I’m just your average 30-something white guy from a middle-class home in the midwest. Nothing really unusual about my story. Came from a very stable family, parents are both non-drinkers and non-users, been married for almost 40 years now (I saw my mom drink a glass of wine once, my father…never). Some may think that’s strange, but I later learned that my maternal grandfather was an alcoholic…so I guess you could say the disease skipped a generation.

I started drinking beer on the weekends in high school, around the age of 14-15. I remember the first time I got drunk; it was a feeling I never wanted to end. I felt on top of the world, as if I had all the confidence a man could have. I proceeded to binge drink throughout high school and then into college. While at college, I met guys who were more progressed in their disease than I was. I drank with them almost on a daily basis, and experimented with every illicit chemical under the sun. You name it, I’ve done it at least twice (except for peyote). I was drunk, stoned, tweeking, or on the nod every single day in college.
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The summer before high school we moved to a much different town. The first kids to accept me were the “loadies”, so I started partying to fit in. When I was 16 and my parents were in the middle of a bitter divorce, the boy I loved died, aspirating on his own vomit while doing nitrous oxide at home alone. Looking back on it, I believe from that day on, I drank to keep the pain at bay. I never realized it was preventing the healing as well.

I drank and drugged for 28 years, pausing only for pregnancy and child birth. Even while the grief was a constant, I am joyful person by nature and most of the time I believed my life was close to perfect.

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Rusty’s Addiction Recovery Story

At a very young age, perhaps 6 or 7, i was in my Uncles Restaurant with the parents,
and a little Three Piece Combo was playing, I was in awe of the Drummer Man.
It was a friend of pops’, and I had no idea he played the drums, all I knew he owned a liquor store.
The next few weeks, it seamed drummers were everywhere, yeah, and even the old Ed Sullivan Show.
I asked mom and pop if I could be a drummer, they thought about it, and said, wouldn’t you like a more quiet
instrument? Nope!

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June 2008 was the worst and best month of my life. My partner had said she was leaving me after nearly a year of us being together. She felt that I had an addiction problem and it was one that she couldn’t support me through, she rightly said that the road to recovery would be a long one. I didn’t even think I had a problem but I decided to pretend that I was going to do something about it by saying that I would go to a meeting of alcoholics anonymous. I figured that if I looked like I was doing something she would hang around. I agreed that I probably drank too much as there were some nights I just couldn’t remember; I would end up being violent and aggressive. I would wake up not knowing how I had got home or what I had done. Deep down part of me I believe was really sick of living this life but a way out of it didn’t really seem possible. My problem wasn’t alcohol and drugs, it was living without them. I could stop drinking and using anytime I wanted to. I had done it many times before. Sober life would become unbearable though and I would go back to drinking and using again. Even after being arrested for selling drugs.

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There was the beginning being a innocent, open, loving, unafraid, proud, curly-headed, and bright. I was raised in the suburbs on the outskirts of Memphis, well adjusted, happy, and protected. My parents were together then, and I had a younger brother to pester and play with. At ten years old the family bought some property in the dirt road country and a adequate home was erected at the end of a long gravel driveway. We all moved together to the southern country-side, West Tenn.. In some ways it was great: open spaces, freedom to roam, trees, bare feet, dogs running free. However, socially it was isolating and we never got connected with our neighbors like we used to. The only social regularity was clockwork visits to the Methodist church in another nearby community. All the role models were seemingly in place to form a well adjusted young man, ready for success.
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Alcoholics Anonymous

Addiction RecoveryAlcoholics Anonymous is a great program that has helped many people to turn their lives around. AA can be very beneficial and help individuals by using a non-threatening 10-step approach to becoming sober.

The following statement comes from their website:

Alcoholics Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

I have had many friends that have really benefited from Alcoholics Anonymous and have said that it is a great program for anyone looking for an addiction recovery program.

 

Donna’s Addiction Recovery Story

Today is 1 year since I have taken a drink or a drug. This year has been one of the worst years of my life but it has also been one of the best years of my life, and I truly mean that. When I began my recovery this time last year I was at the breaking point that it talks of in the Big Book, I couldn’t imagine life with or without alcohol or drugs, I didn’t want to live like this anymore, so I tried to end my life. My HP had other plans for me on that day, and today I am so grateful that he did.

I realize today that my life and my sobriety are precious gifts, ones that I treasure and I need to never take for granted again. Has it been easy, yes and no, life has thrown many curve balls in front of me this year, but I have not had the need to pick up and that is because AA has given me the tools and the people I needed to get through every single problem that surfaced.

