Courage

 

There is so much more to life than just being educated, smart, good-looking and determined. Do you know that most of life’s choices are based on having courage? Are you using this quality?
Courage is the most important virtue I think because to make the choice or decision that leads you to success, you must have the courage to do so. What then is courage?
According to me, ….courage is a combination of bravery and wisdom, that is, having knowledge which is sensible and being brave enough to make a choice or decision considered risky but worth taking anyway since it could lead to outright success or absolute failure.
Here’s another view. The dictionary says that courage is “the ability to control fear and to deal with danger, pain, uncertainty, bravery.” Just as I thought.
In my chats with colleagues, patients, family, friends, and acquaintances, I have become aware of the fact that we are not able to fulfill our destinies or fullest potentials because we lack courage. Our decisions are too clouded by thoughts of “fear of failure or disappointment” thus we fail to think about “what if I make it.”
There’s a saying that love shadows other emotions but surprisingly, it doesn’t cover our battles with self- doubt. Some of us fail to achieve happiness with the people we love because we’re afraid of getting hurt. Therefore, we would rather be with someone who is not likely to hurt us because we would rather not take chances with someone we gel with on all sides due to the same thoughts of “what if it doesn’t work out? / What if I get hurt?”
Instead, we will settle for a partner who is “safe for our hearts”. But to think of it, is there anyone who can be totally, completely safe for our hearts? I certainly do not think there’s a person who isn’t capable of making us cry or angry.
An issue that has also come up in chats with my group-(mentioned above) is that many people will never take the risk of a profession they love because of “what if it doesn’t work out? / What if I’m not able to make enough money to feed my family” whilst there’s a flip side “what if I do well, make enough money to feed my family and still do what I love best and be happy as a result.”
Courage, as we have seen, is important for us to have a more fulfilling life, relationship, and career. With more of us exuding courage in the world, we would be happier, stronger and more fulfilled I think. Matter of fact, I know.
Which is why henceforth, I am going to be more courageous because courage can bring you countless happiness, strength, beauty and all other desires of your heart.
So, I won’t hide behind my doubts and oh you shouldn’t either. In order that we won’t live a life of regret and try to pacify ourselves with unhealthy addictions. It is true, feelings of regret can be a trigger of unhealthy addictions including substance abuse. Keep that in mind.

7 Goods for a Healthy Life in Recovery

 

During active drug use, you may have forgotten about how to take care of yourself in order to maintain a healthy and more enjoyable life. But during recovery, keeping structure and order in your life is very vital to living that amazing life you envision.

That said, how do you sustain your good health? It’s achievable with these 7 goods that are assured to help you enjoy a good life in recovery.

The 7 Goods

  • Food and water
  • Exercise
  • Sleep
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Medical Attention
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Spirituality

Let’s look at how these 7 goods will help you enjoy a good life in recovery.

 

Food and Water: Why this is good for you

  • Try as much as you can to avoid getting hungry; it intensifies cravings
  • Eat balanced meals; a portion of carbohydrates should be balanced with some protein and vegetables
  • Breakfast is very important since it helps you start your day so don’t skip it
  • Avoid eating too much processed foods
  • Also, avoid taking in junk food
  • Stay away from fizzy and sugary drinks; take fruits, juices and smoothies instead
  • Drink lots and lots of water; it helps to flush toxins out of the body

 

Exercise: Why this is good for you

  • Exercising regularly boosts energy and improves mood
  • It also helps prevent health conditions such as stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and others
  • Exercising keeps us fit and generally feeling strong thus it is important to exercise at least three times a week.
  • You can jog or go for walks – anything that will make you sweat and or work the heart muscles is good for you.
  • You can get a trainer at the gym to help you through if you can afford the time and money

 

Sleep: Why this is good for you

  • Sleep is very important in helping relieve stress and improving general well being
  • Every normal adult needs about eight hours of sleep to feel fully rested for the next day’s activities

 

Healthy Relationships: Why this is good for you

  • Any individual in recovery needs the support of family and friends – Keeping a good relationship with them is key in sustaining abstinence
  • Avoid keeping in touch with ‘old-using’ friends and dealers
  • Try hard not to jump too quickly into romantic relationships because they come with a lot of stress which you may not be ready to deal with

 

 

Medical Attention: Why this is good for you

  • It is very dangerous to self-medicate, especially when you have any form of pain because some pain killers are made from opium derivatives which work like heroin and thus can be very addictive.
  • Always consult a medical doctor for treatment when you are sick and do well to take the exact dosage prescribed to you to avoid having any complications

 

Personal Hygiene: Why this is good for you

  • For a general feeling of well being, keep your body and surroundings clean
  • Take care of your mouth by brushing your teeth at least twice daily
  • Wash your clothes and underwear regularly
  • Keep a generally clean outlook and don’t forget to keep your private areas clean too.

