HOPE for the New Year - Daily Reflections Quote from Alcoholics Anonymous

     "Hope is the key that unlocks the
door of discouragement.  The program
promises me that if I do not pick up
the first drink today, I will always
have hope.  Having come to believe that
I keep what I share, every time I
encourage, I receive courage.  It is
with others that, with the grace of God
and the Fellowship of A.A., I trudge the
road of happy destiny.  May I always
remember that the power within me is far
greater than any fear before me.  May I
always have patience, for I am on the
right road.".

Todays Tool Don't Drink, Just for Today!

Don't Take A Drink, No Matter What, Just for Today.

I have seen many people relapse, including myself, in the rooms. I had 7 years, and then drank for 7 more before coming back. I just celebrated my year June 7th.

I have seen people relapse with all different stories - went to meetings all the time and still drank, stopped going to meetings and drank. Drank because it was a sunny/not sunny day. Had/didn't have money. Was/wasn't a secretary of a meeting. Had a resentment against a friend/meeting/coffee maker/ dog/cat/ car/leaf. Had 89 days/ 30 years/13 years.

The one common denominator in all the people that have relapsed -myself included - is the day they drank, they had not asked their higher power for help staying sober all day that day, no matter what.

So if you haven't yet, thank God for letting you stay sober today, and ask for help staying sober the rest of the day NO MATTER WHAT.

- Happy holidays from our treatment center to your home.

Quote from the Big Book "Into Action"

   "When we retire at night, we constructively
review our day.  Were we resentful, selfish,
dishonest or afraid?  Do we owe an apology?...But
we must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse
or morbid reflection, for that would diminish our
usefulness to others.  After making our review we
ask God's forgiveness and inquire what corrective
measures should be taken.
     "On awakening let us think about the twenty-four
hours ahead.  We consider our plans for the day.
Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking,
especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity,
dishonest or self-seeking motives.  Under these
conditions we can employ our mental faculties with
assurance, for after all God gave us brains to use.
Our thought-life will be placed on a much higher
plane when our thinking is cleared of wrong motives."

- Copyright AA, The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
Brought to you by our treatment center for addiction and alcoholism.

Step 4 of the 12 Steps of AA - The "Relapse" Step?

Step Four: Made a searching and fearless
moral inventory of ourselves.

"These desires – for the sex relation, for material
and emotional security, and for companionship –
are perfectly necessary and right, and surely God-given.
Yet these instincts, so necessary for our existence,
often far exceed their proper functions. Powerfully,
blindly, many times subtly, they drive us, dominate
us, and insist upon ruling our lives. … When thus out
of joint, man's natural desires cause him great trouble,
practically all the trouble there is. No human being,
however good, is exempt from these troubles. Nearly
every serious emotional problem can be seen as a case
of misdirected instinct. …

"Step Four is our vigorous and painstaking effort to
discover what these liabilities in each of us have been,
and are."

- brought to you by those in recovery at our drug rehabilitation center 

Honesty in Recovery from Bill W.

"Why all this insistence that every AA must hit bottom first? 
The answer is that few people will sincerely
try to practice the AA program unless they have hit bottom. 
For practicing AA's remaining eleven Steps means
the adoption of attitudes and actions
that almost no alcoholic who is still drinking
can dream of taking.
Who wishes to be rigorously honest and tolerant?
The average alcoholic, self-centered in the extreme,
doesn't care for this prospect -
unless he has to do these things
in order to stay alive himself." - Bill W.

Our Promise by Vince Jones

          Living on the Spiritual Basis promises much: “We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past or wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace…That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear…Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic security will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us…When we look back, we realize that the things which came to us when we put ourselves in God’s hands were better than anything we could have planned…As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His Presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter. We were reborn.”                 


Are these extravagant promises? We think not…They will always materialize if we work for them”
(Alcoholics Anonymous pgs 63,83,84 & 100 respectively).
        
If this and more is promised to those suffering from addiction, could you expect anything less in your life? Place your will and life into His hands and this and so much more is yours, for it is the promise and God keeps all His promises.

- by VInce Jones


Read more thoughts from Vince on his blog.

The Gracious Will of God by Vince Jones

 Living on the Spiritual Basis, the basis of trusting and relying upon God, it would be foolish not to think of what the full impact of this means in our lives. We have been raised with or exposed to certain depictions of God, many of them rather frightening, yet we are being asked to voluntarily surrender to Him. One of the concepts that always troubled me was: God loves you, but if you commit certain sins, you are damned for all eternity. Seems a little harsh. Eternity is an awful long time; a pretty high price for acts committed in the course of a life that balanced against eternity would amount to less than an eye blink in time. Then there are those poverty and chastity vows.

