Best of the week from Choose Help Working it Through: A Closer Look at The 12 Steps of AA – Part 2 of 2 If you are new to 12 Step programs or are coming back to the program, this two part series takes a closer look at the 12 steps of AA. If you are new to 12 Step programs or are coming back to the program, this two part series takes a closer look at the 12 steps of AA, breaking things down and showing you how, with a little work, it can support you to live a clean and sober life. "Ours is a spiritual, not a religious program" --well known statement in the AA and NA program Removal of Our Shortcomings Step 7 We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. For those folks who are not considering working their program from a faith based perspective I suggest you can do the following to work on and through this step. The important issue here is that you have reached a point in your recovery where you have identified many of the 'short comings' -- those character flaws that really mess up your life. Some examples might be placing your own self-importance ahead of all others, distorting the truth to serve your own best interest or need, saying one thing and doing another, gossiping (especially to promote personal gain) and practicing deceitful behavior just because you could. Burning Up the Negatives With clients that I work with who are not faith based I suggest you take all your 4th step work - go to the beach or a safe wooded area-someplace where you are alone and bring along a steel pail or coffee container (anything that won't burn). Put all of your 4th step notes in the container and set it on fire. Allow the wind (we have established that the wind is stronger and a greater force than we are) to carry off the smoke that has been created. Then dig a shallow hole and bury the ashes. Mother Earth devours the ashes and the wind carries away the negative energy. Sound hoaky?' I suppose but the symbolic energy that you have created and participated in is very powerful indeed. You have identified the negatives in your life. You agreed to rid yourself of them and then carried out that behavior. It works. It is the inner conversation that you have with yourself that is strengthened and important. You can even write something to read at you ceremony that signifies a change in attitude or names which perspective you want to adopt -- "I will be more honest". You are now ready to carry on with steps 8-12. You have connected your inner world, and we all have one, with your outer world. Identifying Our Affected Others  Step 8 We made a list of all persons we harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. It sounds so simple but it takes humility, courage and honesty to face the facts around how you treated other people when you were using. The purpose is to clear the wreckage of the past with those who are important to you and those who deserved better than what you gave them. It also allows for the reconciliation of some of the important relationships that you would like to have back but you may not be sure about how to go about repairing our relationships. This step simply encourages us to make a list of those people and that is all for now. Take your time and make sure that the list is as complete as you can make it. This is not about feeling guilty about how you treated some folks but rather preparing to set a new stage so that, when the time comes, we may walk among those we care for with our heads up and a clear conscience. Mending Broken Relationships Step 9 We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure themselves or others. This is where you accept the responsibility for how things have gone in the past because of your substance abuse and seize the opportunity to set things right with all those folks that you have listed. It is also vitally important that you do not attempt to be overly honest to the point where any of your declarations, that may include other people's behavior, becomes public knowledge. For example: You, your good friend and his girlfriend go to a party and drink far too much. Later in the evening you and the girlfriend begin to be a bit more friendly than is acceptable and lines are crossed. You both realize that that was not appropriate and manage to stop before any further harm is done. Admitting to your good friend now that that happened back then would be an example of making amends that would hurt, not only your friend but his girlfriend and might jeopardize their relationship not to mention your relationship with your friend. Apologize to the girlfriend if you like but including your friend in your efforts to clean off your slate would not be suggested here. This is one of those things that you might just have to learn to live with. Making a Personal Inventory Step 10 We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. Because