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Category: Addiction News

  • 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

  • Intervention for Alcoholism

    Intervention for Alcoholism

    ARTICLE OVERVIEW: An alcohol intervention is when a group of family and friendsconfront a loved one about problem drinking. In this article, we cover the basic aspects of an alcohol intervention, plus we offer tips on how to plan the whole process. Your questions are welcomed at the end.

    ESTIMATED READING TIME: 15 minutes

    TABLE OF CONTENTS:

    Interventions aim to change behavior.

    What is an Alcohol Intervention?

    Interventions are combination of strategies designed to produce behavior changes to improve an individual’s health. Interventions can take place in different settings such as worksites, schools, home, faith-based organizations, or health care facilities.Interventions that include multiple strategies are typically the most effective in producing the required change. [1]

    An alcohol intervention is the process of asking a loved one with a drinking problem to go to rehab. Interventions can be informal or formal. Informal interventions occur in the moment, and can be a simple discussion. A formal intervention is when a group of people confront the person in an effort to convince them to seek help for their alcoholism.

    An intervention for alcoholism has three main goals:

    1. To change the beliefs, attitudes, skills, and knowledge of the person.
    2. To increase social support and cooperation.
    3. To get the person into rehab.

    An intervention is most successful when led by a professional.

    Do Alcohol Interventions Work?

    Yes!

    Most people diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder don’t see that they have a problem. In fact, they are in denial, and don’t want to see reality as it is.

    But, you can help a loved one break through denial by staging an intervention. You may have only one chance to stage the intervention, and the best way to do it is with a help of intervention specialist.

    An interventionist is a professional who is trained in staging interventions. Their job is to help friends and family to create a plan. They are there to carry out the alcohol intervention. The best thing is that an interventionist will consider all potential issues that may arise. Their experience is truly valuable.

    Asking for help from a specialized interventionist is highly recommended if the person who is dealing with drinking problems has other serious condition including:

    • Mental health issues such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia
    • Polydrug use
    • Suicidal attempts
    • Violent behavior

    Interventions get people into treatment.

    The Intervention for Alcoholism Process

    Staging and planning an alcohol intervention is a long process. It can take a lot of time and energy for family and friends to prepare for the whole process. And if you want to do it right, plan to spend days to weeks with a professional getting ready for the big day. There are many types of intervention, but most of them follow these basic steps:

    STEP 1: Meet with an intervention specialist.

    Asking help from an interventionist can be the crucial step for the family. Licensed or certified professionals are experienced in choosing the right words and providing the right environment for change. They can help the family in understanding alcoholism as a disease, and offer the best approach to each specific case.

    STEP 2: Chose the right time and place for the intervention.

    An intervention can be set up in any place that provides privacy. This may be a neutral place like a rented space, an interventionist’s office, school, worksite, or even the alcoholic’s home. The important thing is that the loved one should not feel defensive or ambushed. You’ll need to invite the loved one to join the group meeting and be clear about what it’s about. This is called an “invitational intervention”.

    STEP 3: Plan ahead what will be said during the intervention.

    This is the most important step for a successful alcohol intervention. Each member should decide in advance what they will say. With the help of an interventionist, the group should gather information about the loved one’s drinking and their behavior when under the influence. Moreover, you’ll need to include situations when the alcoholic had outburst due to their drinking, as well as state how their drinking affectsyou. It is helpful to write down everything you wish to say, although sometimes, you can just speak from your heart.

    STEP 4: Carry out the intervention.

    This is when professional guidance is key. Once the individual is there, the interventionist will ask them to sit and listen to what is being said. Then, each member of the group will say or read the reasons why they believe that the individual have a drinking problem, and why they need treatment. Usually, the intervention ends with the group giving the individual option to choose either enroll into treatment and quit drinking or face consequences, such as cutting out financial or emotional support.

    The group also commits to their own health and well-being, as alcoholism is a family disease. A successful intervention has the potential to transform not just the person with a drinking problem, but an entire family. [2]Group members can seek help through talk therapy, self-care, and ongoing counseling.

    STEP 5: Follow up an intervention.

    After the intervention, the individual has a choice to make either quit drinking or face the consequences. The interventionist provides information about the treatment options and explains them to the alcoholic. In some cases, the specialist has already arranged an assessment in a suitable treatment center. No matter what is the outcome, the group must follow through their final decisions.

    Call us to learn how we do interventions.

