Alcohol Treatment Programs

Alcohol Treatment Programs

Alcohol Treatment Programs

Alcohol addiction usually, is a progressive addiction, taking time to develop. Most people can’t tell you when they went from a recreational, responsible drinker, to needing to drink just to get through the day. Once there has developed a dependency, detox is highly recommended to ensure a medically safe withdrawal.

Finding the right alcohol rehab center

There are a few things to consider when looking for a treatment center that specializes in the treatment of alcohol addiction. 

• How long is the program?
• Will I Need A detox?
• How much does treatment cost?
• Should you stay close to home or travel outside of your area for treatment?

When you know what your options for an alcohol recovery program are, you will be informed and able to make an informed decision as to what treatment center will give you the best chances for long-lasting recovery from alcohol addiction.

Addiction No More can help you locate an alcohol abuse treatment center. Give us a call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 1-800-819-9973

Inpatient treatment centers,  residential treatment programs, and rehab centers are all treatment programs, where you stay at the center for a duration of time lasting approximately between 30- 90 days.


Alcohol detox programs

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome can lead to a life threatening event that has been known to affect people that have been drinking heavily for weeks, months, or years and then stop their drinking habits or greatly reduce their alcohol consumption.

When a person stops or reduces their alcohol intake after a long period of drinking daily, the symptoms of withdrawal can start as early as two hours after the last drink. The symptoms of withdrawal can rapidly progress and range in severity from getting the shakes or anxiety to seizures and delirium tremmons (DT’s). The DT’s consist of rapid heart rate, confusion, and fever. It has been estimated that the death rate from the DT’s is between  1% – 5%.

If you have experienced any of these symptoms of withdrawal, it is important to seek medical help before you decide to stop drinking alcohol. Severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms are a medical emergency.

If you or a friend are experiencing any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately or take them to an emergency room.

•  hallucinations
• confusion
• fever
• irregular heart beats
• seizures
• nausea
• vomiting

 For all other detox questions please feel give us a call and we can help get you to a detox center and a start on your road to recovery.
1-800-819-9973

What is the cost of alcohol rehab centers ?

The cost of alcohol rehabilitation can depend on many variables including detox considerations, inpatient treatment centers, and outpatient programs. The more amenities that a center has to offer can greatly increase the cost associated with receiving treatment at their center.

Insurance can help divert the out of pocket expense and coverage varies, depending on the relationship the center has with your insurance company.

Private alcohol treatment centers can range in price from $4,000 a month up to $80,000 a month for a luxury or executive type treatment center. Detox for alcohol is usually a separate cost due to the medical complications that can arise during an alcohol detoxification.

Should I travel for alcohol treatment?

Deciding on finding treatment close to home or in another area of the state or country, really comes down to preference. If you answer yes to any of the examples we have posted below, it might be advantageous for you to leave your area for treatment. 

• Is there anyone that is antagonistic to your recovery
• Is there a need for your stay to be completely confidential
• Are you a flight risk or not really wanting help
• Was there an intervention involved in getting the individual help
• Family not supportive 
• Do you feel that being at home could be a trigger for you not to complete the program. 
• A specialized program is preferred and not available in your area

Sometimes a fresh start and new location can be the difference between success and failure. For those who are looking to get away from their influences and work on themselves without local distractions, leaving the area can be quite beneficial. For those who do not have the luxury of choice due to work or family obligations, there are great options for those seeking for a local treatment program to handle their alcohol addiction problem.
1-800-819-9973

What to expect when entering into a treatment program for Alcohol addiction.

When you arrive at the treatment center that you have chosen to handle your alcohol addiction, you will receive a medical and psychological evaluation. This is usually done after the detox phase of the program, or in some cases before hand and during, if there is an in-house detox available at the alcohol rehab center you have chosen. Make sure that you are honest in your answers so the treatment team will be informed as to what is needing to be handled while in treatment at their center. The primary counselor will take into account all the information provided and design a treatment plan that will cover all the concerned areas that are in need of correction. 

When making the decision to enter into a treatment center for alcohol addiction, the more you want to change your lifestyle and habits, the more likely that the treatment will be successful. Going into treatment with the will to succeed, will help you want to learn more about addiction and the root causes to ensure that you get the most of or you alcohol rehab center.

