Dream Warriors New Novel of Addiction and the Journey to Recovery

<p class="p1">Now try to cast your mind back over thirty years.A hopeless drunk is staggering our of a nightclub set in an area of dockland known colloquially as over the border in a North East English port town. The street lights  shimmering off the cold tarmac rushed towards me as I crumpled into unconsciousness My semi-comotse head bouncing off the granite curb stones feeling like a gentle caress. Blackout, oblivion was where my advanced alcoholism always took me. The promise of a wondrous adventure filled illusions had long since disappeared.The idea that I could handle alcohol or drugs had seemed irrelevant the inevitability of my condition overcame me I dimly felt hands riffling threw my pockets. Hopelessly drunk I was incapable of doing anything even my bodily functions now took care of themselves. Death, whatever that was, would have been welcomed as yet another phase of insane bingeing ran its course. By know I was starting to understand that once I drank I had no control over the outcome.All the excuses had been used up and I was in utter bewilderment as to why my longtime friend alcohol had turned on me.Where had my carouseing friends disappeared to and the conviviality of there happy company.</p><p class="p2"> </p><p class="p1">The answer crashed into my befuddled brain I had used up all there excuses as well as mine and had become the unfunny court jester who continuously embarrassed them with drunken brawling heaping abuse onto those closest to me as the full reality of my condition became apparent to them all.The witty raconteur had become the stinking drunk,bloated vomiting and unfunny.In reality I sorted out dark places where people like me sort the company of like minded others.The illegal blues clubs and she-beans the drinking dens for prostitutes and criminals.I could not resist the call to visit once I had, had that first drink.It did not matter what it was for I had long since recognised that if it was a weak shandy or a double whisky the results would be exactly the same.It came as no surprise to be lying in the gutter blacked out.</p><p class="p2"> </p><p class="p1">What did come as a surprise was to be sitting in the back of a taxicab.What had happened had I met with a good Samaritan for they where a rarity in this area of dockland.I was over the years after this to try many times to attempt to rationalise this answer out. Had some golden lady of the night rescued me doubtful but possible or a kindly taxi driver even more improbable.Yet here I was being dropped off outside my front door in a small suburban village.My eyes fearfully scanned the street for what had become the inevitable results of my binges a police car.I thanked the taxi driver and searched for my keys.No police car but now the guilt and remorse the terrible psychical withdrawal from alcohol gripped my being. I must have another drink as my skin started crawling and the stomach wrenching vomit reflex took hold.</p><p class="p2"> </p><p class="p1">It was at this time I recognised that all the lights were on yet there was no one in the house.I stopped I glanced at the red flock wallpaper with the glistening remains of the whisky glass catching the evidential reflection of the lights.Yes this was the right house.There was the drinks cupboard it was open nothing remained. Panic,fear my head whirled a neon red sign shown in my head NO DRINK.No drink nothing.I heard a car drive up my car, my wife.I needed to get what was left of the brain into gear.I wracked my brain for a solution something that would work something that would give one more drink anything.She was on the path give me an idea any idea nothing. The withdrawals were kicking in the shaking was starting with the first tremors my fingers twitched as the withdrawals started.Its just a hangover.You used the magic word that would start the withdrawal HANGOVER. I didn’t do hangovers anymore I just got sick very sick very quickly.How the hell was I to get a drink I must have a drink.I needed a solution fast any solution.</p><p class="p3"> </p>

Dream Warriors New Novel of Addiction and the Journey to Recovery

Now try to cast your mind back over thirty years.A hopeless drunk is staggering our of a nightclub set in an area of dockland known colloquially as over the border in a North East English port town. T…

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Dream Warriors Testament: PART 1 ROCK BOTTOM Flash News best selling new addiction book

<p><div class="article-header" style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; display: table; text-align: center; width: 750px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><h1 class="title entry-title" style="margin: 0px; position: relative; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 40px 0px 0px; color: #00b2b4; width: 670px; display: table-cell; vertical-align: middle;"><a style="color: #00b2b4; outline-style: none; text-decoration: none;" rel="bookmark" href="http://galatictours.blogspot.com/2012/09/blackout-oblivion-was-where-my-advanced.html">Dream Warriors Testament:PART 1 ROCK BOTTOM</a> <span class="blog-admin" style="display: inline;"><a class="edit" style="color: #00b2b4; outline-style: none; text-decoration: none; background-image: url(data; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; height: 21px; opacity: 0.8; position: relative; top: 3px; width: 21px; background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;" title="Edit" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3922196140932006510&postID=8579897959452871652&from=pencil" target="_self"></a></span></h1></div><div class="article-content entry-content" style="margin: 10px auto 5px; outline: none; padding: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><div style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" dir="ltr">Dream Warriors testament, Arriving at a time in my life after thirty years of not drinking to leave an honest account of what it was like, my experience the good and the bad, the addictions of which alcohol was but one, the <a class="zem_slink" style="color: #00b2b4; outline-style: none; text-decoration: none; display: inline;" title="Religious experience" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_experience" target="_blank">spiritual experiences</a> and the formation of my personal program.The founding of <a class="zem_slink" style="color: #00b2b4; outline-style: none; text-decoration: none; display: inline;" title="Narcotics Anonymous" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcotics_Anonymous" target="_blank">Narcotics Anonymous</a> in <a class="zem_slink" style="color: #00b2b4; outline-style: none; text-decoration: none; display: inline;" title="Spain" rel="geolocation" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.4333333333,-3.7&spn=10.0,10.0&q=40.4333333333,-3.7%20(Spain)&t=h" target="_blank">Spain</a>.The trails and tribulations of the battles and failures with the ego.Many people need to remain anonymous within my journal and many may see there rolls differently.The writing is by a dyslexic this is not an excuse but a fact.Without the help of AA,NA,CA,ALANON,OA,SA and CODA this story would have not been possible.Many Angels have appeared in my life and I acknowledge you all.My sponsor and authentic founder of NA Spain remains my confident and long term friend.This person without any thought of reward spent endless time supporting me threw the early years of recovery  and whom I will be eternally grateful.<br /><br />PART 1 ROCK BOTTOM<br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Now cast your mind back thirty years.A hopeless drunk is staggering our of a nightclub set in an area known as over the border in a North East English town. The street lights  shimmering off the tarmac rushed towards me as I crumpled into unconsciosness My semicomatse head bouncing off the granite curbstones feeling like a gentle caress. Blackout, oblivion was where my advanced alcoholism always took me. The promise of a wonderous adventure filled illusions had long since disappeared.The idea that I could handle alcohol or drugs had seemed irrelevant the inevitability of my condition overcame me I dimmely felt hands rifleing threw my pockets. Hopelessly drunk I was incapable of doing anything even my bodily functions now took care of themselves. Death, whatever that was, would have been welcomed as yet another phase of insane bingeing ran its course.By know I was starting to understand that once I drank I had no control over the outcome.All the excuses had been used up and I was in utter bewilderment as to why my longtime friend alcohol had turned on me.Where had my friends disappeared to and the conviviality of there happy company.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The answer crashed into my befuddled brain I had used up all there excuses as well as mine and had become the unfunny court jester who continuosly embarrassed them with drunken brawling heaping abuse onto those closest to me as the full reality of my condition became apparent to them all.The witty raconteaur had become the stinking drunk,bloated vomiting and unfunny.In reality I sorted out dark places where people like me sort the company of like minded others.The illegal blues clubs and shebeens the drinking dens for prostitutes and criminals.I could not resist the call to visit once I had, had that first drink.It did not matter what it was for I had long since recognised that if it was a weak shandy or a double whisky the results would be exactly the same.It came as no surprise to be lying in the gutter blacked out.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What did come as a surprise was to be sitting in the back of a taxicab.What had happened had I met with a good Samaritan for they where a rareity in this area of dockland.I was over the years after this to try many times to attempt to rationalise this answer out. Had some golden lady of the night rescued me doubtful but possible or a kindly taxi driver even more improbable.Yet here I was being dropped off outside my front door in a small suburban village.My eyes fearfully scanned the street for what had become the inevitable results of my binges a police car.I thanked the taxi driver and searched for my keys.No police car but now the guilt and remorse the terrible psychical withdrawal from alcohol gripped my being. I must have another drink as my skin started crawling and the stomach wrenching vomit reflex took hold.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It was at this time I recognised that all the lights were on yet there was no one in the house.I stopped I glanced at the red flock wallpaper with the glistening remains of the whisky glass catching the evidential reflection of the lights.Yes this was the right house.There was the drinks cupboard it was open nothing remained. Panic,fear my head whirled a neon red sign shown in my head NO DRINK.No drink nothing.I heard a car drive up my car, my wife.I needed to get what was left of the brain into gear.I wracked my brain for a solution something that would work something that would give one more drink anything.She was on the path give me an idea any idea nothing. The withdrawls were kicking in the shakeing was starting with the first tremors my fingers twitched as the withdrawls started.Its just a hangover.You used the magic word that would start the withdrawl HANGOVER. I didn’t do hangovers anymore I just got sick very sick very quickly.How the hell was I to get a drink I must have a drink.I needed a solution fast any solution.</span></span></div></div></div></p>

