While walking down the street at about 2:00 a.m., an elderly gentleman was approached by a policeman, who inquired where he was going.
The man replied, “I’m on my way to a lecture about the effects on the human body of smoking, alcohol abuse and and staying out late.”
The officer asked, “Really? Who’s giving a lecture at this time of night?”
The man replied, “That would be my wife.”
I answer a couple of dozen emails and blog comments a week, dealing with various aspects of addiction and recovery. Every now and then it becomes clear that someone wants me to cosign a desire to experiment with using again. Most often it’s folks who want to know if I think it would be OK for them to have a glass of wine at dinner occasionally, or folks who have stopped using some drugs but want to go on using another (usually marijuana). So I think it’s time to write a few words about this particular form of denial.
Sarah Ellis has decided to combine her acting skills with 12-step work, and has produced a series of videos that illustrate the steps of recovery. I think they’re extremely worthwhile. I’ll let Sarah explain in this letter.
Dear readers,
Sarah Ellis Photo
My name is Sarah and I’m an alcoholic. I’ve been sober for over five years. I’m passionate about many things, but especially about acting and recovery. I decided to combine these two loves by creating and starring in a Web series entitled Grace This Way. I play a woman named Grace who achieves sobriety by working a twelve step program. Each episode represents a step in recovery. There are a total of 9 episodes because I felt led to combine steps four and five into one episode; the same for six and seven & eight and nine.
It is my hope that people struggling with addiction will see Grace’s story, become aware that they are not alone and that there is a solution that works. I also want to introduce non-alcoholics and non-addicts to the twelve steps of recovery. Even if someone isn’t struggling with an addiction there is still a certain amount of dysfunction that creeps into relationships. Part of that dysfunction is a product of being human, but it’s my personal belief that, as humans, we have a responsibility to evolve during each lifetime. The twelve steps encourage this change to happen. I hope you watch the series and that it will provide some inspiration as you trudge “the road to happy destiny.”
Peace, love and freedom from the bondage of self to all of you!
Best wishes,
Sarah Ellis
For more information about Sarah, please visit her website at: www.sarahellisactress.com
It’s unclear if there are long-term health impacts for children born to opiate-addicted mothers who get through their first weeks of life okay. Some but not all studies on the question have found those kids grow up with a higher risk of developmental problems, according to Patrick.
What is clear is that babies born in opiate withdrawal significantly drive up health care costs.
According to the study, the average hospital stay for a newborn in withdrawal averages 16 days, compared to just three days for other newborns. Care costs were more than five times higher.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/01/health-babies-opiates-idUSL4E8G10AH20120501
If you hang around treatment centers for any length of time, you will eventually hear someone say (or say yourself) something on the order of “I already know this stuff. Why should I stay here?”
This makes perfect sense, from the standpoint of someone in very early recovery. In treatment, there are things that get repeated over and over. That’s because we learn by repetition. If we were studying for a part in a play, we would think nothing of going over our lines and actions repeatedly. In recovery, we’re trying to replace old ways of instinctive thinking with new ones. Repetition helps, but it can be the “same ol’ same ol’” after a while.
We know, however, that addicts often need a second or third trip through treatment before they actually learn what they need to know to change old behavior and stay clean and sober. More…
(From the Sunrise Detox Blog, which I write.)
Stumbling along the Middle Path, one day at a time.
Examining how to live a life amplified by purpose, intent, and virtue. Family, friendship, marriage, fatherhood, masculinity, fitness, self-defense, art, music, philosophy, theology, and politics.
from Marcus Wynne
Stumbling along the Middle Path, one day at a time.
Recovering Out Loud
Tech Savvy Blogger Just North Of Seattle
Trying to ace sober living
Stumbling along the Middle Path, one day at a time.
Stumbling along the Middle Path, one day at a time.
The Middle Path, One Day At A Time
What...Me Sober? 