Category: Australia

Humility in Recovery

Humility As a Tool in Recovery

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

Recovery comes with a number of challenges. The biggest is to decide to enter recovery, but others will quickly arise. The key is to begin learning and storing the tools that will further your recovery and help you to reach long term recovery. Just imagine looking back a year from now or ten years from now knowing that you have changed your entire life. This should get you excited as it is completely possible. So while you may just be getting started know that there is hope and you have already made the toughest decision. To take control of your addiction. The remainder of this article will share a single tool that can change your attitude and progress as part of recovery.

Whether you have a gambling addiction, a pill habit, or are involved in a range of addictive behaviors, there is a tool that can help you become and stay successful in recovery. This tool is simply humility. Humility is defined as humbleness or a moderate or low view of one’s importance. While this may sound like a self-demeaning trait it is not in any way meant to make you feel worthless. On the contrary. Humility is knowing that you are no better or worse than anyone else and that you will need to ask for help at times. That you have as much right and ability to succeed as the next person. The fact is when we lack humility we often disrespect people and hurt them in ways that are unimaginable. We can also ended up feeling humiliated.

If you practice humility in recovery then you suddenly become teachable and become a better listener. You allow yourself to examine your life without judgment or shame. This means you will allow others to help you and can learn to be honest with yourself about your problems, goals, and the steps needed to reach long term and lasting recovery.

The problem is that we often feel at a loss of power or importance when humbling ourselves. However, humility is the development of an honest, accurate, and objective view of ourselves in the universe. When using humility in recovery we view ourselves as equals to everyone and everything. Someone who practices humility rarely feels subconscious, but does take responsibility for what has been done or chosen, even while being secure in who we are in life and recovery. This will take practice.

To practice humility in recovery you must first learn to be grateful for the gifts you have been given. This can vary between and among individuals, but remember you are alive and you have a chance to start over, many did not get that chance. You must also be unique and not spend time comparing yourself to others. Some people can stop using and cravings end in a few days, others may take months or years. Do not compare yourself to others as your journey is your own. You should be kind, teachable, and free. Let the past stay in the past and begin working toward your future. As part of this you should realize that you do not know everything and can learn from the experiences of others. Even if your experience is not the same.

Start practicing random acts of kindness. Helping others can boost self esteem and further your recovery.

Finally, let go of your expectations. Life can throw you curve balls, just keep moving forward. Humility starts with you from the inside, realize that you are an amazing person that can succeed.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Finding Your Joy

Finding Your Joy

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

Finally, you have made the tough and brave decision to walk away from your addiction. You should be proud you have taken this huge step toward starting a new life. You have an opportunity that many do not, to start over. This step can be a difficult one, but that does not mean you cannot find joy while making all these changes. This can be a challenge because addiction messes with the chemistry of the brain and can alter how we feel joy. As you enter into recovery you may not feel the same type of joy you did from your addiction. But you can find another type of joy. As you begin learning to find joy, remember that the joy brought about by your actual addiction was false, it was chemically induced and more and more was necessary to mimic that feeling. So now that you know what to expect, try some of the following ways to find new joy.

One way that may be unfamiliar to find joy is through vulnerability. Life will not always be good, but it also will not always be bad. When you feel yourself becoming more vulnerable be grateful that you can feel what you are feeling. Embrace the vulnerability and realize that you are a human with emotions and those emotions make you who you are in life. You do not have to dwell on any negative feelings but be proud you are feeling. This vulnerability will allow you to feel things that addiction often masks and will open up a world to you that you may have forgotten existed. As you open yourself up, learn to have an attitude of gratitude.

If you are grateful for the small things then you will be a happier person. It may seem like a simple activity but for a few days try taking a couple minutes each hour to write one thing you are grateful for in life. This does not have to be something big. It can be as simple as your favorite movie showing on television or getting to sleep in on the weekend. As you write these things down save them for those times when you are feeling low. Take time to read them and remember how you felt in that moment. This will bring joy. By finding joy in everyday moments you are choosing to be joyful. While it may not always feel like it, being joyful is a choice.