When I walked into the rooms of AA, I knew I had to listen to every single thing that was suggested, I, who had 15 years sober in the past, didn’t know one thing about staying sober. I showed up and shut up, they had something that I knew I really wanted and I would do whatever it took to get it. It was suggested I find a sponsor, that was a hard one because I was not comfortable asking someone, but I did it anyway. My sponsor told me to call her every day, I don’t like making phone calls, but I did that too. I was told to call at least 3 other women and just say my sponsor told me to practice using the phone, and as hard as that was, I did it. It was suggested I make a meeting a day and the 90/90 would take care of itself, I was unemployed and I made 2-3 meetings a day, you see my life depended on it. It was suggested I take a coffee commitment, so I did. To overcome my fear of people, another suggestion was become a greeter at my HG, oh yes that was another thing, get a Home Group so I could be accountable to other people, I do have a HG and have taken a commitment of being a greeter and coffee maker. My sponsor had me start working the Steps right away, and it was in doing the Steps that I believe was the turning point in my recovery.

Has my life changed, you bet it has…I wake up in the morning and the first thing I do is pray and Thank God for keeping me sober another day. I make a gratitude list every morning, just to remind me of my blessings. I still call my sponsor every morning and many other times during the day and I also reach out to many other women throughout my day. Today I have a job after being unemployed for 17 months so it is difficult to make 2-3 meetings a day but I do make at least 1 every single day, my life still depends on them. I try to always be there for anyone who wants help getting and staying sober, I give back what was so freely given to me. Today I not only work the Steps but I live the Steps. Do I have a perfect program, no, but I do the best I can each day. I try to remain teachable never forgetting where I have been. And every night before I put my head on my pillow, I count my blessings, and I Thank God for my life and for my sobriety.

I was recently asked about the 15 years I had been sober, if I regretted relapsing after all that time, and my answer is No. What I have in way of sobriety today is 100 times more than I had in all those 15 years. I have a program today, I didn’t have one back then. I wouldn’t trade this 1year sober for all those 15 years. I am truly grateful today to have been given this 2nd chance at living a sober life.

And I am very grateful for all the people I have met through this site and another who have helped me and continue to help me stay sober one day at a time. Yes I am truly blessed. Thank you.

Donna

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Pornography addiction all starts in your mind. There are many people that think about it and some people don’t. For many people, pornography doesn’t interest them, just like landscaping or chess might not interest you. But for the pornography addict, pornography is extremely intriguing.

You might not be someone who spends a lot of time thinking lustful thoughts. Lustful thoughts can certainly increase your desire to find pornography. But that might not be your particular spark.

Maybe you associate feelings of insecurity or loneliness with sex. There are some people, when they’re feeling lonely, turn to masturbation or pornography. Such simulated sex makes them feel un-lonely, at least for a little while. If that’s your situation, you need to realize that feeling alone at times is part of life. Even the most happily married man or woman in the world feels lonely once in a while.

Create a plan of action for the times you are alone. Learn to enjoy being alone. Do housework, or study, or exercise. Get out of the house and get your heart pumping. Don’t worry about whether you’ll be tempted again when you get back. You’re not exercising to keep from seeking out pornography — you’re exercising because you enjoy it, you are alone and now is the perfect opportunity.

Find things you love to do, that you can do when you’re alone.

Controlling your thoughts is like driving down the freeway. Have you ever driven at a high speed and suddenly heard your tires thumping over the reflectors on the lane’s dividing line? You hadn’t noticed yourself swerving out of your lane, but now you hear the warning of the bumps under your tires. So what do you do? Probably, without even thinking, you correct your steering and pull away from the line.

That’s what you are trying to do with your thoughts. Whenever you get in a situation that might tempt you to indulge in pornography, you need to make adjustments in your thinking and actions to get you away from danger. At first that will take a great deal of effort, but as your instincts improve, you’ll find yourself steering clear of hazards with hardly any thought at all.

Let’s say you are staying in a hotel that offers adult programming on television. Well, most hotels also allow you to disconnect adult programming. You probably need to call the front desk the moment you arrive in your room and ask them to disconnect the service. Even though you aren’t tempted when you arrive, late at night you might be, and you want to make sure it is unavailable. You may have to do the same thing 20 years from now, even though it’s been two decades since you’ve sought out pornography — remember, you’re an addict; you will always be addicted. You will always have to take precautions.

You are an addict. You have a disease. You have to take efforts every day to avoid pornography. Maybe you have to cancel your Internet account.

There are things that you aren’t strong enough to resist. You’ll get stronger and wiser, but right now you may have to deny yourself some things. Listen to your thoughts. Are you rationalizing? Pay attention to the things you rationalize — they’re probably the very areas where you are weakest.

