ruling About Drug Use During Pregnancy

    The mother at the center of the case was using opioid painkillers and cannabis when she became pregnant in 2016.

    A Pennsylvania court last week ruled that using drugs during pregnancy doesn’t count as child abuse, siding with a mother whose baby was taken by the state in 2017. 

    At the heart of the case is the question of whether a fetus counts as a child under Child Protective Services Law – and the state’s Supreme Court answered with a clear no in Friday’s opinion.

    “The fact that the actor, at a later date, becomes a person who meets one of the statutorily-defined categories of ‘perpetrator’ does not bring her earlier actions — even if committed within two years of the child’s bodily injury — under the CPSL,” wrote Justice Christine Donohue.

    David S. Cohen, the attorney representing the mother in the case, celebrated the decision.

    “There are many states that have decided by statute to label this type of behavior child abuse, but the majority do not,” Cohen told The Associated Press. “We think that’s the right way to approach this, because this is a health issue and the worst thing you can do with a health issue is punish people. It drives people from treatment and it results in worse outcomes for everyone.”

    The mother at the center of it all, who is identified only by her initials in court filings, was using opioid painkillers and pot when she got pregnant in 2016. She turned to medication-assisted treatments but relapsed just before giving birth in 2017, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

    When the newborn started showing signs of opioid withdrawal, a local court granted emergency custody to the state. 

    Later, the juvenile court decided it wasn’t abuse – but the Superior Court reversed that decision. Two justices there asked the state’s Supreme Court to take a look at the case, worrying about the effects of punishing pregnant women who use medication-assisted treatment.

    In last week’s decision overturning the Superior Court ruling, two justices dissented, writing that what should matter is when the injury shows up – not when the behavior causing it occurs.

    “The facts in this matter more closely resemble neglect cases where the injury manifests at some point in time after the neglect as in cases of malnourishment from lack of food,” wrote Justice Sallie Mundy, “or suffering from a severe diaper rash from failure to routinely change diapers.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Ryan Adams Celebrates Sober Milestone

    Ryan Adams Celebrates Sober Milestone

    Rocker Ryan Adams took to Twitter to announce that he’s been sober for two months.

    Singer Ryan Adams, who was once married to actress Mandy Moore, celebrated 60 days sober on December 27. In a tweet, he expressed his appreciation for his situation.

    “2018: you brought me to my knees,” he wrote on his Twitter post. “It turns out that’s where I needed to be: in prayer for everyone here or lost. In these trying times, God bless everyone struggling or on the path to empathy, kindness and recovery.”

    Adams also attached a photo showing off his 60-day sobriety token.

    He topped off his post with well wishes: “Keep the Faith. & may the Faith keep you.  XO.”

    The good news comes a few months after some Twitter drama with Moore. The actress tweeted that she married the wrong person when she married Adams in 2009, staying with him for six years before divorcing in 2015. Things got ugly when Adams replied.

    “She didn’t like the Melvins or BladeRunner. Doomed from the start … If only I could remember the start lol,” Adams wrote in a tweet on October 10th.

    A few days later, Adams woke up to the fact that participating in the drama wasn’t cool and issued a public apology.

    “I apologize for my remarks. I was trying to be funny. But I have and will always choose to remember the amazing moments. It isn’t classy or ok lessen what was,” he wrote apologetically. “I am happy for everyone and doing my best.”

    Later, on Thanksgiving, the tone of Adams’ tweets were more supportive, full of words of encouragements for those who may be going through the same thing he was.

    “Today I am thankful for my sobriety, my friends & for the program & all the Jedi passing along wisdom,” he wrote. “I know people are struggling & alone on the holidays. But you are NOT ALONE. Everyday is a new opportunity to grow, to reach for the light. Keep the faith. You are loved. XO.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Experimental Addiction Treatment Program May Soon Lose Funding

    Experimental Addiction Treatment Program May Soon Lose Funding

    The medication-assisted mental health and addiction programs were showing promising results, but are running out of time.

    A federally funded experimental medication-assisted treatment program may be on its last legs, according to The Washington Post. The program, which has shown some promise in combating the opioid crisis in the year it’s been running, could dissolve as soon as March.

