Answer Addiction

Tag: addiction recovery

  • How To Party Without Mixing Alcohol And Drugs

    How To Party Without Mixing Alcohol And Drugs

    ARTICLE SUMMARY: Are you a young person in early recovery? Take note! You need to know when to avoid a party. But when you’re ready to hit the scene, practice these refusal lines. More here.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

     

    Night Life in Addiction Recovery

    Leaving old habits behind might be challenging and tricky. If you used to mix alcohol with drugs, it can be really uncomfortable to go out again. Can night life ever really be the same? If you’re in recovery, you actually might want to pass it up for a while.

    Why?

    Being near the scene can be dangerous. Just exposing yourself to triggers can lead you to relapse. If you are in treatment, it’s highly advisable you stay away from direct triggers. Sounds. Smells. Images. These are the things that can jeopardize the effort and progress on your road to reaching and maintaining sobriety.

    So how do you party when in recovery? Is it possible to have a good time without the influence of drugs and/or alcohol?

    Of course you can.  Keep reading further to find out how to protect yourself when the environment and people around you act as a temptation. Plus, read about alternative fun activities that do not include the use of alcohol and drugs. All your questions and/or personal experiences about partying without mixing alcohol and drugs are welcomed at the end.

    Can I Party In Drug And Alcohol Addiction Recovery?

    Absolutely!

    Recovery programs exist to teach addicts that sobriety is not boring! On the contrary, recovery opens up a lot of new opportunities. You just need to learn and practice some alternatives to bring you fun and joy without exposing yourself to danger.

    Q: Who should refrain from partying?
    A: If going out endangers your recovery, maybe you should stay home.

    At least for now.

    Why?

    Common Triggers

    When you make a decision to quit mind-altering drugs, some situations are just not healthy. Seeing a set of friends who look like they are having fun. Or, hearing the sound a lighter hit glass. Or, listening to that song that brings back nostalgia and a desire to get high.

    These are all triggers that might set off a desire for you to reach out for drugs and alcohol again.

    Theoretically, there are two types of triggers:

    1. Internal triggers, which usually manifest themselves as negative feelings.
    2. External triggers, that include people, places, things, and situations that provoke you to get back to your old substance abusive behaviors after a period of abstinence.

    When you are in early addiction recovery, you’ve just started developing a sober lifestyle. You aren’t quite used to feeling subtler emotions. We who are in recovery have all been through it.  You’re used to getting high…and dealing with the lows. But, we just don’t have healthy habits ingrained into our brain pattern yet.

    So, it’s best to avoid:

    1. Parties at clubs where you used to drink alcohol or use drugs.
    2. Acquaintances that still drink and take drugs.
    3. Visiting places while you are in an emotional period where drugs and alcohol are expected to be present.

    In fact, a night out can be super confusing. While it can be a learning experience, you need to be in a really stable place in early recovery. This is because hitting the night life can make you feel vulnerable. It might even lower your enthusiasm for change, or impact your self-esteem…both of which eventually may increase the possibility of relapse.

    The Cycle of Craving

    So, here’s a little deeper explanation into why you might want to wait. I’m not suggesting that you not have fun. I’m just saying that changing the way you have fun can be worth it.

    Addiction triggers involve high-risk situations. They are viewed as stressors that spark a thought, feeling, or action which makes you desire drugs/alcohol over and over again. When a trigger strikes in you get a sudden and unexpected urge to use again, it’s called a “craving”. In short, addiction triggers usually lead you to cravings and cravings stimulate your urges to use.

    This is why one of the main focuses of rehab is to teach you to become more aware of your specific triggers. Once you identify the trigger, you can learn how to control the sequence of events. Perhaps you can avoid the trigger totally. Or, you can learn how to change your related thought pattern. Or, maybe you intervene on the behavior-level.

    This is possible only through education. If you learn successful craving or coping management skills, you’ll necessarily learn techniques for fighting craving in recovery.

    Refusing an Offer

    Learning to say NO takes a little practice. Relapse prevention tips and refusal lines are taught during every addiction treatment program. But we’ve noticed that you need to actually practice these lines BEFORE you’re in a tight spot. Here are some suggestions about what you can say/do in different situations.

    1. First, go to events where there are no drugs and alcohol.

    2. Second, connect with friends who support your decision not to use drugs. Ask for support from these friends when others become pushy in their offerings.

    3. When in a problematic situation, make an excuse to leave. Just get out of there.

    When you are offered with drugs or alcohol, use definitive refusal lines such as:

    • I’m good.
    • No, thank you.
    • I can’t.
    • I have some medical issues right now.
    • I pass.

    I made the mistake in early recovery of trying to “explain it all”. No one who’s using wants to hear why you’re not using. They just want you to join them so that they can feel less alone.

    So, the bottom line is that you don’t feel like you need to explain yourself. No one needs to “get it.” They probably don’t want to.

    Alt Partying

    The sober community has many members. Most of us know what it’s like to wake up the next morning, blacked out. But just because we’re not using doesn’t mean that we’ve lost the will to have fun. Recovery is about building a new life, one that drugging and drinking parties are not a part of any more.

    If you want an alternative way to party, think about hosting your friends at your house. You can be the host of a sober party. You don’t need to socialize with just people in recovery. But make sure people know that substances are off limits.

    Some people like board games. Other people just party around food and music. Still others meet and then go to an event together. Whatever. Just get some people together and find something you all like to do. Talk to people at the party and connect. That’s more than a party; that’s creating a community.

    Or, find hobbies that don’t involve alcohol/drugs but are still entertaining such as: table sports, darts, card games, going to the zoo, or to the movies. Dancing is one of most recommended ways lifting your mood.

    Finally, be prepared. If you’re going to an event where psychoactive substance will be present…resolve to:

    • Choose mocktails instead of cocktails.
    • Use your refusal lines.
    • Plan an escape if temptations gets too great.

    Your Questions

    At some point, mixing alcohol and drugs gets old. It leads you down that same dead end.

    But maybe you have questions about what you’ve just read. Maybe you have an experience to share? Feel free to leave your comments below. Me and my team will make sure to get back to you with a personal and prompt response.

    Reference sources: Dr. Chad Coren: TRIGGERS OF ADDICTION
    Girl’s Health: Ways to say “no” to drugs
    NIH: Building your drink refusal skills

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • Halfway & 3/4 recovery houses – 5 things any sober living facility MUST have

    Halfway & 3/4 recovery houses – 5 things any sober living facility MUST have

    What is a halfway recovery house?

    Halfway houses are like “assisted living” facilities for addicts and alcoholics in recovery. Halfway houses facilities vary, but are most often a group of housing units (such as a group of apartments, condos, or multiple bedrooms within the same house) managed by an individual or company that recovering addicts and alcoholics rent. The management SHOULD provide tenants with support and help in recovery. Some do. Some don’t. But most people would agree that the purpose of a halfway house is to provide a safe and supportive environment for people in early sobriety who are not quite ready to live completely on their own.

    Why stay in a halfway or 3/4 house?

    Sometimes a person in early recovery needs extra help to get back on their feet, or it is not good to return “home” where friends or family are still using. Other people spend the first months of sobriety in a halfway house because they have been recommeded transitional housing by a treatment center or drug court. Either way, THE MAIN IDEA is that by sticking with other newly clean and sober people and by following management suggestions, recovery is easier than on your own. So what should every sober living facility have?

    5 things every sober living facility should have

    1. Structure – Halfway houses need guidelines and rules so that everyone living in the community agrees to certain expectations as a condition for continued rental. If rules are not in place, move on and find another housing alternative. Some things that help addicts and alcoholics in early recovery include:

    • bans on alcohol or drugs
    • bans on overnight guests
    • cleaning standards
    • evening curfews
    • shared responsibilities
    • wake up times

    2. Safety – Any half way or 3/4 way house needs to be safe. Housing capacity should not exceed local jurisdiction law. Neighborhood safety should not worry you. Fire alarms and electrical outlets should be up to standards. And physical threats from other residents should not be an issue. Be sure that the halfway house that you are considering feels and seems safe before entering into a contractual agreement.

