There is no definitely no danger in just reading about diets. But please, never undertake any diet without discussing its pros and cons with a qualified health care professional. You can really harm yourself if you don't take proper precautions. And don't expect to lose pound after pound quickly and effortlessly. Keeping these precautions in mind you are now ready to consider the Best Life Diet.
The Best Life Diet was created by Bob Greene, but it became popular thanks to Oprah Winfrey who used it to lose weight. This diet is composed of three phases, which progressively lead you to change your eating habits and engage in physical exercise. During Phase 1 you keep your previous eating habits but engage in physical exercise on a regular basis. In Phase 2 you start to change your eating habits and increase the intensity of your exercise sessions. In Phase 3 you maintain your weight thanks to those habits that you acquired in the previous phases.
Here are some of the Best Life Diet principles: During Phase 1 eat three meals a day including a good breakfast and perhaps a snack. Integrate athletic activity into your daily life. Don't eat within two hours of going to bed. Drink lots of water all day long and take supplements if necessary. In Phase 2 follow the good habits acquired in Phase 1 and increase your physical activities. Be sensitive to your hunger signals. Eat reasonable portions. Eliminate the following foods from your diet: carbonated drinks, foods with trans fats as often found in prepared dishes, fried foods, white bread and standard pasta, and whole milk products. Substitute them with whole grain bread and pasta and skim milk products. In Phase 3 continue to follow the principles of the preceding phases. Increase your level of athletic activity and your consumption of whole grain products. Make sure to reduce your consummation of sugar, salt, and saturated fats.
The advantages of the Best Life Diet may include a good lifestyle with balanced diet and the regular practice of one or more sports. One disadvantage is the necessity of becoming a member to obtain information from the diet web site. Another is the excessive strictness in excluding some foods forever.
Here is a sample menu, one to be followed during Phase 2 of this diet:
For breakfast have a bowl of whole grain cereal, twelve almonds, and a glass of milk. For lunch have a pita chicken sandwich, three broccoli flowers, and an orange. Your mid-afternoon snack is a yoghurt, twelve almonds, and two tangerines. Supper is a grilled steak accompanied by a green salad, two cups of green peas, and a potato.
----------------------------------------------------
Levi Reiss wrote or co-authored ten computer and Internet books and teaches computers at an Ontario French-language college. Visit his wine, diet, health, and nutrition website http://www.wineinyourdiet.com to check out his articles warning you about diet scams.
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Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Monday, November 4, 2013
Drug Addiction Recovery: Changing Your Life to Create Success
Drug addiction treatment programs are only a first step towards living a successful life in recovery. Successfully completing treatment and walking in recovery includes many steps, such as:
· Enrolling on an inpatient or outpatient treatment program for drug addiction.
· Completing the program.
· Taking part in some sort of relapse prevention program.
· Continued attendance at counseling sessions, therapy groups, and more.
Learning the necessary resources will encourage the person suffering from drug addiction to live a clean, sober, successful life. It is an essential part of the building blocks of the recovery process. Unfortunately, many people suffering from drug addiction will relapse in one way or another. There is no "cure" for drug addiction and anyone who has suffered is always at risk of falling back into their old, harmful ways.
Some people will find it extremely difficult to change their lives in the ways required in order to live a healthy life in successful recovery. It will almost certainly involve a change of friends, perhaps a change of address, certainly a change of habits -- in fact a whole new way of life. It is important for anyone who has undergone a drug addiction rehabilitation program to recognize the triggers which were involved at the beginning of the addiction and not fall into the same old traps.
Drug addiction is very often the result of other problems - it can be a person's way of dealing with stress, with loneliness, with a feeling of helplessness. This is why it is important for the person to move on with their lives and find some other method of coping should these familiar feelings start to recur.
The truth is that stopping the use of drugs does not cure you from being a drug addict. What really can help is for the person to create an entirely new life which does not involve drugs and makes falling back into drug use difficult. Without a new life, then the whole vicious circle is very likely to start over again in time. Studies show that after five years, the chances of going back to drug use is very rare; but those could be the most difficult five years of a person's life if they haven't put the correct procedures into place to ensure their success.
