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#38 Testing My Reality
27 August, 2019Podcasts, News
In 1784, the philosopher, Immanuel Kant described enlightenment as “humankind’s emergence from its self-incurred immaturity”, its “lazy and cowardly” submission to the “dogmas and formulas” of religious or political authority.
Humans are innately emotional beings, made from what Kant referred to as the “crooked timber of humanity”, combined with which the way we understand the world around us changes over time.
Elements such as cognitive bias can evade our personal awareness and we can be convinced that we’re seeing clearly, and thinking rationally, when we’re not. We still embrace or reject evidence too easily, but civil contact with people of different perspectives can keep the resulting distortions within bounds. Our interpretation of reality, our reason and our intellect needs to be tested at times with the guidance of another which often takes courage.
I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I enjoyed the discussion.
This podcast was recorded as a series of lectures given to people in 12 step addiction recovery treatment. The purpose of these talks was to teach and motivate individuals to search for their own spiritual solution to their addiction.
Please feel free to contact me directly or go to our site for more information:
The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
"Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
Home / Posts tagged "south african rehab" (Page 5)
What is codependency?
21 June, 2019Articles, News
Codependency is defined as: an excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, typically one who requires support on account of an illness or addiction. It affects an individual’s capacity to have healthy, mutually satisfying relationships.
Who is affected by codependency?
When growing up in a family where one or both parents are unreliable or unavailable due to mental illness or addiction, a child learns to put the parents’ needs first. In dysfunctional families, feelings are suppressed and problems are avoided. The child’s needs are put below those of the parent. Growing up under these conditions means that these behaviours are likely to be repeated in other relationships.
The enabling wife of the alcoholic husband is a classic example of codependency. Today this has been expanded to a parent, spouse, friend, work colleague, sibling or any person who has a relationship with someone with mental illness or a person who suffers from substance use disorder (SDU), .
What do we see in the codependent?
Codependent individuals believe they share in the responsibility of their partners negative behaviour. They often have low self-esteem and find value and purpose in ensuring the well-being of the unhealthy partner. The codependent compulsively plays the martyr role in the relationship.
He or she holds on to the sense of being needed. There is often denial around the actions of the afflicted partner and around their role in the relationship. This is followed by the need to rescue. There is an unhealthy, over-reliance on the relationship and a deep need to hold on to it to avoid feelings of failure or abandonment.
The hallmarks of a codependent relationship include: poor communication, a lack of boundaries, a deep need for approval and validation, persistent anger, dishonesty and a need to control.
What can we do about codependency?
There is hope for the codependent and that hope comes from understanding. By understanding the unhealthy behaviour and its consequences, they are able to make the necessary changes. Addiction extends into relationships and it is important that family members educate themselves and get an understanding of the addiction cycle.
It is vital to investigate childhood issues, the destructive behaviours in relationships past and present as well as to identify emotions and learn to both feel them and express them.
The goals for the codependent in recovery are to have mutually satisfying relationships, avoid the negative behaviour patterns of the past and to learn to identify their own wants and needs. Put boundaries in place and stick to them. Once the process of recovery begins, one will understand that there is no need to hold on to unhealthy/destructive relationships and your happiness is not based on what others think. You are not responsible for the happiness of others.
The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
"Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
Home / Posts tagged "south african rehab" (Page 5)
The Effects of Hallucinogenic Drugs
14 June, 2019Articles, News
How do Hallucinogens Work?
Classic hallucinogens are thought to produce their perception-altering effects by acting on neural circuits in the brain that use the neurotransmitter serotonin (Passie, 2008; Nichols, 2004; Schindler, 2012; Lee, 2012). Specifically, some of their most prominent effects occur in the prefrontal cortex—an area involved in mood, cognition, and perception—as well as other regions important in regulating arousal and physiological responses to stress and panic.
What are the Short-Term Effects of Hallucinogens?
Ingesting hallucinogenic drugs can cause users to see images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but do not exist. Their effects typically begin within 20 to 90 minutes of ingestion and can last as long as 12 hours. Experiences are often unpredictable and may vary with the amount ingested and the user’s personality, mood, expectations, and surroundings. The effects of hallucinogens like LSD can be described as drug-induced psychosis—distortion or disorganization of a person’s capacity to recognize reality, think rationally, or communicate with others. Users refer to LSD and other hallucinogenic experiences as “trips” and to acute adverse or unpleasant experiences as “bad trips.” On some trips, users experience sensations that are enjoyable and mentally stimulating and that produce a sense of heightened understanding. Bad trips, however, include terrifying thoughts and nightmarish feelings of anxiety and despair that include fears of losing control, insanity, or death.
