“If you step out of bounds, admit it. If you lose control of your emotions and lash out, recognize your unhealthy behaviors, apologize and grow from the experience. By respecting the boundaries of others, you fortify your own.” —Mary McGraw Gordon, director of Family and Outpatient Services at the Betty Ford Center Read more in "Learning to Set Healthy Boundaries." The holidays are quickly approaching. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and many other traditions are just around the corner.  You know what else approaching? Stress, and for many, increased anxiety and depression. The traditions associated with the holidays often stem from our families of origin and are passed down over time from generation to generation. What’s one to do when such emphasis is placed on being with family during the holidays, yet your family may have rejected you. How about reinventing your concept of family? Who says things have to be the way they’ve always been? If you’re not getting what you want and need in your life, go out and seek it — redefine what your family will look like. Set a new tradition this holiday season, and move forward by painting a new picture of what your family will look like.  RENEW EVERY DAY Sober Holiday Entertaining with Chef Liz Scott  December is the biggest time for specialty foods and goodies, and more often than not, “festive” food is synonymous with “booze-laden.” How do we avoid a white-knuckle Christmas when the odds are so heavily stacked against us? Here are the best tricks for keeping it merry, bright and booze-free whether you are a holiday guest or host. 10 Spa Vacations That Won't Stress Your Savings Here are 10 spas across the country that offer a unique experience without requiring wholesale bites to your household budget.  Schedule a Screening of Generation Found The documentary is Greg Williams’ latest effort to give a voice to the millions affected by addiction. Renew provides relevant and engaging information and resources to help individuals recovering from drug and alcohol addiction and their loved ones create and embrace a healthy lifestyle. Share Tweet Forward

Say "Yes!" to a healthy lifestyle and "No!" to underage drinking View in browser  The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) has brand-new materials to help kids say "YES" to a healthy lifestyle and "NO" to underage drinking! You and your kids can now discover how alcohol affects the developing brain to jump-start important conversations about the dangers of underage drinking. This new animated video series teaches parents and kids the science of how the brain works and how alcohol affects it. In addition to the videos, this program provides parents with tips for answering tricky questions, conversation starters, and more. Visit AskListenLearn.org to explore these new resources. Program content regarding the effects of alcohol on the developing brain has been reviewed by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and is consistent with currently available science. Visit Scholastic.com For Teachers | For Parents | For Kids Please add snp@message.scholastic.com to your address book.  We hope you enjoyed receiving this message from Scholastic National Partnerships. Your email address is: recoveryfriends@gmail.com. If you would rather not receive promotional emails from Scholastic National Partnerships, please follow this link. Please visit the Scholastic Preference Center to update your personal information and to manage your email subscriptions. Email Marketing, Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012 | 1-800-SCHOLASTIC Privacy Policy | Scholastic Inc. | Terms of Use ©1996-2016 Scholastic Inc.

Finding Treatment" with Sovereign Health

Q. How can I find the right treatment center for my child?

A. The ideal treatment center would have a perfect success rate, be close to home and accept all insurance plans with no additional charges. It would also be immaculate, beautiful, and your child would love it there. While no such treatment center exists, some do actually come close. Knowing what aspects are most important can help parents make the right decision.

Regarding the aspects of the “ideal” treatment center described above:

* Success rates are difficult to obtain, because treatment centers are not able to keep track of all former patients over time. Testimonials, reviews and reputation are probably the closest surrogate measures of success rates that are available. Sometimes, centers can give a “ballpark” success rate based on alumni program follow-up.

* Proximity to home may seem important, but the quality of the program far outweighs the distance. The time will fly by anyway, so it is better to receive quality treatment that will have lasting results than to be able to visit in person on weekends.

* Unfortunately, insurance often does influence treatment center selection as treatment can get very costly. Quality rehab requires teams of highly trained experts in many different disciplines as well as 24/7 staff. Residential care provides an opportunity for intensive therapy and different treatment modalities, all of which may or may not be covered. Quality treatment centers will have 24/7 phone lines answered by knowledgeable staff who can answer questions about insurance and financing options.

* The degree of cleanliness can offer some insight into the quality of a treatment program. Many centers offer prospective patients and families tours of their facilities. Reviews from former patients will sometimes include the level of cleanliness of the facility. Also, look for accreditation by The Joint Commission. The Joint Commission does not accredit dirty facilities.

* Whether or not a treatment center is in a beautiful location is really a personal decision. If the location or setting helps increase your child’s desire to seek treatment, then by all means, the setting is important. More importantly, again, is the program quality. Ask about the treatment team, staff credentials and a sample schedule to better understand the therapy your child will be receiving.

* Never expect your child to love being in treatment. Addiction treatment is hard work, especially in the first week or two. By the end, your child should at least accept the treatment as necessary and helpful. If not, there could be a mismatch between your child and the program. Learn the policies and procedures of the chosen treatment center prior to admission.

Dana Connolly, Ph.D., is a senior staff writer for the Sovereign Health Group, where she translates current research into practical information. She earned her Ph.D. in research and theory development from New York University and received numerous research grants, awards, and appointments, and has lectured at universities and scientific conferences around the world. More importantly, she is a mother of twin boys who will be starting middle school next year and are the joy of her life.

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

We Don't 'Do' Narcan Here | The Fix

We Don't 'Do' Narcan Here | The Fix: 2 years ago California's overdose law went into effect, and pharmacies still refuse to stock naloxone.

In Defense of Suboxone | The Fix

In Defense of Suboxone | The Fix: This is a story about two of my friends who would likely be alive today if they didn’t feel compelled to stop taking Suboxone.