It really is about removing the triggers from your life, thereby not tempting fate, so to speak. Change is always easier said than done, even "good change" can be difficult to manage; but change is essential after drug addiction problems.
Changing Your Life to Create Success after Drug Addiction
· A new circle of friends and social life is essential after anyone has completed a drug addiction treatment program. All temptations and "bad influences" must be removed and kept away from a person suffering with drug addiction. This will, no doubt, be difficult to achieve as many people are drawn back to familiar faces and surroundings, but this really is a road to nowhere. One good idea is to take up new hobbies or learn new skills at classes or clubs - meeting new friends with a common interest can take up the time and efforts of a recovering addict.
· It may be necessary to move to a new house, or even a new neighborhood. Some people recovering from drug addiction may not simply be able to go back to the family home, build bridges, and a new, successful life.
· Some people recovering from drug addiction problems may need to find a new job. This is always easier said than done, but it is important that the addict fills their day with meaningful, useful tasks learning new skills, meeting new people, or earning a decent wage for themselves and their families.
· Honesty is one of the most important things which must be welcomed into the life of a patient in recovery. Living a lie did not get them very far in the first place, so they need to realize that it is one slippery slope which must be avoided at all costs. If nothing changes in their lives, then they will very quickly go back to their old habits.
After completing a drug addiction program, the addict really does have the opportunity for a fresh start, and with change and support, they can embrace that opportunity with open arms.
----------------------------------------------------
The Mission of Santé Center for Healing is to address addictive behaviors and associated conditions with an integrated gambling addiction treatment model, drawing from traditional and innovative approaches. Our services are open to individuals and families who seek recovery from addictive behaviors, with a focus on treating the addicted professional. Learn more at http://addictiontreatmentdfw.com/
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· Enrolling on an inpatient or outpatient treatment program for drug addiction.
· Completing the program.
· Taking part in some sort of relapse prevention program.
· Continued attendance at counseling sessions, therapy groups, and more.
Learning the necessary resources will encourage the person suffering from drug addiction to live a clean, sober, successful life. It is an essential part of the building blocks of the recovery process. Unfortunately, many people suffering from drug addiction will relapse in one way or another. There is no "cure" for drug addiction and anyone who has suffered is always at risk of falling back into their old, harmful ways.
Some people will find it extremely difficult to change their lives in the ways required in order to live a healthy life in successful recovery. It will almost certainly involve a change of friends, perhaps a change of address, certainly a change of habits -- in fact a whole new way of life. It is important for anyone who has undergone a drug addiction rehabilitation program to recognize the triggers which were involved at the beginning of the addiction and not fall into the same old traps.
Drug addiction is very often the result of other problems - it can be a person's way of dealing with stress, with loneliness, with a feeling of helplessness. This is why it is important for the person to move on with their lives and find some other method of coping should these familiar feelings start to recur.
The truth is that stopping the use of drugs does not cure you from being a drug addict. What really can help is for the person to create an entirely new life which does not involve drugs and makes falling back into drug use difficult. Without a new life, then the whole vicious circle is very likely to start over again in time. Studies show that after five years, the chances of going back to drug use is very rare; but those could be the most difficult five years of a person's life if they haven't put the correct procedures into place to ensure their success.
It really is about removing the triggers from your life, thereby not tempting fate, so to speak. Change is always easier said than done, even "good change" can be difficult to manage; but change is essential after drug addiction problems.
Changing Your Life to Create Success after Drug Addiction
· A new circle of friends and social life is essential after anyone has completed a drug addiction treatment program. All temptations and "bad influences" must be removed and kept away from a person suffering with drug addiction. This will, no doubt, be difficult to achieve as many people are drawn back to familiar faces and surroundings, but this really is a road to nowhere. One good idea is to take up new hobbies or learn new skills at classes or clubs - meeting new friends with a common interest can take up the time and efforts of a recovering addict.
· It may be necessary to move to a new house, or even a new neighborhood. Some people recovering from drug addiction may not simply be able to go back to the family home, build bridges, and a new, successful life.
· Some people recovering from drug addiction problems may need to find a new job. This is always easier said than done, but it is important that the addict fills their day with meaningful, useful tasks learning new skills, meeting new people, or earning a decent wage for themselves and their families.
