Key to Serenity in Recovery from Addiction

After an individual in recovery from addiction or from the effects of addiction (for ex., a significant other of an alcoholic or addict) has been able to cease the addictive behavior (using or obsessing about the user), how does the individual begin to find serenity while coping with the realities of life? Here is a quote from Victor Frankl, a noted author, psychiatrist, and creator of logotherapy (see this website for Frankl biography), that I think describes a fundamental recovery concept for the addict or alcoholic or the individual adversely affected by the addiction of a significant other. Bear in mind that Frankl's ideas were forged in the hell of German concentration camps during World War II:

"Everything can be taken from a man [or woman] but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." (Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning)

In other words, in recovery, the individual can waste energy trying to change others or even external events, or he/she can choose to focus on the one thing always capable of change, how the individual thinks and reacts to others and life events. My favorite tool that I have mentioned in posts on this blog before, is the Serenity Prayer, that I copy here, with my interpretations. Note that one can leave out the reference to God and still have a very useful cognitive behavioral recovery tool:

God, Grant
Me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change--other people and many life events;
The courage to change the things I can--me and how I think about and react to other people and life events; and
The wisdom to know the difference.

So, the idea is to monitor how you think and react to life's events and seek to change or re-frame negative, emotion producing thoughts (This is the end of the world! I can't deal with it!) to more positive, practical thoughts (This is a pain but I can handle it) that avoid escalation of emotions. As always, comments are invited. Jan Edward Williams, 05/29/2013.

You've Avoided Meth Mouth. Now Avoid Soda Mouth!

Meth mouth is a reference to the horrific dental problems associated with methamphetamine, cocaine, and other chronic stimulant abuse. See this website. In ScienceDaily for May 28, 2013, there is a report on a study showing that chronic use of soda, including diet soda (the individual drank up to two liters a day), along with poor dental hygiene, can cause the same type and severity of damage from tooth erosion as seen in chronic abuse of methamphetamines and cocaine. The author of the study was quoted as saying: ""The citric acid present in both regular and diet soda is known to have a high potential for causing tooth erosion. Similar to citric acid, the ingredients used in preparing methamphetamine can include extremely corrosive materials, such as battery acid, lantern fuel, and drain cleaner. Crack cocaine is highly acidic in nature, as well." Heavy use of both soda and stimulant drugs results in the presence of less saliva in the mouth (hyposalivation). Normal levels of saliva in the mouth neutralize acid and reduce bacteria. So, moderation, a difficult concept for us recovering individuals, even in consumption of soda seems to be indicated. As always, comments are invited. 
Jan Edward Williams, 05/29/2013.
www.alcoholdrugsos.com

Self-Centeredness in Addictions and Recovery

Selfishness and self-centeredness seem to be the root cause of many of the problems of the addict and alcoholic, while in active addiction and in recovery. In early recovery, I wasted many an hour worrying about what others thought of me in general, and about something I did, said, or didn't do or say, in particular. Here is a nice quote that fits with my experience in my recovery journey:

"Before I was twenty I never worried about what other people thought of me. But after I was twenty I worried endlessly — about all the impressions I made and how people were evaluating me. Only sometime after turning fifty did I realize that they hardly ever thought about me at all." — Anthony de Mello in One Minute Wisdom, quoted in a nice site on spirituality.

As always, comments are invited. Jan Edward Williams, 05/28/2013.

Spirituality in Recovery

From time to time I will post recovery information here. Although there are many ways to recover from alcoholism, one is through Alcoholics Anonymous, a spiritually based program. Here is a famous quote from AA's basic text (Big Book:

" 'What you say about the general hopelessness of the average alcoholics' plight is, in my opinion, correct. As to two of you men, whose stories I have heard, there is no doubt in my mind that you were 100% hopeless, apart from divine help. Had you offered yourselves as patients at this hospital, I would not have taken you, if I had been able to avoid it. People like you are too heartbreaking. Though not a religious person, I have profound respect for the spiritual approach in such cases as yours. For most cases, there is virtually no other solution. Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first drink. Except in a few cases, neither he nor any other human being can provide such a defense. His defense must come from a Higher Power (page 43).' "

As always, comments are invited. Jan Edward Williams, 05/26/2013.