    3. Drug testing – Halfway houses need to identify drug users from people in recovery and should actively use drug testing to protect its sober community. If the halfway house that you have chosen does not implement regular drug tests, or random drug tests, or drug tests when residents leave the facility overnight…keep looking.

    4. Support staff – Sometimes, half way houses are operated by people who mean well, but who don’t quite know what they’re doing. Opt for a halfway house that hires full time manager(s) to handle day-to-day business, and to keep the community accountable. If youfind a halfway house that is run by an owner who lives out of town…look for another or ask a local treatment center for a referral to halfway houses with a good reputation. You want an active and helpful staff that can implement the structure and safety that you need.

    5. Personal accountability – The best halfway houses look to support you in your recovery by requiring certain actions. These actions are not only healthy for you, but they are required in real life. Look for a halfway house that requires the following actions and keeps the community accountable to them:

    • attendance at daily 12 step meetings
    • attendance at halfway house meetings
    • part time work (at least)
    • volunteer work (if you’re retired)
    • working with a 12 step sponsor

    If you have something to add to this list, please do so at the bottom! Or if you are thinking about going to a halfway or 3/4 way house, and wonder what it will be like, or just want to ask a question…comment here. We answer all comments and feedback personally!

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • Dating and relationships after getting sober

    Dating and relationships after getting sober

    By Judith O’Callaghan

    New possibilities in early recovery

    Early recovery opens up a world of possibility. Along with the excitement of new beginnings, you might find that getting sober can be lonely. After all, you’ve given up so much! Even though toxic relationships with people, places and things can release you, they also create a big hole.

    You might be tempted to jump into dating, starting a new relationship, or even ending an existing relationship or marriage and start over. But should you get romantically involved while in early recovery? Can dating endanger your progress in recovery or sobriety? Should you or shouldn’t you?

    Experts recommend that people refrain from making big decisions and significant changes right away (for at least 12 months after getting sober). We invite you to continue reading to explore more on the subject here. Then, we invite you to send us your questions at the end. In fact, we try to respond to all reader comments with a personal and prompt reply.

    Dating in early addiction recovery

    As eager as you are to rebuild your life, you will do well to take it slow and not make any major changes in at least your first year of sobriety. Why is this? Early sobriety is a time for you to get to know yourself and learn self-acceptance. Oftentimes, being involved with someone else takes the focus off of you and puts it on someone else. Coping with changes in relationships in early recovery can put your sobriety at risk.. So, why open that can of worms?

    Remember, your primary objective is to take care of yourself and avoid distractions while you are still vulnerable. This is your time to work in therapy and with a sponsor to examine your past behaviors and patterns. This is your time to focus on introducing consistent activities to fill the void now that you are no longer involved with your drug of choice.
    Here are a few ideas:

    • join a gym
    • take a class
    • discover a new hobby
    • get involved with a home group
    • find a sponsor

    What if you are already in a relationship?

    Understanding yourself and being comfortable with yourself in recovery, before introducing others into your life, helps build a better foundation from which other relationships can grow and thrive. But what if you’re ALREADY in a relationship when you get clean?

    Unless you are in an abusive relationship or one that threatens your sobriety in some way, the “no major changes in the first year” rule also applies to previously existing relationships/marriages. This may be the time to go to couples therapy and learn new ways to relate to and communicate with one another. It may be helpful for your partner to learn more about addiction and how it is reflected in the roles that you play.

    When is a good time to start a relationship?

    It really depends.

    Eventually, you will be ready to share your new life with someone else. You will have some solid sober time behind you, a good working relationship with your sponsor, and a strong program of recovery. Plus, you’ll attract someone who can vibe on your level of physical and emotional health.
    Still, remember to take it slow!

    3 things to keep in mind about recovery relationships

    And keep these points in mind:

    1. Avoid dating people with significantly less sobriety than you have. If you choose to be in a relationship with someone else in recovery, make sure you protect and prioritize your own sobriety and do not “blend into” each other. Each of you needs to be vigilant about your daily commitments and stay sober.

    2. Avoid “testing yourself” by going to bars and other high risk places. Look for new opportunities to meet people in sober settings, such as volunteer groups, classes, etc. Seek advice and support from your sponsor and other peers in recovery.

    3. A relationship is no guarantee of happiness, if you are not happy with yourself. Always keep your sobriety your priority.

    Got any questions?

    If you would like to learn more or discuss about addiction recovery, sobriety, dating and relationships, we welcome you to share your questions or experiences in the section below. We try to respond to all legitimate inquiries with a personal and prompt response.

    —
    About the Author: Judith O’Callaghan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Medication Assisted Treatment Specialist, and nationally and internationally certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional. She has extensive experience working with individuals, couples, and families on a wide variety of issues, including addiction, co-occurring disorders, family and marital problems, grief and loss, and school and career issues. At Mountainside, Judith works as an Outpatient clinician, providing clients in the early stages of recovery with the tools necessary to manage the daily life stressors associated with reintegration to life after residential treatment.

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • 5 Lessons from 5 Years of Sobriety

    5 Lessons from 5 Years of Sobriety

    When I reflect on this choice I’ve made every day for five years, I realize sobriety is a limitless resource, readily available for anyone who needs it. I won’t run out of sobriety one day if someone else becomes sober. I won’t run out if 500,000 people become sober.

    I’m entering my fifth year of sobriety this April. Finding and maintaining sobriety has been no small task and I’ve learned a lot about myself over this time. I’ve changed from who I was as a drunk and as a newly sober person to who I am now. There have been high points, low points, and everything in between.

    I’ve had many opportunities to share my experience with others: I’ve spoken at conferences, written articles for The Fix and many other online publications, been interviewed by WIRED, and been a guest on numerous podcasts and radio programs. I’ve felt scared and vulnerable sharing my stories and experiences, but on each of these occasions I’ve been rewarded with community support and increased accountability. Inevitably someone reaches out to thank me, in person or virtually. I believe this human bond we create through sharing is critical for all who struggle with addiction. 

    In this post, I am commemorating my fifth sober anniversary with a reflection on five lessons I’ve learned. Holy shit! Did you read that? I’ve been sober for five years. I didn’t know I could make it five days, let alone one year. I would have laughed if someone told me I’d make it five years. Wasn’t I just pulling a typical Victor and waiting for the fallout from one of my drunken rampages to calm down? Turns out I am able to stick with something.

    I’ve spent most of the last five years examining myself and reflecting on life. One thing is clear, I am full of contradictory thoughts and actions. We all are. As famed American poet (and proponent of being naked in nature) Walt Whitman wrote in Song of Myself:

    Do I contradict myself?
    Very well then I contradict myself,
    (I am large, I contain multitudes.)

    You will see my contradictions here and elsewhere. Let’s jump in to the lessons.

    1. Recovery Does Not Equal Recovered

    I still have cravings for alcohol. I still need to remove myself from situations that make me feel out of control. My life is not perfect and I’m not all better. I have the same shit, the same trials and temptations to deal with, but now I address them as a sober person. I don’t believe in full recovery – not for myself. I’ll define recovered as either a complete lack of interest in drinking or the ability to drink in moderation with no chance of falling back into abuse.

    I’m aware some people identify as recovered and no longer have issues. I don’t dispute their recovery but I have enough self-awareness to know this has yet to occur for me. My thoughts when I crave alcohol are to feel drunk, to overconsume, to try one more time for the elusive buzz I spent over 10 years unsuccessfully chasing. To stay successful in recovery, I need an in recovery–not recovered–mindset.

    2. Sobriety Is What You Make of It

    Sobriety without additional work has a limited impact on your life. It might be a huge impact, but the ceiling extends drastically upward when you combine it with additional work on yourself. Alcohol abuse wasn’t the only issue I had and being sober allows me to begin addressing these underlying issues. I’ve needed to continue working on myself beyond sobriety. I have areas of deficiency I’ll need to work on for years, if not forever. For the sake of brevity, I’ll refrain from listing these.

