Self-Reliance

“Wasn't it because self-reliance failed us? Self-reliance was good as far as it went, but it didn't go far enough. Some of us once had great self-confidence, but it didn't fully solve the fear problem, or any other. When it made us cocky, it was worse. Perhaps there is a better way - we think so. For we are now on a different basis; the basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity. We never apologize to anyone for depending upon our Creator. We can laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness. Paradoxically, it is the way of strength. The verdict of the ages is that faith means courage. All men of faith have courage. They trust their God. We never apologize for God. Instead we let Him demonstrate, through us, what He can do. We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. At once, we commence to outgrow fear.” - pg. 68 from The Big Book Of Alcoholics Anonymous

Most of us were used to living a life based on self-reliance prior to receiving alcohol and drug rehab. For us it was a means of survival and self-preservation. Many of us had lost our faith in a higher power and therefor were left to fend for ourselves in every area of our lives even emotionally. Self-reliance was all that most of us knew until we went to places such as a drug addiction detox, AA, or Above It All. Once we got help most of us were able to start building relationships with people and began learning how to rely on and trust others again. Through doing this work many of us were able to form a similar relationship over time with a higher power. When this happened we were able to see what Gods will was versus our will as well as the benefits, and freedom that come from having conscious contact with a power greater than ourselves that we can turn things over to.

Remaining Diligent in Recovery

“Of course all A.A.'s, even the best, fall far short of such achievements as a consistent thing. Without necessarily taking that first drink, we often get quite far off the beam. Our troubles sometimes begin with indifference. We are sober and happy in our A.A. work. Things go well at home and office. We naturally congratulate ourselves on what later proves to be a far too easy and superficial point of view. We temporarily cease to grow because we feel satisfied that there is no need for all of A.A.'s Twelve Steps for us. We are doing fine on a few of them. Maybe we are doing fine on only two of them, the First Step and that part of the Twelfth where we "carry the message." In A.A. slang, that blissful state is known as "two-stepping." And it can go on for years. The best-intentioned of us can fall for the "two-step" illusion. Sooner or later the pink cloud stage wears off and things go disappointingly dull. We begin to think that A.A. doesn't pay off after all. We become puzzled and discouraged.  Then perhaps life, as it has a way of doing, suddenly hands us a great big lump that we can't begin to swallow, let alone digest. We fail to get a worked-for promotion. We lose that good job. Maybe there are serious domestic or romantic difficulties, or perhaps that boy we thought God was looking after becomes a military casualty.”- From the chapter on Step Twelve from the AA Twelve and Twelve

When we first receive alcohol rehab  through going to a drug addiction detox, AA, or Above It All Treatment Center many of us have the desperation needed to do the work in order to stay sober. As time goes by, we begin to feel better and get wonderful, busy lives as a result of the hard work we have done in recovery. We start to rest on our laurels sometimes without even being aware of it. While many of us can skate by for a little bit on service work, the fact is that it usually catches up to us and at some point we end up feeling like our world is crashing down around us, and we end up robbing ourselves of the gifts that come from having emotional sobriety. It is up to us to realize we get out what we put in and to remain diligent in our recovery process.

Paying For Your Recovery – Tips & Tricks

When the casual drink turns into a more serious issue, intervention and treatment options may be required. Unfortunately, many alcoholics do no possess the necessary funds to obtain the help they require. Proper budgeting and debt avoidance are crucial when considering rehab payment options to reduce financial burdens following recovery.

1 – Choose and contact Above It All treatment center to learn more about our financing options and total cost of treatment. Take notes during the conversation for reference purposes.

2 – Contact your insurance provider (if you have one) to determine whether they offer coverage for alcohol rehab. If they do, be sure to inquire as to what your out-of-pocket expense and co-payments might be. Jot down your findings in your log.

3 – Assess precisely how much expendable cash you have available in your savings and checking accounts. Subtract the cost of treatment from your total amount to determine the difference.

4 – If you are lacking insurance coverage, you can still apply for public assistance to help cover the expenses associated with your recovery. Eligibility is restricted in some areas, so it’s important to double-check your area requirements.

5 – Like most of us, you probably have a bunch of material possessions around the house serving little-to-no purpose. Rummage through your closets, garage and spare bedrooms, and make a list of items you can sell to raise some extra funds.

6 – If you currently have a job, begin requesting overtime to earn extra income.

7 – Luxuries are expendable. If you’re truly serious about your recovery, you can go without A&E’s Intervention marathon and fast food. This is your life. Invest wisely.

Kicking Substance Abuse and Getting Help

"No one has ever regretted getting sober" ~ McKay

via Above it All Treatment