Taking Responsibility for your Choices

Part of taking responsibility for your choices is being honest with yourself first and then honest with others around you. The honest part seems to be the hardest thing to tackle when you have become accustomed during your addiction to hide everything with lies. Part of taking responsibility of ones choices is taking owner ship of the choices made in ones life. Ultimately, our choices in life are just that – OUR choices and no one else’s regardless if they are good or bad. It is easy to point fingers blaming others for our bad choices in life and only taking ownership of the good.

By staying honest with yourself in your recovery, you can make healthier choices. If you cannot be honest with yourself, there is no way you can be honest with others. Taking responsibility for your choices in life becomes a much easier thing to do if those choices can be backed up by the fact that you were just being true to yourself.


If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Illusion of Recovery

A common denominator with all addicts is a sense of low to no self-confidence. The illusion gaining that self-confidence as soon as they enter a treatment center is just that. It doesn’t happen over night!

Like many who enter into addiction recovery, the thought is as soon as they stop using their drug of choice there was to be some sort of huge change in their life. That with recovery they would immediately become “normal” again.

The reality of it is, the only thing that has really changed is that you made the decision not to use drugs any longer and nothing other than that is going to change unless you actively seek to make those changes happen. The same internal and external problems you had before your addiction started are still there and it is up to you to realize that in order to make improvements in your life you need to begin to modify bad behaviors and work through issues.

Things that you may been oblivious to during your addiction can be rearing their ugly head such as habitual lying, stealing, procrastination, bad work ethics, financial irresponsibility, poor hygiene, lazy sloth behavior, self-absorption, etc. These are just a few of the bad behaviors that can develop quickly while addicted and unfortunately carry through even after no longer using. Facing that you have any of these bad behaviors can quickly dimension any of the self-confidence you may have built up during treatment.

If you are not careful, this line of thinking can lead you into a viscous circle of self-mental abuse, which leads to even lower self-confidence, which will lead to you not doing anything to make the necessary changes for improvement. When you see yourself exhibiting a bad behavior, take charge of it like you did you’re your addiction. Use your support people to help you if they see you displaying such behaviors to redirect you. Talk to a therapist and work through issues that may still be present. Just because you worked with counselors and therapist during treatment does not mean everything has been worked through. Some may require therapy for years afterward to get to a health emotional balance.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Recovery or Addiction? Which do you think?

Along your road of recovery, you may ask yourself “Am I still in recovery or am I just kidding myself?”

A 50-year old woman started using drugs when she was 13. She partied her childhood away and by the time she was 20 she was using needles mainlining heroin, morphine, etc that she could get her hands on. Quaalude's became a big part of her drug rapport. He was hooked on opiate and then was introduced to Oxycontin. As her age increased, she found she just couldn’t “do it” any more and found a methadone clinic. That was 10 years ago. To date, she is still relying on meth to make it through each day and feels she will be on it till the day she dies. Now the question is, is she an addict or is she in recovery? I would like to hear what you all have to say.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Staying in an Unhealthy Relationship in Treatment and Recovery.

Many people in treatment may find out that the person they were involved during their time of use was not healthy and will break off that relationship. That is a positive move in recovery. However, some, even knowing the relationship was not a healthy one may hang on to the relationship. Some do so because they fear they will not find another, others do thinking that after treatment the relationship will change. If the partner also used or is still currently using, they may think that their recovery will encourage the other to seek treatment and they will live happily ever after in recovery. In some cases this does happen, however, if they do not reach out while you are still in treatment for their own treatment, going back to that situation is only a huge danger zone to your recovery. It simply isn’t worth the risk. Some stay out of fear of being lonely. While in treatment, you should discuss these things with your therapist. Make sure, if you are staying in a relationship that could jeopardize your treatment that it is seriously worth the risk.

The dynamics of your relationship prior to recovery plays a huge role in what is or was a healthy relationship. Just because your partner was clean of drugs and alcohol abuse or addiction while you were the sole user doesn’t always mean it is a healthy relationship. The person is more than likely co-dependent and in the very least should see counseling to learn how to live with a person in recovery, visit their possible co-dependency, and deal with that.