Like LSD and psilocybin, DMT produces its effects through acting on serotonin (5-HT) receptors in the brain (Strassman, 1996). Some research has suggested that DMT occurs naturally in the human brain in small quantities, leading to the hypothesis that the release of endogenous DMT may be involved in reports of alien abductions, spontaneous mystical experiences, and near-death experiences, but this remains controversial (Barker, 2012).
Specific short-term effects of LSD, psilocybin, peyote, DMT, and ayahuasca include:
LSD
• Increased blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature
• Dizziness and sleeplessness
• Loss of appetite, dry mouth,
and sweating
• Numbness, weakness, and tremors
• Impulsiveness and rapid emotional shifts that can range from fear to euphoria, with transitions so rapid that the user may seem to experience several emotions simultaneously.
Psilocybin (i.e. Mushrooms)
• Feelings of relaxation (similar
to effects of low doses of marijuana)
• Nervousness, paranoia, and
panic reactions
• Introspective/spiritual
experiences
• Misidentification of poisonous mushrooms resembling psilocybin could lead to unintentional, potentially fatal poisoning.
Peyote
• Increased body temperature and
heart rate
• Uncoordinated movements
(ataxia)
• Profound sweating
• Flushing.
DMT
• Increased heart rate
• Agitation
• Hallucinations frequently
involving radically altered environments as well as body and spatial
distortions.
Ayahuasca
• Increased blood pressure
• Severe vomiting (induced by the
tea)
• Profoundly altered state of
awareness and perceptions of otherworldly imagery
Long-Term Effects
One result of the repeated use of hallucinogens is the development of tolerance to these drugs. Studies show that LSD users develop a high degree of tolerance for the drug very quickly. This means they have to take increasingly larger amounts to get the same effects.
Research indicates that if a user
develops a tolerance to one drug in the hallucinogen class, he or she will also
have a tolerance for other drugs in the same class. For example, if someone has
developed a tolerance to LSD, they will also have a tolerance to psilocybin and
mescaline.
They will not, however, have a tolerance to drugs that affect other neurotransmitter systems, such as amphetamines and marijuana.
Tolerance to hallucinogens is not
permanent. If the person stops taking the drug for several days, the tolerance
will disappear.
Also, chronic users of hallucinogens typically do not experience any physical withdrawal symptoms when they stop using these drugs, unlike users who have become dependent on other drugs or alcohol.
Persistent Psychosis and Flashbacks
Two of the more serious long-term effects of using hallucinogenics are persistent psychosis and flashbacks, otherwise known as hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD). Many times these conditions will occur together. According to the NIDA, here are some of the specific long-term effects of hallucinogen use:
• Other visual disturbances (such as seeing halos or trails attached to moving objects).
These symptoms are sometimes mistaken for neurological disorders (such as a stroke or a brain tumour). Although rare, the occurrence of these conditions is as unpredictable as having a bad trip. Flashbacks and psychosis can happen to anyone, but research has shown that they are more often observed in patients with a history of psychological problems.
The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
"Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
Home / Posts tagged "south african rehab" (Page 5)
Relationships in Recovery
07 June, 2019Articles, News
Relationships and addiction
Living with active addiction creates extraordinary relationship challenges and does considerable damage to significant relationships—with partners, parents, children, other family members, and close friends. When you enter recovery, it’s natural to want to repair this damage as soon as possible, and your impulse might be to try to do just that. However, attempting quick fixes is rarely helpful and almost never works well. Often, it can make things worse.
In terms of the relationships you want to improve, how long did it take to damage them in the ways that you had prior to going commencing recovery? Months? Years? It may not take as long to undo the harm your addiction caused, but it will take time. How many times before have you promised your loved ones that you would change? Create empathy by putting yourself in their position. How many times have you said, “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again”? Perhaps you believed it yourself and genuinely intended to change, but “it” did happen again (and perhaps again, and again).
Whether you’ve been in recovery previously or this is
your first attempt at it, why should they believe you now? How many times have
you told them that, this time things will be different? The more often this
happened, the harder it will be for the important people in your life to trust
that this time really will be different.