    How to Stage an Alcoholism Intervention

    It can be hard to approach someone who deals with alcohol problems. Despite the fact that family and friends mean well, they may not know what to say or how to express themselves. In order to get through to a loved one, you need to make them see the problem. So, for a successful intervention, you need to plan every step ahead.

    Here are some useful suggestions to take into consideration when planning an alcohol intervention for your loved one. Remember that staging an intervention is the most important step. Careful planning and risk management can lead to success.

    • Find a licensed interventionist. An intervention professional will know what to do in difficult situations. S/He will keep a“neutral zone” between the parties. A licensed professional can help the alcoholic break the wall of denial, and help them the best rehab option for them.

    • Form a good, stable intervention group. Choose members wisely. Many people may want to help, but not everyone is helpful. Avoid inviting group members who are negative or overly dramatic. Not everyone has the ability to persuade someone that they have a drinking problem. Once you form the dream team, the group works with the interventionist to create a strategy.

    • Education. One critical part of an intervention is to educate the group about addiction and recovery. Being familiar with the topic provides insights of the problem that can play a huge role in convincing someone that they need help.

    • Mind your language. Talk from the heart. Keep in mind that their trust in you is important, and it needs be felt through the whole intervention. By talking personally without judgment will make the intervention process flow easily. Moreover, be open with your feelings, and see how they resonate with you.

    • Rehearse and prepare. The members of the group must rehearse for the intervention. Every speech should be prepared and rehearsed many times with the help of the specialist. Setting the right tone and describing situations of past hurt may trigger moment of clarity to the addicted person and see their problems.

    • Be prepared for the worst. Keep in mind that some interventions don’t go as planned. You cannot predict how your loved one will act. A professional interventionist is there to keep the peace between the parties, and make the most positive outcome of the intervention. However, the person who is dealing with drinking problems may react aggressively and endanger the group. In that case, call 911 immediately.

    A successful intervention can change an entire family.

    Planning for Objections

    When you plan an intervention you need also to plan for objections. Identify in advance the objections to treatment that your loved one may raise. These objections will be answered during the intervention by the person who will lead the intervention. Every objection need to have a reasonable and workable response. The group needs to have prepared answers and plans in advance.Here are some examples of objections and their counters:

    OBJECTION:I can’t go to rehab. Who’s going to take care of my pet?
    RESPONSE:[NAME] has agreed to take your pet and look after them while you are away.

    OBJECTION:I can’t enroll into a program. Who’s going to take care of my home?
    RESPONSE:Your best friend has a key from your apartment, and s/he will come every 3-4 days to care for the home while you are away.

    OBJECTION: I can’t go into treatment. I have a job. I don’t want to lose my job.
    RESPONSE:You won’t lose your job. We have a law that protects you. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects you to maintain your working status when you seek medical help. [3] The law is clear that you have legal right to ask for accommodations when entering rehab.

    OBJECTION:I will be bored there. Rehab is not an option for me.
    RESPONSE:Rehab treatment has many program to offer you in order not to be bored, but to focus on building yourself and work on your recovery. Some of them offer [SERVCICES].

    Are you ready for an intervention? Call us today.

    Planning for Consequences

    A professional interventionist will help you determine which person has the most influence on the loved one who has leverage. When you have leverage, you have the power to precipitate actual consequences. Here are some examples of leverage that can be used in the right way and that will have consequences on the alcoholic’s life.

    1. The employer: “We respect you and value as an employee, but your drinking has caused you to miss 10 days of work in the last few months. We will do everything to help you, including helping you to access treatment because we have Employee Assistance Program. But, we cannot keep you as an employee if you miss work so often.”

    2. A spouse: “I love you, and I care about you, but I cannot raise our children in an alcoholic household. Our children are afraid from you when you come home late and drunk. If you don’t go into treatment, I’m going to have put the well-being of our children first, and start looking at other options, including divorce.”

    3. A parent: “The car you are driving is on my name. I don’t want to put your life in danger as well as of the lives of others because you are drunk driving. If you don’t go to rehab, I am taking the car today.”

    Environment matters.

    Alcohol Intervention at Home

    The place where the intervention will occur is important. Privacy and safety are first. The loved one needs to feel safe, because if they are concerned or uncomfortable, the intervention may turn negative. The loved one may become agitated, and lose their temper. For example, never ambush a person in a public spot to intervene about drinking issues.

    For many people, the safest place an interventioncan occur is at home. A cozy atmosphere increases security and safeness for every member of the intervention. However, some cases require a more neutral place like a rented space or a clinician’s office. This is true when triggers are in the home or when guns are present. Call us to learn more about safety precautions and how we manage environment for successful outcome.