we are human we will continue to make mistakes and we will continue to engage in ways of living that are not always healthy for us. It's important for us to take a bit of time on a regular basis to do 'a mini 4th step'. If we see some things that we question then we correct them. If we see or hear that we are stubborn, for instance, then we need to look at that and determine what that is about. Are we sliding back into old habits or ways? If we are -- correct that. The biggest mistake that folks in recovery make at this point is defending something that they have done that is not OK. We are better to admit that we screwed up - correct the issue and move on. Make your amends to anyone who deserves an apology. That way it doesn't become something that smoulders under the surface. Put enough of those little smouldering issues together and you could easily have a relapse in the making. Stepping Back and Reviewing Our Progress Step 11 We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will and the power to carry that out. This is a very important piece of the program because it encourages us to revisit how far we have come in the program and to give thanks for what we have gained. If you are a faith based person then this can happen through prayer and meditation. If you are not then it can happen through self talk and meditation. Keep a journal summing up what you have learned in the past week or month or year. Write yourself a letter outlining all the things that have come about because you have decided to remain clean and sober. Give thanks for all the knowledge you have gained and all the healing that has begun, the relationships that are more healthy now and the possibilities that have been presented to you because you choose, each day to remain clean and sober. This step provides us with an opportunity to be grateful and thankful to whatever force or power helped us get as far as we have. It is the inside work that we have done, the skills that we have developed and the open mindedness that we have allowed that has helped us get this far. It is a power or force greater than ourselves that we may, albeit reluctantly, acknowledge, even with some lingering doubts, that has helped us to vastly improve the quality of our lives. Growing Ourselves by Supporting Others Step 12 Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry the message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. Once we get to the point when we 'finish' the 12th step there is a concern that always presents itself. There is the possibility that we can get 'cocky' - that we can think to ourselves that we finished the program, that we have learned all there is to learn and that 'I've got it done now.' Some even think that they can go back out again and have a drink or a toke every once in a while because they know how to stop now. Many a program has tanked because of that error in judgement. Each time you go down it becomes more difficult to get back up again. When you are finished the program you go back to number 1 and start again. It will not be quite the same program because of the things you know now that you didn't or couldn't know back when you first started out on this journey. The way you continue to grow is to help others who struggle. Remember that 'we keep what we have by giving it away.' Help those who don't believe they can do it or are intent on doing it 'their way'. You have to be careful that you don't get caught up in their stuff and you have to be careful that you don't take on their recovery program and try to get them to do theirs the same way you do yours. Sometimes you just have to let them go and hope that they make it back. Everyone has to travel their own journey of recovery at their own speed. But many keep coming back. Our job is to be sure that there is a warm, caring, non-judgmental place for them to come back to and a warm hand shake or hug that says: "We're here for you -- come on in!" Read in browser »   Recent featured articles: Working it Through: A Closer Look at The 12 Steps of AA – Part 1 of 2 AA Resource List – Everything You Need to Know about Getting Started with the 12 Steps Can an Addiction Counselor Help You? What to Expect from Counseling What’s the Best Alcohol Addiction Treatment Option for You? Self-Medicating Harm Reduction: Tips for Safer Self-Medication And, as always, thank you for reading! All the best to you and yours, Martin Schoel, founder of Choose Help P.S. If you’d like to dive into the conversation, make sure to follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook (40K+ people do). FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO A LOVED ONE Do you or someone you know need rehab? Click or 'Tap' to speak with us now: (877) 333-5266 Facebook Twitter Google Plus Pinterest