Types of treatment available for someone trying to overcome an alcohol addiction.
Dual Diagnosis Alcohol Treatment Centers: Dual Diagnosis Treatment has started to become more mainstream for treatment of co-occurring addiction and  mental disorders since the early 90’s. Before this type of treatment was available, there was no supportive evidence to even consider that there could be an underlying disorder that lead to the addiction. Looking at the root causes and handling the underlying mental disorder has come a long way in treating addiction. READ MORE

 

Inpatient Drug Rehab Centers: Inpatient Drug Rehab is the most effective type of treatment for addiction to drugs or alcohol. Program length can vary from 2 weeks to 1 year depending on the program chosen. Inpatient Treatment centers should be followed up by an aftercare program to insure that the aftercare plan is followed, which allows for an easy transition back home. READ MORE




Holistic Treatment Centers: For those who have tried to defeat drug or alcohol addiction and have been through a traditional program before, you might want to try a different approach to treatment for addiction. Holistic and natural healing centers for addiction, treat addiction as a condition and not a disease, focusing on the mind, body and spirit as a whole. The holistic drug rehabilitation centers treatment consists of treating each of these areas to help the client achieve their freedom from addiction. READ MORE




Christian Programs: Christian drug rehab centers have some of the best treatment available. Recent trends and statistics have shown that for a Christian seeking a faith based treatment program, entering into a Christian drug rehab will result in a considerable higher success rate for the addict. READ MORE 


Womens Program: With more than 4 million women needing treatment in this country every year, there has been a rise in the need for gender specific treatment. Women can find it difficult to enter into a co-ed facility for many reasons. Sometimes when addiction takes a hold, there can be instances that only women can understand, and for some, speaking in a co-ed setting can be hard if not impossible.  READ MORE



Executive Rehab Centers: The Executive Drug Rehabilitation centers hotline is here to help businessmen, business women and high level executives find the right drug or alcohol treatment program. Our specialized drug rehabilitation programs are designed specifically for each individual. You will be treated as a person in our Executive Drug and Alcohol Programs. Do you need this condition taken care of in a discrete manor?  Call us today and we can help you inter into treatment discretely. READ MORE

Teen Alcohol Abuse Treatment: Teenage alcohol treatment programs specialize in treating troubled teens that are struggling with addiction to alcohol and drugs. We have partnered with a teenage help line, to assist in the growing need for teen alcohol and drug addiction. Most teenage addiction centers offered are gender specific to allow for uninterrupted treatment. Free My Addiction

Free Drug Rehab:Inpatient Drug rehab can be the most effective treatment option for the person that is extremely dependent on drugs or alcohol. Being the most effective method of treatment, it can also be the most expensive.  Sadly, this deters some people from even entertaining the idea of treatment as an option. What many do not know is that there are many free drug rehab centers in each state that provide quality treatment to the public. READ MORE

AUD or (Alcohol Use Disorder) is the name that has been given to describe the abuse of alcohol that has become severe. Nearly 7.2 % of the American population or over 17 million people over the age of 18, had an Alcohol Use Disorder in 2012. Teens can also have AUD and in the same year, an estimated 855,000 teens and adolescents ages 12-17 had AUD.

To properly assess if you or someone you love has had an Alcohol Use Disorder, we have listed some questions for you, to help you understand what an Alcohol Use Disorder is. Based on the number of questions that you answer “yes” to, will assess the severity of the AUD. Answeting “yes” to two questions equals a diagnosis of a form of an AUD and the more questions you answer “yes” to, will define the severity from, mild to severe.

In the past year Have you :

• Tried to stop drinking or cut down and failed more than once 
• Spent a lot of time drinking, being sick or hungover
• Had cravings for alcohol or a strong urge to drink
• Experienced times when you drank much more or longer that you intended to do
• Continued to consume alcohol even though it causes family or life problems
• Given up or cut back on activities that you used to enjoy 
• Had problems at work, home or school, due to drinking or feeling the after effects of the night before.
• Having to consume more alcohol that previously needed to achieve the same desired effect. 
• Started to experience withdrawal symptoms like shaking, trouble sleeping, irritability, nausea, sweating, hallucinating, depression, or anxiety.
• Gotten into situations more than once after drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt, like drinking and driving, unprotected sex, operating machinery, or any other dangerous activities while intoxicated.