· Honesty is one of the most important things which must be welcomed into the life of a patient in recovery. Living a lie did not get them very far in the first place, so they need to realize that it is one slippery slope which must be avoided at all costs. If nothing changes in their lives, then they will very quickly go back to their old habits.
After completing a drug addiction program, the addict really does have the opportunity for a fresh start, and with change and support, they can embrace that opportunity with open arms.
----------------------------------------------------
The Mission of Santé Center for Healing is to address addictive behaviors and associated conditions with an integrated gambling addiction treatment model, drawing from traditional and innovative approaches. Our services are open to individuals and families who seek recovery from addictive behaviors, with a focus on treating the addicted professional. Learn more at http://addictiontreatmentdfw.com/
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When The Real You Beckons
Do you feel it? Does it feel like something inside of you is urging you to do it? Urging you to come out of the "Spiritual Closet" to step beyond your defined norm. You see, I can speak to that and I have information that relates directly to you in this regard.
Yes, I am a single mom with two young men now who are ages 23 and 24. I've been the mom with a troubled teen who got into a life of drugs because he was trying to numb himself. He didn't want to feel all the things that resulted from him not being able to be himself, fully and truly and, the norms presented seemed so out of sorts for him that he just couldn't easily fit in.
I
've lived the life that so many have; divorced at 33 when my boys were 2 and 3 years old. I had built my corporate career from an administrative secretary earning around $25K to a senior business analyst in information technology earning around $133K. I had accomplished things that many single moms dreamed of accomplishing but just didn't think they could.
Along the way of my many adventures in living, the one thing that I had not made clear to the world was that I did have gifts. Yes, I call them gifts but modern psychology would label them as something else. When I was young one of those labels was "hypochondriac" because I would pick up on the ailments of others and by the time my mother would get me to the doctor, the ailment was gone. Of course it was, it wasn't mine but back then no one understood that these gifts that we came into this world with were actually just that; gifts.
When I speak in public now and share about my gifts, I see the glaze over many in the listening audience. I also feel the jolt that occurs within them when their soul recognizes the truth in what I'm saying. Typically I start out (after a brief introduction) by saying that yes, I am coming out of the spiritual closet; I hear voices.
There will always be skeptics and those are probably the people who were programmed to believe, just like we all were, that those things are nonsense or the result of watching too much TV. However, I believe that many who were programmed this way are just about ready to come out of their own spiritual closet. They're ready to stop denying their "whole" self. For too long we have fragmented ourselves out into "buckets of being." Always leaving out one of the most important parts; our spirit. Now, this spirit that I talk about is not founded in any religion but rather this is the spirit that we try to nurture and feed with religion or other beliefs. That spirit was given gifts to help up navigate this world, along with our body.
----------------------------------------------------
"Ingrid Geronimo is a resident expert for LifeBusinessGrowth. LBG utilizes a holistic approach" to educate women on how to successfully own a business, create wealth, nourish the soul & create a life they love! Visit http://lifebusinessgrowth.com for a free copy of Transcendent Women: The Most Coveted Secrets to Create Wealth, Live Your Purpose & Become a ROCKSTAR Entrepreneur.
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Yes, I am a single mom with two young men now who are ages 23 and 24. I've been the mom with a troubled teen who got into a life of drugs because he was trying to numb himself. He didn't want to feel all the things that resulted from him not being able to be himself, fully and truly and, the norms presented seemed so out of sorts for him that he just couldn't easily fit in.
I
've lived the life that so many have; divorced at 33 when my boys were 2 and 3 years old. I had built my corporate career from an administrative secretary earning around $25K to a senior business analyst in information technology earning around $133K. I had accomplished things that many single moms dreamed of accomplishing but just didn't think they could.
Along the way of my many adventures in living, the one thing that I had not made clear to the world was that I did have gifts. Yes, I call them gifts but modern psychology would label them as something else. When I was young one of those labels was "hypochondriac" because I would pick up on the ailments of others and by the time my mother would get me to the doctor, the ailment was gone. Of course it was, it wasn't mine but back then no one understood that these gifts that we came into this world with were actually just that; gifts.
