Amy Winehouse In Rehab…Again
Let me start out by saying that I am a huge fan of Amy Winehouse's music. I absolutely love her style and feel that in the world of today's music, it is very unique.
What is not unique is Amy Winehouse's addiction problems. She has been on a downward spiral for a long time which included an attempt to enter a rehab facility in August of 2007. That attempt at recovery lasted about three days and obviously had no lasting effect. So will January 24th's check in to rehab be any different than the last?
The First Year Of Recovery: Where I Came From…Where I’m Going
January 26th will be my one year anniversary of being in recovery. As far as I'm concerned, this has been the best year of my life. Sure, it wasn't the funnest, the easiest, or the most peaceful year. But as far as my well being is concerned, this has been my most productive year ever.
My first year in addiction recovery has been filled with many ups and downs, many ebbs and flows, many steps forward...and a couple of steps back. What is the most important thing I've learned? Stumble don't fall.
Instant Gratification Is A Huge Part of Addiction
Our world today is based upon instant gratification. Taking into consideration all of the technology that allows us to get what we want right when we want it, it's really no wonder that we are trying to apply that standard to our emotional state.
Think of all the ways that people use drugs or alcohol pertaining to instant gratification. If you are having a stressful day...pop a pill and feel de-stressed. If you are feeling a little social anxiety or lack of confidence in a situation...have a few drinks and get some liquid courage.
By feeding these types of emotional needs with drugs or alcohol we are in a way giving ourselves a quick fix - instant gratification. We are not working on the actual problems but finding an easy way out of them. But since instant gratification in all other areas of life have now become the norm...how are we supposed to delay our need for instant gratification?
Addiction Recovery: Get Back To Basics
From time to time you may find that for one reason or another, you have lost focus on keeping your recovery your number one priority. It happens.
Once you realize that you have lost focus of your recovery the best thing you can do for yourself is to get back on track as quickly as possible. The quicker you do something about it, the easier it will be. But what do you do? Where do you start? The answer: Get back the basics.
One of THOSE Days…Getting Through Tough Days In Recovery
So, you know THOSE type of days. Everything that could go wrong does go wrong down to the tiny things like driving away from the drive through to realize that they gave you a flavored iced coffee instead of the coffee flavored iced coffee that you wanted and needed...desperately.
So on a day when all those little things combined with a few big things start to pile up, how do you get through? That is, how do you get through with out the old standby solution of smoking or drinking or snorting your troubles away...for a little while.
Facing Problems Head On In Recovery
The post I recently did about learning to accept the things I cannot change got me thinking about a negative behavior that I was riddled with in active addiction...not facing problems head on.
The behavior of avoiding problematic situations is something that is very common with addicts. See, the key to successfully living in denial about all of your problems is to numb yourself into oblivion until you don't think about them anymore. Simple right?
So what happens when you are no longer numbing away your problems with drugs or alcohol? Well, unless you want to continue living a miserable life that is completely based on denial and a disconnection from your soul you need to master the art of facing problems head on in recovery.
Amy Winehouse At The Grammys
Amy Winehouse performed at the Grammys via satellite from London last night in her first televised performance since entering into rehab last month.
"Yes I've been black but when I come back you'll know, know, know". I guess those Amy Winehouse lyrics from her song Rehab still ring true...even if she did end up saying yes to rehab.
How Do You Make Yourself Feel Better
Since we are trying to avoid the use of mood altering substances as our first defense against negative feelings, it leaves us with the question "How do you make yourself feel better?".
You know what I mean right? Those times in life when you feel lost, vulnerable, worthless, sad, hopeless...and all those other crappy feelings that I left out. How do you turn your feelings around and make yourself feel better without reaching for that instant fix?
The truth is there are a lot of ways to make yourself feel better without resorting to using drugs but the thing that we need to accept is that when feelings are concerned...there is no such thing as instant gratification.
The Importance of Support in Addiction Recovery
For anyone who has entered into addiction recovery, one thing becomes clear...support is needed in order for you to be successful in your addiction recovery.
"You alone can do it, but you cannot do it alone" - O. Hobart Mowrer
But what makes support such an important component to a successful recovery? And what is the meaning of support when it's pertaining to addiction recovery?
Merry Christmas
Just like most of us, my actively addicted self does not share much in common with my living clean self. It usually takes special occasions like the nearly here Christmas for me to realize just how much of a positive change there has been in myself.
My "birthday" or "anniversary" whichever you would like to call it is at the end of January. This means that last Christmas was one of the most dire times in my life. I still had not hit my bottom around Christmas time last year but let me tell you, I was hovering just above it.
I guess that it why this Holiday season has been so special for me. Long gone are the days when any sort of responsibility was too much for me to handle. Long gone are the days when making a plan and sticking to it was out of the question. Long gone are the days of wasting my money on drugs leaving me scrambling at the last minute for funds to be able to buy people's Christmas gifts...not to mention how hard it was to actually give my money to a cashier knowing I could be using the money to get high.
Recent Posts
- Addiction Recovery: My Motivation Level Hasn’t Changed
- I’m a Drug Addict Not a Journalist
- Who Do Feelings Still Scare The Shit Out Of Me?
- Amy Winehouse In Rehab…Again
- Addiction Recovery: Where Are You Along Your Road Of Recovery?
- Report Cymbalta Withdrawal Symptoms To The FDA
- The First Year Of Recovery: Where I Came From…Where I’m Going
- Relapse:The Warning Signs Were There
- Riding Out the Ups and Downs of Life
- Reach Out and Touch Someone…Online
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