If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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What gives you hope?

In a hopes of drawing more people into sharing either their battle with addiction, recovery, co-dependency, or struggles even a family member is dealing with or has dealt with in a loved ones addiction, I am changing the venue of the blogs. I can write about the various drugs and their effects all day long. But it is the heart felt words of those who have dealt with various addictions in various degrees that really bring the true strength of hope. And with that, I ask, what gives you hope?

You know those days, when the road seems rougher then most. The days it takes every last bit of strength you have in you to even crawl out of bed. When the light that was shinning pretty bright is now flickering. What gives you the hope, the strength, and the power you need to pull thorough and stay on the road of recovery?

It is different for all. Some it may be the smile of their child’s eyes for others it may be the good book, and others may only need to reflect on the yesterdays and achieve all the strength and hope they need to face the day in a positive light. What is it that gives you that extra boost to make you face life head on and continue to take those steps forward?


If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Do you have a Strong Personal Support Network?

When referencing a personal support network, I am not referring to just your counselors and support groups. I am talking about a personal support network that will help you connect with the world outside of treatment. Having a strong personal support network is imperative part of your transition to your new drug free life.

While attending an addiction treatment program you will need support during and after the treatment process. By doing so only increase your chances of a successful recovery. Having people who care about you and your recovery give you the outlet needed to be able to go out and enjoy what the world has to offer without the worry of being put into situations that are not conducive to your goal of staying clean. This helps lowers the risks of relapse as well. .

When entering a treatment program you will have many emotions to deal with - emotions that you have kept hidden by your drug/alcohol use. As these emotions begin to arise, you will begin to think about various things you did to friends and family members that you regret – lying, stealing, and hurting those close to you in various other ways. Because of your past actions while you were using, you may feel you have alienated yourself from any outside support. You may feel like you have burnt all your bridges and do not deserve the support from these individuals anyhow. And more than likely you are uncomfortable in asking for support for fear of being rejected

With all these negatives thoughts, you have to stay positive about your recovery goal. During your time in the treatment program is the perfect time to speak to your counselors about these feelings and to work through them. The relationships that have been strained due to your drug or alcohol addiction are going to take time to heal, and in some situations, they may not ever heal. However, there are still other avenues to pursue to find a strong support network.
Leaders of your religious community such as ministers, rabbi’s, priest, deacons, etc.

• Family members still open to communication
• Good friends that have your best interest in mind.
• People at work in which you have connected with that have your best interest in mind.
• People from organizations you belong to such as your local gym that you can connect with doing fun things yet with your recovery in mind.

Approach people you would like to support you by being direct and honest and simple ask for what type of support you are seeking. Maybe it is just a companion to attend events with such as movies or other enjoyable activities. Maybe it is someone to go to church with you. Or maybe what you may seek in a support person is someone to just take a walk or drive with to talk over things tat are going on with you at the moment. By having others around you also gives you the opportunity to support back or learn how to be supportive. Often during the vicious cycle of addiction, many lose the basic qualities it takes to be a friend and by having a large support network, those qualities that you are lacking in can be learned or refined by a strong support network as well.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Patience is a Vertue

During your recovery process, you may find yourself short in patience with yourself and others. You may expect things to happen more quickly then they are and find yourself frustrated by the process at times. These are normal emotions to have however, your response to these emotions are crucial to your sobriety. Pre-recovery, when faced with strong emotions, the first thing one did was to drown them in their drug of choice. What the recovery process is trying to teach you is healthy ways to deal or cope with the strong feelings you will have along the way and throughout your life in general.

It is important for you to learn to have patience with all things but even more so with yourself. You have to keep the faith and the courage to follow through, accepting your imperfections and setting plans to fix the ones that hold you back. Each day is anew, new challenges, and new gains. You have heard the saying “change doesn’t happen overnight” and in recovery, change can be ever going. The best changes start with a single thought and then active support and forward movement from then on, one-step at a time, one day at a time.