Dream Warriors Testament: PART 1 ROCK BOTTOM Flash News best selling new addiction book

Dream Warriors Testament:PART 1 ROCK BOTTOM Dream Warriors testament, Arriving at a time in my life after thirty years of not drinking to leave an honest account of what it was like, my experience the…

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WHEN YOUR HIGHER POWER FAILS YOU

<p>It happens every time. Without fail. Without exception. I bet it's happened to you also. Just think about it. How often has your god failed you? Every single time. Every single time I have turned a human being into a god, or turned something man-made into an idol, or placed my trust, expectation, hope, and confidence in anything else but the one true God, my god has failed me. Some people are slow learners. I am one of them. I have made the same mistake countless times. And every single time, that's right, you've got it. It happens every time. Maybe I should be more careful when I place my trust, expectation, hope, and confidence in a human being. Maybe I should be more choosy with the human I choose. Not so. No matter the human, the same outcome will arise. My god will fail me. I did it again recently. I made the same mistake. But my mistake wasn't the human I chose. My mistake was the choice I made to pick a human. And guess what happened? You guessed it. My god failed me. But how can this happen, time and again? Easily. First, it happens when I fail to remember when I need not to forget. Never, ever, place what belongs to God in heaven in the hands of a human. My love and trust, my loyalty and faithfulness, my belief and confidence, my hope and expectation, must be placed in the Lord first and foremost, above all and everyone else - whether it be someone or something else, or whether it be myself. Second, it happens not because I forget, but because I don't realize and recognize what I have done. Hard habits sometimes die slowly, don't they? And slow habits die hard. It has been a hard lesson for me, and I have to be vigilant to ensure I don't unconsciously do what I have so often done. So what is the outcome of this all? My gods fail me. Every human I have ever made into a god, every person or thing I have ever turned into an idol, the result has always been the same. My false gods have failed me, hurt me, let me down, forsaken me, abandoned me, rejected me, broken me, fallen short, messed up, and a zillion other things. Seriously? Yes. Will the real God please stand up?</p>

WHEN YOUR HIGHER POWER FAILS YOU

It happens every time. Without fail. Without exception. I bet it's happened to you also. Just think about it. How often has your god failed you? Every single time. Every single time I have turned a hu…

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Researchers completing a new study on alcohol consumption have discovered that college-age students who binge drink are happier than those who don't.

<p><p id="yui_3_5_1_21_1345507711715_348"> </p><p id="yui_3_5_1_21_1345507711715_343">Those who engaged in binge drinking tend to belong to so-called high-status groups: wealthy, white, male and active in fraternity life. And those who did not belong to the high-status groups could achieve similar levels of social acceptance through the act of binge drinking. In fact, the study results suggest that students engaged in the heavy drinking practice to elevate their social status amongst peers rather than to alleviate depression or anxiety.</p><p id="yui_3_5_1_21_1345507711715_349">"The present study offers another insight into the nature of a seemingly intractable social problem," the study released on Monday reads. "It is our hope that by drawing attention to the important social motivations underlying binge drinking, institutional administrators and public health professionals will be able to design and implement programs for students that take into account the full range of reasons that students binge drink."</p><p id="yui_3_5_1_21_1345507711715_350">The Washington Post reports that the study's co-author and Colgate University associate professor Carolyn Hsu presented some of the findings during the American Sociological Association gathering in Denver last week.</p><p id="yui_3_5_1_21_1345507711715_351">Interestingly, the study results compiled from surveying 1,600 college students also continues to support past evidence suggesting that binge drinking leads to a number of problems affecting the mind and body, including alcoholism, violence, poor grades and risky sexual behavior.</p><p>"I would guess it has to do with feeling like you belong and whether or not you're doing what a 'real' college student does," Hsu told LiveScience. "It seems to be more about certain groups getting to define what that looks like."</p><p>Binge drinking was defined as consuming more than four drinks in one occasion for women and more than five drinks for men. Sixty-four percent of respondents said they had engaged in the practice, compared with 36 percent who said they had not.</p><p id="yui_3_5_1_21_1345507711715_374">Those statistics differ from similar evidence gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC's statistics measure binge drinking in the same quantity but limit the consumption period to two hours or fewer. Its results also found that the majority of binge drinkers (70 percent) were over the age of 26. The CDC has also found that 90 percent of alcohol consumed by people under the age of 21 is done in the form of binge drinking, compared with 75 percent among all U.S. adults.</p></p>

Researchers completing a new study on alcohol consumption have discovered that college-age students who binge drink are happier than those who don't.

 Those who engaged in binge drinking tend to belong to so-called high-status groups: wealthy, white, male and active in fraternity life. And those who did not belong to the high-status groups could ac…

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The Five Keys to Kindful Communication and understanding Loving Kindfulness

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2lQmmMX6zcp5oxwhbs9DcXuGbJ0HCgWTa5FwTlCnnF3FpLRXUFhUT8ODh0LZDgqs-RFVD_A7gEyAZzEZrxGxlUe1udsU0R5rY6obZuG8zQR0fKZInS43JYwKE-XH-oILt1U56DJwIir8/s1600/UNIVERSAL+LOVE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2lQmmMX6zcp5oxwhbs9DcXuGbJ0HCgWTa5FwTlCnnF3FpLRXUFhUT8ODh0LZDgqs-RFVD_A7gEyAZzEZrxGxlUe1udsU0R5rY6obZuG8zQR0fKZInS43JYwKE-XH-oILt1U56DJwIir8/s320/UNIVERSAL+LOVE.jpg" width="214" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br />The first key of kindful communication,  is having a Kindful presence. This means having an open mind, awake body and a tender heart. When you have a Kindful presence, you give up expectations, stories about yourself and others, and acting on emotions.<br /><br />You are fully in the present moment; your communication isn’t focused on the “me” and what the “me” needs, but the we.<br /><br />Kindful listening is the second key to mindful communication. Kindful listening is about encouraging the other person. This means looking through the masks and pretence and seeing the value in the person and the strengths he or she possesses. It’s looking past the human frailties and flaws that we all have to see the authentic person and the truth in what that person is attempting to say.<br /><br />Kindful speech, the third key, is about gentleness. Speaking gently means being effective in what you say. It’s about speaking in a way that you can be hard. To be gentle with our speech means being aware of when our own insecurities and fears are aroused to the point we are acting out of fear rather than acceptance.<br /><br />Practicing Kindful self-compassion for our fear, envy, jealousy and self-doubts is more effective than focusing on others as being a threat or attempting to change them. When you use gentle speech, you are communicating acceptance to the other person and saying what is true, not an interpretation or an exaggeration or a minimisation.<br /><br />The key to mindful relationships is unconditional friendliness. Unconditional friendliness means accepting the ebb and flow of relationships. Sometimes you meet new friends, sometimes friends move on, sometimes there is joy and sometimes there is pain. Sometimes you’ll feel lonely, sometimes you’ll feel cherished and connected, and then you’ll feel lonely again.<br /><br />Unconditional friendliness means that your acceptance of others is not dependent on them staying with you or agreeing with you. You don’t cling to relationships to avoid loss.<br /><br />Kindful responsiveness is like playfulness. Playfulness is the openness that you can have when you let go of preconceived ideas and strategies. It’s like creating something new. Imagine two skilled dancers who alternatively lead each other in creating a new dance in every interaction, never doing the same complete dance over and over. They respond in the moment to the message sent by the other. There are no rules or expectations and yet they both bring skill full behaviour.<br /><br />kindful communication requires practice. If you choose to practice the keys, you might choose to focus on one at a time. Being willing to regulate your emotions is a prerequisite to kindful communication and kindfulness of your emotions is necessary for emotion regulation.<br /><br />Kindfulness is a core skill for the emotionally sensitive.<br /></span>

The Five Keys to Kindful Communication and understanding Loving Kindfulness

The first key of kindful communication,  is having a Kindful presence. This means having an open mind, awake body and a tender heart. When you have a Kindful presence, you give up expectations, stori…

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ADDICTION charity Focus12 has received a huge financial boost after a codumentary about Russell Brand was shown last night.

