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. […]
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, […]
How will you experience freedom in recovery? As you progress in your recovery you will feel a renewed sense of freedom and happiness from letting go of dishonesty, unresolved anger, and controlling behaviors. There is a great freedom and liberation in letting go of the lies, blame, and resentments that we used to justify our […]
What are amphetamines? Amphetamines are stimulants that are often used to reduce fatigue and depression and increase concentration and alertness. Amphetamines include illegal drugs such as methamphetamine (meth), and improperly used legal drugs such as Ritalin. Amphetamines come in the form of brown or white powder, as red liquid in capsules, or in tablet form. […]
What is the Twelve Step philosophy of spirituality? All Twelve Step programs promote spirituality, rather than promoting specific beliefs about religion or God. Twelve Step programs aim to help you establish a relationship with a Power greater than yourself—however you choose to define it. The Big Book tells us that at first all we need […]
How can your attitudes toward religion affect your recovery? Twelve Step programs are not religious in nature. Still, for some of us, our religious background can help us in recovery—or it can hinder us, especially if our past experience gets in the way of our search for a Higher Power. Spirituality is central to the […]
How can honesty affect your recovery? Sobriety requires us to change the way we live, to adopt a lifestyle that requires rigorous honesty. While in active addition, most addicts and alcoholics are far from honest. They live in a world of deceit and denial. Recovery demands that they be honest with themselves first, but also […]
What is serenity? Serenity is a quality of peaceful balance, even amid life’s complexities. It suggests a calm and unruffled repose, a quiet state of feeling. When you think of serenity, picture the moon shining bright and steady, serene in glory. On one level, serenity is about learning to accept the external circumstances that we […]
