Owner: mySoberLife URL:http://mysoberlife.com Join Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2007 15:52:48 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Fully featured blogging community focused on sober living. Connect, share, and learn. Addicted to drugs or alcohol, in recovery, or treatment? Get a free blog, read other peoples journey on the path to recovery and share your own. Site statistics:Click here
Hello world! 2007-06-14 16:33:04 Welcome to Mysoberlife.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging! Read more:Hello
, Hello world
The Big Push Begins!! 2007-06-08 22:33:49 Over the last week I have been slowly moving forward with the new theme. If you click to demo.mysoberlife.com you may be able to watch me edit it live. Its getting closer and closer to being finished. Put in a good 9 hours today. Trying to finish the formating for the main page today. Don’t know if it will happen feeling pretty tired.
Newest Update Still Under Construction 2007-06-05 04:16:18 We still have some styling problems.
1. the forum styling is a bit of a mess but its functional. Just look below the forum for the sidebar;-). Working on a fix!
2. Recent Comments is having some problems. Trying to sort this out as well.
Find anything else please let me know admin@mysoberlife.com Read more:Update
, Construction
Overdue Update 2007-05-28 17:20:13 A lot of work has been going into the site over the last 3 weeks. We have been working hard to improve the site. Lets see… we have added a control panel on the main site for users to monitor their blogs, create new ones, send and receive private messages.
This last week a forum was added. It is still in the testing phase, and we have yet to create the final layout. The hope is that it will facilitate discussion, allowing a central point for community issues and topics. Read more:Update
Addictions Fall In Love… Addicts Fall For Lies 2007-05-07 15:32:24 It had been three years since I had last seen my wife and I new that once we parted ways there would be no turning back. Too much damage had been done and it was finally clear to me after years of lies and deceit that our marriage was doomed from the start.
From the first time I laid eyes on her I could sense she had a mischievous and somewhat sassy way about her. Yet it attracted me and I sensed an undeniable flirtation in her smile and in her captivating eyes. She was too drop dead gorgeous not to be seeing anyone, besides that she probably had guys hitting on her left and right and I she seemed to be the type of woman who was used to being pursued and definitely not one to initiate any thought of making the first move. No, as much as I enjoyed meeting her that night, I felt confident that nothing would ever come of this, never the less she stayed on my mind for days after that first encounter.
Sometimes a person turns out to be happy they were wrong and this was definitely one of th Read more:hellip
, Addicts
May 6th Update 2007-05-07 04:06:21 Rearranged the layout and navigation for the main site. Adjusted the way blogs could be viewed. Customized 4 existing themes to function with mySoberLife.com. Added the ability to have text chat Read more:Update
Minimizing Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 2007-05-04 11:41:01 Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are major problems that are often minimized or overlooked as not being part of the”war on drugs.” Administration have distracted, focused on drugs, often forgetting to include alcohol as a drug.
Excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United Sates and is associated with multiple adverse health consequences, including liver cirrhosis, various cancers, unintentional injuries, and violence. (Centers for Disease Control 2004)
Alcohol is the most devastating drug we know of today in terms of the sheer number of people it affects. Estimates indicate that there are more than 12 million alcoholics in the United States and that significant number of other people meet the criteria for alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence.
Alcohol is integrated into the fabric of mainstream American lifestyle, causing many people to minimize its impact and cost to our society. It has been estimated that business and industry los Read more:Alcohol
, Alcoholism
The Myth of the Simple, Magical Solution 2007-05-04 11:24:35 During the Reagan administration, First Lady Nancy Reagan was influential in shaping the U.S. approach to the”drug problem.” Although her intentions were noble and well intended, the “Just Say No” approach illustrates a simplistic view to a complicated problem. Suggesting that adolescents and young adults can overcome the drive to alter consciousness, peer influence, the disease of alcohol/drug abuse by “just saying no” minimizes the obstacles to be overcome
Often a complicated, emotionally lade problem elicits a simple solution. A simple solution is easily understood and immediately reduces anxiety, shame, and emotional discomfort. However, a simple solution will not resolve the insidious, multifaceted problems of substance abuse and addiction. Drug use, abuse, and dependence are not easily understood. Mrs. Reagan made the same mistake that many people make. Too often, people search for that simple solution to an epidemic problem. Philosopher H.L. M Read more:Simple
, Magical
, Solution
Wecome! 2007-05-01 01:39:28 We just updated the mySoberLife blogging site to include more features and user friendly layout. It will be undergoing revisions over the next few days. Any feedback would be greately appreciated.
