Dec 17, 2023 | Alcoholism, drinking
When you begin your road to recovery, it can be tough to go it alone. As such, it’s helpful to build up recovery relationships. These bonds can go a long way in giving you the extra support you need during this time…
Recovery Relationships: Helpful Support
Value of relationships
Recovery relationships are quite helpful for those who are seeking to get sober. If you try and do things alone, it can be hard to resist things such as cravings. You could also start to feel rather discouraged and lose your enthusiasm as you begin to face some difficulties.
However, having people to support you can make things different. Here, you’ll have people who can encourage you to keep sober and help to hold you accountable. Not just that, but you’ll also have people who you can trust and be honest with. Knowing you have people in your corner goes far in giving you the strength you may need to get and stay sober.
Unhealthy relationships
If there are recovery relationships you don’t want, it’s any unhealthy ones. These toxic relationships will serve to hurt your efforts to get sober. Instead of support, these people may tear you down instead. Or, it could be the case that they are a bad influence and try to encourage you to relapse back into drug use.
These kinds of relationships can be hard to cut off, as they may be people you know or did drugs with. Still, you have to understand that it’s what’s best for your well-being. Being around these kinds of people will just add a lot of unneeded stress during an already-stressful time.
Creating new bonds
Building recovery relationships can be done in a number of ways. For starters, it’s good to turn to existing friends and family. Those who show that they’ll still help and support you are great to keep around. It’s only those who won’t that you’ll want to cut off.
As for new friends, many people create new bonds when they go through treatment. Meeting people at these facilities is great for making new friends that know exactly what kind of situation you’re in. You can also find new friends at group therapy or treatment sessions. It’s easy to form new connections as you share stories about your experiences.
Oct 23, 2023 | Alcoholism, Drugs
Building self-esteem in recovery from alcoholism is so important because alcoholism can be associated with low self-confidence. Boosting your self-esteem can help with your overall recovery. One of the most important steps to building self-confidence is to forgive yourself for past mistakes. Another thing you can try is to keep a progress report of how far you’ve progressed. Try to accept compliments when people say nice things to you. And finally, try to do something nice for others. All of these things can hopefully help you build self-confidence and in turn, help you with your recovery.
Building Self-Esteem in Recovery from Alcoholism: Recognizing Your Progress
Forgive Yourself For Past Mistakes
One important aspect of recovery, in general, is to be able to forgive yourself. It’s especially important if you’re building self-esteem in recovery from alcoholism. Even if you’ve made mistakes in the past, you’re actively trying to right them now. That’s the important thing to remember. It’s also important to forgive yourself if you fall off the wagon. Forgiving yourself for mistakes will allow you to move past them and continue to work towards your goal.
Keep a Progress Report
Building self-esteem in recovery is a bit easier if it’s easy to look at the progress you’ve made. Therefore, it can be helpful to keep track of all your goals and triumphs. You can use apps for this or good old pen and paper. Journaling in recovery can be very helpful for seeing the progress you make. When you’re having self-doubts you can look back on earlier entries and see just how far you’ve come.
Accept Compliments
Part of building self-esteem in recovery also means accepting compliments from others. When you are making great progress, people are bound to notice. Recovering from alcoholism can have tons of great effects on the body, from improved mood to brighter skin. If somebody notices how hard you’ve been working, accept the compliment they give you as truth.
Be Kind
Finally, building self-esteem in recovery is easier if you’re kind to others. Studies have shown that doing one nice deed for another person each day can lead to more feelings of self-confidence. You feel important and helpful, and others are appreciative of you. All of these things can help your self-esteem. Plus you’ll probably gain some new friends.
Building self-esteem in recovery from alcoholism can be difficult but will help you in the long run. There are many things about recovery that can tear down your self-confidence, but it’s important to remember all the progress you’ve made. Try to keep track of all your successes so you can review them when you’re feeling low. Accept that you’ve done things in the past you’re not proud of but that now you’re turning yourself around for the better. Accept compliments when others recognize how well you’re doing in recovery. And finally, try to do one nice good deed for somebody else every day. All of these things will hopefully allow you to increase your self-confidence. The recovery process is much easier if you’re armed with high self-esteem. You’ll know your own worth and know how important your sobriety is.
Jun 18, 2023 | Alcoholism, Co-parenting
Co-parenting with an addict for an ex can feel frustrating and overwhelming. Especially if you share custody and your child spends time with them without your supervision. Your child’s safety and mental well-being are the most important things though, as is your mental health. Start by educating yourself on addiction, and work on skills like conflict resolution or stress management with your child. Be a safe space for them by maintaining a consistent schedule and always being open to listening to their concerns. Finally, enlist help from a support group, or an experienced attorney if you have safety concerns. Hopefully, your ex will get the help they need so you can have a less dysfunctional relationship and so your child will be happier and healthier.
