Abstinence And Sobriety: What Is The Difference?

Abstinence And Sobriety: What Is The Difference? « Holistic Lifestyles Radio

Abstinence And Sobriety: What Is The Difference?

by hollis on Jun.08, 2010, under Home

Abstinence and sobriety are two terms that are used interchangeably by a lot of people when discussing drug and alcohol addiction recovery. But are they the same thing?

The idea of growing in recovery as a person or ‘working on sobriety’ is actually a much different concept than abstinence. This is one of the most fundamental lessons person learns as they attempt recovery. Abstinence means to stop the use of addictive mood altering drugs and alcohol. Some people erroneously believe that once they stop drinking and drugging the mission is over .

Becoming sober is much more than that. Recovery is actually a developmental process that goes through distinct phases with lessons, skills and tasks to be learned and accomplished in each phase. The very first skill to be learned in the early phase of addiction recovery and sobriety is that of abstinence. It is the first small step toward a much greater picture. Here is what we mean by abstinence:

Abstinence :
In a nutshell, abstinence simply means to stop the use of alcohol and all other mood altering drugs. This is the most necessary first task in all of recovery. Please notice we did not say cut down or control drinking or drugging. That’s simply does not work. Abstinence means none, zero, nada, end of story. There is an old metaphor in the recovery world that states abstinence is like buying a ticket to the movie theater ticket and is not actually watching the whole show. The first building block of sobriety is abstinence it must be total and complete, there is no middle ground.

What is sobriety?
Sobriety is the process of learning living and coping skills that bring about or read warning and meaningful life, lived to the fullest, without drugs and alcohol. It is a fluid process of growth that transforms one from chaos, destruction, and dependence. The movement is toward a way of life that involves healthy self-esteem, relationships, communication skills, and personal growth.

5 Fundamentals Of Sobriety.
Here are a few fundamental concepts identified as foundations of a healthy recovery:

1. There first underlying principle of recovery is honesty; most importantly the absence of self-deception. Without honesty recovery is impossible.

2. One is never at a standstill; you are either moving away from a drink or drug or closer, your actions determine your direction.

3. Total abstinence of mood altering substances+ personal growth = sobriety

4. Sobriety is a program of action. Undemanding intellectual acceptance is not adequate. A thought is just a thought, nothing happens unless you take action.

5. Sobriety is a process, not an event; in fact, it is a lifelong process that is not easy but definitely possible.

For More Information www.challenges-program.com

What is Hoarding

What is Hoarding « Holistic Lifestyles Radio

What is Hoarding

by Holistic Lifestyles Radio on Jun.18, 2010, under Home

Hoarding is the hot topic among addiction reality television shows. A&E has its show, “Hoarders,” and TLC has its version called “Hoarding: Buried Alive ” And while its ratings come due to the car wreck gawking appeal it may bring, hoarding is a very real psychological issue.

Hoarding, also referred to as compulsive hoarding and compulsive hoarding syndrome, is so shocking and baffling to most people in the general public. This is compounded by the fact that many hoarders don’t even think they have a problem… even when they have to walk over their belongings. How can someone not see that they have a problem? Some hoarders do realize that they have a problem, but don’t know where to go or what to do to change their behavior.

Once you get down to the psychology of hoarding, it is easier to empathize with those who suffer with the disorder. Hoarding is classified as a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Some mental health researchers disagree with the classification. They will say that while some people with OCD have hoarding behavior, hoarding is not specific to OCD.

While the causes of hoarding are still shrouded in some mystery, there are some basic risk factors to be considered:

- If you have a family history of hoarding, you are more likely to succumb to the condition

- Stressful life events are associated with hoarding, particularly after the death of a loved one, or a divorce.

- Hoarders are often isolated socially. Sometimes it’s the hoarding that leads to one’s social isolation, and other times the person turns to hoarding as a sort of comfort when they are lonely.

- While we may often associate perfectionism with people who are “neat freaks,” this can also be a risk factor for hoarding. They worry about making the right decision of keeping something or getting rid of it that they set aside the decision altogether.

Hoarding Treatments

Sometimes medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a type of antidepressant, are used. But often the choice is therapy. Cognitive behavior therapy is the most common form of psychotherapy that is implemented in the treatment of hoarding. Call 877-799-8773 for help