    Sobriety (from alcohol) at its most basic level is a period of time spent not drinking. I understand why many people commit to the day at a time mindset. You need to have small, achievable time frames to get through cravings, days which you spend refocusing, creating healthier habits, rebuilding or building a new life, and building your support system. Simply staying sober will heal your body. Staying sober while learning and growing will heal your mind as well.

    I haven’t always been successful at doing more than staying sober. In fact, I’ve recently gone through a year or so of backsliding when it comes to handling my anxiety and mental health and building social support, which has resulted in some drastic negative changes in some of my closest relationships. However, I have stayed sober and this has allowed me to correct my course. I’ve become proactive in using techniques to manage anxiety and I’ve pushed myself to develop new and deeper relationships with positive people who support me. I’m seeking new opportunities to grow in the right direction.

    3. Sobriety Is My Soulmate

    Sound dramatic? How about, sobriety is my rock? Sobriety is my better half? Sobriety is the one thing that has been there for me every single day for five years. Sometimes I didn’t want it around and sometimes I’ve had to fight to keep it. I’ve gained and lost a number of things over the past five years but sobriety is the one consistent positive presence in my life. I get to choose every day whether I want to keep my sobriety or not. Choosing yes for another day deepens my commitment and strengthens the neural pathways that help me resist temptation.

    When I reflect on this choice I’ve made every day for five years, I realize sobriety is a limitless resource, readily available for anyone who needs it. I won’t run out of sobriety one day if someone else becomes sober. I won’t run out of sobriety if 500,000 people become sober. Sobriety can be everyone’s soulmate simultaneously.

    Sobriety won’t leave me if I slip up. These five years are made up of a string of days where I’ve made the same choice. If I had chosen to drink on any of these days, sobriety wouldn’t be any less available to me; I could have come back the following day. In that sense, five years is meaningless. Regardless of what stage you’re at, or even if you’re just thinking about it – sobriety will be there when you’re ready for it. Sobriety won’t judge you. Sobriety doesn’t care if you had a drink yesterday, or if you’ll have another drink in a week.

    4. Drunk Conversations Are Toxic to Everyone

    I remember being the drunk who shared my philosophy of the world with anyone who’d listen. I was so smart, my insight incomparable, my language spot on. If only I could hold on to that level of confidence when I’d sober up the next day, I’d show everyone how great I was. Yet I could never muster the words or confidence when I wasn’t drunk. In sobriety, I see drunk conversations as absurd, pathetic, or sad at best. Few sober people would say the words that so comfortably spill out of the mouths of drunks.

    I still frequent bars and venues where alcohol is a focus and I still encounter plenty of drunk conversations. They fall into three categories:

    1. Drunk with plans to conquer the world. You have the ultimate plan and you know how to execute it. If only the rest of us were as excited as you are about it. You’re going to pass out before you can start making progress.
    2. Drunk with plans to conquer their date. This is disgusting. You are seducing your date with slurred words and poorly veiled references to sex. They are looking around to assess their exit strategy. Hopefully you don’t throw up on them.
    3. Drunks who are sad, whiny, or complaining about life. Bartenders find themselves having to support these conversations unless it’s a group of drunks and then it becomes a contest over who is the most aggrieved. Sometimes these folks end the night with fighting or violence. Regardless of how tough you talk or how many people you fight, drunk shit-talking still boils down to being a sad, whiny loser.

    I’ve written these three conversations out using a judgmental tone. And while I am judging, I am also aware that I’ve been an active contributor to each type of drunk conversation on dozens of occasions. I’ve done my part to give others uncomfortable experiences. I apologize for that and hope some of my work in sobriety has atoned for some of what I’ve done.

    5. Being Vulnerable Without Alcohol is More Authentic and More Rewarding

    I had what I refer to as diarrhea mouth when I would get drunk. I couldn’t stop talking. Alcohol was a truth serum for me: I could get drunk and tell you exactly what I was thinking and feeling. I could express elation, I could express sorrow. I could tell you I hate your fucking guts. The words came easy (see my previous lesson!). Speaking the truth while being vulnerable without alcohol is more difficult, but it’s also more authentic.

    I now pause before I share my thoughts and feelings. I have coherent thoughts during this pause where I calculate whether what I’m saying might be harmful to others. I also consider if what I’m saying leaves me exposed to criticism or hurt. This pause didn’t exist when I was drunk. I’m also fighting my natural tendency to withdraw from being social during the pause. Sober Victor is someone who is less comfortable sharing what is happening inside of him. I still end up saying hurtful things or oversharing in ways that might make others feel uncomfortable, but I am aware of and accept the consequences.

    My vulnerability extends beyond what I say. Writing exposes me to criticism in the form of online comments or posts in other forums. Opening myself up to written criticism from others is a reversal of how I used writing as a drunk. I used my writing to hurt people: mean texts, drunken Facebook posts, belligerent emails, and even hand-written letters were a hallmark of my absurd drunken behavior. Again, I hope the words I write now to share what I’ve learned provide some atonement for the words I’ve written to hurt people.

    Here is a sixth bonus lesson. I plan to write more about this in the near future. My reflection on my history of alcohol use has led me to conclude:

    6. I’ve Abused Alcohol Since My First Encounter

    I didn’t progressively become an alcohol abuser. Yes, my abuse became worse, but I abused from the beginning. I’m fairly certain I’ve never had a single healthy experience using alcohol. If you can relate to this, consider stopping your drinking until you can figure out if you do have an issue.

    Five years have passed in the blink of an eye. I had no concept of what five years would be like when I first stopped drinking and I’m not sure I fully understand or appreciate the magnitude of this accomplishment. I’m not sure I’d have been healthy or alive to write this if I hadn’t found sobriety.

    What do I see for the next five years? I’m committed to staying sober and I’ll need to make some adjustments to accomplish this. I have recommitted to seeking support in the form of healthy relationships with other sober people, attending support groups, journaling, and practicing mindfulness. My sobriety is not on cruise control. I also intend to stay an active contributor to The Fix and other relevant publications; I find it helps me stay accountable.

    Thank you for reading this post. Thank you for being part of my journey. Please share this with anyone who might find it useful.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • How to Resolve Your Addiction Past Once And For All

    How to Resolve Your Addiction Past Once And For All

    ARTICLE OVERVIEW: Recovery is about freedom. But how can you move beyond past hurt? How do you deal with the shame of addiction? This article aims to guide you towards resolution…and outlines consequences when you try to ignore the past. Your questions are welcomed at the end.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    The Baggage We All Carry

    There is no doubt that each of us who makes it to addiction recovery faces a certain burden about his/her addiction past. That past may not be pleasant. In addition, the past can be full of real trauma. Events from the past can continue to haunt us…for some of us, all of our lives.

    But however uncomfortable your addiction past may feel, you should acknowledge the fact that without this experience, your life would never have been the same. The past allows us to grow. It can teach us something. The past does not need to be about guilt or shame or anger or resentment.

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    Facing and embracing yourself “as a person who made mistakes” is a new perspective. In addition, facing and forgiving past injury can help you let go of unnecessary emotional baggage. The experience can develop more maturity. No only do you take responsibility for your actions, but you accept what has happened.

    Guidance is Key

    So, how can you move past the memories and past time struggles that seem to keep haunting you? Managing complicated feelings can be successfully done by the help of a guide. That’s why we recommend that you seek help from  professionals that are trained to lead you on your way to sustained sobriety and long term addiction recovery. [1] But there are some things you can do to get a head start.

    Continue reading here and learn more about the ways to resolve a past that includes addiction…once and for all. In case you have any additional questions, or simply want to share a personal experience connected with releasing from your addiction past please feel free to use the section below. We always try to provide you with a personal and prompt response.

    Ignoring the Past

    There are no clear symptoms which show that you are not at peace with your addiction past, but there are some unwanted consequences which might occur as a sign of the lingering issue. The consequences of burdening yourself with your addiction past can be physical or emotional.

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    The physical consequences

    Holding onto the past can cause long term stress and frustration. However, stress eats up you energy reserves and has an influence over your health and well-being. How does this typically manifest?