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Women for Sobriety, Inc. Dancing Leaves, Silly Squirrels, Quiet Mornings ҉    “You were born with potential.  You were born with goodness and trust.  You were born with ideals and dreams.  You were born with greatness.  You were born with wings.  You are not meant for crawling, so don’t.  You have wings.  Learn to use them and fly.”  -Rumi “Be not afraid of greatness.  Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.”  -William Shakespeare “Nothing is more simple than greatness; indeed to be simple is to be great.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson ********************************************** Statement #6, “Life can be ordinary or it can be great.” Greatness is mine by a conscious effort. ********************************************** +++++++++++++++++++ + Karen’s Perspective + +++++++++++++++++++      In the WFS Program Booklet, Jean writes, “Although we only get a one way ticket through life, we speed over the miles as if we will make the trip many times, as if planning to enjoy it on a later trip.  We live as if there are an endless amount of tomorrows.”  This was how I thought, felt and behaved before my sobriety and my New Life.  I was so busy running to the next exciting event, with alcohol in hand, that it wasn’t long before I was knee deep into a pattern of unending inadequacy and no ‘thing’ was ever enough.  I felt an inauthentic feeling of life with capturing the thrill, the adventures and the antics, but it was always short lived and often never living up to my expectations.  No amount of fun, no amount of family, no amount of friendship and, certainly, no amount of alcohol was ever enough.  Thankfully, this is behind me today.      Statement #6 in action brings a sense of fullness to my life.  I am able to slow down, pause and really enjoy the moment with conscious awareness.  On occasion, it can take added effort, such as when I am overly tired or physically not feeling well.  In those instances, I still try to remain present by acknowledging what I am doing, for example, if I am washing dishes I may silently say to myself “I am rinsing this lovely plate” or “I am drying this beautiful piece of glass” and I am able to shift into the moment at hand and reap the rewards.      Reminding myself that greatness is within and surrounding me, I am able to relax and feel content with what is.  I no longer need to find the most expensive, most dramatic or outlandish of things to cover my feelings of lack; instead, I find more in the moment and be.      My feelings of gratitude have increased tenfold and I am able to notice little things; the scampering of a silly squirrel, the dance of leaves as a vehicle goes by or the quiet morning being welcomed by sparrows.  Relationships are at a noticeably different level and I feel a sense of comfort often.  Life really is great!      Of course, I still feel a thrill whenever the big moments in life come - weddings, graduations, reunions and the like; but, I no longer use them to feel alive.  I feel and know that I am alive and greatness envelops each moment.  Hugzzz, Karen Do you recognize, create and accept greatness in your life? +++++++++++++++ +  Dee’s Insights  + +++++++++++++++      Hi 4C Women, Gratefulness is something I learned in sobriety.  Not at first because as Jean wrote in the WFS Program Booklet, “When we stop drinking, we often go through a period of feeling not fully alive; we wonder what life is all about and whether sobriety is worth it.”  In putting Statement 6 into practice, I began to understand why just stopping the drinking would never be enough.  We’ve all seen people who stopped drinking but still thought and behaved in the same way.      Changing our behavior, our thoughts, our attitude is hard, challenging work.  There were times when I thought life was flat, uncovering and discovering my feelings was very uncomfortable and thoughts about escaping into the numbness of drinking would creep into my mind and even my dreams.  I even hid my drinking from my therapist because I didn’t want to stop; which may sound odd since I was in therapy.  But then I was also in the blame game stage of life.  I went to therapy to see how I could fix everyone else and thought I would learn those tactics in therapy.  What a shock to realize that it was myself that I needed to change!      I re-learned that lesson big time over the past year with my daughter’s health issues.  As much as I nagged, begged and prayed for her to take charge of her health, I was ineffective and, once again, I was faced with what I learned many years ago - that I could only change myself.  So I decided to focus on my own health for 2015.  I was not prepared for the barriers placed before me.  I started the year off with a mallet finger that requires wearing a splint for 2 months, followed by two and a half months of being sick with a sinus infection/asthma which put off my right knee replacement surgery.  After 4 rounds of antibiotics, thrush in my mouth from the antibiotics, weight gain from the prednisone, left eye bleeding from my tortured blood vessels, pain in my back, putting off getting my permanent crowns put on, my tooth implant of 6 years came off twice as well as a 5 year old crown, need a colonoscopy that I wasn’t expecting, my blood work showed I have a very low immune system and might need monthly 3-4 hour infusions at the hospital every 28 days and lastly experiencing numbness in my left leg.  All I kept thinking was I needed a redo or start-over to 2015.  It’s taking a lot of concentrated effort to be grateful but I am because my mallet finger is on my right hand and I am left handed; I didn’t have to go into the hospital for my asthma; I am feeling better and, most of all, I have so much loving support.  Can’t say I haven’t shed a tear or two but then WFS has taught me not to run away or numb my feelings so I am truly grateful for that.      I don’t have to pretend that I am not scared or frustrated by the first few months of 2015; however, I have to balance that with gratefulness that there are solutions and choices to my health issues and I don’t have to drink away my feelings.  For that, I am most grateful to WFS and the Statements that remain a guide for introspection and authentic change.  I sometimes see “greatness” as “gratefulness” and, as Jean said, this is the time when growth must take place or sobriety will always be a burden.  I couldn’t imagine living this life with the feeling that sobriety is a burden.  For me, it is freedom!  What does it mean to you?  -Dee  _________________________ Thank you, Karen and Dee, for your words of encouragement and inspiration to lead us into the weekend!  ~Becky Fenner, WFS Director