If you have more than one of these symptoms, there might be an area of concern that needs addressing and the more symptoms that apply to you, the more urgent the need for changing of your drinking habits is. Give us a call today and we can help. 1-800-819-9973



Getting treatment will always benefit you. Just making the smallest change, can have the largest impact in your life.

Health and Medical 

Long term alcohol dependency can cause serious health problems and can include:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Liver  disease
• Mental health issues 

Alcohol abuse can be accompanied by other drugs. People that use alcohol and other substances at the same time can be at a greater risk of contracting Hepatitis C.

Making the decision to enter into a program for alcohol addiction can be a hard choice to make. We can help you figure out the next best course of action to help take some of the burden off of you so you can make an informed decision as to what style of program that would work best for your specific needs and wants while you are enrolled into an program for alcohol treatment. Call us now. This is a free call and we are ready to help you with alcohol abuse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 1-800-819-9973

Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol Addiction 

Each year, a typical young person in the United States is inundated with more than 1,000 commercials for beer and wine coolers and several thousand fictional drinking incidents on television.

1. Alcohol is involved in 50% of all driving fatalities.
2. In the United States, every 30 minutes someone is killed in an alcohol related traffic accident.
3. Over 15 million Americans are dependent on alcohol. 500,000 are between the age of 9 and 12.
4. Each year the liquor industry spends almost $2 billion dollars on advertising and encouraging the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
5. Americans spend over $90 billion dollars total on alcohol each year.
6. An average American may consume over 25 gallons of beer, 2 gallons of wine, and 1.5 gallons of distilled spirits each year.
7. Pregnant women who drink are feeding alcohol to their babies. Unfortunately the underdeveloped liver of the baby can only burn alcohol at half the rate of its mother, so the alcohol stays in the baby’s system twice as long.
8. Each year students spend $5.5 billion on alcohol, more then they spend on soft drinks, tea, milk, juice, coffee, or books combined.
9. 56% of students in grade 5 to 12 say that alcohol advertising encourages them to drink.
10. 6.6% of employees in full time jobs report heavy drinking, defined as drinking five or more drinks per occasion on five or more days in the past 30 days.
11. The highest percentage of heavy drinkers (12.2%) is found among unemployed adults between the age of 26 to 34
12. Up to 40% of all industrial fatalities and 47% of industrial injuries can be linked to alcohol consumption and alcoholism.
13. In 2000, almost 7 million persons age 12 to 20 was a binge drinker; that is about one in five persons under the legal drinking age was a binge drinker.
14. The 2001 survey shows 25 million (one in ten) Americans surveyed reported driving under the influence of alcohol. This report is nearly three million more than the previous year. Among young adults age 18 to 25 years, almost 23% drove under the influence of alcohol.
15. Drunk driving is proving to be even deadlier then what we previously know. The latest death statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), using a new method of calculation show that 17,488 people where killed in alcohol related traffic accidents last year. This report represents nearly 800 more people where killed than the previous year.

Read more about Alcohol Abuse HERE

Signs of addiction

1. Alcohol is the number 1 drug problem in America.
2. 43% of Americans have been exposed to alcoholism in their families.
3. Nearly one out of 4 Americans admitted to general hospitals have alcohol problems or are undiagnosed alcoholics being diagnosed for alcohol related consequences.
4. Alcohol and alcohol related problems is costing the American economy at least $100 million in health care and lost of productivity every year.
5. Four in ten criminal offenders report alcohol as a factor in violence.
6. Among spouse violence victims, three out of four incidents were reported to have involved alcohol use by the offender.
7. In 1996, local law enforcement agencies made an estimated 1,467,300 arrests nationwide for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Give us a call and we cal help you find an alcohol treatment program and help you being your recovery today.  1-800-819-9973

Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol Abuse




What are the signs of alcohol addiction or dependency?

Alcoholism is a disease that can vary depending on the rate and frequency in which it is consumed. Alcoholism will destroy the lives of the addict as well as the family.

