Drug and Alcohol Awareness

I had to honor of attending the

 4th Annual Community Drug Awareness Day

 

 

 

 

To say the very least this was an eye opener.  These people are saints and I felt small in comparison. I had no idea what they dealt with, and how amazing they are at their work. They are involved professionally and emotionally in every way and I have the utmost respect for the Houston Police Dept, Drug Enforcement Agency, Rice University, MADD, The Texas Alliance and the many other enforcement organizations,  and sponsors.

 

In particular, there were therapists, scientists, and personal recovery and experience stories.  Honestly I don't know how anyone could pick up another alcoholic drink or ever take drugs after listening to what these people have been through.

 

 

One of the panels was a combination of a developmental psychologist from Rice University who discussed how alcohol and drugs affects the maturing brain. The old theory that the brain is full sized at around 18 is completely wrong, the age for a grown up brain is 25 according to the National Institute of Health. So, partying in high school and the first few years in college really does effect your brain's growth to maturity, and how your brain perceives pleasure. 

A development psychologist, a therapist, and a recovering alcoholic/addict were there also and discussed their different roles in the program at Rice University. The most significant thing I got from the discussion was the new way they are treating young people, and hearing the story from a young lady who has been through it. The young lady is now becoming a drug treatment counselor. She has made it her life mission. She entered treatment at 19. The interesting thing was she came from a stellar family, was an athlete, had a high GPA, got into a good college, had plenty of friends but still developed an addiction.

The newest treatment consists of putting kids in peer group of other kids that are recovering and sober so that there is a like minded consistency. They make friends and have fun doing things together, sober. They develop bonds and stay sober together!!! Awesome!

At the conference there was also MADD(Mothers Against Drunk Driving). There was a couple there whose son was a victim of a drunk driving murder. I call it murder because that is what it is! He was murdered!!!  He was around 24 and in the  prime of his life. He had just left from visiting his girlfriend, and was heading home when he was T-boned and killed at an intersection. They driver of the other car was barely injured and got off with a little jail time and probation. Listening to the Mom and Dad tell the story was heartbreaking and there is no worse pain than losing a child. Unbelievable!

Well there is more, so much more reason to stay sober every day!  So glad I am in this place and setting a good example. My next stop is an AA meeting and to volunteer for one of these programs! I can't wait!

ROCK BOTTOM

HAMS Reply

 

Actually this bit about "hitting bottom" is a kind of a myth--people choose to change at all different stages of alcohol problems--and succeed.

 

MY REPLY

 

 

Yep like me! I was only drinking 2 glasses of wine a day, mostly every day. It just seemed like a necessity, a crutch, and hard to go a day with out it. It was so difficult to find the motivation to stop. I still practice my therapy daily in order to stay away from it. I still want it, although the craving is way less than  it used to be. The thought of never drinking again is still kind of hard for me. I would not consider it rock bottom, but for me the message was clear. I needed to stop. ....... I considered myself a problem drinker, maybe not an alcoholic---yet.  I have had to find other ways to deal with stress, like yoga, exercise, meditation,  and diet. Nutrition is  so, so important and is not given enough attention.

 

 It is amazing how NOT drinking changes your life...for the better.  You get to find out who you really are. As long as I focus on that, the curiosity of that, and the reality that the  changes that are happening to me are fascinating, I'm ok.....My brain actually functions because it is not suffering from poisoning and being numbed any more. It's amazing!

 

I just motivated myself for the day! Kewl

Chamomile Tea, My New Alcohol

So yesterday after looking for homes for hours with no sleep and no definite plans for a acquiring a roof over our head after July 31, I needed a drink. Not just any drink but the strongest thing I could find to take me away from all this, to escape into the abyss of not caring who or where I am.  I won't even go into the fact that due to some issues we are having I am prevented for putting in an offer on a home, but as it stands now, we have only 3 weeks to get out of this house. We are going to be street dwellers.

We found ourselves planning to shower at the health club and then sleep in the car. At least we have truck room and own a tent, so this is a plus. I said to my husband, "Remember that camping trip you wanted take?" I am exhausted, and disgusted, but still glad we sold our current home because it was time to do so. It was way too big for the 3 of us which will soon be the 2 of us. So, we will be going from 3700 square feet to around 2500 square feet which is plenty.

At any rate I ended up drinking half gallon of chamomile tea in order to get right.... and I must say there is just nothing chamomile and sleep won't cure. Of course by the 3rd cup I was feeling much calmer and the sharp edge on the tip of my last nerve was starting to become more diffuse and less sensitive. Of course when I woke up this morning I had the same problems but without the hangover!

Wish me luck............................%-)

Trying to relieve the pain....emotional self medication does not lead to serenity

They always say live in the moment to be truly happy.... At first this was particularly hard for me because I could not stop dwelling on yesterday and tomorrow. Sitting still and clearing your mind is so difficult. Finding a quiet spot in our lives is getting more difficult every day.  Have you ever tried to sit still and think about nothing, nothing at all?

