1500 to 3500 addicts/alcoholics per 1 medical bed per state.

What is the definition of an “epidemic”? Here is what I came up : A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time. An outbreak .A disease affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within population, community, or region at the same time. The occurrence of more cases of a disease than would be expected in a community or region.

Fact 1: Untreated addicts/alcoholics always end up in Jails & Institutions & Death.

Fact 2: We only have one medical bed per every 1500 to 3500 addicts /alcoholics depending on the state  in the US.

Fact 3: America has only about 4.6% of our total world population and yet we have 80% of all street and illegal drugs of the world and 85% of all the worlds opioid prescriptions.

We as a nation are overwhelmed – nothing is getting solved. Overdose death continue to rise. Drug related crimes continue to rise. Children not being raised by their own parents continue to rise exponentially.  If we all stay united with some basic spiritual principles and spiritual practices we have a method to turn things around.  We can start today with one forward movement.

Here is a recipe for recovery success: pray,  stay clean & help other addicts, and  put our faith and trust in God Almighty!  We try to stay super honest, super open minded, and super willing since we are in a drug epidemic for sure.  We communicate and stay united and work as a team. Remember we are all in this together and each person is an important “spoke in the wheel” of humanity.

What seems like just little things – matter the most.

Its a great day to get clean,stay clean,live clean, and die clean.

Beth Snyder – Executive Director of LRH

 

 

 

 

 

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What is an Addictive Personality?

An addictive personality is a set of personality traits that make addiction more likely. Addictions can come in a wide range of forms, including drugs, alcohol, gambling, exercise, pornography and more. Uniting these addictions is the repeated use of pleasurable activities to cope with stress, pressure, and conflict. Addicts use substances or activities to deal with the troubles of their daily lives. This can negatively impact their lives and personal relationships as an addict becomes dependent.

Traits of an Addictive Personality

Simply because you fit the description of several traits of an addictive personality does not necessarily mean that you have one. However, it may mean that you should watch your relationship with harmful substances and activities because you may be more prone to an addiction. The following personality traits may be indicative of someone with an addictive personality.

Impulsive Behavior

Impulsive behavior means acting without thinking about the impact of your actions. It’s kind of like eating a large piece of cake when you’re on a diet or staying out drinking even when you have to get up early the next day. Though everyone succumbs to temptations sometimes, a person who engages in this type of behavior habitually is exhibiting impulsive behavior that can be indicative of an addictive personality.

Sensation Seeking

A second personality trait that may be indicative of someone with an addictive personality is sensation-seeking. This means a person is constantly seeking out new experiences – new flavors, new travel locations or new sources of adrenaline rushes such as extreme sports. People who are sensation-seeking may also be the first to try a form of psychoactive drugs. This constant desire for new experience can lead to more experimentation, and later abuse, of drugs and alcohol.

Valuing Nonconformity

Placing a high value on nonconformity can contribute to having an addictive personality. When combined with the achievement goals valued by society, this personality trait can lead to greater chance of addiction. If you have less of a desire to achieve goals valued by society, you may be less likely to notice when substance abuse or other forms of addiction begin to negatively impact personal, social or work life. Sometimes the value of nonconformity is an indicator of someone with an addictive personality.

Social Alienation

Valuing nonconformity sometimes comes with a tolerance for deviance and a sense of social alienation. This tolerance for deviance can mean individuals are more likely to come into contact with substances and behaviors frowned upon by society at large. A person who has more tolerance for deviance may be more likely to experiment with drugs, opening themselves up to the possibility of addiction.

If you lack a consistent social group or social connections, it may be difficult to develop long-lasting bonds. Lack of strong social bonds may lead to loneliness. It may also be more difficult to control impulses and adhere to commitments without steady social contracts. Thus, social alienation can contribute to an addictive personality in these ways.

Compulsive Behavior

The final personality trait often present in those with addictive personalities is compulsivity. Compulsive behavior refers to engaging in activities even when they may result in negative consequences. If you are already more likely to engage in “deviant” behavior due to an impulsive personality, sensation-seeking, placing value in nonconformity and a sense of social alienation, having a compulsive personality may make you even more likely to form an addiction.

How to Deal with an Addictive Personality

Recovery can be a reality. Having an addictive personality  has numerous challenges but, with awareness and work, you can manage an addictive personality and channel it into a positive life. We move from destruction to construction one day at a time.