If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Accomplishing your dreams and hopes

Everyone has dreams and hopes for their future. Those in recovery have a whole newfound set of dreams and hopes. Once clouded by their addiction, dreams and hopes were deep buried, thought unattainable, or purely non-existent. Like the Christmas song “Put One Foot in Front Of Another” from the Christmas animation “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, the first step in achieving anything is making that first step towards it. You already have begun that by getting help with your addiction and maintaining a clean recovery.

Regardless of what your dreams or hopes are - may they be big or small; in order to achieve it you must act on it. You can sit back and write down your dreams and hopes, but if you do not take them any further than that, they will never materialize. Say your dream is go back to school, just looking at the courses offered does not take you over the gap of dream into action to accomplishment. However, when you actively enroll in a class you took that first step towards achievement. Now you just need to keep stepping towards that goal.

Two things hold people back from achieving dreams and hopes – motivation, and fear of failure. Lack of motivation can make it difficult to get started on a project, especially if it is something you don’t want to do. If it is something that needs to be done, you may need to change your approach or break the project down in smaller bites to achieve it. If you still can’t seem to get the motivation to do something that is necessary, you may be dealing with some depression and should consider talking to someone. Fear of failure can be overcome by taking small steps until the fear diminishes. By breaking the task down, with each accomplishment the fear will begin to dissolve resulting in a completed project and a rise in your own self-esteem.


If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Giving yourself permission to have fun

Recovery is hard work, but one must not lose focus on having fun sometimes too. In fact, you can actually have more fun now in recovery than you could when you were actively using. Through working on your recovery, you have opened up your real self, a new zest on life, a spiritual awakening. There is reason to smile more and frown less and its okay. No, it is better than okay. You have the right to smile, the right to feel joy and you need to give yourself permission to feel these things, enjoy them, and have fun.

You have earned the right to feel your new awakening and all the good it has to offer as long as it does not threaten your abstinence. Go out for dinner with your friends, enjoy a movie, and enjoy gatherings or any of the other numerous activities that life presents to us daily.

You have gained the tools for recovery so you can expect to have more fun. Use the inventory, the amend steps, and clear away any emotional debris that can be standing in the way of your pure enjoyment of your recovery. Tell yourself “I will let myself enjoy life and have fun.”


If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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The Stages of Recovery

There are very definite stages to recovery. Some of them you may have already gone through. It’s always a good idea to know where you have been, where you are heading and the steps you utilized to pass from one to the other.

The first step, of course, is realizing that you have a problem with addiction. The addictive behavior is ongoing at this time, but someone or something has made it clear to you that you need to quit. At this point you have moved from denying that you have a problem to a willingness of acknowledging your addiction.

Next is an honest look at yourself and those around you and admitting the impact that your addiction has on everyone. You will need to admit the realities of your addiction and take a cursory look at what recovery would mean.

This next step starts with a clear resolution from you to quit the addiction. This is the time that you will take a hard look at what you will be facing including abstinence, moderation, treatment and recovery. This is an active move towards stopping the addiction and starting treatment of some kind.

Changes in perspective, lifestyle, attitude and values come into play at this point. This is your entry into full recovery. It may be shaky ground and you may still feel fragile, but this is where the beginning of your new life will start. Skills will be learned, habits will be formed, behaviors will be developed, and relationships will be built and all of these will help you maintain a life free from addiction.

Everything from here on out is active recovery. For many, this stage will have no end or at least none in the near future. Your commitment is essential. Now you are living out all that you have learned from the first day of quitting your addiction. One of your life goals is to remain addiction free. Surrounding yourself with family and friends, who are willing to help, will be a major plus for you. If you know someone who is still struggling with their addiction, let them know that help is as close as the nearest phone. A Better Tomorrow is waiting for that call. Use what you have learned to help them make that decision.


If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Do You Have a Relapse Prevention Plan?

