When I was in treatment we had to write a letter to the people we loved most dearly as if we had relapsed. Since I don’t have children yet my nieces and nephews were a no brainer. This letter is what sealed the deal on the life I was committed to living and the changes I had to make no matter what. Please share. I hope it helps you in whatever you are struggling with today.
Dear Lily, Macie, Hunter and Alexa: I am sorry that I will not be there for you when you need me. I won’t be there for you on the days you just need someone to talk to. When you are hurting so bad and feel like you have no one, you won’t have me either. The sad truth is that Auntie Dani loves you guys so much but she just needed to always feel good instantly so she chose alcohol and a life of listening to her ego over loving you and herself and everything and everyone that ever meant anything to her. I am sorry that you may think you are less important to me because I chose these things over you. I want you to know that I love you all so much. You mean the world to me. I would do anything for you, almost anything, but I am sorry I can’t stop drinking. I wanted to be such a good example to all of you of the way to really live life…to find true happiness, love yourself and others, to be honest and caring, and maybe most importantly, peaceful inside. This is all I want for you but I couldn’t get it. I wanted you to see that enjoying the simplest things in life is what living really is. When I think of the four of you my heart and my eyes light up. I am so sorry that I failed you. My hope is that one day you will be able to learn these things on your own and live a life of true peace and happiness. I am sorry that I chose denial, instant gratification and superficiality over being a living example to all of you. Always, Auntie Dani
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When I wanted to want sobriety but wasn't ready to give up the drink, a woman who had what I wanted looked at me and said, "You are exactly where you are supposed to be at this moment." I never forgot it. There was something about her words that told me I wasn't all broken and that things might eventually be ok. For anyone who has ever dealt with addictive behaviors you know that there is no cure for addictive tendencies. It is daily work. I have the disadvantage and advantage of having to start my day off being mentally, physically and spiritually fit and without those factors in balance all bets are off. And I don't care what anyone ever threatened me with, death, drunk driving, the effects of drug abuse, etc., I wasn't going to be ready until I was really ready. I had to have that last drink. So Elizabeth Vargas, please don't feel like a failure. We are all doing the best we can with what we have at each moment. Thank you for being so public about your struggle to remind people that they too can do this! Read more about Elizabeth's return to treatment.
RealYou Revolution was invited onto the Wicked Sober Voices of Hope Radio show the other night to explain more about Recovery Coaching and how we got started! Attorney General candidate Warren Tolman also called in with an explanation of the work he plans to do in the world of substance abuse, treatment, and recovery. Want to learn more about the world of addiction and recovery and how we can help you? Then listen to this broadcast from August, 13th!
Synthetic Marijuana, also known as "spice," is sold completely legally as a potpourri in convenience stores and smoke shops. Frequently hidden behind the counter, your 18 year-old can buy this, or your younger children can acquire it as they would a pack of cigarettes from an older buyer.
Synthetic drugs are processed in a laboratory to mimic the chemical compounds in others drugs. By the time lawmakers go through the long process of making them illegal, chemists need only change one ingredient, repackage it, and sell the same chemicals in a convenience store near you. The scariest thing about synthetics is, because nothing about them is natural, any brain damage caused through even one use is completely irreversible! I always made myself feel better about trying pot in high school by reading articles in High Times that reassured me that marijuana was all-natural and, in some cases, even good for me. Well, this is not at all the case with Spice. You need to be well aware of the dangers, and make sure your kids understand them, too. Permanent holes in the brain after even one use? Manchester, NH just dealt with 9 overdoses in one night and I can't even imagine the type of damage it's done to those who will be lucky enough to show brain activity again... I frequently hear, "Why do people need a recovery coach, and why isn't their AA sponsor enough?" Addiction treatment can be extremely overwhelming to someone who wants to get clean, but being released from treatment is far more overwhelming. Leaving detox or treatment with the support of a professional who is is properly trained in guiding someone through the different stages of sobriety can make a remarkable difference. I believe every single person should have a therapist and a recovery coach: a therapist to work on issues from your past, and a coach who has been where you have been, and who can help bring you to a new level in the present and future. The article below not only talks about how recovery coaching can maximize your investments in treatment, but also about how it is now a critical tool in the recovery arsenal.
Recovery Coach Helps An Addict Resist Heroin's Lure Despite the fact that many consider it harsh, I frequently identify myself as an addict. I am an addict because I want more and more of anything and everything that makes me feel good or takes me out of myself. For many of us, the notion of looking inward is absolutely terrifying. What will I see? What pain will I have to feel? What if I don't like what I see? Will I have to change things that are comfortable in order to grow? This is not just terrifying to people who have been battling an unhealthy dependency to alcohol or drugs. It is a basic human fear. In the beautiful video clip below, actress and model Amber Valletta comes out for the first time as an alcoholic and addict. While the entire video is heartfelt and enlightening, it's what she says in the last few minutes that remind me why recovery is so vital to our spirit; recovery from the basic struggle of being human and having past fears and painful memories. "Diving into dark places in myself that scare me or I feel ugly about is where the real growth comes from, from pausing, from being able to look within." This is a daily challenge, it has not become easy simply because I've started to do it. But it is where my real growth comes from – and I want to keep growing... I wanted to share this very basic (but very awesome!) article on understanding addiction and how it creeps up on so many unsuspecting people. No one wants to admit they are a drug addict or an alcoholic. I realized a long time ago that these labels, and the confusion about what they meant to me, were preventing me from being brutally honest with myself and getting the help I needed. There are so many types of addiction that this article could be talking about. If you or someone you know is exhibiting signs of alcoholism or is dealing with drug abuse or other addictive behaviors, call us today at 774-329-4393.
Understanding How Drug Addicts Think: The Progression of Addiction My personal belief is that there is not one specific way to overcome addiction. What worked for me was surrounding myself with a lot of intelligent and positive people who were recovering from their own addictions. The more people in my life who had what I wanted, the more excited I was about the future possibilities and the more attainable long-term sobriety seemed. The mainstream is catching on to this, and people are starting to understand the critical advantages of working with a well-qualified recovery coach or sobriety coach. I thought this New York Times article offered an excellent perspective on the benefits of recovery coaching services for mothers.
Mothers Find a Helping Hand in Sobriety Coaches This warning about the Recovery Coaching industry is not far from the truth. Sadly, unqualified people are capitalizing on addiction every day. When hiring a Recovery Coach it is absolutely critical to ensure that he or she is fully certified through the National Association for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC). Anyone can call themselves a "Life Coach" or a "Recovery Coach." Actually being one is a different story. What you need is to understand their credentials and experiences. Does the coach you are considering have the type of life that they are proclaiming they can help you to achieve? Do they truly understand different types of addiction, how to overcome addiction, and how to live an amazing life while recovering from addiction?
What do Recovery Coaches and Sober Companions Do? (And Why Should You be Wary of Them) |
about the master coachDanielle, the Founder & Master Coach of RealYou Revolution, is a woman in long term recovery with a passion for helping others overcome their own personal demons – whatever they may be.
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