Newsletter

July 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

Sweet Surrender

The process of recovery is sometimes decribed as having three levels of experience: Defiance, Compliance, and Surrender. Defiance is pretty simple to spot. When we are in that level, we say "No" to recovery on the inside and on the outside. While we are in the compliance level of recovery we say "Yes" on the outside, while we are saying "No" on the inside. And finally, when we reach the level of surrender or acceptance, we are saying "Yes" to the ideas and insights of recovery on the inside and on the outside.

Defiance and compliance are behaviors and states of mind that require a lot of energy to maintain. This is probably why folks in these stages of recovery seem to be so tired and oh so angry! Those who allow themselves to grow into the nurturing that accompanies both surrender and acceptance find they have lots of energy and lots of emotion. There may still be some anger. It is used for maturing and deepening a relationship with the higher power.

One of the attitudes that characterizes defiance is denial. The books define denial as an "unconscious defense mechanism that keeps the addicted person from seeing the negative consequences of the addictive behavior." I am not sure I totally buy into this definition. I think denial starts out, not as an unconscious defense mechanism, but as a very conscious one: "It ain't me!" Then after we've done this for a while, it does become unconscious, unplanned, or even unprovoked. Our character has changed. We say we are not liars, yet we lie. We say we believe in honesty, yet we are dishonest. We say we are not crazy, yet we do so many insane things. The way back is to accept our powerlessness over the addiction.

A while back, I asked several of our clients to give me some words to describe denial. Below are those words or phrases:

  • Lying
  • Can't
  • Won't
  • Not Me
  • Refuse
  • Impossible
  • Not a river
  • not trying
  • Refute
  • Cheating

Sometimes people leave recovery. They get frustrated and angry, and just stop coming to the program. Excuses are made. Sometimes those folks come back to recovery. A common answer made by those folks for why they left to begin with is this: "I was just being stubborn." The principles of recovery have been working for a lot of people, for a lot of years. Where are you in these stages of recovery? Why not make an appointment with your counselor to talk about it?

--Rick B.  

Lend a Helping Hand
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

Life Lessons - 2

  1. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
  2. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
  3. Forgive everyone everything.
  4. What other people think of you is none of your business.
  5. Time heals almost everything. Give time…time.
  6. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
  7. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
  8. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
  9. Get outside every day.
--annonymous

Thoughts About Attitudes in America

  • 96% of America's physicians and the general poplulation do not believe that treatment works.
  • 94% of Americans believe that AA/NA is a waste of time.
  • "Most" Americans believe those with alcohol or other drug problems are simply weak-willed or immoral.
  • 75% of employers will hire a non-recovering person when there are equally qualified recovering candidates.
  • 60% of Americans believe that stigma exists against recovering perons.

Prevalence of Alcohol Dependence

12-17 year olds 2%
18-20 12.5%
21-24 11%
25-29 5.9%
30-34 4.1%
35-39 3.9%
40-44 3.8%
45-49 3.8%
50-54 ‹2%
55-59 ‹1%
60-64 ‹2%
65-69 ‹1%

Percentages are compared with total population.

"The ability to face problems is necessary to stay clean. If we had problems in the past, it is unlikely that simple abstinence will solve these problems. Guilt and worry can keep us from living in the here and now. Many of us believe we cannot possibly have a happy life without drugs (or alcohol). Self obsession is the core of our disease."

from the NA Basic Text, page 51

Help
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.
30 minute treatment
Thirty dollars



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

Call (214) 328-4848 or   for more information