My Dog Helps Me Stay Sober!

by Fiona Stockard | May 19, 2015 | Addiction Articles, Recovery

By: Tim Myers

Man’s Best Friend

My dog keeps me sober. Or I guess you could say he helps. He doesn’t go to meetings, doesn’t have a sponsor, and he has never worked a step. When he talks, I can’t understand a single thing he says. He’s very good at listening.

I can say things to him that I can’t say to another human being. When I’m done I feel so much better because at least I’m not holding on to them any more.

If I want to sleep in, well, I can’t because he needs to go out. If I want to skip work, you guessed it, I can’t because I need to make money to pay for the massive amount of dog food I have to buy. I feed him twice a day, walk him three times, and play with him as much as I can. He has a pretty tight schedule, so I do too.

He keeps on task, on time, and on point. He brings a rigidity and structure to my life that I have never had before. Want to stay out late? I can’t, he needs me. Want to blow out of town for Vegas? I can’t, he needs me. My dog, in a way, makes sure I’m everywhere I need to be, when I need to be there. You see…he needs me.

I need him too. When I’m sad, depressed, and worn out, he’s there. He thinks everything is cool and funny and he picks me up when I’m down. Want to meet women? Want to meet men? Want to meet friends? He’s great for that.

Feel like rushing into a relationship because you’re lonely? Don’t bother if you’ve got a dog like I’ve got mine. There’s always something to do with him and he always wants to do something. Boredom, isolation, and fear? Haven’t seen them since I got my dog.

I’ve been a part of his life since he was three months old. I’ve seen him grow, develop, change, fall, get back up, learn, smile, and poop. He’s seen me grow, develop, change, fall, get back up, learn, smile, and poop.

I’ve worried about him and he’s worried about me. I’ve taken care of him and he’s taken care of me. I give 100% for him expecting nothing in return. Well, I expect that he won’t bite me. He gives 100% to me expecting nothing in return. Well, he expects treats.

My dog has never been to a meeting and has no idea that I’m an alcoholic, yet he has helped me more than a lot of people in recovery. Many people in recovery have helped me get to where I am today, but many have hurt me as well and, yes, I have hurt people too. But my dog hasn’t.

He steers me toward the right direction every single day. He’s never faltered and he never will. He loves me for me and, through this relationship, I’ve learned to treat people better. I have learned the meaning of friendship.

My dog has never seen me drunk and as long as I have God, AA, and a dog…he never will.

Things You Should Never Do In Recovery

by Sally Rosa | May 5, 2015 | Addiction Articles, Recovery

By: Tim Myers

I Can’t Do What??

There are so many things in recovery that “they” say you should never ever do.

They say…

You shouldn’t be in a relationship until you have a year. You should never have Redbull. Never smoke or hang out at bars. You should never live by yourself or sleep around and never work too much or never work at all.

They say you should never take money from your parents. Never stay out too late. Never go to clubs or casinos or strips clubs. They say you should never be alone. Never be without a sponsor. Never miss a meeting. Never go to two meetings in a day. Never got to less than two meetings in a day. Never say recovered and never say recovering,

Never swear in a meeting. Never talk about AA at work and never talk about work at AA. Never say your last name. Never say anyone else’s last name. They tell us all the time that we should never put personalities before principals.

Never talk about a step unless we have worked it. They say to never leave the meeting until the Lord’s Prayer is over. Never text during the meeting. We should never be playing games during the meeting, whispering during the meeting, flirting during the meet, emailing during the meeting, Facebooking during the meeting, Instagraming, Googling, Yahooing, Pintersting, Youtubing, Myspacing, or Facetubing.

They say to never live far from your meetings. Never preach. Never quit. Never give up. Never stop sharing. Never stop sponsoring. Never judge. Never let yourself be judged. Never gossip. Never stray. Never walk out before the miracle happens.

Never promote. Never hit on a girl at a meeting. Never hit on a guy at a meeting. Never hit on a girl after a meeting. Never hit on a guy after a meeting.

Never bring in a dog. Never bring in a non-alcoholic to a closed meeting. Never bring in food or drink. Never put your feet on the chairs. Never leave the lights on. Never put nothing in the basket. Never sponsor ‘til you have one year. Never sponsor ‘til you have worked all twelve steps.