    Why wait longer? Call today for a free and confidential consultation.

    Unique Attributes of an Alcoholic Intervention

    1 in 3 families is affected by addiction problems in the U.S. Alcohol is #1 on the list. 56% of Americans aged 18 and older are currently alcohol consumers, while 1 in 18 people have a drinking problem. [4]

    Still, it may be hard to reach someone and convince them that they have a drinking problem. Alcohol abuse changes the way a person thinks and sees life. Alcohol affect the way we process information…and if a person has become alcohol-dependent, their logic changes, too.

    Some people may get angry because an intervention may seem to be an ambush. However, if the intervention is planned appropriately and done correctly, the anger will calm down quickly. Even if the anger continues, a professional interventionist will keep the tone calm and neutral.

    Keep in mind that the intervention is not about you. The intervention is about your loved one, and the main point is getting them help and supporting them through this hard time.

    Get your loved one into treatment!

    The Best Intervention for Alcoholism

    There are many different types of interventions, but the best intervention for dealing with individual with is a customized intervention that will fit that individual’s needs. Below is a list of the most common types of clinical interventions used for drinking problems.

    ARISE

    An ARISE intervention is a relatively new system of intervention that involves the whole family but it’s less confrontational than a surprise model for intervention. The loved one is invited to the intervention and a set of clear steps then follow.

    Brief Intervention

    This intervention process is conducted as a one-on-one meeting between a medical professional/counselor and a person dealing with alcohol abuse. Usually, brief interventions take place in hospitals after the person has been admitted for an injure or overdose due to their substance use, or in schools if a student is suspected of drinking, or in a doctor’s office after an examination reveals health issues. Moreover, friends and family may ask professional to perform a brief intervention for their loved one.

    Crisis Intervention

    This type of intervention involves police officers providing social and medical resources to people who are abusing substances, suffer from a mental health disorder, or have dual diagnosis. A crisis intervention can lead to a public record with your state’s department of children and families, health, or social services.

    Family Systemic Intervention

    This model is focused on both the individual with AUD and their family. Having on mind that addiction affects every member of the family, this type of intervention intents the whole family to reach out for help in any form of therapy.

    SMART

    The main goal of this type of intervention is to set clear, measurable, and achievable goals for the intervention. This intervention can be applied as a part of follow-up in a family based intervention.

    The Johnson Model

    The most well-known form of intervention, the Johnson Model is designed to convince people dealing with alcoholism to enroll into a rehab program. The problem with this model is that it is a “surprise”.

    What’s your backup plan?

    When Alcohol Intervention Fails

    Be prepared that interventionscan fail.You cannot help someone who doesn’t want help. You cannot make them change.

    In this hard case scenario, it is important to stick with your planned intervention. Then, be patient. Some interventions take time and do-overs. How long will it take? Until the alcoholic realizes the negative consequences of their drinking and seek treatment. In the meantime, you need to take care of yourself.

    Call us for guidance on interventions. We know addiction.

    Get Help from a Professional Interventionist

    If you want your intervention to succeed, plan it with professional help from a licensed
    interventionist. Call us to learn about how we’ve helped hundreds of families over many decades of experience.

    Moreover, every interventionist no matter the model they are using, they will guide the intervention with the 7 important principles that any intervention for alcohol use disorder should follow:

    1. Meet with a certified interventionist.
    2. Plan in advance.
    3. Choose the right people to take part.
    4. Choose the right time for the intervention.
    5. Speak with respect and love, but never with anger.
    6. Follow through.
    7. Take care of yourself.

    Finally, there are several ways you can find certified interventionists:

    • Call us on the helpline displayed on our website.
    • Contact a community, religious, or spiritual leader for recommendations.
    • Get a referral from a doctor or therapist.
    • Speak with a social worker.
    • Search online on:

    Independent Interventionists
    Association of Intervention Specialists

    Don’t lose hope!

    Alcoholism is a treatable disease, and you can help your loved one change their mind about treatment. You only need help from the professionals.

    If you have any questions, post them in the comments section at the end. We try to respond personally and promptly to all legitimate queries.

    Call today. Treatment saves lives.