When I speak in public now and share about my gifts, I see the glaze over many in the listening audience. I also feel the jolt that occurs within them when their soul recognizes the truth in what I'm saying. Typically I start out (after a brief introduction) by saying that yes, I am coming out of the spiritual closet; I hear voices.
There will always be skeptics and those are probably the people who were programmed to believe, just like we all were, that those things are nonsense or the result of watching too much TV. However, I believe that many who were programmed this way are just about ready to come out of their own spiritual closet. They're ready to stop denying their "whole" self. For too long we have fragmented ourselves out into "buckets of being." Always leaving out one of the most important parts; our spirit. Now, this spirit that I talk about is not founded in any religion but rather this is the spirit that we try to nurture and feed with religion or other beliefs. That spirit was given gifts to help up navigate this world, along with our body.
----------------------------------------------------
"Ingrid Geronimo is a resident expert for LifeBusinessGrowth. LBG utilizes a holistic approach" to educate women on how to successfully own a business, create wealth, nourish the soul & create a life they love! Visit http://lifebusinessgrowth.com for a free copy of Transcendent Women: The Most Coveted Secrets to Create Wealth, Live Your Purpose & Become a ROCKSTAR Entrepreneur.
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Saturday, November 2, 2013
Time Management Tips - Use This Simple Exercise To Explore Double Messages And Free Your Time
Time management tips depend upon you to focus your full energies on a desired outcome. But all too often, you may find yourself of two minds about what you genuinely wish to do. What then?
In those cases, all the traditional time management tips in the world may not help you move forward. But that is no reason to give up. When you explore double messages, you begin a rewarding journey to reclaim those precious hours.
1. Don't Give Up - Look Back to Move Forward.
When you can't make sense of your time choices, perhaps you are simply working off of messages you received as a child. Why not take a few minutes to decipher these puzzling patterns? The insights are beneficial - especially if you enjoy replacing outmoded habits with more rewarding choices.
For this chronological makeover, you may need more than an accurate memory. You need to identify when words and actions don't match up. Did Mom and Dad always do what they said was most important? Or more often than not, did "What I do" bear no relation to "What I say"? Exploring your legacy of contradictions can improve your life greatly.
2. A Mixed Message Hits the Hardest..
For example, perhaps your father instructed you to make use of your time in one way but in fact his choices had no relation to what he advised.. How did you feel then, and what are your feelings about it now? Conflicting messages that confused you as a child can easily lead to "disconnects" in later life. And these mismatched impressions lead to painful, lost opportunities. Happily, you possess the ability to resolve these conflicts and redirect your energies in a coordinated way.. Better still, you have the power to make a significant move for the better right now.!
3. Double Message Exercise Brings Double Benefits.
A. Think of an example where you really wrestle with matching your time choices with your expressed values.
B. Now, recall a time during your childhood when someone you looked up to said one thing about time but did something quite different.
C. Jot down the message and the mismatched action.
D. Record how you felt about this at the time.
E. Compare and contrast your present struggle with what you witnessed others doing when you were young.
F. What's the same? What differs? What of patterns do you see? Patterns always tell tales.
G. Once you've discerned the gap between what is said and what is done, seek wisdom from your heart.
H. What insights can you gain from considering your parents' histories that will strengthen your capacity for change right now??
I. Which occurrences in prior years limit your understanding of what you are capable of??
J. Envision a path opening before you - one that leads to more rewarding time choices. Make this image as vivid as possible, so you can really experience your progress on this path. This simple exercise can free you to write a new life script for yourself..
K. Finally, visualize walking this path and aligning deeds with words. What do you need to give yourself? What is your first step?
Engaging in this exercise enriches your possibilities in at least two ways. It is essential that you bring gentle acceptance and full awareness to any time choices you once made that worked against you.. Empathy feels so much better! Second, you possess a stronger ability to change a troubling time choice, once you understand its roots.
----------------------------------------------------
And to energize and mobilize yourself, sign up for our free Finding Time Success Kit, with "The New Finding Time Boundary Template: 9 Steps to Find More Time & Recharge Your Energy!" at http://thetimeschool.com/SuccessKit
This time template plus workbook will help you move beyond disappointment, and overwhelm. You'll find 24 hours really are enough!
