Break the Chains of Addiction -

Without the aid of a California drug treatment program, alcohol and drug dependency often leads to negative consequences for both the addict and their loved ones. Many addicts have trouble understanding the effect of their addictions on those surrounding them. The truth is, addiction is a serious disease, often prohibiting individuals from noticing exactly how their behaviors are affecting others. This poses serious issues for children forced to live alongside the addiction, often requiring a sober parent or family friend to explain the dependency in a manner that the child can comprehend.

Step 1 – Discussions should be catered to the audience. Kids under 5 years of age may not be able to understand, nor should they be subjected to the intricacies of the abuse. If a particular behavior must be explained to a child in this age range, do your best to make it short a sweet; explain that the individual isn’t feeling well.

Step 2 – There is a fine line to walk with children ages of 5 – 9. Here, you will want to color the conversation in a way that helps the child understand that the addiction is actually a disease. Explain how people with this particular disease must obtain help to overcome it. Be sure to emphasize that the behaviors exhibited by the addict are not the child’s fault, as it’s not uncommon for children to place blame on their own heads.

Step 3 – Once a child has reached age 10, it’s appropriate to be a little more direct. Sit the child down and calmly explain the intricacies of the addiction disease. If you’re dealing with someone in their early teens, it may be a good time to stress the importance of avoiding alcohol and drugs in their own life. Children with addiction in their families have a much higher risk of becoming addicts themselves. As such, it’s important to make sure the child understands the risks associated with their own experimentation.

Step 4 – Explain that the addict is seeking help for their dependency at a drug rehab in California. Outline the treatment process, and provide the child with a basic understand of what to expect (visits, timeline, etc.) throughout the recovery. Most substance abuse centers in California offer family counseling to patients and their loved ones as part of the recovery process. In this way, children can gain a better understanding of addiction, and the best means for supporting their family members.

As alcoholics in recovery we may or may not encounter other forms of addiction that can pop up throughout our sobriety. There are some alcoholics that only need alcohol addiction help or some addicts that only need a 30 day rehab, AA, or a Los Angeles rehab because they don’t experience the addictive behavior with things other than alcohol or drugs. Then there is the other type who after getting sober realizes that  either they’ve replaced their main addiction with  something else or have  began to see that they have had problems in other areas all along but weren’t aware of them until now. For this kind of alcoholic it seems sometimes more difficult to address these situations then it was to address our alcoholism partially because the devastation and wreckage from alcoholism was perhaps more noticeable then these other addictions. Addictions can begin to surface in areas least expected such as food, men, women, shopping, excersising etc. Though not necessarily shocking. After all we as alcoholics are constantly seeking elevated moods. Whatever it is we pray and work the steps around it the way we do with alcohol. We begin to realize that if we have faith and do the work the battle with any addiction can be won. We begin to get more connected to our truest , and purest selves and start to see that if we love ourselves then we don’t need to constantly try to fill the hole with people, places, and things  that not only hurt us but also never really fix us either.

Our prescription drug treatment program has been carried out on many patients throughout the years. A number of factors dictate the type of treatment required for a successful recovery; the most important of these being the type of drug on which the individual is dependent. The number of prescription medications known to result in addiction is vast, and includes sedatives, stimulants, and painkillers.

Each medication possesses a specific set of effects and side effects. With this in mind, it’s important to note that treatment must be specific to the type of drug addiction being combated. Patients who have built up an addiction to these types of substances must first be carefully evaluated and examined prior to fully committing to a long term drug rehabilitation plan.

In many ways, prescription drug treatment is quite similar to treatments used to combat other types of addiction. A large sum of the techniques used throughout our prescription program are found to be just as helpful as those utilized in heroin and oxycontin rehab plans. In most of our rehabilitation programs, the best treatment in weaning patients from prescription drug medications comes in the form of a combination of several treatment options. However, before a proper treatment plan can be determined, a proper detoxification program must be implemented

Detox is used as a way to help counter the withdrawal symptoms commonly experienced once drug consumption is halted. Different symptoms are associated with different medications, and vary in severity and intensity depending on the use history and amounts.