It really is as simple as finding joy by practicing joy regardless of your circumstances. You can cultivate this joy by being actively grateful and enjoying the moments where peace and happiness find you. These moments will be different for each person, but they can be found. If joy is not finding you then make your own. Try doing something fun and healthy. Get creative and find a new hobby or start a craft. Go outdoors and get some sunshine or just play. Children are happy because they are not worried about what comes next, they live in the moment and find the simplistic joy that is that moment.

Another way to find joy and let it find you is by keeping your body healthy. A healthy body allows you to feel better and do more. So get outside and get some exercise, soak in the vitamin D that the sun provides and let joy come your way. In addition to this, enjoy some healthy snacks. Enjoy these snacks slowly, actually tasting and savoring each bite. These snacks can also be used as a reward for meeting goals, maybe you can spurge a little as the reward.

No matter how you choose to find joy in a healthy way, know that it will benefit you long term as recovery becomes easier. You are an amazing person that has made a huge decision in your life. Stay strong and find that joy so you can make it long term.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Stop Waiting for Life to Happen

Stop Waiting for Life to Happen

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

Stop Waiting for Life to Happen

How many times in your life have you made the statement: When I get enough money or When I am older or even When I am more prepared? These are all forms of procrastination. As addicts we tend to procrastinate on many things, especially those that are not feeding the addiction. This procrastination causes us to get stuck in a negative routine in which things never get done and nothing ever really changes, but recovery offers a chance for a new start.

We are living in amazing times with limitless possibilities. So what are you doing with the life you have right now? Are you wasting it feeling sorry for yourself? Are you stuck in a boring dead end job that is not meeting your needs? Do you want to change? You have options. We are literally one click away from connecting with anyone in the world, but we often feel extremely alone. So how do we correct this and what does it have to do with recovery? The answer will hopefully become clear with the remainder of this article.

We are often taught that love is conditional, but this is not really true. We are all basically the same, but we are often so self-focused that we do not really connect. The first step in truly connecting is to know yourself and to re-frame how you think about yourself. This may sound self-centered but it is actually helpful. Life is a mirror that reflects what we put in front of it so if you re-frame yourself and become positive and focused on the good then that good will reflect back on you. However the same is true of the negative. If you put anger and hatred into your life then it will be reflected back on you as well. You cannot go through life attached to your past and expect things to change.

How you choose to live this moment and all that follow it is what can change your life. You can write your own story, starting now, what will it be? So get started by first being true to yourself so that you can connect to others in their truth. This is also why a support system is so important in recovery. The people in your support group will help you build a positive reflection and keep growing.

So now that you know how to get started start being honest with yourself and others to find those connections that allow you to write your best story. Use what you have and where you are to create the life you desire. While it may not be where you want to end up ultimately, it is a good place to start. Your journey will not always be easy or simple, but if you truly want what you are working toward, you can make it happen. So what will your new story be? Will you work toward big goals, a new home, a new job, a license, freedom? The choices are endless.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Recovery and Self-Efficacy

Recovery and Self-Efficacy

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

Self-efficacy is not a term we often hear in daily conversation. The term self-efficacy refers to a person’s belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations, to complete tasks, confront challenges, and achieve objectives. Self-efficacy is important I everyone’s life, but highly important in the life of someone in recovery. Think about it. An addict has probably spent a good amount of time under the weight of addiction. In active addiction one cannot always be successful in specific tasks. Use alcoholism for an example. A functional alcoholic may be able to go to work daily and even accomplish some of the tasks. But the alcohol is keeping him or her from doing their best. Take an extreme example, a heroin addict may be able to get up during the day, but the cravings will keep this person from accomplishing anything useful during most days. Even addictions such as gambling or to something such as sleeping pills can affect daily activities because the need for that fix will consume energy that could be used on more productive tasks. This is why self-efficacy is so important to the recovering addict.

A word that may be more familiar and is synonymous with self-efficacy is self-confidence. Self-efficacy means you have confidence in your own abilities. This can be a difficult concept for those who have come out of addiction. You may see yourself as not able to accomplish anything because of how far down you have fallen or feel that some dreams are out of reach because of all the hurdles that lie in the way, but this is not true. However, self-esteem and self-respect are part of moving past these fears to start your new life. In fact, underlying all of these things is the fundamental concept of self-discovery. So this leaves you with a very important question to answer: Who I am? Finding the answer to this is very important in recovery.