Benefits of Recovery from Addiction

It has been estimated that there are 23 and a half million persons in the U.S. recovering from some form of a problem with alcohol or other drugs, but there is still a stigma associated with addiction and little accurate knowledge by the general public about recovery and the benefits thereof. The results of the first nationwide survey of persons in recovery may go a long way toward educating the public, including recovering individuals, about recovery and its benefits. Here are the key findings of the survey as listed in the report's executive summary:

KEY FINDINGS

• On average, participants had been in active addiction for 18 years and entered recovery at age 36. Over half had been in recovery for 10 years or longer at the time of the survey.
• Survey findings document the many heavy costs of addiction to the individual and to the nation in terms of finances, physical and mental health, family functioning, employment, and legal involvement. For example, two thirds of respondents reported having experienced untreated mental health problems, half had been fired or suspended once or more from jobs, half had been arrested at least once, and a third had been incarcerated at least once.
• Recovery from alcohol and drug problems is associated with dramatic improvements in all areas of life: healthier/better financial and family life, higher civic engagement, dramatic decreases in public health and safety risks, and significant increases in employment and work. Following are specific findings comparing recovery experiences with active addiction:

– Paying bills on time and paying back personal debt doubled.
– Fifty percent more people pay taxes in recovery than when they are in active addiction.
– Planning for the future (e.g., saving for retirement) increases nearly threefold.
– Involvement in domestic violence (as victim or perpetrator) decreases dramatically.
– Participation in family activities increases by 50%.
– Volunteering in the community increases nearly threefold.
– Voting increases significantly.
– Frequent utilization of costly emergency room departments decreases tenfold.
– The percentage of uninsured decreases by half.
– Reports of untreated emotional/mental health problems decrease over fourfold.
– Involvement in illegal acts and involvement with the criminal justice system (e.g., arrests, incarceration, DWIs) decreases about tenfold.
– Steady employment increases by over 50%.
– Twice as many people further their education or training.
– Twice as many people start their own businesses.

It is my hope that the results of this survey find widespread publicity. It provides at least some data to support largely anecdotal information that recovery from addiction happens and is worth it. As always, comments are invited. Jan Edward Williams, 05/21/2013.

5 Myths that Undermine Recovery:

In Psychology Today for May 14, 2013, David Sack, a board certified addiction psychiatrist, reported that 5 myths about addiction, well known to those of us in the addiction field, still remain and lead to negative stereotypes about persons with addictive disease, poor treatment, irrational, punitive laws, and adverse effects on the addicted individuals themselves. See http://www.alcoholdrugsos.com.

New to 12 Step Meetings?

Please check out my new post: New to 12 Step Meetings?
 Here is a recovery tip for those new to 12 Step meetings such as AA, NA, Al-Anon, or Nar-Anon. The best way to prepare yourself for attending your first Twelve Step meeting is to have an open mind, setting aside any negative ideas you may have about these groups. Remember that AA or NA, or other 12 Step meetings, are run by their members who are not professional therapists but individuals from all walks of life, with varying amounts of education, who attend meetings to help themselves and others to stay away from alcohol or other drugs. Also know that members of these self-help groups consider newcomers not to be people who have to prove themselves before they are accepted, but as "the most important people at the meetings." Recovering alcoholics and addicts who have been clean and sober for a period of time truly welcome the opportunity to help persons new to recovery because, as it is often said in AA and NA, "in order to keep my sobriety, I have to give it away" (by helping the new person). As always, comments are invited. Jan Edward Williams, 05/13/2013.   http://www.alcoholdrugsos.com

Vaccines to Treat Heroin, Cocaine, Amphetamine, and Nicotine Addiction?

In the research pipeline are vaccines to help treat individuals with heroin, amphetamine, cocaine, and nicotine addiction. The goal of the vaccine is to prevent the drug from reaching the brain thereby blocking the desired high.See full post with link to research article: http://www.alcoholdrugsos.com

Dr. Silkworth, AA's author of The Doctor's Opinion, Talks about relapse

The website, AA Agnostica, recently re-published an article originally written by Dr. William Silkworth (author of "The Doctor's Opinion" in AA's Basic Text) and published in 1947 in AA's Grapevine magazine that I think worth setting forth here. The article basically says that slips or relapses are the result of normal human failings in recovering alcoholics who allow themselves to engage in faulty ("stinking") thinking and stop following the sound directions of the AA program.Read the entire article here: http://www.alcoholdrugsos.com