NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS: IT’S A SET UP
Who came up with New Year’s Resolutions? Whoever they were, they must have been a masochist. I have seldom seen a person stick to their resolutions; more often, I have witnessed the guilt and upset that comes from falling short of lofty goals. Don’t get me wrong! Goal setting is important- vital, even, in recovery. It gives you a place to focus your energy and produces a sense of achievement and pride as you move past milestones. But there is a balance between setting goals and setting yourself up for failure. “I’m going vegan…” …or “I’m saving money…” …or “I’m [...]
12 Ways to Stay Sober and Sane for the Holidays
The holiday season can be a crazy time of the year, and staying sober and sane for the holidays can be a challenge. With all the heavy traffic, crowded malls with last-minute shoppers, travel delays, and just the stress of reuniting with family and friends can be enough to set off triggers for anyone in recovery. This time of year shouldn't be a bummer. Even with all the stress, you should be able to find time to relax and enjoy the holidays. Whether you’re in recovery or just trying to get through the holiday stress, you can still enjoy the [...]
Alumni Services: Community Collaboration
I recently got the opportunity to attend the Treatment Professionals in Alumni Services (TPAS) Collaborative in Malibu, California and was asked to share my experience. Allow me to break down what an amazing time it was. First off, I got invited to attend by my boss who said I could go this last spring to the Collaborative in Texas. Now, not knocking Texas but I was trained by The Price Is Right. Yes, the television show we all watched when we were home “sick” from school. You NEVER go for the first option in the Showcase Showdown, the second one [...]
I Never Knew Addiction Affected My Life
I was raised in a stable safe home, by a single mother that often struggled to make ends meet. We didn’t have a lot but we always had each other and I always knew I was loved, a lot. My parents ended their very short lived marriage by the time I was eight months old. My dad would visit from time to time until I turned three. Around that time, he left town without a trace. He didn’t visit on weekends, or send birthday cards, and he certainly didn’t send any money for child support. I grew up that way; [...]
The Strength of Our Stories
In early recovery, I really struggled when looking back on my past. All of the errors in judgement I had made, the people I had harmed, it seems every choice I made was followed up with one that was worse. My own family called me the “dumbest smart guy” they knew. I guess that fit at the time. The problem was, early on I realized I couldn’t change what I had done or the way I had behaved and that really created self-esteem that was built on shame. I felt that not only had I made mistakes but I WAS [...]
The Unsung Heroes in Addiction Treatment
Addiction is a powerful force that damages real families and claims real lives. The battle against the scourge of addiction has front-line soldiers—workers whose diligent efforts and quiet professionalism make a substantial impact on a recovering person’s progress. At Transformations Treatment Center, these difference-makers are the behavioral health technicians. Like an offensive line in football, these men and women help provide protection against addiction’s destructive forces that isn’t always glorious; despite their unsung status, they are crucial components of a highly functioning addiction treatment team.What behavioral health technicians do is both important and varied: their roles include observing the behavior [...]