Visual signs that alcohol is being consumed to excess are easily recognizable to adults and even some children.

    * redness in the face during or after the consumption of alcohol

    * reaction times or reflexes delayed or non existent

    * vomiting or nausea 

    * slurred speech and conversations that are completely incoherent

    * clumsiness and no balance when walking 

    

Recognizing when there is a problem 

When alcohol consumption becomes a ritual and the quantity of alcohol needed increases is a sign that there might be a more serious problem. Someone that abuses alcohol makes their drinking a focus of their life. 

  * Hangovers and increased time to recover from the night of drinking .

   * tolerance levels go up and the amount of alcohol needed to get the desired effect increase 

   * personal life and professional responsibilities are not being taken care of

   * unsuccessful attempts at reducing the intake of alcohol

   * withdrawal symptoms show up when unable to drink

Alcohol is a depressant it affects the central nervous system once it has metabolized through the liver. Alcoholism and abuse can result in other medical problems such as :

   * high blood pressure

  * sexual impedance or lack of sex drive

   * Cancer 

   * intestinal problems

   * Osteoporosis in women

Alcohol abuse causes over 100,000 deaths in North America. It is the leading cause of death in teens due to alcohol related car accidents. 

Drinking habits can vary for every alcoholic, some will binge drink, while others will drink in excess every day. Once alcohol starts to take control of a persons life there can be severe social and economic consequences. Being drunk or hung over at work usually results in loss of jobs and income. Domestic violence is increased in household that have an alcoholic present in the home. Legal problems soon are compounded with the addiction and can place severe financial burden on the family.

What causes someone to become an alcoholic?

Genetic predisposition, environment and the mental health of the individual are leading factors in the development of alcoholism. Members of the same family can respond differently to alcohol effects. These reasons are why treatment can be different for every alcoholic and not everyone in the same family can have the same predisposition to alcohol effects. 

Alcohol withdrawal can be a life threatening health risk.

Long term alcohol abuse can affect the liver, nervous system, heart, brain and stomach. Detoxification from alcohol can result in the DT’s or Delirium Tremors. A Person can have a life threatening event happen if there is a sudden stoppage of consumption. Medically supervised detox is required for most alcohol withdrawals.

Alcohol abuse is a serious medical condition that requires a medically supervised detox in order to keep the individual safe from seizures and life threatening blood pressure drops. Detoxing from alcohol should never be done in the home. If you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms from alcohol withdrawal call 911 right away and get the help you need as soon as possible. It could save your life. 

Do not wait till it is to late. Get help now. Christian Drug Rehabilitation is a leader in finding the best treatment centers for Christians in need of alcohol Detox and treatment. Give us a call now. 1-866-391-6530

Christian Drug Rehabilitation 1-866-391-6530

Who we are

Christian Drug Rehabilitation was started with the goal to help Christians recover not only their lives but their faith as well. We believe that in order to be truly delivered from addiction there needs to be a healing of the spirit, then the mind and body. Those with the goals of growing in Christ and healing their addictions, have a more successful drug rehab experience. Christian Drug Rehab is a step above their secular counterparts and have a better success rate when treating Christians for addiction.

We are Christians in recovery ourselves and know what it takes to have  long lasting sobriety. We specialize in finding the best Christian Drug Rehab to fit your specific needs and faith. There are many options for christian treatment centers in the United States and finding the right one is very important to your recovery.  Please call our Christian Treatment Helpline to speak with a counselor. The call is free and the service is free. 1-866-391-6530

Source 

What do you do if the person does not want help?

What do you do if the person does not want help?

   A Free Intervention Can Help  When you have a person in your life that has a problem and they do not want to receive help. Call Us and we can help you locate an intervention specialist that can work with most peoples budgets.

Family interventions that put the family first


Drug and alcohol interventions that are affordable.
Interventions that you may or may not have researched can get to be quite costly if you do not shop around. Most interventionists will not guarantee that they will be able to get your loved one into treatment for his or her addiction. Choosing the right interventionist is very important and pairing the interventionist with the individual that needs the help does help get the desired result which is to get your loved one into the treatment that they need to be happy and whole once again. Our Family interventionists puts the family first as this is the foundation of any successful intervention.


