Newsletter

April 2008 Some Reminders Some Helpful Numbers
Road to Recovery
Dosing hours Monday through AA - Alcoholics Anonymous
Friday are 5:30am to 10:30 am 214-887-6699
Counseling is available NA - Narcotics Anonymous
5:30 am to 12:30 pm 972-699-9306

www.dallasareana.org

Recovery is a Journey

"Let the Dance Begin"

After a while, we start to feel better. After a while, we may work a 4th and a 5th step. You know, we made a "fearless moral inventory." It takes a lot a courage, trust, honesty, and openness to choose recovery, to choose to look problems square in the eyes and deal with them without using, without cheating, without dancing around with excuses and complaints, blaming the world for our problems, for our shortcomings.

This recovery stuff doesn't just begin and end. This recovery stuff continues. It becomes a new way to live life. To maintain our recovery means continuing to express the guts we used to first work that 4th step. It means continuing to be honest and open about who and what we are, about our abilities and our challenges. We don't evade responsibility for our actions and we graciously accept the affirmations we receive for a job well done. We become willing and ready to think of ourselves as having more in our inventory than the pain and the refuse. Our inventory now also consists of the good stuff, our abilities, our strengths. Being fully honest, we are now fully aware that the time for excuses has passed.

So, the question is: What have you been dancing around? We benefit in our recovery in proportion to the amount of honesty we bring to lives. Think about the different areas of your life right now. Think about your job, relationships, health, values, spiritual life, character traits, etc. Now, write down the issues you have dancing around, avoiding, or just plain lying about. Next, make an appointment to see your counselor and/or your sponsor to start solving of the problem.

--Rick B.

Alcoholism in the Workplace

A recent study reveals the percentages of abusive alcohol use in the american work force.

Industry Sector Percent
Leisure, hospitality, Arts 15%
Construction & Mining 15%
Wholesale trade 12%
Professionals 11%
Retail 10%
Finance & Real Estate 9%
Manufacturing 8%
Transportation & Utilities 8%
Information & Communication 8%
Agriculture/Forestry 7%
Other services 6%
Education, Health, Social Sciences 5%
Public Administration 5%

Recovery Screen Saver

Recovery Screen Savers are Here!

Get a CD with inspirational words and images. Call us, email us, or come by to get one today.
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

Lessons In Life

  1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
  2. When in doubt, don't.
  3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
  4. Don't take yourself so seriously.
  5. Cry with someone, it's more healing than crying alone.
  6. It's O.K. to get angry at God…He can take it.
  7. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
  8. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up your present.
  9. It's O.K. to let your children see you cry.
  10. Don't compare your life with others. You have no idea what their journey is about.
  11. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special!
  12. Be eccentric now…wear purple.

Choices

Once we choose recovery, a vast new world of other choices begins to unfold. When we were caught in obession and compulsion, we had relatively few choices…or at least it felt that way. With recovery comes more time, freedom, and energy for relationships, hobbies, family, health, and just plain fun.

This sense of freedom grows until we feel the anxiety of making more and more choices. With freedom comes joy and responsibility. Now, there is way too much time. Now, more people, including family, really do want to be around you, really do want to spend time together. Now, you have the energy and desire to get some more education or training…which school? Now, there is time to be quiet and listen to the inner voice saying, "you're O.K.!"

--Anonymous

Roadblocks to Recovery

  1. Defiance: Just not accepting the reality of powerlessness over the addiction. Characterized by denial, rebellion, rationalization, and "I want what I want, and I want it now!"
  2. Compliance: This half-hearted acceptance. Characterized by submission, resignation, yielding, concessions, etc. You say "Yes" to recovery on the outside, but you are saying "No" to recovery on the inside. You just don't openly resist anymore.

The consequences of the above roadblocks are feeling guilty and shameful all the time. And if that's not enough, you feel dishonest and tense almost continually. There is a strong sense of self-pity. So, what do you do?

Decide to become totally comitted to your recovery. Have an active, not a passive or reactive attitude toward recovery. Why not have a talk with your counselor.

--Rick B.
Mothers Against Meth-Amph.
866-293-8901
www.mamasite.net

Recovery Related Stuff
www.hazelden.org
Hepatitis Information
hepatitisneighborhood.com
APAA
The Association of Persons
Affected by Addiction
www.apaarecovery.org
The Twelfth Step Ministry
214-706-9526
Lots of support groups of
various interests.
Visit their web site.
www.llumc.org
The Network of Community
Ministries
Assistance with food, clothing
972-234-8880
 
 
 
Texas Workforce Commission
972-288-2703
Baylor College of Dentistry
214-828-8440
 

Come to Group

We are Meeting Every
Saturday from
8:30 AM to 9:15 AM


ACUPUNCTURE
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.

STD Screening 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

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.

Foot Detox

Detox Spa

Cleanses your body of toxins.
A 30 minute treatment is thirty dollars.



Dr. Candace McDaniel
8021 East R.L. Thornton Fwy, Suite A
Dallas, Texas 75228

Call (214) 328-4848 or   for more information