“Where your fear is, there is your task.”  ~~C.G. Jung “Everything that seemingly happens externally is occurring in order to trigger something within us, to expand us and take us back to who we truly are.”  ~~Anita Moorjani  “There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”  ~~Nelson Mandela Statement #8  “The fundamental object of life is emotional and spiritual growth.   Daily I put my life into a proper order, knowing which are the priorities.   Sobriety and recovery invite growth, yet it is the continued practice of Statement #8 which produces and illuminates the all-encompassing beauty of a 4C woman.   No longer held captive, independence begins to flourish, strength expands and discernment advances. Active addiction stunts healthy growth while slowly separating life from living, thereby increasing feelings of loneliness and separation.  Guilt and shame can develop, creating an even further divide.  Emotional and/or spiritual pain can begin to feel normal with the attempts to regain balance feeling foreign and fearful. From our WFS Program booklet, “Growth is an essential aspect of our recovery.  It is the process of learning who we are and where to focus our efforts for personal change.”  Identifying fears and moving through them instead of away springs Statement #8 into action.  Cultivating this growth boosts self-value and self-esteem, enriching life and cementing connections.  Is there a fear holding you back right now? What would happen if you moved through that fear? Hugzzz Karen Hi 4C Women, I've said so many times over the years that I thought there would be a time when emotional and spiritual growth would be accomplished - job done, no further work required. I am constantly learning how incorrect I was. The good news is that the learning curve does lessen, yet it doesn't end.  We continue to learn about our ability to face change without substances that use to cloud our judgment, gain knowledge about our resiliency to face fears, hurts or disappointments, develop a positive attitude along with positive self-talk, accept what we can and cannot control and releasing the past to keep moving forward. That's a lot of emotional and spiritual growth taking place once we are open and willing to take action. That's the most important part of any change. Words on a piece of paper are just that - words. While knowledge is necessary, it is the use of that knowledge in action that creates the powerful, empowering life we are seeking.  All of this requires time, dedication and commitment. Mistakes will be made yet those mistakes teach us new ways of responding, reacting to future situations. And let's remember - we are not alone on this journey. I value and appreciate the support and guidance from the women in WFS. I feel safe and nurtured by them. They have helped me achieve, relearn and accept myself where I am at each stage of my life. I found some questions from a book I bought at conference, Change Your Questions, Change Your Life, by Marilee Adams, Ph.D. If you are wondering what might be helpful to practice Statement #8, consider some of her questions listed below: What are the facts here? (I'm a big believer in gathering info before I react as I use to) What new ways can I think about or approach this? Is this what I want to feel? Is this what I want to be doing? What am I missing or avoiding? Am I seeing the big picture? Will this get me what I really want? How is this working for me? What is my choice right now? Perhaps you can share your situation with others you trust and obtain some input as you consider the questions above. It's all part of the emotional and spiritual growth journey and learning how to set priorities. Bonded in emotional and spiritual growth, 4C WFS Member Special Extended Registration Period! Register Today Special extended registration period ends June 3rd, 2018. 10% late registration fee applied automatically at time of registration. Check out Women for Sobriety's Blog Site. If you received this from a friend, we welcome you to JOIN our email list. Copyright © Women for Sobriety, Inc. | All rights reserved | Federal ID # 23-1972763 Email: contact@womenforsobriety.org | Ph: 215.536.8026 | Fax: 215.538.9026 http://womenforsobriety.org | http://www.wfscatalog.org  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌

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Be a Presenter/Trainer at our 6th Annual ADMISSIONS & MARKETING SYMPOSIUM! OCTOBER 17-18, 2018  Long Beach, California CALL FOR PAPERS OPEN Presentation Proposals are currently being accepted for the 6th Annual West Coast Admissions & Marketing training. Submissions should have specific tools and tips for successful and best practice marketing and admissions strategies, offering an exceptional training experience for attending professionals. We encourage innovative, interactive, solution centered and collaborative learning techniques. Presentation may be on any topic pertinent to admissions and marketing processes in our treatment services. Deadline for proposal submission is Thursday, May 31, 2018 All presentation proposals should include: Title of the Presentation Presentation synopsis, 460 character maximum Name of Presenter (listed as you would prefer it to appear in the program) Learning Topics of the Presentation (including 3 identified objectives of the Presentation for CEU's) Biography of Presenter - email photo to kristen.amsymposium@gmail.com * Please note a change in venue as we have outgrown our previous location. This year's event will be held at the Long Beach Marriott. SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL NOW EVENT LOCATION: Long Beach Marriott  (*book early / watch for block information to come) QUESTIONS? Contact us at kristen.amsymposium@gmail.com  ‌