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> The documentary Russell Brand: Addiction to Recovery resulted in an immediate boost in donations and inspired the managing director of Bury St Edmunds based Chevington Finance and Leasing to offer the charity £106,000 over three years.<br /> <div>Russell Brand attended Focus12, the Bury St Edmunds abstinence-based alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre, in 2003 and is now a patron of the charity, describing it as ‘a really excellent example of a small cost effective rehab that can help people change in dramatic ways’.<br /> Chip Somers, Focus12’s chief executive, said: “Russell’s documentary and his work this year to raise the profile of abstinence based recovery has got people talking about addiction in a different way, and made them realise that there is a viable alternative to simply giving up on addicts, or parking them on methadone.<br /> “We are blown away by the generosity of Chevington — this financial support will make a huge difference to us as a charity and will certainly mean we can continue to stay open and help those who need us for longer. Raising funds for a recovery charity has never been harder than it is at present, every day is literally a struggle to keep afloat and we are very grateful.”<br /> Clive Morris, Managing Director of Chevington Finance and Leasing said: “My wife and I were incredibly touched by last night’s documentary, which inspired us to endorse the local treatment centre Focus12, and we have today agreed funding assistance for the charity of £106,000 over the next 4 years.<br /> “We believe that as a successful, responsible and reliable company we have a duty to help local charities survive this recession and the work that Chip Somers and his team do is fantastic and we fully endorse their abstinence based programme and have seen what a difference it makes to people’s lives.”</div><br /> <div class="zemanta-related" style="margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;"><h4 class="zemanta-related-title">Related articles</h4><ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/aug/11/russell-brand-urges-less-methadone-clinics&a=105986649&rid=a6e920cb-2336-43cb-8d12-a24a60545489&e=fb9c1de98c54f9ec90cb5b88426bb4a5" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/105986649_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/aug/11/russell-brand-urges-less-methadone-clinics&a=105986649&rid=a6e920cb-2336-43cb-8d12-a24a60545489&e=fb9c1de98c54f9ec90cb5b88426bb4a5" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; 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display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/russell-brand-filmed-smoking-crack-1217287" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/104585503_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/russell-brand-filmed-smoking-crack-1217287" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Russell Brand: "The money, fame, power means nothing - I'd rather be a drug addict"</a></li> <li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://perezhilton.com/2012-08-04-russell-brand-still-longs-for-drug-addicted-life-smoking-heroin-documentary" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/104626020_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://perezhilton.com/2012-08-04-russell-brand-still-longs-for-drug-addicted-life-smoking-heroin-documentary" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Russell Brand: 'I'd Rather Be A Drug Addict'</a></li> <li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/08/16/russell-brand-shouldnt-speak-for-everyone-on-drugs-policies/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/106972792_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/08/16/russell-brand-shouldnt-speak-for-everyone-on-drugs-policies/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Russell Brand shouldn't speak for everyone on drugs policies</a></li> </ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_h.png?x-id=a6e920cb-2336-43cb-8d12-a24a60545489" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div></div>

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ADDICTION charity Focus12 has received a huge financial boost after a codumentary about Russell Brand was shown last night.

The documentary Russell Brand: Addiction to Recovery resulted in an immediate boost in donations and inspired the managing director of Bury St Edmunds based Chevington Finance and Leasing to offer th…

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London's secret music venue and their livestream act

<div><h3></h3></div><div id="15745"><img alt="boiler-room-ch1.jpg" height="413" src="http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2012/08/boiler-room-ch1-thumb-800x533-45065.jpg" width="620" /><p>With an invite-only door policy and super secret location, <a href="http://boilerroom.tv/" target="_blank">Boiler Room</a> is London's most exclusive music venue. But elitism isn't the premise for its clandestine nature—in fact, anyone with an Internet connection can easily join in the fun. Using a simple webcam, the crew behind Boiler Room livestreams each set for the world to see free of charge, and each month more than a million viewers tune in to see performances by artists like James Blake, The xx, Roots Manuva, Neon Indian, Juan Maclean and more.</p><img alt="boiler-room-ch2.jpg" height="413" src="http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2012/08/boiler-room-ch2-thumb-800x533-45066.jpg" width="620" /><p>We recently chilled out to the smooth sounds of Brooklyn's <a href="http://howtodresswell.com/" target="_blank">How To Dress Well</a> before rocking out to revered musician <a href="http://boilerroom.tv/matthew-dear-40-min-mix/" target="_blank">Matthew Dear</a>, who brought down the house with an intense 40-minute DJ set. Keep an eye out for our interview with Dear, but for now you can get a little more insight into the underground music scene's most talked about livestream show by checking out our interview with assistant musical programmer and Boiler Room host Nic Tasker.</p><img alt="boiler-room-ch3.jpg" height="413" src="http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2012/08/boiler-room-ch3-thumb-800x533-45067.jpg" width="620" /><h5>How important is it for Boiler Room to remain secret, at least in its location?</h5><p>That is quite an important aspect of it, purely because it means when you do shows you don't get a lot of groupies, pretty much everyone in the room is either a friend of ours or one of the artist's. It helps to create a more relaxed atmosphere for the artist and I think they feel less pressure. They're also just able to chill out and be themselves more rather than having people being like, "Hi can I get your autograph?" If the artists are relaxed usually you get the best music.</p><h5>It seems like there is more interaction among the crowd than at a typical venue, is that intentional?</h5><p>It's definitely a social place. All the people that come down, most of them we know and they're all our friends. So they come down, hang, have a drink and just chill out, basically. From our very set-up, we do it with a webcam, we're not a highly professional organization but I think that's kind of the charm of it. The main thing is people come down with the right attitude.</p><img alt="boiler-room-ch4.jpg" height="413" src="http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2012/08/boiler-room-ch4-thumb-800x533-45068.jpg" width="620" /><h5>How much of the show is prescribed?</h5><p>I guess that depends on the artist. We never say anything. Literally, whatever they want to do—we're kind of the platform for them to do whatever they want, so if Matthew Dear wants to come and play an hour of noise with no beats, he can do that. That's fine with us, and I think that's why artists like coming to play for us. We're not like a club where you have to make people dance, we don't give a shit if people dance. It's nice if they do and it makes it more fun, but some nights you just get people appreciating the music, which is equally fun.</p><img alt="boiler-room-ch5.jpg" height="413" src="http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2012/08/boiler-room-ch5-thumb-800x533-45069.jpg" width="620" /><h5>Is there a particular kind of artist you guys look for and ask to come perform?</h5><p>No, not particularly, it's just whatever we're feeling. Thristian [Boiler Room's co-founder] has the main say on musical direction, but it's a massive team effort. In London there's five of us, New York there's two, LA there's one and Berlin there's two.</p><h5>Tonight you had different set-ups for each artist, do you tailor their positioning in the room to their style?</h5><p>It definitely depends on the act and what kind of music they do. With live bands we found what works nicely is having them opposite each other because it's like they're in rehearsal, like they're just jamming. Which is again trying to give them that chilled out feel that they're just at home jamming and there happens to be a camera there. For some of our shows we've had over 100,000 viewers. When you think of those numbers it's quite scary, but when you're in the room and it's all friends it creates that vibe that people don't mind. You can imagine if you had all those people in front of you it would be a very different situation.</p><img alt="boiler-room-ch7.jpg" height="413" src="http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2012/08/boiler-room-ch7-thumb-800x533-45072.jpg" width="620" /><h5>Have you ever thought of Boiler Room as an East London version of Soul Train?</h5><p>It's never crossed my mind like that, but I can see why you think that. I like to think of us as the new music broadcaster, kind of the new MTV, but obviously we operate in the underground scene mainly. But I like to think that what we do is as revolutionary as what they were doing. We're always growing into something new.</p><img alt="boiler-room-ch6.jpg" height="413" src="http://www.coolhunting.com/assets_c/2012/08/boiler-room-ch6-thumb-800x533-45070.jpg" width="620" /><h5>What's up next for Boiler Room?</h5><p>We have had visual people in doing 3D mapping, and that's something we're looking forward to progressing—doing more with the visuals. We've got the upstairs as well, we're starting to do breakfast shows with some high profile DJs, we're going to be doing that regularly. Each will have an individual format. The next step is progressing the US shows, we're alternating weekly between New York and LA, so the next step is to take Boiler Room to America</p></div>

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London's secret music venue and their livestream act

With an invite-only door policy and super secret location, Boiler Room is London's most exclusive music venue. But elitism isn't the premise for its clandestine nature—in fact, anyone with an Internet…

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Breaking Free of the Co-dependency Trap presents a groundbreaking developmental road map to guide readers away from their co-dependent behaviors and toward a life of wholeness and fulfillment.

