How to Handle Rules and Emotions After Treatment For Substance Abuse RecoveryBy Promises AustinOctober 18, 2010Probably the first thing you want to do after completing treatment is just take a deep breath of fresh air. Probably the last thing you look forward to doing is starting in with a slew of rules designed to keep you on the straight and narrow. Then, there are all those pesky emotions that start…
Pace Yourself in Recovery RecoveryBy Promises AustinOctober 10, 2010Anyone who’s ever embarked on an endurance run knows the importance of pacing. The simple fact is that you can’t run flat out and expect to still be standing – or even make – the finish line. The same concept holds true in recovery. To be successful in long-term recovery, you simply must learn how…
Exercise May Help Ward Off Addictive Tendencies Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinSeptember 29, 2010Everyone knows that going to the gym and working out helps to build up energy, and get your body in shape, Exercise is an important part of the Spirit Lodge’s addiction recovery treatment.but did you also know that exercising might help prevent an addiction to drugs or alcohol? According to the Associated Press, recent studies are displaying clues which imply that physical activity may trigger those areas of the brain that can get hijacked by substance abuse. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that teens who exercised daily were half as likely as their friends to indulge in smoking and 40% were less likely to experiment with marijuana.
PTSD and Dual Diagnosis PTSD & TraumaBy Promises AustinSeptember 27, 2010Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is an Anxiety Disorder caused by exposure to a traumatic event. It is characterized by symptoms of hyperarousal, re-experiencing of the trauma, emotional numbing, and efforts to avoid reminders of the adverse events. PTSD can be a brief and acute condition or a more chronic and persistent one. Considered a…
What Does Marijuana Do to Your Brain? MarijuanaBy Promises AustinSeptember 15, 2010Marijuana is perhaps the most widely used illegal drug in the world. It has been used for a wide variety of purposes for thousands of years and in many different cultures. The plant itself is used for everything from clothing to paper. Today, marijuana as a drug form is primarily used recreationally. However, it is…
5 Comedians Who’ve Recovered from Addiction RecoveryBy Promises AustinSeptember 10, 2010In honor of Addiction Recovery month and the upcoming Addicted to Comedy shows in Austin on Friday September 24th, 2010 being put on in part by the Promises Austin here is a list of comedians who have recovered from their addiction to drugs, alcohol and other substances. Robin Williams Robin Williams has appeared in more…
My Loved One has Depression/Anxiety/Past Trauma: Can Rehab Help with That? AnxietyBy Promises AustinSeptember 8, 2010Many people who enter a drug rehab to overcome their addiction also have other underlying problems. It could be depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, panic attacks, or other psychiatric issue that both aggravates and fuels their addiction. The fact is that many people with drug and alcohol addiction also have a co-occurring psychiatric disorder. Some have…
How to Get Past the Trap of Self-Loathing Personal ResourcesBy Promises AustinSeptember 2, 2010Who in recovery from addiction doesn’t have skeletons in his or her closet – well, not actual skeletons, but actions, thoughts or words we now find repugnant, disgusting, disloyal, illegal, immoral and much more? The truth is that you can’t go through the horror of addiction, then treatment, and into recovery without facing squarely some…
Take Bite-Sized Steps in Recovery RecoveryBy Promises AustinAugust 26, 2010You’re out of treatment and about to begin your first few days and weeks of recovery. Now what? Just the prospect of being on your own again is both liberating and more than a bit scary. That’s perfectly understandable, since you’ve just left a structured environment where if you ever had a problem, there was…
Addiction Recovery: Blame Is Not Healthy But Accepting Responsibility Is RecoveryBy Promises AustinAugust 25, 2010Among the many things newcomers to recovery need to consider is how to best manage their sobriety. A lot of this has to do with attitude. You can have the right intention – to stay clean and sober – and still be defeated by outdated and misinformed ideas about addiction. One of the earliest to…