Is there a good time to hold an intervention for a loved one?
When we think of holding an intervention for a loved one there is always the thought in the back of our minds that the individual in question will come to us eventually for help. But in most cases it takes something or several somethings to go adversely wrong for them to want to change. Most addicts when they get to the point where their addiction is out of control  have already distanced themselves from the  family and friends that love them. When you stop feeling loved and supported by friends and family things start to spiral out of control. This is why it is important to act quickly and help them handle the addiction before it becomes to late.
As we watch our loved one become less and less of the person we once knew it becomes apparent that things are not going to change on their own. It is at this point we need to interject our influence and love on the individual to help them facilitate the change that is so greatly needed. We just can't sit around and wait for things to change. It is our responsibility to help them come to the decision to accept help with their addiction.





                   Call Now Our counselors are here to help you

                                            1-800-513-5423





       The Intervention Process.
* Starting with the initial consultation over the phone to one of our Counselors we will start to understand the scope and type of addiction we have to confront. We will also help you with ideas and suggestions on how to handle the addict while we get the intervention put into action.
* Once we have a plan and a place to hold the intervention we will start to contact family, friends, coworkers and anyone else that the person that we are holding the intervention for interacts with on a regular basis these are people that are not using drugs. We need to be careful in the selection of people to be present at the intervention so we can maintain a positive environment, and a positive group.

Intervention family and friends training or commonly known as the (family intervention).
The first step and first day in the intervention process begins with the family intervention. This intervention on the family is where we learn how we are allowing and actually helping our loved one stay addicted to drugs or alcohol. It is in this session that we learn that when we thought we were helping the addict out but actually the only thing we were helping to grow was the addiction. Through this process we will help you learn the actual scope of their addiction and how to best handle the situation to gain the best possible outcome.


Elimination the what IF's
We will help you understand all the main reasons that the addict cannot commit to treatment at this time. It is important to be aware of all the excuses that an addict can use to not change anything in their lives. We will address any and all issues that will put a roadblock in the way of the addict accepting treatment right now. There is never a good time to enter into treatment for addiction and no one plans to have an addiction problem that they need to address. If we wait for a good time, for them to enter treatment, it may be to late.


Intervention Process
Once the loved one arrives they will be greeted with smiles and love, it is important to make them feel loved and be surrounded by family and friends.
* Introductions are made and then the Christian interventionist will bring up the topic of the families concerns and tells them why we are all there and lowers the anxiety of the loved one.
* The intervention starts with stories good and bad and concerns of how things just are not the same anymore. We all just want our loved one back. We need you back. We use the training and the tools that were learned the previous day to get them to agree that treatment is the best option as they start to hear of the consequences if they choose to not enter treatment
*If the loved one is at the point where they are not in agreement for treatment, they will start to realize that all the enabling that has been facilitating their addiction will stop. One by one we pull things away until they realize that they are at the bottom and need help. Everyone has a bottom and at that point we can offer solutions to their problems and get an agreement for help.


The main Reasons that interventions fail.
* Family tries to hold the intervention on their own, without training and help.
* A member of the intervention group is in agreement with the addict.
* Family does not follow through with consequences.
* There is an antagonistic person at the intervention.
* Someone tips off the addict to the intervention.


SOURCE 

12-Step Programs: A Guide For Families Of Addicts

An Introduction To 12-Step Programs: A Guide For Families Of Addicts

What Are The 12 Steps All About?

The 12-Step Program was a program of recovery developed by alcoholics for alcoholics and other addicts. The program is based upon 12 steps that help the addict to come to grips with his or her condition and establish the kind of spiritual life that will be the basis of a solid recovery and sobriety. The program recognizes addiction as a disease—an allergy of the body and an obsession of the mind. The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) premise is based on the understanding that if someone is addicted to a particular substance or behavior, he or she will never again be able to consume that substance or engage in that behavior in a normal or healthy way. Total abstinence is the only solution.

In most groups, members attend meetings regularly, read and study program literature, call and meet with other addicts or members in recovery and work regularly with a sponsor. Service to other addicts is of highest importance and seen as one of the keys to maintaining lasting sobriety.

