MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'higher power.'. Tue, 04 May 2010 18:38:51 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3519718&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FEpiWRhseIRc%2F Twelve Steps of Sponsorship These can be applied to all 12-Step anonymous fellowships such as Al-anon, Alateen, Gamblers Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous etc I will not help you to stay and wallow in limbo. I will help you to grow, to become more productive, by your definition. I will help you become more autonomous, more loving of yourself, more excited, less sensitive, more free to become the authority for your own living. I cannot give you dreams or “fix you up” simply because I cannot. I cannot give you growth, or grow for you. You must grow for yourself by facing reality, grim as it may be at times. I cannot take away your loneliness or your pain. I cannot sense your world for you, evaluate your goals for you, tell you what is best for your world; because you ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3519718 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 07:38:06 +0100 3519718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3522825&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation%2FwAgT%2F%7E3%2FGfTJBtACRLc%2F The twelve-step recovery model of AA: a voluntary mutual help association Alcoholism treatment has evolved to mean professionalized, scientifically based rehabilitation. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is not a treatment method; it is far better understood as a Twelve-Step Recovery Program within a voluntary self-help/mutual aid organization of self-defined alcoholics. The Twelve-Step Recovery Model is elaborated in three sections, patterned on the AA logo (a triangle within a circle): The triangle’s legs represent recovery, service, and unity; The circle represents the reinforcing effect of the three legs upon each other as well as the “technology” of the sharing circle and the fellowship. The first leg of the triangle, recovery, refers to the journey of individuals to abstin... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3522825 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 06:49:56 +0100 3522825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3519721&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FVDXYBlOzmsI%2F Reach in and find yourself “Tom, I’ve spent years and years looking for that ideal relationship. I searched for someone I could trust, and who would trust me. “I dreamed about this person who could love me no matter what, and who could share my deepest secrets. Someone I could admire and respect, and who would admire and respect me in return. “Well, Tom, I finally found that person.” “Wow!” said the sponsor. “Congratulations. Do I know this perfect person?” “Yes, it’s me.” The listener had to pause and take a breath, because his friend had made a very significant discovery…one that even your beloved author sometimes forgets: We’re our own best friends and faithful fans. Tattoo that on your forehead! More li... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3519721 Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:53:57 +0100 3519721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3502989&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FGm0il1Jqc9k%2F Recovery, for me, was not just getting sober. Recovery also involved finding a new spiritual philosophy. I was often reminded of the slogan; ‘The man I was, was a drinker. The man I was would drink again.’ I had to change. And false humility was my primary character defect. I had shortcomings in the following areas of my attitudes. If one places ‘Principles Before Personalities’ and deals with ‘First Things First’, one approaches genuine humility, where there is enormous inner power. Actions to approach humility; Free yourself from the demands of your ego, and there is no limit to where you can go. Let go of your desire to control others, and you vastly improve the ability to control, focus and direct your own actions. Let go of the illusion that you already know it all, a... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3502989 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 11:48:14 +0100 3502989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3501707&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fthe-power-of-humility%2F Recovery, for me, was not just getting sober. Recovery also involved finding a new spiritual philosophy. I was often reminded of the slogan; ‘The man I was, was a drinker. The man I was would drink again.’ I had to change. And false humility was my primary character defect. I had shortcomings in the following areas of my attitudes. If one places ‘Principles Before Personalities’ and deals with ‘First Things First’, one approaches genuine humility, where there is enormous inner power. Actions to approach humility; Free yourself from the demands of your ego, and there is no limit to where you can go. Let go of your desire to control others, and you vastly improve the ability to control, focus and direct your own actions. Let go of the illusion that you already know it all, a... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3501707 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 11:48:14 +0100 3501707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3522831&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation%2FwAgT%2F%7E3%2FgDG0Cy-PGuQ%2F AA & 12-Step Treatment AA Assists Alcoholics Avoid Alcohol AA Can Help Most Alcoholics AA Fact File AA’s 12-Step Recovery Program Al-Anon offers new life Alcohol and Anxiety Alcohol Problems Database Alcoholic Defense Mechanisms Alcoholics Anonymous and Nursing Alcoholics Anonymous Program in India Alcoholics can benefit from Al-Anon Alcoholics Have Trouble Identifying Emotions Alcoholism / Addiction Treatment Saves Money Alcoholism in women Alcoholism Treatment in a Nursing Home Altruism helps AA members stay sober An Introduction to Medication for Alcohol Dependence Anti-craving Drugs Attendance at Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings Binge Drinking & Brain Damage Brain Damage & Cirrhosis Brief Intervention in Emergency Room Effective Brief-TSF Descrip... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3522831 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 05:54:31 +0100 3522831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3502993&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FAfYMWnFBPms%2F Excerpt from the author of the "Physician, Heal Thyself!", interview with the Grapevine (GV), the journal of Alcoholics Anonymous. October 1995 edition. GV: Have you had periods in sobriety that were Emotionally difficult? Dr. Earle: Oh my, yes. So did Bill-you know that Bill W had a long depression. Let me tell you how I got at some emotional rest. Years ago, a medical college in the South asked me to go to Saigon to help the Vietnamese set up a new department. Before I left, I went back to see Bill and Lois and Marty M. and some others, and I spent about eight or nine days back in New York before I went to Asia. Bill took me to the airport and on the way there he said, "You know, Earle, I’ve been sober longer than anyone else in our organization. But," he said,... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3502993 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:08:31 +0100 3502993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499316&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fsearch-for-serenity%2F Excerpt from the author of the "Physician, Heal Thyself!", interview with the Grapevine (GV), the journal of Alcoholics Anonymous. October 1995 edition. GV: Have you had periods in sobriety that were Emotionally difficult? Dr. Earle: Oh my, yes. So did Bill-you know that Bill W had a long depression. Let me tell you how I got at some emotional rest. Years ago, a medical college in the South asked me to go to Saigon to help the Vietnamese set up a new department. Before I left, I went back to see Bill and Lois and Marty M. and some others, and I spent about eight or nine days back in New York before I went to Asia. Bill took me to the airport and on the way there he said, "You know, Earle, I’ve been sober longer than anyone else in our organization. But," he said,... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499316 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:08:31 +0100 3499316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3480934&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FcbTAXhrqxDY%2F Diffused nebula in Sagittarius; courtesy NASA Many people with newfound sobriety from addiction, alcoholism, gambling and codependency are challenged by philosophical questions such as posed here. My life is… a mystery which I do not attempt to understand, as though I were led by the hand in a night where I see nothing, but can fully depend on the Love and Protection of Him Who guides me.     – Thomas Merton – When I laugh, God laughs.  When I weep, God weeps.  When I need, God says, “Yes.” I have come to know that there are many different ways to express spirituality and  know that the Universe is showing me my way.  Spirituality is not defined only as religion.  Spirituality is the yearning of the heart toward something larger than ourselves and the desire to leap the... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3480934 Sun, 18 Apr 2010 08:11:36 +0100 3480934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3480919&cid=t_310870_140_f&fid=35433&url=http%3A%2F%2F4thavenueblues.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fpraying-for-gods-will-and-strength-to.html Just attended on online AA meeting, and that was the topic of discussion.  I pray for that everyday now – the strength to carry out God’s will.  I have come to the conclusion that I only need a few certain things to feel mentally well and to stay sober, and I believe they are God’s will… 4 small sensible meals a day with a snack before bed.  No refined sugar and sugar rushes.  I have to be so careful about my bulimia. The 25 Snickers bars are going to mom along with a Edwards key lime pie. I also have 3 packages of cookies that are going to mom as well. These are all foods that make me want to binge.  Nutrition and keeping those four meals down is so key to me staying healthy mentally and physically.   No caffeine.  I have decided that was on... The 4th Avenue Blues blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3480919 Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:39:00 +0100 3480919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3480942&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F1sm2W4u0ViU%2F Today I will not strike back: If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind…. I will not respond in a like manner. Today I will ask my Higher Power to bless my “enemy”: If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly ask My Higher Power to bless that individual. I understand the “enemy” could be a family member, neighbour, co-worker or stranger. Today I will be careful about what I say: I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I do not spread gossip. Today I will go the extra mile: I will find ways to help share the burden of another person. Today I will forgive: I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way. Today I will do something nice for someone, but I will do it secretly: I will... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3480942 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:53:40 +0100 3480942 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479910&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Finspiration-for-today%2F Today I will not strike back: If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind…. I will not respond in a like manner. Today I will ask my Higher Power to bless my “enemy”: If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly ask My Higher Power to bless that individual. I understand the “enemy” could be a family member, neighbour, co-worker or stranger. Today I will be careful about what I say: I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I do not spread gossip. Today I will go the extra mile: I will find ways to help share the burden of another person. Today I will forgive: I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way. Today I will do something nice for someone, but I will do it secretly: I will... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479910 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:53:40 +0100 3479910 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3458008&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FGdKUMUQq81M%2F A Man’s Way Through the 12 Steps A recovery book of outstanding merit. In A Man’s Way through the Twelve Steps, author Dan Griffin uses interviews with men in various stages of recovery, excerpts from relevant Twelve Step literature, and his own experience to offer an holistic, modern approach to sobriety for men. Readers work through each of the Twelve Steps, learn to surrender negative masculine scripts that have shaped who they are and how they approach recovery. Thus strengthening the positive and affirming aspects of manhood. This groundbreaking book offers the tools needed for men to work through key issues with which they commonly struggle, including: difficulty admitting powerlessness finding connection with a Higher Power letting go of repressed anger and resent... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3458008 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:08:00 +0100 3458008 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3454202&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fmans-way-through-the-12-steps%2F A Man’s Way Through the 12 Steps A recovery book of outstanding merit. In A Man’s Way through the Twelve Steps, author Dan Griffin uses interviews with men in various stages of recovery, excerpts from relevant Twelve Step literature, and his own experience to offer an holistic, modern approach to sobriety for men. Readers work through each of the Twelve Steps, learn to surrender negative masculine scripts that have shaped who they are and how they approach recovery. Thus strengthening the positive and affirming aspects of manhood. This groundbreaking book offers the tools needed for men to work through key issues with which they commonly struggle, including: difficulty admitting powerlessness finding connection with a Higher Power letting go of repressed anger and resent... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3454202 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:08:00 +0100 3454202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3458010&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FTLkBpo67l3k%2F A channel for peace The 11th Step Guiding Prayer Alcoholics Anonymous’ 11th Step – Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Lord, make me a channel for thy peace – that where there is hatred, I may bring love – that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness – that where there is discord, I may bring harmony – that where there is error, I may bring truth – that where there is doubt, I may bring faith – that where there is despair, I may bring hope – that where there are shadows, I may bring light – that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather – to comfort than to be comforted... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3458010 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 01:14:00 +0100 3458010 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3433172&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fwhy-why-is-the-wrong-question%2F Members of 12 Step Fellowships in recovery often catch themselves asking ‘why?.’ We are usually encouraged to talk to our sponsor, go to meetings; let go, let God. Good and most often successful solutions. But we are also usually encouraged to get active. These eight questions are complimentary to the 12 Step program. —— I am writing this with a broken neck… One minute I was playing footy, the next I was stretched out on a hospital bed with my neck in a brace which I will be wearing for the next 6-12 weeks. When faced with a crisis, our natural response is to ask "Why?" Why did this happen now? Why did this happen to me? But "Why?" may not be the most helpful question to ask. Sure, sometimes we need to understand the cause of the problem – p... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3433172 Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:41:00 +0100 3433172 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3433176&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fbill-w-was-spiritual-not-religious%2F Bill and Lois Wilson in Stepping Stones garden I am currently reading Nell Wing’s book ‘Grateful to Have Been There; My 42 Years with Bill and Lois and the Evolution of Alcoholics Anonymous’. This is a revealing personality insight into Bill W. In a recent article I related what Nell said about Bill W. on Humility. Another passage that caught my attention is; ‘I think Bill was essentially nonreligious – which may seem paradoxical, because he was deeply spiritual. His whole life was changed by a profound religious experience. The Oxford Group, which was responsible for his early sobriety, was regarded as a religious movement, though their concept of a Higher Power left a lot of latitude for personal interpretation. I have already mentioned Bill’s affection for and reliance on hi... