What Is “Rock Bottom”?

Difficult periods come and go throughout the spectrum of life. One minute you’re up… the next you’re down. Sometimes we end up a little further down than anticipated. Sometimes the result is “rock bottom”. 

For some people, hitting this point serves as the wake-up call needed to turn their life around. This far down, the only way out is up. In this entry, we will discuss some common signs of “rock bottom” to help promote a safe and stealthy recovery.

1 – Loss of employment. With most Americans living paycheck to paycheck, losing a job often means a loss of the necessities required for survival, ie. shelter, clothing and food!

2 – Loss of friends and family. After a long enough period, you may begin finding yourself alienated from friends and family members. Your loved ones may find it difficult watching someone self-destruct and pull away to the hurt.

3 – Loss of property. The repossession of furniture items, a vehicle or home can be a sobering experience indeed. Some addicts may even steal or pawn items to get by each month.

4 – Loss of confidence. The events leading up to “rock bottom” can often take a toll on the individual’s physical, mental and emotional health. Common symptoms include stress, depression, insomnia and anxiety. Such afflictions can immobilize a person, making it difficult to complete routine tasks, such as eating, leaving bed, basic hygiene upkeep, etc.

Are you there?

If you've hit bottom, AboveItAllTreatment.com is the site for you! Visit today, and get started on the trek back towards the healthy, happy, fulfilling lifestyle you've been missing. 

Do I Have A Prescription Addiction?

Prescription drug abuse is not uncommon. What begins as a physician prescribed pain management solution may quickly lead to a full-blown addiction, impacting relationships, employment, finances and health. In this entry, we will provide you with a few tips to help recognize a prescription pill addiction.

1 – It is important to understand that this type of addiction is not limited to any one type of pill. In fact, recent studies have uncovered that many OTC medications can also lead to addictive problems. When it comes to abuse and dependency, no pill or substance should be underestimated.

2 – One of the main ways to determine a prescription drug addiction is a growing tolerance for the substance they are taking. When a users begins to develop a tolerance, they must use more of the substance in question to achieve the desired effect.

3 – Prescription drug addicts will often exhibit from poor performance at school and/or work. A once well organized individual may begin losing the ability to perform at the same level.

4 – Interest levels in activities or hobbies once held dear may begin to wane. Individuals who once interacted with others on a regular basis may alienate themselves and become withdrawn.

5 – Prolonged drug addiction may ultimately begin to impact healthy legal and relationship statuses.

6 – Wild mood swings. Not just a bad day…

7 – Financial troubles are common in those who are drug dependent… Whether due to habit support or general irresponsibility.

Need Help?

Ready to get sober? Visit AboveItAllTreatment.com today! 

Living With An Addictive Personality

Once viewed as a psychological disorder of gluttony and excess, addiction has come to light as a physiological disease rooted deep in the brain chemistry and wiring. Though there is no cure for addiction, a number of therapies and treatments have proven effective in addressing addictive behaviors and compulsions. However, it is important to educate oneself regarding the complexity and difficulty of these behaviors before treatment can offer any hope of success.

1 – Self-awareness is key to combating an addictive personality. Keeping in tune with behaviors actions and reactions will create a base from which to create a healthy, happy, and sober lifestyle. Understanding which triggers – chemical, emotional, psychical - to look for and avoid will help ensure consistency, while keeping temptation at arms length.

2 – Communication is yet another ally in the fight towards recovery. Addicts must face a lifelong struggle in addressing negative compulsions, and as with any battle, one should not fight alone. Family, friends and significant others should be kept in the loop and made aware of the situation to ensure the best interests of the addict are promoted and upheld. The more people you have on your team, the better chance of success.

3 – Because addition is a lifelong affliction, perseverance is essential to success. Bouts of sadness and difficulty are all but certain, but the understanding that these times are temporary is paramount to a continued recovery.

You may trip. You may fall. So long as you pick yourself up, you will not fail. 

Need Help?

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol, Above It All alcohol & drug treatment center is the place to call. Pick up the phone today, and let our team of addiction specialists help you back on track towards the healthy, happy, and fulfilling lifestyle you’ve been missing. 

A Vision For You

”Now and then a serious drinker, being dry at the moment says, “I don’t miss it at all. Feel better. Work better. Having a better time.” As ex-problem drinkers, we smile at such a sally. We know our friend is like a boy whistling in the dark to keep up his spirits. He fools himself. Inwardly he would give anything to take half a dozen drinks and get away with them. He will presently try the old game again, for he isn’t happy about his sobriety. He cannot picture life without alcohol. Some day he will be unable to imagine life either with alcohol or without it.Then he will know loneliness such as few do. He will be at the jumping –off place. He will wish for the end.”-pg. 152 from the chapter “a Vision For You” from the Big Book of Alcohol Anonymous

 

Most of us can relate to the idea of white knuckling it when it comes to our sobriety and receiving detox. Some of us need to “act as if” or “fake it until we make it” in order to stay sober in the beginning or even at times when we are dry. Through the help of AboveItAll, AA, or other forms addiction recovery we acquire the tools we need to stay sober long term. It’s okay that we are like the boy whistling in the dark as long as we stay sober through it and are able to turn things over and do the work. After all it is the hard times that show us we can stay sober through anything as long as we remain willing and dedicated to this way of living.

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.