You have escaped the confinement of addiction and you know it’s not a place you ever want to return to. It still takes commitment and hard work as you continue to recover. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to know you don’t want to return to the life of an addict. It’s not even sufficient just to voice your concern. Just as you have spent time making a life plan, you need to spend time making a relapse prevention plan. This is something you need to commit to paper instead of formulating it in your mind and expecting that you will be able to remember what you decided. It is a plan that you will want to be able to read and study and adapt as you feel changes are needed.

If you have not already identified the thoughts, feelings, behaviors and situations that triggered your drug use, that will be your first step. You can’t know what to avoid unless these things have been identified. You need to be brutally honest with yourself here. If there are aspects you can’t define on your own, get help. A sponsor, a family member, friend, or a medical professional might be able to help guide you through this process.

After that is done, you will need to determine coping skills that you will be able to use to keep you from falling prey to addictive behaviors again. Ideally, for each thought, feeling, behavior, and situation you identified, there should be a coping skill in place.

Lastly you will need to develop specific strategies and monitoring techniques to ensure the application of the coping skills you came up with. The final step will be to implement the plan. All the planning in the world won’t work unless it is used.

If you have used a relapse prevention plan, take the time to let us know how it worked for you. Doing this will not only help you, it may be the key to saving someone else from a relapse. If you know someone who is locked in a world of drugs, let them know that A Better Tomorrow can get them on the road to recovery. It only takes one phone call to initiate help.


If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Recovering or Recovered

Addiction was your life, but now it’s over. The strength you have nurtured to this point has seen you through the worst of it. Now, you are left with the future and it will be what you make of it. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Although it’s not a new adage, it is a profound one. It is one that can be renewed every day and it will still be true.

Depending on who you ask or what you read, you might think that recovering and recovered are interchangeable words for those who were addicts. It doesn’t seem like a big difference between the two, just a different suffix. The implication is a major one. Recovered implies that it is a job that is finished, complete with no more work that needs to be done. That simply is not true.

Recovery occurs over time, it is a process that allows the addict to grow healthier in body, mind and spirit. It is a constantly changing time in your life that requires ongoing effort and hard work. Physical and emotional wellness especially in your relationship with others is a way to measure and mark your progress.

Although you have made the commitment to end your addiction, you are still vulnerable to a relapse. Recovery requires sustained effort and thus is never done. The term recovering allows you and others to recognize that you are a work in progress. There may be some bumps in the road, but all will know that you are working towards making things better.

Using the word recovered may give you a sense that you are cured and you may be lulled into thinking that you are ready to go back to casual use of drugs or alcohol. Don’t be fooled into believing that you can go back to that place and time where the use of drugs or alcohol did not cause you problems. Your addiction changed the physical makeup of the brain and it is not something that you can undo. For you there is no such thing as using in a controlled fashion.

If you have found an effective way to deal with a drug or alcohol problem, please let us know. If you have any thoughts you would like to share on this blog, we would love to hear from you. If you know someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol and they are looking for help, send them to A Better Tomorrow. The road to recovery is just a phone call away.


If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Family Support is the Key

No doubt your family was part of the reason that you got treatment for your addiction, although they could have done nothing without your agreement and participation in the treatment program. The period right after rehab, is a very high risk time for relapse. Staying clean is your responsibility but there are things that your family can do to make the transition, from treatment back to the community, easier. Their help can increase the odds of your success. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and be humble enough to accept all that they are willing to give. Recovery does not end with rehab.

Many rehab centers have a family component and all family members are encouraged to participate. This resource that is made available to them can help them learn how to support the addict once they leave the center. There are also books available at the local library that will help them understand where you’ve been and how to help keep you from a relapse.

The family home should be void of all drugs, alcohol and intoxicating substances, providing an environment conducive to clean and sober living. If you really wanted the drugs and/or alcohol, you could get them but having them readily available in the home may be too big of a temptation to resist. Many recovering addicts relapse because of poor problem solving and coping skills. During the first few months the family can assist in any areas that are causing you undue stress allowing you to concentrate all of your energy on staying clean.

As your family is taking care of you, they need to be mindful of the fact that they need to take care of themselves at the same time. Your addiction may have caused pain for them and the effects of addiction can ripple through the family even after the addictive behavior is stopped. Professional family counseling or family peer group support services for addicts could help to heal the family unit. Keep in mind that recovery is ongoing and usually gets easier with time.