    Reference Sources:
    [1] Health.mo.gov: Intervention
    [2] The Definitive Guide To Addiction Interventions
    [3] U.S. Department of Labor: Americans with Disabilities Act
    [4] SAMHSA: The National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2015
    NCBI: Interventions with alcoholics and their families

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • 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

  • 7 Ways to Boost Your Digital Wellbeing for a Healthier 2019

    7 Ways to Boost Your Digital Wellbeing for a Healthier 2019

    7 Ways to Boost Your Digital Wellbeing for a Healthier 2019

    It’s nearly 2019! Are you thinking about all the healthy habits you’d like to get a handle on over the next twelve months? Weight loss, fitness, eating more healthily, drinking a little less maybe? Where does digital wellbeing fit on your list? With all of us now spending more time on screens than we are asleep, 2019 has to be the year that we all start to figure out how to live healthily and happily with screens.

    Let’s make a resolution to make 2019 the year of digital wellbeing, and of building positive and mindful digital habits!

    7 Ways To Boost Your Digital Wellbeing for a Healthier 2019

     

    #1 Monitor your screen time (but don’t become obsessive)

    2018 saw a proliferation of apps to monitor our time on screens in response to growing concerns about how much time we’re spending on them. It would be easy to get a tiny bit obsessive about these new stats in our lives, so remember that constantly checking an app to see how much time you spend on apps will somewhat defeat the point. We suggest using something like Apple’s Screentime to give you an initial benchmark on your current screen consumption then checking in again at the end of, say, a month. Rather like weighing yourself every day, checking your screen time every day could become counterproductive, and even lure you back in to some of your more unhelpful screen use (see #7 below). The idea is to see a gradual downward trend, not beat yourself up about it daily.

    #2 Take lunch without a screen

    If we could give you just one really helpful digital wellbeing resolution for 2019 it would be to use your lunch hour to get a break from screens and (ideally) get outside. But if the weather really doesn’t lend itself to al fresco lunching, don’t give up completely on making your break screen-free. A brief hiatus from all types of screens (yes, even your phone) will clear your head for the second part of your day and provide the blank headspace that creativity and problem-solving flourish in. Who knows, with ideas flooding in when you give them space, you may find that your screen-free lunch hours actually end up being the most productive part of the day?

    #3 No screens when 1-2-1

    Has 2018 seen you reach boiling point with family, friends and partners always being on their phones and tablets? Have you tried and failed to start a family digital detox? Make a start in 2019 by reflecting on your own screen use before you turn your attention to those you live (and maybe work), with. Nagging doesn’t work. But you can prompt changes in those around you just by changing your own habits; it’s called the ripple effect. Put your phone away when you’re talking one-to-one with anyone and, without even mentioning what you’re doing, you’ll see others take notice and follow suit. Our relationships are one of the biggest casualties of our screen overuse and this one move will help redress the balance.

    #4 Spring clean your screen(s)

    This is a digital wellbeing resolution you can do right away! Take a critical look at your phone and all the apps screaming out for your attention. How many do you really, really, use? Go through every folder and screen and delete all those that you downloaded once and never looked at again. Then organise apps into neat folders by name and set-up a hierarchy of usefulness. We suggest keeping tools on the home screen and time-wasting apps on second, third or last screens. If there are some you can’t bear to delete but you know cause you to waste hours online, move them to the second page of any folder. That way you can’t see the little icons winking up at you when you check your phone – out of sight, out of mind!

    Do this screen tidying regularly. Think of it like cleaning your desk (because let’s face it, our phones are our desks now). A simple tidy once a week, a ruthless pruning once a month. We guarantee it’ll make your screen use more mindful – and more efficient.

    #5 Charge your device in another room

    We’ve told you before about not sleeping with your phone but this digital wellbeing resolution takes that one step further and into the daytime. You probably have your phone always charging right next to you, so even if you’re trying to work or relax at home it’s never more than a few centimetres away, are we right? Make a healthy habit in 2019 of always charging it in another room from you. Overnight this would mean it’s outside the bedroom door. During the day it could be in the kitchen while you’re in the sitting room, or vice versa. It’s all part of building in small boundaries between you and your device that give you valuable screen-free time to unwind.

    #6 Ditch the digital junk

    We love the digital world. We love all the tools that make us useful and productive. But if you’re honest you know that using online banking or checking your destination on Google Maps isn’t where you’re wasting hours of your day… In 2019 make a resolution to treat your digital diet like your food diet. The first step in consuming healthily is to make sure you know what your personal ‘digital junk food’ looks like. Is it social media? Is it email? Maybe dating apps? Identify your personal digital junk and make a resolution to cut down, saving your screentime for those apps and functions which genuinely add value.