The say you should never take prescribed drugs. They say to never loan money. They say to never lie. Never cheat. They say to never steal. Never fight. Never hurt someone. Never post your recovery online. Never take a picture inside a meeting. Never force someone to a meeting. Never show up late. Never leave early.

They say never talk about coke in an AA meeting. They say never talk about heroin or needles in an AA meeting. They say never talk about pills in an AA meeting. They say never talk about acid or ‘shrooms in an AA meeting. They say never talk about weed or food in an AA meeting.

They say never have resentments. Never forget to call your sponsor. Never go to bed mad. Never forget to pray. They say never, never, never, never, never.

They say never drink.
That we all agree with.
That’s the one that matters most.

Is Adderall a Study Aid or Legal Meth?

by Fiona Stockard | Apr 28, 2015 | Addiction Articles, Recovery

How Dangerous is Adderall?

Although this might seem like an obvious question with an obvious answer, stop and think about it for a second. Is Adderall as dangerous as the media has made it out to be?

Okay, you’re right, it is! Still, there seems to be this narrative around the drug that blogs, news stations, and newspapers have constructed. Adderall is demonized as “legal meth” or “meth-lite.” While these are true to an extent, there’s much more going on than meets the eye.

This is true of most aspects of life. It’s also especially true for women in recovery! So, lets take a closer look at what Adderall is, the dangers it presents, and the benefits it offers for those struggling with ADHD.

I’d also like to share my personal story of Adderall abuse and how it affected my addiction to drugs and my eating disorder.

What is Adderall?

For most people reading this, I don’t have to tell you what Adderall is. You know! Still, I think it’s important to understand exactly what a drug is before we start condemning it.

Adderall is a prescription drug that’s commonly given to individuals struggling with ADD, ADHD, and narcolepsy.

It’s also a central nervous system stimulant. Its generic name is simply “amphetamine,” though it’s actually made up of four amphetamine salts. These are amphetamine aspartate monohydrate, amphetamine sulfate, dextroamphetamine saccharate, and dextroamphetamine sulfate.

The above is a very important point! People often call Adderall legal meth. I know I’ve been guilty of using that name before! While legal meth has a catchy ring to it, it simply isn’t true. Adderall is an amphetamine, not methamphetamine.

Adderall Abuse: My Story

I abused Adderall throughout my teenage years. I bet most of you reading this can identify! Although I was never a full-fledged “Adderall addict,” I used it to control my weight and to catch a buzz.

See, like many other women in this world, I suffered from poor body image and an eating disorder. I’d take Adderall to keep from eating and to give myself energy (remember no food = no energy).

The first time I took Adderall, or Ritalin for that matter, I was fourteen. I’d started smoking and drinking two years earlier, and had been restricting for three. I remember the feeling that stimulants gave me was amazing. All of a sudden I didn’t care what other people thought of me (of course, I really did but I FELT invincible).

Over the next five years my addiction and eating disorder got worse and worse. I didn’t use Adderall much after I discovered other drugs. Still, whenever I needed a quick boost, this was my go to drug.

After getting sober, my thoughts began to return to Adderall. I was trying my best to live a spiritual way of life, but I was scared! I was scared of my weight, of what others thought of me, and of what boys would think of me. I was scared of everything!

Thankfully, I didn’t pick up a drug. I came close a couple of times though. I’d rationalize that Adderall was harmless because I wouldn’t use it to get high. I’d be using it to lose weight. Of course, that’s just as damaging. Plus, we all know that after we take one…we don’t stop.

Dangers of Adderall

The above is the real danger, I believe, of Adderall. The drug itself is dangerous, after all it is an amphetamine. Still, the idea that Adderall somehow isn’t as dangerous as other drugs makes it even more dangerous!

Addicts and alcoholics can be lulled into a false sense of comfort by our sick thinking. We can justify and rationalize everything and taking Adderall in recovery is no exception.

That’s where we run into trouble. Thinking that a prescription drug is somehow safer than a street drug is simply wrong! This is true of prescription painkillers, Adderall, benzo’s, or any of the hundreds of other controlled medications.

Is Adderall a Relapse?

