Because alcoholism is such a widespread problem, it has spawned a massive amount of research has been conducted in an effort to thwart it. Over the years, scientists have developed—and discovered—many types of medication for alcohol withdrawal treatment that help make alcohol withdrawal manageable. Alcohol withdrawal is a menacing illness that be tough to endure even with strong willpower and spirit….
What can I do about prescription pill addiction? Millions of Americans right now are fighting for their lives against prescription pill addiction. Unfortunately, there are many facts about prescription drug abuse that people don’t know, and this leaves them vulnerable to developing addictions themselves.Hopefully you already know that prescription painkillers aren’t safer than illegal drugs even though they come from doctors…
Physically and emotionally, recovery takes its toll. Having a way to express one’s thoughts, feelings and emotions throughout the journey can be helpful and also very therapeutic. Addiction leaves a trail of trauma and suffering in its wake not only for the individual in recovery but others including family, friends, and colleagues as well. People in recovery can experience severe emotional…
The day is finally here. The sun is shining outside as you gather your things and sign out at the front registry. You completed your intensive residential treatment program here at The Last Resort and you’re ready to walk out into the world a new man and begin your life after alcohol rehab. Beginning Life After Alcohol Rehab It’s been a…
Watching Tiger sinking an incredible putt that placed him 1 behind the tournament leader at the Valspar Championship two weekends ago was one of those moments where you felt goosebumps run up your arms. At least, that’s what seeing my childhood hero’s comeback felt like to me.Next to my father and grandfathers, Tiger Woods undoubtedly shaped the kind of man I…
The first time you use drugs, get drunk, or stay up all night playing video games, odds are that it is your decision to do so. Alcohol and Drug use can fall into a grey area, though. Most alcoholics and drug addicts begin using due to a legitimate medical concern. Or, they are just trying to have fun with friends. However,…
JOURNALING It is no mystery that working the 12 steps involves a lot of writing. We have the entire fourth step which demands that we put pen to paper and physically write out all of those columns. Nightly inventories should be written out also. For many of us who have gone through as treatment programs rely on the 12 steps, there…
FINDING YOUR WAY BACK For many years I played guitar in rock bands. Specifically, I was a punk rock guitar player. It was more than just the music. Punk rock and playing guitar in punk bands made up a huge part of my identity. And of course, punk rock being what it is, this involved a lot of drinking. The whole…
Alcoholics and drug addicts might reject rehabilitation therapy on the premise that everyone experiences relapses and that therapy will not work. Although many individuals who are recovering from addiction problems will experience one or more relapse events, those events are not inevitable. A well-structured and organized rehabilitation program will recognize the likely triggers that will cause an addict or alcoholic to…
WILD YEARS When we are out drinking and using there is no end to the fun and laughs we get from our wild exploits. Most of us can tell the so-called “war stories” from our wild days. Even in recovery we often have laughs exchanging tales of wildness. For some of us, the wildness and even destructiveness of drinking and using…
WHY DO WE NEED MEDIATION? Entering into treatment and recovery is an intense time. On the one hand, there is the flood of relief to find ourselves free at last from the weight of drugs and alcohol. On the other hand, we find ourselves colliding with a host of confusing and often negative feelings and thoughts. While our first course of…
CEASE FIGHTING When I first came to treatment and recovery I was certain I was through. I had beaten myself up so badly that I thought I was absolutely resolved to give up the drinking and drugging life and do whatever I had to do to get well. I came into treatment, was handed my Big Book, and got to work…
PRACTICE THESE PRINCIPALS As we work through the steps of recovery, or the principles as they are alternately called throughout the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, things generally seem fairly evident as to how to proceed. Especially with the guidance of a good sponsor, each step prescribes a detailed course of action that leads us on the road to recovery. But…
INVENTORY We know from the steps that we must work through our resentments. “Resentment is the number one offender” as we are explicitly told. It is resentment that eats away at us and fueled our drinking. What better excuse for continuing a life drinking than the list of grudges and resentments we may have against other for wrongs both real and…
RECOVERY AND MEDITATION Drug and alcohol treatment and recovery often include various forms of therapy. There are group sessions for support and treatment. Some people have recourse to individual counseling. There are of course medical treatments for some of the symptoms of alcohol and drug withdrawal. But any of us can benefit from other methods of self-healing that can augment our…
RESENTMENTS One of the stumbling blocks for many people as they move through the early steps of recovery is that all important fourth step. I have known far too many people who got hung up on this weeks. I have known quite a few people who never followed through with this step and, predictably, they did not stay sober. I will…
Methamphetamines are an ever-increasing danger to American health. Many parts of the country are experiencing massive rates of meth addiction and teen meth abuse. The highly addictive and deadly nature of this drug can have serious effects on its users. If you or someone you know is suffering from this terrible disease the Last Resort Recovery can help. Navigating Teen Meth…
RELATIONSHIPS IN RECOVERY My journey in recovery has reshaped almost every area of my life, but I cannot think of anything that has been effected more than my ability to sustain and nourish meaningful relationships. In the past, I treated relationships as an avenue to fulfill my own selfish needs. I was often dishonest, manipulative, and deceitful. I would do or…
FREEDOM IN RECOVERY Before I got into treatment and recovery one of the things (fears) that used to hold me up from even admitting that I had a problem with alcohol and drugs was the idea that entering into recovery seemed like a trap, like some kind of mental prison. I thought that once I crossed the invisible line form “party…
In & Out Of Treatment When I came into treatment I thought the nightmare was completely over. I was in a safe place. It was one of the best treatment programs in the area with some of the best odds for long-term sobriety. This was also my first contact with people who came in like me and soon after went back…
Traditional treatment for addiction typically involves a therapeutic approach and either inpatient or outpatient care at a facility. While these approaches can work for most people there are those who are unsuccessful with it for one reason or another. An effective form of alternative treatment is wilderness therapy. Wilderness drug rehab is a clinical approach to addiction treatment. Despite its non-traditional…