    #7 Text less – talk more

    From baby births to exam results, from breakups to proposals, it seems no communication now is too important not to be reduced to a text. This final resolution is very simple; resolve to text less and talk more in 2019. Consciously pick up the phone for important conversations and do the same when text exchanges are taking the place of face-to-face conversations just a little too much. It’s easier of course, and quicker, to text. But the best things in life take time and effort – and rewarding relationships, on which our health and happiness depend, definitely fall into that camp.

    With these seven digital wellbeing resolutions you’ll soon be on your way to a more healthy balance with technology in 2019. And if you nDIGITAL DETOX BOOK: Stop Staring at Screenseed any further inspiration and ideas pick up either of our two books, Stop Staring at Screens and OFF. Both crammed full of ideas on how to live healthily with screens

    Good luck!

    View the original article at itstimetologoff.com

  • Man Says Addiction Was Harder Than 200-Foot Fall

    Man Says Addiction Was Harder Than 200-Foot Fall

    “I’m determined to stay sober and to help someone. Every bad experience in your life can turn into an opportunity, and this is, like, a golden opportunity,” the man said.

    Twenty-one-year-old Daniel Henderson was out enjoying a spring hike in Utah last March when he took an ill-fated step. 

    “The trail just happened to be on the side of a cliff,” Henderson told KSL.com. “I wasn’t doing anything stupid. I just stepped on a rock and the ground gave out because it was thawing.”

    Henderson went careening more than 200 feet down the cliff before landing unconscious in a stream. A helicopter rescue crew took him to the hospital where he was in critical condition. He spent the next two months in the hospital, including more than three weeks  in a medically-induced coma. He broke seven ribs, his wrist and his shoulder, fractured his spine, and had a traumatic brain injury. 

    Still, he said that the nine-month recovery from the fall has not been as difficult as getting sober. 

    “Addiction was honestly harder than falling 200 feet off a cliff,” Henderson said. “I’m determined to stay sober and to help someone. Every bad experience in your life can turn into an opportunity, and this is, like, a golden opportunity.”

    This March, nearly a year after his accident, Henderson will celebrate four years of sobriety. Despite his challenges during this year, he has not had any relapse issues, he said. 

    Henderson said that he was an alcoholic at 16 after taking his first drink at 13. 

    “I had a really bad alcohol problem and I was homeless, sleeping under a bridge in Covington, which is across the Ohio River from Cincinnati,” he said. “I was in and out of psych units, jail. I was miserable. Nobody wanted anything to do with me, and I didn’t think there was a way to get out of it.”

    However, a rehab in California helped him realize that recovery was possible. 

    “That finally helped me get my life together,” he said. “They said that if you just put action into this and do what your therapist is saying and take our advice, things will get better.”

    After treatment he began working in Utah at Wasatch Crest treatment center. He said that his employer supported him through mental health challenges that arose during his recovery. 

    “They set me up for success by sending me out to Utah to treatment and, not only that, they stayed with me through it,” he said. “I could come down there and volunteer and run book studies or shovel snow and earn like $20 — stuff like that, and they were nothing but nice to me.”

    Now, Henderson is learning from his sobriety to help inform his recovery from the fall. 

    “I couldn’t change what happened, but I could change the outcome,” he said. “So I decided to change the outcome.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Can Music Therapy Help Ease Anxiety For Pregnant Women?

    Can Music Therapy Help Ease Anxiety For Pregnant Women?

    Researchers examined whether music could work as a tool to help calm symptoms of anxiety in pregnant women.

    With four prior miscarriages, 42-year-old Elizabeth Larsen of Huntley, Ill., struggled with severe anxiety during her pregnancy. But Larsen says she found relief through music therapy, in which music is used to improve health.

    New research indicates that mothers with anxiety during pregnancy, like Larsen, can benefit from such therapy.

    “I wanted to find wellness tools to ensure that my baby and I would have a safe and wonderful birth,” Larsen told The Washington Post. “Music therapy opened up my bodily senses and helped me to relax.” Recently, researchers studied music and mental health during pregnancy. There were 409 participants, all in their third trimester of pregnancy.

    None had a history of anxiety. Of the group, half underwent music therapy where they listened to a relaxing CD three times per week. The other half of the group did not do so. Upon completion of the study, researchers found that those who had taken part in music therapy were overall less anxious than the other group.

    “During pregnancy, fears and anxieties about the health of the baby are very common. Many of the women in our study were anxious about the stress test, an ultrasound that examines the health of the baby,” lead researcher Jessica Garcia-Gonzalez told the Post.

    She added that the study indicates that “anxiety during pregnancy can increase a woman’s risk of postnatal anxiety and depression, but music therapy can help reduce stress.”