    If the program disappears, up to 9,000 patients would suddenly find themselves without a program and around 3,000 clinic personnel would be out of their jobs, according to an analysis by the National Council for Behavioral Health (NCBH). Because the clinics have to give their workers a 60-to-90 day advance notice for termination, the clinics could see staff leaving to seek other jobs as soon as January.

    Combating the opioid crisis has consistently been a bipartisan issue that both Democrats and Republicans have committed to working together on, but funding for the treatment programs was notably absent from Congress’ $8.4 billion budget that was passed in October. Speaking for the NCBH, Rebecca Farley David speculated that Congress got cold feet when they saw the projected cost of funding the treatment package: $520 million.

    “There was a lot of concern in Congress about the overall cost of the package,” she said.

    The program was conceptualized in 2014 through a set of standards, dubbed the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, and was set to receive two years of flexible funding. In its first year of service in 2017, the program served around 381,000 patients according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Now, the program is due to expire in Oklahoma and Oregon in March and Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, and New York in May.

    These states are trying to come up with alternate avenues for funding, including Medicaid waivers or applying for grants to keep paying staff after the federal funds dry up.

    It’s not just the patients and clinic workers that would suffer if these programs end. Law enforcement and the justice system also benefited from the program. If officers pick up intoxicated suspects, they cannot rely on these programs and instead have to take the time to drive the prisoner to an emergency room. Inmates being released from Niagara County jail relied on these programs to automatically continue treatment.

    “When people fail to make that first appointment upon release, we’ve lost them,” said Deputy Chief Daniel Engert. “Their condition deteriorates, they reoffend, and then they end up back in jail, or worse, they end up dead.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Devon Sawa Is 12 Years Sober

    Devon Sawa Is 12 Years Sober

    Actor Devon Sawa took to Twitter to celebrate his sober milestone.

    Only someone in recovery would know exactly how many days are in 12 years: 4,380. That’s how many days Final Destination actor Devon Sawa has been in recovery, an accomplishment that he celebrated on Twitter this week. 

    “12 years sober, officially,” Sawa wrote. “This is one tweet in which I declare I’m fishing for compliments. I earned every 4,380 days and it wasn’t easy.”

    Sawa became famous in the 1990s for staring in movies including Casper and Final Destination. However, at just 25 he decided to say goodbye to Hollywood. It was during that hiatus that he got sober. 

    “At 25 years old I stepped away from the business for five years and most of the time didn’t know whether I was going to come back or not,” Sawa told US Weekly last year. “I had done a series of four or five indie movies that I wasn’t necessarily proud of. Some were horror movies. After Final Destination everybody wanted me to do horror movies and some weren’t as good as others. I was just burnt out.”

    He only returned by chance, he said. 

    “I was brought back into the business by accident. Somebody at my agency didn’t get the memo that I quit and sent me an audition and I put myself on tape and that was it,” Sawa said. “I didn’t get it… But I did really well and the casting director wanted to meet me and I did. I thought, ‘You know what, this is what I love. This is what I really want to do.’ So I don’t know why I stepped away in the first place.”

    More recently, Sawa stared alongside Paula Patton in Somewhere Between, an ABC drama. He said that he is glad that a fluke brought him back into the acting business. 

    “I think if somebody hadn’t had sent me that audition I think that I may still be out of it. I was happy what I was doing but I’m happier now. I’m happier back doing what I really love.”

    When asked his on-set must-haves, Sawa insists that he’s simple. 

    “I’m not that guy,” he said. “I just need a place that’s a little quiet before I go in and other than that I don’t have anything that I need. I’m not the Skittles with no red in a bowl or sparkling water kind of guy.”

    As for sobriety, Sawa said this week that his years of commitment have paid off. 

    “To anyone else on this journey just starting out, it’s worth it. My life today has ups and downs, but overall, I’m a lucky man.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • What to Expect in Early Recovery from Addiction

    What to Expect in Early Recovery from Addiction

    In early recovery we may discover co-occurring mental health conditions, trauma, and exhaustion. We may even find ourselves engaging in compulsive behaviors in other areas, like gambling or sex.