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="zemanta-img separator zemanta-action-dragged"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Free-Co-Dependency-Barry-Weinhold/dp/1567313299%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Ddreawarreco-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D1567313299" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Cover of "Breaking Free of the Co-Depende..." height="300" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31VTFTmAGHL._SL300_.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 300px;">Cover of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Free-Co-Dependency-Barry-Weinhold/dp/1567313299%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Ddreawarreco-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D1567313299" target="_blank">Breaking Free of the Co-Dependency Trap</a></span></span><br /> <span class="GingerNoCheckStart"></span><a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Free-Co-Dependency-Barry-Weinhold/dp/1567313299%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Ddreawarreco-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D1567313299" rel="amazon" target="_blank" title="Breaking Free of the Co-Dependency Trap">Breaking Free of the Co-dependency Trap</a> presents a groundbreaking <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="e7d9dd099fe1fb519d69560be9e6f2b90941ec8a" grtype="null" id="GRmark_e7d9dd099fe1fb519d69560be9e6f2b90941ec8a_developmental:0">developmental</span> road map to guide readers away from their co-dependent behaviors and toward a life of wholeness and fulfillment<span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="e7d9dd099fe1fb519d69560be9e6f2b90941ec8a" grtype="null" id="GRmark_e7d9dd099fe1fb519d69560be9e6f2b90941ec8a_.:1">.</span>UK Citizens<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?t=cosdelcri-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=1577316142&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /> This is the book that offers a different perspective on codependency and is strongly recommended by Dream Warrior Recovery as part of a solution based recovery. This bestselling book, now in a revised edition, radically challenges the prevailing medical definition of co-dependency as a permanent, progressive, and incurable addiction. Rather, the authors identify it as the result of developmental traumas that interfered with the infant-parent bonding relationship during the first year of life<span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="0d9eeab2b148cf961fc7b3ecb8b7016bf082b202" grtype="null" id="GRmark_0d9eeab2b148cf961fc7b3ecb8b7016bf082b202_.:0">.</span>US Citizens<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=FFFFFF&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=dreawarrreco-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1577316142" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /> Drawing on decades of clinical experience, Barry and Janae Weinhold correlate the developmental causes of co-dependency with relationship problems later in life, such as establishing and maintaining boundaries, clinging and dependent behaviors, people pleasing, and difficulty achieving success in the world. Then they focus on healing co-dependency, providing compelling case histories and practical activities to help readers heal early trauma and transform themselves and their primary relationships.<br /> <span class="GingerNoCheckEnd"></span><br /> <div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_h.png?x-id=450705d6-ea5b-4d5d-b9f2-b33482c9feb4" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div></div>

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Breaking Free of the Co-dependency Trap presents a groundbreaking developmental road map to guide readers away from their co-dependent behaviors and toward a life of wholeness and fulfillment.

Cover of Breaking Free of the Co-Dependency Trap Breaking Free of the Co-dependency Trap presents a groundbreaking developmental road map to guide readers away from their co-dependent behaviors and to…

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Pigs worship God of Materialism

<div><h1>If ever there was a god to prevent you from worshiping material things, it would be this one.</h1><div><dl><dt><br /></dt></dl></div><p>The hideous pig-like thing is the masterpiece by Chinese artist Chen Wenling called God Of Materialism.</p><div><img alt="godmaterialism" height="300" src="http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2008/09/godmaterialism2EPA_450x300.jpg" width="450" />Ugly pig with green eye darting at thier master</div><p>Looking chuffed, the huge greedy pig has minions of other tiny, and just as unattractive and scary, pigs worshiping in awe at its heels.</p><p>The group stare up at their master, adorned with a plethora of jewels and necklaces representing the grotesque love of material things.</p><p>The sculpture, which looks like a bad dream, can be found at the Asia Art Centre in Beijing.</p></div><div class="clrd" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; min-height: 1px; zoom: 1; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="art-lft" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: right; width: 480px;"><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And if you're brave enough to go and see it, it will be there till October 18th 2008.</p></div></div><p><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span></p>

Pigs worship God of Materialism

If ever there was a god to prevent you from worshiping material things, it would be this one.The hideous pig-like thing is the masterpiece by Chinese artist Chen Wenling called God Of Materialism.Ugly…

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OPIATE PAIN MEDS FOR ADDICTS

<span class="GingerNoCheckStart"></span>Disclaimer. Our materials are intended for entertainment purposes only. We are not doctors or professionals. This website does not offer, and we do not purport to offer, any medical, psychological, therapeutic, religious, or other professional advice to users. Non Affiliation. We are not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous or any other so called “12 Step” program.<br /> <span style="background-color: white;"><br /> </span><br /> <br /> <h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Oswald, arial; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 36px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 7px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; line-height: 22px;">Need for Opiate Painkillers</span></h1><div class="entry-content" style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 22px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">There are times when a physician feels the need to prescribe <a href="http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-rehab/opiate-painkiller-addiction/" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">opiate painkillers</a> to their <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="7c5519968f7f32dc8dc34f8e39a3fe90a5c167a1" grtype="null" id="GRmark_7c5519968f7f32dc8dc34f8e39a3fe90a5c167a1_patient:0">patient</span>. This may be because the individual is undergoing some type of surgical treatment or they are dealing with chronic pain. This type of medication is tightly controlled because of abuse and addiction – it is illegal to use such drugs for recreational purposes. Most physicians will be cautious about prescribing opiates and will only do so when they believe the benefits outweigh the risks. The vast majority of people who do use these medications never develop any problems as a result. Increasingly doctors are aware of how important it is to get the balance right between <a href="http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/addiction/challenges-of-treating-chronic-pain-in-people-with-opioid-dependence" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">managing the pain and avoiding addiction</a>.</span></div><h2 style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Worries about Relapse after Using Opiate Analgesia</span></h2><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Those individuals who are in addiction recovery will have particular concerns in regards to the medical use of opiate analgesia. This is particularly true for those who have been previously addicted to opiates – although it does apply to all recovering addicts including those recovering from alcohol abuse. The worry is that once the individual uses these substances it will <a href="http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-rehab/understanding-relapse/" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">trigger a relapse</a> back to addiction. There are examples of people who fell into this trap after they used opiates under prescription. This is a reasonable concern because even people with no history of drug abuse have developed addiction problems after taking prescribed opiate medication. Thankfully there are things that can be done to prevent that from happening.</span></div><h2 style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Alternatives to Opiate Analgesia</span></h2><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">There are many options when it comes to pain management including:</span></div><ul style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="first" style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Techniques such as <a href="http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-rehab/meditation-benefits/" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">mindfulness <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="936949d6fa9eda4196b090aad3ca416426541908" grtype="null" id="GRmark_936949d6fa9eda4196b090aad3ca416426541908_mediation:0">mediation</span></a> have <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="936949d6fa9eda4196b090aad3ca416426541908" grtype="null" id="GRmark_936949d6fa9eda4196b090aad3ca416426541908_proving:1">proving</span> to be effective in the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2900099/" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">treatment of chronic pain</a>. This type of treatment for pain is inexpensive and involves no unpleasant side effects.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">If people are tense it can make the pain feel far more severe. This is why <a href="http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-rehab/relaxation-techniques-in-recovery/" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="b84e0d10219a2f8a46a2fc6c05b80ec9c3844ff3" grtype="null" id="GRmark_b84e0d10219a2f8a46a2fc6c05b80ec9c3844ff3_relaxations:0">relaxations</span> </a><a href="http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-rehab/relaxation-techniques-in-recovery/" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></a><span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="b84e0d10219a2f8a46a2fc6c05b80ec9c3844ff3" grtype="null" id="GRmark_b84e0d10219a2f8a46a2fc6c05b80ec9c3844ff3_techniquesare:1"><a href="http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-rehab/relaxation-techniques-in-recovery/" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">techniques</a>are</span> able to reduce the experience of this discomfort.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">There are a number of effective non-opiate medications that will be able to manage severe pain in many instances. This includes drugs that are most often used to treat epilepsy and depression – they also have <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pain-medications/PN00044" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">pain management prosperities</a>.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Some people will experience pain relief from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcutaneous_electrical_nerve_stimulation" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS machine)</a>. This is regularly used in the management of pain associated with childbirth – it is based on the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/g/gate_control_theory_of_pain.htm" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">gate control theory of pain</a>.</span></li> <li class="last" style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="41807e1d39096b763e66b6b4c690a1cead6f0a0f" grtype="null" id="GRmark_41807e1d39096b763e66b6b4c690a1cead6f0a0f_Alternatives:0">Alternatives</span> treatments such as acupuncture or <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="41807e1d39096b763e66b6b4c690a1cead6f0a0f" grtype="null" id="GRmark_41807e1d39096b763e66b6b4c690a1cead6f0a0f_reiki:1">reiki</span> can help people deal with pain.</span></li> </ul><h2 style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Justifiable Use of Opiate Analgesia in Recovery</span></h2><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">There are justifiable reasons for using opiate analgesia medication in recovery. It is inhumane for people to be left in pain. In most instances this discomfort can be dealt with by using non-opiate medications and pain management techniques, but this is not always possible. Chronic pain makes life unbearable and to leave somebody in this state, when there is a remedy, would a form of cruelty – and therefore unethical for a physician. This is why in some instances there will be justifiable reasons for prescribing opiate analgesia. Physicians will not deny people the medication they need, but they have an obligation to help the individual understand the risks involved – they also need a treatment plan that will help reduce these risks.</span></div><h2 style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Safe use of Opiate Analgesia in Recovery</span></h2><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Here are some suggestions about the safe use of opiate analgesia in addiction recovery:</span></div><ul style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="first" style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">It is vital that the physician prescribing opiate medication is aware of the patient’s history of addiction. If they are aware of the risks they may be able to suggest a non –opiate alternative first of all.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The individual needs to keep in mind that the opiate medication is being used to treat a symptom. There is a great deal of difference between this and taking drugs to get high.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">It is vital that people follow their physician’s instructions carefully. If they are worried that their doctor is not taking the risk of relapse seriously enough they should ask for a second opinion.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">It is important to establish that there are no non-opiate alternatives that could be tried first of all. Unfortunately some physicians still have a tendency to just automatically prescribe opiate medications without fully considering other options.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Those individuals who are dealing with chronic pain will usually be assigned to a pain management team made up of a number of different professionals. This expert multidisciplinary team will be well aware of <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="a0bd8f2efa8ed3fbee92a15fe07906780989be6e" grtype="null" id="GRmark_a0bd8f2efa8ed3fbee92a15fe07906780989be6e_dangers:0">dangers</span> of opiates and will be able to provide the best guidance.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The doctor can prescribe opiate medication to prevent the pain from arising or to treat it when it does arise. In practice this means that the individual will be expected to take the drug at regular intervals or as they feel they need it (this is referred to as <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">pro re nata</em> (PRN) or as required) – it is vital to take this medication as per instructions.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Those individuals who have been prescribed PRN opiate medication should only take it treat their pain. This means that they need to be honest with themselves and not take the drug for any other reason.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The sooner the individual can come off these medications the better for them. Of course, this cannot happen until their pain is managed by <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="33a8785cdbffb78acccd194241171f34a0bdf7d0" grtype="null" id="GRmark_33a8785cdbffb78acccd194241171f34a0bdf7d0_non:0">non</span>-opiate means.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">It has been suggested that a <a href="http://paincenter.stanford.edu/press/external/2011-06-24drugfree.pdf" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">blinded pain cocktail</a> might be a good option when using methadone opiates for pain. This means mixing the drug with other substances, and the individual will not be told how much methadone is inside.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">A family member can be given the responsibility for managing the pain medication; although there could be ethical reasons for why this could become a problem.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">So long as the individual <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="31fa8c5d8195ab75f4455031fd330c8a2ec4144f" grtype="null" id="GRmark_31fa8c5d8195ab75f4455031fd330c8a2ec4144f_is only using:0">is only using</span> these substances under strict doctor’s orders they will not have relapsed back to drug use. It should not affect their status in recovery.</span></li> <li class="last" style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Those individuals who belong to a recovery fellowship should share their concerns and ask for support – a sponsor is generally good for this. It is important to keep in mind though, that the members of this group should not be handing out any medical advice that they are not qualified to give.</span></li> </ul></div><span class="GingerNoCheckEnd"></span>