Additional methods used during treatment include addiction counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy. Both methods serve in altering exactly how the individual approaches drug issues and daily life.

Truth be told, there is only one sure-fire way to achieve a complete and successful recovery: A commitment to oneself to address the situation head on. Counselors and addiction specialists can attempt to educate patients regarding the dangers associated with their addictions, but without the proper drive and push, the risk of relapse is almost inevitable.

“Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principals in all of our affairs.”

“Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail. This is our 12^th suggestion: carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can. You can secure their confidence when others fail. Remember they are very ill. Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends- this is an experience you must not miss.” pg 89 working with others from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

Our primary purpose is to stay sober and to help another alcoholic achieve sobriety and that is exactly what step 12 is all about. Whether we went through a 30 day rehab program, other facilities, or did it without the help of treatment, once we seek alcohol addiction help, work the steps, and recover as a result it is then time for us to pay it forward. We give back what was freely given to us, so that others may have a shot at sobriety. There is great joy in knowing that we have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body and an even greater joy in giving that gift to someone else. It’s how we stay sober. Newcomers are our lifelines. Just like we went to any lengths to recover, we’d go to any lengths to help the newcomer. Perhaps it’s a matter of reaching our hand out, talking, meeting up with them, or maybe it’s a matter of speaking whether it be in a meeting or places such as a California alcohol rehab we make sure that we are the best example we can be and that we carry the message of recovery. Through sobriety we get to live such a blessed and amazing life. Let’s stick around and do the work, so that others may get this opportunity as well.

“Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscience contact with God as we understood him. Praying only for the knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out.”

Step 11 suggests power and meditation we should be shy on this prayer. Better men than we are using it constantly. It works, if we have the proper attitude and work at it- pg 86 into action from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

It is also suggested to us that when we retire at night we review our day, we ask ourselves were we resentful, selfish, dishonest, or afraid? Do we owe an apology? Have we kept something to ourselves? Were we kind and loving towards all? What could we have done better? We also ask ourselves if we were thinking about what we can do for others versus thinking of only ourselves. When we wake up we also review the 24 hours ahead as well. This step is about maintaining a conscience contact with a higher power and remaining unblocked so that we may be able to help the newcomer. It is also about getting in touch with our highest self. Is and when we go to a 30 day rehab program and decide to work the steps there will be counselors available to help teach you about step 11 and the other steps, especially since these days most LA rehab programs incorporate 12 step addiction practices. This is extremely helpful in relation to the 11^th step in the sense that the guidance that is needed will be available to you without having to seek it out in many different areas. In program there is a saying, “more will be revealed” and that’s exactly what the results in the 11^th step. Not only do we get a conscience contact with our higher power but also with ourselves and our fellows as well. This is the core from which our peace, compassion, brotherly love, and happiness derive from.

“Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.”

“This brings us to step 10, which suggests we continue to take personal inventory and continue to right any new mistakes as we go along. We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime.” – Into action pg 84 from the Big book of Alcoholics Anonymous

In step ten we continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When they crop up we ask God at once to remove them. Step 10 is a maintenance step. We review our fears, resentments, and parts on paper. We then look at where we had been selfish, self seeking, and dishonest. We ask ourselves where had we been dishonest? Did we arouse jealousy? Whom had we hurt? If anyone was harmed we immediately make it right. We admit our faults and amend our behavior. When we sought alcohol addiction help we agreed to go to any lengths to stay sober. Cleaning our wreckage up is a small price to pay as well as a rewarding experience. Through places like drug addiction detox, 12 step programs, or perhaps a drug addiction facility in LA we are taught how to work the steps, and adapt to this new way of living. Those of us in recovery are given an amazing life beyond our wildest dreams. All we have to do is ask for help and be willing to do the footwork.

“Made a direct amends to people wherever possible except when to do so would injure them or others.”