If your family was instrumental in your recovery, let us know how it worked for you. If you know someone who is having problems with drugs or alcohol let them know that help is only a phone call away. A Better Tomorrow is waiting to hear from them, to show them the way back.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Get High on Life

Getting high used to be what your life was all about. It was the driving force you couldn’t ignore. But now, you have kicked that habit to the side of the road. This can be a very exciting time for you. You are changing your world, taking giant steps in the direction you really want to travel to. Your time used to be spent on your addiction. It might have been drugs, or maybe it was alcohol. Regardless, you need to decide how your time will be spent. Now it’s all about getting high on life!
Get back to the basics of life. Take a walk and really check out nature. Smell the flowers, watch the birds, and try to identify the trees. Find a zoo and spend the day. Go horse back riding. Find a quiet and secluded spot to have a picnic with a friend or even by yourself. Go swimming in a lake or pond. Being outside can be very therapeutic. Fresh air and sunshine are natural remedies for the all of the things that ail us.

If you aren’t an outdoors type take a trip to the library and find some good books to read. Most libraries have a good selection of music CD’s and movies too. Find a hobby you can get interested in. Most hobby stores have classes available for their patrons. Knitting and crocheting is not just for little old ladies. Young people and adults, men and women, all have found that the rhythm of working with yarn can be quite peaceful. Don’t laugh until you’ve tried it. Take lessons in toll painting. That doesn’t require as much talent as it does patience. Think about giving ceramics a try. The list of possibilities is endless.

If you have found something different that works for you, let us hear about it. Your idea might be just the thing to keep another addict clean. If someone you know is experiencing problems with drugs or alcohol assure them that there is help available through A Better Tomorrow. All they need to do is make the call, A Better Tomorrow will take care of the rest.


If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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More Ideas to Shore up Your Recovery

We’ve already touched on Journaling, but there are other forms of writing that can be just as helpful. Try your hand at poetry. Not the flowery kind, unless you feel moved in that direction. Try putting your feelings and thoughts about your addiction into a poem. It doesn’t have to be professional, you’re shooting for therapeutic. Don’t discount this idea; it might be easier than you think.

Write a farewell letter to your addiction. Tell it how and why you fell into its grasp. Explain how you felt when you were in its deepest pit of despair. Give it all the gory details you suffered at its hand. Let it know how much you lost of yourself and your life while you were tied to it. Tell it how you are faring now, without its devastating and debilitating effects holding you down. Let it know that you never want to see it or think about it again.

Set some goals for yourself. They could be short term or long term or a combination of the two. Write them down on a piece of paper that you can carry with you. Take it out and read it frequently, evaluating any progress you might have made towards reaching the goals.

Try writing a list of things you are grateful for. Head the list with the fact that you are free of your addiction and go from there. When you think you have completed this list, hang it where you will see it every day. I’m betting as the day’s progress you will find a lot more that you will want to add to that gratitude list.
If you are feeling like you could conquer the world, go to blogger.com and start a free blog of your own about your progress in recovery. If you have found another way to keep yourself moving forward, share it with us.

Your successes might be just what someone else needs to get them on the right path. If you or someone you know has a problem with drugs or alcohol A Better Tomorrow is there to help you get on the road to recovery. All you have to do is make the call.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

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Physical Activities to Help in Recovery

After breaking your addiction, it is important to keep your self busy and what better way to do that than by taking care of yourself physically. Of course a good diet is a must. It will keep you feeling healthy and keep your energy level up too.

There are a variety of physical activities that will fit the bill. If you have been inactive you might want to start off slow with a walking program. It doesn’t have to be done everyday but some find that it’s easier to keep at it if it’s consistent. If walking is to tame for you, try jogging. This can be done outdoors if the weather in your area permits but a treadmill will work just as well. There are fit clubs in just about every town. They offer a variety of workouts and activities that might include swimming, weights, aerobics classes, stair steppers, and treadmills. They usually have personal trainers available if you’re not quite sure where to start.