Hello world! 2007-06-25 11:03:36 Welcome to Mysoberlife.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging! Read more:Hello
, Hello world
Make it count! 2007-07-12 17:54:03 So this is my first blog posting and Im hoping that others will follow. My name is
James and i have been clean from Meth for over 3 years. I pride myself on being where i am now in life and have no plans for ever returning to the lifestyle and person i was 3 years ago. life is to short…make it count
!
- James-
Hello world! 2007-07-12 17:50:03 Welcome to Mysoberlife.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging! Read more:Hello
, Hello world
Definition of A Co-Occuring Disorder 2007-07-11 14:54:38 The terms dual disorders, comorbid disorders, and co-occuring disorders have been used interchangeably to desribe the condition of having both a psychiatric diagnosis and a chemical dependency diagnosis.The symptoms produced by psychiatric disorders and chemical dpeendency can overlap. the ceoncept reminds us of this overlap in symptoms and highlights the need to make an accurate diagnosis, so that appropriate treatment can be provided.
Until recently, body nselors in the mental health and chemical dependency fields took a somewhat provincial outlook. Each has accused the other of minimizing the importance of his or her own perspective. In many ways, the situation has become like the story of the blind men asked to describe an elephant. Each described it according to the body part he could touch but without regard to the remaining, unseen portions of the beast. Recent years have witnessed the emergence of a greater understanding and acceptance of the daul disorders or co-occuring di Read more:Definition
Prevention, Intervention and Treatment-Alternative Activities as A Prevention Method 2007-07-11 06:04:50 In Chapter 1, we examined the primary functions of alcohol/drugs as serving our natural innate drive to alter our sense of consciousness. Ronald Siegal, in his book Intoxication, describes altering one’s consciousness as the fourth drive, after hunger, thirst, and sex. Ther primary goal of alternative activities is to teach people that they are capable of altering their consciousness in a meaningful, longer-lasting, life enhancing, and satisfying way that is incompatible with alcohol/drug use.
the late 1970s saw as strong movement towards alternative activity programs for young people. The programs usually inolved wilderness activities, required team work, challenge, and risk that developed feelings of competence, skill and self-worth. Today, many adolescent and adult inpatient and residential chemical dependency treatment programs are including alternative activity program elements as a natural part of the clients’ recovery program. This can include rope courses, climbing Read more:Treatment
, Alternative
Growing Up in an Alcoholic Family System-Choice Making 2007-07-11 05:49:07 Changing old, imbalanced patterns is possible only if invidiuals feel they have chooices. Discouraging voics of doom and gloom need to be quited for recovery efforts to be implemented. Self-pity, vicim roles, and the poor-me syndrome prevent adult Children of Alcholoics(ACA) from even entertaining a choice to change. The old familial belief system whispers in the ACA’s ear: “Change is not possible, so why even try? You’ll just waste time and energy and fail, anyways, just as you always have in the past.”
Changes involve integration and congruency with feelings and choosing not to respond in dysfucntional, codependent ways. There is the acknoledgment that change is dificult, takes time, may involve pain, and requires support. Sometimes small changes and positive choices can establish the foundation for more significant growth-related choices later.
A variety of therapeutic issues must be explored before the ACA can improve interpeersonal relationships. Some of t Read more:Growing
, Alcoholic
, Family
, System
, Choice
Getting Close To Completion! 2007-07-10 03:38:10 Help us grow into supportive community! Sign Up Today!
We now have a picture tutorial section. This will help to give you an idea how to use the basic features of your blog.
If you have any features requests or suggestions you would like to make don’t hesitate to tell us Contact Us
Over the next few days I’ll be working on setting up avatars/profile pictures, increasing the number of plugins/widgets for user accounts, and video tutorials.
Matt Read more:Close
, Completion
Definition of A Co-Occuring Disorder 2007-07-15 14:54:38 The terms dual disorders, comorbid disorders, and co-occuring disorders have been used interchangeably to desribe the condition of having both a psychiatric diagnosis and a chemical dependency diagnosis.The symptoms produced by psychiatric disorders and chemical dpeendency can overlap. the ceoncept reminds us of this overlap in symptoms and highlights the need to make an accurate diagnosis, so that appropriate treatment can be provided.
