Here is the Addiction Blog RoundUp for this week. I found some interesting tidbits this week, I hope you enjoy them!
The Best Kind of Before and After
Now here is a great idea and a visual reminder of why you want to stay sober. I often talk to clients about tangible reminders: the sticky note on the mirror; the list taped to the fridge; or the gratitude message stuck to the side of the computer screen. Today, Unpickled is talking about pictures and putting an old one and a current one side by side as a reminder. Great post!
Over at There’s More to Me Than This, the post this week is about perspective. Her view is that when she was drinking, she lacked perspective. She also noted that once she had been sober for a time, she had a different viewpoint. I think that holding on to the different viewpoint, the one you have when you have been sober for a time, is one of the things that can help to keep you on the right path.
‘What Does a Person Need in Their Environment in Order to Recover?’ by Mark Ragins
David Clark over at Recovery Stories has a great video and a text synopsis posted this week about recovery environments. His focus is on mental health issues specifically but I think it is a great fit for addiction recovery as well.
Denial is a Way to Cope for Parents of Addicts and Alcoholics
This is a guest post on the Parent Pathway blog. The discussion is about adolescent substance use, denial on the part of the family, and early intervention. Will Wooten writes:
“…every day we are dealing with families that, even though they are in the midst of crisis, fail to see these behaviors and warning signs for what they are. Denial, this hugely destructive force, can hamper effective treatment at any point in the process.”
As I was reading the post, I was thinking that the points all apply to adults who are struggling with addiction issues and their family members as well. Early intervention is better, follow through is critical, and that new ways of thinking and interacting must be adopted. It is a good reminder of the importance of family treatment as well as individual treatment when addictions are involved.
The Benefits of Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude
Finally, in honor of the season here in the U.S., we have a reminder to be grateful. Dan Mager is writing on his Some Assembly Required blog over on the Psychology Today website about the benefits of connecting with gratitude on a regular basis, not just at this time of year. He talks about practicing the skill of being grateful with gratitude lists and gratitude letters. I often suggest to clients that keeping a gratitude list is a helpful way to change your thinking even if you only list one thing every day. Another sticky note for the mirror.
That’s all for this week. Have a great weekend!
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or codependency issues, Contact me today to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation to talk about how we can work together or find the right person for you.
[retweet]