Sober Resources

Coming to terms with an addiction is a difficult and eye opening experience for the addict and his/her loved ones alike. Often, once you acknowledge that you have a problem, trying to figure out your best course of action is a daunting, seemingly insurmountable task. However, understanding your treatment options will help keep you from feeling overwhelmed when you are taking the first steps towards recovery.

Detox vs. Treatment

There will be many terms you will hear associated when recovering from an addiction. In the earliest stages of recovery these terms may include “detoxification” (often abbreviated as “detox”) and “treatment”. It is important to understand that detox and treatment are two separate things. Detox simply refers to the process by which all traces of drugs/alcohol are eliminated from your system. It is the first step in the treatment process. Your doctor and/or counselor will outline all the steps of treatment with you and your family in advance. Continue Reading »

Tags: 12 step treatment, alcohol addiction, detox, drugs, getting sober, opiate detox, rehab, treatment center

Simply put, alcoholism is the continuous intake of alcohol. It is a disease that becomes worse through time and it brings major ill effects to your body and mind. The effects that are brought about by alcoholism can be passed to succeeding generations and if not treated early, the resulting ailments can be really painful.

You should not waste time in getting treatment once you have noticed symptoms. If you are still drinking even though you have promised yourself that you will stop, it could be a sign that you are an alcoholic. Also, if you have tainted relations with your loved ones but you still go on with your drinking, you may be an alcoholic.

The physical symptoms of alcohol addiction signify that there is something wrong in your body. Should you feel that these symptoms are gone even though you are still a drinker, you should not rest in your laurels and think that everything will be fine. This only means that your body has developed tolerance for the quantity of alcohol that you have been drinking. When this happens, you tend to crave for more and it’s not improbable for you to contract more serious complications. Continue Reading »

Knowing when you have a problem is vital to your recovery when you are addicted. The vast majority of addicts do not know when addiction help is warranted, or even necessary. You can not possibly recover from addiction if you do not seek help with your problem, but how do you know when your problem is that serious? This article focuses on the things you need to know to identify a serious addiction problem.
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Tags: addiction, addiction help, addiction signs, addiction symptoms, addiction tips, addictive behavior

Most alcoholics have at one time or another been labeled a “functioning alcoholic” during their addiction. This label is a bit of a misnomer, because alcoholism is in no way functional. Still, the label is meant to describe those alcoholics that still do their daily routines of going to work and so on, usually while hiding their addiction. This is not unusual among alcoholics, and some of them are incredibly good at masking their addiction problem. When it comes to work and job performance, most people can tell something is not quite right. They may not know what it is, but there are effects of alcoholism at work. Here is a look at some of the more common ones:
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Tags: addiction problems, addicts and jobs, alcoholic, functioning alcoholic, job problems, problems at work

Alcoholism is one of the most dangerous addictions on the planet, not only for the addict but for their children as well. Parents that are alcoholics are much more likely to abuse their children whether through physical abuse or through neglect. No matter how much you love your children, you can’t be a proper parent and be an alcoholic at the same time.
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Tags: abuse of alcohol, addiction, alcoholism, alcoholism and abuse, child abuse, dangerous combinations, sober resources

Addictions come in many shapes and sizes, and children are quick to notice each and every one. Whether you are addicted to alcohol, drugs or gambling, your children notice that something is going on that is different from other families. Depending on their ages, they might even think that your behavior is the norm. Regardless of the situation, it is important that you know how to talk to your kids about your addiction.
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Tags: about your addiction, addiction, alcoholics, drug addiction, explaining addiction, talking to kids

Virtually every man wonders about where they came from and how we got here. The eternal search for a greater power than ourselves is one aspect of spirituality that is highly beneficial when used properly for addiction recovery. Whether you believe in a greater power or not, the universe and its energy are a wonderful source of recovery. You can tap into that energy with some practice.

The first step in doing so is to begin to explore this world of spirituality. Nobody can do this for you, but a good place to start is to head out into the woods, beaches and mountains of your choice. If this is not practical, then head into the local woods nearby or by a nice lake. Wherever you feel the most relaxed in nature will do just fine. The reason this is so important is because it gives you the chance to relax your mind and become closer to nature.
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Tags: addict, addiction, addiction and the body, addiction recovery, alcoholic, alcoholics, alcoholism, alcoholism and mental health, depression, higher power, praying, psychological and physiological addiction, spirituality, spirituality and recovery

Every now and then I come across some very profound thoughts from our members of the various forums of Sober Sources. I couldn’t let this one just be allowed to drop down the list of “must reads”. Many thanks to Slow N Easy of the Sober N Clean forums for allowing me to republish his personal thoughts here.
“Selfishness, self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. Sometimes they hurt us, seemingly without provocation, but we invariably find that at some time in the past we have made decisions based on self, which later placed us in a position to be hurt. So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making”. ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 62~

Selfishness and self-centeredness is the root of our problems. Wow! Selfishness is a noun that simply means: Stinginess resulting from a concern for your own welfare and a disregard of others. Fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, all things that stem from imagination drive this concern. We are acting from the imaginary. The self!

But what is a self? Here’s the kicker, the self is one’s consciousness of one’s own being or identity; the ego. It is what you believe you are. So when you imagine something that the self should be doing, you do it without regards of what that action is going to do in effecting other’s being. That’s what selfishness and self-centeredness is!
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The Addicts Guide is a manual and blog where people with addiction problems can seek help and follow a guide to getting sober on their own. There is not only a guide on how to become sober, but a blog where you can find and read many topics about the many ways that people cope and suffer with their addictions from the view point of those that know!  Addiction is a difficult subject to deal with, because many people simply are not able to overcome it without help. Even still, many addicts suffer daily for years until they are able to lift most of their cravings from withdrawal. Continue Reading »

Treating Alcoholism Naturally Right at Your Own Home

It is common knowledge that alcoholism is characterized by the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages and the non-acceptance of the disabling effects that come with it. Of course, alcoholics depend heavily on these drinks that can bring severe effects in both the immediate and long run.

Alcoholism can either be developed through hereditary reasons or through bad judgment. Usually, it starts with an infrequent drink at social gatherings or at a bar. But as time goes by, an alcoholic would feel that drinking is something that he can’t live without. For them, alcoholic drinks are not just for releasing tension. Rather, it turns into a daily routine. Continue Reading »