Offered to you by Paula Eder, the Time Finder Expert.
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=343714
In those cases, all the traditional time management tips in the world may not help you move forward. But that is no reason to give up. When you explore double messages, you begin a rewarding journey to reclaim those precious hours.
1. Don't Give Up - Look Back to Move Forward.
When you can't make sense of your time choices, perhaps you are simply working off of messages you received as a child. Why not take a few minutes to decipher these puzzling patterns? The insights are beneficial - especially if you enjoy replacing outmoded habits with more rewarding choices.
For this chronological makeover, you may need more than an accurate memory. You need to identify when words and actions don't match up. Did Mom and Dad always do what they said was most important? Or more often than not, did "What I do" bear no relation to "What I say"? Exploring your legacy of contradictions can improve your life greatly.
2. A Mixed Message Hits the Hardest..
For example, perhaps your father instructed you to make use of your time in one way but in fact his choices had no relation to what he advised.. How did you feel then, and what are your feelings about it now? Conflicting messages that confused you as a child can easily lead to "disconnects" in later life. And these mismatched impressions lead to painful, lost opportunities. Happily, you possess the ability to resolve these conflicts and redirect your energies in a coordinated way.. Better still, you have the power to make a significant move for the better right now.!
3. Double Message Exercise Brings Double Benefits.
A. Think of an example where you really wrestle with matching your time choices with your expressed values.
B. Now, recall a time during your childhood when someone you looked up to said one thing about time but did something quite different.
C. Jot down the message and the mismatched action.
D. Record how you felt about this at the time.
E. Compare and contrast your present struggle with what you witnessed others doing when you were young.
F. What's the same? What differs? What of patterns do you see? Patterns always tell tales.
G. Once you've discerned the gap between what is said and what is done, seek wisdom from your heart.
H. What insights can you gain from considering your parents' histories that will strengthen your capacity for change right now??
I. Which occurrences in prior years limit your understanding of what you are capable of??
J. Envision a path opening before you - one that leads to more rewarding time choices. Make this image as vivid as possible, so you can really experience your progress on this path. This simple exercise can free you to write a new life script for yourself..
K. Finally, visualize walking this path and aligning deeds with words. What do you need to give yourself? What is your first step?
Engaging in this exercise enriches your possibilities in at least two ways. It is essential that you bring gentle acceptance and full awareness to any time choices you once made that worked against you.. Empathy feels so much better! Second, you possess a stronger ability to change a troubling time choice, once you understand its roots.
----------------------------------------------------
And to energize and mobilize yourself, sign up for our free Finding Time Success Kit, with "The New Finding Time Boundary Template: 9 Steps to Find More Time & Recharge Your Energy!" at http://thetimeschool.com/SuccessKit
This time template plus workbook will help you move beyond disappointment, and overwhelm. You'll find 24 hours really are enough!
Offered to you by Paula Eder, the Time Finder Expert.
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=343714
Relapse Prevention: Putting a Plan in Place to Achieve Success
Relapse prevention is a very important part of successfully living a life of recovery. The moment someone decides that they must quit drugs, drinking, gambling or some other behavior they have made, comes the first, very important step - but it is only the first step. Admission of an addiction can mark an important chapter of change in the life of a patient, but there is still a long journey to recovery.
Relapse prevention planning can be a life-line along the journey. Understanding where pitfalls lay, and how to recognize potential danger signs and avoid them, is a very important part of a continued recovery. In fact, relapse prevention is something which is vital not only for the recovering addict but also for the family and friends. It's about thinking ahead, approaching situations with a degree of confidence and knowing that there are plans in place to avoid speed bumps on the rough road ahead.
Making Recovery the Goal
Addiction can cause all sorts of problems, not only for the addict but for the family too. It's true what they say, addiction really is an ailment for the whole family and everyone is affected by the addiction problems of a loved one - which is why it is so important for the family to be involved and knowledgeable about the relapse prevention plan. Living with a recovering addict is not an easy thing to do, and family members can often feel like they spend their life walking around on eggshells, constantly having to predict the mood of the recovering addict and trying to diffuse potential situations.