Until recently, body nselors in the mental health and chemical dependency fields took a somewhat provincial outlook. Each has accused the other of minimizing the importance of his or her own perspective. In many ways, the situation has become like the story of the blind men asked to describe an elephant. Each described it according to the body part he could touch but without regard to the remaining, unseen portions of the beast. Recent years have witnessed the emergence of a greater understanding and acceptance of the daul disorders or co-occuring dis Read more:Definition
Visiting Raheem..A sobriety story in Three Parts 2007-07-20 11:01:22 In January, 2004, I acquired a bad case of pneumonia. No problem. A visit to my good doctor, she would prescribe a week of antibiotics and all would be well again. Not so.
It was in her eyes as she returned with the x-ray. The look is now familiar.
So, off to the hospital for biopsy, more long looks, averted eye contact and good and bad news. The bad was that I had a malignant tumor on my right lung. The good was that it was operable. Thus began the journey through waiting rooms, surgery and eight months of clear and clean scans. Following my surgery, I awoke with nine men, clean and sober members of Alcoholics Anonymous, in my room and scattered through the adjacent hall. The room was filled with cards and flowers. More seemed to appear each day. During the week of hospital recovery, I was never alone and frequently awoke from a drugged daze to find a sober friend in the chair by my bedside. My AA friends stood vigil 24/7 until I left the hospital. They never left.
Some background h Read more:story
, Three
, Parts
Hello to all.. 2007-07-19 14:23:46 I thought it interesting that there was an available blog for recovery. Like sobriety, it’s of little use without some participation, so today I decided to log in, join and participate. Let’s see what happens ! Read more:Hello
A little About.. 2007-07-19 14:23:30 My name is Michael. Last Saturday, I reached that miracle age of retirement..65. My life has been dedicated to recovery for nearly a third of those years, however I officially “retired” several years ago when diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. I chose the name “Dead Men Talking” because, in 2004, I was also diagnosed with lung cancer, now Stage IV. There is no Stage V. So, you see, I suffer from three fatal illnesses; Alcoholism, Diabetes and Cancer. Today, I look at each as a gift, each providing many opportunities for self-insight, helping others and living/dying with dignity.
I would like to share those experiences because they have changed my life and, hopefully, the lives of others. So, it’s my intent to post some musings, some experiences and some revelations made possible by a unusual, but not unique set of life’s conditions. Read more:little
Visiting Raheem…Part Three 2007-07-22 15:34:37 The changes began with a call from my oncologist; highly unusual. He asked a favor, also highly unusual. He had a patient, newly diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, who just needed to talk, with another man who shared his diagnosis. He thought that my experience with a twelve-step program might be of help in simply listening. Thus began a journey of immeasurable joy. A twelth-step call to a cancer patient? It was to become very familiar.
Socially, ethnically and historically, we had no background in common. In the course of normal events, we probably would have never even met. He, raised in killing fields of Afghanistan, me in California, he Muslim, me Protestant, etc., etc.
My wife and I entered their small, spartan home on a nasty, rainy Seattle night. We sat on rugs for a lovely traditional meal and small talk. We would understand later what a tremendous financial sacrifice the meat we ate was for this family. My best friend is Persian, so we know and understand many of the tradit Read more:hellip
, Three
Visiting Raheem..Part two of Three 2007-07-21 13:17:02 I began looking for a support group here in Seattle for lung cancer patients. Thankfully, one was just beginning. I thought it remarkable that in a city as large as Seattle, with cancer centers like Fred Hutchison, Swedish, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and the University of Washington, no one had thought to start a support group for lung cancer prior to 2005. Here, my experience in AA as a member of a group, recovering from a fatal illness seemed to be of value. I understood the group dynamic, the process of mutual support. Just as one alcoholic talking to another had proven successful, the same would be true of cancer patients. A new support group was beginning and I was at the first meeting. As subsequent meetings progressed, three things became obvious.
First, nobody has written a textbook for this process. How could they? We were not attacking alcoholism, a disease from which there was an opportunity for recovery and life. Applying a twelve step philosophy would save none of us fro Read more:Three
Two Wolves.. 2007-07-23 15:27:44 On Mondays, I have a busy schedule, full of commitments. So, I’m just posting a small story here, taken from American Indian lore. It helps me remember to be grateful for sobriety.