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3433176 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:25:00 +0100 3433176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3429456&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F93YWHIWf0sM%2F Bill and Lois Wilson in Stepping Stones garden I am currently reading Nell Wing’s book ‘Grateful to Have Been There; My 42 Years with Bill and Lois and the Evolution of Alcoholics Anonymous’. This is a revealing personality insight into Bill W. In a recent article I related what Nell said about Bill W. on Humility. Another passage that caught my attention is; ‘I think Bill was essentially nonreligious – which may seem paradoxical, because he was deeply spiritual. His whole life was changed by a profound religious experience. The Oxford Group, which was responsible for his early sobriety, was regarded as a religious movement, though their concept of a Higher Power left a lot of latitude for personal interpretation. I have already mentioned Bill’s affection for and reliance on hi... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3429456 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:25:00 +0100 3429456 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3429460&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FNXR38Vc_hIM%2F Twice-Gifted [In recovery] My physical being has certainly undergone a transformation, but the major transformation has been spiritual. The hopelessness has been replaced by abundant hope and sincere faith. The people of Alcoholics Anonymous have provided a haven where, if I remain aware and keep my mind quiet long enough, my Higher Power leads me to amazing realizations. I find joy in my daily life, in being of service, in simply being. I have found rooms full of wonderful people, and for me each and every one of the Big Book’s promises have come true. The things that I have learned from my own experience, from the Big Book, and from my friends in AA – patience, acceptance, honesty, humility, and true faith in a Power greater than myself – are the tools I use to... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3429460 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:59:00 +0100 3429460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3425132&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Falcoholics-anonymous-is-a-haven-of-hope-and-peace%2F Twice-Gifted [In recovery] My physical being has certainly undergone a transformation, but the major transformation has been spiritual. The hopelessness has been replaced by abundant hope and sincere faith. The people of Alcoholics Anonymous have provided a haven where, if I remain aware and keep my mind quiet long enough, my Higher Power leads me to amazing realizations. I find joy in my daily life, in being of service, in simply being. I have found rooms full of wonderful people, and for me each and every one of the Big Book’s promises have come true. The things that I have learned from my own experience, from the Big Book, and from my friends in AA – patience, acceptance, honesty, humility, and true faith in a Power greater than myself – are the tools I use to... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3425132 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:59:00 +0100 3425132 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420761&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Faa-for-youth%2F • “If I could have stayed cool, I’d still be drinking. Very quickly, though, I started getting into trouble. Going to sixth grade got in the way of my life, which consisted of getting drunk as much as possible.” [After rehab] “I was going to A.A. meetings. Everyone was older, even most of the kids at the young people meetings. But I found that alcoholics understand other alcoholics. . . . Regardless of how young or old or ‘special’ I am, in A.A. I’m just a drunk.” Tina, who joined A.A. at 13 • “I loved drinking and was as addicted to the lies, the shady people and places as I was to the alcohol. My grades suffered until I stopped going to school altogether. . . . I found myself in places without any idea of how I had gotten there. I overdosed on alcohol.” Since comi... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420761 Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:46:59 +0100 3420761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420764&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fbill-w-on-humility%2F I am currently reading Nell Wing’s book ‘Grateful to Have Been There; My 42 Years with Bill and Lois and the Evolution of Alcoholics Anonymous’. This is a revealing personality insight into Bill W. One passage that caught my attention is; “I’ve listened many time as Bill explained his own view of humility. According to him, we need to follow the Greek ‘middle way’ – to strike a balance. We should neither wear the Uriah Heep cloak of false humility, which Bill called ‘force-feeding of humble pie,’ nor stray the other way into pride of material achievements and admiration of one’s own importance. Bill’s definition of humility was willingness to seek God’s will in one’s life and then follow it. I’m reminded of a statement I once saw on the bulletin board of an al... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420764 Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:22:00 +0100 3420764 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3416336&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Frecovery-in-marijuana-anonymous%2F The practice of rigorous honesty, of opening our hearts and minds, and the willingness to go to any lengths to have a spiritual awakening are essential to our recovery. Our old ideas and ways of life no longer work for us. Our suffering shows us that we need to let go absolutely. We surrender ourselves to a Power greater than ourselves. Here are the steps we take which are suggested for recovery: The Twelve Steps of Marijuana Anonymous We admitted we were powerless over marijuana, that our lives had become unmanageable. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood God. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to a... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3416336 Sun, 28 Mar 2010 16:51:00 +0100 3416336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3412595&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FkN-RG_BF9hE%2F Recovery from alcoholism in Alcoholics Anonymous. AA is a self-help, volunteer organization begun in the mid-1930s that views alcoholism as a disease, not a defect of will. Its founders, themselves alcoholics, maintained that persons with the disease should completely stop drinking, but they did not concern those who could handle alcohol. This position contrasted with the premises of most temperance advocates, who saw drinking as a moral choice and opposed any alcohol use by anyone. The Twelve Steps embody the wisdom of the founders of AA about pursuing ongoing recovery from alcoholism. The procedure they describe has evolved into one of the most successful programs for helping alcoholics. Many drug treatment programs also have based themselves on this twelve-step model. The abbrevi... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3412595 Sat, 27 Mar 2010 19:30:00 +0100 3412595 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3411290&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FRGIVIhfYXlM%2F Since September 11, 2001, there are indications that there has been a resurgence of people seeking comfort and solace and searching to define or redefine their faith. Reverend Monserrat maintains that this is quite possible, since faith is not a quality of mind or personality, but a skill that can be learned. In Faith It Until You Make It, he shows readers how to develop their faith so that they can overcome any adversity and accomplish their dreams. Based upon years in the church, Reverend Monserrat has developed this nondenominational book of practical spirituality based upon an Evolution of Faith Matrix which shows the four stages of faith: Natural, Lost, Educated and Enlightened. Using inspiring and provocative stories from other people who have discovered or regained their fai... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3411290 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:42:00 +0100 3411290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3408641&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Ffaith-it-till-you-make-it%2F Since September 11, 2001, there are indications that there has been a resurgence of people seeking comfort and solace and searching to define or redefine their faith. Reverend Monserrat maintains that this is quite possible, since faith is not a quality of mind or personality, but a skill that can be learned. In Faith It Until You Make It, he shows readers how to develop their faith so that they can overcome any adversity and accomplish their dreams. Based upon years in the church, Reverend Monserrat has developed this nondenominational book of practical spirituality based upon an Evolution of Faith Matrix which shows the four stages of faith: Natural, Lost, Educated and Enlightened. Using inspiring and provocative stories from other people who have discovered or regained their fai... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3408641 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:42:00 +0100 3408641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3411291&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FjMPXlnm3cUo%2F The dynamics of the healthy family. In previous articles I have talked about Dysfunctional Families, Goals for ACOA’s in Recovery, Al-Anon, Dysfunctional Rules of Codependency and Alcoholic Family Roles. In a healthy family system, family members openly acknowledge their problems, discuss them openly, and work toward change. They believe change is acceptable, and actively solicit workable solutions from other family members. Children in these families are free to express their needs and wants. Family members can talk about feelings and traits in themselves that they feel should be changed: shame and embarrassment do not immobilize them. There is permission to express appropriate anger. The adults of the family model healthy, congruent behavior for their children: what they tell the... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3411291 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:39:22 +0100 3411291 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3408642&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fthe-healthy-family%2F The dynamics of the healthy family. In previous articles I have talked about Dysfunctional Families, Goals for ACOA’s in Recovery, Al-Anon, Dysfunctional Rules of Codependency and Alcoholic Family Roles. In a healthy family system, family members openly acknowledge their problems, discuss them openly, and work toward change. They believe change is acceptable, and actively solicit workable solutions from other family members. Children in these families are free to express their needs and wants. Family members can talk about feelings and traits in themselves that they feel should be changed: shame and embarrassment do not immobilize them. There is permission to express appropriate anger. The adults of the family model healthy, congruent behavior for their children: what they tell the... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3408642 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:39:22 +0100 3408642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3411294&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FpA0nfsoEWoI%2F Sex Addicts Anonymous “We found in each other what we could find nowhere else: people who knew the depth of our pain. Together we found hope and the care of a loving Higher Power. Our commitment is to help others recover from sexual addiction, just as we have been helped.” — Sex Addicts Anonymous, p. 2 As a fellowship of recovering addicts, Sex Addicts Anonymous offers a message of hope to anyone who suffers from sex addiction. Through long and painful experience, we came to realize that we were powerless over our sexual thoughts and behaviors and that our preoccupation with sex was causing progressively severe adverse consequences for us, our families, and our friends. Despite many failed promises to ourselves and attempts to change, we discovered that we were unable to stop acting... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3411294 Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:11:23 +0100 3411294 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3404148&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fan-invitation-to-sexual-recovery%2F Sex Addicts Anonymous “We found in each other what we could find nowhere else: people who knew the depth of our pain. Together we found hope and the care of a loving Higher Power. Our commitment is to help others recover from sexual addiction, just as we have been helped.” — Sex Addicts Anonymous, p. 2 As a fellowship of recovering addicts, Sex Addicts Anonymous offers a message of hope to anyone who suffers from sex addiction. Through long and painful experience, we came to realize that we were powerless over our sexual thoughts and behaviors and that our preoccupation with sex was causing progressively severe adverse consequences for us, our families, and our friends. Despite many failed promises to ourselves and attempts to change, we discovered that we were unable to stop acting... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3404148 Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:11:23 +0100 3404148 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3395376&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FxOk51y7Hn70%2F The art of living lies not in eliminating but in growing with troubles. – Bernard M. Baruch Naturally, we wish to avoid pain and difficulty, but life experience and a measure of reflection show us that most of what comes our way is beyond our control. We’ll never outwit all the possibilities for trouble, even if we live to be 100 years old. We have often failed to learn from trouble because we cast ourselves in the roles of passive men and victims. We pointed outside ourselves and said, “Look at what is happening to poor me!” When we use trouble as our teacher, we develop the art of living. We are taking a spiritual approach, using our Higher Power as our guide. We can choose today to use our difficulties for our learning and growth. We might ask, “What can I ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3395376 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:17:56 +0100 3395376 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3390996&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fdetachment-with-love-3%2F Alcoholism is a family disease. Living with the effects of someone else’s drinking is too devastating for most people to bear without help. In Al-anon we learn individuals are not responsible for another person’s disease or recovery from it. We let go of our obsession with another’s behavior and begin to lead happier and more manageable lives, lives with dignity and rights; lives guided by a Power greater than ourselves. In Al-Anon we learn: Not to suffer because of the actions or reactions of other people; Not to allow ourselves to be used or abused by others in the interest of another’s recovery; Not to do for others what they could do for themselves; Not to manipulate situations so others will eat, go to bed, get up, pay bills, not drink; Not to cover up for anyone’s mistakes... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3390996 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:42:00 +0100 3390996 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3387056&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2Fc3D-tf4ZqFw%2F Alcoholism is a family disease. Living with the effects of someone else’s drinking is too devastating for most people to bear without help. In Al-anon we learn individuals are not responsible for another person’s disease or recovery from it. We let go of our obsession with another’s behavior and begin to lead happier and more manageable lives, lives with dignity and rights; lives guided by a Power greater than ourselves. In Al-Anon we learn: Not to suffer because of the actions or reactions of other people; Not to allow ourselves to be used or abused by others in the interest of another’s recovery; Not to do for others what they could do for themselves; Not to manipulate situations so others will eat, go to bed, get up, pay bills, not drink; Not to cover up for anyone’s mistakes... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3387056 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:42:00 +0100 3387056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3387057&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FrqkKtPlxxk8%2F Step Ten; Building the spiritual basis for recovery each day The Twelve Step program of recovery from alcoholism and other addictions rests on a notion of spirituality that is not about having the “right” beliefs. Instead, it is about adopting daily practices that help people stay clean and sober. These daily practices are the subject of Step Ten of the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous: “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.” Here the word “inventory” means taking stock of our emotional disturbances, especially those that can return us to drinking or other drug use. Step Ten suggests that we watch for these disturbances every day and make an immediate response. Taking a daily inventory is important to all p... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3387057 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:31:00 +0100 3387057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3391000&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fi-am-a-cocaine-addict-2%2F My name is Paul and I am a Cocaine Addict. I was born in Liverpool, the second son in a family of five boys and one girl. My father was a Liverpool dockworker who used to come home from work via the pub every night. I remember my parents would fight physically, and more often than not my Dad would be so drunk my Mum would win. My elder brother used to climb out of the window and go to the phone box at the top of our street. Using a false name he would call the police to report a disturbance at our address then calmly climb back through the window and go to sleep. I knew the effect alcohol had on people I had seen first hand the destructive nature of drunkards and I swore I would never drink and I would never be like my Dad. I was going to be famous a rock star or an actor. I didn’t reall... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3391000 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:00:55 +0100 3391000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3387062&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FoMoqgU4eIp4%2F My name is Paul and I am a Cocaine Addict. I was born in Liverpool, the second son in a family of five boys and one girl. My father was a Liverpool dockworker who used to come home from work via the pub every night. I remember my parents would fight physically, and more often than not my Dad would be so drunk my Mum would win. My elder brother used to climb out of the window and go to the phone box at the top of our street. Using a false name he would call the police to report a disturbance at our address then calmly climb back through the window and go to sleep. I knew the effect alcohol had on people I had seen first hand the destructive nature of drunkards and I swore I would never drink and I would never be like my Dad. I was going to be famous a rock star or an actor. I didn’t reall... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3387062 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:00:55 +0100 3387062 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3385561&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2Fh7YEpL-p7W8%2F : A model of progression The spiritual progression of 14 members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was studied using a transtheoretical approach, with object relations theory as a primary framework. The subjects were aged 35-45, had a minimum of one year of continuous sobriety, and professed belief in the efficacy of the Twelve Steps. The subjects participated in multiple-subject interviews and completed a questionnaire. A six-stage model of spiritual progression was developed. It is noted that within AA, spiritual progression in recovery is based on application of AA’s Twelve Suggested Steps of Recovery. stage one marks the beginning of recovery, stages two and three address relationships with God; stage four relates to subjects’ relationships with themselves; stage five relates t... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3385561 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:58:47 +0100 3385561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3383088&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2Faf-VlOItELU%2F Altruism emerges when thoughts focus on a Higher Power Many members of 12-Step Fellowships such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-anon, ACOA, Narcotics Anonymous and Alateen, will agree with this research. Thoughts related to a Higher Power cultivate cooperative behaviour and generosity, according to University of British Columbia psychology researchers. In a study to be published in Psychological Science journal, researchers investigated how thinking about a Higher Power and notions of a Higher Power influenced positive social behaviour, specifically cooperation with others and generosity to strangers. Azim Shariff and Ara Norenzayan found that priming people with ’Higher Power concepts’ — by activating subconscious thoughts through word games — promoted selflessness. In additio... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3383088 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:33:00 +0100 3383088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3383090&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FGJkfwjQzZwo%2F Genuine Christianity is more than a set of beliefs–it is a relationship with Jesus Christ that involves hearing His voice and following His directions. But how does one do this? What tools or spiritual disciplines enable Christians to live out their lives in dynamic submission to God’s will? Perhaps no set of principles is better suited to help Christians hear God’s voice and submit to His will than the Twelve Steps. As a Christian who practices the Steps, Saul Selby knows them to be an invaluable tool for living out the Christian faith. Selby brings his knowledge to bear in Twelve Step Christianity, which teaches Christians in recovery to connect their faith with their program–and shows any Christian a clear path to a more intimate relationship with Christ. Laid o... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3383090 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:19:00 +0100 3383090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3383095&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F6R862cUmVc4%2F Spiritual Awakening is a process that happens within us. It is recognizing that a power greater than ourselves exists and can assist us if we will just ask for help and guidance. We do not have to “do it on our own.” Part of the awakening includes a new way of internally and externally handling events as they occur. We can learn to internally process the event differently so that it has a different meaning (thought), followed by a different internal action (emotion), and a different external action (behavior). The process of this “event-changing” happens within us. The events do not change, my relationship to the events changes. Therefore, the challenge becomes about overcoming the internal conflict between the false self that is creating the misperceptions, and the Real Self that ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3383095 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:45:44 +0100 3383095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3385555&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation%2FwAgT%2F%7E3%2FRgK8HtiR1JU%2F What can be confidently said about AA in general and about the role of spirituality in AA in particular? First, there is convincing evidence that alcoholism severity predicts later AA attendance. Second, atheists are less likely to attend AA, relative to individuals who already hold spiritual and/or religious beliefs. However, belief in God before AA attendance does not offer any advantage in AA-related benefits, and atheists, once involved, are at no apparent disadvantage in deriving AA-related benefits. Third, the spiritually-based principles of AA appear to be endorsed in AA meetings regardless of the perceived social dynamics or climate of a particular meeting, eg, highly cohesive or aggressive. Fourth, significant increases in spiritual and religious beliefs and practices seem to oc... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3385555 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:26:00 +0100 3385555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3374383&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Faa-and-spirituality-2%2F What can be confidently said about AA in general and about the role of spirituality in AA in particular? First, there is convincing evidence that alcoholism severity predicts later AA attendance. Second, atheists are less likely to attend AA, relative to individuals who already hold spiritual and/or religious beliefs. However, belief in God before AA attendance does not offer any advantage in AA-related benefits, and atheists, once involved, are at no apparent disadvantage in deriving AA-related benefits. Third, the spiritually-based principles of AA appear to be endorsed in AA meetings regardless of the perceived social dynamics or climate of a particular meeting, eg, highly cohesive or aggressive. Fourth, significant increases in spiritual and religious beliefs and practices seem to oc... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3374383 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:26:00 +0100 3374383 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3374386&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fa-vision-for-you-2%2F ‘A vision for you’ is the title of chapter 11 of the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book. This phrase is often used to refer to the last three paragraphs of chapter 11 and is sometimes read at AA meetings. “Our book is meant to be suggestive only. We realize we know only a little. The Higher Power will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven’t got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us. Abandon yourself to Higher Power as you understand Higher Power. Admit your faults to Him... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3374386 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:01:57 +0100 3374386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3370683&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FiNXOZa5ypII%2F ‘A vision for you’ is the title of chapter 11 of the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book. This phrase is often used to refer to the last three paragraphs of chapter 11 and is sometimes read at AA meetings. “Our book is meant to be suggestive only. We realize we know only a little. The Higher Power will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven’t got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us. Abandon yourself to Higher Power as you understand Higher Power. Admit your faults to Him... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3370683 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:01:57 +0100 3370683 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3374389&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fthe-loneliness-of-an-alcoholic-doctor%2F The way I see it My very first drink loosened my previous, ever present inhibitions. Medical school facilitated my growing reliance on this chemical. Six years later, after qualifying, I found an identity to hide behind, at least during the day. I was the all knowing, devoted, and respected professional, who daily appeared red eyed and trembling. But I was forgiven by supervisors because I worked hard. After all, I was in my house jobs. Then I worked as a casualty officer, on the front line, mistakenly believing that I could cope with the stress, long hours, and unpredictability and daily masking my sensitivity to the extremes of human pain and suffering—until I left work. There was always an excuse to reward myself after a stressful day, such as spending the whole shift in “resus&... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3374389 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:55:00 +0100 3374389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3370687&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FpIolWjnqq3U%2F The way I see it My very first drink loosened my previous, ever present inhibitions. Medical school facilitated my growing reliance on this chemical. Six years later, after qualifying, I found an identity to hide behind, at least during the day. I was the all knowing, devoted, and respected professional, who daily appeared red eyed and trembling. But I was forgiven by supervisors because I worked hard. After all, I was in my house jobs. Then I worked as a casualty officer, on the front line, mistakenly believing that I could cope with the stress, long hours, and unpredictability and daily masking my sensitivity to the extremes of human pain and suffering—until I left work. There was always an excuse to reward myself after a stressful day, such as spending the whole shift in “resus&... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3370687 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:55:00 +0100 3370687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3370690&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FDzHwfBiCKLU%2F The strength of our recovery is in direct proportion to our ability to laugh at ourselves. Laughter heals, particularly the laughter that comes when we understand the lifesaving difference between “how it was” before recovery and “how it is” living in sobriety. These hearty cartoons and humorous anecdotes reflect with powerful clarity how our drinking or drug-using days contrast with our lives today. Laughter helps us celebrate our recovery and it reminds us how grateful we are for sobriety and for the priceless camaraderie of people in Twelve Step Fellowships. - Order today >> God Grant Me The Laughter - Alcoholism, Addiction & Codependency Recovery Bookstore Hazelden Books, DVD's & Medalions (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3370690 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:31:00 +0100 3370690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3370691&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FjQHSDwB0aaY%2F On the way to a new life The spirituality of recovery is about a new way of life As John Mac Dougall, manager of Spiritual Care at Hazelden, points out, abstinence is but one element in recovery from addiction. Many people quit drinking or another addiction only to start practicing it again. They don’t realize that quitting is merely the beginning of recovery, and they treat the symptoms of the disease and not the disease itself. “The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous only mention alcohol once, in Step One,” reminds Mac Dougall. “The Twelve Step model of recovery that we suggest is spiritual. It’s about getting honest, finding a higher power, and admitting that you can’t do it alone.” Spirituality, says Mac Dougall, is three-dimensional and dea... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3370691 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:50:00 +0100 3370691 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366435&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FRgiuxGfFg0Y%2F The spiritual adventure of Alcoholics Anonymous as experienced by individual members. Over 75 A.A. members from all over the world describe the wide diversity of convictions implied in “God as we understood Him.” Especially helpful to those who confuse “spiritual” with “religious.” - Order now >> Came to Believe - Alcoholism, Addiction & Codependency Recovery Bookstore Hazelden Books, DVD's & Medalions (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366435 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:36:00 +0100 3366435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366438&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FbKboQXuS1pw%2F Seek and yee shall find These Ten Pointers are a summary of the lifesaving directions to recovery from alcoholism given in ‘How It Works’, chapter 5 of Alcoholics Anonymous – the AA Big Book. Completely give yourself to this simple Program. Practice rigorous honesty. Be willing to go to any lengths to recover. Be fearless and thorough in your practice of the principles. Realize that there is no easier, softer way. Let go of your old ideas, absolutely. Recognize that half measures will not work. Ask a Higher Power’s protection and care with complete abandon. Be willing to grow along spiritual lines. Accept the following ideas: that you cannot manage your own life; that probably no human power can restore you to sanity; that A Higher Power can and will if sought. See also 12 Sp... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366438 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:04:28 +0100 3366438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3363822&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FpNq3mIyEtkA%2F The brick wall of insanity As opposed to the 12-Steps to recovery I decided I could handle my emotional problems if other people would just quit trying to run my life. I firmly believed that there is no greater power than myself, and anyone who said so was insane. I made a decision to remove my will and my life from God who didn’t understand me anyhow. I made a searching and thorough moral inventory of everyone I knew so they couldn’t fool me and take advantage of my good nature. I sought these people out and tried to get them to admit to me, by God, the exact nature of their wrongs. I became willing to help these people get rid of these defects of character. I was humble enough to ask these people to remove their shortcomings. I kept a list of all the people who had harmed m... