Articles - Detox, Drug and Alcohol Abuse Help, Addiction Help Center | La Paloma Treatment Center - Memphis, TN » Holidays

A New Year In Recovery

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:36:01 +0000

What does New Year’s mean to someone in recovery? What opportunities await you in 2012?

As we begin another new year, TV shows, magazines, newspapers and the Web are filled with ideas for creating a new you, keeping resolutions, making changes inside and out. They shout at you with promises of 10 easy steps or five quick tips.

For those in recovery, every day is New Year’s Day – another chance to start fresh, to make positive choices and to claim victory over substance abuse or alcohol addiction. Anyone working a program knows change isn’t a one-time thing, it’s a daily process. There are no shortcuts and no quick fixes. A healthy, substance-free life is hard work. But the rewards are oh-so worth it.

That said, the New Year does provide a unique opportunity to take stock. It’s a good time to examine patterns and routines that could use some tweaking or set new goals that can take you to the next level.

You overcame your addiction, facing it head on. Now what healthy, new challenges do you want to tackle in 2012?

Addiction Help at La Paloma

If you or someone you love needs help with alcohol or drug abuse issues, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

New Year, New You

admin — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:01:11 +0000

The clock struck midnight, the ball dropped and a new year has been ushered in.

Welcome, 2009!

Are you feeling optimistic about what the coming year will hold? Nervous? Excited? It may be little more than the turning of a calendar page, but a new year offers the feeling of a fresh start. It’s a natural time to take stock of the past year and determine what’s working for you and what needs to be changed.

Self Inventory

For those in recovery, this annual “inventory” is even more important. This is the time to make sure you’re not slipping back into old habits. To take stock of where you’re at, start by asking yourself these questions:

Are you taking a lax approach to meetings?
Do you have people currently in your life to provide accountability and support?
What proactive steps are you taking to maintain your sobriety?
Are you starting to think that there’s no danger of a relapse?
Are you hanging out with old friends, feeling confident that you’re immune to their bad influence?

Any of these can be signs that you’re in danger of sliding back into addiction. But it’s not too late to change your course. Find someone who understands where you’ve been and where you are now to provide some honest advice and the accountability you’re lacking. A few wrong turns can take us off track, but a few right turns can get us back on the right road. There’s no time like the present to start steering a positive course.

Holiday Stress

admin — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:55:29 +0000

As the holidays approach and the to-do list grows, it’s easy to find yourself overwhelmed. The growing Christmas list, the crowds at the mall, the long lines at the grocery store, the endless parties and obligations… before you know it, you’re stressed out. It doesn’t help that the days are shorter and colder, making it tempting to huddle inside where it’s warm and hibernate. But the winter weather has more to offer than just chapped lips and static cling. The nature around us can do a lot to combat stress and depression – if you’ll only give it the chance.

Nature plays a valuable role in a healthy life for the average person and it’s even more important for someone in recovery from alcohol and drug dependency. The biggest challenge is making the time to step outside and let nature do its work, helping stress and depression to drift away. Our daily world is a place of such busyness that simply taking time to open your door, walk outside and make a connection with a part of the natural world- whether it’s a tree, a rock, a blade of grass, a rain cloud or a mound of snow– can do wonders.

This type of natural healing is available to anyone. Try it and you’ll find that breathing deeply and enjoying the simplicity of the moment offers a healing that can’t be found at the local pharmacy. And that Christmas can wait a few minutes. Really.