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[one_half_last]Here is the Addiction Blog RoundUp for this week. A little holiday survival and a few thinking lessons! Enjoy!
Holiday recovery guide: The five W’s for a serene season
Maggie Harmon at addictionblog.org is talking about the “have tos” and the “shoulds” of the season. She has some great ideas for coping with the stress and anxiety of it all, and how to empower yourself this holiday season. One of her ideas is about knowing the why of what you are doing.[/one_half_last]
She says: “Simply knowing the why becomes a key to answering all of the other questions, and helping you in the difficult moments decide exactly how you want to respond.” I think that knowing the why and reminding ourselves of it regularly can refocus our mindset about the current situation, whatever that might be.
5 Lessons that I Learned in Rehab
Over on Sober Nation this week, the post is about rehab. Treatment is a tough experience; you go in not feeling all that great, you learn about addiction and the facts, you get some inkling into what sobriety looks like, and hopefully you gain some small insights about yourself that will start to carry you through to long term sobriety. After treatment, there is recovery. And this can be the growth time. The following lines are a good reminder that growth can’t happen if you take the first drink that sends you down the slippery slope. “No matter what happens, no matter what I am going through, the most important thing is that I don’t pick up. As long as I don’t pick up, I have a chance. As long as I don’t drink, I have the opportunity to work on everything else. But if I do drink… who knows?”
First Put the ‘Oxygen Mask’ On Yourself
When you are flying on an airplane and they explain the safety features at the beginning of the flight, they always tell you to put your oxygen mask on first before helping others. MomShiningLight at Parent Pathway makes reference to this experience on her post this week as she is talking about Ala-non and family members seeking out their own help. She says “How can you help your child when you are in a state of disarray, shock, fear, hopelessness.“ I have tried to explain this to individuals who are seeking help for their loved ones but when you are in the middle of the situation, it is difficult to understand.
Just Don’t Entertain Them…..
About halfway through her post this week on Living Sober, Mrs. D says: “Think about what you are thinking about.“ Teaching this concept to my clients is so critical. In order to change your behavior, you must change your thoughts. In order to change your thoughts, you must create awareness of what those thoughts are. And then you must fight in your head against the thoughts that do not serve you or your best interests. Every. Single. Day.
An Alcoholic’s Guide To Crashing And Burning During The Holidays
Finally, this is a great post by Paul over at Message in a Bottle. His message is fabulous – albeit presented in a sarcastic manner, is to take care of yourself and your sobriety – above all else.
That’s it for this week. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend!
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or codependency issues, Contact me today to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation to talk about how we can work together or find the right person for you.
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