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Intrinsic Motivation
A common belief is that helping someone who doesn’t want to get clean or sober is fruitless, a waste of time. This is not so; such an individual is simply not intrinsically motivated to stop using heroin or drinking alcohol or whatever. There appears to be no inner reward for stopping their addiction. When this…
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Meditation
Do you practice meditation? You’ve got to meditate, just a few minutes daily. Where it takes you is amazing. At first, for me anyway, it seemed a little silly, not sure why. It may have been the social culture of the time, when I first started. I was introduced to the concept during martial arts…
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What Next
A nice concept was presented at tonight’s meeting. Once you start down the recovery road and achieve a little time of total abstinence, inevitably the thought arrives to have one. The idea is to follow that thought with the construct of “what next.” Where do you go from there? Well, history tells us that it…
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White Knuckle Grip
In the beginning, it’s like a constant craving. Your brain and body call out for satiation. There’s no deprivation though, just something you’d become accustomed to doing, with no real hunger or thirst. Sure, there were times when some sort of psychological relief was needed and the addiction granted it; but, now there’s no rhyme…
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Next Level
An amazing aspect of the healing remission process is how it unfolds in what appears to be elevating levels. They are not very noticeable at first. A month ago I set out to write a journal entry here each day. The intention was to clear cobwebs from my mind. They had formed during a codependency…
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Morning gratitude
I had almost a year of sobriety, I’m currently back at six weeks. What happened isn’t important. My focus is on what DIDN’T happen. I lost touch with myself. I didn’t reach out to people with the same goals. Most importantly, I wasn’t having fun! These six weeks are better than those nine months, I…
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Why Upset
Early remission is challenging, no doubt! You figure everyone is going to love you now. There’s usually an angry stage during the process though and it’s jammed packed with misguided anger. A very special person in my life helped me understand. Thank you, Dennis, for that gift you gave me 20 years ago. I’m sure…
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Waiting
It was suggested I write something here daily, something I’ve suggested dozens of times to clients. Well, as the posting date shows, it has been a couple days. I’m waiting. Waiting for my mind to clear, as if it will on its own. The cobwebs will not simply disappear, they need to be swept away.…
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Perseverance
It was suggested I start writing something, anything, here daily. I’ve chosen this topic because, lately, I’ve been feeling like this thankless work I do is tearing me down. I work with addicts, mostly heroin addicts. I help them find their way out of their near hopeless situation. I’m good at it too! It’s like…
