TreatmentTalk – recovery

Here are some amazing quotes so let’s begin.

“I’m happy to report that my thirsty boots are empty now, unless my feet are in them. Even better, my husband buys me a new pair of Frye boots for every year that I stay sober. I have four pair and counting. (I’m starting to think my husband likes me better when I don’t slur my words, fall down a lot, and undress in front of our friends).” ~ Heather Kopp of Sober Boots

“My recovery from addiction to my addict began much earlier than my son’s recovery from addiction to drugs. My hope for everyone is that no matter what chaos is in your lives at the moment, you are able to control what goes on within you and have some peace. I read somewhere that there will always be sadness, but misery is a choice.” ~ Denise Krochta, author of Sweat

“It just takes one to stop the dance, to change the steps and start a new dance. But if both change and learn the new steps and practice those steps, together, a new dance is created. Sometimes one or both will go back to the old one – that’s normal – it’s what is most comfortable; it’s what they’ve practiced for years. But a new dance is possible. It may be together; it may be solo, but it is possible. It takes learning the new steps, and it takes a lot of practice.” ~ Lisa Frederiksen of Breaking the Cycles - Changing the Conversation

“The truth most families eventually discover is that no one can cure another person’s addiction. Only addicts can do that for themselves.” ~ Beverly Conyers, author of Addict In The Family: Stories of Loss, Hope, and Recovery

“When I first got sober I thought that life was over and that I was going to be restricted to the rooms of A.A. forever. I was convinced that sobriety was a prison and I was to serve a life sentence. I was wrong about that and I was wrong about A.A. Recovery has been absolutely and completely expansive, every day bigger, better, and brighter. I have been granted a life beyond my wildest expectations.” ~ Kristina Wandzilak, author of The Lost Years

“Finally, I realized as long as I held on to all of that hurt pain and anger I was not going to move forward, even though he was moving forward. When I was sure I wanted to get better I told my son I was proud of him, I believed in him and I wanted the past to be in the past. That’s how I was able to let go. I had to face my fear (my son) man to man.” ~ Ron Grover of An Addict in Our Son’s Bedroom

“What’s truly amazing is that I enjoy this life today, and when I was still using, I hated the idea of sobriety. I could not picture myself having fun or being content with this life that I am now living. But somehow I transformed and it did happen.” ~ Patrick Meninga of Spiritual River

“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” ~ Anne Lamott, author of Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

“I was once a hopeless addict whose life has been interrupted by a Higher Power. My life was transformed by surrendering to the principles of The 12-Steps, which has led to a life that is devoted to the practice of meditation and service to others.” ~ Tom Catton, author of The Mindful Addict

“Detachment is based on the premises that each person is responsible for himself, that we can’t solve problems that aren’t ours to solve, and that worrying doesn’t help.” ~ Melody Beattie, Codependent No More

“..if you want something you have never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done.” ~ Tim Weber, author of Gutters & Roses

“Many people who enter into recovery (i.e., abstinence from their drug of abuse/dependence & engaged in treatment) will relapse at one point or another. Though this seems like bad news, the flip side is that relapse can be a manageable part of recovery – some have even said that it has helped them solidify what they need to do in order for it to never happen again.” ~ Michael Pantalon, PhD, author of Instant Influence

“As crazy as this may sound, I would say to almost anyone: Consider that relapse might happen, and then plan what to do if or when it does. After a relapse, the person should call a friend who is also in recovery and get right back to doing what is needed to avoid it in the future. Learn from it.” ~ Joe Herzanek, author of Why Don’t They Just Quit?

“As the years past, my addiction became all-consuming and that love affair turned into the only thing I cared about. I can recall countless times looking intently at the person staring back at me each time I walked by a mirror. During the height of my addiction, I couldn’t stand my reflection as it reminded of me how I lost myself to drugs. But as I began my recovery, slowly overtime I started to appreciate my presence. I shifted my thought process so that I would no longer be running away from the person that I wanted to become.” ~ Super Star of We Are One

“After three years of sobriety, my son’s growth is evident. He laughs more easily, he watches more calmly and he protects himself better. He knows where he hurts and he pays attention to what is coming. He’s more reflective, thoughtful, less impulsive and more honest. He has good friends. Part of my son died with the addiction, but the son I know is still here. Suffice it to say that he is becoming a strong and caring man. He is finding his way back to himself. ” ~ Libby Cataldi, author of Stay Close: A Mother’s Story of Her Son’s Addiction

