Shame is a major hurdle on the path to recovery for many addicts and it is at the root of the majority of setbacks. Harboring beliefs that you’re not good enough, or that you can’t change will keep you from living a happy, healthy life, even after you get clean. In order to make a full recovery and become a whole person, you must learn to recognize shame, and to let go of it.
There’s a war raging right now between media, medical scientists, and the everyday man about whether or not pornoraphy is a healthy sexual outlet, or a destructive, addictive pariah. Some scientists are saying that the problem is all in our heads, but thousands upon thousands of men who are suffering from pornography induced erectile dysfunction (PIED) and other problems are saying that they can’t quit looking at it on their own and that it’s ruining their life.
Despite what a large portion of the media, and even some medical experts would have you believe, pornography addiction is a real thing and there is help available. Debunking some of the common pornography myths can give addicts hope and provide much-needed access to help.
It’s the time of year when parties seem to be springing up everywhere and if you’re in recovery, you may be wondering where you and parties stand. First of all, you need to evaluate your own recovery progress, preferably along with your addiction counselor, to decide if you’re ready to attend a party where drugs or alcohol might be present. Chances are if you're in your first year of recovery, a party isn’t a safe place for you.
If you’re more of an addiction veteran and you’re thinking you’re ready to hit the party scene, you still need to protect your recovery. You may be more vulnerable than you know and you need to be prepared to manage triggers and cravings. Setting up and sticking to a few simple party rules will ensure that you have a fun and safe time this holiday season.
You want to help a loved one who is struggling with alcoholism, but maybe you don’t know how. You can be a real asset to your loved one as they enter and work through addiction recovery, but only if you know how to be properly supportive. Sticking with some basic dos and don’ts will steer you in the right direction.
Thanks to the internet and advancements in addiction research, there’s a lot of information about the disease floating around out there. While having open access to addiction education is great in most cases, getting a hold of the wrong information can be damaging to recovery. Debunking common addiction myths is a necessary part of addiction education.
Although addiction is an isolating disease for the addict, it affects everyone close to them as well. Addiction becomes a disease of the family unit as it progresses, harming everyone in its path. We can better understand how addiction harms families if we picture the addict as a person stuck in quicksand. They are being pulled down by their disease and they can’t find a way out. Family members who try to help them are often caught by the quicksand too, and soon find themselves sinking down with their loved one. Families need a lifeline of help to pull them out and to give everyone some stable footing again!