Going Back to School in Sobriety

For many of us our hopes and dreams had been crushed by our disease and battle with alcoholism. We had a lot of great ideas but nothing ever really came of them because we couldn't stop using. When we go to Above It All Treatment , AA ,detox and receive Addiction recovery that starts to change. We begin to see that if we stay sober we can pretty much make our dreams come true. We can go anywhere and do anything that we put our mind too as long as we are spiritually fit and have done the work. 

For many of us we have hopes of being able to go back to school. This may seem like an impossible dream when we are first getting sober since many of us are not used to pursuing things that are important to us. When we were using our passions and hopes just kind of fell by the wayside. While that can be scary for many of us and while we might be in fear of failure, or not being able to fulfill the commitment the fact is that if we take it one step at a time like we do when we get sober then we most certainly can accomplish this goal. We might struggle with social aspects or heavy workloads at first but rest assured if we apply ourselves we will eventually be able to reach our end goal and get a degree if that is what we desire. 

All you need to start on this path is the desire to learn and the willingness to take action.

Your First Steps Toward Drug and Alcohol Treatment

There are many addiction treatment facilities around the country, and the world, in which to choose from and there are many different styles of them. There are inpatient centers, in which a person checks themselves into and stays at the facility. These can be of varying length, usually in two different options, 30-day and 90-day stays. Inpatient treatment centers tend to be a little more intensive, are by design more heavily supervised, and many of them offer detox treatments. 

The centers that offer detox treatments are a good option for those who are addicted to alcohol, benzodiazepines or opiates and who will require medication to manage the withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawal from alcohol and some drugs can be dangerous and should be done under the care of trained professionals who can administer medications to alleviate the symptoms and manage the period of adjustment as the body gets used to functioning without the drug again.

There are many places that a person can go to get help with their addictions. There are various Anonymous meetings, people often turn to their faith or loved ones. Another option is an addiction treatment center, which specifically handles addictions and is staffed by trained professionals.

Another option in addiction treatment centers are those that are outpatient, in which the addicted person does not stay in a residential facility, but is required to attend meetings at the facility on a regular basis, are monitored for drug and alcohol use, and participate in various treatment activities. For many people, this is the only option available as securing a month or three months off from work is not feasible and those with children often are unable to commit to an inpatient program. Outpatient facilities function much the same as their residential counterparts in offering intensive programs focused on getting the individual to sobriety and some of them offering medication to manage the detox period, as well.

A Day Of Relaxing at Above It All Treatment

A halfway house, or a sober living house is another option when choosing what sort of addiction treatment center you are looking for and are usually attended after a stay in a residential treatment facility. The purpose of these centers are to provide a structured environment in which the person can transition from the intensive, inpatient stay at a residential facility, back into normal life. There are mandatory curfews, drug tests, often twelve-step meetings depending on the philosophy of the center, and other requirements that the recovering person must meet in order to stay there. They offer help in getting their life back on track while keeping the recovering person focused on their sobriety.

There is a lot of help out there for you or your loved ones to get sober and lead healthy and productive lives. Addiction treatment centers know that you have a life to live and that you often cannot leave it behind and offer a variety of programs to choose from. Don’t despair, you can get help. There is an addiction treatment center for you to go to that will meet your needs.

Choose Your Own Path

“Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it. Dwell in possibility.” 

― Oprah Winfrey

Parenting in Sobriety

Many of us that get sober and receive detox have kids. There are many different circumstances when it comes to people in recovery and their children. Some of us had children and lost them because of this disease of alcoholism, some of us have children in sobriety, and some of us become step-parents. 

Whatever the case may be the thought/responsibility of parenting can be scary yet also a very exciting and growth producing time in our lives. For many of us the idea hadn't even crossed our mind because we were living a life full of bondage and addiction but when we go through Above It All, AA, and other 12 step programs  and get sober many of us find we get a second shot at life. We are able to start planning a future, which up until sobriety seemed pointless. When we get to that place where we are able to either get our kids back, or have children for the first time we may feel lost, scared of failure, or unprepared. 

The fact is that there is no crash course in being ready to parent and even though we may not know what to expect or what we are doing we don’t have to do anything alone ever again. There are many people that are there that can and will help. There are many parents that have gone through the same situation in recovery and have come out the other side. If we reach out for help we will be more than taken care of.