A lot of people in recovery have an unhealthy habit of isolating – I know I did. We do this for many reasons. We may feel shame or guilt for our behaviours when we were drinking or using, we may fear being around people, places and things that could trigger our addiction, or we may […]
‘The founders realized that meaningful work was a key element in rebuilding individual pride, the human spirit and the will to succeed – to find a better life’. This is actually about two dreams – the hopes and dreams of people everywhere and the dream that started OASIS, for they are interlocked. Let’s start with […]
Relapse is more than just using alcohol or drugs. It is the progressive process of becoming so dysfunctional in recovery that self-medication with alcohol or drugs seems like a reasonable choice. The relapse process is a lot like going a little insane. The first thoughts that were not ok yesterday are ok today. I tell […]
I was thinking this past weekend about those people who are newcomers in recovery – I know how they feel because I was there… …I know the pain of addiction and what it takes away from us …I know the loss of self-esteem when we are actively drinking and how much we can be hurt […]
In looking back over the past year, I have come to realize that while there are temptations and triggers out there, I really don’t want to go back to my life before sobriety. The emotional roller-coaster I live on back then was unhealthy – one day I was happy, the next I wanted to die […]
One of the biggest challenges I’ve found in recovery is digging deep and finding the courage to change. It is sometimes difficult to accept that I do have the right to ask for something that I am honestly entitled to, that I have the right to say “no” without a long explanation, that conflicts or […]
We often make ourselves miserable in our search for happiness. We may feel that we are missing out on something or that the next “big” thing is right around the corner. We tend to have a sense of urgency because we think we are running out of time and that we should be doing something […]
It’s human nature to compare ourselves to others. Many people go so far as to look for proof that we are insignificant “nobodies”, that we don’t deserve to be happy. Those of us in recovery often have low self-esteem, causing us to judge ourselves based on what we think are the standards of others. We […]
One of the biggest issues I have had to overcome in recovery is fear. I know that fear – particularly fear of change and an unknown future, would keep me trapped in my active alcoholism. Being “under the influence” was a familiar and comfortable place. A lot of my fears were based on what I […]
How the Opinions of Others Can Influence our Decisions Almost everything we do in life involves making decisions. Often they are small decisions that are simple to make, others may have a much greater impact on our lifestyle, behavior and attitudes. One of the worst things we can do is to make decisions based on […]