For many of us the first few months of being
clean and sober bring with it difficulties in thinking straight,
problems concentrating, being able to get anything done, and
nightmares. It gets better, eventually. The haze won't vanish
overnight. Your brain and the rest of you need time to recover from the
abuse. The older you are and the younger you were when you started your
journey into hell, the more damage you have done and the more time it
will take to heal. Gradually, if you stay clean, your brain will rewire
itself and your body will gain strength. Your soul and your spirit will
come to life again. The following are some guidelines for dealing with
this time in your recovery:
Your emotions may be, in a way, even more unpredictable
than before you got clean and sober. Don't keep these emotions to
yourself. Share them with your counselor, with a trusted (healthy)
friend, or with your family.
Some things will slow down the healing. Alcohol use, abuse
of drugs other than the one you came into treatment for, poor
nutritional habits, not getting the right amount of sleep, and not
working will definitely slow down or virtually stop the healing process.
Remember your spiritual life. For some, this means praying,
or going to church. For others it may mean a walk in the park,
meditation time, or yoga. For others, it may be either starting or
getting back into a nourishing routine with a support group like NA,
AA, CA, etc. Still others feel that their spirits are refreshed via the
arts, athletics, or music.
Do something! If all you are doing is just not using any
dope, it is very likely you will relapse sooner than later. The road to
recovery is an active journey, not a passive one.
--Rick B.
HIV Testing Offered
Almost every Friday, a member of the HEI department from the Greater
Dallas Counsel on Alcohol and Drug Abuse are here to offer free
HIV testing. The test is called "OraQuick Advance." The test is based
on saliva and you get your results in 20 minutes. The test is 99%
accurate. All you do is come in and asked to be tested.
The Three Reasons We Use Drugs
Avoid what we don't want to deal with.
Escape what we are already in and don't want to deal with.
Enhance something about ourselves.
HERE NOW
The procedure is called auricular acupuncture. It is helpful for a
variety of issues that affect those with addictions.
Please see your counselor.
WHO SMOKES THE MOST
Whites: 21.9%
African American: 21.5%
Hispanic: 16.2%
Native American: 32%
Asian: 13%
If you are serious about quitting the smoking
habit, talk to your counselor or Dr. McDaniel. We can help if you want
to quit.
--Rick B.
Clinic hours on Saturday are
OA - Overeaters Anonymous
6:00 am to 9:00 am
512-327-2802
Closed on Sunday
Problem Gamblers Help-Line
800-742-0443
Please remember to bring
SA - Sex/Love Addicts Annon.
your lock boxes.
800-477-8191
Come to Group
We are Meeting Every
Saturday from
8:30 AM to 9:15 AM
Up in Smoke!
Smoking is the single most preventable cause of
death in the USA, killing 440,000 Americans per year. Some government
agencies and civic action groups are suggesting a ban on all
advertising of tobacco. There are tools available to help those who
want to stop smoking.
Currently, 44.5 million American adults smoke. Of
them, 70% say they want to quit and an estimated 40% make a serious
effort to quit each year. Only 5% who attempt to quit smoking are
successful. The smoking population in the United States of America
decreased to about 21% in 2004 from 37% in 1970. In 2005 an estimated
2.2% of adult Americans were cigar smokers and 2.3% used smokeless
tobacco.
The World Health Organization estimates that
every eight seconds a person dies of a smoking-related disease.
According to the American Lung Association, smoking costs the economy
over $167 billion in productivity. The following are conclusions in the
2004 report from the Surgeon General:
Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many
diseases and reducing the health of smokers in general.
The list of diseases caused by smoking has been expanded to
include abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myeloid leukemia, cataract,
cervical cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, pneumonia,
periodontitis, and stomach cancer.
Cigarette smoking causes most of the cases of lung cancer,
close to 90% in men and 80% in women.
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the
USA and the leading cause of death caused by smoking. Smoking is hard
on the heart.
Respiratory disease is an all too common side effect of
smoking. The occasional smoker's cough is often the first signal of
trouble in the lungs. Chronic bronchitis usually follows; if left
unchecked emphysema can develop.
Seniors face increased risks associated with smoking,
including hip fractures, cataracts, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease (COPD). It is never too late to quit smoking. The health
benefits of cessation start within minutes of the last cigarette.
Smokers have a harder time healing from surgeries and have
more overall health issues than non-smokers.
Smokers create risks for the unborn children. Not only is
smoking toxic to an unborn child, studies have shown that getting
pregnant may be more difficult for smokers.
According to the WHO, less than 7% of smokers who
try to quit on their own achieve more than one year of abstinence and
most relapse within a few days of attempting to quit.
The Dallas
County Health Department is offering screening for sexually transmitted
diseases. The fee is $25. If you can't afford to pay the full
amount, a payment plan can be arranged. Please call before 7:45 AM
to schedule an appointment. 214-819-2000
Detox Spa
Helps cleanse your body of toxins. You will feel better. 30 minutes.
Dr. Candace McDaniel
8021 East R.L. Thornton Fwy, Suite A
Dallas, Texas 75228