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Showing posts with label Holiday's (The). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holiday's (The). Show all posts
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Friday, December 9, 2016
The Holidays and Addiction: Have A Plan
I had hoped to share a guest post on this topic, but the person I asked to share has been so busy. I understand. Life takes everyone in so many directions it is often hard to yell, Stop! I did the next best thing and went in search of the Internet to help me with this task. I found, several stories and very good articles. The story @ Social Work Today, Surviving The Season of Stress has interesting info on Managing Expectations, Handling Those Who Are Still Actively Using, Supporting The Recovering Addict, Learning To Let Go
One article written I learned that once our addict is in the stages of Recovery that we too can help, but in ways that don't hinder their recovery. One is having a Plan and a Back Up Plan for the holidays.
I found a nice informative article written by, Christina Reardon, MSW, LSW for Social Work Today.
In addition to helping families with substance abuse issues manage the stress of the holidays, social workers may be called on to assist recovering addicts concerned about relapsing during the holidays. There are many strategies people in recovery can use to stay clean and sober amid the merriment of the season, according to behavioral health professionals contacted by Social Work Today. Among these strategies are the following:
• Prepare ahead of time. Recovering addicts should assemble a “recovery kit” they can take with them before joining their families for holiday celebrations, says Robert W. Mooney, MD, an addiction psychiatrist and medical director at Willingway Hospital in Statesboro, GA. At a bare minimum, this kit should include the contact information for the recovering person’s sponsor and a backup. Recovering people who are traveling out of town also should bring reading material, such as the Alcohol Anonymous Big Book and books of daily meditations, and attend support meetings available at their destination.
• Arrive early, leave early. People in recovery who are attending holiday parties should consider arriving and leaving early since alcohol and drug use typically becomes more prevalent as the party wears on. Recovering addicts should not worry that an early departure will offend the host, Mooney says.
• Bring beverages. Mooney encourages recovering addicts, especially recovering alcoholics, to bring their own beverages to holiday parties. That will allow the person in recovery to have more control over what he or she drinks and not fall victim to other attendees’ attempts to spike beverages with alcohol or drugs as a joke.
“Many people don’t take [the importance of recovery] seriously. For them, it’s no big deal,” Mooney says. “For [the recovering person], it can be a matter of life or death.”
• Have an escape plan. If a situation arises at a family gathering, such as an argument or pressure from relatives to drink alcohol, the recovering person may feel tempted to relapse, and he or she needs to take corrective action as quickly as possible, says Donna M. Hunter, LCSW, CAP, a social worker in Booneville, AR.
“I tell people in recovery that if they feel uncomfortable or feel that they need to use again because of the family situation, they need to get out or do what they need to do to maintain their sobriety because ultimately, that’s what’s most important,” she says.
Recovering people must remember that they are the ones who control whether they will relapse during the holidays, Mooney says.
“They have to realize that it’s not the family’s responsibility to keep them sober; it’s their responsibility,” he says.
Read More@ Families and Addiction: Surviving The Season of Stress
One article written I learned that once our addict is in the stages of Recovery that we too can help, but in ways that don't hinder their recovery. One is having a Plan and a Back Up Plan for the holidays.
I found a nice informative article written by, Christina Reardon, MSW, LSW for Social Work Today.
Helping Family Members Avoid Relapse During the Holidays
In addition to helping families with substance abuse issues manage the stress of the holidays, social workers may be called on to assist recovering addicts concerned about relapsing during the holidays. There are many strategies people in recovery can use to stay clean and sober amid the merriment of the season, according to behavioral health professionals contacted by Social Work Today. Among these strategies are the following:
• Prepare ahead of time. Recovering addicts should assemble a “recovery kit” they can take with them before joining their families for holiday celebrations, says Robert W. Mooney, MD, an addiction psychiatrist and medical director at Willingway Hospital in Statesboro, GA. At a bare minimum, this kit should include the contact information for the recovering person’s sponsor and a backup. Recovering people who are traveling out of town also should bring reading material, such as the Alcohol Anonymous Big Book and books of daily meditations, and attend support meetings available at their destination.
• Arrive early, leave early. People in recovery who are attending holiday parties should consider arriving and leaving early since alcohol and drug use typically becomes more prevalent as the party wears on. Recovering addicts should not worry that an early departure will offend the host, Mooney says.
• Bring beverages. Mooney encourages recovering addicts, especially recovering alcoholics, to bring their own beverages to holiday parties. That will allow the person in recovery to have more control over what he or she drinks and not fall victim to other attendees’ attempts to spike beverages with alcohol or drugs as a joke.
“Many people don’t take [the importance of recovery] seriously. For them, it’s no big deal,” Mooney says. “For [the recovering person], it can be a matter of life or death.”
• Have an escape plan. If a situation arises at a family gathering, such as an argument or pressure from relatives to drink alcohol, the recovering person may feel tempted to relapse, and he or she needs to take corrective action as quickly as possible, says Donna M. Hunter, LCSW, CAP, a social worker in Booneville, AR.
