The Benefits of Sobriety

Drug and alcohol addiction leads to an array of issues affecting the user’s health, career, relationships and finances, among other things. Breaking the addiction cycle and choosing a sober lifestyle offers the potential for numerous benefits and possibilities that would otherwise remain hidden from view. Though this road can certainly be a challenging one to navigate, the positives await at our destination far outweigh any possible negatives.

Self-Realization

Alcohol often brings out negative aspects in its users. Removing alcohol from the equation provides you with the opportunity to be self-reliant and free. Sobriety allows us to uncover and reconnect with the real you – the genuine article. With the clarity gained from sobriety, it is much easier to determine who you really are and where you are headed in life. The possibilities are endless.

Opportunity

Any time we use exterior substances to ensure happiness, stress relief or to deal with our troubles, it traps us. Life becomes unimaginable without the crutch, and your day becomes consumed by ensuring you are able to obtain it. Alcohol dependency places limits on what we believe we can accomplish. A sober person is not inhibited by alcohol; They do not sabotage betterment efforts; They are free to live how they choose.

Health

Excessive alcohol use works to damage each and every part of our bodies, leading to health deficiencies and illness. Once alcohol is removed from your life, your body will begin to replenish its supply of minerals and vitamins. Your organs will heal, and in time, your metabolism will kick back into gear.

Relationships

Sobriety provides us with the opportunity to renew damaged relationships with loved ones. Addicts will commonly take center stage and priority to everything else in life, causing hurt, embarrassment and resentment among those we care for. By removing the alcohol barrier, the healing process can begin to play out.

Need Help?

If a loved one is suffering from an alcohol or drug addiction, call an intervention specialist to start your path to recovery.

“Thank You For The Intervention”

Making a point to thank a friend or family member who helps you overcome a self-destructive behavior is a noble act indeed. Self-destructive behaviors are generally associated with addictive personalities and can quickly ruin an individual’s life if left alone. Common examples include drug and alcohol abuse, gambling, or even internet preoccupation. In a great number of instances, successfully overcoming the addiction requires the intervention of an outside person or group. Once the addict has embarked on the road to recovery, a simple “thank you” may be in order. Here’s how to go about it:

1 – Sit down and write out a thoughtful thank you letter to the individual or group who spearheaded your recovery. Communicate your gratitude and offer up specific details regarding how the intervention helped you.

2 – Conclude your letter with details pertaining to your post-intervention life. Perhaps the best way to express your gratitude is to provide examples of just how your life has turned around since the invention.

3 – Pick up the phone and give them call. A one-on-one conversation will provide the individual responsible for the alcohol invention an opportunity to understand the full extent of your gratitude and sincerity. Another advantage of a phone conversation is the ability to communicate your progress in recovery.

4 – Think of a personalized gift to send the individual. This gift does not have to pertain to the recovery or intervention. It can be as simple as a teddy bear or flowers. The most important aspect of a thank you is the gesture itself.

How To Commit An Addict

Alcohol and drug addiction is a dangerous vortex that takes hold of not only the addict, but everyone surrounding them. Loved ones are forced to sit back and watch as the addict’s life spirals to a point where the distinction between reality and abuse becomes blurred beyond distinction. For many people, it can be near impossible for friends and family members to commit a loved one voluntarily. Regardless of how this task is performed, committal rarely lasts more than a 72-hour period – leaving a heap of misunderstandings, frustration and rage in its wake.

1 – Understand that until the addict is actually ready to quit using drugs or alcohol, that you will be unable to help them. When it comes to addiction, the most effective weapon is empathy, compassion and a healthy dose of love.

2 – Educate yourself on the type of drug to which your loved one is addicted. Possessing an understanding of the effects this substance offers may provide you with the tools necessary to break through the addict’s wall.

3 – Research outreach programs that cater to friends and family members of addicted individuals. An array of organizations are available. Once again… By taking the time to educate yourself on the issue, you will stand a better chance of being able to help you loved one through their ordeal.

4 – Communicate your concerns to the addict. Allow them to understand that they are not alone in their suffering, and that help is being made available to them.

5 – Contact a Rehab Specialist today.

How To Squash Your Loved One’s Meth Addiction

Crystal Meth is an extremely dangerous, addictive and common narcotic throughout the U.S. The drug causes increased blood pressure, rapid heart rate and damage to blood vessels in the brain. A loved one suffering from a crystal meth addiction is never easy to stomach. With enough time, users can become delusional, paranoid and violent. In order to properly address the addiction, a great deal of love, care and organization is required.

1 – Educate yourself on the effects of crystal meth. Seek out information online and at your local library. Find an area support group to communicate your worry with others who have dealt with similar situations. Approaching the issue will not be easy, but by taking the time to arm yourself with knowledge, you will stand a better chance of making an impact.