Aren’t 12 Step Programs A Little Overzealous?

It would appear that way to the outsider but, quite frankly, addiction is a little overzealous. For the non-addict it may be hard to fathom the prison and the punishment of being under the lash of a life-controlling addiction. As addicts, we have been so dominated by this cruel taskmaster that when we finally hit bottom we become willing to do whatever promises to rescue us.

And that proves to be quite a lot, as we soon find out once we’re in recovery. We believe that a powerful disease requires a powerful solution. In recovery we have to work as hard as the disease was working against us. But after a few years of sobriety many addicts come to see the program as the “easier, softer way,” when compared to the tyranny of addiction. When families see the beneficial results of program membership in their addict loved one, they too often become 12 Step supporters.

What Are The Roles Of Addict’s Loved Ones?

This will, to some degree, depend upon your relationship to the addict. For some recovering addicts, recovery needs to be a personal and private journey. They may not feel comfortable bringing others into their process, at least not in the beginning when they are yet fragile and convalescing. Don’t be offended by this; it isn’t personal. Recovery requires a lot of emotional work and some of us find we can better focus in the company of our program fellows, and perhaps apart from friends and family. Giving the addict the space he or she needs to heal can help to later guarantee closer relationships all around. Patience is needed.

It is wise, however, for the family of an addict to attend Al-Anon to learn more about the disease and how to deal with it. A family member’s addiction leaves scars on everyone. In Al-Anon you will come to better understand addiction, recovery and the 12-Step approach in addition to getting the support you need in healing from the wounds of addiction.

You can read more on 12- Step programs here : 12 Step Programs 

Source

12 Step Prayers

Learn more about the Christian 12 Steps HERE

12 Step PrayersThanks to our friend Holly Jo for passing this on to us. These little prayers are great for anyone in AA, Alanon, Alateen or anyone who wants to have a greater understanding of the 12 Step Program, in order to grow closer to their friend or loved one who is in recovery. Enjoy.

~First Step Prayer~
Dear Lord,
I admit that I am powerless over my addiction.
I admit that my life is unmanageable when I try to control it.
Help me this day to understand the true meaning of powerlessness.
Remove from me all denial of my addiction.

~Second Step Prayer~
Heavenly Father,
I know in my heart that only you can restore me to sanity.
I humbly ask that you remove all twisted thought and
addictive behavior from me this day.
Heal my spirit and restore in me a clear mind.

~Third Step Prayer~
(Page 63 – A. A. Big Book)
God,
I offer myself to Thee
To build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt.
Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do
Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear
witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love and
Thy Way of life, May I do Thy will always!

~Fourth Step Prayer~
Dear God,
It is I who have made my life a mess.
I have done it, but I cannot undo it.
My mistakes are mine, and I will begin a
searching and fearless moral inventory.
I will write down my wrongs,
but I will also include that which is good.
I pray for the strength to complete the task.

~Fifth Step Prayer~
Higher Power,
My inventory has shown me who I am,
yet I ask for Your help in admitting my wrongs
to another person and to You. Assure me, and be with me, in this Step,
for without this Step I cannot progress in my recovery.
With Your help, I can do this, and I do it.

~Sixth Step Prayer~
Dear God,
I am ready for Your help in removing from me the defects of character
which I now realize are an obstacle to my recovery. Help me to continue
being honest with myself and guide me toward spiritual and mental
health.

~Seventh Step Prayer~
(Page 76 – A. A. Big Book)
My Creator,
I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad.
I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character
which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows.
Grant me strength, as I go out from here to do your bidding. Amen

~Eighth Step Prayer~
Higher Power,
I ask Your help in making my list of all those I have harmed.
I will take responsibility for my mistakes, and be forgiving to others as
You are forgiving to me. Grant me the willingness to begin my
restitution.
This I pray.

~Ninth Step Prayer~
Higher Power,
I pray for the right attitude to make my amends,
being ever mindful not to harm others in the process.
I ask for Your guidance in making indirect amends.
Most important, I will continue to make amends by
staying abstinent, helping others, and growing in spiritual progress.