    A few weeks ago, a woman contacted me in the throes of early recovery. I vividly recall those first few weeks — I was so out of my depth that I felt like I was jumping out of a plane every day. I had lost all sense of normalcy. I felt lost. And I had no reference points to validate what I was experiencing. But I sure as hell was determined to stay on this track, whatever it took.

    The woman I spoke with told me that Alcoholics Anonymous didn’t feel right for her, but she didn’t know what else to do. She was having restless nights and insomnia, and was kind of going out of her mind. I empathized and told her that in my experience, what she was going through is normal. I explained my struggles in early recovery and what I had found useful in those first few months. She was comforted by my advice and validation and after a few minutes I could sense her relief.

    That encounter led me to think: What do people in early recovery do if they aren’t in therapy or a support group? What are the common experiences we face psychologically and physiologically, and what are some of the natural and effective ways to help us feel comfortable and supported?

    When I was newly sober, AA was the only option for me. I ignored my instincts telling me that certain aspects of the program didn’t feel right, and instead threw myself into the fellowship and worked my way through the 12 steps. Even though I couldn’t continue to ignore my discomfort and eventually left AA, I will always be grateful for the mutual aid aspect the meetings provided, especially in the early days.

    “Getting support is vital. You can’t do this alone,” says therapist and recovery coach Veronica Valli. “Therapy, exercise, connection — all these things can build a solid foundation in early recovery.”

    In early recovery we may discover co-occurring mental health conditions, trauma, and exhaustion. We may even find ourselves engaging in compulsive behaviors in other areas, like gambling or sex. Below we’ve listed some of the most common problems you may experience in early recovery, their causes, and some possible solutions. Please consult your physician if you require medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

    Experience:
    Tiredness/exhaustion

    Possible Reason:
    Your body is recovering from years of abuse. Your brain and other vital organs need to regenerate and recover. This takes time and may make you feel like you could sleep for a year.

    Potential Solutions:

    • Sleep for a minimum of 8 hours a night and longer if possible.
    • Honor your body and rest as much as possible.
    • Scale back commitments so you can physically recover as well as emotionally.
    • Try restorative or yin yoga.

    Experience:
    Insomnia

    Possible Reason:
    “Sleeping” pre-recovery often meant drinking or using to the point of passing out. Your body’s natural sleep rhythm is completely disrupted and it’s going to take time to adjust. That can mean you’ll feel restless and struggle to fall or stay asleep. But your sleep cycle should normalize, especially if you prioritize your sleep routine.

    Potential Solutions:

    • Build a sleep routine: turn off electronic devices two hours before bed.
    • Create a calm sleep environment.
    • Use aromatherapy (like lavender essential oils).
    • Take supplements to promote sleep: some people swear by melatonin or L-theanine, but be sure to consult your doctor before taking any medication or supplements. 

    Experience:
    Feeling sad or down

    Possible Reason:
    Often our brain chemistry is disrupted when we stop using drugs and alcohol. As with sleep, it is going to take time for your body to adjust to producing feel-good chemicals naturally.

    If you experience depression for more than two weeks or if it is disrupting your daily life, consult a doctor or other mental health care professional. If you feel like hurting yourself or you are at risk for suicide, immediately seek help. Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text “HOME” to 741-741.

    Potential Solutions:

    Experience:
    Physical Illness 

    Possible Reason:
    Your immune system may be working overtime to remove the buildup of toxins in your body from years of drug use, especially during the acute phase of withdrawal. It will take time to detoxify and rebuild the body’s natural defenses.

    Potential Solutions:

    • Seek professional assistance from a medical provider.
    • Once detoxed, try to make lifestyle adjustments to improve your health by increasing exercise (in accordance with your doctor’s advice), and ensuring you maintain a healthy diet.

    Experience:
    Stress and feeling overwhelmed

    Possible Reason:
    We’ve spent a long time using substances to numb and escape our feelings. It is only natural that when we stop, we will begin to feel overwhelmed and stressed out. This is normal in recovery.

    Potential Solutions:

    • Find stress-relieving activities that work for you such as: exercise, therapy, yoga, journaling, or meditation.
    • Give yourself a break and work on developing self-compassion.