2 – Sit your loved one down and discuss your concerns in a rational, calm and loving manner. Avoid blame and finger pointing, as these actions will only cause resentment and anger. Ask them if they are open to the idea of professional help to address the addiction.

3 – Seek out a qualified therapist with experience working with addicts. This individual will be able to help you and your family to cope with the behaviors of the addict. Your therapist will also be able to help address any feelings of guilt you may have regarding the addiction. If you are intent on helping your loved one, you must first help yourself.

4 – Plan an intervention. Professional intervention services will be able to guide you through the process, while keeping participants focused and engaged. During the intervention, each participant will be provided an opportunity to express their concern to the addict while encouraging them to seek help.

Seek help today...tomorrow isn't guaranteed. 

The Healing Process – Love After Addiction

Healing a relationship following addiction is no easy task. Difficulties will vary from couple to couple, alongside developed issues and the residual pain caused by them. Being involved in a relationship affected by addiction can be difficult to bounce back from, especially when maintaining a recovery. In this entry, we will offer tips to help you regain the trust lost.

1 – Communicate with your partner. Though it may seem cliché and redundant advice, it does not change its importance. Communication is key to ANY relationship – addiction or no. Expressing yourself alongside fears and troubles lets your partner know that you are being honest with them. As an addict, you likely know how the small things can snowball into something much bigger… Put a stop to them before they can escalate.

2 – Be honest. Keep in mind that your relationship is still fragile, and that any lie – no matter how “white” – holds the potential for irreparable damage. When attempting to heal a wounded relationship, it’s crucial that you take ownership for your infractions quickly. If your partner feels the need to check up on your whereabouts of behaviors, provide her with the ability to do so. Understand that your partner will likely require more than your word in order to trust you again.

3 – Listen! Providing your partner with an open forum to express their emotions without fear of anger or judgment will go a long way in aiding the repair process. Understand that your actions have had an affect on those who care about you most. Let them vent, scream and cry, while comforting them without argument or excuse. Nit picking can wait. If someone is willing to stand by throughout your recovery, they are owed the same attention and love they provide.

Do You Know the Dangers Of Salvia?

Salvia Divinorum, or Salvia - as it is more commonly know - is a natural herbaceous perennial plant producing white colored flowers during peak summer months. In recent years, experimental drug users and teens have utilized the leaves of the Salvia plant to achieve an altered mental state. Because the drug is still legal in the U.S. and most countries around the world, these leaves are often grown and sold in local health food stores without restriction. In this entry, we will take a closer look at this plant to help our readers gain a broader perspective of its effects and dangers.

What Does It Do?

Though commonly smoked, salvia users can chew the plant to achieve the same effect. The drug affects users differently according to body weight, body chemistry, and whether or not additional substances are involved. The effects of salvia are instant in most users, affecting the brain’s parietal lobe, limbic system and overall vestibular function.

Physical Effects

Salvinorin-A – a substance found in salvia – is known to cause psychoactive side effects. Some users may faint, pass out, or lose their ability to function until the drug has worn off. Some users report bright lights of visions; others a loss in basic motor skills.

Psychiatric Dangers

Those who have suffered or currently suffer from various forms of mental illness may experience relapse following salvia intake. The drug has been shown to trigger episodes of schizophrenia, panic attacks and borderline personality traits. Though most of these symptoms tend to subside as the drug wears off, some users place themselves at risk for more prolonged episodes.

Don’t have a stroke, K?

Is drug and alcohol abuse to blame for early life strokes? A recent study suggests so!

A stroke is a condition where an individual’s brain cells expire due to lack of oxygen. Direct causes may include artery rupture or a blood flow obstruction. Those who experience strokes may lose their ability to speak, encounter memory issues or partial paralysis.

Though many often associate strokes with the elderly, new research suggests a direct correlation between heightened stroke risk in younger people and the abuse of drugs and/or alcohol.

“Substance abuse is common in young adults experiencing a stroke,” wrote researcher Brett Kissela. With this point in mind, it is recommended that stroke sufferers aged 55 and younger be screened and potentially counseled for substance abuse issues.

Certain substances, such as methamphetamine's and cocaine have been found to heighten the risks associated of a more immediate stroke. “We know that even with vascular risk factors that are prevalent – smoking, high blood pressure… most people still don’t have a stroke until they’re older”, stated University of California neurologist Andrew Josephson. “When a young person has a stroke, it is probably much more likely that the cause of their stroke is something other than traditional risk factors.”

Though an array of factors can be attributed to heightened stroke risks, perhaps drug and alcohol abuse should be considered the most avoidable. In the grand scheme of things, there are plenty more ways to celebrate, indulgences to consume, and sensations to experience in the days, weeks, months and years to come.

Choose your vices wisely.