“Now we go out to our fellows and repair the damage done in the past we attempt to sweep away the debris, which has accumulated out of our own effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves.  If we haven’t the will to do this we ask until it comes.  Remember we agreed at the beginning we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol.” -pg 76 Into Action from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

In step nine we get the opportunity to right what was once wrong and clean up our side of the street thanks to the help of places such as a Los Angeles rehab, AA or 30 day rehab programs.  We set out to clean up our wreckage, we go to people we have harmed and being careful not to cause more harm, we laid out and address our wrongdoings as well as ask how we can make it better.  This can definitely be a scary process.  No one wants to go to people and admit their faults let alone try to clean it up.  Sometimes it might seem easier to just brush it all under the rug.  After all, what if they are still angry, how will they react?  Many of us don’t want to feel bad, it’s the alcoholic’s mission to seek elevated moods and search for happiness so why would we want to rehash the past and feel guilty? For starters, this is not about them or their reactions, it is about us staying sober and being willing to go to any lengths.  Secondly, there is a freedom that comes from owning our parts and amending our behaviors.  It’s not only something that we need to do but get to do in order to be an example, so that if someone else is struggling with this disease they might know there is a place available or someone to go to for alcohol addiction help.

As it says in our responsibility statement: “When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there and for that I am responsible.”  Responsibility is not only owning our part but also going to any lengths to work the steps to the best of our ability.

“Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.”

Now we need more action, without which we find that “faith without works is dead.” Let’s look at steps 8 and 9 .We had a list of all persons we have harmed, and to whom we are willing to make amends .We made it when we took inventory. We subjected ourselves to a drastic self appraisal.- pg 76 Into Action from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

In our fourth step we had already made an 8^th step list without knowing it but perhaps there were people we had harmed before we received alcohol addiction help that may not have harmed us. Therefore we much search every nook and cranny of our lives to make sure we don’t leave anyone out of our 8^th step. Some alcoholics leave people off the list because they are afraid they will have to make amends to them. That is not a decision that needs to or is being addressed in this step. The only action that is taken here is to simply write don and review the people we have harmed as a result of our disease. When we start to get sober and the “fog” lifts perhaps through the help from a 30 day rehab, AA, or a drug addiction detox we can see clearly that our alcoholism didn’t just affect us but also most of the people we came in contact with as well. We were notorious for running through peoples lives like a tornado. The only way we can live a happy, clean, and full life while being able to live with ourselves is by doing the foot work, cleaning our side of the street up and making things right with our fellows.

“Humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings.”

We ask god to help us be willing when ready we say something like this: “my creator I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. i pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.” We have then completed Step 7 – pg 76 Into Action from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

In Step 6 and Step 7 we are cleaning house. Step 7 is a continuation of Step 6. We continue to become more aware of our defects of character and pray to have them removed. If we are unwilling then we simply pray for the willingness. As we talked about before the most difficult thing about being willing to be rid of our shortcomings is the fact that we think some of them still work for us. However as soon as they are removed we often times see they were not working for us, but in fact they were hurting us and others. When we finally let go of them we begin to see that living an honest and clean life is much more beneficial in the sense that not only is there less harm being done to ourselves and others, but also less negative consequences. As it says in the big book “if we are sorry for what we have done, and have the honest desire to let god take us to better things, we believe we will be forgiven and will have learned our lesson. If we are not sorry, and our conduct continues to harm others, we are quite sure to drink. We are not theorizing. These are the facts out of our experiences.” in order to get to the point of complete surrender or in preparation for the steps it would be beneficial to research places and things such as FAQs about rehab and recovery in Los Angeles, recovery testimonials California, AA, and California Rehab Centers. These resources will most likely to be able to answer any questions you might have. After completing step 7 we continue to be aware of our shortcomings when they crop up and once again we immediately ask god to remove them. This is a very crucial step when it comes to self-love and developing with ourselves and others. The payoff is the absence of dissonance, increased self-esteem and an amazing ability to handle situations which use to baffle us as a result of having and surrendering to a power greater than ourselves.