by Sally Rosa | Jul 30, 2014 | Addiction Articles, Recovery
Written By: Fiona Stockard
Homelessness and Addiction: Is There a Common Thread?
Often, the homeless population is viewed as being comprised of alcoholics and addicts. While this assumption is often true (about 38% of homeless people were dependent on alcohol and 26% abused other drugs[1]), other stigmas sometimes make for a skewed view of the homeless. For example, when alcoholism and addiction is viewed as a moral choice, all subsequent consequences are viewed as that person’s fault. This scapegoating allows the public to view homelessness and addiction as the person’s own fault. However, this view is pretty simplistic. Conditions leading into poverty are often complex and escaping poverty can be a huge challenge.
Listen to this formally homeless mans amazing speech
Homeless Addicts Didn’t Choose This Life
Substance abuse is often the cause of people becoming homeless addicts. Alcoholism and addiction can be a cause for someone to lose their job. For someone who’s living pay-check to pay-check, the loss of a job quickly leads to the loss of their housing as well. In 2008, a survey by the United States Conference of Mayors asked twenty-five cities for the top causes of homelessness. Substance abuse was the largest cause of homelessness for single adults (reported by 68% of cities). It was also mentioned by 12% of cities as one of the top three causes of homelessness in families. Approximately two-thirds of homeless people report that drugs and/or alcohol were a major reason for their becoming homeless[2].
Read the compelling story of a homeless man getting a home
Homelessness and Drug Use or Drug Use and Homelessness?
In many situations, substance abuse is a result of homelessness rather than its cause. People who’re homeless often turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with their situations[3]. Alcohol and other substances are used as a temporary relief to their problems. As with all relief provided by drugs, the abuse usually worsens the problem. In this situation, drug and alcohol use makes it more difficult to achieve stable employment, and thus, stable housing. Self-fulfilling prophecies may occur as well. This is when a young person, growing up in poverty, turns to drugs and alcohol to cope with their undignified living situation. In turn, using drugs and alcohol limit their chances to overcome poverty. In this way, they might become homeless addicts themselves.
Mental Illnesses Contribute Greatly
For many stuck in the downward spiral of homelessness and addiction, substance abuse co-occurs with other mental illnesses. People with untreated mental illness often turn to street drugs as a form of self-medication. Mental illness is one more obstacle to recovery, especially when left untreated. Mental illness often leads to a perpetual cycle from the streets, to jails, and psychiatric institutions.
It can be especially hard for homeless people to recover from addiction as their motivation to stop using may be inadequate. For many homeless, things like finding food and shelter are seen as a priority over drug abuse treatment or counseling[4]. Finally, many homeless have become estranged from their families and friends. They have no social-support network, an essential for recovery.
The Cause and Effect
As substance abuse is both a cause and result of homelessness, both issues need to be addressed simultaneously. In order for a homeless person to recover from addiction it’s important to give them support services once their treatment has been completed. In fact, stable housing during and after drug treatment decreases the risk of relapse[5]. Additionally, when providing a housing community for those who’re homeless, it’s essential that one of the services provided be a substance abuse service. Otherwise, achieving goals like steady employment and housing may be impossible.
[1] National Coalition for the Homeless. ‘Substance Abuse and Homelessness’. July 2009. Web.
[2] National Coalition for the Homeless. ‘Substance Abuse and Homelessness’. July 2009. Web.
[3] National Coalition for the Homeless. ‘Substance Abuse and Homelessness’. July 2009. Web.
[4] National Coalition for the Homeless. ‘Substance Abuse and Homelessness’. July 2009. Web.
[5] National Coalition for the Homeless. ‘Substance Abuse and Homelessness’. July 2009. Web.
by Sally Rosa | Jul 28, 2014 | Addiction Articles, Recovery
Written By: Fiona Stockard
Battling All The Suggestions in Early Sobriety
One of the hardest things that young women trying to get sober experience is following the suggestions given to them in early-sobriety. A lot of women think they don’t need to follow suggestions given to them by their therapists and sponsors. Sadly, the great majority of these women learn later that they were greatly misinformed.
Disagreeing with Suggestions Given In Early-Sobriety
In early-sobriety, when a suggestion is given that you don’t agree with, your decision to follow it (or not follow it!) shows a lot about where you’re at in recovery. In a way, this can be seen as a metaphor for whether or not you’ll be able to stay sober. Yes, you might call your sponsor. Yes, you might be working your steps. But what does it say about you and your recovery when you’re still doing everything your way?
Find out jobs you should avoid in early-recovery
I’ll Lie, Cheat, and Steal When I Want To!
We did everything our way, while we were getting high. We got high when we wanted to get high. We stole money when we needed money. We hurt people when we felt they’d hurt us. Early-recovery is about letting go of your ego. When you believe your way is the best way to do something, and ignore a suggestion, your ego is getting in the way. It takes a lot to admit that you might not know what’s best. When you’re in early-sobriety and someone who has a lot more experience than you, like your therapist, is telling you something, listen. They’re almost always right.
