What Does "Living Life on Life’s Terms" Mean?

When we get sober it can be hard to live in acceptance at first. Things can come up that can be difficult to walk through. It is imperative that we learn how to live life on life’s terms. What this means is that we turn our will over to a higher power and learn how to take things as they come. If we are willing to accept things as being exactly how they are supposed to be in each moment we will be able to gain clarity and approach each situation with peace and dignity. Prior to receiving alcohol addiction help for our alcohol addiction, going through the addiction recovery process, and getting sober, most of us were used to trying to control every aspect of our lives. Most of us had become so isolated and spiritually bankrupt that there was no one else to turn to let alone a set of spiritual tools that we could use to help cope with each situation. When we get sober we learn that in order to have any real sense of power or control over a situation we must surrender, ask for guidance, and take action. As it says in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous “Faith without works is dead”. Therefore while it is important that we have faith and surrender, it is also equally as important that we take action. In recovery we get to find the balance between surrendering and taking action while living in acceptance.

Dealing With Other Addictions In Recovery

"One down, one hundred more to go!" Sometimes it can feel that way when we are dealing with addictions. While we may be sober from one substance a whole new list of addictions may come up for us even after going to alcohol centers, AA, or other forms of detox. Regardless of what comes up Above It All Treatment can help. From addictions to food, shopping, sex, love, drugs, smoking, cleaning, co-dependency, to drinking, the tools we are given can help us overcome any addiction. There is help for just about anything.  Once we get sober we no longer have to go through anything alone ever again. There is a whole support system and fellowship of friends that we have available to us through recovery. There are principles and tools to help us overcome our addictions and we do not have to go it alone. While it's not easy to battle more than one addiction at a time you can do it if you just take the right action.  We are now able to see clearly and notice unhealthy behaviors when they come up. Recovery is a daily battle but well worth it. With the many tools and sources we now have available to us, we can achieve a happy healthy sober life. If we continue to work on ourselves and grow we no longer need to be a slave to addiction. We can finally be free from the bondage of self and go on to live a healthy, happy, and grounded life.

Depression in Recovery

As alcoholics it is natural and common for us to seek elevated moods. Many of us either fluctuate between being extremely happy or extremely depressed. This can carry on even after we have gone through Above It All Treatment Center, AA, or detox and have received Addiction rehabilitation. Even though the fact is that just because we put the drugs or alcohol down and started doing the work it does not mean that everything becomes perfect instantly. Just lie it took us time to get to the place of desperation in order for us to get sober it takes us time to clean up the wreckage of our past and move forward. 

Do not be discouraged we all have to go through this and it is this time of struggle that many of us come to value later on in our sobriety. If you are feeling depressed there are many ways to get through it. We can choose to do step work, help another person who is having a hard time, participate in estimable acts, contact our sponsor, or if need be we can choose to seek medical help through professionals such as therapist. 

At the end of the day the most important thing is that we keep trudging, walk through difficult times, and stay sober. We can do this by working a solid program, turning things over to a power greater than ourselves, and using the tools that have been given to us along the way one day at a time.

Understanding Codependency and Finding Balance

While it is easy to find comfort in the company of others, there is something to be said for time alone. In the beginning of our sobriety before we go to Above It All Treatment Center, AA, or alcohol centers we may find it easy to latch on to the nearest circle of sober friends. Don’t be mistaken having a social circle is a great idea, however, is important that we still find time to do the things necessary to keep healthy boundaries and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Whether it is in relationships or friendships it is important to construct healthy limits. 

Much like drinking every day hanging out with someone on a daily basis to the point of forgetting our obligations is never good. The good news is now that when you stay sober you are given the ability to see these situations more quickly and clearly. With the tools in this program you are able to decipher between healthy and unhealthy behavior. If you know you have a deadline at work then instead of spending hours at the mall with your friends in order to distract yourself you can set aside a time to spend while still showing up for your obligations. 

It is all about finding a healthy balance in our daily lives.  Once we have gone through detox and gotten sober we are able to look for that healthy balance that we have been seeking out for most of our lives but until now have not be able to achieve.

Tempers Flare During and After Rehab

Anger is a powerful emotion, while it is easy to sit and stew in the misery, as sober people we now have the tools to process our anger without exploding in a fit of rage. While drinking may have shielded us from looking at the consequences of our actions, now with a sober mind and the help of Above it all Treatment, AA, or other Alcohol programs we are able to see the bigger picture. The actions we are used to taking may have provided some comfort in the past; however they often lead us down a dark path. 

One of the many gifts we are given in this program and through Alcohol rehab is the ability to see that a lifetime of joy is not worth trading in for a moment of anger.  We now have the opportunity to pause before acting out. this is one of the many things that separate us from the person we are compared to the person who we use to be.  When these feeling come up we are now able to reach out to our sponsors or another sober friend and process our emotions both calmly and collectively. We no longer have to be a prisoner to our thoughts and feelings. It is foolish to think we will not get angry because we are sober, however how we handle that anger is what counts. Doing our fourth step allowed us to see that most often we play a part in everything we encounter now armed with this information we are able think before we act. 

Dealing with Loss in Recovery

As alcoholics we are surrounded by death. It is the unfortunate reality of what this disease does to us if we are not fortunate enough to go to Above It All, AA, other 12 step programs. While we get to enjoy a better quality of life, have a great time, and are successful if we apply the tools we have received in Addiction recovery  the fact for us is that there are a lot of us that don’t make it. Many of us end up making the supreme sacrifice rather than continue the fight and achieve sobriety. At times it can seem as though we are patient’s battling a deadly illness and while we have the cure only some of us decide to take it while the rest decide to give up. It can be hard to watch this happen to our friends and loved ones.

It is never easy being the person that “gets it” while watching others that don’t and not understanding why we were so lucky and they weren't  It is imperative that we continue on our journey towards long term sobriety so that others may have hope, and see that it is possible to stay sober no matter what. We must work the steps, use the tools given to us, and maintain a conscious contact with a power greater than ourselves so that we may continue carrying the message to the alcoholic/ addict that still suffers both in and out of 12 step programs so they too may have a chance at an amazing life, and so that we can give back what was so freely given to us.

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.

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.