    Experience:
    Feelings of disconnection

    Possible Reason:
    Having been numb or in a state of intoxication for so long, it may feel abnormal to be sober. You may want to withdraw and isolate, feeling like you are disconnected from your body and from other people. This is really common.

    Potential Solutions:

    • Find activities that increase connection to yourself and others, such as social events, mutual-aid meetings, meditation groups and solo meditation, and time with friends and family.
    • Work with a somatic specialist who can help you connect with your body.

    Experience:
    Addictive/compulsive behaviors

    Possible Reason:
    You may find yourself engaging excessively in gaming, gambling, sex, shopping, eating — anything that gives you that same feeling of escape and a rush of dopamine. This is called addiction transfer and it is frequently experienced by people in early recovery.

    Potential Solutions:

    • There are 12-step fellowships for addiction to sex and love, gambling, eating, and more, but many of us have found we need help beyond what a 12-step program can provide. Try working with a therapist if possible.
    • Think about some healthy ways to relax and increase feel-good hormones naturally, such as exercise and connection with others.

    Experience:
    Mental illness

    Possible Reason:
    Sometimes getting sober uncovers an underlying mental illness. If you experience mania, intrusive thoughts, severe depression, or any other troubling or disruptive symptoms, seek the help of a medical professional.

    The prevalence of co-occurring disorders is high in people with addiction, with nearly 40 percent of us also having a mental health diagnosis.

    Potential Solutions:

    • Seek professional help; if medication is prescribed, take as directed.

    Experience:
    Discovering past trauma

    Possible Reason:
    Like mental illness, the occurrence of past trauma in those with substance use disorder is high. Research has shown that one in four children and adolescents experience at least one traumatic event by the age of 16, and more than 13 percent of 17-year-olds have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many teens have used alcohol and drugs to self-medicate and numb the memories of this trauma.

    Once the drugs are removed, we may begin to recall trauma and may have untreated PTSD.

    Potential Solutions:

    • Seek professional help, working with a doctor and therapist as recommended.
    • Recover the capacity to self-regulate in a healthy way through therapeutic help, and learn effective rest and relaxation practices.

    Experience:
    Lack of joy; not knowing what to do in your free time

    Possible Reason:
    It is very common for sober people to have no idea how to have fun. That’s because we always associated enjoyment with getting loaded!

    Potential Solutions:

    Experience:
    No sober friends

    Possible Reason:
    Now that you’ve stopped hanging around with your drinking buddies, you might find that you don’t have as many friends as you want. This is also normal.

    Potential Solutions:

    • Build friendships though healthy activities: find a gym community, go to meditation classes, (re)discover a hobby and practice it with a meetup group, or find friends in mutual-aid groups.

    Experience:
    AA isn’t for you

    Possible Reason:
    12-step groups aren’t the right fit for everyone.

    Potential Solutions:

    Experience:
    Relationship difficulties

    Possible Reason:
    This can be one of the most painful things we experience in recovery. Often we don’t know how to relate to others, especially when it comes to romance and intimacy.

    Potential Solutions:

    Experience:
    Feeling socially and emotionally drained

    Possible Reason:
    Often we commit to doing too much while in recovery because we’re no longer hungover all the time, and we have much more energy. But we also find ourselves tired, overwhelmed, and not wanting to go out a lot.

    Potential Solutions:

    • Learn how to say no and honor your needs. Beyond getting sober, becoming comfortable with saying no is perhaps the most freeing thing you’ll do!

    Note: The Fix does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor does anything on this website create a physician/patient relationship. If you require medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, please consult your physician.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • How to Find Sobriety in the New Year

    How to Find Sobriety in the New Year

    If you’re abusing alcohol and have decided it’s time to stop, here are some tactics that helped me to get and stay sober. You don’t have to undertake this daunting task alone.

    You stumble to your car after a night out drinking. Not just any night, New Year’s Fucking Eve! You pounded more beers and downed more shots than the other people in your party combined. Some of them are wondering how you are still conscious. Yet they let you drive home – again. You wake up the next morning only half remembering the night before. You can’t remember how the hell you got home – again. This has to stop. Your resolution is sobriety in the New Year – again.

