The link below is an article from The Times Leader about the growing use of bath salts in Pennsylvania.
http://www.timesleader.com/news/Bath_salts__used_as_drug__worry_cops_02-27-2011.html
People that are abusing bath salts are risking their lives. Clearbrook Treatment Centers can treat the addiction to bath salts at our facilities for both adults and adolescents who are addicted.
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful for my positive attitude. Today I will not let disturbances shake my attitude. I pray for the vision to see goodness in the world.
Monday, February 28, 2011
The Fifth Step
"Admitted to God, to ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs."
The fifth step in recovery is described in the book "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions" as "scarcely any step is more necessary to longtime sobriety and peace of mind than this one." It seems like the principle that we keep hearing through the first five steps is that we are not alone anymore. We do not have to navigate through life by ourselves anymore. It never worked, drunk or sober.
Sometimes there is a great reluctance to do this step. Sometimes we feel that we were just so horrible in the way we lived our lives that we wouldn't want anyone, including God to know about it. Well, God already knows. We think that the inclusion of admitting to God the exact nature of our wrongs is a step in humility. We are seeking forgiveness.
Why another human being? The answer is simple. If our past is not discussed we have the tendency to justify our behavior. When we speak of admittance to another human being the literature suggests that we find a trusting person. A sponsor or member of the clergy who can take an objective look at the past with us is the suggestion.
After we have completed the fifth step, if done 100% honestly, we feel so much better. We now can see why we drank like we did. We see who and how we have hurt other people. Another list has been created too. We now have our list for the amends steps. The feeling of isolation between ourselves, God, and the world often times diminishes.
These are feelings that you do not want to miss.
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful that I no longer need to argue with everyone. Today I will remain peaceful and calm. I pray that peace and calm will be my companions throughout this day.
The fifth step in recovery is described in the book "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions" as "scarcely any step is more necessary to longtime sobriety and peace of mind than this one." It seems like the principle that we keep hearing through the first five steps is that we are not alone anymore. We do not have to navigate through life by ourselves anymore. It never worked, drunk or sober.
Sometimes there is a great reluctance to do this step. Sometimes we feel that we were just so horrible in the way we lived our lives that we wouldn't want anyone, including God to know about it. Well, God already knows. We think that the inclusion of admitting to God the exact nature of our wrongs is a step in humility. We are seeking forgiveness.
Why another human being? The answer is simple. If our past is not discussed we have the tendency to justify our behavior. When we speak of admittance to another human being the literature suggests that we find a trusting person. A sponsor or member of the clergy who can take an objective look at the past with us is the suggestion.
After we have completed the fifth step, if done 100% honestly, we feel so much better. We now can see why we drank like we did. We see who and how we have hurt other people. Another list has been created too. We now have our list for the amends steps. The feeling of isolation between ourselves, God, and the world often times diminishes.
These are feelings that you do not want to miss.
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful that I no longer need to argue with everyone. Today I will remain peaceful and calm. I pray that peace and calm will be my companions throughout this day.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Going to Meetings
The recovery from the disease of alcoholism and drug addiction is like following a recipe. If we are cooking, and we don't follow the directions of how to make what we want, the food doesn't taste good. The programs of AA and NA if approached the same way will work for us.
Going to meetings of AA and NA are essentials to getting well. These are places that we go and we hear our own stories told by other members seeking recovery. Finally, this is where we find people who understand us. It is truly amazing that other people once felt as we did. What's even better is that when we listen to people in meetings that have long term sobriety tell our stories of heartache, they follow that up by the solution. That is what these programs are about. They are solution based programs to our disease.
We often hear about the two components to the program. One is the 12 steps of the program and the other is the fellowship of the program. Both sides of the program flourish in meetings. Many people claim the best parts of their day is the 20 minutes before the meeting and the 20 minutes after the meeting. We can describe this as the fellowship portion of the program. This is the time that we talk to our new friends about life, about what is going on with us on a personal basis.
By going to meetings it is another way of knowing that we are not alone in the world. When we can identify with other members feelings we are now part of a very large whole.
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful I no longer hurt others. Today I will greet others with good cheer. I pray that I may be filled with the spirit of good cheer.
Going to meetings of AA and NA are essentials to getting well. These are places that we go and we hear our own stories told by other members seeking recovery. Finally, this is where we find people who understand us. It is truly amazing that other people once felt as we did. What's even better is that when we listen to people in meetings that have long term sobriety tell our stories of heartache, they follow that up by the solution. That is what these programs are about. They are solution based programs to our disease.
We often hear about the two components to the program. One is the 12 steps of the program and the other is the fellowship of the program. Both sides of the program flourish in meetings. Many people claim the best parts of their day is the 20 minutes before the meeting and the 20 minutes after the meeting. We can describe this as the fellowship portion of the program. This is the time that we talk to our new friends about life, about what is going on with us on a personal basis.
By going to meetings it is another way of knowing that we are not alone in the world. When we can identify with other members feelings we are now part of a very large whole.
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful I no longer hurt others. Today I will greet others with good cheer. I pray that I may be filled with the spirit of good cheer.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Fixing Others
For so long we’ve found fault with so many people in our lives. We have even tried to fix them but never took a look at ourselves. We probably never even considered fixing ourselves. Everyone else was the problem, not us.
We find out in A.A./N.A. that this notion is completely off. The truth is, we are the problem. We are to blame for all the insanity going on in our lives because of our drug/alcohol use. It is not until we read the Big Book and gain understanding of our disease, that we even begin to think that maybe it was us all along.
