Some individuals are so wrapped up in themselves that they do not have the time to see, understand or feel empathy for others or what is going on around them. Their grandiosity does not allow them to build the communication skills or compassion needed to build strong relationships, therefore, they do not gain respect from […]
Honesty is defined as the quality of being truthful, open and transparent – it is a moral characteristic. Everyone tells little “white lies” from time to time, but those people in recovery from addictions need to pay close attention to honesty. They need to be truthful with others and themselves. The active user often uses […]
Individuals who are not familiar with addiction believe that a person who quits using drugs and/or alcohol has “recovered”. But those people who are familiar with the issue of addiction know that to stop using drugs and/or alcohol is only the beginning of recovery. Recovery is an ongoing effort by a person to get rid […]
The dictionary defines complacency as “a feeling of quiet pleasure or security while unaware of some potential danger or defect.” It is a false confidence in oneself. People who do not suffer from addiction issues can afford to be complacent in some areas of their lives but those of us in recovery must never become […]
When I came to recovery, I did not expect society to open its arms to welcome me. I had no illusions. I knew how people perceived alcoholism and the addicted. The chaos the alcoholic creates and the resulting damage to society are enormous and costly. Families are destroyed. Money is spent. Lives are lost because […]
MY FAMILY AND ME During the first days and months of my recovery, I had to face my family’s fears and distrust. My past behavior had such an effect on them that their fears were certainly justified. It took me time to regain their trust. By the way, I understood their doubts but I knew […]
It is a sad fact that society hesitates to trust those in recovery from drug and alcohol addictions. For a “normal person”, it is difficult to understand the changes that the addicted has to go through in order to stay clean and sober. It is also difficult for the non-addicted to overlook the harm the […]
Because of past experiences, both in my childhood and in adulthood, I have found it difficult to trust others. Throughout my youth, I felt that my thoughts and feelings were often ignored. I was not important enough for others to care about. In my perception, any emotional pain I might be going through was overlooked. […]
In Toronto, Ontario, we have an effective system for helping addicts and alcoholics achieve recovery. To help people begin their recovery we have treatment centres, 12 Step programs, counsellors, psychiatrists and psychologists, fitness instructors and medical professionals treating the whole human structure “Body, Mind and Spirit”. These places and people help change people’s addictive behaviours. […]
When it came to employment, I was not shall we say “the best” employee. I was always late, I was always missing days, deadlines weren’t met budgets didn’t balance, tills were always short, sales were low, I couldn’t answer a phone or take a comprehensible message. I also had a drinking problem and mental health […]