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3363822 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:46:00 +0100 3363822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3354584&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FaLk9V9iBG0M%2F What is Spirituality? "Spirituality is an awakening—or is it all the loose ends woven together into a mellow fabric? It’s understanding—or is it all the knowledge one need ever know? It’s freedom—if you consider fear slavery. It’s confidence—or is it the belief that a higher power will see you through any storm or gale? It’s adhering to the dictates of your conscience—or is it a deep, genuine, living concern for the people and the planet? It’s peace of mind in the face of adversity. It’s a keen and sharpened desire for survival. From; AA book – Came to Believe, 2004, pg. 5 See also Spiritual Health Blockages SPIRITUAL AWAKENING Spirituality Books Inspirational Books 12 Spiritual Questions (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3354584 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:29:39 +0100 3354584 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3350582&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FxDSWkEleCTk%2F Trust Your Higher Power, But Tie Up Your Camel There was once a man who was on his way back home from market with his camel and, as he’d had a good day, he decided to stop along the road and offer his thanks to his Higher Power. He left his camel outside and went in and spent several hours offering thanks to, praying and promising that he’d be a good person in the future, help the poor and be an upstanding pillar of his community. When he emerged it was already dark and lo and behold – his camel was gone! He immediately flew into a violent temper and shook his fist at the sky, yelling: "You traitor, God! How could you do this to me? I put all my trust in you and then you go and stab me in the back like this!" A passing sufi dervish heard the man yelling and ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3350582 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:30:31 +0100 3350582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3350583&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FcIE2r-7gKE8%2F We Agnostics “… Yet we had been seeing another kind of flight, a spiritual liberation from this world, people who rose above their problems. They said [the Higher Power] made these things possible, and we only smiled. We had seen spiritual release, but liked to tell ourselves it wasn’t true. Actually we were fooling ourselves, for deep down in every man, woman, and child, is the fundamental idea of [a Higher Power]. It may be obscured by calamity, by pomp, by worship of other things, but in some form or other it is there. For faith in a Power greater than ourselves, and miraculous demonstrations of that power in human lives, are facts as old as man himself. We finally saw that faith in some kind of [Higher Power] was a part of our make-up, just as much as the feeling we have for ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3350583 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:17:01 +0100 3350583 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3346729&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FqgkjAm7exAg%2F Willingness is the key The Higher Power Is Good “Before Alcoholics Anonymous, I could not, or would not, admit I was wrong. My pride would not let me. And yet I was ashamed of me. Caught in this conflict, I banished the Higher Power from my life because I felt He asked me to adhere to a behavior pattern too high for a man of my human frailty. Somehow, I believed that there could be no forgiveness of any failure, that he Higher Power required me to be all good. The moral of the story of the Prodigal Son eluded me. “Since I thought trying was not enough, I stopped trying. That made me feel guilty. For a while, alcohol blotted out the guilt. Then alcohol became the greatest cause of my guilt. I had to be beaten to a pulp physically, mentally and emotionally, become bankrupt in all... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3346729 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:17:56 +0100 3346729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3346735&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2Fl3snMy8Kcw0%2F My name is Michael and I’m a clergy alcoholic in AA I am a Roman Catholic priest, a pastor of souls with the title of monsignor. I am also an alcoholic. A few months ago, I celebrated an anniversary of ordination. A month before that, I celebrated a more important anniversary, my fourth as a member of A.A. Why do I say that my anniversary in A.A. is a more important date than my ordination anniversary? The answer is that through A.A. my Higher Power, God, has not only saved my life and restored me to sanity, but has given me a new way of life and has immeasurably enriched my priesthood. Thus, thanks to God and A.A. I am today striving honestly and sincerely, despite many shortcomings, to fulfil my priestly vocation in the manner that God intended. My sobriety has to be the most impor... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3346735 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:18:54 +0100 3346735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3339816&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FxnsWeWhW_zE%2F 15 POINTS FOR AN ALCOHOLIC TO CONSIDER WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THE URGE TO TAKE A DRINK THE UNHAPPIEST PERSON in the world is the chronic Alcoholic who has an insistent yearning to enjoy life as he once knew it, but cannot picture life without alcohol. He has a HEART-BREAKING OBSESSION that by some miracle of control he will be able to do so. SOBRIETY, THE MAGNICFICENT OBSESSION, is the most important thing in your life without exception. You may believe your job, or your home life, or one of the many other things come first. But consider, if you do not get sober and stay sober, chances are you won’t have a job, a family, sanity, or even life. If you are convinced that everything in life depends on your sobriety, you have just so much more chance of getting sober and staying sober. If y... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3339816 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:29:37 +0100 3339816 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3327309&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Falcoholism-and-fear-2%2F Curiosity about recovery Fear Mixed with Alcohol The primary cause of alcoholism is not positively known in the present knowledge of the problem. Nor do we believe that the cause in most instances is singular, but usually a combination of causes. However, we are of the opinion that to date that one of the best-defined psychological cause for alcoholism is the one given in Sobriety and Beyond that defined the cause of alcoholism as “Fear mixed with alcohol.” By this is meant that the average alcoholic is a drinker who has an abnormal fear. Although this tendency is present in most human beings to a certain extent, it is emphatically obvious in the alcoholic personality, and because of emotional damage, which now may not even be in the consciousness, will cause abnormal insecurity and fe... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3327309 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:16:00 +0100 3327309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3318667&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FmKEXGKJYPkY%2F Curiosity about recovery Fear Mixed with Alcohol The primary cause of alcoholism is not positively known in the present knowledge of the problem. Nor do we believe that the cause in most instances is singular, but usually a combination of causes. However, we are of the opinion that to date that one of the best-defined psychological cause for alcoholism is the one given in Sobriety and Beyond that defined the cause of alcoholism as “Fear mixed with alcohol.” By this is meant that the average alcoholic is a drinker who has an abnormal fear. Although this tendency is present in most human beings to a certain extent, it is emphatically obvious in the alcoholic personality, and because of emotional damage, which now may not even be in the consciousness, will cause abnormal insecurity and fe... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3318667 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:16:00 +0100 3318667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3318670&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FPI5ODijK5mE%2F AA is the guide to my Higher Power Recovery gives many benefits such as those related in the 12 promises of recovery. Each and every member of any 12 Step Fellowship has things they value. One day I began to think about what I liked about recovery. I excluded the 12 Steps, Traditions and Promises and came up with a simply worded list. This was my list on that day. 12 Things I like about recovery No more domestic violence No fear of the police Economic stability Better libido and sexual enjoyment A Higher Power that helps me in all of life Better relationships with family Wake up without a hangover – every day A Fellowship that is my second family Clear, rational thinking No deep, crippling depression No chronic, hurtful anger or resentments I can laugh at myself. That was couple of... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3318670 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:46:00 +0100 3318670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3316249&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F33CR1WSBNbE%2F Large Print Since 1954, Twenty-Four Hours a Day has become a stable force in the recovery of many alcoholics throughout the world. With over six and a half million copies in print (the original text has been revised), this “little black book” offers daily thoughts, meditations, and prayers for living a clean and sober life. A spiritual resource with practical applications to fit our daily lives. “For yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision” is part of the Sanskrit proverb quoted at the beginning of the book which has become one of the basic building blocks for a life of sobriety. In addition to a thought, meditation and prayer for each day of the year, this handy, pocket-sized volume also contains the Serenity Prayer and the 12 Steps and 12 Tradit... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3316249 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:04:47 +0100 3316249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3316251&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F88P5BFtVgzE%2F My name is George and I’m a Jewish alcoholic in Alcoholics Anonymous A startling, four-color advertising poster appeared some time ago in the New York subways. Staring at the viewer was a “typical Irish cop” about to eat a luscious delicatessen sandwich on Levy’s rye bread, and the legend was “You don’t have to be Jewish to like Levy’s.” As countless subway stations flew by, and as the rusty gears in my head meshed, the whole idea of that Irish cop (and by now in my mind’s eye he had become a Catholic-Irish cop named O’Toole, with a thick brogue, 14 children, and a grandmother in Kilkenny) had turned itself upside down. One evening, while talking to my closest friend in A.A. (whose name is so Irish I can preserve his anonymity onl... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3316251 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 04:23:24 +0100 3316251 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3307099&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FQi7dwFO9gMs%2F One drop at a time I wish you a slow recovery. –Saying heard in 12 Step meetings Newcomer I feel as if I should be doing better than this by now. Sponsor I can identify with your belief that you should be doing better faster. I sometimes feel that about the pace of my own recovery, as if we recovering people are in some sort of race with time. As active addicts, we had little experience with any long process. We believed in instant results, like the ones we were used to getting from our addictive substance or behavior. So we may not be qualified to judge what our rate of progress should be. One antidote to my impatience is hearing about myself from people who saw me at meetings in the early days of my recovery. Paradoxically, I feel reassured when they laugh and make statements like,... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3307099 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:21:28 +0100 3307099 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3302654&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Finspiration-today%2F Just for today I'm going to sit Meditations and affirmations just for today … Today I will not strike back: If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind…. I will not respond in a like manner. Today I will ask my Higher Power to bless my “enemy”: If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly ask My Higher Power to bless that individual. I understand the “enemy” could be a family member, neighbour, co-worker or stranger. Today I will be careful about what I say: I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I do not spread gossip. Today I will go the extra mile: I will find ways to help share the burden of another person. Today I will forgive: I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3302654 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:51:27 +0100 3302654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3298605&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2Fb87F6-FdrxM%2F Just for today I'm going to sit Meditations and affirmations just for today … Today I will not strike back: If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind…. I will not respond in a like manner. Today I will ask my Higher Power to bless my “enemy”: If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly ask My Higher Power to bless that individual. I understand the “enemy” could be a family member, neighbour, co-worker or stranger. Today I will be careful about what I say: I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I do not spread gossip. Today I will go the extra mile: I will find ways to help share the burden of another person. Today I will forgive: I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3298605 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:51:27 +0100 3298605 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3302657&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fsimple-in-language-plain-in-meaning%2F Dr Bob, a co-founder of AA Much has been written, much has been said about the Twelve Steps of AA. These tenets of our faith and practice were not worked out overnight and then presented to our members as an opportunist creed. Born of our early trials and many tribulations, they were and are the result of humble and sincere desire, sought in personal prayer for divine guidance. As finally expressed and offered, they are simple in language, plain in meaning. They are also workable by any person having a sincere desire to obtain and keep sobriety. The results are the proof. Their simplicity and workability are such that no special interpretations, and certainly no reservations, have ever been necessary. Dr. Bob, a co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. See also 12 Rewards of Recovery Seeing G... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3302657 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:02:18 +0100 3302657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3298608&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F2TRhlc8Vxpk%2F Dr Bob, a co-founder of AA Much has been written, much has been said about the Twelve Steps of AA. These tenets of our faith and practice were not worked out overnight and then presented to our members as an opportunist creed. Born of our early trials and many tribulations, they were and are the result of humble and sincere desire, sought in personal prayer for divine guidance. As finally expressed and offered, they are simple in language, plain in meaning. They are also workable by any person having a sincere desire to obtain and keep sobriety. The results are the proof. Their simplicity and workability are such that no special interpretations, and certainly no reservations, have ever been necessary. Dr. Bob, a co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. See also 12 Rewards of Recovery Seeing G... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3298608 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:02:18 +0100 3298608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3298612&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FOcaHaE9qQkc%2F A Man’s Way Through the 12 Steps In A Man’s Way through the Twelve Steps, author Dan Griffin uses interviews with men in various stages of recovery, excerpts from relevant Twelve Step literature, and his own experience to offer the first holistic approach to sobriety for men. Readers work through each of the Twelve Steps, learn to give up negative masculine scripts that have shaped who they are and how they approach recovery, and strengthen the positive and affirming aspects of manhood. This groundbreaking work offers more of the tools needed for men to work through key issues with which they commonly struggle, including: difficulty admitting powerlessness finding connection with a Higher Power letting go of repressed anger and resentment contending with sexual issues, what... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3298612 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:19:58 +0100 3298612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3294815&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fa-mans-way-through-the-12-steps%2F A Man’s Way Through the 12 Steps In A Man’s Way through the Twelve Steps, author Dan Griffin uses interviews with men in various stages of recovery, excerpts from relevant Twelve Step literature, and his own experience to offer the first holistic approach to sobriety for men. Readers work through each of the Twelve Steps, learn to give up negative masculine scripts that have shaped who they are and how they approach recovery, and strengthen the positive and affirming aspects of manhood. This groundbreaking work offers more of the tools needed for men to work through key issues with which they commonly struggle, including: difficulty admitting powerlessness finding connection with a Higher Power letting go of repressed anger and resentment contending with sexual issues, what... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3294815 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:19:58 +0100 3294815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3292020&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F9T4gBkE5Hho%2F Have some fun. Loosen up a bit. Enjoy life! For co-dependents having fun is often a skill lost in antiquity. We do not have to be so sombre and serious. We do not have to be so reflective, so critical, so bound up within the rigid parameters and ourselves others, and often ourselves, have placed around us. This is life, not a funeral service. Have some fun with it. Enter into it. Participate. Experiment. Take a risk. Be spontaneous. Do not always be so concerned about doing it right, doing the appropriate thing. Do not always be so concerned about what others will think or say. What they think and say are their issues not ours. Do not be so afraid of making a mistake. Do not be so fearful and proper. Do not inhibit yourself so much. God did not intend us to be so inhibited, so restricted, ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3292020 Sun, 21 Feb 2010 01:25:00 +0100 3292020 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3292023&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2Fadx1ousAgSM%2F Bill W. Co-founder of AA Historical Roots of the Concept ‘Higher Power’. The basic principles of Alcoholics Anonymous were worked out in the late 1930s and early 1940s, during what co-founder Bill W. often referred to as the Fellowship’s period of “trial and error.” The founding members had been using six steps borrowed from the Oxford Groups, where many of them started out. Bill felt that more specific instructions would be better, and in the course of writing A.A.’s basic text, Alcoholics Anonymous, he expanded them to twelve. But he was dealing with a group of newly sober drunks, and not surprisingly his new version met with spirited opposition. Even though the founding members were in many ways a homogeneous bunch (white, middle-class, almost exclusively male, and primarily... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3292023 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:44:00 +0100 3292023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3290997&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F_tEBqAuhaMQ%2F Relapse often happens alone Relapse is defined as returning to drinking after a period of not drinking – abstinence. Relapse to drinking or drug use does not come on suddenly and without warning, it is a process over time. Staying clean/sober is not recovery, working a program and finding some serenity and peace is sobriety. Relapse cannot be avoided by shear willpower of self-discipline. SELF-TEST FOR RELAPSE WARNING SIGNALS. Here is a simple list of relapse symptoms. Lack of personal confidence to remain clean/sober or abstinent. Denial Convincing yourself that you will never ever drink or use again. You start imposing recovery on other people. You become defensive when talking about your problem is recovery. Compulsive behavior appears, you adopt a non-structured lifestyle. You s... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3290997 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:31:10 +0100 3290997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3291000&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FUJl0CaY11HU%2F What is Millati Islami? Millati Islami is a fellowship of men and women, joined together on the “Path of Peace:. We share our experiences, strengths, and hopes while recovering from our active addiction to mind and mood altering substances. We look to Allah (G-D) to guide us on Millati Islami (the Path of Peace). While recovering, we strive to become rightly guided Muslims, submitted our will and services to Allah. Islam tells us clearly that the status of man in this world is that of an “Abd” (servant or ’slave’). We know that we must learn to be slaves and servants only to Allah and not slaves to mind and mood altering chemicals. We must also learn not to be slaves to people, places, things, and emotions. Allah tells us that man is “Khalifa” (age... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3291000 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:25:46 +0100 3291000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3288028&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fthe-12-steps-of-millati-islami-recovery%2F What is Millati Islami? Millati Islami is a fellowship of men and women, joined together on the “Path of Peace:. We share our experiences, strengths, and hopes while recovering from our active addiction to mind and mood altering substances. We look to Allah (G-D) to guide us on Millati Islami (the Path of Peace). While recovering, we strive to become rightly guided Muslims, submitted our will and services to Allah. Islam tells us clearly that the status of man in this world is that of an “Abd” (servant or ’slave’). We know that we must learn to be slaves and servants only to Allah and not slaves to mind and mood altering chemicals. We must also learn not to be slaves to people, places, things, and emotions. Allah tells us that man is “Khalifa” (age... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3288028 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:25:46 +0100 3288028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3283831&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2Ftm409oF6lyg%2F Mother Therasa and Princess Diana People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centred; Forgive them anyway. People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building; someone may destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway. You see in the final analysis, it is between you and the Higher Power; It was never between you and them anyway. ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3283831 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:51:05 +0100 3283831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3276087&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fpriorities-by-mother-theresa%2F Mother Therasa and Princess Diana People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centred; Forgive them anyway. People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building; someone may destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway. You see in the final analysis, it is between you and the Higher Power; It was never between you and them anyway. ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3276087 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:51:05 +0100 3276087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3283832&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F-RtDZn8iSSw%2F Healthy Habits avoid relapse Although this is about a relapse into alcoholism/ addiction, it applies to many other areas of life, from overeating to relationships, co-dependency and money problems. Learn to recognize the danger signals, your life depends on it. 1. Exhaustion - Allowing yourself to become overly tired or in poor health. Some Alcoholics are also prone to work addictions – perhaps in a hurry to make up for lost time. Good health and enough rest are important. If you feel well you are more apt to think well. Feel poorly and your thinking is apt to deteriorate. Feel bad enough and you might begin thinking a drink couldn’t make it any worse. 2. Dishonesty - This begins with a pattern of unnecessary little lies and deceits with fellow workers, friends, and family. The... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3283832 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:34:35 +0100 3283832 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3276088&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fanother-look-at-relapse%2F Healthy Habits avoid relapse Although this is about a relapse into alcoholism/ addiction, it applies to many other areas of life, from overeating to relationships, co-dependency and money problems. Learn to recognize the danger signals, your life depends on it. 1. Exhaustion - Allowing yourself to become overly tired or in poor health. Some Alcoholics are also prone to work addictions – perhaps in a hurry to make up for lost time. Good health and enough rest are important. If you feel well you are more apt to think well. Feel poorly and your thinking is apt to deteriorate. Feel bad enough and you might begin thinking a drink couldn’t make it any worse. 2. Dishonesty - This begins with a pattern of unnecessary little lies and deceits with fellow workers, friends, and family. The... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3276088 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:34:35 +0100 3276088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3273086&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FSOF2k8Viky8%2F Mutual-aid support groups play a vital role in substance abuse treatment. In 2005, a national survey of participants in mutual-aid support groups for addiction was conducted to identify key differences between participants in various recovery groups. Extensive data was collected from survey respondents on many aspects of recovery. In their recently published article, researchers focus on the impact of survey respondents’ level of spirituality on their recovery and their participation in mutual-aid support groups. Key findings include: Active involvement in groups significantly improves the chances of remaining clean and sober, regardless of the group (Save Our Souls, SMART, Women For Sobriety, and 12-step such as Alcoholics Anonymous) in which one participates. Respondents whose indivi... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3273086 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:20:00 +0100 3273086 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3271204&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FDZLOIIhpmbs%2F The Famous Letter From Carl Jung To Bill Wilson, Co-Founder Of Alcoholics Anonymous The thing that I find amazing about this letter from Carl Jung (pictured) to Bill Wilson concerning spirituality and alcoholism, is that Bill Wilson was nearing the end of his life and felt a need to express to Carl Jung how profoundly he was affected by his views. – Bill Urell Dr Carl Jung’s letter to Bill W. concluded; “You see, Alcohol in Latin is “spiritus” and you use the same word for the highest religious experience as well as for the most depraving poison. The helpful formula therefore is: spiritus contra spiritum.” Thanking you again for your kind letter. I remain yours sincerely, C.G. Jung Full story at Addiction Recovery Basics. See also; Alcoholics Anonymous Cooking ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3271204 Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:21:12 +0100 3271204 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3269880&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fspiritus-contra-spiritum-dr-carl-jung%2F The Famous Letter From Carl Jung To Bill Wilson, Co-Founder Of Alcoholics Anonymous The thing that I find amazing about this letter from Carl Jung (pictured) to Bill Wilson concerning spirituality and alcoholism, is that Bill Wilson was nearing the end of his life and felt a need to express to Carl Jung how profoundly he was affected by his views. – Bill Urell Dr Carl Jung’s letter to Bill W. concluded; “You see, Alcohol in Latin is “spiritus” and you use the same word for the highest religious experience as well as for the most depraving poison. The helpful formula therefore is: spiritus contra spiritum.” Thanking you again for your kind letter. I remain yours sincerely, C.G. Jung Full story at Addiction Recovery Basics. See also; Alcoholics Anonymous Cooking ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3269880 Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:21:12 +0100 3269880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262905&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FHP58oxxc4Ss%2F We admitted our lives were out of control Accepted that a Higher Power could help us Got my ego out of the way to let it happen Took a hard, honest look at ourselves Told someone the truth Got ready to change Asked a Higher Power to help us change Remembered all the people we hurt Made it right with them wherever we could Continued to stay honest Put our Higher Power in charge every day Tried to live our values and help others After the Alcoholics Anonymous suggested 12-Steps to recovery. Related Reading: (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262905 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:00:30 +0100 3262905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259275&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FYABvJaUJNlc%2F The Agnostics 12 Steps For agnostics who would like to work the steps, this version of the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous provides slightly different wording of the six steps that make reference to God or a Higher Power. This version of the Twelve Steps seems to have originated in agnostic A.A. groups in California. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol-that our lives had become unmanageable. Came to believe and to accept that we needed strengths beyond our awareness and resources to restore us to sanity. [Original: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.] Made a decision to entrust our will and our lives to the care of the collective wisdom and resources of those who have searched before us. [Original: Made a decision to turn our wills a... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259275 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:18:42 +0100 3259275 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3254733&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fagnostics-12-steps%2F The Agnostics 12 Steps For agnostics who would like to work the steps, this version of the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous provides slightly different wording of the six steps that make reference to God or a Higher Power. This version of the Twelve Steps seems to have originated in agnostic A.A. groups in California. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol-that our lives had become unmanageable. Came to believe and to accept that we needed strengths beyond our awareness and resources to restore us to sanity. [Original: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.] Made a decision to entrust our will and our lives to the care of the collective wisdom and resources of those who have searched before us. [Original: Made a decision to turn our wills a... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3254733 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:18:42 +0100 3254733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3254737&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fdoor-of-opportunity%2F “People suggested that I find a Higher Power. I was not fooled. I knew when they said Higher Power they meant God. And I knew that God waited for me to step out of line just once so that he could take his revenge. I wanted no part of God. “With this resistance I plodded along for a few months. Whenever people asked me how I was going, I would say, ‘Fine, just fine,’ no matter how hard I was crying inside. … “When I had finished talking, he told me something simple: ‘You don’t have to drink over it.’ What an idea! I had thought that situations made me drink. If I was angry, I drank. If I was happy, I drank. Bored or excited, elated or depressed, I drank. Here was a man telling me that, independent of my life situation, I did not have to drink. I... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3254737 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:33:19 +0100 3254737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3251399&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fdefining-spirituality%2F Spirituality is a word used in an abundance of contexts that means different things for different people at different times in different cultures. Although expressed through religions, art, nature and the built environment for centuries, recent expressions of spirituality have become more varied and diffuse. This is reflected in the range of language used to describe spirituality. Some of the more common themes describe it using one or more of the following elements: a sense of purpose a sense of ‘connectedness’ – to self, others, nature, ‘God’ or Other a quest for wholeness a search for hope or harmony a belief in a higher being or beings some level of transcendence, or the sense that there is more to life than the material or practical, and those activities that give meaning a... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3251399 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:49:41 +0100 3251399 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3248704&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FwbybO1Vl6Og%2F This article will discuss the ism’s and associated fears. The Ism’s These ism’s are part of normal life, everyone has them to varying degrees. Specifically, the ism’s are an attempt to make life bearable, as a way of “interpersonal control and coping.” This is, of course, what we all strive to do on a day-to-day basis, we need these thinking patterns and behaviours to cope, most people seem to be doing alright, while the alcoholic seems to be sinking fast. One of the main ism’s with alcoholism is the ism of fear. Fears Recovery is mostly about letting go of fear. In fact, fear produces most all my insane moments. Any time I need a reality check, I try to stop and ask myself if there is a fear at the root of what I’m doing. These are the fear demons I’ve id... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3248704 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:53:12 +0100 3248704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3247081&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2Fl9KjCMfnmxk%2F Accept “When I focus on what’s good today, I have a good day, and when I focus on what’s bad, I have a bad day. If I focus on a problem, the problem increases; if I focus on the answer, the answer increases.” c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 419 See also; Abstinence-based Recovery Related Reading: (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3247081 Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:24:19 +0100 3247081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3236096&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FMzMBpat_IXU%2F Anger feeds on itself What Are Anger Myths And How They Affect Us? All myths of anger give good reasons excuses for anger and aggressive behavior. Anger is an unavoidable part of being human. Anger is especially based on myths. Self-help Zone lists 5 myths that affect how we deal with anger. These are; Myth 1: Anger and aggression are natural for humans Myth 2: Frustration always leads to aggression Myth 3: Venting your anger is healthy Myth 4: Anger is always beneficial Myth 5: A person’s anger is caused by others Full story at; Self-help Zone Related Reading: (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3236096 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:04:32 +0100 3236096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3239825&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fsought-through-prayer-meditation%2F In 12 Step recovery we talk about using prayer and meditation “to improve our conscious contact with a higher power,” as we understand it. It is not necessary to believe in a metaphysical higher power in order to recover, nor is it necessary to believe that prayer involves communicating with one. The concepts and the practice, however, are important. We must be able to admit to ourselves that we do not know everything, and that we cannot – in and of ourselves – cause our recovery to happen. We require guidance from sources experienced in the practical techniques of recovery – a “higher power” in that context, regardless of what we want to call it. More at; Thoughts on the Eleventh Step See also; 12 Spiritual Questions Wayne Dyer Excuses Begone! A Woman’s Sp... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3239825 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:30:24 +0100 3239825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3236098&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F0jXadacxVRc%2F In 12 Step recovery we talk about using prayer and meditation “to improve our conscious contact with a higher power,” as we understand it. It is not necessary to believe in a metaphysical higher power in order to recover, nor is it necessary to believe that prayer involves communicating with one. The concepts and the practice, however, are important. We must be able to admit to ourselves that we do not know everything, and that we cannot – in and of ourselves – cause our recovery to happen. We require guidance from sources experienced in the practical techniques of recovery – a “higher power” in that context, regardless of what we want to call it. More at; Thoughts on the Eleventh Step See also; 12 Spiritual Questions Wayne Dyer Excuses Begone! A Woman’s Sp... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3236098 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:30:24 +0100 3236098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3236071&cid=t_310870_140_f&fid=35433&url=http%3A%2F%2F4thavenueblues.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fsober-man-three-weeks.html George stopped by at lunch with a sack full of Krystal hamburgers.  He wanted to thank me for hooking up his computer and getting him online. “It’s no problem,” I said modestly. “Well, you’ve been sober three weeks,” I said changing the subject. “How does it feel?” “Does the urge to drink ever go away?” he asked. “I get beside myself for a drink some days.  I want to come over here with you when I get like that.” “Yes,” I said, trying to sound kindly. “It lessens over time.  I never hardly ever think of drinking anymore these days.” “Been to any meetings?” I then asked. “I can’t get around the ‘being powerless over alcohol’ thing,” George replied.  “I do have power.  I choose not to drink.  It makes me feel sorry... The 4th Avenue Blues blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3236071 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:54:00 +0100 3236071 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3236102&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FoeJKxWu_3dQ%2F The first three steps of AA define the alcohol problem and solution In 1934, Bill W., cofounder of Alcoholics Anonymous, got a call from a former drinking buddy, Ebby T. “Rumour had it that he’d been committed for alcoholic insanity,” Bill recalled. “I wondered how he had escaped.” In reality, Ebby was two months sober. This disappointed Bill, who wanted to recapture the spirit of their earlier drinking escapades. When Ebby came to visit, Bill pushed a drink across the table. Ebby refused it. Bill W. & Ebby, co-founders of AA “The door opened, and he stood there, fresh-skinned and glowing,” Bill recalled. “He was inexplicably different. What had happened?” The answer to that question eventually brought Bill to sobriety, and to the Twelv... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3236102 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:20:27 +0100 3236102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3231809&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Ffirst-3-steps-of-aa%2F The first three steps of AA define the alcohol problem and solution In 1934, Bill W., cofounder of Alcoholics Anonymous, got a call from a former drinking buddy, Ebby T. “Rumour had it that he’d been committed for alcoholic insanity,” Bill recalled. “I wondered how he had escaped.” In reality, Ebby was two months sober. This disappointed Bill, who wanted to recapture the spirit of their earlier drinking escapades. When Ebby came to visit, Bill pushed a drink across the table. Ebby refused it. Bill W. & Ebby, co-founders of AA “The door opened, and he stood there, fresh-skinned and glowing,” Bill recalled. “He was inexplicably different. What had happened?” The answer to that question eventually brought Bill to sobriety, and to the Twelv... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3231809 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:20:27 +0100 3231809 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3228016&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fi-became-an-alcoholic-at-age-12%2F Alcoholics Anonymous raises a toast to member who has stayed off the bottle for 50 years No drinks will be served at this celebration, only a non-alcoholic toast to half a century of sobriety. On Monday evening, the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) will hold a felicitation function for AA member John K, to congratulate him on 50 years of sobriety. Since the AA in India is 53 years old, Mangalore-based John is one of its oldest members. John (72) says, “I come from a middle-class Roman Catholic family in Mangalore. There were no taboos about alcohol in the village I grew up in. Village women would crush Ayurved tablets in brandy and put them on their babies’ tongues when they were ill.” He adds,  “Liquor was always served to guests. At the age of six, I used to drink the l... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3228016 Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:34:26 +0100 3228016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3225019&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FSEe5ynlYMAc%2F Alcoholics Anonymous raises a toast to member who has stayed off the bottle for 50 years No drinks will be served at this celebration, only a non-alcoholic toast to half a century of sobriety. On Monday evening, the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) will hold a felicitation function for AA member John K, to congratulate him on 50 years of sobriety. Since the AA in India is 53 years old, Mangalore-based John is one of its oldest members. John (72) says, “I come from a middle-class Roman Catholic family in Mangalore. There were no taboos about alcohol in the village I grew up in. Village women would crush Ayurved tablets in brandy and put them on their babies’ tongues when they were ill.” He adds,  “Liquor was always served to guests. At the age of six, I used to drink the l... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3225019 Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:34:26 +0100 3225019 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3223494&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FhoBFgiAWcdo%2F Conclusions: God belief appears to be relatively unimportant in deriving AA-related benefit, but atheist and agnostic alcoholics are less likely to initiate and sustain AA attendance relative to spiritual and religious alcoholics. This apparent reticence to affiliate with AA should be taken into account when encouraging AA participation. Reference; Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 63: 534-541, 2002. See also; 12 Spiritual Questions Developing Spirituality Maturity of Mind Through a Spiritual Awakening Spiritual Health Blockages Keep It Simple Related Reading: (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3223494 Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:54:51 +0100 3223494 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212608&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FbPqCL9sxSWw%2F There was a spiritual man who had a little boy that he loved very much. Everyday after work the man would come home and play with the little boy. He would always spend all of his extra time playing with the little boy. One night, while the man was at work, he realized that he had extra work to do for the evening, and that he wouldn’t be able to play with his little boy. But, he wanted to be able to give the boy something to keep him busy. So, looking around his office, he saw a magazine with a large map of the world on the cover. He got an idea. He removed the map, and then patiently tore it up into small pieces. Then he put all the pieces in his coat pocket. When he got home, the little boy came running to him and was ready to play. The man explained that he had extra work to do ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212608 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:46:00 +0100 3212608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212610&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FUYienyUNvg0%2F The look of a Dry Drunk Abstinence without sobriety Alcoholics Anonymous informally refers to the alcoholic who has stopped drinking, but who still demonstrates the same alcoholic attitudes and behaviors, as a “dry drunk.” They say that such an individual has abstinence but not sobriety. This concept has been adopted by most twelve-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous and Emotions Anonymous. It appears on almost all of the Web sites devoted to the different addictions, although characteristics of the dry drunk syndrome differ widely from site to site. Most often mentioned are: depression; anxiety; irritability, anger; grandiosity, pomposity, an inflated ego; an inability to delay gratification, impatience and impulsivity; self-pity; being a workaholic,... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212610 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:08:02 +0100 3212610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3205128&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F_O72JWYxJXs%2F Motorcyclists carrying ‘The (AA) Message’ rumble, pipes roaring, in honouring Big Bruce. The collective rumble of a hundred motorcycles, mounted by riders hell-bent on staying “clean and sober” and spreading the message of sobriety and goodwill, awakened a traditionally sombre setting in West Texas: A Midland funeral. The sight and sound initially perhaps conjured up images of the hell-raising gang, the fearsome Hells Angels Motorcycle Club or the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club — “A drinking club with a motorcycle problem.” But those were not these motorcyclists. Maybe they were drunken hell-raisers in times past but no more. Today, they are clean and sober. Donning riding outfits, sans helmets, and mostly, it seemed, dedicated to smoking tobacco, ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3205128 Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:04:00 +0100 3205128 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3201906&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fbikers-carrying-the-message-of-recovery%2F Motorcyclists carrying ‘The (AA) Message’ rumble, pipes roaring, in honouring Big Bruce. The collective rumble of a hundred motorcycles, mounted by riders hell-bent on staying “clean and sober” and spreading the message of sobriety and goodwill, awakened a traditionally sombre setting in West Texas: A Midland funeral. The sight and sound initially perhaps conjured up images of the hell-raising gang, the fearsome Hells Angels Motorcycle Club or the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club — “A drinking club with a motorcycle problem.” But those were not these motorcyclists. Maybe they were drunken hell-raisers in times past but no more. Today, they are clean and sober. Donning riding outfits, sans helmets, and mostly, it seemed, dedicated to smoking tobacco, ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3201906 Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:04:00 +0100 3201906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3205129&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F5tNJs81mRJ4%2F  The title of chapter 11 of the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book. This phrase is often used to refer to the last three paragraphs of chapter 11 and is sometimes read at AA meetings. "Our book is meant to be suggestive only. We realize we know only a little. The Higher Power will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven’t got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us. Abandon yourself to Higher Power as you understand Higher Power. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3205129 Sun, 24 Jan 2010 07:24:43 +0100 3205129 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3201910&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fspirituality-is-universal%2F Spirituality lies at the heart of every person A small circle of men listened attentively as their counsellor at a mission in St. Paul announced their assignment. Their faces might have belonged to anyone–professionals with post-graduate degrees or homeless individuals who constantly struggle. But they were late-stage, chronic alcoholics, the kind who huddle beneath city bridges in the December cold or who simply revolve through local detox centers and shelters. All were searching for a reason to hope. A week earlier, the counsellor had asked each of them to write a prayer. Everyone managed to come up with something, except one. The counsellor asked if he had written something, and the man shook his head and stared dismally at the floor. Years on the street immersed in alcohol and g... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3201910 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 09:02:22 +0100 3201910 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3200661&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FJe52OKPnfmA%2F Spirituality lies at the heart of every person A small circle of men listened attentively as their counsellor at a mission in St. Paul announced their assignment. Their faces might have belonged to anyone–professionals with post-graduate degrees or homeless individuals who constantly struggle. But they were late-stage, chronic alcoholics, the kind who huddle beneath city bridges in the December cold or who simply revolve through local detox centers and shelters. All were searching for a reason to hope. A week earlier, the counsellor had asked each of them to write a prayer. Everyone managed to come up with something, except one. The counsellor asked if he had written something, and the man shook his head and stared dismally at the floor. Years on the street immersed in alcohol and g... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3200661 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 09:02:22 +0100 3200661 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3200668&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F_yYhzB39yro%2F My sponsor gave me the following 10th and 11th step inventory and told me to write it out every evening before I go to bed. The Twelve Nightly Spiritually Focusing Questions 1. Was I resentful? 2. Was I selfish? 3. Was I dishonest? 4. Was I afraid? 5. Do I owe an apology? Who did I help today? 6. What have I kept secret? 7. Was I unkind? (cruel, harsh, unfeeling) 8. Was I unloving? (cold, unresponsive, indifferent) 9. What could I have done better? What am I grateful for today? 10. Was I thinking of myself most of the time? 11. Was I thinking of what I could do for others? Who needs my prayers today? 12. Was I thinking what I could pack into the stream of life? But we are careful not to drift into worry, remorse, or morbid reflection, for that would diminish our usefulness to others. After... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3200668 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:42:23 +0100 3200668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3197889&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2F12-questions-of-the-day%2F My sponsor gave me the following 10th and 11th step inventory and told me to write it out every evening before I go to bed. The Twelve Nightly Spiritually Focusing Questions 1. Was I resentful? 2. Was I selfish? 3. Was I dishonest? 4. Was I afraid? 5. Do I owe an apology? Who did I help today? 6. What have I kept secret? 7. Was I unkind? (cruel, harsh, unfeeling) 8. Was I unloving? (cold, unresponsive, indifferent) 9. What could I have done better? What am I grateful for today? 10. Was I thinking of myself most of the time? 11. Was I thinking of what I could do for others? Who needs my prayers today? 12. Was I thinking what I could pack into the stream of life? But we are careful not to drift into worry, remorse, or morbid reflection, for that would diminish our usefulness to others. After... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3197889 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:42:23 +0100 3197889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3197895&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fprocrastination-is-only-a-habit%2F Without discipline, there’s no life at all. –Katharine Hepburn Procrastination is habitual. It’s perhaps a habit we’ve struggled with over the years, and not one that can be willed away. It eats at us, no doubt. How many times have we gone to bed at night depressed, discouraged, and angry with ourselves for not finishing a job we promised ourselves, or someone else, we’d do! Sometimes it feels hopeless. The tasks awaiting our attention pile up, seem impossible to complete. But there is hope. The program has offered us an easy solution. We have only this day to concern ourselves with. We can break the spell of procrastination, lethargy, immobility, if we choose. We can pick a task that needs attention, any task, preferably a small one for today. Maybe it’... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3197895 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:17:09 +0100 3197895 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3194026&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F0xSXrmy-ZAE%2F Without discipline, there’s no life at all. –Katharine Hepburn Procrastination is habitual. It’s perhaps a habit we’ve struggled with over the years, and not one that can be willed away. It eats at us, no doubt. How many times have we gone to bed at night depressed, discouraged, and angry with ourselves for not finishing a job we promised ourselves, or someone else, we’d do! Sometimes it feels hopeless. The tasks awaiting our attention pile up, seem impossible to complete. But there is hope. The program has offered us an easy solution. We have only this day to concern ourselves with. We can break the spell of procrastination, lethargy, immobility, if we choose. We can pick a task that needs attention, any task, preferably a small one for today. Maybe it’... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3194026 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:17:09 +0100 3194026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3189411&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F5ZZcMwXlR9o%2F Wellbriety – Continuing a Legacy of Resistance … Implementing a Vision for Healing Wellbriety means to be both sober and well. It’s a word translating a term from the language of the Passamaquoddy Nation of Maine as given by an elder in the mid 1990s. It describes a natural evolution of the recovery process. The Wellbriety Movement among Native Americans is a direct descendent of the modern Native sobriety movement that began in the 1950s and continues to change and grow even today. “I went to a sobriety meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the early 1980s and there was a guy named Harold Belmont there who had a smudge. I was going, ‘What is this? What is this?’ It was controversial because it was very early sobriety for Indian people and there were sober people prese... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3189411 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:16:35 +0100 3189411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3185634&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fi-am-your-disease%2F Allow me to introduce my self I am your disease, your addiction. I hate meetings; I hate your Higher Power, And I hate anyone who finds peace through any 12-step program. To all who come in contact with me? I wish you loneliness, suffering, despair and finally, death. I am cunning baffling and powerful. I have killed millions and I love catching you when you least expect it and take you by surprise. I love pretending, I am your friend and lover, I love confusing all those who come in contact with me. To further confuse you, for a short time, I comforted you when you were lonely. Later, after I took control of your thoughts, I kept telling you, that you were no good and that you would never be any good. To ensure your devotion, I kept building you up, only to let you down. I love making yo... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3185634 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:35:52 +0100 3185634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3182371&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2Fl91elw630Ag%2F Allow me to introduce my self I am your disease, your addiction. I hate meetings; I hate your Higher Power, And I hate anyone who finds peace through any 12-step program. To all who come in contact with me? I wish you loneliness, suffering, despair and finally, death. I am cunning baffling and powerful. I have killed millions and I love catching you when you least expect it and take you by surprise. I love pretending, I am your friend and lover, I love confusing all those who come in contact with me. To further confuse you, for a short time, I comforted you when you were lonely. Later, after I took control of your thoughts, I kept telling you, that you were no good and that you would never be any good. To ensure your devotion, I kept building you up, only to let you down. I love making yo... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3182371 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:35:52 +0100 3182371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3180410&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fnative-american-traditions-blend-with-aa-principles%2F Basil Brave Heart’s journey of healing began 31 years ago when a Lakota medicine man took him to a sweat lodge, made a circle in the dirt with a stick, then planted the stick in the center of the circle. “He told me, ’This is you in the center, and alcohol walks around you on the outside like the trickster coyote. You chase it up a hill, but it circles around and fools you. Don’t let it sneak up on you. Turn around and embrace it so it can become one of your most powerful teachers.’” Brave Heart says that alcohol has become a prolific teacher whom he can trust to remind him each morning that he must stay sober. Today he is a Lakota Elder and spiritual leader who holds a master’s degree in psychology. Using an approach that incorporates western psychology, Twelve Step ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3180410 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:13:39 +0100 3180410 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3178993&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FYGFKBa8sszw%2F Basil Brave Heart’s journey of healing began 31 years ago when a Lakota medicine man took him to a sweat lodge, made a circle in the dirt with a stick, then planted the stick in the center of the circle. “He told me, ’This is you in the center, and alcohol walks around you on the outside like the trickster coyote. You chase it up a hill, but it circles around and fools you. Don’t let it sneak up on you. Turn around and embrace it so it can become one of your most powerful teachers.’” Brave Heart says that alcohol has become a prolific teacher whom he can trust to remind him each morning that he must stay sober. Today he is a Lakota Elder and spiritual leader who holds a master’s degree in psychology. Using an approach that incorporates western psychology, Twelve Step ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3178993 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:13:39 +0100 3178993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3176130&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FTf1Ojhr09Ac%2F Recovery through the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous Sgt. Bill S., used a one word summary to describe the basic principle (as he saw it) behind each of the 12 Steps, when he was giving talks to military personnel about alcoholism at Lackland in San Antonio, Texas, during the 1950’s and later on in California. In the [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3176130 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:11:00 +0100 3176130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3167460&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FQhVfZeBtE8Y%2F “My sponsor was a living damper on my intolerance. But even more, he told me that it would be all right for me to doubt God, that A.A. was not a religious program and, to belong, I did not have to adhere to any set of beliefs. “He suggested that for me a good starting point [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3167460 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:01:09 +0100 3167460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3164051&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FMariYUL9n70%2F Some Gifts of becoming clean and sober We’ll be amazed at and proud of changes we make We’ll be freer and happier than we could imagine Our mistakes won’t haunt us We’ll feel calmer and more confident What we’ve been through will help us help others We’ll stop feeling stupid and sorry for ourselves We’ll be more considerate of our friends and [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3164051 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:41:35 +0100 3164051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3159982&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fwell-be-gifted%2F Some Gifts of being clean and sober We’ll be amazed at and proud of changes we make We’ll be freer and happier than we could imagine Our mistakes won’t haunt us We’ll feel calmer and more confident What we’ve been through will help us help others We’ll stop feeling stupid and sorry for ourselves We’ll be more considerate of our friends and [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3159982 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:41:35 +0100 3159982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3164055&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2Fq-GdCaOVheM%2F My life is better when I act responsibly. I am responsible for myself; my recovery, my well-being, my happiness, all these things are, ultimately, my own responsibility. Anonymous Our Higher Power does not lay claim to our free will. We can choose not to be responsible and make ourselves more miserable by going to new levels of [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3164055 Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:00:33 +0100 3164055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3156674&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fabstinence-is-only-one-part-of-recovery%2F "The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous only mention alcohol once, in Step One," (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3156674 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:22:29 +0100 3156674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3153646&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FgLjxNqqhWPs%2F On his desk Dr Bob (pictured at left), a cofounder of AA, had a plaque defining humility “‘As Dr. Bob said…:’” Humility is … ‘Perpetual quietness of heart. It is to have no trouble. It is never to be fretted or vexed, irritable or sore; to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3153646 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:34:39 +0100 3153646 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3142840&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F5ogsG1IwBHA%2F What and where is My Higher Power? “The answer I was looking for was on page 12 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, in Ebby’s words to Bill: ’”Why don’t you choose your own conception of God?”’ “’I’ve tried everything else,’ I thought, ’and I’ve got no place else to go. I might just as well.’ [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3142840 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:35:14 +0100 3142840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3142841&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FIvs8_N9cJHA%2F Serenity Prayer gets to the heart of recovery In the concentration camp, Viktor Frankl was prisoner No. 119,104. He spent most of his time in forced labour, laying tracks for Nazi railway lines. At one point, his job was to dig a tunnel for an underground water main. He worked alone. His reward was a coupon [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3142841 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:23:42 +0100 3142841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3139253&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fthe-12-steps-to-insanity%2F The 12 Steps to Recovery have often been countered by this tongue-in-cheek 12 Steps to Insanity We admitted we were powerless over nothing. We could manage our lives perfectly and we could manage those of anyone else that would allow it. Came to believe that there was no power greater than ourselves, and the rest of the [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3139253 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:55:54 +0100 3139253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3139254&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fthe-12-steps-to-recovery%2F The AA Recovery Program The relative success of the A.A. program seems to be due to the fact that an alcoholic who no longer drinks has an exceptional faculty for “reaching” and helping an uncontrolled drinker. In simplest form, the A.A. program operates when a recovered alcoholic passes along the story of his or her own problem [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3139254 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:43:34 +0100 3139254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3139255&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fsymptoms-of-religious-addiction%2F Reverend Leo Booth believes that religious addiction, like alcohol addiction, is a behavior that can be treated. Inability to think, doubt, or question religious information and/or authority Black-and-white, good/bad, either/or simplistic thinking: one way or the other Shame-based belief that you aren’t good enough or you aren’t doing it right Magical thinking that God will fix you/ do it [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3139255 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:30:29 +0100 3139255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3139256&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fspirituality-and-health%2F This article explores four possible mechanisms by which prayer may lead to improved health. While acknowledging the efficacy of prayer and recognizing the needs of patients, prayer, being a personal spiritual [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3139256 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:14:54 +0100 3139256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3139257&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Falcoholic-recovery-narcissism%2F Narcissism A Barrier to Personal Acceptance of the Spiritual Aspect of Alcoholics Anonymous Twenty-nine newly recovering alcoholic outpatients drawn from a Minnesota-Model type treatment program in the United Kingdom completed the NPI narcissism scale and the “Steps Questionnaire.” Results showed the narcissistic “authority” subscale showed a very strong inverse relationship to level of personal acceptance of [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3139257 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:59:44 +0100 3139257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3153640&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation%2FwAgT%2F%7E3%2F0g0SjVfNVv0%2F Alcoholism and addiction have several common threads with reciprocal recovery principles. In their book, “Rethinking Substance Abuse,” editors William R. Miller and Kathleen M. Carroll to sum up what has been learned about the science of addiction. These are; Drug Use is Chosen Behavior in the Beginning – for experimenting, peer pressure or otherwise its chosen at first. Drug Problems Emerge Gradually – it takes time to become addicted. Once Well Established, Drug Problems Tend to Become Self-Perpetuating – once the brain alters it number of drug receptor cells drug craving demands more of the same. Motivation is Central to Prevention and Intervention – actively doing something toward change may be more important than the particular actions that are ... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3153640 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:58:35 +0100 3153640 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3136726&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FguGtgciiVFw%2F Concepts of Emotions Anonymous We come to EA to learn how to live a new way of life through the twelve-step program of Emotions Anonymous which consists of Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, concepts, the Serenity Prayer, slogans, Just for Today’s, EA literature, weekly meetings, telephone and personal contacts, and living the program one day at a [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3136726 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 10:34:48 +0100 3136726 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3153641&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation%2FwAgT%2F%7E3%2FachG3wXkFnA%2F Conclusions. The present results suggest that, relative to their more humble counterparts, recovering alcoholics who lack humility (ie., high narcissists) do not have more difficulty surrendering to the idea they are powerless over their drinking problem. However, recovering alcoholics who lack authority-related humility do show a marked lack of faith in the proposition that “God” offers a viable solution to their alcohol problem. Consequently, they are quite reluctant to surrender their willfulness, and thereby accept help from a Higher Power. Given that faith in the existence, availability or efficacy of a Higher Power is difficult for this subsample of individuals, it seems likely that – in the context of 12-step recovery – deficits in humility may serve to in... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3153641 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:43:57 +0100 3153641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3129683&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fthe-lotus-eaters%2F Odysseus´ Voyage of Recovery The story of Odysseus is about more than just a Greek guy in a boat. About 3000 years ago, the poet Homer told a story about a man called Odysseus and his voyage home to Greece following the Trojan Wars. Odysseus and his men met up with many exciting adventures along the way, but the most relevant to us is the story of his landing on the Island of the Lotus Eaters. The island was so beautiful that Odysseus wanted to stay there awhile and rest up. So he sent out some scouts to determine if the natives were friendly. Odysseus waited and waited, but the scouts never returned. What had happened was this: the scouts had indeed met up with the locals, the Lotus Eaters, who turned out to be very friendly. The Lotus Eaters even shared their food with the scouts. But t... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3129683 Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:26:49 +0100 3129683 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3123521&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FEpmzOpTBEbE%2F Many Faiths A variety of faith-based groups share a similar mission: to help people recover from alcohol and other drug dependency. Inside Bay Area reported that spirituality has been a part of recovery since the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous 75 years ago, but has received a boost under the Bush administration’s “faith-based” funding initiative, which has provided money for church-based addiction programs. Researchers are currently studying the effectiveness of faith-based interventions for alcohol and other drug problems. On the local level, leaders like Judy Schwartz of the Fremont Family Resource Center has made connections with local religious groups and urged clergy to tackle addiction in their ministry. “We’re working with religious institutions to complement... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3123521 Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:18:21 +0100 3123521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3122198&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fmany-faiths-aid-recovery%2F Many Faiths A variety of faith-based groups share a similar mission: to help people recover from alcohol and other drug dependency. Inside Bay Area reported that spirituality has been a part of recovery since the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous 75 years ago, but has received a boost under the Bush administration’s “faith-based” funding initiative, which has provided money for church-based addiction programs. Researchers are currently studying the effectiveness of faith-based interventions for alcohol and other drug problems. On the local level, leaders like Judy Schwartz of the Fremont Family Resource Center has made connections with local religious groups and urged clergy to tackle addiction in their ministry. “We’re working with religious institutions to complement... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3122198 Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:18:21 +0100 3122198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3123522&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FaE0B1doGxeI%2F 9 Recovery Destinations What does Letting Go Mean? Detachment From the Alcoholic, Addict 12th Step Works Recovery Promises to … Overeater? Alcoholic or Not? Which One to Feed? Choc Chip Cookies Denial & Defence Behavior The HBO Addiction Program Do You Have an Ego? What’s Your Emotional IQ? Have a Laugh Does AA Work? What is AA? Early Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse Alcoholic, Addictive Behaviors Compulsive Gambling Are there Patterns to Denial Behavior? Do Jew’s become Alcoholic? Emotions Anonymous Are Families Affected by Alcoholism? ACOA’s have Strengths as well Is Sex Better than Masturbation? What are the Styles of Enablers? Self-will run riot Are there ‘Normal’ Sexual Attitudes? Are you a Sexaholic? Can you get Hep C by Having Sex? The Horse Whisperer; O... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3123522 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:10:17 +0100 3123522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3120618&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fpopular-recovery-is-sexy-posts%2F 9 Recovery Destinations What does Letting Go Mean? Detachment From the Alcoholic, Addict 12th Step Works Recovery Promises to … Overeater? Alcoholic or Not? Which One to Feed? Choc Chip Cookies Denial & Defence Behavior The HBO Addiction Program Do You Have an Ego? What’s Your Emotional IQ? Have a Laugh Does AA Work? What is AA? Early Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse Alcoholic, Addictive Behaviors Compulsive Gambling Are there Patterns to Denial Behavior? Do Jew’s become Alcoholic? Emotions Anonymous Are Families Affected by Alcoholism? ACOA’s have Strengths as well Is Sex Better than Masturbation? What are the Styles of Enablers? Self-will run riot Are there ‘Normal’ Sexual Attitudes? Are you a Sexaholic? Can you get Hep C by Having Sex? The Horse Whisperer; O... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3120618 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:10:17 +0100 3120618 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3123523&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FleAm5yKjBsk%2F People in 12 Step recovery can aim at these ideals. For the most part, we just try to think and act like decent human beings concerned for the wellbeing of our fellows. We can;- become patient with ourselves and others. be kind even towards people who are nasty towards us. be generous with our time and resources. be humble about any success, giving our Higher Power and our sponsors the credit. be courteous to everybody and especially to family members who get on our nerves. challenge the demon of selfishness every day. watch our disposition like a hawk, mindful of the damage a single outburst of bad temper can cause. avoid guile like the plague, never deceiving or misleading others for our own advantage. be sincere in everything we do and very grateful to be rid of the false beliefs of ou... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3123523 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 10:55:43 +0100 3123523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3120619&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2F9-recovery-destinations%2F People in 12 Step recovery can aim at these ideals. For the most part, we just try to think and act like decent human beings concerned for the wellbeing of our fellows. We can;- become patient with ourselves and others. be kind even towards people who are nasty towards us. be generous with our time and resources. be humble about any success, giving our Higher Power and our sponsors the credit. be courteous to everybody and especially to family members who get on our nerves. challenge the demon of selfishness every day. watch our disposition like a hawk, mindful of the damage a single outburst of bad temper can cause. avoid guile like the plague, never deceiving or misleading others for our own advantage. be sincere in everything we do and very grateful to be rid of the false beliefs of ou... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3120619 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 10:55:43 +0100 3120619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3119067&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Faa-and-judaism%2F The fellowships of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Al-Anon are of inestimable value in the recovery from alcoholism and chemical dependency. Not infrequently, there is a resistance on the part of Jews to participate on the grounds that these programs have a religious orientation that is non-Jewish. Let us first dispense with some extraneous objections. A.A. is Christian because meetings are held in church basements, say some. While it is true that the majority of A.A. meetings are in churches, it should also be mentioned that few Jewish facilities have welcomed A.A. The myth that Jews do not become alcoholic has resulted in an alienation of alcoholism treatment programs from the Jewish community. Just as there is a lack of alcoholism expertise in Jewish health agencies, so is... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3119067 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:03:17 +0100 3119067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115291&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FjHEOqKYf0z0%2F Something Greater than Me A Glacier Melts “A.A. provided for me a means by which I could overcome the compulsion to drink and, more important, a means by which I could achieve a personality change or spiritual awakening-a surrender to life. Though I have had problems and deep troubles since that summer ten years ago, my faith has not been shaken. I cannot say that I have found God as I understand Him, but rather that I have faith in Something which remains a mystery to me and which I continue to seek. – Fresno, California, USA” AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 2004, pg. 59 Related Reading: Share/Save (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115291 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:37:08 +0100 3115291 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115294&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FTEJDW0qayYU%2F Anonymous people Anonymity and my alcoholism Anonymity is actually more complex than I thought at first – I thought it was just “not telling anyone my surname”!! In addition to not using my surname at media level, and not breaking other people’s anonymity, I believe I have to be careful who I tell about my disease. Once I had “settled in” to AA I got quite enthusiastic about what AA was doing for myself and others, and was prepared to tell almost anyone. Nowadays I’m still enthusiastic, but more tempered in who I tell, and when. I don’t tell people “I’m an alcoholic” unless I have the opportunity to explain what I mean by alcoholic. Otherwise they will be left with the logical impression that I’m a compulsive, heavy drinker. The non-alcoh... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115294 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:20:21 +0100 3115294 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3120616&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Fas-spirituality-increases-drinking-decreases%2F CONCLUSIONS: In the first 6 months of recovery, many dimensions of S/R increased, particularly those associated with behaviors and experiences. Values, beliefs, self-assessed religiousness, perceptions of a Higher Power, and the use of negative religious coping did not change. Increases in day-to-day experiences of spirituality and sense of purpose/meaning in life were associated with absence of heavy drinking at 6 months, regardless of gender and AA involvement. The results of this descriptive study support the perspective of many clinicians and recovering individuals that changes in alcoholics’ S/R occur in recovery and that such changes are important to sobriety. Robinson EA, Cranford JA, Webb JR, Brower KJ. Six month changes in spirituality religiousness and heavy drinking in a... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3120616 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:08:15 +0100 3120616 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3106890&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FmzGA1i1v0Io%2F People in recovery in 12 Step Fellowships use various tools at various times in their recovery. Some all the time, some when needed, some only in early recovery. But all tools listed here have proven to be effective at some time if not most times. 1. MEETINGS: We attend meetings to learn how the Program works, [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3106890 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:44:25 +0100 3106890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3106891&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FLYBmw88Yr_k%2F A hazard to the sober alcoholic. When an alcoholic stops drinking, it’s cause for rejoicing. Unfortunately, sobriety is not guaranteed to last. It takes hard work and commitment and a keen eye for dangers. One danger to the non-drinking alcoholic is the dry drunk, a set of habits and attitudes that take the joy out of life for [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3106891 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:35:14 +0100 3106891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3106892&cid=t_310870_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FGm2pc80WcVc%2F “No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. We are not saints. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines.” (Alcoholics Anonymous, p60) The Four Spiritual Aims of Recovery are; Honesty, Unselfishness, Love, Purity Honesty Over and over we ask ourselves, “Is it true or is it false?” For honesty [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3106892 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:27:08 +0100 3106892