Once we begin to work the Steps we then take an even more in-depth look at ourselves especially in the 4th Step. This step allows us to find out exactly how and where we have been wrong. As we move forward, we are able to recognize our shortcomings and how we play a role in certain issues. We stop trying to fix everyone else and begin the journey of fixing ourselves.
We find out in A.A./N.A. that this notion is completely off. The truth is, we are the problem. We are to blame for all the insanity going on in our lives because of our drug/alcohol use. It is not until we read the Big Book and gain understanding of our disease, that we even begin to think that maybe it was us all along.
Once we begin to work the Steps we then take an even more in-depth look at ourselves especially in the 4th Step. This step allows us to find out exactly how and where we have been wrong. As we move forward, we are able to recognize our shortcomings and how we play a role in certain issues. We stop trying to fix everyone else and begin the journey of fixing ourselves.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Sponsorship
Getting a sponsor in the rooms of AA or NA is the most valuable step you can take when first getting sober. A sponsor is there to help guide you through the twelve steps as they were laid out. We are trying to change everything about ourselves when we get sober, doing it alone just won't work. A sponsor can help us in our decision making as well. For so long we have been making decisions based on what we thought was right. Clouded by alcohol and drugs, bad decision making became habitual. It is a relief to know that now we have someone, that was once like ourselves, that can help us navigate life.
People that have been sober for decades still use their sponsors in their everyday living. Alcoholism is the disease of self, it is never cured. When we are sober even for years our minds still cry out selfishly. To ask another human being whom we trust to take an objective look at what we are doing helps us to make the right decisions.
How has your sponsor helped you???
People that have been sober for decades still use their sponsors in their everyday living. Alcoholism is the disease of self, it is never cured. When we are sober even for years our minds still cry out selfishly. To ask another human being whom we trust to take an objective look at what we are doing helps us to make the right decisions.
How has your sponsor helped you???
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Signs of Surrender-"The Turn Around"
Signs of Surrender-“The Turn Around”
1. No longer defensive
2. Living in the “here & now” (present moment)
3. Willingness to follow advice
4. Not blame anyone including ourselves
5. Ability to laugh
6. Can apologize
7. Interested in inventory (becomes curious about the concept)
8. No concern of why I’m an alcoholic
9. Grateful
10. Sense of optimism, hopeful outlook on life.
“Acceptance appears to be a state of mind in which the individual accepts rather than rejects or resists: he is able to take things in, to go along with, to cooperate, to be receptive.”-Harry M. Tiebout, M.D.
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful to be a child of God. Today I will be aware that God loves me. I pray that I embrace a childlike attitude in my heart.
1. No longer defensive
2. Living in the “here & now” (present moment)
3. Willingness to follow advice
4. Not blame anyone including ourselves
5. Ability to laugh
6. Can apologize
7. Interested in inventory (becomes curious about the concept)
8. No concern of why I’m an alcoholic
9. Grateful
10. Sense of optimism, hopeful outlook on life.
“Acceptance appears to be a state of mind in which the individual accepts rather than rejects or resists: he is able to take things in, to go along with, to cooperate, to be receptive.”-Harry M. Tiebout, M.D.
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful to be a child of God. Today I will be aware that God loves me. I pray that I embrace a childlike attitude in my heart.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Enjoying Life
We are not a glum lot. We absolutley insist on enjoying life. These are two sentences from the book "Alcoholics Anonymous" that most of us couldn't comprehend when we first got sober. Most of our lives were consumed with worry and fear. Laughter was nonexistent. Our definition of fun was to drink and use as much as we could. At the time this was all the fun life offered us. Then it became too much, and we come to the realization that the life we are living is not fun at all.
When we walk into rooms of AA/NA all around the world, we can hear laughter as soon as we open the doors. Why would these people be laughing? Do they think it is funny what is happening to me? These questions resonate through our brains as we try to figure out just what is going on in there.
The fun part of recovery is that we are no longer in the bottomless pit anymore. We have now found hundreds of people who once felt like we did. The only difference in the beginning is that the others have worked the program of the twelve steps and are now enjoying a new way of life. This new way of life is available to everyone. One of the greatest gifts of having other people is that together we can now laugh at ourselves. No one asks that we totally forget the past. The past is actually our greatest asset. Our past can eventually help someone else, to let someone else know that we were in the exact same spot as they are.
Being happy, joyous, and free is what recovery is all about. To be freed from the prison of active alcoholism is a feeling that you do not want to miss.
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful for a tolerant attitude. Today I will remain rational in dealing with whatever problems I face. I pray for God's guidance throughout this day.
When we walk into rooms of AA/NA all around the world, we can hear laughter as soon as we open the doors. Why would these people be laughing? Do they think it is funny what is happening to me? These questions resonate through our brains as we try to figure out just what is going on in there.
The fun part of recovery is that we are no longer in the bottomless pit anymore. We have now found hundreds of people who once felt like we did. The only difference in the beginning is that the others have worked the program of the twelve steps and are now enjoying a new way of life. This new way of life is available to everyone. One of the greatest gifts of having other people is that together we can now laugh at ourselves. No one asks that we totally forget the past. The past is actually our greatest asset. Our past can eventually help someone else, to let someone else know that we were in the exact same spot as they are.
Being happy, joyous, and free is what recovery is all about. To be freed from the prison of active alcoholism is a feeling that you do not want to miss.
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful for a tolerant attitude. Today I will remain rational in dealing with whatever problems I face. I pray for God's guidance throughout this day.
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