Many Teens Taking Antipsychotic Drugs Haven’t Been Diagnosed With Mental Disorder - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Many Teens Taking Antipsychotic Drugs Haven’t Been Diagnosed With Mental Disorder - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Women for Sobriety, Inc. Reflections Hello WFS Friends! I thought you would like to read one of the day passages from the WFS booklet, "Reflections for Growth" that WFS's Founder, Jean Kirkpatrick, wrote.  All women using our program in their recovery are encouraged and welcomed to submit their comments on this reflection for possible publication in the August 2015 issue ofSobering Thoughts newsletter...please send them to contact@womenforsobriety.orgby July 10th.  Thanks! TOLERATION: This week we will pursue our feelings about toleration.  Several years ago I had no concept whatever of "toleration", for I had none. Why is it that alcoholics are so intolerant of others; yet, we ask others to tolerate us? Today I am grateful for the changes in me. (This was an excerpt from "Reflections for Growth" booklet and may be purchased through the WFS Catalog at http://www.wfscatalog.org/Reflections-For-Growth-Bundle-BT174.htm - there are 12 booklets - one for each month of the year.  Copyright WFS Inc.) Warm regards, Becky Fenner, WFS Director Email:  contact@womenforsobriety.org   *   Tel: 215-536-8026   *   Fax:  215-538-9026

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

July 7 CHP 119 v 130 TWELVE STEPPING WITH STRENGTH FROM THE PSALMS

The unfolding of your words gives light , it gives understanding to the simple .

   (GODS BIG BOOK)

Step Four - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Simple- easily understood or done; presenting no difficulty.

My self medicating ways  were used because I could not understand my life. What was the point of me being here and why had so many things gone wrong in my life. I spent a long time angry at everyone and everything because I had no understanding ! All I had to do for answers was read GODS BIG BOOK ! Instead I staggered through life guessing and that made me insecure and afraid .That fear fed worry and worry morphed into sadness and anger ! I lived in the dark shadows of my life for fifteen years and all I needed to do was  read GODS BIG BOOK and take the steps into the light.

Matthew 7:24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

(GODS BIG BOOK) By Joseph Dickerson

Women for Sobriety, Inc. Reflections Hello WFS Friends! I thought you would like to read one of the day passages from the WFS booklet, "Reflections for Growth" that WFS's Founder, Jean Kirkpatrick, wrote.  All women using our program in their recovery are encouraged and welcomed to submit their comments on this reflection for possible publication in the August 2015 issue ofSobering Thoughts newsletter...please send them to contact@womenforsobriety.orgby July 10th.  Thanks! TOLERATION: This week we will pursue our feelings about toleration.  Several years ago I had no concept whatever of "toleration", for I had none. Why is it that alcoholics are so intolerant of others; yet, we ask others to tolerate us? Today I am grateful for the changes in me. (This was an excerpt from "Reflections for Growth" booklet and may be purchased through the WFS Catalog at http://www.wfscatalog.org/Reflections-For-Growth-Bundle-BT174.htm - there are 12 booklets - one for each month of the year.  Copyright WFS Inc.) Warm regards, Becky Fenner, WFS Director Email:  contact@womenforsobriety.org   *   Tel: 215-536-8026   *   Fax:  215-538-9026