OPIATE PAIN MEDS FOR ADDICTS

Disclaimer. Our materials are intended for entertainment purposes only. We are not doctors or professionals. This website does not offer, and we do not purport to offer, any medical, psychological, th…

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Symptoms of Exercise Addiction

<span style="background-color: white;"><br /> </span><br /> <span style="background-color: white;"><br /> </span><br /> <br /> <h2 style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span class="GingerNoCheckStart"></span>Physical Fitness in Recovery</span></h2><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Addicts describe reaching a point in their addiction where they <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">feel sick and tired of feeling sick and tired</em>. It is this that motivates them to quit. When people manage to escape alcohol or drug abuse they will often be full of determination to find a new healthier way of living. They will be living a life that is the complete opposite of what they previously experienced. This often inspires them to become interested in physical fitness. This healthy pursuit can bring great joy to people in recovery. It can also provide many mental and physical benefits. Problems can arise if the individual becomes too obsessed with this type of activity. They may begin to neglect other areas of their life. If they are not careful, they can find themselves back in the midst of addiction. Physical fitness is usually a positive habit, but it can lead to physical and mental harm when taken to extremes.</span></div><h2 style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Symptoms of Exercise Addiction</span></h2><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Like other forms of addiction there will be signs that people have developed an unhealthy relationship with intense physical activity. These are some of the most <a href="http://www.fitsugar.com/Doctors-Advice-Identifying-Exercise-Addiction-Symptoms-2935898" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">common signs of exercise addiction</a>:</span></div><ul style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="first" style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The individual experiences a great deal of guilt if they miss an exercise session</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">People begin to spend more and more time devoted to exercise</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">They may even attempt to hide the extent that they are exercising</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The individual feels annoyed if any event interrupts their exercise schedule</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">This activity begins to interfere with family and work commitments</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">If the individual is questioned about the amount they exercise they will become defensive</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The person is unwilling to cut down on the amount they exercise</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">They may lose interest in other activities they used to enjoy</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The individual exercises at odd hours (for example, the middle of the night)</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The person misses important events because of their desire to exercise</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">They spend an excessive amount of time thinking about physical fitness</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">When people are overdoing it, they begin to suffer the symptoms of overtraining syndrome</span></li> <li class="last" style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">When people miss a couple of sessions of their fitness routine, they become convinced that their health is impaired</span></li> </ul><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The individual will not usually experience all of these symptoms. Like other forms of addiction, things begin to deteriorate over time.</span></div><h2 style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="f013627eccff0562f4a3ea23902269d40f3f214e" grtype="null" id="GRmark_f013627eccff0562f4a3ea23902269d40f3f214e_Overtraining:0">Overtraining</span> Syndrome</span></h2><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">When people exercise too much they can develop a condition known as <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="ce0176249963064d9c571a26ae153fd59ae70ed7" grtype="null" id="GRmark_ce0176249963064d9c571a26ae153fd59ae70ed7_overtraining:0">overtraining</span> syndrome</em>. <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="1f38665ec39c3700f07c7add09312c346ec246bf" grtype="null" id="GRmark_1f38665ec39c3700f07c7add09312c346ec246bf_Thesymptoms:0">The<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overtraining" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">symptoms</a></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overtraining" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> of overtraining</a> include:</span></div><ul style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="first" style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Symptoms of depression</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Feeling tired most of the time</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Muscle soreness that does not seem to go away</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Irritability</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Deteriorating mental health</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_rate_variability" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Reduced heart rate variability</a>. This is worrying because reduction of this variability has been associated with the increased likelihood of experiencing a myocardial infarction (heart attack). This variability in heart rate is also associated with <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="9ff3218f8ba35fbe1f14072a8423215a6fa77d82" grtype="null" id="GRmark_9ff3218f8ba35fbe1f14072a8423215a6fa77d82_emotional state:0">emotional state</span>.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Excessive loss of weight</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Heart palpitations</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">People who are experiencing <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="d2c951a2c74e59e1efa0849e4515872fbba8cd51" grtype="null" id="GRmark_d2c951a2c74e59e1efa0849e4515872fbba8cd51_overtraining syndrome:0">overtraining syndrome</span> will often have an increased risk of picking up infections. This is due to a number of factors including increased levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) in the blood and lack of sufficient calories.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The individual will be far more likely to pick up injuries</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Inability to sleep at night</span></li> <li class="last" style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Women may stop menstruating</span></li> </ul><h2 style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Dangers of Exercise Addiction</span></h2><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">While a moderate amount of physical activity is beneficial to health there are dangers when people take things to excess. This type of addiction can damage people both physically and mentally. Some of the dangers of this type of obsessive behavior include:</span></div><ul style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="first" style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">When the individual is unable to engage in the activity they will suffer from depressive like symptoms. They can feel excessive guilt about missing out on their workout. They can also experience a great deal of anxiety because of it.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">People become obsessed with their body weight and may <a href="http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/eatingdisorders1/a/compulsive_ex.htm" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">develop symptoms of anorexia or bulimia</a>. They may exercise many hours each day in an attempt to burn calories. As their body weight falls, it can have a disastrous impact on their health. They may suffer from cardiovascular or kidney problems as a result.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The exercise addict is just like an alcohol or drug addict. They develop a tolerance for the <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">feel good</em> hormones produced by intense activity. This means that they need to keep on increasing the intensity of their training in order to achieve the same reward.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Those people who are addicted to this type of activity are at risk of developing <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="2031278ead7a822d88750b7715510ef21a8aea46" grtype="null" id="GRmark_2031278ead7a822d88750b7715510ef21a8aea46_overtraining syndrome:0">overtraining syndrome</span></em>. This can have an impact on their mental and physical health.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">When people are obsessed with fitness their relationships may begin to suffer. They neglect loved ones and fail to meet their family commitments.</span></li> <li class="last" style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Excessive physical fitness may interfere with people’s ability to perform well at work. This may be due to tiredness or constantly picking up injuries because they have overstrained. Things can get so bad that that the individual puts their career in jeopardy.