Grief must be expressed
Grief may be expressed–without the aid of alcohol, drugs
When Joanne and Bob (not their real names) came to the Center for Grief in St. Paul, Minn., after their daughter’s death, they were paralyzed by loss. They couldn’t sleep or work, and their relationship was eroding.
"We also quickly discovered they were attempting to anesthetize their pain by drinking it away," said Tom Ellis, the nonprofit center’s executive director and the author of an upcoming book, "The Heart of Grief: New Understandings of Loss." "They had adopted the ritual of consuming several bottles of wine...
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - July 9, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: Alcohol Family grief Relationships chemical dependency drinking it away Family Program Source Type: blogs
Understanding Just for Me
Recovery or denial
. . . that is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you’ve understood all your life, but in a new way.
-Doris Lessing
As we are changed by our experiences, that which we know also changes. Our experiences foster growth and enlightenment, and all awarenesses give way to new understandings. We are forever students of life blessed with particular lessons designed only for us. There is joy in knowing that learning has no end and that each day offers us a chance to move closer to becoming the persons we are meant to be.
To understand something more deeply requires that we be open to the ...
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - July 8, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: Denial Recovery Wisdom experiences learning Source Type: blogs
Prayer of the Camel
Dr. Bob, one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, spoke often about the “prayer of the camel”.
Dr. Bob explained that the camels in a caravan would kneel down in the evening, and the men would unload their burdens. Then in the morning, the camels would kneel down again, and the men would put the burdens back on.
“It’s the same with prayer,” Dr. Bob said. “We get on our knees to unload at night. And in the morning when we get on our knees again, God gives us just the load we are able to carry for that day.”
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:Tie Up Your CamelSought Through Prayer and Meditation2 Days5 Finger PrayerThe St Francis...
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - July 6, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: Alcoholics Anonymous Faith Meditation Dr Bob prayer prayer of the camel Source Type: blogs
Children of Dysfunctional families
A dysfunctional family is a family in which conflict, misbehaviour and even abuse on the part of individual members of the family occur continually, leading other members to accommodate such actions. Children sometimes grow up in such families with the understanding that such an arrangement is normal.
Dysfunctional families are often a result of the alcoholism, substance abuse, or other addictions of parents, parents’ untreated mental illnesses/defects or personality disorders, or the parents emulating their own dysfunctional parents and dysfunctional family experiences.
Behavior patterns
Dysfunctional family members ha...
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - July 5, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: Addictions Adult Children of Alcoholics Alcoholism Family Gambling Youth Behavior patterns dysfunctional family Effects on Children parenting styles Source Type: blogs
Hope
, Just for Today
It springs eternal, has many seekers, has many friends, in our ally in times of need and a foundation of our sobriety. Without hope recovery would be restless and unfulfilled and, in fact, were we not to cultivate it then sobriety might be impossible.
Hope starts us into action and loads us through the darkest day which we know must pass. If needs be, it is our hourly encourager, neutralising the negatives, emphasising the positives.
Nobody is hopeless, for hope lies within us all, it is the precursor of sobriety and at the same time it is the attainment of sobriety from which we stride out to further ho...
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - July 4, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: Recovery Sobriety Spirituality Wisdom Hope just for today. Source Type: blogs
Similarities and Differences
The value of essential similarities to recovery
Most of us who have been around AA some little time have probably quite often heard the injunction to “look for the similarities, not the differences.” Like most of the familiar and frequently used slogans in AA, this one contains much wisdom and merit.
The newcomer, possibly not ‘sold,’ either on his alcoholic status or the value to him of our Fellowship, can, by applying this dictum, eventually find himself on a hopeful road, built on firm ground.
He learns that the things he has in common with other alcoholics, the similarities, e.g. the lack of drinking control...
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - July 3, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: 12 Step Fellowships Addictions Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholism Recovery look for the similarities not the differences Similarities and Differences Source Type: blogs
A Prayer to the End
A Prayer
Lord Thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and one day I will be old. Keep me from getting talkative, and particularly from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
Release me from the craving to try and straighten out everybody’s affairs. Keep my mind free from the endless recital of endless details give me the wings to get to the point.
I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of another’s pains. Help me to endure them with patience, but seal my lips on my own aches and pains they are increasing and my love of rehearsing the...
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - July 1, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: Spirituality Wisdom Prayer to the End Source Type: blogs
5 Finger Prayer
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Members of all 12-Step fellowships can use prayer to help in recovery if they choose. This applies to Al-anon, Alateen, Alcoholics Anonymous, Naranon, Narcotics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Gamanon and Adult Children.
Discovering that she had trouble remembering to pray for the needs of others, we can learn from this woman who devised a five-finger prayer memory trick:
THUMB - The woman explained: “Before I pray, I hold my hand up in front of my face, with my thumb pointing back toward me. The thumb reminds me to pray for those closest to me–my family, my friends, my neighbours.”
INDEX FINGER – Wiggling...