Looking at a tree and realizing how beautiful it is with its branches blowing in the wind and the sun shining with all it's natural power and light is a complete miracle and we get to see it every day, unless of course you live in Alaska.  How do we get to that place in our minds where we can just stop and be still....and nothing can intrude and cause us pain?

I believe we all have things in our past, mistakes we have made, past hurts and trauma. Whether from a family member or something that we ourselves did to someone else that continues to crush us inside constantly and without any sign of mercy. Can we get a grip and somehow find away to stop thinking about that deed or trauma?  Forgiveness is forever sought.

Alcohol acts an anesthetic. For how long does it kill the pain? Does the pain not return upon awakening from a stupor followed by more pain from a throbbing maniacal headache that only time, sleep, water, and aspirin may cure?  I guess this pain takes our mind off the pain that caused us to drink in the first place. When one pain wears off, the next begins, and the anesthetic is again needed.  My, what an obnoxious circle.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

        

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

 

Once you decide to stop drinking.....here's what you do next.

The first step in correcting an alcohol problem is acknowledging you have a problem. The second is really deep down wanting and willingness to correct that problem. I was recently asked how I actually have remained sober without much pain or stress. I won't lie to you, taking the first step and that first week was not a breeze but....I had help and it got easier by the day.

 I am going to tell you my secret... I came across a method by an Author named Craig Beck. The name of his book is Alcohol Lied To Me. This book can be purchased in audio, digital, or paperback form. I preferred the audio form because I just never have time to sit down and read. So, I listen while driving or cleaning or just what ever I am doing. As of today I have listened to his book at least 10 times. I kid you not. At the end of his book there is a hypnosis session that I listened to every night for 3 weeks, and still do occasionally. Even though many times I fall asleep while listening I know the message is getting through to my subconscious. There is that word again, "subconscious.!"

There is a companion audio book you can get also called, "Stop Drinking Hypnosis" which is just short hypnosis sessions back to back and is nice to have. I have used all the techniques in the book and even though I did not take the supplements I am beginning to do so because as Mr. Beck says it is important to follow every step in the plan.

  Here are the Supplements:
This is taken directly from Craig Becks book Alcohol Lied To Me:

1000MG Omega 3 fish oil supplement and take three of these a day either all at once or spread over the day.

Broad spectrum ‘once a day’ multivitamin, B Vitamin Complex

 50MG 5-HTP supplement with a sweet liquid at bedtime unless you are diabetic.

 Vitamin C

Other things that I do would include Yoga, and meditation. I will talk more about this in another post!

The Road to Making a Sober Decision

Subconscious change has definitely been the answer for me. The first week was the worst but gradually and definitely it got better and better. It started for me with trying to discover what  underlying problems might be causing my craving for alcohol and then gradually looking for a cure or therapy other than AA, or another popular group therapy situation. I was very familiar with AA because my own mother was a recovering alcoholic for 38 years.  I received her 38 year certificate and coin right after her funeral.

The road to making the decision to stay completely sober can be a tough one.  One has to make up their mind that staying sober is more pleasant, and brings more benefit to life than drinking. Realizing that drinking alcohol has incredible power over us that we cannot control is another obstacle, this is why we find ourselves struggling, sometimes even arguing with ourselves over whether we should drink, that we can handle our alcohol, whether we can have just one drink and then stop, and other BS episodes of rationalization and excuses we try and create in our very feeble conscious egotistic minds.  This is why subconscious change is so important. Because willpower(this is our conscious mind trying to tell our subconscious what to do) doesn't work!

I may have mentioned in another post how I have come home grabbed a full wine bottle, opened it, poured it into a glass and slugged down a huge swallow without even consciously thinking about whether it was the best route for me to deal with the days problems. Before I knew it I was on my second glass.....At this point my subconscious had taken over because this behavior is stubbornly and forever engrained there and because my conscious need for relief, fast numbing relief, was greater than my conscious strength to fight the superhuman strength of my subconscious. Ahhhhh that felt good to get out!

Great Video by Craig Ferguson:

Please enjoy this video by Craig Ferguson. It will make you laugh and if you have ever had a problem with alcohol you will be able to relate!  He talks about his 15 year sobriety.

Legal Addiction: My View On This Alcohol Thing

Legal Addiction: My View On This Alcohol Thing: Ok so I really believe in subconscious change and that there is no such thing as willpower. I mean willpower exists, but there is just no po...

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Ok so I really believe in subconscious change and that there is no such thing as willpower. I mean willpower exists, but there is just no power in it. The change needs to come at a Subconscious level. We have several levels of consciousness and we cannot make a change at a conscious level. I have found my peace through meditation, hypnosis, and viewing alcohol for what it really is, poison Next.......