Euthanasia as a Cure for Alcoholism | The Fix

Euthanasia as a Cure for Alcoholism | The Fix: In the last two weeks of his life, Mark laughed, ate, and spoke honestly with the family for the first time in years. He was lighter, looking forward to death.

 

A new movie is out by the creators of 'Anonymous People.' Check out the next showing in Bucks County!

Tuesday, January 10, at 3:00pm

Warrington Crossing Stadium 22 & Imax

140 Easton Rd, Warrington, PA 18976

Purchase tickets here  

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Rockers-In-Recovery----9-Years-Old--Thank-You-For-Your-Support-.html?soid=1102906894456

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Rockers-In-Recovery----9-Years-Old--Thank-You-For-Your-Support-.html?soid=1102906894456

AA celebrates 70 years of sobriety

AA celebrates 70 years of sobriety: The South African branch of the international fellowship encourages those dealing with alcohol abuse to make the first step to recovery.

Recovering addicts step out of the shadows

Recovering addicts step out of the shadows

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Bad-Psych-Hospitals---WEEKEND-EDITION--.html?soid=1105430428303&aid=B57iQn8UR2M

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Bad-Psych-Hospitals---WEEKEND-EDITION--.html?soid=1105430428303&aid=B57iQn8UR2M

For our educational series, TAM friend Lyle Fried of The Shores has compiled this very useful information for our members. As always, if you have further questions for Lyle, please PM Sherry Schlenke. Relapse Prevention for your loved ones when they are home. With the holiday season upon us, many people in recovery will be leaving treatment or their sober living environments to visit with family. There are many triggers when the person in recovery returns home. For that reason, this is a time of higher-than-average relapse; we want to be proactive in prevention. Knowing the signs and having a plan to deal with them BEFORE there is actual drug use can literally be a lifesaver. Signs of impending relapse can include old behaviors that resurface. This can be as vague as “having an attitude,” to as specific as associating with certain people, or missing meetings. Dysfunctional behaviors may return. It is important to identify the potential warning signs of a relapse and have the person in recovery agree to be held accountable. Addiction experts have developed a checklist of areas of concern, and signs that your loved one has relapsed. One area is the schedule. Many people will try to “outrun” their addiction, for example, being too busy, or over-working, as in a workaholic. Not having a schedule at all is also problematic because of a lack of purpose and having too much free time. Forgetting priorities such as meetings, breaking promises/commitments, neglecting loved ones, and spending too much time on mindless entertainment like TV and computer games can be a sign of relapse. Too much or not enough sleep ,and lapses in self-care/hygiene are also warning signs for a relapse. Included in the schedule are meals. A warning sign is skipping meals or binge-eating. There could be digestive issues, or unexplained weight gain or loss. Another area is emotions, with anxiety and depression being among the more prevalent. Emotions can vary greatly and may be expressed as excessive worry, fear, resentments, negative thinking, perfectionism, judging others, obsession with a relationship, anger outbursts, self-pity, being overly defensive, and dramatic mood swings that could include pessimism and depression. They may feel overwhelmed and cry for “no reason.” They want to avoid situations rather than face them. Think about your words when helping someone realize that they are exhibiting the warning signs of a relapse. Be as non-judgemental as possible. Find someone to be an accountability partner for the person in recovery. The two should meet in advance of the holiday and discuss not only the warning signs, but how the signs will be addressed. Perhaps try to have the person in recovery sign a written agreement. One idea is an “Accountability Card” that has the list of behaviors/warning signs on one side and a signed agreement on the other side. Both the person in recovery and the accountability partner should keep a copy. If the relapse is probable, steps must be taken such as meetings, therapy, or any strategy that has worked in the past to prevent drug use. Best wishes for a peaceful holiday. Visit The Addict's Mom at: http://addictsmom.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

AXIS 2017 is excited to announce collaborations with the American Addiction Treatment Association (AATA) and the Addiction Treatment Marketing Association (ATMO). AATA and ATMO will be providing their expertise through hosted workshops at AXIS and will further enhance the Summit's educational mission. Read more about our collaborators below. The full brochure is now available online. View AXIS Brochure Room Block Ending Soon - January 6 Don't wait - the room block is ending soon and rooms are filling up quickly at the gorgeous Naples Grande Beach Resort. Enjoy 23 picturesque acres along the Gulf of Mexico, seven miles of pristine white-sand beach, three swimming pools, and stylish guestrooms and spacious suites overlooking the Gulf. Book now to take advantage of the AXIS discounted rate. Click here to learn more and reserve your room.    About the AXIS Collaborators  The American Addiction Treatment Association (AATA) is a national trade association that provides online resources and training events, including state-by-state compliance requirements for licensing and certification, operations, reimbursement, clinical standards, patient privacy, quality assurance, and risk management. AATA delivers reliable information and resources on compliance and best practices to enable recovery industry professionals, owners, and operators to navigate the evolving clinical and regularly landscapes. AATA tracks industry trends,  federal and state rules and regulations, and payor activity and requirements. The Addiction Treatment Marketing Organization (ATMO) was established as a working group to study and promote issues pertaining to the ethical marketing of addiction treatment. The organization was formed in response to intensifying concerns among addiction professionals that unethical marketing practices are increasingly threatening to misinform prospective clients and damage the credibility of the addiction treatment field. ATMO is intended to raise awareness, offer insights, encourage discussion, and offer guidance to help the treatment industry self-regulate this most important segment of the medical field.

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