Co-Parenting with an Addict: Maintaining You and Your Child’s Mental and Physical Health
Why It’s So Difficult
Co-parenting with an addict can be maddening and scary. For most parents, their child’s needs and well-being are their absolute top priority. But for addicts, often their top priority is the substance they’re addicted to. They can be irrational and have poor decision-making skills. They might be difficult to maintain contact with or have emotional outbursts. It can be scary to have to relinquish any kind of control over your child to a person acting this way.
Start with Education
The best thing you can do when co-parenting with an addict is to arm yourself with knowledge. Understanding how addiction works will help you interact more effectively with your ex. It’s also important not to waste too much of your energy trying to change them or heal them. Only they can choose when to get the help they need to get clean. If your child is older, consider talking to them about your ex’s addiction, and helping them understand what it means. Work on skills like conflict resolution, building self-confidence, and dealing with stress with your child.
Be a Safe space for Your Child
You and your household need to be a safe space for your child to come back to when co-parenting with an addict. Children thrive on routine, and often, addiction leads to very dysfunctional lifestyles. When your child is with you, stick to a schedule they can count on. This will give them confidence and security. Make sure they understand that they can always come to you with any concerns and will be believed and not judged.
Enlist Help
Finally, when co-parenting with an addict, don’t try to go it alone. There are support groups and networks that can help you find others in similar situations who might have tips on how to deal with it. Additionally, if you feel that you need to re-evaluate your custody agreement for your child’s well-being, speak to an experienced attorney. If you feel your child is in danger, call the police immediately.
Co-parenting with an addict can be very isolating, and it can make you feel nervous about your child’s well-being. It’s natural to be frustrated and concerned in this situation, but the best thing you can do is to educate yourself on how addiction works. Give your child age-appropriate resources so they can also understand what is happening. Work on skills like communication and boundary-setting with them. Make sure that they know they can come to you with any concerns, and try to make your home a safe space for them. Enlist the help of an attorney to re-visit your custody agreement, or call emergency services if you feel your child is in danger. You can’t make an addict change their behavior, but you can arm your child with the tools and knowledge they need so that they can spend time with their other parent without it damaging their mental health.
Jun 17, 2023 | Alcoholism, Drugs
Taking the first steps towards sobriety can be life-changing and can put you on a path to recovery for the rest of your life. Deciding to quit using alcohol or drugs can positively impact your health and social relationships. However, getting started can be half the battle. Decide why you want to be sober in the first place, and set in stone your goals. Confide in a friend or family member that you trust so you have some accountability. Speak to your doctor before quitting cold turkey, and ask for recommendations for a recovery program. And finally, find support from others who have walked this path before. Recovery is not a straight line, and it can take a few false starts before things click. But once you are on your way, the journey will be worth it.
The First Steps Towards Sobriety: Beginning Your Journey
One of the first steps towards sobriety is figuring out your “why.” This is the motivational idea, the person, or the thing that makes you want to get sober. Maybe it’s for your health, maybe for your children, or maybe another reason entirely. Whatever the motivation is, cement it in your mind so that you can come back to it when you are feeling tempted to give in to your cravings. Set short-term goals for yourself instead of looking years into the future.
Confide in a Friend
Another of the first steps towards sobriety that can be helpful is to confide in a friend or family member that you trust. This gives you accountability and makes the goal more real. You might be surprised at how supportive friends and family are. Hopefully, they’ll agree to help you on your journey.
Speak to Your Doctor
It’s important to speak to your doctor before taking any first steps towards sobriety that involve quitting cold turkey. If you are a long-term alcoholic or drug user, quitting suddenly can create health hazards. Instead, your recovery should be monitored by a medical professional. Your doctor can also recommend treatment programs like in-patient and outpatient rehabilitation.
Find Support
Finally, it’s important to find support when taking the first steps toward sobriety. While friends and family are helpful, finding others who have walked this path before you can be more helpful. To investigate local twelve-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous or others where you will meet with peer support groups. You might even decide to move forward and pick a sponsor or personal guide to your recovery.
Taking the first steps towards sobriety can be an exciting time in your life. However, the road to recovery is not easy. It’s important to prepare yourself as much as possible in advance. For example, decide on your motivation for getting sober and set goals. Then, reach out to a friend or family member. Speak to your doctor before quitting cold turkey, and ask about rehabilitation programs. And finally, find support from others like yourself. Hopefully, you can find the resources to get help and begin your journey to a new and sober life.
May 20, 2023 | Alcoholism, drinking
Summertime often makes you think of boozy drinks by the pool and a cold beer at a BBQ. However, if you’re trying to stay sober at summer BBQs it can be hard to imagine what those days might look like. The first step is to plan in advance how you’d like the day to go. Being mentally prepared to be around alcohol is often an important factor in staying in control. You can plan to bring non-alcoholic drinks with you so that you can still have the feeling of a cold drink in your hands. Talk to your friends in advance if you’re comfortable. And finally, remember that you can always opt-out if you’re feeling uncomfortable. Hopefully, you’ll be able to have fun at summer BBQs without having to compromise your goals of staying sober.
