Category: International

Insanity Of Addiction

The Restoration To Sanity From The Insanity Of Addiction

Articles, Australia, International, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States
A Breakdown Of The Steps To Recovery

Insanity Of Addiction – “We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” There are several pieces to examine in this statement.

The first part is “We.” The “we” in this statement represents the people who recover together in organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. We don’t recover alone – we have to do it together with other recovering addicts or alcoholics. Alone, we use drugs, or we drink alcohol. Together, we find the freedom of recovery.

The second part of this statement is “came to believe.” This indicates a process of coming to believe, which takes time. The definition of the word believe is “to accept something as true.” Your recovery is real.

The third part of the statement is “that a power greater than ourselves.” This part of the step shows us that some power bigger than us is involved. Whether you believe in higher powers or not, there is always help you can reach out to.

The final part of the statement says, “could restore us to sanity.” Restoration is the process of getting back what was lost. What was lost? Our sanity. Sanity is the ability to think and behave in a rational manner and experience sound mental health. 

So, to expound on this statement, you could say that it means this: “Together, with the help of other recovering people. I will undergo the process of accepting the truth that other people can help me recover what was lost. Which is my ability to think and behave in a rational manner and experience sound mental health.”

Makes sense, right?

The Restoration from The Insanity Of Addiction Is a Process

No doubt, when you were in your addiction, you were driven by insane behavior. You were obsessed with drugs or alcohol and you were driven by compulsive behavior that took you back to the pipe, the bottle, or the needle; in spite of the fact that it was destroying your life. You executed some irrational choices to maintain your habit. You hurt the people you loved, but most of all, you hurt yourself.

When you first get sober, you stop drinking or using drugs. You get a few weeks of recovery under your belt and the outward signs of your insanity stop running your life. You believe this means you have been restored to sanity.

However; it is important to recognize that the behavior that accompanied your addiction or alcoholism was only a small piece of the puzzle when it comes to the level of insanity you experienced. Sure, abstinence from mood and mind-altering chemicals is the first step toward the restoration of sanity. But, the real insanity lies in your thinking. The ability to think and behave in a rational manner and experience sound mental health takes a whole lot more than just quitting drugs and alcohol.

Trust The Restoration Process

Insanity Of Addiction – When you first get clean and sober, you feel insane. You are on an emotional rollercoaster ride. One minute you’re up and you feel like you are on top of the world. The next minute you feel depressed and hopeless. This is what the second step is all about – coming to believe that a power greater than you can restore you to sanity. Trust the process.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

alcoholic

The Bright Light Of Recovery – Let It Shine!

Articles, Australia, International, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States
Addiction Thrives In The Dark. It Lives In The Night. It Keeps You Covered In The Shade. 

In your addiction, you did everything under the cover of the darkness. The nighttime became your friend. It’s where you felt the most comfortable.

When the sun came up, it mocked you. It exposed you for what you were. You were an alcoholic or a drug addict who, just the night before, had sworn to yourself that you were only going to have a few drinks. Or take one hit. Or do one bag. But, despite your most sincere efforts – once again – you had pulled an all-nighter. The sun knew it and you couldn’t hide from it.  

Not only did you take advantage of the nighttime hours to conduct the business of being an addict or an alcoholic (which is not to say that you didn’t drink or drug during the day too), you relied on the proverbial darkness to keep your secrets.

Chances are, you engaged in some weird and unusual behaviors. Your addiction or alcoholism forced you to do things you’re not proud of now that you’re clean and sober. You had to hide who you were. You lived in the shadows. You needed the shade to survive.

Today, things are different.  

In Recovery, You Have To Befriend The Light

Now that you’re in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction, you have to turn away from the darkness and allow your Higher Power to shine the Light on your spirit.

You have to be willing to reveal your secrets to your sponsor and the people in your support system or your secrets will keep you sick. You must practice a program of rigorous honesty and let people in. You simply must allow people to get to know who you are as a human being. It’s the only way to recover.

Where you once perceived the Light as your enemy, you must now embrace it as your friend. Of course, this is easier said than done. Being honest and open after closing yourself off from the rest of the world for so long can make you feel vulnerable and afraid.

At First The Light Is Blinding, But Then It’s Warm And Welcoming

It’s like when you sit in a dark room for an extended period of time and suddenly the lights get turned on. The experience is disorienting. You are momentarily blinded, and you can’t see. The light hurts, and it feels uncomfortable. You immediately want to turn those lights off and return to the darkness where it’s comfortable and safe.