</span></li> </ul><h2 style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Exercise as an Addiction Substitution</span></h2><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Exercise addiction can be particularly harmful for people who are recovering from alcohol or drug abuse. It is a form of addiction substitution where the individual continues to avoid reality by engaging in <a href="http://alcoholism.about.com/od/support/a/compulsive.htm" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">compulsive</a> behaviors. This means that they fail to do the necessary things to build a good life away substance abuse. It is also common for this type of substitute addiction to lead right back to their old behavior. People in recovery tend to be at a higher risk of developing an exercise addiction. This means that they need to be more vigilant in order to avoid such excesses.</span></div><h2 style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Causes of Exercise Addiction in Recovery</span></h2><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">There are a number of reasons why people may be susceptible to this type of substitute addiction in recovery:</span></div><ul style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="first" style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">It is claimed that certain people have an <a href="http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-rehab/addictive-personality/" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">addictive personality</a>. This means that they are prone to all types of addictive behavior. If people are not careful, they may escape one addiction but replace it with something else that is equally as destructive</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">This type of excessive exercising can be a sign that the individual is caught up in the <a href="http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-rehab/understanding-relapse/" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">relapse process</a>.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Most people do not set out to become obsessed with physical fitness. It just creeps up on them. It is easy for people to just slip across the line from healthy exercise to obsessive behavior without even noticing the transition.</span></li> <li class="last" style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Exercise can be <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="7cb906b6ea39b14cdd254d22d9034d1773a90439" grtype="null" id="GRmark_7cb906b6ea39b14cdd254d22d9034d1773a90439_way:0">way</span> to avoid facing problems. It keeps people busy and they get to enjoy feel-good hormones pumping through their body.</span></li> </ul><h2 style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Exercise Addiction and the Relapse Process</span></h2><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">When people in recovery begin to over exercise it can be a sign that they are experiencing the early stages of the relapse process. What happens is that the individual <a href="http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-rehab/facing-challenges-in-recovery/" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">meets a challenge in recovery</a> that they feel unwilling to face. Their failure to deal with the problem means that they become stuck. This leads to increasing levels of dissatisfaction and tension. The individual attempts to deal with their discomfort by turning to maladaptive behaviors such as exercise addiction. This may provide a temporary reprieve but eventually it leads to even more discomfort. As <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="8d7c1d7c0263033b6e246fffda50efae110dac7f" grtype="null" id="GRmark_8d7c1d7c0263033b6e246fffda50efae110dac7f_life:0">life</span> <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="8d7c1d7c0263033b6e246fffda50efae110dac7f" grtype="null" id="GRmark_8d7c1d7c0263033b6e246fffda50efae110dac7f_for:1">for</span> the individual in recovery deteriorates they once again return to alcohol or drugs as a way to escape the misery.</span></div><h2 style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">How to Avoid Exercise Addiction</span></h2><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Exercise can be a great asset for those who are trying to build a successful life away from addiction. Moderation is the key. Here are a few suggestions for how people can avoid this type of addiction:</span></div><ul style="border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 22px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="first" style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">It is best if people have multiple interests as this should prevent them from becoming too obsessed with one activity. It is recommended that find at least one hobby that is not related to physical fitness.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">People in recovery need to be aware of the symptoms of exercise addiction so that they can escape the behavior before it causes too much damage.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">It is important for people to avoid exercising when they have picked up an injury</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">They should never feel bad about missing an exercise session. This activity is there to improve their life and not to become something to feel guilty about.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">People should never allow this activity to get in the way of their family and work commitments.</span></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Avoid <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="3c4d1c004de85a0abff512876a01ab6f19b42a6a" grtype="null" id="GRmark_3c4d1c004de85a0abff512876a01ab6f19b42a6a_exercising:0">exercising</span> for more than a couple of hours a day. It is also recommended that people should have rest days so that their body can recover.</span></li> <li class="last" style="background-image: url(http://alcoholrehab.com/wp-content/themes/RehabOne/images/bodydot.png); background-position: 0% 10px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">It is recommended that people educate themselves about healthy levels of physical activity. They need to escape the thinking that more is always better. It is also important for the individual to understand about the importance of good nutrition.</span></li> </ul><span class="GingerNoCheckEnd"></span>

Symptoms of Exercise Addiction

Physical Fitness in RecoveryAddicts describe reaching a point in their addiction where they feel sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. It is this that motivates them to quit. When people manage t…

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The Role of an Sponsor

<p><h2></h2><p>The  sponsor fulfills a number of useful functions including:</p><ul><li>This is an individual who will usually have more experience in the program than the sponsee. This means that they will be able to share their<span style="color: #ff0000;"> wisdom and experience.</span></li><li>Most sponsors will tell their sponsee to<span style="color: #ff0000;"> contact them at any time of the day or night if it is an emergency. </span>The urge to relapse can come at any time, and having somebody to contact can make all the difference.</li><li><span style="color: #ff0000;">A sponsor can just be a good friend.</span> One of the things that people worry about when they first enter recovery is that they will never be able to form meaningful relationships without their chemical crutch. What they learn is that friendships in sobriety can be stronger than anything they have ever experienced previously. One of their most important relationships may be with their sponsor.</li><li>This is an individual who will <span style="color: #ff0000;">provide encouragement and provide praise for achievements.</span></li><li>A sponsor should be able to provide<span style="color: #ff0000;"> honest feedback.</span></li><li>A more experienced person in recovery will be able to <span style="color: #ff0000;">spot the warning signs of an approaching relapse</span>. They may be able to guide the sponsee back to safety.</li><li>This is someone who can be a <span style="color: #ff0000;">good role model for their sponsee</span></li><li><span style="color: #ff0000;">It is the job of the sponsor to help the sponsee work their way through the 12 steps quickly.</span></li></ul></p>

The Role of an Sponsor

The  sponsor fulfills a number of useful functions including:This is an individual who will usually have more experience in the program than the sponsee. This means that they will be able to share the…

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True guilt is guilt at the obligation one owes to oneself to be oneself. False guilt is guilt felt at not being what other people feel one ought to be or assume that one is. Moderate feelings of guilt are beneficial because they encourage the individual to do the right thing

<p>The Scottish psychologist R.D. Laing once said: True guilt is guilt at the obligation one owes to oneself to be oneself. False guilt is guilt felt at not being what other people feel one ought to be or assume that one is. Moderate feelings of guilt are beneficial because they encourage the individual to do the right thing. If nobody felt guilty about anything it would likely lead to a fearful world and it could even threaten the survival of the human species. There is also a more negative form of guilt which is excessive and harmful. This refers to a situation where the individual carries a sense of guilt around with them most of the time. The reasons for why the individual may become a victim of excessive guilt include: They have a poor self image. It can be a sign of mental health difficulties. Some people fall into negative thinking and this tends to include guilt. The individual has been a victim of physical or sexual abuse. Unhealthy relationships can leave people with feelings of guilt. Excessive stress. Alcohol or drug abuse.</p>

True guilt is guilt at the obligation one owes to oneself to be oneself. False guilt is guilt felt at not being what other people feel one ought to be or assume that one is. Moderate feelings of guilt are beneficial because they encourage the individual to do the right thing

The Scottish psychologist R.D. Laing once said: True guilt is guilt at the obligation one owes to oneself to be oneself. False guilt is guilt felt at not being what other people feel one ought to be …

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That's exactly what the Steps are all about, getting God into the deal.

