This Open Talk is exclusively for our Premium Subscibers only. Thanks for the support! If you upgrade to Premium, your contribution will help keep us on the web.
Promo Code PODCAST
for 20% Discount
This Open Talk is for everybody. Other products are made exclusively for our Recovered App owners. Thanks for the support! If you upgrade to Premium, your contribution will help keep us on the web.
Promo Code PODCAST
for 20% Discount
This Open Talk is exclusively for our Recovered App owners. Thanks for the support! If you upgrade to Premium, your contribution will help keep us on the web.
Promo Code PODCAST
for 20% Discount
As a way of introducing this topic of Challenges of Early Sobriety, I thought we would ask our listeners what they struggled with in their early recover. We asked, “What did you struggle with in early sobriety?” Some of the responses we received included
Cravings
Triggers
Relationships
Emotions
Change
Sleep
Money
The Law
What do you think was our most common response?
Let’s start our discussion with Triggers
We must be aware of our triggers, those circumstances that can lead to a desire for drink. What were some of your triggers, then and what ARE some of your triggers now?
Cravings – The book would actually call this obsession of the mind, cravings, it the book, means that phenomenon of desire for more after you drink. What about drinking thoughts and dreams? Your experience? What tools do you use to combat obsession of the mind?
Withdrawal Symptoms – can continue for weeks after the individual has given up abusing the substance. These symptoms can impact the individual’s mental state and their feelings. The aches and pains of withdrawals can make the individual feel irritable. Your experience? How did you cope?
Overwhelming emotions – one of the reasons why people turn to substance abuse in the first place is to escape these feelings. Once the individual manages to escape their addiction it means that their emotions come alive again. If people haven’t really had to deal with these feelings in many years it can feel a bit overwhelming. You experience? Anger, sadness, guilt, grief, which emotions were difficult for you?
How did you manage your feelings?
Change – Early recovery involves making lots of changes. It usually means [saying goodbye to acquaintances who are still drinking or using drugs](http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-rehab/social-support-for-drinking/). It also means making new friends. Addicts will revolve their life around drugs so when they get sober they have a big hole that they have to fill with new activities. With so many changes going on it is hardly surprising that people become emotional. What was your experience with change? What changes did you go through? How did you cope?
Relationships – These will also change in recovery. These changes can be for the good, some are extremely painful. Grief is also part of this separation process. What was your experience? What steps did you use to try and evaluate current relationships? How was this healthy? How was this not healthy?
Sleep – Some people suffer from insomnia during the early days of their recovery. Sleep is needed for good mental health so lack of it will cause problems to the individual’s emotional state. Your experience?
Promo Code PODCAST
for 20% Discount
Final Thoughts
This Open Talk is exclusively for our Recovered App owners. Thanks for the support! If you upgrade to Premium, your contribution will help keep us on the web.
Raising a Family in Recovery
Sober Life Mouthwash Website
Promo Code PODCAST
for 20% Discount
When I came into recovery, I was not on a winning streak.
And neither was my family on a winning streak.
As a matter of fact, my family was on the rocks.
I thought my loved ones would be thrilled when I came into the program, but as far as I could tell, they were just as pissed as ever.
Suzie…
Tell us a little about your family life before coming into the program.
I think you really have two stories
One with your parents
and the other with your daughter
Tell us a little about what it used to be like?
What did your family look like when you were using?
Janet, welcome to the studio
For the benefit of our listeners, tell us a little about yourself
what is your sobriety dat, who’s your sponsor, where is your home group?
Tell us a little about what it used to be like?
What did your family look like when you were using?
What was your experience with your loved ones before recovery?
How did the relationship change after recovery?
Did your recovery upset the family unit after recovery?
Was the family jealous of recovery?
How is it changing today?
Did you ever explain your addiction and recovery to your family?
Did this discussion continue as the children grew older?
Did you children/loved ones ever seek recovery?
Have your loved ones ever describe what it was like for them when you were using?
How did you react?
What about the amends process, have you done this with your loved ones?
Making time to be together is important, how did you do this with your loved ones?
Did you ever feel the need to buy their love back?
How about recovery activities, do your loved ones attend open talk meetings?
Have you ever Scheduled weekly family meetings so things can be discussed openly?
They say consistency is important,
what are your experiences with being consistent with the family?
What does inconsistent behavior do to the family dynamic?
dependable, responsible and reasonable parenting, what does this mean to you?
What does consistent behavior look like to you?
Your thoughts on therapy for the family?
Final Thoughts
https://soberlife.mojocheckout.com/c1605074/soberlife/step1?__utma=210243863.1815957719.1394145231.1397833719.1397950924.7&__utmb=210243863.1.10.1397950924&__utmc=210243863&__utmx=-&__utmz=210243863.1397950924.7.5.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=(not%20provided)&__utmv=-&__utmk=60115054
http://anonpress.org/bb/
http://aa.org/twelveandtwelve/en_tableofcnt.cfm
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view?catId=1901
This Open Talk is exclusively for our Premium Subscribers. Thanks for the support! If you upgrade to Premium, your contribution will help keep us on the web.
This phrase comes from the Twelfth Tradition, ‘Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.’
It is the principles of the program, not its personalities, that guide recovery and keep us sober.
We rely on the Twelve Steps and their principles rather than on one individual or group of individuals. Individuals, regardless of how charismatic, are only human. Our ultimate reliance is on our Higher Power.
Before the program, what principles guided your life?
How did that work?
What was your spiritual foundation before the program?
What about personalities, did you have a persona you tried to maintain?
Did you have a reputation that you liked?
Did you have a reputation that you disliked?
Did you affect any body else’s reputation?
We asked our listeners what they thought the principles are.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/summary/_2BvsceBAZl7BUwJevfwSdeGWf9KLyrSm3dkZxRxDU7GM_3D
When you came into the program, what did you first think of this slogan or tradition?
Today, What is Anonymity? My anonymity or some one elses?
How is this a spiritual concept?
What is an AA Principle?
Are some more important than others? Why or why not?
What about some other principles of the program that we live by?
The principle of:
Giving rather than getting
Open mindedness
Surrender
Hope
Honesty
Humility
Trust
Unity
Final Thoughts
http://anonpress.org/bb/
http://aa.org/twelveandtwelve/en_tableofcnt.cfm
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view?catId=1901
This Open Talk is exclusively for our Recovered App owners. Thanks for the support! If you upgrade to Premium, your contribution will help keep us on the web.
Some common statements made by alcoholics who deny their disease include: “I could quit anytime I wanted to.” “I’d quit using if people would quit ragging on me.” “If you were in my situation, you’d drink, too.”
What was your own experience, what did your denial look like?
Have you ever experienced such behavior?
Typically, the more severe the addiction, the stronger the denial.
What about your experience?
Why do you think this to be true?
“If a person doesn’t recognize that his or her behavior is creating problems, then he or she wouldn’t see the need to change or seek assistance,”
Your thoughts?
“They are also likely to react negatively to people who believe they have a problem.”
Have you acted like this? Have you observed this?
LET’S TAKE SOME PHONE CALLS?
Alex P.
Ruth
Spencer
Let’s talk about barriers to overcoming denial.
Feeding denial is the stigma and shame associated with alcoholism. Unfortunately, much of society still perceives alcoholism as a moral failure.
There are many barriers to overcoming denial. In some cases, the alcoholics behavior may be similar to his or her peers — it’s hard for them to understand that anything is wrong.
Your experience?
Final Thoughts
http://anonpress.org/bb/
http://aa.org/twelveandtwelve/en_tableofcnt.cfm
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view?catId=1901