Well, is it? The short answer is of course! Remember what I said above about there being more going on than meets the eye? This is a perfect example. In some cases, some rare cases, it’s okay to take Adderall in sobriety.

I’m talking, of course, about taking Adderall for a medical condition. Now there’s a very important caveat here. You need to take it as prescribed and only after consulting with a doctor, your sponsor, and a Higher Power.

It’s also important to check your intentions. Do you want to take Adderall for legitimate reasons, i.e. for a medical condition? Or are you trying to push the limits of your sobriety, i.e. having a freelapse?

If you’ve done all of the above, and have a doctor’s approval to take Adderall, then it’s okay. If not, then don’t take it!

What do you all think? Let us know on social media!

What is PAWS Anyway?

by A Women in Sobriety | Mar 24, 2015 | Addiction Articles, Recovery

Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome

Ah, good old Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome! Maybe you’ve heard of it. If not by that name, I bet you’ve heard of PAWS. If you’re anything like me, that acronym left you scratching you, wondering why people were talking about animal feet!

post acute withdrawal syndrome

Most women in recovery know Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome all too well. It’s the reason we were a bit off the walls in early-sobriety. Well, okay, one of the reasons!

For those who aren’t familiar with PAWS, sit back and learn the in’s and out’s of post acute withdrawal. Being prepared and knowing how to best mitigate Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome can be a HUGE help in early-recovery.

After all, anything that gives us a proverbial leg up is welcome. I hope you all enjoy and this helps!

PAWS Symptoms

Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome symptoms can range from mild to serious. It’s important to remember two things when reading the following list. A) I’m not a doctor, but rather a recovering alcoholic with firsthand experience of PAWS. B) Everyone’s body is different. You may not get all the following symptoms (fingers crossed!).

Find a list of common Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome symptoms below:

Anhedonia

this is when activities which used to be pleasurable no longer are. The best way I can describe it is like a strange form of apathy. I know I should be happy to be at the beach (because, duh, I love the beach), but I’m simply not.

Depression

depression as a result of alcoholism or addiction makes sense. I mean, many drugs are depressants and alcohol definitely is! I’m going to make a very unscientific claim here and say that depression is the number one side effect of prolonged drug use.

Anxiety

again, no surprises here. Being sober after using drugs and booze to medicate is scary! So it makes sense that anxiety is a common PAWS symptom. Sometimes post acute withdrawal anxiety is low-level and constant. Other times, it comes in sharp bursts known as panic attacks. Either way, trust me when I say it gets better!

Trouble Concentrating

I was convinced that I had ADHD in early-sobriety. It turns out I had no such thing. Prolonged drinking and drugging impact the frontal lobe, the area of our brain that controls concentration, pretty hard. So, it makes sense that I had trouble concentrating.

The frontal lobe also controls judgment, inhibitions, our emotions, and organizational skills. Watch out for trouble in all of those areas during Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome!

Irritability

I was basically a huge mess in early-sobriety. While this was largely due to PAWS, it was also due to some of my character defects! One thing that straddled the fence between both was irritability. Watch out for this when you’re counting days. Trust me, it’s better to catch yourself before you say something stupid, than to make amends afterwards!

Mood Swings

ah, mood swings! These are probably the most recognizable aspect of PAWS. Your emotions in early-sobriety will often go a little something like this

10:00a.m. – I’m happy! OMG, life is so good!

10:01a.m. – This is so annoying, I can’t even deal right now.

10:02a.m. – No, I just need to chill. Life is really pretty amazing. I can’t believe how blessed I am!

10:03a.m. – I’m so angry! Someone stole my parking spot, don’t they know what I’m going through!

And listen, ladies, if you think I’m poking fun at you, think again. I’ve experienced the above scenario thought for thought…some are sicker than others!

Strange Sleep Patterns

another one of the most common symptoms of post acute withdrawal is disturbed sleep. It’s uncomfortable and, since sleep affects most other areas of our lives, has far reaching implications. It’s for this reason that many doctors recommend taking non-narcotic sleep aides in early-sobriety. Of course, that decision is ultimately up to each woman, her doctor, and a God of her own understanding.