Email:  newlife@nni.com   *   Tel: 215-536-8026   *   Fax:  215-538-9026

http://www.womenforsobriety.org   *   http://www.wfscatalog.org

March 20 CHP 16 v 1 v 2 TWELVE STEPPING WITH STRENGTH FROM THE PSALMS

I love the LORD because He hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.

Because He bends down to listen ,I will pray as long as I have breath ! (GODS BIG BOOK)

STEP 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

Prayer unlocks heavens door and invites God ,Jesus, and the  Holy Spirit   to come into your life .We are never alone in our lives and prayer will keep us in GODS loop protected from the darkness of addictions. That darkness is  always whispering in the other ear trying to entice away from the freedom we have found.If we yield to the whisper we will be surely entangled again and according too GODS BIG BOOK we will worse be off the second time around. Step 11 must be a 24 hour a day step well at least it is for me. if I am left alone with out God for one second I will succumb to the whispers and jump onto too the relapse roller coaster and ride right back into hell.

Galatians 5:1 - Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

(GODS BIG BOOK)By Joseph Dickerson

DEA Issues Alert on Fentanyl-Laced Heroin as Overdose Deaths Surge Nationwide

/BY JOIN TOGETHER STAFF

March 19th, 2015/

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a nationwide alert in response to a surge in overdose deaths from heroin laced with the narcotic drug fentanyl, the most potent opioid available for medical use.

“Drug incidents and overdoses related to fentanyl are occurring at an alarming rate throughout the United States and represent a significant threat to public health and safety,” DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart said in a statement. “Often laced in heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues produced in illicit clandestine labs are up to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30-50 times more powerful than heroin.”

Fentanyl is potentially lethal, even at very low levels, according to the DEA.

Last year, Philadelphia officials announced at least 28 people died after using heroin laced with fentanyl in March and April. Earlier in 2014, law enforcement officials said heroin laced with fentanyl was suspected in at least 50 fatal overdoses in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Michigan.

Seizures of illegal drugs containing fentanyl more than tripled between 2013 and 2014, according to USA Today. The National Forensic Laboratory Information System, which collects data from police labs, received 3,344 fentanyl submissions last year, up from 942 the previous year.

Between 2005 and 2007, more than 1,000 U.S. deaths were attributed to fentanyl, many of them in Chicago, Detroit and Philadelphia. The source of the drug was traced to a single lab in Mexico. The surge of deaths ended when the lab was identified and dismantled, the DEA said.

Need Help?

The Addict's Mom is working on a directory of accredited treatment programs if you need help finding an accredited treatment facility pm me on Facebook or call me at 954 309-0992. After working in this field for 8 years there are a few treatment centers that I would highly recommend based on the individual needs of the addict.