Read about the importance of accountability in early-recovery
An Indication in Early-Sobriety of What’s To Come
I’m going to give you fine gals an example. I present to you Jane Doe. Jane has three months sober. She’s living in a halfway house. The general suggestion surrounding halfway houses is that you should make a six month commitment to live there. Jane decides she want’s to leave though. So, she talks to her therapist about it. Her therapist says, “Jane, don’t be an idiot. Finish your commitment!” Jane moves out the next day.
A healthy person would be able to see that staying another three months isn’t going to hurt them. In fact, it’ll probably be a positive experience. In early-sobriety it’s important not to take risks. When you learn to protect your sobriety, you also learn how to stay sober. People who take risks in early-sobriety usually don’t end up staying sober.
Suggestions Suck
Yeah, sometimes they sucks, but what’s the big deal? The way we shape our program in that first year usually determines how our program is going to look down the road. Why pick up white-chip after white-chip? Once you work a strong program, you can take all the risks you want. The funny thing is when you get to this point taking risks usually doesn’t seem so appealing. Usually you’re happy with where you are and what you’ve accomplished.
by Fiona Stockard | Jul 23, 2014 | Addiction Articles, Recovery
The Trick to Dealing with Disappointment in Sobriety
Disappointment in Sobriety Requires Acceptance
One of the first lessons I learned in treatment was acceptance. Acceptance of the decisions I’d made to land me in rehab and acceptance of the situations I find myself in. It wasn’t easy!
What I’ve found is that acceptance is usually the first step towards change. Once I was able to accept I was an alcoholic and addict, I was able to make the right decisions towards getting better. In early-sobriety, these decisions are simple, but hard to implement. These include: not picking up a drink or a drug, speaking up in group therapy, attending twelve-step meetings, dealing with disappointment rationally, and getting a sponsor.
Doing the Right Thing
As we continue to do the right thing, our lives start getting better. In time, we come to expect this from ourselves. What I mean is, we expect things to work in our favor. It’s easy to forget the bad feelings and unmanageability that came along with drinking and using. Nevertheless, things don’t always go our way. Sometimes, even when we’re doing the right thing, life happens.
I don’t know about you, but I used to use ANY excuse I could find to get high, especially when I was dealing with disappointment. I wasn’t very good at handling disappointment and used it as the perfect excuse to get as messed up as possible.
Wondering how to deal with disappointment in relationships? This article’s a must read!
How To Cope With Disappointment Better
There are a couple tools I learned in my women’s treatment center that I still use today. The first is “move a muscle, change a thought”. Sometimes, the worst thing you can do is sit around and mope. Take a shower or go for a run. Often, changing activities helps you forget about disappointment, even if it’s only for a little while.
The second tool is to talk about it. Use your sober supports, friends, therapists, and sponsor. A lot of times, talking about something takes the power out of it. Once you take the power out of something you can accept that maybe it was supposed to happen how it did. Have faith that there might be something better for you on the horizon. This is one of my best tools for dealing with disappointment!
Struggling with anxiety? Here are some helpful tips to deal with it.
The last thing I learned in rehab was how to change my perspective. Happiness and serenity has a lot to do with how we view our lives. Write a gratitude list! Appreciate what you have instead of focusing on what you have lost.
When I was using, my mind was closed off to these suggestions. I thought drugs and alcohol were a better way to deal with my issues. After I ended up in treatment, I realized they weren’t. They were only a temporary solution to my problems and disappointments.
When all else fails, appreciate that you’re a person in the world and do something for someone else. A lot of times, helping others takes us away from disappointment. Go volunteer at a homeless shelter! You’ll realize quickly how lucky you are.
by Sally Rosa | Jul 2, 2014 | Addiction Articles, Recovery
Written By: Katie Schipper
Privacy vs. Secrecy & How They Relate To Honesty
The Importance of Honesty
Honesty, Open Mindedness, and Willingness – if you’re in any sort of twelve-step recovery, you’ll hear about these virtues over and over. All three are vital, but honesty in particular presents many road bumps to the addict or alcoholic.
The most obvious and undeniable fact about addiction is that in order to maintain the lifestyle of a junkie or boozehound, we have to be in a perpetual state of denial. Denial is the ultimate act of lying to ourselves. So, right off the bat, honesty is a virtue that throws some curveballs.
If a woman in early-recovery is willing to be honest, it doesn’t so much matter whether she’s actually honest. As long as her intention is to be honest, she’s on the right track. To put it another way, when she’s first getting sober, the woman in early-recovery is still going to be in enough denial to not even recognize that she’s still lying to herself and others, but if her aim is to practice honesty, then in time, and with help, the practice of honesty will grow and progress. In order to become willing, she must first distinguish the differences between privacy and secrecy.
Read about the importance of accountability
Privacy Or Secrecy – Which One Keeps Us Sick?
