It is sometimes easier to approach 12 Step recovery programs without any specific religious ideas because it allows one to be more open to the idea of a personal conception of a higher power. However, many people already have deeply held beliefs about God as a result of their religious beliefs. Fortunately, 12 Step Recovery…
As a part of 12 Step recovery, we go through a process of facing the facts about our past conduct, no matter how ugly it may have been. Many of us caused harm in our past sex relations, and we must come to a point of recognizing how we hurt other people. We come to…
Our past reliance on drugs was akin to a relationship. Drugs became our closest friends—we relied on them for a fleeting moment of relief from our inner turmoil, and overtime the relationship grew into complete dependence. Saying goodbye to something that we grew to depend on so strongly can be difficult, and we often go…
In treatment, we may feel shame for the feelings that we are experiencing. However, we need to recognize that our depression, loneliness, and regret are not unique. Nearly everyone who has overcome addiction and alcoholism has struggles with the same feelings. Instead of keeping these feelings to ourselves, we must find the courage to effectively…
Our decision not to use mind or mood-altering substances is no reason to allow our health to suffer. Physicians have our best interest in mind, but it is our responsibility to openly communicate with them about our disease of addiction. Most medical professionals will be understanding and help guide us toward a solution with minimal…
One of the first steps toward entering into a life of sobriety is detoxifying our bodies of any remnants of drugs or alcohol. The process is uncomfortable, but a happy future in sobriety it waiting for us at the end. Determining how long it will take for acute symptoms of withdrawal to diminish is difficult,…
The disease model of addiction takes into account that it is a chronic, progressive, and fatal illness. The chronic nature of the disease means that, like diseases such as diabetes and cancer, it must be managed. Fortunately, through adherence to a program of recovery, addiction and alcoholism can be managed successfully. However, if left untreated,…
When looking at different types of drinkers, we find three main categories: Moderate drinkers, hard drinkers, and those who drink alcoholically. These categories can be difficult to determine, as most people who suffer from the disease of alcoholism prefer to deceive themselves into believing that they are simple “hard drinkers.” If we are to determine…
Making the decision to move from home for treatment is a tough decision to make. You want to choose a place that supports your health, happiness, and recovery. Look no further than Laguna Beach, California, where Oceanfront Recovery, a men’s treatment program, calls home. We’re on the beach: Oceanfront Recovery is just steps from…
Manifest Destiny brought early settlers of America westward. Everything out west held promise of a better life, especially in California. From the prospect of the gold rush to the modernization of cities like San Francisco, something special was happening on the other side of our maturing country. The allure of the west and of California…