    According to Postpartum Support International, anxiety and depression before and after a child’s birth are not rare. The organization says about 6% of pregnant women and 10% of new mothers struggle with anxiety, and about 15% of women grapple with depression after a child is born.

    Karen Kleiman, a psychotherapist who specializes in maternal mental health, told the Post that it is vital for mothers and pregnant women to seek treatment for such issues. “Anxiety is associated with prenatal health concerns like preeclampsia, preterm delivery, and low-birth weight, which is why it’s important for women to learn coping strategies to minimize their worries during pregnancy,” she said.

    As a board-certified music therapist and birth doula, Kate Taylor told the Post she often provides music therapy for her clients. “I use music as a teaching tool,” she said. “We might analyze song lyrics or listen to instruments or music that can aid in relaxation. Songs can bring up intense emotions for women, which can help them connect with the baby, and openly share their worries and feelings about motherhood.”

    For Larsen, music therapy resulted in a more calming pregnancy overall. “During our sessions, we listened to the acoustic guitar,” she told the Post. “At home, I listened to relaxing music on my headphones. The music calmed my anxiety, which helped me stay positive.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • “The Situation” Celebrates Three Years of Sobriety

    “The Situation” Celebrates Three Years of Sobriety

    The Jersey Shore star is giving back to the community by co-sponsoring an addiction treatment scholarship and sharing his story with recovery groups.

    Reality television star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino marked his third year of sobriety by bringing holiday meals to individuals in recovery. The Jersey Shore mainstay issued the news via his Instagram page on December 22, where a photo of Sorrentino at Phoenix Recovery House in Eatontown, New Jersey was posted. 

    Despite an impending stay in prison for tax evasion, which will begin in January 2019, Sorrentino has emphasized the positive on his own social media as well as that of the Discovery Institute for Addictive Disorders, a treatment center with which he’s partnered to form a scholarship for individuals battling substance dependency.

    Sorrentino, who struggled with dependency on prescription medication in 2012 and 2015, underwent inpatient and outpatient stays at the Discovery Institute and has continued to work with the non-profit as a speaker at recovery groups. He is also the co-sponsor of Giving Tree, a scholarship program for individuals who lack the funds to go to treatment for drug or alcohol dependency.

    Sobriety was hard fought for Sorrentino at the height of his heyday on the MTV reality series. “I was known to be one of the bigger partiers on Jersey Shore,” he said on a video posted on Discovery Institute’s Instagram page.

    “I’ll be honest. I hated everything about addiction treatment,” he said at a support group meeting earlier this year. “But I wanted better for myself and I was going to be do whatever it takes to get there.”

    With the support of his wife, Lauren Pesce, whom he married in November 2018, Sorrentino has remained sober after his return to television with Jersey Shore: Family Vacation. “Being sober really taught me how to just be at peace,” he said in a 2017 E! News interview. “I live my life today at peace. . . . I mean, everything in my life has changed.” 

    Sorrentino will begin an eight-month prison sentence for tax evasion on $9 million in income on or after January 15, 2019; the sentence also comes with two years of supervised probation.

    After receiving the sentence in October 2018, Pesce addressed the issue in a post on her Instagram page. “Thank you for all of your messages of love and support,” she wrote. “We are happy to put an end to this chapter and excited to move forward in our future.” 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Twin Addictions And Parallel Recovery

    Twin Addictions And Parallel Recovery

    In hindsight, we both had tell-tale signs of the addict – irrational fear, feelings of inferiority, flights of fancy. But there was no room for two troubled twins in our divided, post-divorce household.

    I’d always been the golden twin by default. To quote the Radiohead song, I was “fitter, happier, more productive” than my twin brother BJ. I came out first, and he popped out seven minutes later.

    I was right-handed, and he was left-handed and had trouble writing and reading. He repeated kindergarten while I galloped on to first grade and was writing in my “Daily Log” in Mrs. Thornton’s first-grade class in no time.

    BJ was the needier one. Even though, as fraternal twins, we looked almost identical, I had a rounder face, a perkier smile, and a confident swagger that BJ lacked. He was literally always been behind me — at birth, in school, in life. I don’t know exactly what happened in the womb, but the evidence supports the notion that I drew the longer straw and got the better food and cozier reclining position.  

    BJ was also neurologically impaired. In our early teens, having already been tagged with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), BJ was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome.

    I was gay and suffered from acute anxiety starting around the same time, but I was an A-student and a blue-ribbon swimmer. I didn’t have any genuine self-confidence, but my steady accomplishments kept me trudging along while BJ treaded water.