    Firstly, holding onto the past can influence your quality of sleep. This can result in troubled sleeping, difficulties falling or staying asleep. However, sleep influences EVERYTHING. Recent studies have shown us that less than 6-8 hours of sleep per night can result in disease. In fact, this 2017 meta-analysis found that notable health complications and diseases can be the result of sleep problems. [2] These include conditions such as:

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    • Cardiovascular diseases
    • Depression
    • Diabetes mellitus
    • Dyslipidemia
    • Hypertension
    • Obesity
    • Stroke

    In addition, repressed feelings related to the past can affect many body systems. In short, the inability to accept your  past can physically manifest through the following symptoms such as:

    • Eating disorders
    • Headaches and migraine
    • Infections
    • Muscle tension
    • Ulcers
    • Weight loss

    The emotional consequences

    Emotional imbalance is the second major sign that you haven’t dealt with the past. When we are stuck repeating our past experiences, the mind is preoccupied with negative thoughts. This can leave us feeling all sorts of backwards; we can feel insecure and full of doubts about our abilities; we can question our value; we can even hate ourselves.

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    When you enter addiction recovery, all of this can change.

    However, recovery is hard enough. To begin, you will be challenged…first to face your ear of failing. The fear of not succeeding can serve as a base for all further frustrations and emotional upheavals. The usual negative mental-case scenarios that people face when they are unable to release the chains of their addiction past includes the following questions:

    • What if I FAIL to complete my recovery program?
    • What if I LOSE my loved ones’ support along the way?
    • What if I CAN’T do it?

    If you pay a closer attention to these questions, you will see that they are all built upon negations, or negative assumptions. It won’t take too long before this emotional roller-coaster takes over.  The questions you should be asking are: “Is my past worth all this trouble? Isn’t it easier to surrender yourself to a recovery program, instead of being torn between the past and future?”

    Your only certainty is the present!

    Here and now is all you have! Why not make the best of it? Save your energy and put it all into your recovery. It will help you more than you can know. Isn’t that a good enough reason to let go of the  past? [3]

    What Do The Experts Say About the Past ?

    Here is what Brian McAllister, author and founder of the Full Recovery Wellness Center has to say about releasing your addiction past for good. [4] According to his opinion you have to pay attention to the way you talk to yourself. [5]

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    “We talk to ourselves all day long. And the conversations either propel us forward or drag us backward. During active addiction many of us developed the habit of mentally beating ourselves up. This sadistic habit can stay with us long after we stop using. “The voice” in our head tells us: I’m not good enough, pretty enough or talented enough.” 

    Another expert shares suggestions about moving past guilt in addiction recovery. [6] Stephen Scoggins, teaches faith and self-understanding. Here is what he says from his personal experience:

    “Daily, my father had to relive the mistakes he made during the years he spent drinking. Once he identified an alcohol problem and committed to getting sober, he realized that he missed years of my life and that of my brother. He had a hard time holding down long-term jobs for extended periods of time. When his heart broke over those mistakes, my teenage heart broke too. I had never seen such a broken man. My father had tears in his eyes almost daily as he looked back at all the years he felt were wasted. He repeatedly asks for forgiveness from all hurt he caused, both intentional and unintentional”. [7]

    How Can You Get Rid the Past?

    I’m not an expert on behavioral change. But the following steps have helped me immensely. They just might lead you to freedom. Here are some suggestions that you can begin implementing … before you seek help from a mental health professional. For more guidance on how to find someone to help you in the process, see the next section below.

    STEP 1: Stop over exaggerating things!

    This behavior typically comes as the result of negative thinking. When you are burdened with shame or anger from past events, you tend to catastrophize the present. [8] You can make things seem worse than they really are, especially if you take the stance of a victim.

    In other words, people in recovery can make a mountain of a molehill.  Quite literally.

    I still do this. A missed appointment or unforeseen challenge can throw off my day. However, our most precious gift is experience. Once we learn to perceive issues with a new perspective, we’ll see how life throws things at us … so that we can learn. We have to experience both positive and negative in order to learn, but this does not mean that we have to reach the point of destruction in order to “get it”.

    Instead, try to look at life for what it REALLY is. Aim for objectivity. To exercise this, express yourself out loud…and ask for feedback. If you are catastrophizing and exaggerating, a close person can call you out on it. And then, you can do something to change the WAY you’re thinking.

    Step 2: The present is all you’ve got!

    This is obvious, but hard to grasp. To understand it better, there is a quote that goes like this: “You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.”

    HERE and NOW is all you’ve got, so make the most of it. Literally, shift your focus from the past to the present. Focus on your treatment and imagine what you want…you’ll never have to make your present a past regret. Recovery and letting go can occur only when you decide to.

    Step 3: The only thing the past offers us is a lesson.

    Re-framing the past as “experience” is very helpful. I remember when my first 12-Step sponsor told me that I never had to be that person with low self-esteem AGAIN. I never had to walk home, barefoot and hungover. Or, wonder what I did the night before.

    Instead, she taught me, “Who I am today is who I decide to be.”

    Previous hard times serve you as a stepping stone to something bigger. Maybe it’s more responsibility in your life. Maybe it’s a new direction, a new relationship, a new adventure. Looking to the past as a learning tool can help make you more mature. But it’s all in what you do … now.

    Step 4: Find the real reasons behind your addictive behavior.

    Substance use disorders are a short cut way to reach pleasure or to self-medicate. But taking drugs does not work for long. And it isn’t the only activity that brings pleasure or relief.

    If you want to make peace with your addiction past you need to get to the bottom of what lead to reaching for drugs in the first place. These issues are always discussed when a person enters a treatment program as a part of their addiction history. Call us to learn more about the rehab process.

    Together with a psychologist or psychiatrist you can get to the deepest issues of your addiction past, before you determine a treatment plan. Do not skip this phase, face your addiction past, understand it, in order to be able to accept it and move forward.

    Step 5: Target your goals in recovery and celebrate every accomplishment.

    Planning your recovery journey will include milestones. For me, these milestones morph. At the beginning, the milestone was 90 meetings in 90 days. I did about 75. Yay!

    Then, another milestone was to hold down a steady job. Check!

    Then, pay off debts…Check!

    Together with an addiction counselor, you develop a treatment plan that can lead you towards your new life. When you begin to map your future goals, you will move forward. This means that you will redirect your energy into taking some actions towards reaching your sobriety.

    However, do not forget to celebrate every small accomplishment on your recovery journey. This will motivate you to keep fulfilling your goals and eventually step by step reach a healthy and a drug-free life. Recently, I held a party for myself. I invited my closest colleagues and friends to celebrate the publication of a book, The Definitive Guide to Addictions. [9]

    Seriously, I never knew that this would happen…but one day at a time, I made goals and achieved them. You can, too.

    Who Can Help You?

    So, what professionals can help? When you seek for help, I suggest that you start locally. Ask for a referral from your primary doctor or someone you trust. You can also look through the member directories of the following professional organizations:

    • ABAM, the American Board of Addiction Medicine
    • APA, The American Psychological Association
    • APA, The American Psychiatry Association
    • The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers

    Your Questions

    I hope that you’ve found this information applicable and useful. In the case you have something additional to ask, feel free to post all your questions in the comments section below. We do our best to provide you with a personal and prompt response.

    Reference Sources: [1] Addiction Blog: Addiction Recovery
    [2] Sleep Medicine: Short sleep duration and health outcomes: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.
    [3] Addiction Blog: Letting go of the past – How to let go of anger
    [4] Addiction Blog: Brian McAlister
    [5] Addiction Blog: Coping with life after getting sober: 3 TIPS!
    [6] Addiction Blog: Guilt and alcoholism recovery: How to move beyond guilt
    [7] Addiction Blog: Stephen Scoggins
    [8] Addiction Blog: Guilt and shame in addiction recovery: 10 activities to help cope
    [9] Routledge: The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions
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  • Is Burning Man All About Drug Use? The Answer Might Surprise You

    Is Burning Man All About Drug Use? The Answer Might Surprise You

    ARTICLE OVERVIEW: According to the Burning Man website, the event is, “not a festival. Burning Man is a community.” This article seeks to look teach you about the purpose of Burning Man and whether or not it’s simply another backdrop for drug use.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS:

    What is Burning Man?