<p><p>I have been scolded a few times (by fellow AA's) because of the fact that I sometimes share at meetings about how the Steps are meant to be worked immediately and quickly. I've been told that this "theory" will "harm" newcomers (having only a few days, a few weeks, or a few months) who could not possibly be "ready" to do the work yet. Then I'm usually told that these newer members should just go to meetings for a while and eventually they'll "know" when they are ready to get into the Program (if they don't relapse first.)</p><p>I do not agree that we first get our life together and then turn to God. I believe that we turn to God and then, AND ONLY THEN, do we begin to get our life together. That's exactly what the Steps are all about, getting God into the deal.</p><p>In the early days of AA, when a new person showed up to their first meeting and asked about when they were going to get into working the Steps, established members usually asked them, "Well, when do you want to get better? If you want to get better now, we'll be working the Steps now. If you DON'T want to get better now, I guess you can put off the Steps, but by doing so you're probably going to drink." And so it was in 1974 when I got sober, the reply being "In your case, the sooner the better."</p><p>As a matter of fact, Bill Wilson got into the Steps within a couple of days, Dr. Bob got into the Steps after one day, and Bill Dotson (AA #3) also got into the Steps after a few days. But for me the bottom line is "What does the AA Program and the AA literature have to say about it?"The following is a list of time frames found in the Big Book. Page and paragraph numbers are from the new Fourth edition.</p><p>Page xxvi:4 - "Though we work out our solution on the spiritual as well as an altruistic plane, we favor hospitalization for the alcoholic who is very jittery or befogged. More often than not, it is imperative that a man's brain be cleared before he is approached, as he has then a better chance of understanding and accepting what we have to offer." (So it says we need to be detoxed off of alcohol first, which usually takes two or three days but in extreme cases takes five or six days, before getting into the work. See also page xxvii:7.)</p><p>Page xxvii:5 - "Many years ago one of the leading contributors to this book (Bill Wilson) came under our care in this hospital and while here he acquired some ideas which he put into practical application AT ONCE." (In about three days Bill was into working most of what later became the AA program. See also page 13.)</p><p>Page xxvii:7 - "Of course an alcoholic ought to be freed from his physical craving for liquor, and this often requires a definite hospital procedure, before psychological measures (like the Steps) can be of maximum benefit." (For psychological measures to benefit us we need to be applying them. So again, it's saying we need to be detoxed off of alcohol first, which usually takes two or three days but in extreme cases takes five or six days, before getting into the Steps. See also page xxvi:4.)</p><p>Pages 13 thru 15 - "At the hospital I (Bill Wilson) was separated from alcohol for the last time (Bill was admitted to Towns Hospital at 2:30pm on December 11, 1934. Bill was 39 years old.). Treatment seemed wise, for I showed signs of delirium tremens.</p><img alt="" height="284" src="http://www.barefootsworld.net/graphics/townsbwrecord.jpg" width="520" /><br />A Most Important Piece Of Paper<p>"There I humbly offered myself to God, as I then I understood Him, to do with me as He would. I placed myself UNRESERVEDLY under His care and direction. I admitted for the first time that of myself I was nothing; that without Him I was lost (Bill takes what later became Step Three. He reached the conclusions of Step One on page 8:1 and Step Two on 12:4). I RUTHLESSLY faced my sins (what later became Step Four) and became willing to have my new-found Friend (God) take them away, root and branch (what later became Steps Six and Seven). I have not had a drink since.</p><p>"My schoolmate (Ebby Thacher) visited me, and I FULLY acquainted him with my problems and deficiencies (what later became Step Five). We made a list of people I had hurt or toward whom I felt resentment. I expressed my entire willingness to approach these individuals, admitting my wrong (what later became Step Eight). NEVER was I to be critical of them. I was to right ALL such matters to the UTMOST of my ability (what later became Step Nine).</p><p>"I was to test my thinking by the new God-consciousness within. Common sense would thus become un-common sense (these two lines refer to what later became Step Ten). I was to sit quietly when in doubt, asking ONLY for direction and strength to meet my problems as He would have me. NEVER was I to pray for myself, except as my requests bore on my usefulness to others (what later became Step Eleven). Then only might I expect to receive. But that would be in great measure.</p><p>"My friend promised when these things were done I would enter upon a new relationship with my Creator; that I would have the elements of a way of living which answered ALL my problems (what later became the first two parts of Step Twelve). Belief in the power of God, plus enough willingness, honesty and humility to establish and maintain the new order of things, were the ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS.</p><p>"Simple, but not easy; a price HAD to be paid. It meant DESTRUCTION of self-centeredness. I MUST turn in ALL things to the Father of Light who presides over us all.</p><p>"These were revolutionary and drastic proposals, but the moment I FULLY accepted them, the effect was electric. There was a sense of victory, followed by such a peace and serenity as I had never known. There was utter confidence. I felt lifted up, as though the great clean wind of a mountain top blew through and through. God comes to most men gradually, but His impact on me was sudden and profound.</p><p>"For a moment I was alarmed, and called my friend, the doctor (Dr. Silkworth), to ask if I were still sane. He listened in wonder as I talked.</p><p>"Finally he shook his head saying, "Something has happened to you I don't understand. But you had better hang on to it. Anything is better than the way you were." The good doctor now sees many men who have such experiences. He knows that they are real.</p><p>"While I lay in the hospital the thought came that there were thousands of hopeless alcoholics who might be glad to have what had been so freely given me. Perhaps I could help some of them. They in turn might work with others.</p><p>"My friend had emphasized the ABSOLUTE NECESSITY of demonstrating these principles in ALL my affairs. Particularly was it IMPERATIVE to work with others as he had worked with me (what later became the last part of Step Twelve). Faith without works was dead, he said. And how appallingly true for the alcoholic! FOR IF AN ALCOHOLIC FAILED TO PERFECT AND ENLARGE HIS SPIRITUAL LIFE THROUGH WORK AND SELF-SACRIFICE FOR OTHERS, HE COULD NOT SURVIVE THE CERTAIN TRIALS AND LOW SPOTS AHEAD. If he did not work, he would SURELY drink again, and if he drank, he would surely die. Then faith would be dead indeed. With us it is just like that." (So two or three days after Bill is admitted into the hospital on December 11th, 1934 he has a spiritual experience AS THE RESULT of working almost all the Steps immediately and quickly in a few days. He THEN talks with his doctor about what happened to him on December 14th and is released from the hospital on the afternoon of December 18th).</p><p>Page 58:2 - "If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it - THEN YOU ARE READY TO TAKE CERTAIN STEPS." (I'd like to suggest that they are talking about TWELVE CERTAIN STEPS and you'll soon see why. Some say that we stay within the first three Steps for a year when you are new, but please notice what it says next about Step Three on pages 63 and 64.)</p><p>Page 63:4 - "NEXT we launch out on a course of VIGOROUS action, the first step of which is a personal housecleaning, which many of us had never attempted. Though our decision (which is the Third Step decision) was a vital and crucial step, it could have LITTLE PERMANENT EFFECTunless AT ONCE followed by a STRENUOUS EFFORT to face, AND to be rid of, the things in ourselves which had been blocking us." (So it's saying that this Third Step decision will have LITTLE PERMANENT EFFECT unless we IMMEDIATELY follow it up with an INTENSELY ACTIVE EFFORT to work Steps Four through Nine, because where we face these things that block us from turning our will and our lives over to God is in Steps Four, Five, and Six; and where we get rid of what blocks us from turning our will and lives over is in Steps Seven, Eight, and Nine. So the way we turn our will and lives over to the care of God as we understand Him is by IMMEDIATELY and STRENUOUSLY working AT LEAST the six middle Steps.)</p><p>Page 74:2 - "Notwithstanding the GREAT NECESSITY for discussing ourselves with someone (doing a Fifth Step), it may be one is so situated that there is no suitable person available. If that is so, this step may be postponed, ONLY, however, if we hold ourselves in COMPLETE readiness to go through with it at the FIRST opportunity." (See also page 75:1.)</p><p>Page 75:1 - "When we decide who is to hear our story (our Fifth Step), WE WASTE NO TIME."(So after we write our Fourth Step inventories of resentments, fears, sex relations and harms done; it says we IMMEDIATELY share our Fifth Step.)</p><p>Page 75:3 - "Returning home we find a place where we can be quiet for AN HOUR, carefully reviewing what we have done." (It's saying that IMMEDIATELY following our Fifth Step, we spend ONE HOUR of undisturbed and uninterrupted quiet time, seeing if the foundation we have built with our first five Steps is done honestly and to the best of our ability. Then see page 76:1.)