Cravings

having drug cravings in early-sobriety is perfectly normal. In fact, it might be stranger if someone freshly sober didn’t have the occasional, or quite frequent, craving. Unfortunately, this doesn’t make them any easier to deal with! The good news is that the longer we stay sober, and the more work we do on ourselves, the less intense and frequent cravings become!

Beating PAWS

Now that we know the more common symptoms of post acute withdrawal, let’s figure out how to overcome it! The answer is surprisingly simple – take good care of yourself!

This can mean different things for different people, but there are some general guidelines on how to practice good self-care.

PAWS

First, eat healthy! Avoid processed food, high fructose corn syrup, and taking in large amounts of refined sugar. Stick to fish, whole grains, fiber rich foods, natural sugars, and fresh vegetables. Although this sounds tough (and expensive!), it’s actually pretty easy. Once you start feeling the benefits (thinks like increased energy, a better/more stable mood, and increased concentration), you’ll want to stick with it.

Second, practice meditation! There’s nothing better to keep you in the moment than practicing staying in the moment! That may sound a bit cliché and corny, but I promise it’s true. Plus, mediation helps alleviate mood swings, irritability, anxiety, and poor concentration.

Next, get plugged in with a support group. Support groups can range from twelve-step fellowships, to “rational recovery” groups, to group therapy, to plain old friends. They’ll do wonders for your overall mental health and cravings. A support group also fosters a sense of belonging that’s vital to long-term recovery.

Finally, do some work on yourself! Although this is one of the harder suggestions to implement, it’s also one of the most beneficial. Working on ourselves is the first positive step many addicts and alcoholics take. It’s the doorway through which we walk to freedom and recovery!

5 Meditation Tips for People with ADHD

by Fiona Stockard | Mar 5, 2015 | Addiction Articles, Recovery

By Tim Myers

Practical Tips for Meditation

How many people with ADHD does it take to screw in a light bulb? Want to Ride Bikes?

See, that’s the problem people with ADHD have when it comes to meditation. I have ADHD. I have NOT been able to sit still since my head first popped out.

Going to the movies is a problem. Sitting in church is horrific. Going out to dinner is fine…until they ask if I want dessert. Dessert? Dessert? I’ve been sitting in this wooden chair for forty-five minutes, you have nothing good enough to keep my butt in this seat one second longer.

Now, my sponsor tells me that meditation is crucial to my long-term sobriety…so I’m screwed, right? Nope, even an ADHD affected individual like myself can find the necessary tools to meditate.

With that in mind, here are five meditation tips for people with ADHD!

5) You Don’t Actually Have to Stop Moving!

Buddha is a liar! Meditation doesn’t have to mean you sit still! Boom! Take a walk, go for a bike ride, or draw. As long as your mind is focused on the right thoughts or actions, you’ll be able to slow down.

You can pray, focus on a negative situation, and then think about how to handle it based on AA principles. You can even journal as a form of meditation!

4) Use Music to Focus!

Find a song with 100% positive lyrics or pick your favorite song and interpret the words to meet your desired goal for meditation. If you’re bummed, find a song that speaks to motivation and the improvement of your mood. The song doesn’t have to have lyrics either. Let the mood of the music lead your thoughts and help maintain your focus.

3) Two Minutes is All You Need!

Start at two minutes. Can ya meditate for two minutes? Start at two and then move to three. The longer you meditate, the more you’ll ratchet it up.

ADHD peeps may not be able to sit still, but we do love a challenge!

2) Make it a Routine!

ADHD affected drug addicts do love routine. It helps us stay on track and get stuff done. Most people think we prefer to be scattered, but that isn’t true at all. Routine is our comfort zone and it saves us from stress.

Pick a time for meditation that you can repeat day after day. This will ensure that you’re practicing your mediation techniques each day. This then makes the connection between you and your higher power stronger. Routine will also make it easier to stay in one place. The more you do it the easier it is.

1) Make it Fun!

Recovery got easy when it became fun. We first started doing drugs because it was fun and made us feel great. Meditation can unlock a whole new world of recovery if you make it fun.

As soon as it becomes a joy to do, you’ll do it every single day. Meditating everyday will make your reflection time more potent and more powerful than any drug.

Meditation will change your life. There’s no wrong way to do, just do it. Period!

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