    The first Burning Man was held in 1986 on Baker Beach in San Francisco, California. Founded by Larry Harvey and Jerry James, both of whom produced the first “Man” to be burned, the event had the intention of creating a community which investigated a variety of forms of artistic self-expression. According to Harvey himself, his motivation behind the ritual was an impetuous act of “radical self-expression.” [1]

    The first Man to be burned stood 8 feet tall. By 1988, that height grew to 30 feet. Likewise, the number of people attending the event increased from 35 to 200. [2] This was mainly because Harvey handed out flyers surrounding the event and actively spread the word throughout San Francisco. With the city’s hippie history and open-minded community, it comes as no surprise locals were attracted to the original concepts of Burning Man.

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    The main concept?

    The main concept behind the Burning Man Festival is to let go. To burn away your bad memories and make light for optimism. To create and understand, no matter what the effort, it won’t last.

    Today, Burning Man is a yearly event which goes on from the last Sunday of August to the first Monday of September. It’s located in the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada and attracts over 65,000 people annually. [3] [4] It’s described by many as an experience rather than a festival. An experience in community and art.

    In order to properly understand Burning Man and why it holds the potential to attract drug abusers, we must first look into its 10 primary principles.

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    Burning Man’s 10 Primary Principles

    We know that people use drugs at Burning Man. And while the festival permits psychedelic experience – even encourages breakthroughs in perception – the principles behind the event tolerate but do not celebrate drug use. In fact, it might be surprising to know that civic responsibility is one main principle of Burning Man.

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    In other words, following laws that keep people safe is encouraged.

    The purpose of the founding principles gives newcomers a sense of the atmosphere. They also establish boundaries. [5] Below is a list of the 10 primary principles that surround the event as well as a description of how each principle defines the experience:

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    1. Radical Inclusion

    The idea of radical inclusion is that anyone and everyone is invited to the Burning Man event. Though it’s a community with a strong history, the people who participate always welcome strangers. Those who decide to attend don’t need to have any preconditions. All that’s asked is that they provide themselves with their own basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter.

    2. Self-reliance

    People go to Burning Man to experience something within themselves. The experience has people seek out something within their “inner resources” which may have been held back priorly. The hope is that attendees will not only learn something about who they are as individuals, but that they also reflect on the experience later in life. Ultimately, the hope is that the experience can help you become a better individual.

    3. Self-expression

    The idea behind self-expression is to act upon your inner talents. Yet, not just to act on them, but to offer it to others. What these talents are is up to you to determine based upon discoveries you may make at the event or perhaps a skill previously known. Organizers hope that you realize a hidden talent you didn’t know you had to offer or never honed in on. And through your discovery, realize what is yours is also everyone else’s. Then the task is to not be afraid, but to share what you have to offer to everyone.

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    4. Community Cooperation

    Going along with self-expression, community cooperation is a principle based on interacting and working with others at the event. This can be something as simple as producing a sculpture to burn at the end of the week or to explore deeper conflicts within yourself through another person. The principle encourages you to network with those around you, to protect the safety of the space, and to keep the space in which all this occurs as clean as possible.

    5. Civic Responsibility 

    This principle is based on a respect of civil society. It’s expected that those who participate in Burning Man must follow local, state, and federal laws. They must understand their responsibility for the property of the event as well as each individual within the community.

    6. Gifting

    According to the event’s website, “Burning Man is devoted to acts of gift giving.” People within this community consider the act of gifting as a wholehearted form of value. Furthermore, those who give shouldn’t expect anything in exchange. They should give to others without expecting anything in return.

    7. Decommodification

    At this community event, commercial business is not allowed. To promote, advertise, or attempt a transaction for your business is entirely prohibited. People who consider doing this should be aware those at the event will shut them down. Not only would these kinds of acts change the overall atmosphere of Burning Man, but it would also take away from the community’s promotion of giving.

    8. Participation

    At Burning Man, there’s a belief that a metamorphosis can only be made through personal participation. The concept behind this is that if the world worked for others rather than for individual gain, much progress can be made within society. Therefore, at Burning Man, everyone is invited and encouraged to work.

    9. Immediacy

    It is believed that in day-to-day life, we place barriers between us and our inner selves. We don’t experience life within the moment. One of the purposes of Burning Man is to experience reality immediately. To take in what’s around you, whether that be other people or the natural world, and accept it as is. The principle encourages you to place yourself beyond the human experience.

    10. Leaving No Trace

    Quite simply, the people of Burning Man have a respect for the environment and don’t want to leave any trace of the activities performed there. The purpose of this principle is to encourage everyone to clean up after themselves, whenever it may be, and to make sure upon leaving, they don’t leave anything behind.

     

    What Drugs do People do at Burning Man?

    Unless you’ve been to Burning Man, there’s no true way to tell what kinds of drugs circle around the event. As mentioned above, those who host the event expect those to follow local, state, and federal laws. Therefore, since drugs are prohibited, it’s expected people must keep their use private.

    However, after getting a taste of the principles of Burning Man, it’s understandable that the event attracts a certain kind of crowd. Particularly, those seeking to open their minds, experience something new and of which can bring upon a great change. Generally, people of this category are attracted to psychedelics. [6]

    Psychedelic drugs include:

    • 25I-NBOME/N-BOMB
    • 2C Family
    • Dextromethorphan (DXM)
    • DMT/Ayahuasca
    • GHB
    • Ketamine
    • Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
    • Marijuana
    • MDMA
    • Mescaline/Peyote
    • PCP
    • Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms)
    • Salvia

    These are psychoactive drugs that transform perception and mood and influence a variety of cognitive processes. [7] Of all drug seized by police at Burning Man in 2017, 1,913.75 grams were that of psychedelics, not including 217 tabs of LSD. [8] The only other drugs seized included 231.85 grams of cocaine, 13.5 grams of methamphetamine, and about 170 unidentified pills.

    Though these drugs aren’t addictive physically, they do have psychological affects which can develop a dependence. For example, some people may turn to a hallucinogenic as a means of avoiding particular life stressors. [9]

    When it comes to Burning Man, the twist is the community wants you to face life stressors head on; to accept yourself for who you are and the environment you choose. 

    It’s not surprising some people think they can get there with the help of drugs. However, not everyone who goes to Burning Man is on drugs. Some people go purely for the experience. Like people who just want to watch their favorite band live or enjoy themselves at a club, Burning Man isn’t solely a place people go to to take drugs.

    So, if that’s the case, what is Burning Man all about?

    What is Burning Man All About?

    To assume that an event is all about drug use simply because it attracts that kind of crowd is unfair to those who host the event and are strong participants. Burning Man isn’t all about drug use. Rather, the Burning Man website advertises its experience as, “…entering a ‘decommodified’ space that values who you are, not what you have.”[10]

    Essentially, Burning Man is about being a part of a community that values a collection of people and the talents they can offer the world. It’s about discovering who you are or who you really could be without social barriers. It’s about experiencing something very difficult to experience in other settings.

    Burning Man can’t be defined by its drug use because people don’t go there for the sole sake of taking drugs. Yes, there will be drugs at Burning Man and people will hold the belief that drugs are essential to amplifying the experience. However, drugs aren’t what Burning Man is all about.

    It’s about community. It’s about valuing who you already are. It’s about discovering something new. It’s about being one with the earth and planet.

    Is It Safe For Me to Go to Burning Man?

    This depends on what you define as “safe”.

    To begin, it should be noted that people in early addiction recovery SHOULD NOT go to Burning Man. The easy access to drugs could lead into a relapse of addiction. [11] It’s important for people in the first 2-3 years of recovery to avoid triggers. This often means staying away from environments where drugs are known to be in use, such as clubs or festivals.

    If you’re currently facing a drug addiction and thinking about going to Burning Man, it should be noted the safety precautions involved. The disease of addiction can lead to hazards to your health both in long-term and short. Since Burning Man takes place in the middle of a desert, there’s not nearly as much access to emergency services as there would be in a city or suburbia. Therefore, if anything were to happen – such as an overdose – there’s more of a risk involved.