With that mouthful about honesty being said, there’s another big concept in recovery we need to look at – the idea that secrets keep us sick. This concept, coupled with the necessity of honesty on the spiritual plane, stirs up a whole debate on secrecy vs. privacy.
For a group of people who’re notoriously secretive, always to our own detriment and demise, what does privacy even mean? In a program that demands “rigorous honesty,” are we expected to share all the details of our private life? How far do we take the spiritual inventory that we do during our fourth and fifth steps?
Read more about the Fourth Step
Being Open to Truth and Honesty
The difference between privacy and secrecy is often subtle and sometimes blurred. The problem of distinguishing the two is that intention plays as much of a role as the actual practice of being honest.
To give an example, imagine a woman in early recovery (or any point in her recovery) who goes to the store and decides to steal lipstick. She may do this for a variety of reasons, but ultimately she knows and understands that stealing is wrong. At this point, she can go two ways. She can keep this secret out of shame. She can hold on to it, believing that in keeping the secret she’s minimizing the act of stealing and therefore doing herself a favor. Or she can, knowing from past experiences that keeping things like this hidden leads to worse shame and secrecy, share what she did with someone. Maybe she’ll tell multiple people. Maybe she’ll bring the lipstick back.
The key lies not in who, or how, she tells, but rather in the fact that she’s willing to achieve truth and honesty over secrecy. By this line of thinking, privacy is how the woman recognizes what she did is wrong, but not shameful, unless it’s left to fester in some corner of her mind. This is the same corner where everything she believes she shouldn’t have done goes to rot.
Secrecy, on the other hand, is the belief that we can do things that are so shameful that we must, at all costs, keep them to ourselves.
When looking at privacy vs. secrecy, we see that privacy is the recognition that we have a right to a personal life, but that there’s no shame in our actions. Privacy is when we’re willing to fully accept who we are, in all areas, without feeling compelled to hide some part of ourself. We might not talk about our battles with depression and anxiety to everyone we meet. Most likely, we aren’t going to broadcast our sex life or relationships everywhere (unless you’re a special breed of Facebook over-sharer!), but knowing that none of this carries any shame allows us to live a private life without the mask of secrecy.
by Fiona Stockard | Jun 25, 2014 | Addiction Articles, Recovery
Written By: Katie Schipper
Getting Over Depression and Anxiety in Early-Recovery
Giving up drugs and alcohol alters our brain chemistry. After all, drugs and booze serve as substitute chemicals, so the brain stops producing its natural ones. It’s going to take a little while for the brain to catch up.
If you go to treatment, there’s a good chance you’ll be put on an anti-depressant of some kind. For a lot of people, medication is a necessary part of recovery. Medication can be lifesaving. Depression and anxiety are often signs of substance abuse, as well as sources. What other tools are there to help ease depression and anxiety?
Exercise Can Ease Pain and Discomfort
Regular exercise is an often overlooked tool for recovery. It’s consistently proven to improve the work of medication, or to work in cases where medication isn’t necessary.
One of the pitfalls of early-sobriety is turning to other outlets in a desperate attempt to ease some of the pain and discomfort of being newly sober. If these outlets were healthy, it wouldn’t be a pitfall. Unfortunately, they usually take the form of co-dependent relationships, food, or other cross-addictions. The problem with these things is that, while they initially appear to be okay, in the longterm they cause harm in much the same way actively drinking and drugging does.
This is where healthy alternatives come into play and make no mistake, there are a lot of healthy alternatives. Exercise is only one of a laundry list. There’s also: new hobbies, meditation, seeking outside help and therapy, building new friendships, and so on. Exercise comes up first on so many lists because its benefits go beyond simply filling time.
Read about how some women get tattoos to deal with depression
Warding off Heath Problems from Addiction
Physically exercise prevents and cures a slew of health problems. It helps keep an increasingly unhealthy population away from heart disease and other preventable illnesses. For the alcoholic and addict in early-recovery, the most incredible benefit of exercise is its use as a natural anxiolytic and antidepressant. It’s important to remember that exercise can be used on its own or in addition to medication. If you take antidepressants, it’s not a good idea to quit without first consulting your doctor.
Is sex a healthy form of exercise?
Release the Endorphins!
On a medical level, exercise releases neurotransmitters and endorphins that are responsible for feeling good. Exercise can also reduce those chemicals responsible for depression. Socially, exercise can change how someone sees themselves. Anything that helps build self-esteem in early-sobriety is a huge plus!
Now, you don’t have to join a gym, start running marathons, or anything crazy. Exercise is as simple as going for a bike ride or walk. It can also become a lifelong hobby or passion, like doing yoga or taking up a sport. The great thing about finding an outlet which involves other people is that it helps ease some of the isolation that accompanies early-sobriety (and absolutely accompanies depression).
Regardless of brain chemistry or scientific research, exercise is a commonsense good idea! The evidence is clear for any woman who attempts to add exercise to her life. It changes energy levels, increases confidence, and the longer someone has an exercise routine, the more benefits manifest themselves. It’s an amazing, and often untapped, tool of early recovery.
