Your Addiction Recovery Guide
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Self-Isolation & Withdrawal
Self-Isolation & Withdrawal
So the S#@t has hit the fan.
Who would have thought 4 weeks ago that we were going to be looking at a pandemic, social distancing, shielding techniques and self-isolation. With some countries even looking at lock down. It crazy and uncertain time in our society and we will need each other more than ever to share resources, information and skills.
If you are a dependent alcohol or drug user this may be a difficult time and testing time for you coming up. You could see dramatic changes in you substance use – reduction in supply, quality of drugs etc.. Because of this you may run the risk of Withdrawal.
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Burnout in Early Recovery
Burnout in Early Recovery
So, it’s 3-6 months after your last drink/drug. You have embraced the newness and excitement of recovery with both arms and feet. You have been attending meetings, various support groups, looking after your health, and training at ARC Fitness regularly (see what I did there?). You have also started to rebuild the relationships that were subsequently fractured during the hurricane of your drug / alcohol use. Things have been pretty busy.
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Benefits of Exercise in Addiction Recovery
Repeat Prescription? Exercise in Addiction Recovery
Eventually, addiction takes a real toll on the human body.
There are indirect physical effects that result as consequences from reckless and risk taking behaviours. I personally experienced; broken bones; dislocated joints; amputated digits; snapped vertebrae.
Also, drugs and alcohol weaken the immune system, damage internal organs and strip the body of the ability to heal itself. I too had to deal with; ongoing stomach problems, endless colds and flu’s as well as damage to my liver and heart.
Exercise can help those on the road to recovery start the process of healing by providing them with physical, emotional even spiritual help enabling them to move forward in their new positive approach to life.
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Addressing the Bigger picture. Recovery vs Detox.
Addressing the Bigger picture.
Recovery vs Detox
I have learnt many things on the road to recovery and one of the most important is this:
“Sobriety is very different to Recovery”
Sobriety is like the starting blocks in an 100m race. Once it is secure, it gives the runner the best possible start. If this wasn’t the case, the runner would slip and fall flat on their face. It’s the same in recovery.
While achieving freedom from drug/ alcohol use starts with cleansing the body through a period of detox, it’s important to realise that detoxification is not treatment or a cure. Anyone can get clean in the right environment if you remove the ‘means’ - staying there is the difficult part.
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“Quitting Addiction Cold Turkey”, anyone?
“Cold Turkey”, anyone?So, this post is very important!Traditionally people thought an abrupt stop to someone’s drinking or using was what was needed to ‘sort them right out’.Now, I played the ‘cold turkey’ roulette on many occasions throughout the years in my brave attempt to quit using substances. The last time was extremely memorable as I literally felt like I was literally going die (this is NOT an exaggeration).Because I was using alcohol or drugs in such an unrestrained manner, it seemed much simpler to just stop using that substance as opposed to trusting myself to reduce it safely over time. But it not just me, scientific study’s indicates that trying to quit cold turkey may be doing more harm than good. -
Enabling – When help becomes unhelpful.
Enabling – When help becomes unhelpful.
Enable:“To give (someone) the authority or means to do something; to make it possible for”.Addiction not only affects the individual, it also causes ripple effects through the wider family unit. At times families are left trying to navigate the addiction merry-go-round trying their utmost to protect the person and eventually through frustration and exacerbation, protect themselves.Fundamentally, most families want to help when a loved one is suffering from a drug or alcohol problem, however, sometimes that “help” becomes enabling.Enabling comes in all different forms. -
The Road to Recovery - Gaz's Story
The Road to Recovery - Gaz's Story
It’s funny, I got unexpectedly nervous about writing this despite having done it countless times. Most people who know me now have met me at a time of my life where the following story can be hard to marry up. That’s a good thing, it’s shows that people CAN change; they CAN succeed and they CAN beat something that feels unbeatable to them.
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The Road to Recovery - Louise’s Story
The Road to Recovery - Louise’s Story
I've suffered from anxiety and depression for most of my adult life. Sometimes coping sometimes not but managed to function with daily life.I hit rock bottom about 4 years ago. I was in a mentally abusive relationship with someone with addiction problems and I started drinking more and taken drugs with him. I cant blame him as I was drinking and taking drugs before we met but I was definitely binging more frequently. I started abusing diazepam I was buying online. I hated myself and really didn't care if I lived anymore. I just took drugs to forget everything. The only reason I didn't end everything was my parents. -
Abuse Vs Addiction
Abuse Vs Addiction
The words “Abuse” and “addiction” are often used interchangeably, however it is important to note that - there is a difference.By now we should understand that drug addiction and alcoholism are conditions that affect the brain, but did you know that abusing drugs and alcohol is not the same thing as being addicted?You see, While abuse CAN lead to addiction, you should know where they differ. -
Post-Natal Depression & Addiction
Post-natal depression & Addiction
Now, you might have guessed by now that I’m not a woman! So before I delve into this blogpost let me highlight that; I am not an expert on childbirth; I haven’t given birth; had a C-Section; nor a vacuum or forcep delivery.
I am however a dad, and my desire to write about this stemmed from my own adjustment to fatherhood.
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International Overdose Awareness Day - Naloxone & Opiate Overdose
International Overdose Awareness Day - August 31st.
Naloxone & Opiate Overdose
This is not a problem associated only with big cities, or the great “American opiate epidemic”, opiate use is indiscriminate and has filtered down to all aspects of our society. It’s closer to home than you think.