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

Best of the week from Choose Help Substance Abuse & Addiction Risk Factors for Older Americans When older Americans use drugs it’s often for the same reasons that teenagers do: to cope, out of curiosity, and from a lack of passions. Feelings of mortality, boredom and loneliness are common precursors. Older Americans use drugs for the same reasons that teenagers do: to cope, out of curiosity, and from a lack of satisfying pursuits or passions. Depression, a sense of one’s mortality, boredom and loneliness are gateway experiences. They are best seen as forms of emptiness that demand to be filled and they will be, whether by default or design.  Using to Cope The recovery acronym H.A.L.T. advises that we must never become too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. This bit of wisdom is most commonly used to guard against relapse and/or anxiety and depression. It can also be used as a framework for understanding the things that predispose and perpetuate our use of drugs and alcohol. Hunger If we dig a bit deeper, we find that we Hunger for much more than food. It takes courage to identify what we truly want because identifying it necessitates going after it. As we age, our willingness to take risks and try new things tends to decline sharply. Alcohol and drugs offer immediate relief and distraction from the fear of knowing and pursuing our hearts longing. Anger We notice that Anger never travels alone but rather is accompanied by unmet needs and conflicting emotions (unresolved grief and loss, having a greater sense of one’s time being limited). Older Americans show a high preponderance of depression. Unfortunately and dangerously, many of us use alcohol (a known depressant) to cope with depression, which not only fuels feelings of anger, sadness, and loss, it also creates and perpetuates a sense of detachment from self. Loneliness We find that Loneliness can occur even when we’re surrounded by others. We struggle because we lack intimacy and connection. As life circumstances change, we often find ourselves bereft of people we strongly identify with and/or feel safe being vulnerable with. Drinking or drugging alone eliminates the possibility of solitude and perpetuates social isolation. Tired We realize that Tired is much more than a matter of sleep. It is a state of being drained, depleted, or burned out. It was a long road to get to retirement. Too many of us find that we lived with only two speeds: all out or dead stop.  When we lack motivation or compelling reasons to continue growing, we become complacent and stagnant. These are all the disease of addiction requires to take hold. Using to Offset Boredom Just as adolescents require outlets and social opportunities, so do the retired and elderly. As one client explained to me, “I’m at an age where everyone I know is either dying or moving to Florida!” For most folks, before we can truly welcome new opportunities to socialize with same aged peers, we must come to terms with aging and the changes it brings to our lives. I routinely point toward senior community centers, outing clubs, and hobby enthusiasts, only to hear, “I don’t want to sit around with a bunch of old people!” Drugs and alcohol were social lubricant and/or substitutes for companionship and friendships in our youth. Many of us find ourselves regressing to former habits because it’s easier and because it takes less courage to be willing to try new things and meet new people. If we keep at the forefront of our thoughts that these folks are in the same circumstances that we are, we can be open to having more connections and more fun. We never outgrow the need for friendships. Using Out of Curiosity It seems that unlike past generations, a high percentage of Baby Boomers have not come to an older age gracefully. A very high percentage of us come with a history of having abused drugs and alcohol in our youth. Curiosity led us to experiment at an early age and in the absence of more enticing options, we find ourselves wondering what the newer stuff is like. While we grew up with no small number of illicit drug choices, we find that things have changed dramatically. Even marijuana, which seemed so benign in our younger years has radically morphed in appearance and potency.1 Abuse of pain medications was not common for our generation and the plethora of designer drugs available is not only abundant, but potentially only a few mouse clicks away. In our youth we felt invulnerable. Age and experience have taught us to weigh the risks. Unfortunately, as we consider the pros and cons, many of us feel we have little to lose. Our choices must be made in the full light of day. It may indeed be harder to invest in ourselves as we age, but the alternatives run from unfulfilling to downright dangerous. Do you need specialized addiction treatment for an older adult? Check out ourFeatured Rehab Programs for Seniors Read in browser »   Recent featured articles: Too Smart for AA? Don't Overthink It - Make Changes and Have Faith in the Process 10 Barriers to Addiction Treatment for Older Adults Avoiding Methadone Overdose During the Dangerous First 2 Weeks Emotions in Early Recovery: "You Can't Heal What You Can't Feel" 16-Point Safety Checklist before Sending Your Teen to Residential Treatment 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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Dear The Addict’s Mom members, our traditional Lights of Hope will be held on September 13th . September is National Recovery Month and this event is our o.pportunity and our right to honor and support our loved ones in their respective stages of recovery.

We do this by lighting three candles

– a white candle for those in recovery,

- a black candle for those who have lost a loved one to addiction,

- a red candle for those who are in active addiction. 

A map of members and where they live within each state is located in the file section of your local TAM State Chapter. We encourage you to reach out to one another and hold a Steps of Hope vigil together. Parks, backyard gatherings, rivers, beaches, churches, and so on are great places to gather with your TAM sisters and celebrate not only the bond we have with one another, but to memorialize the journeys of addiction our loved ones have walked. 

Lights of Hope flyers will be available in the near future and white, black and red t-shirts will also become available for sale. Be sure to send us pictures of your gatherings so we can post them on our website!! Stand proud Mom’s in the hope that one day in the near future addiction will have more resources and less stigma.

If you’re finding yourself too far away from other members to join The Lights of Hope with them, please light candles at home and know that your TAM family is including you in their thoughts and prayers at this most solemn event.

*** Regional events can be help on any day during the months of September****

WE NEED YOUR HELP please click on the link to invite your friends

https://www.facebook.com/events/825847914197829/

See the picture on top for directions.

Your help is greatly appreciated ...

Much love to all addicts mom and their families...Barbara

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