It has been too long since I blogged and I have known it every day, but all I can say is that I have been busy learning life lessons I wish I didn’t. I started this blog to begin with because I wanted a way to reach other people in recovery or addicts who need to be in recovery from drug addiction. I heard on the radio today that over 70,000 people died last year from opiate drug overdose (like Fentanyl and Oxycontin). That is a lot.
Let me say that again…THAT…IS A LOT!!! My children each have pet causes they are fighting for. My son who just finished his MS in Medical Physics is now working on his PhD in Medical Physics and has been selected to present a paper he wrote at an international conference in Portugal this month, then another in South Africa in a couple of months. His cause is cancer –it’s why he got into, and wants to be a doctor of Medical Physics. I think I have told you that before….He wants to improve radiation technology for cancer patients among other things and today he told me he is riding 34 miles in a bicycle marathon to raise funds for cancer. All of the money goes to the research and patients. If you are interested in donating to it, go to this link:
That’s a very worthy cause. My daughter focuses on injuries in sports and how to catch them sooner and protect athletes from brain damages sustained on the field for example. She is really dedicated to her work and she has created a partnership between the university she works for and the local hospital to obtain every resource and advantage available for the students. My cause is still to get to the point where I can create podcasts for recovery and my ultimate dream of having a recovery radio station in my state (New Mexico) which has the highest rate of addiction in the country.
I have been off narcotic medications now for nine and a half months, and, aside from some horrible dental pain, I haven’t missed it at all. My meeting attendance has dwindled to only one or two a week due to the nightmare that is road construction in my area of the state. They were supposed to have completed this project at the end of July and now they say it will be another three weeks at least. What worries me in conjunction with the opiate abuse problem, is just how many people are driving under the influence through these construction areas, as well as every place else. I believe this to be true because they had to publish an announcement that they were going to tighten the zones further because of dangerous and reckless driving that is going on. Evidently people are going the wrong way, passing on double yellow lines and using the turn lane of the middle of the highway to pass, and speeding like crazy. There have already been some horrific accidents and countless near misses. It’s enough to keep you off the road altogether!
I had to take a look at my own irresponsible driving over the past several months and I learned that what I was doing was NOT really about my own impatience or the stress of making doctor’s appointment after doctor’s appointment off the Hill on time. I decided (in therapy) what it was really about was a subconscious risk-taking to replace the high that addiction had fed me. So now, not only do I talk to myself out loud about other stuff, I find I am having conversations with myself (actually lecturing myself like my late mother would have) to slow down whenever I notice I am going too fast. I am relying heavily on my cruise control too. It would be ludicrous to have gone through the hell and joy of surviving and overcoming drug addiction as bad as mine, just to end up dead on the side of the road and possibly harm others too.
As addicts we learn a lot more about our active addiction behaviors in recovery than others who have spent a lifetime in analysis. Addicts are selfish and obsessed. But just because we get clean, does not mean these behaviors automatically abate. It’s important for me to say this, because in as much as I have become self-aware of my own selfish or obsessive behaviors and tried to correct them whenever possible, I have interacted with other addicts who have not. Some are on the journey like me and trying to be better people every day, and others are just the same as they were in active addiction. I bring this up because I had hoped that a couple of them I know would change. One person in particular is aware of my need to please and takes full advantage of my generosity to the point that I have had to set a boundary of avoidance. This person asked to come to my home for “fellowship” then asked to use my bathroom. Once in there, she began to look through all of my things and asked if she could have them. It started with one bottle of perfume, then progressed to several, then to my clothes, some of which I had not even worn yet. She had also asked me to loan her money and told me a sob story and that she would repay me within a week. That was over a month ago. Recently, she texted me to ask for more. I told her NO. She has two sets of parents, a significant other and his parents to help her. The odd thing is that she admitted to me before that she knows she is selfish. This is not an excuse. I hope that in my own recovery I do not take advantage of anyone like that ever again.
Just to let it go. That’s the lesson. Don’t hold onto the anger, the annoyance, the impatience, whatever it is…I just keep trying to let it all go.
One way I can help is by allowing others to guest post articles on my page. To this end, the following is an article written by blogger Kimberly Hayes. I will also try to post it THROUGH the website too.
Peace love and blessings to all until next time….
What Is Alternative Addiction Treatment, and Is It Right for You?
It’s an unfortunate reality that more people are suffering from addiction, whether it’s alcohol, opioids, or other substances. As people are also seeking treatment, the options for recovery are no longer limited to the traditional 12-step model.
Alternative therapies for addiction can include mindfulness meditation and exercise programs, such as swimming and yoga. These therapies provide a solution for many people who don’t respond to the traditional model, or who simply need a little extra help preventing relapse in recovery. They don’t come without risk, though, so it’s important to look at your unique circumstances before choosing any addiction treatment program.
The Science of Addiction
Some people still debate whether addiction is a disease or a choice, but scientists agree that there is a biological component to substance abuse disorder. As explained in the Harvard Health Blog, brain science explains how someone with substance abuse disorder has a deficit to the part of the brain that controls executive function, or our ability to make choices. This deficit means it isn’t simply a matter of choosing to stop using. Someone who has substance abuse disorder receives signals from their brain that using drugs is associated with pleasure, while the lack of the substance is associated with stress.
How Alternative Treatments Help
The science behind addiction means that treatment has to break this cycle of pleasure/stress signals associated with substance use. While traditional addiction treatment can help, alternative therapies that help you manage stress and replace that “reward” to your brain with a healthier habit can do even more to break this cycle.
Exercise – One of the best healthy habits for overall mental well-being is exercise. Getting your heart rate up releases endorphins, which are the chemicals in your brain that reduce stress and make you feel happy. Because of how addiction affects your brain, finding ways to manage stress and get that “high” feeling in a good way is essential to recovery.
To maximize the mental/physical benefits of exercise, try activities that are naturally relaxing and have a meditative component like yoga or swimming. Many people who are in recovery find that yoga is a form of movement that connects mind, body, and spirit, which helps them reconnect with themselves while lowering stress and anxiety.
Meditation – Experiencing stress and negative events can be a reality of life for everyone, so for someone recovering from addiction, learning how to handle negative experiences without substances is a critical tool for recovery. Learning mindfulness through meditation helps you become more aware of your feelings, accepting them without judgment and detaching from them. This practice of owning your experiences and working through them, rather than reaching for a quick fix to escape them, helps maintain recovery long-term. According to The Fix, mindfulness also helps people in recovery understand that whatever is causing pain has an end, and it also helps you develop patience and perspective.
Alternative Medical Practices – Other alternative addiction treatments include complementary and alternative medical practices, such as acupuncture, hypnotherapy and therapeutic touch. For some people, acupuncture can make withdrawal symptoms less severe, while therapeutic touch can be effective at preventing relapse. Acupuncture and other alternative medical therapies have not been widely studied, so they’re best to use along with other treatment, rather than as a single approach.
Who Should Avoid Alternative Treatment?
One of the most important components of traditional rehab treatment programs is the support. Having professional support, as well as a group of people who have shared experiences, is crucial for long-term recovery. Alternative treatment approaches such as exercise and mindfulness are more individual, so it can be risky to use these treatments without also having professional support.
That doesn’t mean you can’t use alternative therapies along with professional help. In fact, when used as part of a traditional treatment program, alternative therapies are safe and boost your long-term success.
Photo credit: Pixabay
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