When someone is in recovery they need perseverance on a given course. You cannot begin to set that course without first knowing who you are in life. This defining moment will help you stay in recovery long term. Addicts have had an active addiction, if this ability to not stop doing something can be turned toward recovery then it will last long term. This drive that was once used to get to the next fix can be redirected into building a new life that does not include addiction. Additionally, addicts tend to have sublimation or the tendency to persist and obsess. If this tendency can be put in the right direction than a former addict could be unstoppable.

Just imagine the energy you put into finding your next fix used to find a job or start a new hobby or even building a whole new life. This can all be accomplished with a positive orientation.

This may all be difficult to imagine because thinking positive is something not usually something an addict does naturally. So self-efficacy must be built from the ground up which is also difficult. Do not lose hope though because it is possible. The first step is getting rid of bad influences. This may mean that some friends and family members must be removed from your life or in the least, strong boundaries set. The next step is to not lie or keep secrets. Secrets and lies are part of addiction, but will have no place in your new life. Life is much simpler if you do not have to keep up with several untrue stories.

Finally, avoid labeling. Do not label yourself or others as failures or bad people, accept people where they are and move forward with your own life. You cannot change others, it is a personal decision. To start this process use self-affirmations in order to start believing you can succeed if you do your best and align yourself with supportive, positive people. This is the way to long term success.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Recovery From Binge Eating

Recovery From Binge Eating

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

Recovery From Binge Eating Can Be A Complicated Matter

When someone has a drug or alcohol addiction and they get into recovery, it’s pretty straightforward – no drugs or alcohol allowed. For an addict or alcoholic, this is what sobriety is all about. One day at a time, it’s about learning to live life without taking drugs or drinking alcohol to cope with painful feelings or the emotional stressors of daily living.

When you suffer from binge eating and you make the decision to get into recovery for your problem, things aren’t so simple. You have to eat food to survive, so you can’t simply remain abstinent from eating. In other words, you can’t make the decision to stay sober from food. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t work that way. Recovery from binge-eating is measured differently, which can make things seem much more complicated.

Food Functions As A Drug For Binge Eaters 

For those who struggle with binge-eating, recovery can be much more difficult than it is for those with a substance abuse problem. The addict or alcoholic simply stops using their drug of choice. With every sober day that passes, they celebrate one more day clean and sober. But, those who have an eating disorder have to learn to have a healthy relationship with their “drug of choice.” In no uncertain terms, for a binge-eater, food functions as a type of drug. Those who have this disorder must manage cravings and triggers as they continue to eat.

Imagine how difficult this would be for a cocaine addict! Imagine if we told them, “Here is some cocaine….. but, you can only use a certain amount. Good luck!” It would be impossible! This is how it feels for a binge-eater. Someone who abuses food to escape or uses it to get “high” doesn’t know how to only use a certain amount. Learning how to change eating habits can be quite challenging – and it can’t be done alone.

Recovery From Binge Eating Is Possible

This is not to say that it is impossible to enjoy recovery from an eating disorder. Quite the contrary! If you struggle with binge-eating, you can learn to have a healthy relationship with food and learn to eat properly. You can change the way you think about food and stop treating it as a drug. Food is designed to be fuel for the body. It is not supposed to function as a substance that helps you cope or escape from life’s difficulties.

At DARA Thailand, we specialize in treating behavioral addictions such as binge-eating. Our world-class program offers specialized counselors, focus coordinators, and an inpatient facility that was once a beautiful spa, which has been reengineered as a rehabilitation facility.

Our team of highly-skilled licensed addiction experts teach those who suffer from binge-eating the necessary skills to stop the destructive cycle of overeating. If you want to find freedom from binge-eating, DARA Thailand is the place to do it. Here, you will receive specialized care that will improve the mind-body-soul connection so you can learn to love yourself and treat yourself well. When you love yourself, you are kind to your body. You stop abusing food and establish healthy boundaries when it comes to eating.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.