       As my consciousness rose, it became clear that many of the scariest aspects of God were human constructs, though based in scripture they required some rather interesting interpretations of very selective passages, typically ignoring others that were contradictory. Today I do not argue with or contradict those who hold on to a punishing, inflexible concept of God, a demonstration in love a much more powerful persuader. I believe, a nd believe this holds true for all, that God is “Our Father” and wants all His children to be Happy, Joyous and Free. That we are forgiven as soon as we ask as long as we walk the way we talk(much easier said than done), no sin so grievous that if we mean business, God will restore us to sanity, a demonstration of true grace (grace does not erase earthly consequences for our actions, it does provide us with the strength to face them). The realm of Heaven being roomy, all-inclusive, never exclusive or forbidding, it is open, I believe to all who earnestly seek, regardless of present conditions or circumstances. All that is required is an open heart, an open mind and the willingness to go to any lengths for a spiritual experience, turning sacred cows out to pasture and wishing the same for all that we wish to have in our lives.

- by Vince Jones

Vince Jones is an expert on the 12-Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous and a historian of the AA text and program. This includes studying the teachings of Emmet Fox who was influential to the founders of AA. Vince lectures to clients at Sober Living by the Sea which is a treatment center in California.  You can also find Vince’s blog Thought for the Day here.

"Gone Fishin' with Eric V."

Eric V. is a staff member who has been using the activity of fishing to teach life lessons to the men and women who are in treatment at Sober Living by the Sea. Fishing with Eric is one of the many spiritual, physical and esteem building rehab activities offered by Sober Living by the Sea.

Every Sunday at 6:00 the boat leaves the harbor and the men and women who choose to go fishing with Eric get to experience a positive and spiritual activity that will help them learn how to "have fun in sobriety." The men and women also benefit from participating in the activity with other recovering people who are learning how to live life on life's terms.

As Eric says, "A lot of us know what it feel like to be awake this early in the morning - from drinking or using drugs. Now when I get to see the sunrise and I have this activity to enjoy it is very positive spiritual experience that I am grateful for every time."

Eric goes on to point out that he sees the activity is a metaphor for success in real life. "Being good at fishing requires a lot of common sense that is useful in other parts of life. For one thing, you have to be up early to catch the fish. Also, if you use dead or improper bait - then you will not get the results you desire. In order to attract the fish you want to catch, you must use nice lively bait that fish will want to eat." This lesson is akin to having the right approach in life no matter what the task you are trying to achieve.

Eric is enthusiastic when he describes how the feeling of catching a fish is a huge thrill that is a metaphor for achieving a goal in real life. The reality of fishing is that when you have a fish on the line, there are many factors that are out of your control that can prevent the fish from being caught. The fish could unhook itself, the line could break, another fisher's line can cross your line causing you to lose the fish as well. The most important things to remember when you are fishing are that you

• must be persistent


• must be patient


• must use the proper equipment to give yourself the best chance at success

When one of our clients finally reels a fish in and can hold it in the boat, that is a tangible and real feeling of success and completion. The client has experienced the process of :

1) setting a goal
2) working towards it properly with the help of others
3) achieving the goal

Not only is this a positive and empowering process, but it is all accomplished while sober and all in one morning!

Some people who arrive at Sober Living by the Sea Treatment Centers for treatment are already avid fishers, but most people are have little or no experience fishing and get to spend the morning peacefully learning how to do something new while sober. Some clients become very skilled fishers during their stay and continue the activity long after their treatment ends. Eric fondly remembers a client named Al S. who still fishes regularly to this day.

Eric has been kind enough to extend the offer to take our alumni fishing - whether or not they know how to fish from their time here or if it will be their first time. Alumni who want to participate can call our alumni hotline: 949-675-6107. We will tell you how to meet up with Eric bright and early on Sunday morning to go fishing!

Replacing the Brain Chemicals that Addiction has Robbed

In our last blog post we discussed a bit about why we feel it is important to address nutrition in addiction treatment. Here at Sober Living by the Sea we have always known that treating addiction is much more than just removing the substance from the user. We have taken it so far as to realize that addicts with different drugs of choice will often have unique needs with regard to types of rehab activities andspecific treatment programs we recommend. Abusers of ecstasy often bring a depressive and hopeless attitude to our rehab centers, whereas marijuana addicts often need to have many activities to help manage stress and keep the mind stimulated throughout the day.

Increasing Glutamine Intake Assists with Addiction Treatment

We have found that eating foods that are rich in glutamine can assist in recovery by reducing anxiety and sleeplessness. This promotes relaxation and helps reduce the loss of GABA which is an amino acis and the most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. (The molecular receptors for GABA are the target of tranquillizers such as Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin).
Studies have shown that increasing the consumption of these amino acids helped a test group of cocaine addicts to reduced their desire to use the drug.

