Find a purpose! Have you heard of the dabbawalas of Mumbai? These are about 5,000 men and women, primarily illiterate, who deliver over 200,000 lunch boxes to office-goers in the…
Blogs
Alcohol Advertising as Insidious as Alcohol
How alcohol companies are targeting us and our children via digital media For nearly decades now, alcohol marketers have been aggressively using digital and social media platforms to promote and…
Are more clinical psychologists needed in GP practices?
The mind-body connection The link between mental and physical health is well known and well documented. Our ancestors were aware of this. As the old saying goes, “You can die…
Are You Rejecting and Tolerating Your Loved One’s Addiction?
How enabling make things worse The universal response to the chemically dependent person is first to reject and then to tolerate their objectionable behaviour, which enables their illness, furthering its…
Is There a Link Between Marijuana Use and Psychosis?
Schizophrenia linked to marijuana use disorder is on the rise, study finds Whiles browsing the internet, you are likely to see thousands of sites claiming that cannabis is harmless and…
Failure is part of the process
How to use the Steps in overcoming setbacks in addiction recovery Just as it was necessary to accept our disease of addiction before recovery could begin, we must accept setbacks…
When Doors Close
Addiction recovery opens another There is a saying that when one door closes, another always opens. This adage recognises that life seems to put obstacles in our paths when all…
Spiritual Growth
The magic of Higher Power in addiction recovery When we accepted our powerlessness over alcohol and drugs, we turned toward a Power greater than ourselves. Each time we take this…
What is Prayer?
The significance of prayer in addiction recovery The eleventh Step of the Twelve Step Program for recovery from addiction says, “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact…
Prayer and Meditation
Spiritual growth in addiction recovery Prayer and meditation are natural processes. They are responses to our relationship with our Higher Power. That relationship has deepened throughout our recoveries. For many…
Autism and Addiction
The Risky Relationship Persons affected by addictions (substance use disorder or SUD) often have a co-occurring disorder. Such individuals use alcohol or drugs to cope with their pre-existing condition, one…
Forgiving Others in Addiction Recovery
Setting ourselves free from the prison of resentments Early in recovery, the Twelve Step meetings we attended helped us develop an attitude of forgiveness in our relationships. We listened without…
Reaching Out to Others
From loneliness to togetherness in addiction recovery Each morning of the week, many members of Twelve Step groups regularly attend meetings at 7:00 AM called “Attitude Adjustment Hours.” These people…
Letting Go
Surrendering in addiction recovery A wealth of wisdom and experience lies behind the simple Alcoholics Slogan (AA) – “let go.” The following story illustrates how we hinder our spiritual progress…
UK’s ‘Second Pandemic’
There’s an urgent need to tackle the rise in mental health issues since Covid hit NHS leaders are urging the government to address a massive rise in depression, anxiety, psychosis…
Humility in Twelve Step Programs
How it leads to a fuller life Humility is a characteristic of the Twelve Step program and touches on each of the twelve steps. However, if we look at the Twelve Steps as a…
Living the Principles
How 12 Steps principles help us stay on the sober road Alcoholics Anonymous, the Big Book, tells us, on page 60, “No one among us has been able to maintain…
How to Develop Loving Relationships
Rebuilding relationships in addiction recovery In the past, we had our loving relationships without addictive substances or thoughts rather than with people. We became increasingly isolated from those around us. We may…
Shame as a Weapon
Resolving uncomfortable emotions in addiction recovery Shame and inadequacy become part of an addict’s personality. It also affects the family members of a dysfunctional family. Recovery means recognising such emotions and…
Feeling Inadequate?
Inadequacy in addiction recovery Thoughts, feeling, and fears about inadequacy present a paradox of particular importance to recovering people. To achieve emotional growth, we must distinguish between feelings of inadequacy…
Connecting with Others in Addiction Recovery
The Process of Going Beyond Self n recovery, alcoholics and addicts discover that they are not the self-sufficient creatures they once thought. For most of them, relearning how to establish satisfying relationships with others…
The Secret of Staying Sober
Some underlying facts about preventing relapse As soon as an alcoholic gets sober, they experience Post-acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS). This phase is marked by memory lapses, difficulties in thinking, sensory…
Miracles
There are no coincidences in addiction recovery Addicts, sometimes during recovery, mention “incredible coincidences” behind finding the recovery program or facility that worked magical abstinence and subsequent fruitful way of…
What is Alcohol?
Friend or foe? We know alcohol as spirit, as a party lubricant, as a beverage for relaxing, as scotch, bourbon, beer, wine, cognac—so many varieties. So many tales, legends and…
Accepting Criticism
How it helps the alcoholic grow in recovery The inability to accept criticism ranks high on the typical characteristics of alcoholics and addicts. They will explode with anger and resentment…
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…