</p><p>Page 76:1 - "If we can answer to our satisfaction (the questions in the previous paragraph), we THEN look at Step Six. We have emphasized willingness as being indispensable. ARE WE NOW READY to let God remove from us ALL the things which we have admitted are objectionable (in our Fourth and Fifth Steps)? Can He NOW take them ALL – every one? If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing." (So Six immediately follows the hour we took after Five. So Five and Six are both done on the same day.)</p><p>Page 76:2 - "WHEN READY (which answers one of the questions of Step Six), we say something like this: 'My Creator, I am NOW willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you NOW remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.' We have then completed Step Seven." (In Step Six, we were asked if we were now ready. If we are, we then do Step Seven. If there are SOME defects we are NOT willing to go to God with, we pray for the willingness to ask God to help us with them, but go on to Step Seven with the defects we ARE willing to ask God to help us with. Either way, Step Five, Six, and Seven are all done on the same day. Steps Three and Seven are then a daily striving and prayer, practiced for the rest of our lives.)</p><p>Page 76:3 - "NOW we need more action, without which we find that "Faith without works is dead." Let's look at Steps Eight and Nine. We have a list of ALL persons we have harmed and to whom we are willing to make amends. We made it when we took inventory. We subjected ourselves to a drastic self-appraisal. NOW we go out to our fellows and repair the damage done in the past. We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accumulated out of our effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves. If we haven't the will to do this, we ask until it comes. Remember it was agreed at the beginning we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol." (NOW is mentioned twice in this paragraph, and even says, "NOW we go out". So Steps Five through Nine are ALL done within a day or two according to the directions in the Big Book. If there are a few amends we are NOT willing to make, we pray for the willingness but proceed with the amends we ARE willing to make.)</p><p>Page 84:2 - "We vigorously commenced this way of living (Steps Ten and Eleven) AS WE CLEANED UP THE PAST (Step Nine)." (So Ten and Eleven are begun as soon as we start making amends.)</p><p>Page 156:3 - "But life was not easy for the two friends (Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob). Plenty of difficulties presented themselves. Both saw that they MUST KEEP SPIRITUALLY ACTIVE. One day (June 26, 1935, 16 days after Dr. Bob had his last drink) they called up the head nurse of a local hospital. They explained their need and inquired if she had a first class alcoholic prospect.</p><p>"She replied, "Yes, we've got a corker (Bill Dotson, whose sober date is June 26, 1935). He's just beaten up a couple of nurses. Goes off his head completely when he's drinking. But he's a grand chap when he's sober, though he's been in here eight times in the last six months. Understand he was once a well-known lawyer in town, but just now we've got him strapped down tight."</p><p>"Here was a prospect all right but, by the description, none too promising. The use of SPIRITUAL principles in such case was not so well understood as it is now. But one of the friends said, "Put him in a private room. We'll be down."</p><p>"Two days later (June 28, 1935), a future fellow of Alcoholics Anonymous stared glassily at the strangers beside his bed. "Who are you fellows, and why this private room? I was always in a ward before."</p><p>"Said one of the visitors, "We're giving you a treatment for alcoholism."</p><p>"Hopelessness was written large on the man's face as he replied, "Oh, but that's no use. Nothing would fix me. I'm a goner. The last three times, I got drunk on the way home from here. I'm afraid to go out the door. I can't understand it." (Part of Bill D.'s First Step, and please notice the Twelfth Step work over the next few paragraphs. Bill was only sober about 7 months and Dr. Bob only 18 days.)</p><p>"For an hour, the two friends told him about their drinking experiences. Over and over, he would say: "That's me. That's me. I drink like that."</p><p>"The man in the bed was told of the acute poisoning from which he suffered, how it deteriorates the body of an alcoholic and warps his mind. There was much talk about the mental state preceding the first drink."</p><p>"Yes, that's me," said the sick man, "the very image. You fellows know your stuff all right, but I don't see what good it'll do. You fellows are somebody. I was once, but I'm a nobody now. From what you tell me, I know more than ever I can't stop (more of Bill D.'s First Step)." At this both the visitors burst into a laugh. Said the future Fellow Anonymous: "Damn little to laugh about that I can see."</p><p>"The two friends spoke of their SPIRITUAL experience and told him about the course of action they carried out."</p><p>"He interrupted: "I used to be strong for the church, BUT THAT WON'T FIX IT. I've prayed to God on hangover mornings and sworn that I'd never touch another drop but by nine o'clock I'd be boiled as an owl."</p><p>"Next day found the prospect more receptive. He had been thinking it over. "Maybe you're right," he said. "God ought to be able to do anything (Bill D.'s Second Step)." Then he added, "He sure didn't do much for me when I was trying to fight this booze racket alone."</p><p>"ON THE THIRD DAY the lawyer gave his life to the care and direction of his Creator (Bill D.'s Step Three), and said he was perfectly willing to do ANYTHING necessary (Steps Four through Twelve). His wife came, scarcely daring to be hopeful, though she thought she saw something different about her husband already. He had begun to have a spiritual experience."</p></p><table border="5"><tbody><tr><td><img alt="" height="400" src="http://www.barefootsworld.net/graphics/billw12thstep.jpg" width="600" /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Bill W. 12 Stepping The Man On The Bed<p>"That afternoon he put on his clothes and walked from the hospital a free man. He entered a political campaign, making speeches, frequenting men's gathering places of all sorts, often staying up all night. He lost the race by only a narrow margin. But he had found God and in finding God had found himself."</p><p>"That was in June, 1935. He never drank again. He too, has become a respected and useful member of his community. He has helped other men recover, and is a power in the church from which he was long absent." (So Bill Dotson, or AA #3, got right into the Steps within a few days, as was the practice in early AA.)</p><p>Page 291:6 - "The day before I (Earl T.) was due to go back to Chicago, a Wednesday and Dr. Bob's day off, he had me down to the office and we spent THREE OR FOUR HOURS formally going through the Six Step program (which later became AA's Twelve Step program) as it was at that time. The six steps were:</p><ol><li>Complete deflation (which later became Step 1).</li><li>Dependence and guidance from a Higher Power (which later became Steps 2,3,6,7 & 11).</li><li>Moral inventory (which later became Steps 4 & 10).</li><li>Confession (which later became Step 5).</li><li>Restitution (which later became Steps 8 & 9).</li><li>Continued work with other alcoholics (which later became Step 12).</li></ol><p>"Dr. Bob led me through ALL of these steps. At the moral inventory (Steps 4 & 5), he brought up some of my bad personality traits or character defects, such as selfishness, conceit, jealousy, carelessness, intolerance, ill-temper, sarcasm and resentments. We went over these at great length and then he finally asked me if I wanted these defects of character removed (Step 6). When I said yes, we both knelt at his desk and prayed, each of us asking to have these defects taken away (Step 7).</p><p>"This picture is still vivid. If I live to be a hundred, it will always stand out in my mind. It was very impressive and I wish that every A.A. could have the benefit of this type of sponsorship today. Dr. Bob ALWAYS emphasized the religious angle VERY STRONGLY, and I think it helped. I know it helped me. Dr. Bob then led me through the restitution step, in which I made a list of ALL of the persons I had harmed (Step 8), and worked out ways and means of slowly making restitution (Step 9)." (So again, most of the Steps being worked in one day.)</p><hr /><p>The 6 steps as Bill W. wrote them..</p><img alt="" height="637" src="http://www.barefootsworld.net/images/six_steps.gif" width="423" /><blockquote><blockquote><ol type="1"><li>Admitted hopeless</li><li>Got honest with self</li><li>Got honest with another</li><li>Made amends</li><li>Helped others without demand</li><li>Prayed to God as you understand Him</li></ol></blockquote></blockquote><hr /><p>And there you have it, so it was for me .. the spiritual experience happening on my 52nd day, April 21, 1974 .. I have not had a drink since my first meeting February 28, 1974, 14013 days ago todayJuly 11, 2012, because of this kind of sponsorship by Tex R., Chuck C., Cliff W., Joe Q., Wino Bob and the rest who took me under their wing and made damn sure I understood that I was to work the steps immediately, if not sooner, Tex insisting that I learn my A.A. from the original 1938 manuscript for the BigBook!! And for that I am everlastingly grateful!!</p><p>I suggest you read the shortest paragraph in the BigBook on page 88:1</p>"It works - It really does"</p>

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That's exactly what the Steps are all about, getting God into the deal.

I have been scolded a few times (by fellow AA's) because of the fact that I sometimes share at meetings about how the Steps are meant to be worked immediately and quickly. I've been told that this "th…

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