Remember that the goal of the exercise is recovery, and once that goal is reached then life will be a lot more stable for everybody concerned. It's all about having a relapse prevention plan and putting that plan in place when things get rough.
The Relapse Prevention Plan - Reasons for Relapse
A relapse prevention plan should include everyone involved knowing when and why relapses are most likely to occur. When alcoholics relapse they do not suddenly get drunk - there are warning signs and situations in which they are most likely to be tempted to relapse. It is important for everyone involved in the relapse prevention plan to understand these warning signs:
• A person suffering from addiction may begin to feel bored and lonely, become more withdrawn and want to spend time alone.
• The recovering addict may become increasingly irritated and your relationships may become even more strained than usual.
• They may begin to act impulsively when under stress, which only causes more stress.
• They may try to impose abstinence on you, or other members of the family and friends.
• They may begin to feel increasingly sorry for themselves.
• They may begin to believe that they have recovered and do not need to take part in a relapse prevention plan any more because they simply feel they do not need it - which may lead them to reject help from those around them and stop attending counseling and support groups.
When are Relapses Most Likely to Happen
Anyone who is heavily involved in the life of a recovering addict needs to know when relapses are most likely to occur in order to help with a relapse prevention plan. Here are some interesting statistics:
• Around 65 percent of all relapses occur in the first three months - this statistic is the same for drugs, alcohol, gambling, diets, and smoking. The first three months after treatment are the most dangerous period for anyone recovering from addition - and the most difficult to deal with.
• During this first three months the addict may experience poor concentration and memory or over-react to stressful situations. This could be the cause of the relapse.
• The longer the addict can manage without relapse the easier it will become. You must not, however, underestimate the importance of stress management during this period of the relapse prevention plan, being unable to handle stress is one of the major factors for relapse to occur.
The Relapse Prevention Plan - Helping Recovering Addicts to Avoid Relapse
Family support is the biggest asset to a relapse prevention plan. This means the family should expect to:
• Help and encourage the addict to handle any daily problems or feelings as they happen - this decreases the chance that stress will build to unmanageable levels. For the majority of those suffering from addiction, stress is an intense trigger that only gets worse the longer they avoid dealing with the problem in the first place.
• Help those in recovery to keep their (and your) life in balance. Those dealing with addiction should be encouraged to find methods of balancing work with relaxation. It may be challenging to have fun with friends and family without the use of alcohol in the beginning, but the challenges are worth it. Small, daily pleasures can be a very important part of any relapse prevention plan. Something as simple as taking a walk, reading a book or taking up a new hobby can all be very useful.
• A healthy diet is also an important part of the road to recovery and relapse prevention. Make sure that the recovering addict eats plenty of vegetables, fruit, cheese, fish, meat, breads etc. Some foods can trigger cravings and should be avoided. Foods which are rich in Vitamin B can help to reduce alcohol cravings. While coffee, soft drinks containing caffeine, and eating too much sugar can make a person tense. It is also very important that those in recovery not eat anything at all which has even the smallest amount of alcohol - make sure not to add wine, beer, cider, port, or anything else to cooked meals.
• Identify any potentially high risk situations and have an action plan ready. High risk situations are anywhere the addict may be tempted to drink alcohol, gamble, or use drugs. Make sure that you have a variety of ways in which to handle these situations and, if you notice the addict becoming uncomfortable at all, be prepared to leave the situation immediately - whether it's a family celebration, work party or a neighbor's barbecue.
Once the first three months have passed it will start to get easier, but even so, these relapse prevention techniques must become a way of life.
----------------------------------------------------
The Mission of Santé Center for Healing is to address addictive behaviors and associated conditions with an integrated drug addiction and replapse prevention treatment model.Services are open to those who seek recovery from addictive behaviors,with a focus on the addicted professional.http://www.santecenter.com
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=345823
Relapse prevention planning can be a life-line along the journey. Understanding where pitfalls lay, and how to recognize potential danger signs and avoid them, is a very important part of a continued recovery. In fact, relapse prevention is something which is vital not only for the recovering addict but also for the family and friends. It's about thinking ahead, approaching situations with a degree of confidence and knowing that there are plans in place to avoid speed bumps on the rough road ahead.
