OvercomerTools.com/blog » addiction recovery

September is Recovery Month

brandi — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:46:43 +0000

OVERCOMERTOOLS.COM ———- For Recovery Tools!

September is celebrated nationally as Recovery Month, a time to recognize the possibilities and promise of a life free from addiction. This year’s theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery; Real People, Real Recovery.”

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health for 2007 had good news and bad news. On the one hand, cocaine and methamphetamine use were down among young adults, cocaine use by one-fourth and meth by one-third. Still, one in five reported using an illicit substance the month before. Among the 12-17 age group, drug use in the month prior to the survey decreased from 9.8 percent to 9.5 percent, continuing a five-year trend. Their alcohol and tobacco use was also down.

Significantly, use by the 50-59 age group increased, suggesting that baby boomers have not given up habits started 30 and more years ago. Of 20 million people over the age of 12 who admitted using an illicit substance, the great majority reported using marijuana. The study found a direct link between illicit drug use and incidents of depression.
Millions of individuals suffering from substance abuse have found comfort and success in Twelve Step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

The steps refer to a process whereby the individual, through attending group meetings, relentless reading, prayer and study, and with the support of a sponsor, conducts a “fearless moral inventory.” The steps include admitting one’s powerlessness over the problem, asking for help from a higher power (“God as we know him”), acknowledging wrong done to others, making amends and, finally, helping others in their own path to the better life possible through recovery.

Donna Edmonds, a 34-year-old client of the UNC Horizons Program based in Carrboro, is a Voice for Recovery. Horizons, a component of the UNC School of Medicine, provides treatment for women addicted to substances. Its support includes outpatient support groups; prenatal and postnatal OB-GYN treatment; classes in relationships, job skills, nutrition and money management; a residential program for the women and their children; and onsite day-care and other comprehensive services for the participants’ children. After years of significant cocaine use, Ms. Edmonds has experienced success with Horizons.

Ms. Edmonds wrote an essay recently about what recovery has meant to her:

“The most amazing lesson I’ve learned while on the journey of recovery is how to become a source of comfort to those around me, thanks to my sharing of the story of my addiction. When I was crushed and overwhelmed by life during active addiction, it was then I received the gift of desperation.

“No one needs to fear the trials of life. No matter how great a hardship you face, there is a Higher Power to strengthen you, making you better equipped to provide understanding and acceptance to those around you who’ve encountered the same hardships.

“Release your burdens, return to reason and normality … and you’ll find that recovery is the counselor of peace within yourself.”

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Why I love Recovery Meetings

brandi — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:39:34 +0000

OVERCOMERTOOLS.COM ———- For Recovery Tools!

If you are trying to decide if you should go to a recovery meeting, stop thinking and just go. As they say in Recovery if you think you dont need a meeting that is when you need one the most. When I was a teenager I was introduced to Narcotics Anonymous. I did not think I had a problem I was just having fun like everyone else. I didnt realize I had lost trust from friends and family because of my lifestyle. I made excuses for myself.

Drugs are really never the reason for your problems. Your problems are a result of not dealing with issues and feelings that you have (which has probably led to drugs/alcohol).

Life seems to go so fast and most people really never take the time to get to know themselves and why they do the things they do. NA or AA is not a place where people get together to convince one another to stop using drugs. NA is a place where you learn the tools to deal with your problems and take the time to get to know yourself.

The 12 Steps of NA/AA are so simple and you may think you can read them and know all the answers. People at NA/AA spend weeks or months on every step. The very first step is “We admitted we were powerless over our addiction that our lives had become unmanageable.”

The 12 step program was actually based on the Beatitudes in the Bible. It says “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
The first step simply means “I need help- I cant do it alone.”

The secret is simple we must discover our soft spot, our weak link, our ignorant area and we must become “poor in spirit”, humble our attitude, acknowledge our weakness and ask for help.

Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous are such great programs. I do not regret my past, afterall it brought me to Meetings.

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Where to start?

brandi — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:37:27 +0000

OVERCOMERTOOLS.COM ———- For Recovery Tools!

What do you do early on in recovery. Where do you start when you finally make the decision that this way of life isn’t working? There are several schools of thought on this but here are a few ideas.

Change your playmates and playgrounds. I have learned from personal experience that this is probably number one on the list. I’ve read that the number one reason for relapse is simply someone making an offer. Either “Do you need any? I’m holding.” or “Some of the guys from work are going down to the bar. You wanna come?”. Especially early on, you need to stay away from people and places you used to use your DOC.

Get involved in a recovery program. For most people, you’re not gonna have any long-term success by yourself. For the Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous it’s go to meeting. 90 meetings in 90 days is what they say. Why? Because when you force the body to go, the mind will follow. They even say it’s ok to show up drunk or high. When you get involved in a recovery program of some kind, eventually, it will sink in.

Read up on addiction. There is a huge amount of information on the subject out on the internet or even the “Big Book” for some.

Make your recovery number one in your life. It has to be the highest priority for you. When you get out of bed say to yourself “I don’t know what all will happen today, but today I will not use/drink”.

There are many more. I’ll get back to this subject in the future.

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