But, after just a short time, you adjust to your new environment, which is warm and welcoming. Your vision is restored. You come to appreciate the light because it affords you the blessed opportunity to see things as they truly are. Although you didn’t like it at first, you become grateful for the light and all that it has to offer you.

If You’re Still Living In The Darkness, Let The Light In

If you’re still hiding in the darkness in your recovery, let the Light in. Start reaching out to other people and invite them to get to know who you truly are. Be honest about where you are at. Talk about what you are feeling and what’s really going on in your mind. Start sharing your true, authentic self. You will find freedom from the bondage of self that can only be found when you shine the Light on your dark places.

If you’re hiding in the darkness, you’re reserving a place for a relapse. That’s where addiction lives. Recovery only lives in the Light of Truth.   

Are you and alcoholic or drug addict that needs help? 

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Opioid Addiction

A Quick Breakdown Of Opioid Addiction

Articles, Australia, Education, International, LGBTQ, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States
What Are Opioids?

Opioid Addiction – Opioids are powerful, painkilling narcotic drugs that are supposed to be prescribed by a doctor for severe pain. However; many people illegally purchase opioids on the street from drug dealers and use them to catch a buzz.

Opioids are highly addictive substances that wreak havoc on the individual, their families, and society at large. Opioids are a multi-billion-dollar business for pharmaceutical companies and drug cartels internationally. Millions of people around the world are addicted to opioids.

Opiates VS. Opioids? What’s The Difference?

For years, people only used the term “opiates.” Now, people are using the term “opioids.” What’s the difference?

To be clear, opiates are natural substances derived solely from the opium plant, which is grown in tropical climates around the world. Heroin, Codeine, and Morphine are all considered opiates because they are natural derivatives of the opium plant.

Opioids are synthetic substances, which means they are partially derived from opium and partially chemically manufactured. Oxycodone, Fentanyl, and Percocet are all examples of synthetic opioids because they have to made in laboratories.

In the past, people commonly used the word “opiates” to refer to heroin and other all-natural substances that came from opium. In recent times, people around the world have started referring to opiates as opioids. Now, everything that comes from the opium poppy plant is considered an opioid. It may seem confusing, but we hold that clears things up a bit.  

Types of Opioids

Here is a list of the most popular opioids:

  • Hydrocodone (Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Vicodin)
  • Fentanyl
  • Codeine
  • Oxycontin (Oxycodone)
  • Methadone
  • Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
  • Percocet
How Opioid Addiction Works  

Opioids create a euphoric and intoxicating effect that causes the user to want more of the stuff. They work by binding to opioid receptor sites in the brain. To put it simply, the brain loves opioids.

When someone takes opioids for an extended period of time, they quickly build up a tolerance. Tolerance is what happens when your body becomes accustomed to processing a certain chemical. When tolerance takes hold, more of the drug is required to get the same effect. Before long, someone who takes opioids will develop a physical dependence.

If someone tries to quit taking opioids, they will go through the process of withdrawal. Withdrawal takes place when your body is used to processing a chemical and you remove that chemical from your body. Opioid addiction is an incredibly difficult addiction to kick because of this excruciating and painful process, which is also known as detox.

Here are the symptoms of opioid withdrawal:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Head-to-toe body aches
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of appetite
  • Tremors
  • Seizure, Coma, Death (In extreme cases)

Opioid withdrawal is so uncomfortable, users will continue using opioids to avoid the pain of detox.

Medical Detoxification Is Highly Recommended To Anyone Who Wants To Quit Opioids

If you are addicted to opioids, you should not stop using the stuff on your own – and you don’t want to. Opioid withdrawal is extremely unpleasant. People who have quit opioids cold turkey compare the experience to hell on earth.

More importantly, you can have seizures, go into a coma, or die if you attempt to stop using opioids on without medical assistance. Medical detoxification is recommended for anyone who has an addiction to opioids. This involves the use of medication to safely and comfortably remove the opioids from your system. This takes place in the safety and comfort of in-patient rehabilitation center, detox, or medical facility.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Dara Rehab Thailand

What DARA Rehab Thailand Has To Offer Those Who Are Considering Inpatient Treatment

Articles, Australia, Education, International, Malaysia, Treatment, Understanding Addiction, United Kingdom, United States
Congratulations On Taking The First Step Toward Recovery

If you have an addiction problem and you are ready to get help for your situation, we say, “Congratulations! Good for you! YES!!! You are making the right decision.”

By getting out of denial and getting real about your addiction, you have taken your first step on your exciting new recovery journey. You are headed in the right direction and you are on your way toward wholeness and healing.