Serotonin Replenishment Aids in the Addiction Recovery Process

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is often deficient in an addicted brain. Our experience in the providing our young adult clients with ecstasy treatment has brought to our attention the difficulties of recovery for serotonin inhibited clients.

The loss of serotonin is one factor that contributes to the "sober sadness" or the depressive side of withdrawal symptoms that accompany early recovery. Serotonin can be replenished by eating foods that are rich in the amino acid called tryptophan. This amino acid is found in brown rice, nuts, fish, and milk. Studies have shown that reducing tryptophan will increase depressive symptoms and increasing tryptophan will cause the person to have a more optomistic outlook.

Omega-3 and DHA Replacement

We have also found it worthwhile to increase our client's intake of DHA which is a fatty acid belonging to the class of fatty acids called omega-3. Omega-3 nutrients have shown to have positive effects on human's neurotransmission system and its effects are being explored on Alzheimer's patients as well as cancer patients.

The DHA/omega-3 nutrients have a positive effect on the physical characteristics of nerve cells’ outer membranes, and thus the way they conduct nerve impulses.

People who are DHA deficient have been shown in studies to experience learning difficulties, excessive hostility, depression, and are even more likely to be suicide prone. Also, DHA deficient clients have been shown to be more likely to relapse from a program of recovery.

Contact our rehab centers for more information about the personalized program of recovery we design for each individual client.

Meth Addiction - Meth Users Have Unique Needs in their Drug Treatment Program

Crystal Meth abuse is a very disturbing trend that we've seen grow exponentially over the last twenty three years of treating chemically dependent people here at the beach in California. Other names for crystal meth include speed, crank, crystal, tweak, ice, or glass. Methamphetamine is taken orally, intranasally (snorting the powder), by needle injection, or by smoking.

The widespread phenomenon of young people suffering from meth addiction is an insidious development that has spread from the urban areas into the suburbs and even into rural areas across the United States.

Users of Crystal Meth Have Unique Needs in their Drug Treatment Program

We have learned that the young men and women who arrive here for treatment that are addicted to speed have a very unique outlook on their drug abuse and specific treatment needs. Many times there is anger, denial and often severe depression accompanying the initial detox from meth and getting our clients to start enjoying life again here on the beach in Orange County often requires the skills we use to treat our dual diagnosis patients who suffer from a mood or behavioral disorder in addition to an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Our staff of clinical experts has to caringly keep the client on their side and educate them about the dangers of meth abuse. Through workshops, lectures, and individual and group therapy we will guide our client to the realization that life without meth is attainable and will be enjoyable. The beaches of Newport Coast, Orange County, are a great setting for this recovery from meth addiction.

Many older adults also abuse crystal meth (or prescription amphetamines) and we have our Reflections Program for Mature Adults to help adults over the age of 35 overcome their amphetamine addiction.

Meth Addicted Persons Should Enter Treatment Immediately

Meth addicted individuals are suffering from a chemical dependency that is potentially fatal but also has a high risk of doing permanent brain damage.

Users of crystal meth, or any of it's street derivatives (like crank, glass, or ice), may become addicted quickly, needing higher doses and more often. Not only can meth induce a severe episode of depression after it wears off, often there is irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain.

As users increase their dosages, more and more of the brains dopamine is depleted making it difficult for drug addicted meth users to experience joy or happiness with or without the drug. People who use meth to stay up for days at a time while ignoring their body's need to sleep and eat can literally "fry" their brain and do permanent nerve damage.

Effective Meth Addiction Treatment in California

The most effective treatment for methamphetamine addiction is extended care residential treatment like what Sober Living by the Sea offers in Newport Beach, California. If the client is in need of a detox and primary care we can also provide that level of care. We recommend more than a thirty day primary treatment because it takes some time for the individual to "come out of the fog" of their addiction and start making good progress with the individualized recovery program we will create for them.

We will use therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavioral therapies to break through and help our client overcome their addiction. Also, there is a non-stop slate of workshops, lectures, group therapy, and activities - including physical fitness, spiritual, esteem building, and fun social outings - which will help the individual start to enjoy life again free of meth.

Contact us to speak with someone who will answer any questions you may have. We will perform an initial psychological screening and assess you or your loved one's situation and find the appropriate level of care and then you can turn the recovery process over to Sober Living by the Sea's team of clinical experts and twenty three years of experience treating drug addiction.
We know that Admissions to a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility can be a difficult process. Our intake staff will use care and sensitivity while they guide you through the admission process for drug addiction treatment. We are committed to ensuring that each person who enters our facility. be treated with the utmost in dignity and respect. Call us at 866.323.5609.