How to Stay Sober at Summer BBQs: Stay in Control
Plan in Advance
The first step towards staying sober at summer BBQs is to make a plan in advance. It can be much harder to stick to your goals of avoiding alcohol if you’re confronted with it unexpectedly. If you know in advance that you’ll be around people who will be drinking, it can be easier to resist the temptation when you’re mentally prepared for it. Decide if you’ll feel comfortable being around alcohol at all. If so, you might want to have a plan to leave if things start getting very out of hand. Or if people are peer-pressuring you to join in the drinking.
Bring Mocktails
Staying sober at summer BBQs can be difficult because often standing around talking to people makes you want to feel a cold beer in your hands. If this is the case, give mocktails a try. You can find non-alcoholic beers and wine. Or try your hand at some fancy summery mixed-drink mocktails. Use fancy glasses and don’t forget the mini umbrellas.
Talk to Your Friends
Another way to stay sober at summer BBQs is to talk to your friends in advance. If you’re comfortable with the people that will be at the BBQ, you might let them know about your desire to quit drinking. You never know how people might react. Your group of friends might be very supportive. In fact, they might choose not to even serve alcohol if they know it makes it hard for them. If they don’t want to leave out the alcohol altogether, chances are they won’t try to pressure you to join in the drinking.
Remember You Can Opt Out
The most important thing to remember when trying to stay sober at summer BBQs is that you can always opt-out. You aren’t obligated to attend every event. If it sounds like things will be getting out of hand, feel free to decide in advance that it won’t be a good fit for you. Also, remember that you can leave anytime you want. If you start to feel uncomfortable or are feeling tempted to drink, just leave the party behind. Your sobriety is much more important than a BBQ.
Staying sober at summer BBQs can be difficult since they often conjure up images in your head of alcoholic drinks. However, it’s possible to stay sober. Make a plan in advance so that you won’t be surprised. Bring along non-alcoholic alternatives to help you with cravings. You can also talk to your friends about your desire to quit drinking beforehand. They might be very supportive. And finally, remember that you can opt-out of the get-together if it’s making you uncomfortable. The most important thing is that you stick to your goals of living a sober life. Hopefully, you’ll be able to enjoy social events like BBQs without compromising your desire to quit drinking.
Mar 18, 2023 | Alcoholism, drinking
Watching out for potential signs of alcoholism in a family member might mean that you catch an addiction early and can get them the support they need to quit. It’s easy to blow off incidents of a friend or family member getting overly intoxicated. However, if it happens regularly, it might be indicative of a problem. If that’s the case, it’s worth digging a little deeper to see if there might be signs of alcoholism. For example, drinking in secret or getting defensive about their drinking. Additionally, they might seem out of control, or you might notice some changes to their personality. If you notice any of these indicators, it’s worth sitting down privately and having a conversation. Hopefully, if there is an addiction issue, you can help them get the help they need to recover.
Potential Signs of Alcoholism in a Family Member: Spotting Early Signals
Drinking in Secret
One of the potential signs of alcoholism in a family member or friend is if you catch them drinking in secret. Or if it seems like their intoxication doesn’t match the drinks you’ve seen them drink. For example, if they go off on their own for a little while and come back acting much drunker. It might be a sign that they are drinking more when nobody is watching. This is common behavior with addicts and can be indicative of alcohol abuse.
They Get Defensive
Another sign of alcoholism in a family member is if they get overly defensive about their drinking. While nobody likes to be put on the spot about their drinking habits, it shouldn’t create a huge amount of anxiety. However, if you notice that your friend or family member gets defensive or lashes out, it might be because they know the drinking is out of hand.
They Seem Out of Control
Everybody has had the experience of watching someone get completely out of control with their drinking. It’s uncomfortable but it does happen. However, if it becomes a regular occurrence, it might be another of the signs of alcoholism in a family member. If they often seem out of control or black out drunk, it’s probably a symptom of a larger problem.
Emotional or Physical Changes
Finally, one of the signs of alcoholism in a family member that you might notice right off the bat is if their personality changes. They might be moodier or grumpy all of the time. There might be signs of interpersonal relationship conflict. Addicts often have a lot of guilt and correspondingly lash out. You might also notice changes in sleeping patterns, changes in appetite, or physical symptoms like weight changes or medical issues.
If you notice signs of alcoholism in a family member, it’s important to acknowledge the problem and not sweep it under the rug. Things like drinking in private, getting defensive, being out of control, or having personality changes are red flags. Privately sit them down and ask if there is any reason to be concerned about their alcohol use. They might be reluctant to open up, but you can always let them know that you are there to support them when they feel ready. Hopefully, they’ll be honest with you and together you can work out a plan for getting them the help they need. You can look into treatment facilities, outpatient programs, or local support group meetings. Having you watching out for them might be the difference between recovery and a lifetime of addiction.