Beth Snyder

Trust God, Clean House, Help Others

On June 10th, 2018 this day marked the 83rd birthday of Alcoholics anonymous. People in AA refer to this date as “Founder’s Day”. It’s remarkable and astonishing how much AA has evolved and grown. Millions of lives have been saved. Millions of damaged and destroyed families have been completely restored. Miracle upon miracle. What is the AA way of Life? In very simple terms : Trust God, Clean House, Help Others.

People experiencing long term recovery and are happy about it have been taught these three practices and apply this as a way of life. How do we come to trust God? We take steps 1,2,3. How do we clean house? We take steps 4-10.. How do we help others? we take steps 11 & 12.

My mother used to tell me “Beth, if you can read you can learn to cook.”  I found this same reasoning and idea very true with my own recovery. If I  can read I can learn the 12 steps! I studied the 12 steps and began to apply each one immediately to the best of my ability. I approached the 12 steps the same way I approached my first attempt at making lasagna and although I was much more emotional and desperate to get it done right and achieve my very own “Spiritual Awakening” I discovered if I just followed the directions laid out in the Alcoholics Anonymous book first 164 pages and really listened to my sponsor and home group members, that everything about the 12 step program is very simple. I say it is as simple as digging a hole with a shovel. Most alcoholics/addicts are maladjusted and will try to get out of work at all costs. It’s not that the 12 steps are misunderstood by some – it’s that they just aren’t convinced. So what does convince the suffering addict /alcoholic to pick up the tools of recovery and dig in? The destructive using of alcohol & drugs themselves is the only way to become convinced of our powerlessness.

First Things First – Step 1- Admitting Powerlessness

Being convinced we were powerless – is the bedrock for a foundation in lasting long term permanent sobriety. We must finally understand that without total abstinence from all mood mind altering drugs we have nothing. Recovery must include total abstinence. If we don’t first practice the principle of total abstinence-step 1- there is no recovery. True sobriety is once – everything else is us getting by in between our drunks or drug use or binges. First things first – acceptance of the fact we are powerless means action and to be willing to go to any length not to pick up the first drink or drug. This must come before all else which is very difficult once we start feeling better due to getting some relief from our active addiction. Relief is not recovery. Working all 12 steps daily is active recovery. Many addicts or alcoholics want to rest on their laurels after they have gotten some clean time. They make the mistake of just practicing abstinence and not much else. Experience has shown it never lasts. The insanity of the first drink or drug returns and they are off on a bender again. So what does it mean to follow our slogan “First things first” it means complete abstinence from all drugs and alcohol and working and living the 12 step recovery plan everyday. This is always first! If we do put any person, job , relationship, money etc. first – even our kids or spouse- ahead of our recovery – we are returned to the problem of powerlessness. Abstinence and the 12 steps produce a new power – a spiritual awakening- and enough of a deep effective physic change sufficient to recover from this hopeless state of mind and body. I recently celebrated 30 years of continuous abstinence from all alcohol and drugs. We do recover if we remember first things first. Permanent sobriety is possible. Once we learned the formula to solve our powerless problem as our primary purpose we then devote at least our spare time if not more –  to helping other addicts and alcoholics solve their powerless problem- we say we can’t keep it unless we give it away. I’m grateful I was given this gift of sobriety and my primary purpose. To me and the other 23 million people in long term recovery this is always first!

Holiday Recovery Plan – The Do’s and Dont’s

Happy Holidays! For some of you this might be your first Holiday Season in Recovery! This is a very big challenge since so many of our deep rooted hurts are associated with family and the holidays. We call this a potential emotional “Boobie Trap” for people in early recovery. The good news is that your personal recovery is not based on the “luck of the draw”. Recovery skills can be learned , practiced, and some even mastered. Here are a few our top picks of experienced “Do’s and Dont’s for maintained sobriety and abstinence from all mood / mind altering chemicals.

Do:   Double Up – Double Up – Double Up !!! on 12 step meetings , prayer & meditation, all step work, service, time with sponsor, reading literature, sober fellowship, 12 step work, sober social fun, making phone contacts daily with other recovering people. Starting new sober holiday traditions and activities, journal feelings, get exercising!

Don’t: Hang around slippery places and slippery people! Don’t let your self get too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. Don’t go to bars or places where people are drinking or using.Don’t get or carry any resentments. Don’t try to repair broken relations all at once. Don’t rush. Don’t overspend. Don’t complicate. Don’t force family situations or making amends. Don’t be selfish or self centered. Don’t get into any self pity! Don’t forget to be grateful your in RECOVERY!!!!! and Don’t forget to stay clean and sober no matter what – we just don’t use!

Happy Holidays & God Bless from the Lighthouse Family