Category: LGBTQ

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.

It seems odd for someone to not be able to trust their own judgment, but addiction messes with our minds and bodies in a way that can leave us with trust issues, even self-trust issues. Addiction does so much damage to all areas of life. Whether you are addicted to gambling, sleeping pills, alcohol, or meth the addiction itself can change the chemistry of your body and change the way you approach even the simplest of situations. This can be difficult to overcome, but does get easier while in recovery. Part of this change is learning to trust yourself again.

Unfortunately, part of addiction is following your need for that addiction and not trusting your priorities, goals, thoughts, or even gut feelings. Addiction tends to make us act and think impulsively and that is something that needs to be dealt with in recovery. The first step in dealing with this in recovery is to build self-trust.

Starting out in recovery involves taking chances and making life altering decisions. In fact, deciding not to take part in your addiction or addictions is hugely life altering in every sense. This is an incredible undertaking and a journey that will change your life for the better if you allow it to do so. Though you are never done with recovery, you need to start building self-trust immediately. There are a few things you can do to start this process. As you start this journey know that everyone is different and everyone must go at their own pace, the key is to keep moving in the right direction. Read on to learn how to start building self-trust as part of your recovery.

First give yourself a clean slate. This may be the hardest step of all. Recovery means starting a new life, so give yourself one to start. Start where you are at this moment and let the past go. You cannot change what you have done, but you can change your behaviors from this moment on and into your future. There is no point in carrying your baggage into your new life. For some this may mean a whole new set of friends, moving to a new area, finding new employment, and much more. For others it may simply mean a new mind set and strong boundaries to start over in a supportive environment.  Remember that you are not your past or your mistakes. You are a person who has existed until this point and one who is now starting fresh. Knowing, understanding, and believing this makes it easier to focus on healing and build self-confidence and self-trust.

Next, build on your successes. Whether you are successful in simply creating a daily routine or in finding great employment, celebrate. This does not have to be an all out party, but share your joy and accomplishments with those who are supportive. It is healthy to be proud of yourself for meeting goals, big and small. Next, set new goals and milestones and keep celebrating as you meet those. Meeting these short term goals will help you reach milestones and those milestones will lead to larger goals. Don’t waste time, start working on these goals immediately.

Do not be afraid to ask for help in meeting these goals when you need it. No one can exist in a vacuum and having a support circle can go a long way when encouragement is needed. Finally, if and when you do make a mistake, do not give up. Everyone messes up from time to time, learn from these mistakes and start over when needed. As you grow you will learn to start trusting yourself and your decision making skills more and more. This will make long term recovery much easier.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

What Is A Dual-Diagnosis or Co-Occurring Disorder?

If you have a mental health diagnosis like bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, an eating disorder, or any other mental illness AND you have a substance abuse problem. You are considered to have a dual-diagnosis, also known as a co-occurring disorder. It is estimated than one in five people who have a problem with chemical addiction also have a mental health issue.

Treating a dual-diagnosis is more complicated than simply treating an addiction problem. That is because there are two conditions that need to be treated and each of these conditions complicates the other. Quite often, those who have a mental illness use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate to find relief from the symptoms of their condition. This can lead to frequent relapses.

Those who have a mental illness need to treat their condition AND their substance abuse problem. This requires specialized care and a highly individualized treatment plan executed by skilled therapists and addiction experts. At DARA Thailand, we are equipped to help those who have a co-occurring disorder find joy and freedom.

Diagnosing A Co-Occurring Disorder

Diagnosis of a co-occurring disorder can be difficult. When someone has a drug or alcohol problem, they can display symptoms that appear to be related to mental illness when they are just a result of prolonged substance abuse.

For this reason, many unskilled medical professionals don’t realize that someone has a mental health issue when they have an addiction to drugs or alcohol. They think the person’s mental health is directly affected by their substance abuse instead of an underlying issue. It often isn’t until someone stays sober for an extended period of time and they continue to have mental health problems that it becomes clear that someone has a dual-diagnosis.