    Quitting drinking is one of the hardest things for an alcoholic to do. I’ve struggled with drinking and have now been sober for over four years. In this time, I have completely changed my life for the better. I’ve written about my struggle and the role the industry I work in plays in promoting alcohol use and abuse. I want to share insight and actionable tips on how I’ve managed to stop drinking and stay clean since April 2014 – known as forever in active alcohol abuser years. I hope this will help people struggling with alcohol abuse to make the decision to find sobriety, and help others to support people who are trying to stay sober.

    Most people don’t realize overnight that they are abusing alcohol. It takes a whole lot of wasted time that you can never get back. Alcoholics are burning the candle of life at both ends when we couple blackout drinking with the life-shortening ailments that come along with binge and heavy drinking. A New Year brings the opportunity for you to inventory your life and make a change if needed.

    Realizing I was an alcoholic was a slow process, like realizing I was Sasquatch or some other mythical creature I had heard others talk about in hushed voices, but never truly thought existed. I have some traits that are similar to Sasquatch, I would wake up thinking, and, I’ll try harder not to be Sasquatch. But I’d usually go to bed as Sasquatch that night.

    Accepting I was an alcoholic was even harder. I thought embracing the label meant embracing my banishment from society. We don’t see Sasquatch running around in the open and no one needed to tell me alcohol abusers are stigmatized. “We do not associate with alcoholics,” my mother had told me from as young as I could remember, referencing my multiple drunk uncles we would see only on the holidays.

    My Life As an Alcoholic

    I struggled with alcohol all of my adult life. I started as a lightweight, puking my plunder every time I would drink and downing a six-pack of whatever beer I could get my hands on. It was all about speed. “Am I drunk yet?” I would think while chugging past the point of no return. Meanwhile, people around me were still on their first beer, even when it was time for me to retire for the night. I continued to push the throttle on drinking. Sasquatch loved the taste of beer.

    I developed a tolerance. I was wrapping up my PhD and working full time, which left me with enough time to engage in a nightly ritual of drinking until I passed out. Sasquatch liked routines. I also argued with my girlfriend when I drank. It would usually start on a Friday, mid-afternoon, and I would be buzzed or beyond by the time she got home from work. Sasquatch was waiting to pounce.

    I started missing work, often when traveling, due to being hungover. I worked for a place that didn’t reimburse for alcohol, but my meals were free which meant I could make up the savings in beer. I would show up for a morning meeting and claim to feel ill from dinner the night before, then excuse myself to spend the rest of the day throwing up in my hotel room.

    When I hit my early 30’s the blackouts started. I entered a period where I struggled to remember the details of nights involving drinking, with the only record in the form of angry emails sent to those I felt had crossed me, stupid Facebook posts (song lyrics, ugh), and texts to random people I’d met at the bar.

    I ignored the problem: Sasquatch dressed in business casual trying to blend in behind a computer; Sasquatch stumbling across the bar and spilling other people’s drinks as he laughs his way to the bathroom; Sasquatch, in bed next to his fiancé with the room spinning, staring at the ceiling, wasted for another night. I wasn’t fooling anyone, particularly not myself.

    I didn’t embrace the role alcohol was playing in my downfall until I was 35. My lack of satisfaction with life was tangible. I was doing the same thing daily and getting the same outcome. I woke up one day surrounded by my smashed possessions, with a great paying job but no money to replace them. I was frustrated at work, in my personal life, and with my health. Sasquatch needed help.

    Accepting I had a problem with alcohol felt like accepting I was a failure. Sasquatch blew his cover. I had to accept I had wasted all the time and money I’d invested in alcohol over the years. I had no idea how I could go about changing as there were no former Sasquatches in my life that I was aware of – no reference points setting a path for me to follow.

    Sasquatch alone in a haunted forest.

    I was able to find my way to sobriety, though it wasn’t an easy path, and I needed help. If you’re abusing alcohol, and have decided it is time to stop, here are some tactics I found helpful. You don’t have to undertake this daunting task alone.