Fill your mind with something uplifting when you catch an unpleasant thought creeping onto the stage of your mind. Maybe you can sing a favorite song to yourself, or recite an inspiring poem, scripture or quote.

Drug Addictions 101

Addiction RecoveryDrug abuse and addiction can be hard for people to understand if they have never gone through the problem. Many people feel as though their loved ones are choosing drugs over them, however, that is not the case. Those who are addicted to drugs do not enjoy the addiction. They are trapped and are looking for a way out. They need help and support more than anything. The last thing they need is criticism.

If you are struggling with a drug addiction, please know that the following information can help you overcome this addiction. There can be peace and happiness in your life once again. Through following the steps on this website, you can become whole again and will be able to be the person you want to be.

  • Peer support (AA, NA). A great place to reach out for support is a peer support group like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). These peer support groups provide a place to share struggles with addiction and what others have done to stay sober. More information about these groups is below.
  • Therapy. If you are seeing a therapist, share your intentions with him or her. A therapist can be a good resource and support for addiction treatment.
  • Medical professional. Some drugs create withdrawal symptoms that require medical intervention. There are also medications that may help make withdrawal symptoms more comfortable. Your primary care doctor can be a good starting reference, and you may want to consider working with an addiction medicine specialist.
 

Alcohol Addiction

Addiction Recovery

What is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism is an alcohol addiction, or in other words, a need for an intoxicating liquid that is made through a firmented grain or fruit. These drinks can incluid beer, wine, and other hard liquors.

An alcohol addiction is present when a person cannot limit the amount of alcohol that they consume, and they have a craving at all times in the day. People who are addicted to alcohol can suffer withdrawals that can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting. constant headaches, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety. These symptoms can cubside in two ways. By either giving the body the alcohol it desires, or naturally detoxifying your body and changing the body to no longer be dependant on alcohol.

Many people think that it is just a matter of controlling the mind and then you can stop drinking. That notion couldn’t be more false. Alcohol addictions are very difficult to overcome and the recovery is very much a process. The majority of alcoholics need assistance to stop drinking, that is, they need a mentor or someone they can report to on their success and progress.

Alcohol Addictions-Causes and Effects of Alcohol Addiction

Scientists have proven that people who have an alcoholic in their family/household, are 50% more likely to become an alcoholic. Based on a person’s environment and lifestyle, especially traumatic experiences as a youth, will greatly effect whether or not a person tries a drink of alcohol. The factors of one’s environment that might have an effect on their alcoholism are as follows; family, friends, culture, peer pressure, financial security, etc.

Alcohol addictions can lead to serious problems and circumstances. Not only can there be physical problems that arise, but also emotional and mental destructive behavior can arise. Currently alcohol is involved in half of all crimes, murders, rapes, burglary, and accidental death. There is also a long list of health issues that can arise when alcohol is consumed: brain damage, liver disease, heart disease, cancer, etc. Alcoholics who are not able to quit drinking reduce their life expectancy 10-15 years.

Other causes and effects from alcohol addictions:

  • Too many rinks can kill many, many brain cells that can cause brain damage
  • Alcohol can hinder the reaction time of the nervous system
  • Alcohol can cause inflammation in the mouth and esophagus which can lead to cancer
  • Drinking can produce irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, heart attacks and other heart problems
  • Can destroy sexual function, pleasure, and desire.
  • Can lead to skin and pancreatic disorders, weaken the bone and muscle structure, eventually lowering your immunity

A large amount of alcohol that is taken in is broken down by the liver. The liver has a fixed rate of breaking down the alcohol, so as the liver is overused, disorders and malfunctions can result, making the liver the primary location of alcohol’s damage. Liver damage can occur in three stages. The first stage is liver enlargement whereby liver cells are penetrated with abnormal fatty tissue. The second stage is the alcoholic hepatitis whereby liver cells swell, inflame, and eventually die. The third stage is cirrhosis in which fibrous scar tissues are formed, hindering the flow of blood through the liver.

Alcohol Addiction-What to do?

The first thing is having a determination to quit drinking alcohol and having control of your body once again. Then you need to have the initiative to realize what triggers your alcohol drinking problem. Do everything in your power to eliminate those triggers in your life. Even if it includes losing many friendships. Forgiveness is an important part of this process and also seek counseling to aid in the healing process.

Making the decision to get help is the most important one out there. Whether it is through counseling, either through this site or an in office visit, that is very necessary. Please contact me or another professional in the field who can help. Many online prices are better and studies have shown that they are just as effective. You can contact me at addictionrecoveryplans@gmail.com. I will be there to help with any question or concern you might have. That is the purpose of me helping with Addiction Recovery.