We Identify Dual-Diagnosis Early On

At DARA Thailand, we conduct a thorough evaluation of every client who comes to see us. Our pre-admission process assesses the potential for a dual-diagnosis. We understand that it is important to treat substance abuse AND mental illness simultaneously. This ensures ongoing, long-term success for people in recovery.

Many of our clients come to us because they have tried other programs that didn’t work for them and they were unable to maintain sobriety. Our program works. We are known for the quality of our services throughout the international addiction treatment community.  

A Holistic Approach Is An Important Part Our Dual-Diagnosis Treatment

Mental illness is largely treated with medications. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anti-anxiety medications, and anti-psychotics are commonly prescribed to those who have mental health issues. The problem is, most people have to undergo a process of trial and error to find the right medication or combination of medications. This can be a lengthy and sometimes uncomfortable process.

At DARA Thailand, we offer a holistic approach to treating someone with a co-occurring disorder to address the mind-body-soul connection. While medication certainly plays an important part in treating a dual-diagnosis. We believe there is more to treating this condition than just offering someone a handful of pills.

We provide integrated care so that each one of our clients receives seamless treatment by mental health and addiction professionals under the same roof. Our balanced approach to dual-diagnosis treatment is based on the most current and effective evidence-based therapy.

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.

Do you have an addiction to drugs, alcohol, sex, porn, gambling or shopping? If so, you may be wondering what recovery is like. We understand that making the decision to give up your addiction can be a scary time, but it shouldn’t be. Addiction is a cunning enemy of life that will rob you of your future, steal your joy, and kill your dreams. Recovery is a beautiful experience that promises hope, joy, and freedom.

Here are eight gifts you will enjoy in recovery:

1. You will feel better about yourself. Substance abuse and behavioral addictions like gambling, pornography, or compulsive shopping can leave you in a perpetual state of feeling guilty and ashamed. When you get into recovery, your dignity and self-respect is restored. You feel good when you don’t engage in your addiction and pursue all the negative, self-defeating behaviors that come with it.

2. Your relationships with the people you love and care about will be healed. Addiction destroys families and friendships. That is the nature of the beast. When you stop indulging in addictive behaviors, you will find that your relationships begin to improve. People will start to trust you again and they will want to be around you.

3. You will save money. No matter what your addiction is, it has probably cost you a lot financially. Drugs and alcohol are expensive. So is gambling and sexual addiction. Chances are, you lost count a long time ago when it comes to how much money you were spending on your addiction. Get into recovery and your bank balance will thank you.

4. You will start building a foundation for a positive future. What you do today impacts what will happen tomorrow. When you invest in an addiction today, you pave the way for a lousy tomorrow. When you engage in positive, healthy, uplifting activities today, you set yourself up for a tomorrow you can enjoy. Having an addiction guarantees destruction in all areas of your life. Being in recovery promises hope and healing.

5. You will learn to love yourself. When you have an addiction, you hate yourself. You compromise your values and sacrifice everything in your life that matters. Recovery teaches you to have a healthy, loving relationship with yourself. You begin to enjoy your own company and you start feeling comfortable in your own skin.

6. No more regret when you wake up in the morning. When you are addicted, you will do just about anything to pursue your next fix. This makes it hard for you to look yourself square in the eye when you look in the mirror. When you are in recovery, you make choices you are proud of. You look forward to getting out of bed in the morning instead of dreading facing the new day.

7. You make time to pursue your dreams. Everyone has a dream – some goal that they want to accomplish in this life. Addiction robs you of your ability to pursue your dreams because all you are concerned with is meeting the demands of your addiction. When you get into your recovery, you have the time and resources to go after what your heart desires.

These are just a few of the gifts recovery has to offer. Are you ready to stop wasting your life away in your addiction? Don’t you want to enjoy a life where you can feel good about yourself and your decisions? We can help.  

CLICK HERE to get a Free Confidential Addiction Rehabilitation Assessment.