    Find Support

    This comes first for a reason. I cannot stress how important it is to share what you are going through with others. Many have come before you, so you don’t need to do this alone. You need a reference point for sobriety and a sober lifestyle. Most likely, you have been hanging out with people who won’t serve as good examples for an alcohol-free lifestyle.

    I did both counseling and AA for the first few months of sobriety. My counselor challenged me to do AA meetings for 90 straight days. I did about 50 in that time and continued attending meetings for the first four months of my sobriety. I wouldn’t give them back for anything. You don’t have to do AA specifically, but it is a huge organization with a lot of diversity. There are atheist meetings, LGBTQ+ meetings, and more, and people of all ages and walks of life attend. If you can’t get to an in-person meeting, you can attend meetings online via Skype or a chat room. I found it encouraging in my fledgling days of sobriety to hear about the experiences of those with more time under their belt, hearing over and over that it gets easier, and learning how many of them had turned their life, health, and relationships around in the same way I was seeking. You might find a similar situation in any other group in existence, so please don’t tune me out because I say AA worked for me.

    Replace the Habit

    How does someone go from being fixated on something 95% of the time to reducing that to near nil? By fixating on other things. I’ve already written about my experience with channeling my compulsions. Addicts are good at routines and fixating on things, not just drinking. The goal, from my perspective, is to find something positive to fixate on: your job, your wife, your writing, your church, your local professional organization, jump roping. Anything that doesn’t destroy your life physically or mentally is better than something that does. Anyone that says you shouldn’t replace an addiction with something else is giving bad advice.

    I knew I wanted to write more. I daydreamed about writing while drinking myself into a stupor. Now I had the dream and the ability to achieve it. I implemented a writing routine as structured as my drinking routine. This led to publishing multiple articles in relevant professional publications, and achieving a lifelong goal of writing a book.

    Maintain Perspective

    If you attend an AA meeting or know others that have become sober, you will know that falling off the wagon is a common story. Staying sober is nothing short of altering your life in every way. This does not happen magically overnight. If you slip up in your pursuit of sobriety it means you are normal. Get over it and keep trying. It will get easier as you accrue more sober days.

    I haven’t slipped up, but it’s not because I’m above it. I have frequent cravings and fond memories of the good old days. I stood in the airport three weeks into sobriety while traveling for work and knew I could slide into a comfy seat at the bar and get loaded before my plane boarded. No one would ever find out and I could pretend I had stayed sober when I returned. Instead, I bought the largest Perrier I could find and downloaded some new music to listen to on the flight. I hope I would have been gentle on myself if I had made the decision to take a drink that day. It happens.

    Find a Goal

    Set goals. Set lofty, impossible goals, then achieve them. Don’t set a goal of trying every beer on tap in a single night, or tasting every vintage of wine the local vineyard produces. Those are shitty goals for an alcohol abuser. They waste your time and hurt those around you.

    Positive goals include: losing weight and gaining muscle, learning something new, spending more quality time with your family, doing volunteer work, presenting at a conference, professional development, getting a promotion or new job, starting (or returning to) a hobby, or not being drunk for an entire week. You see where this is going. Goals are like New Year’s resolutions you actually keep.

    Stay Motivated

    You will need to keep your eye on the prize of sobriety, especially during the times you are craving one drink or ten. Look around and find something to motivate you: your children, your marriage, your colleague who was promoted over you. Get pumped up. You can do it! But not if you’re drunk.

    I have created an imaginary enemy; someone who would relish the fact that I fail in my attempt to stay sober. I use this to motivate me when I need a confidence boost and then get to tell this imaginary asshole I got another article published, another book deal, or that my family is happy with my sobriety. I couldn’t say any of this if I went back to being a drunk.

    Put It Into Practice

    I’ve covered a few things that help me stay sober. You need to remember that not every day is easy. Especially in the beginning, you will actively look for reasons to have a drink. My car was broken into and vandalized and my work computer permanently crashed within the first two weeks of my sobriety and I wanted these to be signs from above that I deserved a drink. Instead I chose to occupy my time in other ways and I’m glad I did. I recommend trying everything I’ve discussed in this article, and many others here on The Fix, and using what works for you to stay sober.

    What worked for you? Let us know in the comments!

    View the original article at thefix.com