Much love to all addicts moms and their families

Visit The Addict's Mom at: http://addictsmom.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.                                                   and           Pennsylvania Recovery Organization --      Achieving Community Together (PRO-ACT)  Recovery in Our Communities March 17, 2015   www.councilsepa.org Information and Recovery Support Line 24/7: 800-221-6333 New to The Council! Linda Brooke, is our new Manager of Marketing and Business Development for The Council. She has extensive experience working in Marketing Communications and Public Relations for social service agencies as well as for health care and business advocacy. Her background includes strategic planning, branding, project and event management, media relations, and writing and editing for print materials and social media outlets. Linda's responsibilities include implementing marketing plans and business development opportunities; managing advertising, promotions and public awareness campaigns; and enhancing the overall image, social media interactions and communications in our five-county area. She will also develop collateral materials with a unified look; coordinate fundraising events and donor development opportunities; and develop copy for our website, newsletters, Facebook, Twitter and news releases. Linda will be based out of Unit 12 in Doylestown, but will also spend time at our other sites getting to know our staff and programs. To find out more, you can connect with Linda on LinkedIn, or contact her at lbrooke@councilsepa.org or 215-345-6644 xt. 3115.  Steve Calderbank, is our new Recovery Centers Coordinator, responsible for oversight and management of the Bucks County Recovery Centers (Central Bucks, Southern Bucks and the Women's Center in New Britain).  Over the last few years, Steve has been a volunteer with PRO-ACT and the Central Bucks Vision's Team. He's offered valuable input to the Veterans Committee and Work Release Center, the Mentor Plus program, the Recovery Toolkit and several workshops. In his new role, he will be focused on a collaborative and coordinated approach, incorporating recovery principles and values into our programs and operations. His goal is to lower barriers and improve our process while still maintaining our standard of offering high quality programs. Steve's background includes his role as Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. military, which included spending the last seven of his 20 years of active duty as a Drug and Alcohol Program Advisor.  That position was basically a combination of The Council's roles of Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) and Prevention Specialist. To learn more, you can connect with Steve on LinkedIn, or contact him at 215-345-6644 xt. 2020 or scalderbank@councilsepa.org. This Week in The Intelligencer:  "Spreading heroin antidote to loved ones" Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc., Prevention Point Philadelphia and The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. team up for Naloxone Trainings.      Read the full story here.    Volunteer for The Council/PRO-ACT !! Contact one of our Volunteer Coordinators: Central Bucks:  Email or call Rick at 215-345-6644 Southern Bucks:  Email or call Karen at 215-788-3738 x100 Philadelphia: Email or call She-Ria at 215-233-7700 or Email John or call 215-923-1661  Chester, Delaware and Montco: Email or call John at 215-923-1661 PRO-ACT Recovery Walks! Committees: Email  or call John at 215-923-1661 Volunteer Training Schedule Volunteer Orientation Training April 1, 2015 1 pm - 2:30 pm at Southern Bucks Recovery Community Center April 1, 2015 10 am - 1 pm and 5 pm - 7:30 pm at Philadelphia Recovery Training Center  April 10, 2015 1 pm - 2:30 pm at Central Bucks Recovery Community Center Group Leadership/Facilitation Training March 27, 2015 1 pm - 3 pm at Central Bucks Recovery Community Center April 8, 2015 1 pm - 3:30 pm at Southern Bucks Recovery Community Center April 9, 2015 10 am - 1pm and 5 pm - 8 pm Philadelphia Recovery Training Center Please contact the volunteer coordinator for questions or to attend.   AT OUR CENTERS Open Mic Night! Friday, March 27 at 7:00 pm at Southern Bucks Recovery Community Center(SBRCC), 1286 Veterans Highway, D-6, Bristol PA. Join us as guests or performers- comics, singers, poets, musicians, bands. $5 donation requested.  Contact Karen at 215-788-3738 xt. 100 for more information.       Planning to Sustain Recovery - every Tuesday 7 - 8:30 pm and every Thursday 10 - 11:30am at Central Bucks Recovery Community Center (CBRCC), 252 W Swamp Road, Unit 12, Doylestown.  Educational support group to help individuals in all stages of recovery plan goals and action steps to sustain recovery. To register email or call Jeanne at 215-345-6644 xt. 3120.   Gateway to Work every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 11:00 am at SBRCC, 1286, Veterans Highway, Unit D-6, Bristol; Mon. - Fri. the first week of the month at PRCC, 1701 W Lehigh Ave., #6, Philadelphia, PA 19132; 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 11:00 am at CBRCC, 252 W Swamp Road, Doylestown. Get help with resume building, barriers to employment and motivation. Contact Rick at 215-345-6644 xt. 3151 or email for more information. To find out what's happening at our centers, Click here for March calendars!       AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to The Council. Go to www.smile.amazon.com  Log in with Amazon account info or register if you are a new member Type in The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. and click SEARCH We will come up, hit SELECT Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to The Council. Save the date!  Gather your team, consider sponsorship!   PRO-ACT Recovery Walks! 2015 September 19 Register free; Form a team; Join the Honor Guard; Donate; Volunteer; or become a Sponsor by  clicking here www.recoverywalks.org Employment Opportunities: Click here

DONATE Donations help us to reduce the impact of addiction for more individuals and families. The Council is a 501(c)(3) organization.