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[one_half_last]Welcome to the Addiction Recovery Blog RoundUp this week. Lots to catch up on this week – Enjoy!.
Thoughts On Legalized Marijuana Use And Unexpected Triggers
Living in Colorado, discussions about legal marijuana often come up in conversation. Depending on who you are speaking with, the discussion can be humorous, serious, emphatic, or cause for concern. The one prevailing thread through all discussions is that marijuana is around, it is more available than ever [/one_half_last]before, and it is used more openly than in the past (often beyond what the law allows of course). Magzshores over at Sober Courage is talking about legalized marijuana this week and the triggers that she has encountered over the years. She acknowledges that many people will have situations that trigger negative thoughts, but as she notes: “It is what I do with those thoughts, that is so very crucial to keeping my sobriety.” We all have thoughts that interfere in our daily lives. Taking action toward or away from those thoughts is the critical step.
Techniques For Being Around Drinkers…
For some, this is a holiday weekend. It could mean lots of family time and celebrating. And depending on the crowd, it could mean a lot of alcohol is involved. Mrs. D. over at Living Sober has some great tips about how to stay sober and maintain yourself when surrounded by family/chaos/lots of drinkers. My favorite is: “I take any moment I can to have a little ‘me’ time in my room or wherever I can. Even when sitting in a group I sometimes quietly ‘check in’ with myself.” Personally, I love to take a time out when there are big group gatherings. It helps me to maintain my sanity (smile).
Being Here
There is lots of discussion these days about mindfulness both in the treatment community and in the general literature. The general idea is to focus on being in the moment and being present with whatever situation you find yourself in at any given time. While this practice can benefit anyone who chooses to use it, I see great benefit to those who are struggling with addiction, codependency, or recovery issues. If you stop and take in the world around you, identify your blessings, and sit with yourself for a quiet moment, you can’t help but be grateful. That is the premise of Karen Perry’s blog this week over at Mended Musings.
Time For A Change
This post over at The Hurt Healer starts off discussing abusive relationships and then turns a corner and talks about taking responsibility for one’s own feelings and actions within the context of the relationship. The writer talks about “…the ownership of change…” and “….the good news is, the only person you can change is you.” It doesn’t matter the change…in a relationship…in a job…drinking or drug use. If you want things to be different, you have to step up, show up, and do the work. You can’t blame others or rely on them to do it for you.
No April Fool’s Jokes Today…
Finally for this week, a thoughtful piece of writing over at Mr. SponsorPants. My favorite line:
“willingness does not mean ‘want to’”
That will give you something to ponder for the weekend (smile)
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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