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - July 1, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: 12 Step Fellowships Addictions Codependency Faith Healthy Sobriety Spirituality finger thumb Source Type: blogs
Doctors in AA
Conclusion
The experience of long-term AA members can be characterized in terms of abstinence, spirituality, and lower alcohol craving.
Scientific Significance
The study of long-term AA members can shed light on mechanisms of achieving abstinence in this fellowship. (Marc Galanter et al, Am J Addict 2013;22:323–328)
Subscribe to Recovery Is Sexy by Email:Twelve Step Facilitation TherapyThe Alcoholic Dry DrunkAA Members, Medications and Other DrugsStress and Alcoholism RecoverySpiritual Awakening for Recovery (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com)
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - June 30, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholism Recovery Spirituality Doctors in AA Members of Alcoholics Anonymous Source Type: blogs
Serious Sexual Health Symptoms for Women in Recovery
What’s normal for women and what may need a doctor’s attention.
Women in recovery from alcoholism, addiction, gambling, co-dependency or other addictions may need to become aware again of sexual health or sexual ill-health symptoms. Here are six of the most common.
For most women, a couple of irregular menstrual cycles or an occasional yeast infection are just a part of life — nothing that time or simple treatment won’t cure.
Much of the time, pelvic pain, spotting, itching, and other symptoms don’t turn out to be serious.
But some gynecological symptoms are mystifying, such as vaginal bleeding tha...
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - June 29, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: Addictions Alcoholism Codependency Gambling Recovery Sexuality Women Sexual Health Symptoms sexual ill-health symptoms Source Type: blogs
Popular Recovery books sold at Recovery Is Sexy ‘E to S’
Over the last few years these recovery books have proven the most popular.
Escape from Intimacy: Untangling the “Love” Addictions: Sex, Romance, Relationships
First Year Sobriety: When All That Changes Is Everything
Gambling Addiction: The Problem, the Pain and the Path to Recovery
Glad Day Daily Affirmations: Daily Meditations for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender People
Harry Tiebout: The Collected Writings
Heroin
How Al-Anon Works for Families & Friends of Alcoholics –1
How Al-Anon Works for Families & Friends of Alcoholics – 2
Is It Love or Is It Addiction? – Second Editi...
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - June 24, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: 12 Step Fellowships Addictions Adult Children of Alcoholics Al-anon Alcoholism Gambling Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Recovery Books Daily Meditations Escape from Intimacy First Year Sobriety Source Type: blogs
Better Sexual Relations
Being clean and sober, or nearly sober increases sexual appeal, drive and ability.
Having a few drinks of alcohol with a partner or potential partner is usually a wonderful experience. It lowers inhibitions, raises expectations and intensifies touch and feel enjoyment. Alcohol often enhances feelings of connectedness with others. It can also improve sexual attractiveness, desire, ability and response.
But people who drink heavily and alcoholics often have bad or ordinary experiences. Not to start with, but more and more so as drinking increases. Over time, and in binges, excessive alcohol causes damage to the body and some...
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - June 24, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: 12 Step Fellowships Addictions Codependency Emotions Healthy Men Sexuality Women breasts ejaculation erection hormones menstrual oestrogen sclerosis sperm testicles testosterone Source Type: blogs
Progress. . .
Progress – not perfection is the hallmark of successful AA living;
for error, failure, disappointment’ frustration and conflict are as much a part of life as success, pleasure and achievement.
It takes the same qualities of character to deal with all of life’s ingredients; courage faith temperance and patience. In facing whatever life serves up to us, we gain in wisdom.
With each new victory we gain strength and we begin to accept responsibility. We discover that reality has its own merits that we don’t need Christmas 24 hours a day 365 days out of the year and our lives take on meaning and purpose.
We lea...
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - June 23, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: 12 Step Fellowships Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholism Recovery Progress not perfection Source Type: blogs
Head Hunger
Those of us who overeat are responding to distorted signals.
When we consume food that harms rather than helps our bodies, we are eating in response to some irrational demand in our head rather than because of legitimate physical hunger. The mental obsession with food is an illusion, but one to which we cling with great tenacity.
When we feel “hungry,” we need to stop and evaluate the signal. Is it coming from our stomach or from our head? Often, it is after a meal that we most strongly crave something more to eat. This is either because we ate so fast that our stomach has not had time to register satisfactio...
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - June 20, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: Food Overeaters Anonymous obsession with food Source Type: blogs
Jiminy Cricket Says
Let your conscience be your guide. – Jiminy Cricket
Crickets sing on summer nights because it’s their nature to do so. They don’t think about whistling or trumpeting or sleeping or changing the world. They’ve figured out their role on earth, and they do it.
We are a bit more complex than crickets, and most of the time that’s lucky. In most of our affairs it’s our conscience more than sheer instinct that helps us choose those thoughts and acts and feelings that are right for us.
Each of us has that little voice inside, relentless as a chirping cricket, telling us what to do.
Even in the ...
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - June 18, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Sparrow Tags: Faith Spirituality Wisdom conscience Jiminy Cricket Source Type: blogs