    Furthermore, if you’re facing a drug addiction then it’s important to seek out treatment before seeking out further ways too get high. If you don’t know where to look to find treatment, you can give us a call.

    If you want to go to Burning Man purely for the experience, there’s nothing wrong with seeking out an enlightenment the festival has to offer. However, it needs to be noted that you’re going to be in a environment of people who participate in drug use. With that in mind, there are precautions to be considered in order to stay drug safe at the event.

    Lastly, the website informs all those who attend to be aware of the environments’ harsh natural climate. This includes very hot days and cool nights as well as the necessity for food and water. You can find their safety video: Burning Man Safety – Desert Survival. [12]

    Your Questions

    If you have any further questions pertaining to Burning Man, we invite you to ask them below. If you have any experience at or information on Burning Man, we’d also love to hear from you. We try to reply to everyone in a prompt and personal manner.

    Reference Sources: [1] THE NEW YORKER: How Larry Harvey, the Founder of Burning Man, Taught America to Experiment
    [2] BURN.LIFE: 1986-1990: THE EARLY YEARS
    [3] The New York Times: Scenes From Burning Man
    [4] Burning Man: Timeline
    [5] Burning Man: The Culture – Philosophical Center
    [6] F1000 Research: Over 30 million psychedelic users in the United States
    [7] Pharmacological Reviews: Psychedelics
    [8] Reno Gazzete Journal: What were the top drugs police seized at Burning Man last year?
    [9] SAMHSA: Physical and Psychological Effects of Substance Use Handout
    [10] Burning Man: The Even – Preparation
    [11] Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine: Relapse Prevention and the Five Rules of Recovery
    [12] Burning Man Safety: Desert Survival

     

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  • Using Spiritual or Religious Beliefs when Fighting Addiction

    Using Spiritual or Religious Beliefs when Fighting Addiction

    ARTICLE OVERVIEW: Religious and spiritual beliefs can moderate the relationship between life stressors and quality of life. In fact, reliance on your beliefs can give you hope, strength, and provide meaning in addiction recovery.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS:

    What does the science say?

    Advocates of the 12 Steps and a spiritual way of life have been saying for decades that faith and belief are cornerstones to recovery. However, agnostics and atheists still have a hard time accepting the notion that spirituality must be a part of recovery. So, what does the science say?

    The facts are quite clear. Persons with strong religious beliefs report higher levels of life satisfaction, greater happiness, and fewer negative psychosocial consequences of traumatic life events.

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    In fact, scientific literature strongly supports the notion that spiritual or religious beliefs can enhance health and quality of life, also called QOL. In a review of 200 + studies, positive relationships were reported between a person’s belief and positive life outcomes. Indeed, the following positive relationships have been documented in people who actively practice religion in their lives:

    • Improved coping abilities
    • Greater emotional well-being
    • Reduced psychopathology
    • Physical and functional status

    These studies show that religious and spiritual beliefs typically play a positive role in adjustment and in better health. Furthermore, spirituality was included in the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life instrument, the WHOQOL, after focus group participants worldwide reported that spirituality was an important component of their QOL.

    The bottom line is: Suspended disbelief can lead to wonders.

    And if so, what are we up against? First, we are fighting inner demons. Then, we have to fight the world outside.

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    Common beliefs about addiction

    We find that addiction recovery is an uphill struggle. Not only do we deal with the inner demons, we are also demonized by the world around us. People who are diagnosed with substance use disorders may experience stigma as a consequence of the culturally endorsed stereotypes that surround the health condition. In addition, social stigma links addictive behaviors to a range of other health conditions such as:

    • HIV/AIDS
    • Hepatitis C virus
    • Mental illness
    • Unsafe behaviors (e.g. impaired driving)
    • Social problems (e.g. poverty, criminality)

    The negative stereotypes around addiction guide social action, public policy and allocation of health-care expenditures. Very often people who have substance use disorders are perceived to have control over their illness.

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    The blame and pressure thrown at us during addiction can change the way we view ourselves.

    People respond to this stigma with anger and punishment or avoidance, holding people in addiction recovery wholly responsible for their behavior. Psychological breakdown is a common occurrence during these hard emotional and/or physical attacks. So, how might we build resilience as we fight addiction? How can we fall back onto spiritual or religious practice?

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    Core concepts of addiction

    Before we examine the ways that we can use our own beliefs in recovery, it can help to look at models and concepts. It’s helpful to know how people see addiction…so that we can begin to position ourselves in the world accordingly. This serves two purposes. First, you can start to understand how and what others believe about addiction. Second, you can strengthen your own belief.

    These different concepts of addiction have been based in research but are not conclusive. Indeed, some have fallen out of professional acceptance altogether, such as the moral volitional model. Even though these outdated concepts do not accurately describe the nature of addiction, individuals may hold beliefs related to these concepts. So, although research suggests that addiction does not result from weak morals, people may believe that addicts lack moral fortitude. The most common core concepts of addiction follow.

    1. The Moral or Volitional Concept.

    The moral model finds people lacking in moral fortitude and suffering from addiction as a result of weakness. Proponents of this model deny that addiction is in any way an illness. Any reported “loss of control” is interpreted as evidence of weak character and depravity.

    2. The Psychoanalytic Concept.

    The psychoanalytic model defines addiction as the result of an underlying neurosis. Treatment consists of psychotherapy which seeks to lead to a mature lifestyle by penetrating early childhood emotions and memories. Therapy is typically a long and involved process with minimal success. The psychoanalytic model gave rise to notion of the addictive personality, which is the idea that certain negative personality traits are common to anyone diagnosed with substance use disorder.

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    3. The Family Interaction Concept.

    Family-interaction proponents view alcoholism or drug addiction as a role assigned to an individual family member, while the other relatives play complementary parts. Because the family members define themselves by the roles they play, removing the key actor results in the other members trying to restore him/her to an addictive state. A life of sobriety is possible with family therapy.

    4. The Alcoholics Anonymous Concept.

    The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) model states that alcoholism is a spiritual problem. The group identifies a need for a spiritual recovery in order to lead a life of sobriety. Participation in the meeting of AA helps the recovering alcoholic to maintain his/her relationship with a healing Higher Power. The AA model also states that untreated, alcoholism is a progressive and fatal disease, specifically a disease of the mind.

    5. The Disease Concept.

    The disease concept, or medical model, describes addiction as a progressive disease with its own set of symptoms. Often, the disease is hereditary and can be fatal. Most at risk are those whose body chemistry allows them to become addicted more readily than the general population. Under the medical model, addiction must be identified as a primary disorder and treated as such.

    6. The Adaptive Model.

    The adaptive model of addiction defines addiction as a failure to reach adult levels of integration. This failure drives the individual to find substitutes to provide meaning, social support, and organization. As a heuristic for clinical intervention and treatment, the disease concept serves a purpose. However, if its purpose is only to be an antidote for the guilt individuals feel over his/her substance use, then other models should be considered.

    Can your beliefs help you recover from addiction?

    Yes!

    Your beliefs can help you recover from addiction. In addition to enhancing the quality of life and offering resiliency in stressful situations, spiritual and religious beliefs have been studied in association with substance use behavior.

    Studies have shown that spirituality and religiosity reduced the impact of life stress on initial level of substance use and on rate of growth in substance use over time among adolescents.

    Possible protective mechanisms conferred by religious involvement may include:

    • Avoidance of drugs.
    • Social support advocating abstinence or moderation.
    • Time-occupying activities that are incompatible with drug use.
    • Promotion of pro-social values by the religious affiliation that includes leading a drug-free life.

    Additionally, many studies support the notion that religiousness and spirituality can increase success rates and help you attain and maintain your sobriety. Recovering individuals often report that religion and/or spirituality are critical factors in the recovery process. Research has shown that spirituality increases from pre to post-recovery and that among recovering individuals, higher levels of religious beliefs and spirituality are associated with cognitive processes which have been linked to more positive health outcomes, including:

    • Higher resilience to stress
    • Lower levels of anxiety
    • More optimistic life orientation
    • Positive & effective coping skills

    In sum, there is support for the positive impact that spiritual and religious beliefs can have on minimizing substance use behavior.

