Patience can mean the difference between recovery and continued addiction. When we are patient, we are able to stay honest, open-minded, and willing to go through the process of recovery. Without patience, we may be less likely to reach a point where we are able to develop all the tools necessary to overcome addiction. Patience,…
We all have past experiences that we are ashamed of. Our lives were hijacked by addiction and we become selfish and self-centered, caring little for anything except our next drink or drug. In the past, we may have harmed others, ruined relationships, or done any number of harmful things to others. We may find it…
There are many well known stories in Zen Buddhism meant to teach a specific lesson. One such story may be specifically meaningful for men and women suffering from addiction, as it deals with the power of habit and our inability to live meaningful, directed lives when we are at the mercy of our “habit energies,”…
Leonard Cohen once said, “My mind was always very cluttered, so I took great pains to simplify my environment, because if my environment were half as cluttered as my mind, I wouldn’t be able to make it from room to room.” In early recovery, our minds are often so filled with anxious thoughts, fears, resentments,…
Many recovery programs focus on spirituality as a means of overcoming addiction and maintaining sobriety. 12-Step recovery, for example, focuses on experiencing a spiritual awakening and living a spiritual life to achieve sobriety. Others, like Refuge Recovery, are founded in the spiritual principles of Buddhism and utilize the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path. The…
Relapse is very common among men and women in the early stages of sobriety. Rates of relapse mirror the recurrence of symptoms of other chronic health problems—about 40 to 60 percent. However, relapse is not a necessary part of the recovery process. There are a variety of things that we can do to help safeguard…
The decision to seek help is the single greatest decision we have made in our lives. Many of us were averse to reaching out for help because it meant we had to open up about our problems with drugs and alcohol or address shameful behavior that we would rather ignore. We soon realized that reaching…
Relapse is not a necessary part of recovery, but it is very common. Many people require several attempts at sobriety before finally being able to overcome addiction and alcoholism. The most important thing to know about relapse is that it is not a sign of failure. Relapse simply means that one must summon the courage…
For many men and women attempting to overcome addiction and alcoholism, relapse is a part of their recovery journey. However, this does not mean that relapse is a necessary part of addiction recovery. Although relapse is common, with enough open-mindedness, honesty, and willingness, it is entirely possible to one to overcome addiction without relapsing at…
It can be difficult to find the motivation to do anything when we start feeling stressed. Everything seems to pile up until we are feeling too overwhelmed and anxious to do anything productive. Managing stress can be difficult, but there are several hobbies that we can pick up to start feeling a little more relaxed…