Making Recovery the Goal
Addiction can cause all sorts of problems, not only for the addict but for the family too. It's true what they say, addiction really is an ailment for the whole family and everyone is affected by the addiction problems of a loved one - which is why it is so important for the family to be involved and knowledgeable about the relapse prevention plan. Living with a recovering addict is not an easy thing to do, and family members can often feel like they spend their life walking around on eggshells, constantly having to predict the mood of the recovering addict and trying to diffuse potential situations.
Remember that the goal of the exercise is recovery, and once that goal is reached then life will be a lot more stable for everybody concerned. It's all about having a relapse prevention plan and putting that plan in place when things get rough.
The Relapse Prevention Plan - Reasons for Relapse
A relapse prevention plan should include everyone involved knowing when and why relapses are most likely to occur. When alcoholics relapse they do not suddenly get drunk - there are warning signs and situations in which they are most likely to be tempted to relapse. It is important for everyone involved in the relapse prevention plan to understand these warning signs:
• A person suffering from addiction may begin to feel bored and lonely, become more withdrawn and want to spend time alone.
• The recovering addict may become increasingly irritated and your relationships may become even more strained than usual.
• They may begin to act impulsively when under stress, which only causes more stress.
• They may try to impose abstinence on you, or other members of the family and friends.
• They may begin to feel increasingly sorry for themselves.
• They may begin to believe that they have recovered and do not need to take part in a relapse prevention plan any more because they simply feel they do not need it - which may lead them to reject help from those around them and stop attending counseling and support groups.
When are Relapses Most Likely to Happen
Anyone who is heavily involved in the life of a recovering addict needs to know when relapses are most likely to occur in order to help with a relapse prevention plan. Here are some interesting statistics:
• Around 65 percent of all relapses occur in the first three months - this statistic is the same for drugs, alcohol, gambling, diets, and smoking. The first three months after treatment are the most dangerous period for anyone recovering from addition - and the most difficult to deal with.
• During this first three months the addict may experience poor concentration and memory or over-react to stressful situations. This could be the cause of the relapse.
• The longer the addict can manage without relapse the easier it will become. You must not, however, underestimate the importance of stress management during this period of the relapse prevention plan, being unable to handle stress is one of the major factors for relapse to occur.
The Relapse Prevention Plan - Helping Recovering Addicts to Avoid Relapse
Family support is the biggest asset to a relapse prevention plan. This means the family should expect to:
• Help and encourage the addict to handle any daily problems or feelings as they happen - this decreases the chance that stress will build to unmanageable levels. For the majority of those suffering from addiction, stress is an intense trigger that only gets worse the longer they avoid dealing with the problem in the first place.
• Help those in recovery to keep their (and your) life in balance. Those dealing with addiction should be encouraged to find methods of balancing work with relaxation. It may be challenging to have fun with friends and family without the use of alcohol in the beginning, but the challenges are worth it. Small, daily pleasures can be a very important part of any relapse prevention plan. Something as simple as taking a walk, reading a book or taking up a new hobby can all be very useful.
• A healthy diet is also an important part of the road to recovery and relapse prevention. Make sure that the recovering addict eats plenty of vegetables, fruit, cheese, fish, meat, breads etc. Some foods can trigger cravings and should be avoided. Foods which are rich in Vitamin B can help to reduce alcohol cravings. While coffee, soft drinks containing caffeine, and eating too much sugar can make a person tense. It is also very important that those in recovery not eat anything at all which has even the smallest amount of alcohol - make sure not to add wine, beer, cider, port, or anything else to cooked meals.
• Identify any potentially high risk situations and have an action plan ready. High risk situations are anywhere the addict may be tempted to drink alcohol, gamble, or use drugs. Make sure that you have a variety of ways in which to handle these situations and, if you notice the addict becoming uncomfortable at all, be prepared to leave the situation immediately - whether it's a family celebration, work party or a neighbor's barbecue.
Once the first three months have passed it will start to get easier, but even so, these relapse prevention techniques must become a way of life.
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The Mission of Santé Center for Healing is to address addictive behaviors and associated conditions with an integrated drug addiction and replapse prevention treatment model.Services are open to those who seek recovery from addictive behaviors,with a focus on the addicted professional.http://www.santecenter.com
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