    Your Questions

    After reading, this article, we imagine that you might want to weigh in. What’s your perspective? Or, do you still have questions that you’d like to learn the answers to? Feel free to ask us anything about this topic. We will do our best to provide you with a personal, and prompt response.

    Reference Sources:  Illinois Wesleyan University: Concepts of Addiction: Assessing the Beliefs of Addiction in University and Treatment Center Populations
    NCBI: The Role of Social Supports, Spirituality, Religiousness, Life Meaning and Affiliation with 12-Step Fellowships in Quality of Life Satisfaction Among Individuals in Recovery from Alcohol and Drug Problems
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  • How Horse Riding Helps Addiction Treatment & Recovery

    How Horse Riding Helps Addiction Treatment & Recovery

    ARTICLE SUMMARY: Horses can help us develop emotional congruence, good boundaries, responses rather than reaction, perspective, and instinct. More on how to apply this to recovery here.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    By Susan E Conley

    Getting Started

    When I started riding horses, I was 41, going on 42 years old and had never been near an equine in my life. The closest I came was standing near to the carriage horses that congregated on Central Park South, daring a pat now and then until their drivers chivvied me off as it was clear I was not a potential client.

    I took up the sport due to my burgeoning codependency recovery: having left my marriage to a substance abuser, I decided to do something for myself. Never mind that it seemed as precarious an undertaking as trying to ‘make’ someone clean and sober; I took a notion to do it and unexpectedly found a hobby that helped me get healthy in mind, body and spirit.

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    A World of Healing

    I soon found that many of the behaviors that I employed on a daily basis were going to get me into serious trouble with the animals; the equestrian lifestyle, in many ways, is antithetical to the codependent lifestyle, or indeed any addiction lifestyle.

    For example, in The Tao of Equus, Linda Kohanov speaks of ‘emotional congruence’, of being in alignment with your mount, a state which can only come into being when the rider is in line with herself. In my case, being congruent meant:

    • Not lying.
    • Not fudging.
    • Not making up stories about the way things should have been, could have been, or ought to have been if only someone in my life hadn’t abused substances.

    5 Ways Horses Help With Addiction

    The more time I spent around horses, the more I realized that I was not only learning how to ride, I was also learning how to be the sort of person I wanted to be: clear, calm, a person who was becoming emotionally stronger as well as physically.

    I guessed my improvement had to be down to the horses, because that was the only new thing in my life, but surely that was impossible?

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    It is completely possible, and there’s a whole world of healing that employs horses as therapeutic partners, covering client bases from children struggling with autism and ADD, to people of all ages with learning and physical challenges. It’s a fascinating field that’s growing by leaps and bounds, but how does being around a horse help us with our issues?

    Here are five ways that horses can become a healing touchstone for addicts in recovery. And don’t worry: you don’t have to ride the horse to reap the rewards.

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    #1 Body Language

    To refer to Kohanov’s example of congruence, you can’t fake anything around a horse.

    You may think you’re covering up your feelings, but a horse can spot your true mood a mile away.

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    As herd animals, their safety is inextricably linked with being in harmony with their herd mates. Should a predator approach, it is vital the herd be able to move as one in order to protect the group. They achieve homeostasis as a form of protection, and extends to the humans who would interact with them.

    Philippe D’Helft, a practitioner with EAGALA, Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, explains. “Horses are hyper vigilant and have constant awareness of each other and their place in the herd, and they apply the same to us,” he says. “They are constantly watching our body language, our breathing, the way we move and then they mirror that. And then depending on the way we behave, they react a certain way.”

    A 2017 study via the University of Sussex involved 30 horses and examined the animals’ reactions to human body language. Humans who approached in a non-threatening, submissive manner, with arms and legs held close to the body and in a slight slouch drew the horse towards them; those who rocked up with chests puffed out and arms in an aggressive posture such as hands on hips or elbows out were avoided by the animals.

    Horses are well able to pick up much subtler clues, and will mirror back to you what’s going on inside, even if you think you’ve got your outside sorted. You’re either a potential herd member, or you’re threat.

    #2 Good Boundaries

    Failure to set good boundaries when working with horses is dangerous, to both human and animal. They are much bigger and stronger than we are and it is paramount to ensure the horse respects you and your space. Get your foot stepped on one time by a 1200 pound creature, and you learn fast.

    However, there’s a difference between being aggressive and assertive.

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    As shown above, aggressiveness sets you up in the horse’s mind as a predator and they will do everything in their power to remove themselves from your presence. If you are assertive, you set yourself up as a leader and this also dovetails nicely with the herd mentality. In the interests of self-preservation, a horse is always happy enough to defer to a stronger creature.

    If you can be that strong for a horse, you can be that strong for yourself.

    #3 Response, Not Reaction

    Quite a lot of horseback riding and working with horses on the ground is repetitive. You do the same things over and over, and yet due to variable conditions — weather, your health, the horse’s health, the instructors mood, your mood, the horse’s mood — little things can have great impact.

    In the past, changes outside of my control used to send me into a tailspin. I’d react in the snap of a finger, and start fixing things before I knew whether they were actually broken or not, or most importantly, whether it was my business to do so.

    Horses are sentient beings and they are always reacting to their environment. In order to stay safe around them, we must learn to respond to their reactions; that is, we begin to learn to read a situation and make conscious decisions how to behave.

    Because many of our tasks around the horse, from grooming to show jumping, require a set process, it allows us to become more aware of ourselves in the situation and gives us the opportunity to build our own lexicon of responses.

    We become able to assess, with clarity and calm, what the best solution in a given situation is and to put it into gentle action.

    This was a real watershed for me in my own recovery: I began to see that I had choices, that I was able to be clearheaded and to make decisions based on evidence, and not old coping mechanisms or distorted feelings.

    #4 Perspective

    EAGALA specializes in training psychology and horse professionals to work as teams, in order to apply techniques to help all sorts of populations, including people in addiction recovery.

    Sometimes when we’re deep in our challenges, we can’t see the wood for the trees – or the feed buckets for the traffic cones.

    D’Helf cites an example in which a client was asked to use simple props – that feed bucket, those traffic cones, along with rings, lightweight poles and mounting blocks – and build areas in a riding arena that symbolize certain aspects of their lives. The horse is then set at liberty in the arena, and the instructor and the client pay attention to where the horse goes… or doesn’t.

    “We’d say that we noticed that the horses went with them in other areas that they’ve built, and were happy to share those spaces with them, except for one, and the client will say, ‘Well, it’s generally not a great place to be, nobody wants to go there with me,’” he explains. “We’d ask what the space represented and the answer was ‘The bookies’. The fact that they see it for themselves is very powerful.”

    #5 Trusting Your Instincts

    As a codependent, I never trusted myself, even the evidence of my own eyes and experience.

    Horses have helped me recover and build upon my ability to believe that I can trust myself to know what’s correct, what I have still to learn and work on.

    I began to know, even as my butt hit the saddle, how I was going to get on with a horse. I began to learn how to be as gentle with myself as I was with a horse. I learned when to say ‘no’ (to a horse that was too frisky for me), and when to say ‘yes’ (even though I was a tiny bit nervous.) I learned that I would always be learning, which resulted in humility, a cornerstone of 12-step recovery. Humbled before the horse, I paradoxically became stronger in myself, and continue to grow and heal every day I am around them.

    Your Questions

    Do you have any questions for Susan? Perhaps you’d like to share an experience about your work with horses? Please leave your questions in the comments section at the end. We try to respond to all real life comments with a personal and prompt reply.

    —

    About the Author: Susan E Conley is the author of Many Brave Fools: A Story of Addiction, Dysfunction, Codependency… and Horses, available now from www.horseandriderbooks.com. Follow Susan on Twitter and Instagram @manybravefools.
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    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • How Exercise Can Help Addiction Recovery

    How Exercise Can Help Addiction Recovery

    By Chris Jansen

    ARTICLE OVERVIEW: This article reviews the benefits of exercise during addiction recovery….to give you some extra motivation to get your heart pumping!