    In hindsight, we both had tell-tale signs of the addict – irrational fear, feelings of inferiority, flights of fancy. But there was no room for two troubled twins in our divided, post-divorce household. So, I squashed my troubled side whether I was fully conscious of it or not.

    It wasn’t until 20 years later, when BJ and I both hit bottom and ended up in recovery, that our paths finally converged.

    I had plenty of childhood fears, but BJ’s, namely getting older and TV’s The Incredible Hulk, were more outwardly irrational. As a six-year-old, I didn’t rule out monsters living in our closet and didn’t love those scenes of Bruce Banner transforming into a hulking green monster. BJ showed it, though, by letting out a gut-wrenching scream and darting away from the TV set.

    One Sunday night, after an easy pill of The Dukes of Hazzard, my parents, still married at the time, decided to try to some conditioning and forced BJ to stay in the room during one of Banner’s transformations. My mother majored in child psychology in college, and I have no doubt it was her idea. She taught me to swim by pushing me in the deep end.

    BJ wailed and shook. It was unbearable to watch my twin writhing in terror. The intention was good I guess, but I think my mother saw A Clockwork Orange one too many times. My “happier” side was a mask, but the Hulk incident was an early indication that I needed to keep wearing it. 

    BJ’s Tourette’s started off as grunts and tics but progressed quickly into verbal outbursts. He started off by snarling at our younger sister Melanie. To be fair, she was a pain in the ass. But his actions felt involuntary. Even when she wasn’t provoking him with her brattiness, BJ would unleash his made-up epithet (“Bratface! Bratface!”) every time she entered the room sending her off in tears. I saw in his eyes and in his sunken body language that he didn’t mean it. But he had to say it. 

    Over the next few years, his disease became even more profane. During Family Day at the reputable all-boys Catholic high school my father forced me to attend without my twin, BJ yelled out during church, “Fuck God! Fuck Jesus!”

    I turned and shot him a piercing look. I hated this place and would have liked nothing more than to be sent to the nearby public high school with my middle school friends. But I was devastated. Why did he have to express this inside the church? Why couldn’t he wait until we got outside? I already felt like one of the awkward and unpopular students at the school. My anxiety caused by being an effeminate gay kid drowning in a sea of masculinity was no less emotionally crippling than BJ’s Tourette’s. It was just more manageable and easier to internalize.

    We were mirrors of each other, and my reflection had a seemingly incurable and publicly humiliating disease.

    By the time BJ’s Tourette’s was peaking, my parents, now divorced, agreed to take him to Washington DC to see an expert who wrote a popular book and specialized in the treatment of OCD, a regular companion to Tourette’s.

    But I don’t think the doctor knew enough about Tourette’s to justify the cost of treatment and regular travel from where we lived in New Jersey to DC. BJ started seeing a psychiatrist who prescribed meds, but nothing seemed to quiet his Tourette’s. If anything, it was getting worse.

    One night, dosed up on Prednisone, he huffed and paced our bedroom in a panic, repeating, “Why is this happening to me?”

    I felt like a witness to an exorcism gone awry and couldn’t understand why the doctors had prescribed a steroid to a kid who was already amped up. Unlike with the Hulk, there was no off switch. 

    By my late teens, I had grown ashamed of my other half and started to pull away from BJ. We were now technically in the same grade. He managed to skip a year with the help of a learning specialist, but we still weren’t like other twins.

    Unlike the Kean brothers, twins our age and equals academically and on the baseball diamond, BJ and I were in totally different orbits. I was on a college track, and he was still barely squeaking by in school. He was being home-schooled, because of the humiliation he experienced in the less competitive private high school he had been forced to attend.

    The sweat pouring from my palms left noticeable handprints on the black desktop in biology class, but I could quickly wipe them away with my shirt sleeve. BJ, on the other hand, couldn’t hide his nervous grunts and was being accused by his classmates of masturbating in the back of class. It always seemed worse for him. 

    In the last few months of my senior year, I was bullied by a homophobic wolfpack. I tried to get help from school counselors and my unambiguously queer gym teachers, but they were powerless to stop it. I had already been accepted to a top university in the Midwest, so I just needed to wait it out. Any guilt I felt over leaving BJ behind was replaced by the promise of a fresh start and the chance to operate as one person instead of an abler, less tortured half. 

    I tasted freedom in college, but halfway through school that freedom morphed into full-time partying. I was sexually active with boys and openly gay (or at least bisexual). But I had a river of shame and guilt coursing through my veins. Coupled with the trauma from high school and decades trying to keep up appearances against the weight of my disabled brother, I was suing my father and grandparents over a mishandled trust fund.

