Well making a self-disciplined routine is part of a healthy recovery plan. I am learning to balance my requirements for school with my daily job, and also commitments to NA service. I attended a PR meeting and offered to help with some things. While I am learning all about addiction and Substance Use Disorders, I am concurrently trying to make time for getting the NA message out too. I understand now that 12-step groups are not for everybody and it depends on a specific fit to decide to incorporate a 12-step program into an integrated treatment plan, but it has been a good fit for ME. I drove out to Phoenix to see my bestie who took me to see Wicked. Wow. what a great show! I loved what the author did with the story line. I don’t want to create any spoilers, but if you like musical theater, try to catch this one somewhere! The women who played both the Wicked Witch, and Glinda were awesome! What beautiful voices they have. I got to see my daughter on the way out too. I am exhausted from the 1000-mile drive, but it was so worthwhile.
Getting back to recovery. We have been discussing the importance of family involvement and communications and dynamics in families of addicted persons. I came from a generation where we were a close tight family and had a matriarch at the head of it all who preferred we handle things internally –this goes right back to” you’re as sick as your secrets.” I think all families have their own roles and rules, but to be effectively in recovery it is imperative that no blame is assigned, that all family members understand the disease model of addiction, and that support can be given freely without judgement, blame, guilt or shame. Also I am reminded that even when I went through treatment, nobody could diagnose me or force me to participate in specific treatment adjunctives or group sessions. In recovery, you have to make a choice to be there each and every single day of your life –it’s not like you miraculously transform overnight or because you attended a 12-step group or shared in a session. The only person who knows whether they are ready for and committed to changing themselves and their life is YOU. If I am to be a good counselor, I have to look at these stages of change so I can identify where along the spectrum of change a client may be and address that stage head on.
This is all a great learning process for me, because as I learn more about SUDs as they are now referred to, and how the assessment, diagnosis, and integrated treatment approach processes work, I also learn about management of my own recovery. There are so many aspects to consider. Most people have a co-occurring illness with their SUD, and oftentimes that is either overlooked or the person cannot get the treatment they need because it is not available to them. I will be researching ways to treat an addicted population that does not have the good medical benefits I have taken for granted, and how to develop a process that could be funded.
Check out this really good resource if you can: https://www.drugwarfacts.org/
Peace, love and blessings to all until next time….
NMRecoveryHOPE 