 

Spirituality: Why this is good for you

  • You cannot beat your addiction without totally turning your life around for the better; one sure way to do that is to become closer to your Maker.
  • Make time every day to pray, read the holy teachings and have regular fellowship with people of the same faith
  • Make sure you practice the Word you read and hear at fellowship

 

Keep in mind that recovery is not just aimed at maintaining abstinence, but achieving total well being, transformation and improved quality of life. Therefore, diligently practice these 7 goods needed for a healthy life in recovery and you will begin to see a transformation in your life.

Addiction as a Disease: What is Addiction?

Have you ever looked down your nose at a drunken or high individual and blamed them for allowing themselves to be in that state? Or have you looked at such an individual and thought there’s no way you could ever end up in that state? A state where you abuse alcohol, marijuana, hallucinogens such as LSD/ PCP, Inhalants such as paint thinners, stimulants such as cocaine/ methamphetamine, opioid pain killers such as oxycodone/ codeine/ heroin or sedatives, hypnotics and tobacco?

The truth is, that drunken or high individual never thought s/he could ever be in such a sorry state. Why? The answer to drug addiction and substance abuse is unfortunately no easy one and it is linked to science and psychology.

For years, most people have associated addiction and substance abuse to morality. It was the notion of most people that having high moral values and standards could solve this problem. However, through scientific advancements, experts have found out that sheer willpower and strong morals alone cannot solve the problem of drug addiction. This is the reason why addiction and substance abuse has ceased to be classified as a social problem but rather a disease.

Whiles drug addiction and substance abuse have been classified as a disease, unlike other diseases, it is tricky to notice the onset of it’s symptoms including strong cravings, risky use or drug effects but like other diseases, it has its fair share of accompanied ailments like mental illness.

So, if drug addiction and substance abuse is a disease, which part of the body does it affect? Well, it’s the brain. Drugs such as those mentioned above changes normal brain functioning and distorts certain roles of the brain when it comes to judgement, learning, behavior control, decision making and memory capabilities.

In the initial stages of this disease, many people take drugs due to curiosity or peer pressure, to relieve stress levels, to feel good or better or to improve performance levels. These drugs are able to give individuals these desired feelings when they become intoxicated. Overtime, the body builds tolerance to these drugs and needs larger amounts to produce the desired effects and this when the drug addiction rears its ugly head.

At this disease state, it is a very long road to recovery but the good thing is that, outpatient programs, hospital interventions, therapeutic environments in addition to willpower can be helpful in managing the condition.

HOW HAS YOUR DAY BEEN?

Mine has been great! It was not easy to get through though.

I was invited to a friend’s wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony but I couldn’t wait to leave. I just wanted to dodge the reception; there will be alcohol and I didn’t want to have to go through ‘that’ anymore.

I have struggled to get sober over ten years. I was finally able to achieve total abstinence two years ago. I have also made progress in my relationship with my family, I am more focused at work now and have started dating too. Yes, a lot of progress indeed. I do not want to mess it all up. I do not want to disappoint myself as well as all the people in my life.

The ceremony had finally ended, pictures had been taken. Just as I was making my way out of the church, she saw me; an old friend I had attended high school with. It was great to see her, she looked great. ‘Come with me to the reception’, she said, it’s been such a long time. Let’s catch up’. Before I could say a word, she pulled me along into the crowd, straight into the wine and all the alcohol you could think of.

All of a sudden, I couldn’t breathe, I started having flashbacks of ‘those days’, ‘the bad old days’ when I used to drink without a care in the world. Then she offered me a drink. Spontaneously, without thinking, I took the drink. Just as I was about to drink it, I remembered what my counselor said,

‘before you take another drink, think about the harm that could come out of that momentary satisfaction of a craving, which can never be satisfied with a thousand more of that first drink. Think about all the hard work you have put in so far…..’

With an enormous amount of courage, I handed back the drink to her and said, ‘I am AA, two years sober and I got to go now’. I walked out of there with my head held up high. I focused on the joy of the victory of what I had overcome and not on the guilt of what I could have done. I would not forget it though, I’ll always remember this day, as a great learning experience.

So smile and focus on the little victories of the day because always remember, ‘it could have been worse…….’

By Anonymous

A DAY AT A TIME

Recovery from drug addiction or any other form of addiction for that matter is a long road which you need to travel for the rest of your life.

Taking it a day at a time is the best course of action. A step at a time, little by little. No rush.

This journey will be full of ”mountains, valleys, rain, sunshine, floods, droughts, famine, accidents and many other trials”. But in the face of all this, perseverance is key!

When you fall, get up and go on!

Never give up, you are capable of doing more than you can imagine. You are strong enough. Keep walking ahead.

Let go of the baggage (shame, guilt, resentment, fear, anger, anxiety and anything that makes you weary), travel light;  you are sure to feel better and be focused on the road so as to be able to avoid the obstacles that lie ahead.

Believe in yourself. Don’t do this alone, seek support from friends and loved ones.