~Tenth Step Prayer~
I pray I may continue:
To grow in understanding and effectiveness;
To take daily spot check inventories of myself;
To correct mistakes when I make them;
To take responsibility for my actions;
To be ever aware of my negative and self-defeating attitudes and
behaviors;
To keep my willfulness in check;
To always remember I need Your help;
To keep love and tolerance of others as my code;
And to continue in daily prayer how I can best serve You, my Higher
Power.

~Eleventh Step Prayer~
Higher Power, As I understand You, I pray to keep my connection with
You open and clear from the confusion of daily life.
Through my prayers and meditation I ask especially for
freedom from self-will, rationalization, and wishful thinking.
I pray for the guidance of correct thought and positive action.
Your will Higher Power, not mine, be done.

~Twelfth Step Prayer~
Dear God,
My spiritual awakening continues to unfold.
The help I have received I shall pass on and give to others,
both in and out of the Fellowship. For this opportunity I am grateful.
I pray most humbly to continue walking day by day on
the road of spiritual progress.
I pray for the inner strength and wisdom to practice the principles of
this way of life in all I do and say.

Source

Are you sabotaging your recovery?

Are you sabotaging your recovery?

July 16, 2015 By Katie

(For help with recovery to drugs or alcohol, call us at 1-800-513-5423)

I used to be realllllyyyyy negative. On the outside I was a very polite, kind, and soft spoken girl who was always lifting other people up and encouraging people to go for their dreams, but on the inside I was saying that I was fat, ugly, unlovable, and going to fail at life.

And with that kind of thinking, you can bet your bottom dollar that it’s going to turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you think everyone hates you, you’re going to subconsciously sabotage all your relationships until you prove yourself right. This has to do with cognitive dissonance, which is when your reality doesn’t match up to your beliefs and so your mind is torn between two or more conflicting beliefs. (Whoa, I didn’t know we were going to learn something here).

Because of cognitive dissonance, if you think you’re a failure, you’re going to start failing at things because your brain wants to prove itself right. This isn’t even done consciously usually, we just subconsciously start to sabotage things in our life. So if you’ve ever started to get better and then you suddenly fall off the wagon, it’s because your brain is subconsciously sabotaging you. (Stop it, brain!)

Another reason we sabotage ourselves is based on Gay Hendricks’s idea that we have “upper limits” to how much happiness, success, love, etc we will accept into our lives. It’s like this quote from The Perks of Being a Wallflower:

“We accept the love we think we deserve.”

So if you believe you’re not worthy of love, you’re going to sabotage any good thing that comes into your life. For example, if a sweet, friendly guy comes into your life, you’re going to reject him (but in your mind you’ll be like, “Well he’s not really my type,” etc, etc, and make up some excuse) because you believe, deep down, that you don’t deserve to be loved.

Or if you start studying really hard and doing well in all your classes but you still have the belief that you’re not very smart (maybe because when you were little someone told you that you weren’t smart), at some point you’ll probably feel uncomfortable with the success you’re having. Maybe you’ll start thinking that everyone is going to have higher expectations for you now, and then you’ll study a little less and do less well on your tests until you’re back to a level where you are comfortable. You’ve reached your upper limit.

So, you might be wondering what the heck you’re supposed to do when you realize you’re sabotaging yourself. The first step is to just be aware of it. Recognize and identify whatever the particular negative belief is causing the upper limit. For example, if we use the studying example from before, the belief would be that you’re not smart. Once you realize what you’re thinking, it can be helpful to affirm the opposite. So you might affirm, “I am intelligent and capable.” You’re replacing the old negative belief with a new one. It’s not going to fix the problem overnight, but sometimes just being aware that you’re sabotaging yourself is enough to prevent it from continuing. You can do this.

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DEALING WITH ADDICTIONS IN MARRIAGE

DEALING WITH ADDICTIONS IN MARRIAGE #017

BY JOLENE ENGLE

Addictions in marriage are becoming ever so popular. Whether it’s alcohol, gambling, porn, or video games, which is the topic that I’m addressing today, addictions seem to be rampant in our world today.  We are a culture of unrestraint or we’re easily deceived to think we won’t fall into the addiction trap. I wish this reality weren’t so, but it is.  Perhaps I just hear more about it since I run this on-line space, a place where women feel comfortable opening up and sharing their deepest, darkest secrets?