    ESTIMATED READING TIME: 5 minutes

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Balance in the Body

    Addiction recovery is all about restoring balance to the body. Through therapy, training, practice and support, people suffering from addiction can overcome their dependence on a substance or behavior, and find healthier ways to live.

    Most accounts of addiction recovery tend to focus on mental aspects of recovery – and with good reason, as the mind is central to the process of personal growth and improvement. But the mind is also heavily influenced by the rest of the body, since changes in activity alter the body’s production of chemicals that help shape mood and behavior.

    Diet, sleep patterns, and a person’s immediate environment can all greatly affect the success or failure of an addiction recovery effort.

    But exercise is arguably as important as any of these factors, for reasons we list below. The main principle is this: When we ignore any of the three components of being – mind, body, or spirit – we are cutting off our lifeline to wellness.

    Why Exercise?

    So why do treatment centers or aftercare programs focus on exercise in the first place? Following are some of the reasons why recovery programs that include an exercise component were found by researchers to be more effective than programs that do not incorporate exercise.

    First, endorphins moderate brain chemistry. The brain is hard wired to experience and repeat pleasure. But when we use drugs and alcohol, this natural system gets tweaked. Exercise helps us establish balance again.

    Second, exercise offers us better overall health and energy levels. Just think about how you feel after a vigorous 30 minute walk. Now, compare that to 30 minutes in front of the T.V. Hands down, circulating blood and oxygenizing the cardiovascular system rewards us with energy…and wellness.

    Finally, exercise can be a part of structured daily activities. When we use drugs and alcohol, we throw off rhythm cycles of sleeping and eating. Exercise can help us get back into these rhythms. When we set a regular daily or weekly exercise regimen, we settle into routine. And routine is good!

    Benefits of Exercising in Recovery

    If you or a loved one are entering a period of addiction recovery, consider the following advantages of exercise as you plan out your effort:

    1. It puts you in a good mood.

    Exercise releases endorphins, which creates feelings of happiness and activates the brain’s reward system. When you are in a better mood, you will feel more motivated to continue the addiction recovery process. A bonus effect is that the body will find it easier to say goodbye to the addictive substance or behavior, because it is getting the chemicals it needs from a new source.

    2. It gives you energy.

    Exercise wakes up your muscles and gets the blood pumping, sending more oxygen throughout your body. This heightened body state allows you to be more vigilant in fighting off urges, and helps give you the endurance needed to succeed in the long term.

    3. It gets the stress out.

    Even as exercise gives you new and positive energy, it also lets you release the built-up energy that comes from stress, anxiety, or other negative feelings. By cleansing your body of these negative forces, you will find yourself more free – and ready to focus your full attention on the challenge of recovery.

    4. It gives you a new hobby.

    People who are facing addiction issues should remain active; otherwise, they will need to spend more time thinking about (and fighting) their addictive impulses. By making exercise a regular part of your daily schedule, you can train your body to settle into a newer and more healthy routine.

    5. It helps you sleep.

    By using up your spare muscle energy during the day, exercise lets your body get ready for a full rest at night. A healthy sleep cycle is important for your body as it works to stay internally balanced.

    What Kinds of Exercise?

    Aerobics, outdoor activities, and yoga have been singled out as particularly effective types of exercisefor people recovering from addiction. Aerobic exercise helps improve overall health, while yoga incorporates a meditative practice that enhances personal focus and reduces negative thoughts. By spending time outdoors, individuals can reconnect with nature and also boost their body’s production of vitamin D.

    These recommendations match well with the experiences of addiction recovery experts at rehab centers around the world, many of which are adding an exercise component to their recovery programs. We spoke with Tony Tan, Clinical Director at The Dawn, a rehab in Thailand, for his take on the subject. He told us:

    “When a person is trying to overcome addiction, the mind and body crave the substance that was producing endorphins and dopamine in the brain and creating the feeling of being “high”. Add to this is the stress of daily life, and the cravings can reach unbearable levels.

    Vigorous exercise can also release endorphins, causing the client to feel a “runner’s high” — the same sensation of euphoria that accompanies a chemical high. Although it may be less intense than what the client used to experience with drugs or alcohol, the effects can be pleasurable both mentally and physically.

    In fact, our experience of treating clients with substance abuse show that exercise can lead to a sense of accomplishment and increased confidence in staying sober. We have seen real success in their ability to maintain a strong recovery after treatment.”

    As with addiction therapy techniques, different exercises can be more effective with some people than with others. Some clients are more suited to lower-intensity exercises like walking, yoga and Pilates, while others benefit from strenuous exercises like:

    • Core strength building
    • Hiking
    • Long distance cycling
    • Rafting
    • Rock climbing

    Group exercise within natural settings can be a particularly effective way to foster unity during treatment. The exercise itself is a great help, but these activities also have the additional benefit of giving recovering addicts a feeling of family-like support as they participate, as well as exposing them to situations that require collaboration and peer support.

    Finding Peace through a Well-Rounded Recovery Process

    An ideal recovery process should include high-quality therapy that focuses on the body as well as the mind. A growing number of rehab centers are following this holistic model – including The Dawn, whose program includes advanced treatment techniques as well as a complementary program of physical healing and exercise.This combined physical and mental approach to recovery allows patients to have a rehab experience that is as enjoyable and revitalizing as it is effective.

    Your Questions

    Have questions about exercising?

    Please leave us your questions – or personal experience – in the comments section below. We try to respond to all real life questions personally.

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • Man Founds Non-Profit Yoga Recovery Group

    Man Founds Non-Profit Yoga Recovery Group

    “I knew that financially a lot of people in recovery couldn’t afford yoga, and I felt that was unacceptable. So I started the foundation…”

    There are many roads to recovery, and for Taylor Hunt, yoga has been a profound piece of his path. Yoga was so instrumental for Hunt that he founded the Trini Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing Ashtanga yoga to the lives of those working for addiction recovery.

    Hunt spent 10 years addicted to drugs and alcohol. He was in rehab four times, and in an interview with The Columbus Dispatch, Hunt says, “I was emotionally, physically, spiritually and financially bankrupt. Physically, I was maybe 130 pounds, and I’m 6 foot 3. I wasn’t eating. Spiritually, I was no longer connected to anyone, and I felt like I’d left God. Everyone gave up on me. I was clinically depressed and struggled with anxiety. I had switched from alcohol and pills, and I was using black tar heroin, literally putting needles in my arms.”

    He is now 37 years old and 12 years sober, and the founder and a teacher with the Trini Foundation. This organization has given 100 people in recovery scholarships for yoga classes around the country.

    In The Columbus Dispatch, Hunt outlined the history behind the Trini Foundation. Hunt had been clean and working in a 12-step program with a sponsor for six months when a woman in a meeting approached him and offered to teach him yoga. He declined, and she persisted in offering, until Hunt’s sponsor said it seemed like Hunt was going to do yoga after all.

    Hunt found that yoga affected a deep change in his experience of life. After his first class, he recalled, “I remember having this feeling like I was just a human trying to do the best that I could, and I felt like I had some value as a person. And that was the first time I’d felt like that. And from that day I never stopped doing it. It has given me clarity. I get a clear picture of who I am, in the present moment.”

    Hunt said, “I became an Ashtanga yoga teacher 10 years ago. I wanted to make sure other people could do the 12 steps and take yoga, do them together, because it can give you a completely different equation. I began believing that I didn’t have to live in this pattern of addiction and relapse that a lot of people in the 12-step program struggle with.

    But I knew that financially a lot of people in recovery couldn’t afford yoga, and I felt that was unacceptable. So I started the foundation in 2016 because I wanted to be able to give the addict who might not ever have an opportunity to go to yoga a good excuse to go. It’s a tool to save lives. So we raise money so we can provide scholarships to people who are addicts.”

    The Trini Foundation is working to reach an impressively wide and diverse group and includes programs dedicated to working with those in prison and in underserved communities, as well as working in conjunction with rehabilitation centers to provide the therapeutic value of Ashtanga yoga to those who would accept it. 

    View the original article at thefix.com