Michael
Native American Story
A Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he felt.
He said, “I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one. The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one.”
The grandson asked him, “Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?”
The grandfather answered: “The one I feed.” Read more:Wolves
Hello world! 2007-08-02 10:14:16 Welcome to Mysoberlife.com. Let’s get started! First things first you need to login to your account, located on the bottom left side of the screen. After login into your blog, select write to make your first post. Be sure to add categories to your post so people can find it. Next you’ll want to leave that ugly default theme behind. All you have to do is select presentation and choose a theme.
Doesn’t make sense? Have a question? Want to learn more about how to use your account? Visit the tutorial section. Click Here. Read more:Hello
, Hello world
Still looking for MP3? 2007-08-03 07:31:38 If you’re looking for some interesting mp3s to hear, check out this site:
MP3 WealthBig listing of MP3s, from general to niche, with daily updates.
Recently found the songs I’ve been looking so long:
Patricia Kaas, 2006
Les Indispensables
Joe Dassin, 2003
Le Meilleur
Enjoy!
Hello world! 2007-08-03 06:54:41 Welcome to Mysoberlife.com. Let’s get started! First things first you need to login to your account, located on the bottom left side of the screen. After login into your blog, select write to make your first post. Be sure to add categories to your post so people can find it. Next you’ll want to leave that ugly default theme behind. All you have to do is select presentation and choose a theme.
Doesn’t make sense? Have a question? Want to learn more about how to use your account? Visit the tutorial section. Click Here. Read more:Hello
, Hello world
Hello world! 2007-08-13 01:43:55 Welcome to Mysoberlife.com. Let’s get started! First things first you need to login to your account, located on the bottom left side of the screen. After login into your blog, select write to make your first post. Be sure to add categories to your post so people can find it. Next you’ll want to leave that ugly default theme behind. All you have to do is select presentation and choose a theme.
Doesn’t make sense? Have a question? Want to learn more about how to use your account? Visit the tutorial section. Click Here. Read more:Hello
, Hello world
I Miss You, Heroin! (Epilogue) 2007-08-11 14:30:58 I read the first article just over two years ago and at the time it literally blew me away. I could have written it. I know that I lived it. I searched for a long time hoping to find out what happened and voila, finally the aftermath. Enjoy!!!
I tried it one last time after I wrote “I Miss You, Heroin
” in November 2004. A month after the article was published on www.blacktable.com, I took my last shot. Sometimes in life you find yourself doing things you no longer need or want to do. This is epitomized in the awkward conversations you get sucked into when you’re spotted by a high school chum you no longer know. My realization, inevitably came to late. It appeared as the drug swam over me and numbness smothered my body. And that was that. When I came back to Sobriety, I knew it was the end. It wasn’t just the last shot, it was the last thought too. Hundreds of people asked me for my help after they read my story. They asked me how to quit, how to help loved ones, how to be stron Read more:Epilogue
Hello world! 2007-08-11 02:34:55 Welcome to Mysoberlife.com. Let’s get started! First things first you need to login to your account, located on the bottom left side of the screen. After login into your blog, select write to make your first post. Be sure to add categories to your post so people can find it. Next you’ll want to leave that ugly default theme behind. All you have to do is select presentation and choose a theme.
Doesn’t make sense? Have a question? Want to learn more about how to use your account? Visit the tutorial section. Click Here. Read more:Hello
, Hello world
My New Home, I Guess 2007-08-04 20:15:00 Well I guess that this is it, my new home. Goodbye to junkylife.com. That’s really too bad. I had spent quite a bit of time really making that site my own. Lots of hours went into creating my own graphics as well as all that time wasted now, stumbling through learning css, html, php, etc, etc. Never mind the time I’ll never get back. This I can get over and move on. The near two hundred posts made there over two years are now gone like the wind. I’ll never be able to recover or remember them and it is this that may take a bit of time to get over.
These past two years there had a pretty detailed account of my addiction at its absolute worst as it was occurring. Of course I can remember particular events of the past couple of years but these entries allowed me to transport myself back in time with absolute accuracy. Also there was my story of getting back on MMT and how I was doing with it and how I was feeling about the whole recovery thing and what a success its turni Read more:Guess
, New Home
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