Here’s one woman’s story…

Dear Jolene,

I have been married to my husband for almost 7 yrs. About 5 yrs. ago my husband became obsessed with a game on his iPhone.  He was constantly playing and would even stay up for days playing it. I was told from a friend that he should be careful with those games because you can spend money on it and it adds up quick. My husband informed me that he wasn’t spending any money. Well 3 months goes by and our car is repossessed because we hadn’t been making payments. Well I started doing research in all our bank accts. including my husband’s business acct. Well long story short, he had spent $5,000 on that game in 3 months. I was devastated. He lied at first, but then quickly turned very apologetic & said he didn’t realize he had spent so much!! He swore he’d never play again! Fast forward 5 yrs. and I have caught him several times playing that same game. But every time I find out, he lies and says he’s not playing until I show him proof. I sat him down today and told him how hurtful his lies have been and told him that I will not accept him playing that game because all it’s done is cause turmoil!! He said if I’d quit snooping and get over it, he wouldn’t have to lie and we wouldn’t have any problems. He said he’s a grown man and he spent a lot of money on that game and that he wasn’t going to throw it all away!! He then stormed out and said that I’m going to ruin this marriage over a game!! So what do I do?? Do I allow him to continue to play that game even though it upsets me? He talks to other females on there, also, and that gives me a sick feeling!!

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10 VERSES EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD

I found this blog and wanted to share it with you all (source link on bottom of blog)

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction and have no where to turn call one of our Christian Counselors today at 1-866-391-6530
http://christian-drug-rehabilitation.com/

The Bible is full of wonderful verses. And every single word is significant and God-breathed across the pages. So where do you start? Here is an awesome top 10:

10 VERSES EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW BY HEART

#1  John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

This verse is the Who, What, Why, and How of the Bible. It’s the whole purpose of God’s Word wrapped in a few words. Every Christian should have these words stitched within their memory as a reminder that He loves us and as an opportunity to share His love with everyone else.

10-bible-verses-every-christian

#2 and #3   2Timothy 3:16-17

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

If you don’t believe this passage, then why waste your time with any other verse? As Christians we must believe every word of God’s Word as HIS Word. If not, the whole thing falls apart. Christians can’t pick and choose the parts they want to believe or even the parts they want to follow and toss the rest to the wind. ALL Scripture is God inspired. His Word is complete Truth and will remain forever.

You’ve probably noticed I count this passage as 2 verses–not because they should be separated, but as a way to easily chunk and memorize if using Scripture Memory Cards.

Known as the Romans Road, the next 4 verses are vital because they map out the plan of salvation. Christians use these verses first, for their own steps toward salvation and then as a tool to help lead others to Christ. Each verse provides a specific step in the Salvation Plan.

#4  Romans 3:23

(Who is in need of Salvation?)
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

#5  Romans 6:23

(Why do we need Salvation?)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

#6  Romans 5:8

(What did God provide as our only source of Salvation?)
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

#7  Romans 10:9

(How are we Saved?)
“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Some add a few other verses to the Romans Road. However, these 4 are the basic steps and are a great starting point when leading the lost who are searching for hope.

#8  1John 1:9

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

When we realize the wonderful gift of God’s plan to save us, we realize just how unworthy we are to receive it. This verse helps us fight off worries, doubts, or any thoughts about our past to fully embrace and celebrate God’s promise to save us. Taking hold of this scripture reminds us that, even though we are unworthy, God keeps His word and forgives us when we confess our sins to Him.

#9 John 14:6

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'”

Just as the enemy tries to keep us bound to our past, he will also try to convince us to follow anything and everything else to keep us from following Jesus. With so many theologies, false teachings, etc., it is important for us to remember this verse. John 14:6 is the verse we hold up to any other teachings. Jesus Christ is our center. We base everything on His Word, His teachings, and His sacrifice.

#10  Psalm 119:11

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”

This verse reminds us to keep ourselves focused on His Word to keep us from–well, anything that hinders, hurts, or keeps us from the victorious life God has planned.

Though there are countless scriptures to recommend, these 10 verses are a great place to start.

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