25 Inspirational Quotes To Help You Along Your Recovery Journey

25 Inspirational Quotes To Help You Along Your Recovery Journey

Articles, Australia, Education, International, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Sometimes in recovery, you need a little motivation to keep you moving forward on the right path. Here are 25 inspirational quotes you can take with you along your recovery journey: 

  1. “Sometimes we motivate ourselves by thinking of what we want to become. Sometimes we motivate ourselves by thinking about who we don’t ever want to be again.” – Shane Niemeyer
  2. Fall seven times, stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb
  3. “The great thing in this world is not so much where you stand, as in what direction you are moving.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes
  4. “The only journey is the one within.” – Rainer Maria Rilke
  5. You must do the things you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
  6. “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
  7. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
  8. “The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one.” – Elbert Hubbard
  9. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
  10. “Nothing is impossible; the word itself says, ‘I’m possible!’” – Audrey Hepburn
  11. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
  12. “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford
  13. “If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.” – Zen proverb
  14. “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese proverb
  15. “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford
  16. “Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” – Carl Bard
  17. “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’” – Muhammad Ali
  18. “If you can quit for a day, you can quit for a lifetime.” – Benjamin Alire Sáenz
  19. “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford
  20. “There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anaïs Nin
  21. “Either you run the day, or the day runs you.” – Jim Rohn
  22. “Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit.” – Bernard Williams
  23. “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” – Jimmy Dean
  24. “All the suffering, stress, and addiction comes from not realizing you already are what you are looking for.”  – Jon Kabat-Zinn
  25. People spend a lifetime searching for happiness; looking for peace. They chase idle dreams, addictions, religions, even other people, hoping to fill the emptiness that plagues them. The irony is the only place they ever needed to search was within.” – Ramona L. Anderson

We hope you enjoyed these inspirational quotes we have shared with you!

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Learning to Say No

Learning to Say No

Articles, Australia, Education, International, LGBTQ, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Recovery is in essence about learning to say no. You have to learn to say no to your former behaviors, former places, and many times, former friends. It can be hard to say no, especially when you feel like everything around you is changing and you just want to be part of something outside yourself. When in recovery you may start building a new life for yourself and as part of that you will probably take on new opportunities and jobs. However, there comes a point when you get so busy you cannot take on another job, but hesitate to say no.

This is common in recovery as you want to help people realize you are trying to change you life and people will push and push to see what you can handle before making a mistake. Unfortunately, this pushing you to keep taking on more can cause problems of its own. Many people feel compelled to agree to every request, even if this means no time for themselves. This is not uncommon and many in recovery feel this is a way to have people learn to trust them again. However, learning to say no can help you earn respect from those around you. We tend to keep saying yes because we think saying no is uncaring, selfish, or may lead to letting someone down. Some people may even fear being disliked, criticized, or risking a friendship. Being able to say no is actually linked with self confidence. Those with low self confidence tend to agonize or feel nervous about saying no to anyone.

Low self confidence is typical for those who have addictions. Unfortunately, saying yes all the time can leave you feeling exhausted, stressed, and irritable. Feeling this way can have negative consequences. So how do you say no? Read on to learn effective ways to say no to those you know.

Keep your response simple and firm. This does not mean be mean but let your position be known and move on. If no is not working then buy yourself some time with “I’ll think about it and let you know”. This allows you time to think or truly see if you want to do what is asked. If not then say no with confidence. Consider a compromise if you really want to help. This can be accomplished by seeing what can fit into your schedule within reason. Remember it is important to help others, but equally important to take care of yourself. Separate refusal from rejection by remembering you are turning down a request not the actual person. Everyone has to say no at some point. This does not mean the person will hate you or that you are a bad person, you are simply saying no to a single request. Do not feel guilty for saying no to anyone, including your children. It is important for everyone to hear no on occasion as it sets boundaries.

Finally, be true to yourself and what you want. If someone asks you to do something you are not interested in then feel free to say no. People have different goals, wants, needs, and interests, you have the right to refuse. Now that you have the tools, practice using them.

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Speaking Up and Taking a Stand

Speaking Up and Taking a Stand

Articles, Australia, Education, International, LGBTQ, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

There are times in life when we must all speak up for what is needed or desired. Some things may be for the betterment of others, but it is more likely that we need our own desires met. How you speak up in these times can determine how seriously people take you, especially when emotions are running high. This means you need to learn to speak up and share your point without emotion. This can be a challenge as taking a stand can be a highly emotional experience. You may be standing up to someone for the first time, taking an unpopular stance, or simply standing up for something you would have allowed prior to this moment. People may think you are kidding or refuse to listen to your beliefs unless you approach things in the correct way.

This is important during recovery because adding stress to an already stressful situation can cause a relapse. So if you need to speak up and take a stand than try the following suggestions.

First, try to stay calm, yet forceful. This means you are not trying to force people to see your point of view, but to simply see what you are thinking and feeling. You need to be a revolutionary, not a warrior. If you start to try to force people to see your point of view then strong emotions will come out on both sides and an argument is likely to erupt.  Being a revolutionary means trying to show people your vision through valid reasoning and a clearly laid out plan.

Compose your statements well. Use ‘I’ statements. This means that you are speaking for yourself, your opinions, and your thoughts. A statement such as ‘I no longer want to party every weekend’ is more effective than partying is stupid. A better statement is ‘I do not want to party every weekend because I am trying to change my life, but we can have fun in healthier ways.’ This way you are giving the other person a way to still hang out while validating your own choices. You are also not attacking the other person’s choices, but also not allowing them in your life.

