Why do you need to resolve issues with challenging people? There will come a time when alcoholics and other drug users need to resolve issues they have with challenging people. These enemies can be people or feelings, and we will have identified many of them through our Fourth Step. Step Eight instructs us to be […]
What’s the difference between prayer and meditation? Prayer is talking to your Higher Power. Meditation is listening to your Higher Power. For most people, life is frequently fast-paced and stressful. Everyone needs time to sit back and gain perspective on what they are here for and how they are conducting themselves in their daily lives. […]
What are some of the sleep problems that people experience in recovery? When you were using alcohol or other drugs, your sleep pattern may have been disrupted. Now that you are in recovery, post-acute withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs can leave you feeling sleepless and exhausted. Don’t worry. This process is normal, and it […]
What is paranoia? Paranoia is a mental health disorder accompanied by the irrational beliefs that someone or something is out to harm you. These delusions typically involve excessive or irrational suspicion and distrust of others. Intense paranoia can result in homicidal as well as suicidal thoughts. Methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, and ecstasy are examples of […]
Should you try to intervene if someone you care about has a problem with alcohol or other drugs? Now that you are beginning to enjoy the serenity and joy of being free of alcohol or other drugs, you may find yourself growing concerned about the drinking or drug problems of your friends or family members. […]
What is cocaine? Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant. It is a fine, white powder processed from the leaves of coca plants grown in South America. It is typically snorted but can be injected. Cocaine can also be added to other drugs such as heroin (this combination is called a “speedball”). What is crack? […]
How can you manage your caregiving role while still maintaining your sobriety? Being a caregiver of an elderly parent or disabled loved one is never easy. It can be even harder if you are trying to be a caregiver while in recovery. The stress of taking care of another’s needs may be so great at […]
What is blaming? As long as we blame others for things that happened in the past, we can’t accept our part of the responsibility, and therefore no growth or change can occur. Blaming others enables us to hold on to anger and resentments and to avoid having to change ourselves. It’s the way we shrug […]
What is abuse? Abuse is the use—or threat of using—physical, sexual, or verbal behavior to coerce another to do something. The abuser generally wants to degrade or humiliate, or to gain or maintain a sense of power or control. Abusive behaviors may include subtle or covert harm as well as life-threatening acts of violence. These […]
How does joy affect recovery? While in active addiction, some of us pretended to be happy for long enough that we forgot what real joy felt like. We used alcohol and other drugs to self-medicate ourselves against emotional pain, and in the process gradually found ourselves also incapable of feeling other emotions, such as happiness, […]
