Learning from our past and letting go of shame Regret can be transformed into a learning opportunity. If you attend a 12-step meeting, you are sure to hear individuals freely…
Author: Addictions UK
The Benefits of Self-Care
Simple ways to build resilience while adapting to the new normal During the past three months, I have had a recurring dream – or should I say nightmare – some…
Self-Centeredness: You Are Not the Solution to Your Addiction
Find Freedom in Purpose The Selfish Core of Addiction Self-centeredness has been widely touted as one of the main characteristics of individuals who are living with addictions. This claim is…
Therapy Helps to Overcome Addiction Treatment
Like almost everywhere else, addiction is widespread in the UK. It occurs in every stratum of the community. Addiction is not limited to the abuse of illegal substances such as…
Why Choose a Home Detox?
Over the last ten years, alcohol and drug-related deaths in the UK have steadily been on the rise. Currently, figures relating to deaths as a result of drug usage are…
Addicts are not criminals
Are Addicts Criminals? Despite all the awareness about addiction being a ‘disease’, there is an undeniable stigma attached to alcoholics and drug addicts. Addicts and alcoholics are not just viewed…
How I got in and out of the pit of alcoholism
I loved life as a child, I was the youngest of 4, and with 3 older brothers, I was the only girl my parents had. My dad and I had…
Now I Have Choices
I was born into a regular family and always felt that my real troubles did not start until high school. I found it hard to fit in and was bullied,…
Recovery Capital
What is Recovery Capital? Every so often there is a buzzword that is attached to recovery, ‘Recovery Capital’ is one of those. However, unlike other buzzwords that seem to serve…
Free Yourself from Regret
6 Sure-Shot Steps To Turn Negative Emotions Into Positive Action We have all felt sometimes that life would have been better if we had taken a different path. If only…
Harm Reduction or Abstinence – which is better in Addiction Treatment?
Primarily, there are two addiction treatment strategies available for drug addicts and alcoholics – harm reduction and abstinence. Proponents of both these methods claim high success rates by quoting medical…
Lessons Learnt in Recovery from Addiction
In an active Addiction, many of us caused significant harms. The lies and broken promises meant we often hurt others when their only crime was to love us. Those who…
How to Achieve Happiness with Acceptance
Most of us fail to see reality. We see things as we believe them to be, or wish them to be. Examples are all around us. Whether it’s religious beliefs,…
What’s your purpose in life?
We are all born and start our journey in life towards inexorable and inevitable termination. The years between birth and death is the period we have goals with or without…
From Pride to Humility
One of the main characteristics of an alcoholic or addict is his self-centeredness. He or she is full of pride, though there may be little he can be proud of….
Life is a terminal disease
Life is full of change. Ever-changing, never still. Change is the only constant. Youth comes and goes; beauty and pleasure are transitory. The sun, nature, matter – all are in…
My journey into meditation
Ways to develop, practise and reasons to be patient. Meditation and I have never gone hand in hand. I’ve often been closed-minded and reluctant to build it into my daily…
My Journey from Addiction to Recovery
Sometime in July 2011, I attended my first Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting. Up until that point I had always claimed I could get clean whenever I wanted, just as long…
The Impact of Addiction and Recovery on Financial Insecurity
For most individuals in active addiction, the ability to adequately manage their finances is an almost impossible task. They are no strangers to financial insecurity. Addiction is a progressive illness:…
7 Ways to Find Real Freedom
Ancient Indian Yogic philosophy identified five Kleshas or ‘afflictions’: Avidya (ignorance), Asmita (egoism), Raga (attachment), Dvesa (aversion or hatred), and Abinivesah (clinging to life and fear of death). Some of…
Is Social Media Harmful?
Social media is now part of our lives. It includes popular sites such a Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok. There are concerns about its impact on our lives, especially…
Caution! Be Careful in Selecting Professional Addiction Treatment Providers
Beware when using Third-Party Referral Agents while choosing professional help for your addiction treatment requirements. Addictions UK is one of the leading agencies in offering a range of home-based non-residential addiction…
Life in Recovery: Is it Boring?
One of my biggest fears about quitting addiction was that I would be perceived as boring, or my life in recovery would be dull. Speaking to many of my recovery…
Fareshare and Addictions North East Food and Provisions
Addictions North East with the help of the County Durham Community Foundation, The Ballinger Trust, the Greggs Foundation and Addictions UK distribute food and Provisions to service users in County…
7 Types of Freedom in Addiction Recovery
Addiction is a trap. The addict is robbed of any real choices – he or she has to drink or drug. They have no freedom from their compulsions, obsessive thoughts…
Home Detox Programme
Many people would prefer to be treated at home for any illness and we know that this is particularly true of people…