To further your thoughts and feelings you should summarize your backstory as a way to show reasoning. Perhaps you are an addict and your life has been falling apart due to drug use. Share a few specific examples to demonstrate you have thought through your position. This is a way to explain what led you to this specific moment. Additionally, paint a picture of the desired outcome for others to see. If you can paint a picture it may allow others to come to your way of thinking. With this you should also declare your expectations to show that you have thought this through. Share any concerns, pitfalls, and steps you plan to take along the way.

As with any plan you are likely to need to compromise in some way. Know what you are willing to compromise on before sharing your needs. In recovery this may mean not being around certain people or staying away from certain places, but remaining friends with people if they are not using around you.

Most of all, when speaking up for yourself, stay calm and stay on track. Do not get distracted by the people that want to argue, just ignore them. If you are prepared ahead of time, even if you need to practice what you are going to say, then you are more likely to earn a positive outcome overall. If not then you may need to move away from the situation permanently.

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Personal Conflict in Recovery

Personal Conflict in Recovery

Articles, Australia, Education, International, LGBTQ, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Personal Conflict in Recovery – Personal conflict is a part of life, whether we want to face it or not. When in recovery the times personal conflict occurs can create a great deal of stress for the individual. There are two types of people that appear when something uncomfortable happens, those who fight the uncomfortable and those who face it. Both people believe what they are doing is right, but the reactions are very different. Those who fight it are always hating, hiding, and blaming. These individuals can make themselves miserable when changes occur. No matter the change you must deal with it and it is best to face it with a positive attitude. Those who face the uncomfortable learn to get comfortable with it. These individuals learn to handle any situation by trying to make the best of it. So how do you become the person that handles the uncomfortable more comfortable?

Learn to be patient, even when it is uncomfortable. Life is painfully uncomfortable, that is an unfortunate fact of life, but there are things you can do. The universal root of uncomfortable is the universal truth of rejection. Some people will like you, some will not. You must be willing to face the truth head on through all those people, places, and things no matter the feelings. When you feel out of control or uncomfortable turn to the people that are in your corner. There are always people in your corner whether you have to ask, volunteer, or pay someone like a counselor. Having these people and a place in which you really feel supported and loved is important to learning how to be comfortable with the uncomfortable.

When you do find yourself in an uncomfortable position, talk about the things that make you uncomfortable. Just start with one person and let it grow to others. This will help you stay more comfortable or get more comfortable with what is bothering you. This can also lead you to find others who may feel the same way or who have overcome such feelings. So now the question becomes who are your people? Where are your places? And are you patient enough to get there?

Whether you are the type of person who dreads the uncomfortable or the type that embraces it you can determine how you handle any given situation. You are in control of yourself and how you react to all that happens. Recovery offers you a chance to start life over. How do you want to start your new life, ready to take on the world or afraid of what may happen? The choice really is yours.

You have made the decision to enter into recovery or at the most you are trying to figure out if you want to enter that part of your life. Once you make the decision then you can also make the necessary changes as needed. What is the first thing you would choose to change if you could change anything about your future tomorrow? Whatever your answer, hold tight to it and get ready to make that change. Set your goals and move forward in your recovery as soon as you can.

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Prescription Drugs and Addiction

Prescription Drugs and Addiction

Articles, Australia, Celebrity Rehab, International, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States

Prescription Drugs and Addiction – By now, most of us have learned about the rampant addiction problem associated with heroin and methamphetamine. The problem in general, the overdoses, and the heartbreaking stories of young people whose lives have been destroyed by these drugs are all over the evening news in most parts of the world. We tend to hear less about the dangers of prescription drugs.

It is common practice for people to be prescribed powerful pain medications for everything from sports injuries to post-operative pain. The people who take these drugs are following doctor’s orders and following prescription guidelines. The problem lies in the fact that many of these drugs are highly addictive. Once an individual tries to stop using the drugs, they begin to experience withdrawal symptoms without knowing that this is what is happening to them. The take more of the medication, and the addiction cycle is in full bloom.

For some, this perfectly innocent and accidental addiction becomes a path to heroin. Prescription opioids are difficult to obtain without a prescription and they are expensive. The logical leap to a cheap and readily available street drug in the form of heroin is a small step to feed a growing addiction.

Recent studies in Australia revealed that there were more than 1800 overdose deaths from prescription drugs in 2016. This is more than the number of heroin overdoses at the height of Australia’s heroin problem in 1999. A recent report stated that more people are dying from prescription drugs in Australia than from illegal drugs.

Experts are particularly worried about the elderly since they often find themselves isolated. They are therefore more prone to fall into addiction and to suffer with addiction without any recourse. They are unaware of what is happening to them, and there is often no one around to intervene in the problem.

Another complication in this is that for some people, the addiction can go on for years without them being fully aware of it. People report taking prescribed oxycodone for as long as eight years and even admit that they cannot function without it. Yet they remain unaware of the fact that this inability to function without the drug is in fact an addiction. This is intrinsic problem with prescription medications.

We all have that element of trust and faith in the judgment of a doctor. We simply trust that we are being treated correctly and safely. If prescribed a drug, especially if we are living with chronic pain in which relief may be all we can think about, we simply take the drug. We expect that if we take the drug as prescribed, we will be fine. The problem is that so many of these drugs are dangerously addictive.

Oxycodone, for example, operates on the central nervous system in exactly the same way as heroin and morphine. It attaches to neurotransmitters and helps to block pain, and basically all feeling, in order to perform the prescribed task. As we use the drug, our bodies begin to require the drug in the same way as heroin. 

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