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The Impact of Drug Addiction on the Family

Posted by  Seamus Callahan in Educational

Drug addiction can create destruction in all areas of your life, as well as the lives of your loved ones. Your family dynamics may be greatly impacted, causing damage that can not be easily repaired. This is because, addiction is a disease that does not only affect the addict themselves, it affects nearly everyone you are in contact with, especially your family and friends.

How is your family affected?

When abusing drugs you do not stop to reflect on your actions, choices or the consequences of them, this causes conflict and trauma in your personal relationships that may not be repairable.

The Time, Energy and Focus of an Addict

Your addiction to drugs has consumed a large portion of your time, energy and focus, making obtaining drugs and using your top priority. You have kept such a strong focus on obtaining and using drugs that it has left little time to spend with your family and friends. This may leave your loved ones feeling a large variety of emotions towards your drug use; resentment, bitterness, hurt and even jealous. You may notice that you have had increasing numbers of arguments with your loved ones, your relationships are beginning to grow apart because you have been putting drugs ahead of your family.

Financial Stress

Addiction can cause a great financing issue in the lives of the addict themselves, as well as their family members. You have been spending any money you can get your hands on to score more drugs, funding your habit and causing your family to go broke. You can easily spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars fueling your drug habit in as little as one day or a short binge.

Your addiction to drugs may be so severe that you are no longer able to function in the workplace, causing you to lose your job. These creates a bigger burden on your spouse or partner as they are then required to solely provide and care for the rest of your family, as well as for you.

Far too many families have been faced with the decision of bankruptcy, foreclosure, losing their life’s savings, retirement savings and so on due to their loved ones addiction. Your drug addiction is greatly affecting the welfare and well-being of your family on a long term basis.

When Children are Involved

Drug addiction can cause serious emotional damage for your children. Your drug abuse may cause you to become violent, emotionally abuse your children or even sexually abuse them, causing damage that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.Many children of addicts suffer from long term emotional and psychological damage that causes serious affects on their social stability, as well as their education and mental health.

Using drugs has caused your children to lose respect for you as you are no longer reliable, hurting yourself and them. Your home may be lacking structure and rules, causing your child to turn to a life similar to your own as an escape from pain in their reality. With such insecurity your children may even begin to blame your drug use on themselves, causing further mental and emotional damage.

Government studies show that an estimate of 50-80% of child abuse and neglect incidents are a result of the parent (or parents) being involved with drugs or alcohol.

Your Spouse or Partner Suffers too

Your addiction may have lead to spousal of partner abuse; physical and emotional. This can have devastating effects on your relationship. Many intimate relationships suffering through drug addiction can lead to cheating or seeking other forms of satisfaction outside the relationship by the addict, who then justifies their actions. Your loved one may sympathize with you, however this is purely manipulation and excuses on your part to justify you destructive behavior.

An estimated 75% of domestic violence incidents occur as a result of one or more of the individuals involved having used drugs or alcohol

Risking Your Health and the Health of Others

Drugs can impair your judgement, this may cause you to take part in risky sexual behavior which puts you in great risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. When you have a partner or spouse back home you are then putting their health at risk of contracting these STD’s.

If you use intravenous drugs and needle share you are putting yourself and others at great risk of contracting blood borne diseases that too can transmit to your partner. These diseases that can be contracted through needle sharing can cause you or your loved ones to becoming very ill, potentially killing them, causing an increasing amount of stress on your family.

The Effects of Your Addiction

The effects of drugs on your family may lead to separation or divorce with your spouse or partner. It can cause an unstable environment for your children, causing emotional and psychological damage. You may suffer serious financing difficulties. Your health may even begin to deteriorate.

The impact of drug addiction is only causing damage in your life and the lives of your loved ones. It is time to seek help and start your recovery, for not only yourself but for your family as well.

www.solutionsrehab.com   Article by Addiction Solutions of south Florida 1 (800) 476-1801