Chances are, it’s been a long, hard road to arrive at the place where you are now. You have probably wrestled with this decision for quite some time. You have just fought (and lost) an exhausting battle with addiction and you have finally surrendered to the reality that you can’t do this on your own.

At Dara, we are here to help.  

DARA Rehab Thailand Delivers Results In A Resort-Style Setting At A Price You Can Afford

If you are considering checking yourself into a rehabilitation facility to get help for a problem with an addiction of any kind, you want to make an informed choice. There are a lot of rehabs out there that make lofty promises about what they can do for you, but not all of these places are on the up-and-up. They have fancy websites and guarantee results, but they won’t live up to your expectations once you arrive.

At DARA Rehab  Thailand, we deliver on our promises.  

Here are ten amazing reasons why DARA Rehab Thailand is an excellent choice if you are considering in-patient treatment:

  1. We are fully licensed and accredited. Our staff is comprised of the best and brightest professionals in Thailand.
  1. Located on the stunning island of Koh Chang, Thailand, we are nestled just off the Gulf of Thailand. We offer breath-taking views in a resort-style facility where you will have your own private quarters and luxury amenities.
  2. Dara does not promote the 12-Step philosophy and we don’t just treat addictive behaviors. We offer proven, evidence-based methodologies that focus on changing the negative thought patterns and defeating behaviors at the root of the addiction problem.
  1. We incorporate physical exercise into our treatment programs and offer you the services of a physical trainer. Unlike most inpatient treatment centers, we believe in promoting a program that teaches you about the mind-body connection.
  1. We have a highly qualified team of addiction experts here at DARA Rehab Thailand that will educate you about your condition and give you the tools you need to recover.
  1. You will receive one-on-one counseling sessions tailored to meet your unique situation and address your personal needs.
  1. Enjoy gourmet meals prepared by some of Thailand’s finest chefs.
  1. You will participate in activities like elephant trekking and Thai cooking classes to show you how much fun you can have in recovery.
  1. Receive Thai massages that relax the mind and body.
  1. Despite the luxury accommodations we offer, we are a very affordable rehabilitation center. Plus, we accept insurance from some of the world’s most common providers.
Don’t Delay, Call DARA Rehab Thailand And Get The Help You Need

If you are ready to get help for your addiction, call us. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call and prepare for your arrival. Don’t delay. Addiction never gets better with time – it only gets worse.  

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

emotions in recovery

Emotion as a Life Force

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

Emotions in Recovery – Addiction and drug use are often difficult for those who do not use to understand. It seems odd to give up everything to use a substance that can ultimately end your life. For addicts the drug of choice is often just an answer that became a problem. Many times the addict is dealing with other issues and using is just a way to deal with those issues. While it may not be the best way to deal with problems addiction was at one time a solution that quickly became a problem. This means that addiction is wrought with emotion, even though addicts rarely feel those emotions until the addiction is truly addressed. Your emotions are a life force and without them life becomes unidentifiable.

Emotions in Recovery

Emotions are an invisible life force that drive people. Some people are driven by greed, others by love. Some people may not know what drives them. Addicts, when in active addiction are driven by the need to use. This is something that has to change as part of recovery. The change will take time and work as finding a new drive and purpose is difficult. When first entering recovery it may seem that the lack of resources is a hindrance, but this is actually the time when being resourceful will help you achieve your ultimate goal of long term recovery. The resourcefulness can begin by getting to the right emotion which can help you gain psychological strength. Once you are confident and strong in your own mind, you can move forward in other areas.

Psychological Strength

In order to gain this psychological strength you need to be able to answer the following questions for yourself: What am I going to focus on? What does it mean? And what am I going to do? Answering these questions forces the addict to look inside themselves and figure out what is truly important. Each answer will have an emotional connection for the person discovering the answer. These emotions will provide a catalyst to move further into recovery.

The key to using these emotions in recovery lies within the answers. Once someone decides what the focus of life will be without addiction then goals can be set. The goals offer purpose for the individual in recovery. This is not to say that the goals will not change over time or as they are met, but the first focused goal that is set will get things started. The way in which the goal setting and journey begin are the answer to what does it mean. As measurable and attainable steps are set the final question is answered as well.

Your Purpose

Emotions in Recovery – Now that you have the questions, the answers are up to you. Everyone needs a purpose and this purpose will bring about emotions that you must learn to harness, control, and use to meet the goals. Will you accept the challenge that comes with staying clean and sober? Only you can make this choice for yourself. Even if you have ended up in rehab against your will you have the choice of whether to make it work or not. The lesson to take away is that recovery is an emotional experience that will offer you the chance to grow as a person and change your life or stay stuck in a world of emotionless addiction. What will you choose?

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.