“I tell people in recovery that if they feel uncomfortable or feel that they need to use again because of the family situation, they need to get out or do what they need to do to maintain their sobriety because ultimately, that’s what’s most important,” she says.
Recovering people must remember that they are the ones who control whether they will relapse during the holidays, Mooney says.
“They have to realize that it’s not the family’s responsibility to keep them sober; it’s their responsibility,” he says.
Families of active substance abusers and people in recovery may need extra support managing festive but stressful holiday celebrations. Read some sound advice on helping families handle the potential problems.
Read More@ Families and Addiction: Surviving The Season of Stress
The Holiday's And Grief
With so many lives lost to the disease of addiction with the holiday season upon us so many parents, children and loved ones who will spend the holidays without their loved ones this year.
As I was reading through the list of those names on my page Never Forget Them Always Speak Their Names I was reminded of the pain that these families will suffer through the holidays.
A week or so ago I read a link to a story, The First Holiday Season Without Me and I continue to pray for those families locally through this holiday season who have lost their loved ones to this disease.
As I was reading through the list of those names on my page Never Forget Them Always Speak Their Names I was reminded of the pain that these families will suffer through the holidays.
A week or so ago I read a link to a story, The First Holiday Season Without Me and I continue to pray for those families locally through this holiday season who have lost their loved ones to this disease.
"The holidays are approaching, they were always so big when I was little. Thanksgiving was a feast, you always were the best cook mom. I think what I miss most is your homemade cranberry sauce. I know how trivial this sounds, but I miss so many little things that I took for granted.
Christmas was always magical , both of you went to never ending lengths to make it so. I could always tell whether you wrapped the presents or if dad did. He needed a lot of help.
We always would decorate the tree together, you still have all the handmade ornaments I made throughout my childhood years. Mom treasured them and we always spent time reflecting on the memories attached..."
Read More>>>>>>>>>>>>>@ The First Holiday Season Without Me
Other pages of Interest:
If you are suffering this holiday and need someone to talk to, or you are depressed please reach out to someone!
If you know someone who is depressed or needs someone to talk to call them, reach out to them. Just a phone call to them to let them know you are thinking about them this holiday season may be all they are seeking.
Remember: Keep the list of the Important Holiday Numbers I have posted on hand just in case you need them
© 2016 Gossip Girl
If you know someone who is depressed or needs someone to talk to call them, reach out to them. Just a phone call to them to let them know you are thinking about them this holiday season may be all they are seeking.
Remember: Keep the list of the Important Holiday Numbers I have posted on hand just in case you need them
© 2016 Gossip Girl
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Supporting Recovery During the Holidays
The holidays are hard on a lot of people. They are especially hard on those who are suffering from addictions. The holidays can also be stressful on those of us who love an addict because we know how quickly their addiction can escalate.
This is also a time that we are reminded of triggers on our loved ones living in recovery. Discuss this with your loved one in Recovery. Let them know you are available to talk at any time. Have a plan and a back up plan in place.
Because of the holidays upon us and because I only want my son to continue on his road to recovery I just recently asked my son if I was a trigger to him mainly because in his early years of using and abusing Heroin I was his biggest enabler. Being an enabler can also mean that you are a trigger. As and enabler you are an easy way for them to score some cash to get the drug if they have fallen and slipped in their recovery. As an enabler you are easily entangled in the web of lies. I needed to know. It would have hurt me if he said yes, but I would have had to understand.
This is also a time that we are reminded of triggers on our loved ones living in recovery. Discuss this with your loved one in Recovery. Let them know you are available to talk at any time. Have a plan and a back up plan in place.
Because of the holidays upon us and because I only want my son to continue on his road to recovery I just recently asked my son if I was a trigger to him mainly because in his early years of using and abusing Heroin I was his biggest enabler. Being an enabler can also mean that you are a trigger. As and enabler you are an easy way for them to score some cash to get the drug if they have fallen and slipped in their recovery. As an enabler you are easily entangled in the web of lies. I needed to know. It would have hurt me if he said yes, but I would have had to understand.
"Holidays can be stressful for anyone, particularly for those in recovery. Besides the temptations to party hearty that seem to be everywhere, there are also the feelings of depression and being left out to contend with. Don’t let the holidays get you down or cause you to slip. Here are some tips to support recovery during the holidays...."Read More>>>>>>>>> @ Tips To Support Recovery During the Holidays
Important Holiday Numbers
With the Holiday's here I know that the holiday's can be rough for those living in this addiction. To so many the holiday's are reminders and can often cause triggers and can lead to despair.
The holiday's can also cause depression for many. If you are having a hard time coping with the holidays, please reach out to someone. Talk to a family member, a trusted friend, a spouse, a pastor in your community or your own pastor.
The holiday's can also cause depression for many. If you are having a hard time coping with the holidays, please reach out to someone. Talk to a family member, a trusted friend, a spouse, a pastor in your community or your own pastor.
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