If you enjoy the outdoors but want something a little more than a walk, try a bicycle. Most towns allow bicycles to share the road with cars. You might try city parks for a little more scenery. Bigger towns might offer bike trails that will keep you out of traffic. It’s really all personal preference. As you build up your stamina you might consider entering local foot and/or bicycle races. If you are lucky enough to live near mountains you might try your hand at mountain climbing, mountain biking or just walking the trails.

Whatever you choose to do, it’s important to remain active and keep a positive outlook on life. If you have found activities that have helped you on your road to recovery we would love to hear from you. Others may well benefit from your experiences. If you or someone you love has an addiction to drugs or alcohol, let them know they are not alone. There is help available at A Better Tomorrow. They are waiting for your call. Go ahead and do it now, for yourself, or for someone you love.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org

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Recovery is a Blank Slate

You have escaped the power of drugs and now you are able to contemplate the rest of your life. Recovery is the rest of your life and it’s a blank slate right now. You are in control of your destiny, creating a life of recovery and you are responsible for all of it. It’s up to you to decide how you will fill that blank slate. You are creating your own success and as they say, the ball is in your court now.

Addiction is a disease and you cannot underestimate its power. At the same time, you don’t need to live in fear of it. Make a zero tolerance pact with yourself concerning a relapse. Don’t allow yourself to even think about where you have been. Sure there are some who suffer a relapse, but it doesn’t have to mean you will. If you have to think about drugs, think only of the down side. We all have the possibility of another relapse in us, the better question is, are we capable of another recovery?

Don’t forget to take care of your spiritual self. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics anonymous twelve step programs saw the need for a spiritual connection to a higher power. If you don’t have a relationship with God, consider giving it a try. If you have a relationship with God, work on making it better.

Spend time with your family. There is a bond there that you will not experience any where else. If the ties were damaged, work hard on repairing them. If there is any possibility that you can mend these fences it will only serve to make the rest of your life better.

If you or someone you love has a problem with drugs or alcohol, rest assured that there is help out there. A Better Tomorrow is just waiting to hear from you. They are ready to help get you on the road to recovery. You deserve a better life so make the call.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

Feel free to follow us on Facebook and Twitter too!
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ABTomorrow
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Take Responsibility and Let Time Heal the Rest

You have kicked your addiction and you are ready to get on with the rest of your life. You are to be commended for your achievements. You have made mistakes in the past, and hurt others by making the decisions that you made. If you were like most addicts you probably lied to a multitude of people. You may have taken money or other items that could be sold to support your habit. Undoubtedly there were harsh words spoken and maybe a few bridges burnt along the way.

As part of your recovery and getting on with your life, you need to acknowledge the wrongs you have done, and the people you have hurt. You need to realize that just because you have gotten your act together, doesn’t mean others are willing to forgive and/or forget. Life will not be the same as it was before you became addicted to drugs, at least not in the beginning. They say that time heals all wounds and I believe this is mostly true. Eventually, when people realize that you are accepting responsibility for your actions, they will be able to set aside the hard feelings they harbored, and accept you back into their lives.

Trust is a big issue for most people. You violated that trust, probably more than once. It was not lost in a day, and it will not be earned back in a day either. It took time for you to heal and reach this point in your recovery and you have to allow others time to heal also. It is not something you can rush and it will take an on going effort on your part to see it through. Don’t lose heart in the uphill struggle. One by one, you will regain the trust and friendship of most of those individuals that you have harmed. You may not win them all back, and that is a reality that you need to accept. You do the best you can and knowing that it was your best, you’ll be able to deal with any problems.

If you found another way to deal with the problem of being a recovering addict, let us hear from you. Your experiences may be just what someone needs to help them. If you or someone you know is addicted to drugs and are ready to get started on the road to recovery, contact A Better Tomorrow. They are waiting to hear from you, all you have to do is make the call.

If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

Feel free to follow us on Facebook and Twitter too!
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ABTomorrow
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ABTomorrow