“Why does it help to read others’ stories? It’s not only that misery loves company, because (I learned) misery is too self-absorbed to want much company. Others’ experiences did help with my emotional struggle; reading, I felt a little less crazy. And, like the stories I heard at Al-Anon meetings, others’ writing served as guides in uncharted waters. Thomas Lynch showed me that it is possible to love a child who is lost, possibly forever. ” ~ David Sheff, author of Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction

“Working with people who are in the throws of their disease keeps me in touch with how far I’ve gone and how much I don’t want to go back. I now know much more about the risks and about what I’d be doing to myself were I to take them. I don’t want to kill additional neurons, and I sure as hell don’t want to go through 2 more years of hell trying to put my life in order. I’ve never tried speed again since the day I quit in 2002 because I can’t say that I’m sure of what would happen next, and I don’t want to find out in case it’s bad…

This is why I believe that education is one of our best weapons in the battle against addiction.” ~ Dr. Adi Jaffe of All About Addiction

How did you find recovery? Please share your wisdom in comments.

take care,

This is a guest post by Ilchi Lee.

I have spent most of my life looking for ways to help people heal themselves. Over the years, I have learned to look closely at the root causes underlying a particular affliction. In the case of addiction, I have found that, more often than not, some sort of emotional trauma has harmed the individual.

Drugs and alcohol may be a way of easing this pain, but unfortunately it causes even more pain and does not address the underlying issues. Thus, in order to heal the roots of addiction, one must find a healthy way to heal and open the heart. There are many exercises that can help, but the most helpful may be right outside your door—in nature.

There is a simple reason why nature is so healing. It is the place from which we come, and is part of us. In spite of all our fancy technology and complex cultures, ultimately we rely totally on this planet to give sustenance.

When we come back into nature, it is like we are returning to our more primal selves, allowing us to relinquish that which burdens us unnecessarily in our modern lives. While in nature, the beauty we see around us reminds us of the beauty within ourselves and of the preciousness of life itself.

In my book The Call of Sedona, I talk about the special place where I feel my own heart connection very easily—Sedona, Arizona. This place is famous for its spiritual energy and its beautiful red rock formations. A lush juniper grows at the base of the red rocks, and on most days a crystal-clear blue sky looms above. Almost anyone who’s been there will agree that this place is stunning. It is the kind of place that fills one with awe.

I’m sure at some point in your life you have experienced awe in nature, when you look out across a vista and feel somehow lifted above the petty concerns of life. I love the word awe because it so perfectly expresses the experience of supreme beauty in nature. In that moment, you can literally feel your breath, even without your conscious guidance, come into your lungs more deeply as you inhale.

And as you exhale, in response to the beauty around you, you very naturally exclaim, “Awww!”

This expression of awe is the heart healing itself. When I teach energy healing, I will often have people chanted various sounds that relate to various parts of the body. “Awe” is the perfect sound to heal the heart, especially if you breathe deeply and allow the vibration of the sound to penetrate deep into your heart. The next time you are in nature, make a point of breathing in and breathing out with the awe sound.

Focus on breathing in deeply, and then feel the vibration as it helps to clear away any emotional residue that lingers in your heart.

In my healing work, I also look at the brain because it is through the brain that we process the experiences of life. This is very important for those dealing with addictions, because it is partially through the brain that you formed the habit in the beginning. Research on the brain confirms that taking some walks out in nature will help your brain with recovery in a couple of ways.

First of all, nature helps to reduce stress, which helps to avoid return to substance use. Secondly, walking supports neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to change and rewire itself.

If you would like to use nature to assist in your recovery, I recommend two things:

Make a commitment to regular exposure to nature, and
find a place that is special to you.

This second point is especially important because it means finding that place to which you feel most completely connected. In that place, you will feel most completely connected to yourself, as well. In The Call of Sedona, I describe how the land brought so much inspiration and positive change to my life. I think that you will also find that some special place exists that reminds you of your highest self and motivates you to achieve your highest aspirations.

How can nature help you with your recovery? Join the conversation with your thoughts….

¹ Bergman, Marc G., at al. “The Cognitive Benefits of Interacting with Nature.” Psychological Science. Vol. 8. No. 19

² Parker-Hope, Tara. “The Brain and Exercise.” The New York Times. July 7, 2010.

ILCHI LEE is an educator, mentor, and trailblazer who has developed many mind-body training methods including Dahn Yoga and Brain Education. He is also the founder of Sedona Mago Retreat and the author of thirty-three books, including the New York Times bestseller, The Call of Sedona: Journey of the Heart. For more information about his work, visit www.callofsedona.com.