    I had left BJ behind to bear the brunt of my father’s rage. Alcohol, marijuana and cocaine offered a quick transfusion. 

    By senior year, I was skipping and failing classes. I was no longer the card-carrying A-student and golden child. Meanwhile, a few hundred miles away, BJ had started using too. Using the same cocktail of alcohol and drugs, he finally found the effective medication he’d been seeking all along to quiet his tics and offer some relief. Separately and for different reasons, we’d succumbed to identical, or more accurately, fraternal addictions.

    My addiction progressed into my early thirties when I had a psychotic break. Living in Los Angeles with a coke dealer on either side of the 405 freeway, I started experiencing panic attacks every morning for months. I went into therapy and started taking prescribed meds for the first time in my life. But BJ, now 3,000 miles away, became my genuine life-preserver. I called him begging the same question he had asked me decades before, “Why is this happening to me?”

    I didn’t expect an answer, but I finally understood his paralyzing terror from that night in our bedroom. Also, I knew BJ had been in and out of recovery for years but had never dared to ask about his experience. I had viewed his yoyoing as yet another failure and probably knew that I’d see my own addiction reflected back. Now, facing a dead end, I was finally willing to listen. The next year later, five days after our 33rd birthday, I walked into AA and didn’t turn back. 

    Ten years later, I’m still sober and working a program. BJ, who had a handful of relapses in my early sobriety, has almost eight years. Statistically, I don’t know what our chances were before we got sober, but I never would have predicted this outcome. We’ve achieved equilibrium together, and I’m no longer seeking anything outside of twin relationship to make me feel more unique. I turn to him to remind me what real courage looks like. I might have the fuller head of hair – BJ’s slightly more effective meds have thinned his – but today neither of us is the fitter, happier, more productive twin. 

    Brett Fenzel is a professional script reader for a New York-based film production company. In addition, he has had film reviews and essays published on HuffPost Blog and is currently working on his memoir tentatively titled “The Twenty-Year Divorce.” After 16 years in Los Angeles, Brett left the states in July 2017 and is now working remotely and living with his husband in the south of France. Brett can be found on Linkedin, and you can follow him on Twitter.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Thailand To Legalize Medical Marijuana

    Thailand To Legalize Medical Marijuana

    More than 99% of the Thai public supported the measure, according to news reports. 

    As medical marijuana has become widely accepted in the United States, Thailand will become the first Southeast Asian country to legalize the drug’s use in a medical setting. 

    Somchai Sawangkarn, a Thai lawmaker who was involved in the process of drafting the law, said that the change could take place soon.

    “This is a New Year’s gift from the National Legislative Assembly to the government and the Thai people,” Sawangkarn said, according to The New York Times. 

    Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of the measure, 166 to zero, with 13 members abstaining. However, before the change can become law, Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn must approve it. It seems likely that will happen. 

    Cannabis legalization activist Chokwan Chopaka was pleased with the progress, Aljazeera reported. 

    “This is the first baby step forward,” Chopaka said. 

    Businesses and researchers who want to import, grow or handle medical cannabis will need to be licensed by the government. People who want to use cannabis to treat themselves will need prescriptions. In addition to covering cannabis, the change also covers the medical use of kratom, a Southeast Asian plant some say has medical benefits. 

    Thai business leaders want to protect the medical cannabis market from foreign firms, which they say could easily come to dominate it. Panthep Puapongpan, who runs an integrative medicine company in Thailand, said his company will be asking the government for protections.

    “We’re going to demand that the government revoke all these [foreign] requests before the law takes effect,” Puapongpan said. 

    The Bangkok Post reported that more than 99% of the Thai public supported the measure. 

    Despite the shifting stance on medical marijuana, Thailand is expected to maintain strict penalties for recreational use of cannabis. Thais who are caught with less than 10 kilograms of cannabis can spend up to five years in prison. 

    The Southeast Asian region is known for strict laws around drugs, including the death penalty for users. In August, a man who sold cannabis oil to people with cancer and other illnesses was sentenced to death by hanging after he was convicted of trafficking marijuana. 

    However, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that the sentence of Muhammad Lukman Mohamad, 29, should be reexamined. 

    “No, I think we should review that,” the Prime Minister said, according to Reuters. 

    Nurul Izzah Anwar, a member of Parliament in Malaysia, agreed. 

    “From the reports, it looks to be a miscarriage of justice,” she said.

    View the original article at thefix.com