Adjustments in recovery
Most people experience deep regret, guilt, and shame
related to the harm their use of alcohol and other drugs has caused to the
people they care about. Frequently, wanting to “fix” important relationships
immediately is based on a desire to alleviate the emotional pain of having hurt
loved ones. But, pain—both emotional and physical—is an inevitable aspect of
life. It is part of being human. The process of recovery requires learning how
to accept and go through the pain that life brings you. Part of this process is
accepting that repairing the damage your addiction has done to your relationships
will only happen gradually over time—based on what you do rather than what you
say. The saying, actions speak louder than words, is especially accurate
related to recovery.
It will be helpful to resist the urge to focus on
fixing your relationships, and keep the focus on making progress in your
recovery. As you continue to work on your recovery, over time your
relationships are likely to improve. The best way to resolve relationship
issues is through slow, incremental change.
The role of relationships in recovery
Clearly, supportive relationships provide many
benefits. The process of recovery from addiction is supported through
relationships and social networks. Recovery support is provided through
treatment, services, and community-based programs by behavioural health care
providers, peer providers, family members, friends and social networks, the
faith community, and people with experience in recovery.
Unfortunately, people with addiction are inclined to isolate, effectively cutting themselves off from the health-enhancing effects of social and emotional support. This support becomes even more important in early recovery, when people are struggling to get used to life without using alcohol and other drugs. At this time, developing relationships that provide mutual support and connection is essential. Twelve-step programs and other mutual-aid resources help to serve this vital purpose.
While some relationships are based on circumstances
over which you have little or no control, you do have choices in establishing
relationships that provide support and nurture you. Cultivating and maintaining
supportive relationships takes time and energy. It requires effort, along with
the strength and courage to step outside of one’s comfort zone.
Part of the growth and healing that frequently occurs in recovery involves learning how, when and with whom to take down the walls and false fronts that people have put up to protect themselves, and begin to allow others to see and get to know the “real” them. Twelve-step programs can offer support and guidance from others who have been through the same kinds of experiences—who have been there and done that—and have learned how to be successful in the face of the challenges of recovery from addiction. To paraphrase some twelve-step literature, through the process of recovery you can transition from a life characterized by taking and being taken to one based on giving and being given.
Reviewing your current relationships
It is important to take inventory of your current
relationships so you can identify those that will help or hinder your progress
toward health and healing in recovery. Moreover, consider whether relationships
that are not supportive of your priorities deserve your time and energy. If
something doesn’t seem or feel “right,” it’s important to pay attention to that
gut feeling, be able to communicate about it. Identifying and shedding
unhealthy or “toxic” relationships is also part of the recovery process.
What about new relationships?
In any close relationship, people share important
aspects of their life experience and who they are. As a result, it’s essential
to consider sharing the fact that you are in recovery with those people with
whom you are or would like to become emotionally close—assuming that they
aren’t already aware of it. But, how do you know when to let others know that
you’re in recovery from addiction? Many people have a lot of uncertainty about
disclosing their status as a person in recovery in new relationships. Such
relationships include new friends, co-workers, and romantic partners.
Disclosing your recovery status
There are different opinions on when and how to
disclose your recovery status. Some people believe it’s important to be
completely up front and let others know that you are a person in recovery
during your very first encounter. Others take the position that it is best to
see how the relationship develops and use that information to determine when to
disclose. Although rare, there are some work situations in which a person’s
recovery status might possibly be held against him or her. There are certain
industries where business is frequently conducted around activities where
alcohol is served and drinking is customary.
Ultimately, disclosing your recovery status to others
is a very personal decision and the timing of it depends on a variety of
factors. That being said, your most important priority needs to be protecting
your recovery. This means taking care not put yourself in situations where your
recovery is likely to be at risk.
Although no one in recovery is immune to the
possibility of relapse, those who are new(er) are especially vulnerable.
Therefore, informing people to whom you are becoming close that you don’t drink
alcohol or use other drugs—sooner rather than later—will help you avoid many
risky situations. Getting involved in or maintaining a close relationship with
anyone who regularly uses alcohol or other drugs, particularly in your
presence, places you at considerable risk.
You may be concerned about how others will react or
judge you when you share your recovery status. This is natural. Some people do
not understand what recovery is. They may ask questions. Occasionally, such
questions may be asked provocatively, questioning or even testing your commitment
to recovery. However, most of the time people ask questions because they
genuinely wish to know more. They may want to know why you’ve chosen this
particular path because they have questions about their own alcohol or other
drug use or are concerned about a family member or friend.
Increasingly, people in recovery are emerging from
the shadows and throwing off the yoke of the stigma long attached to addiction.
Recovery is becoming more common and accepted in mainstream society. You may be
surprised to find that the vast majority of people will respect your recovery
and accept it without difficulty.
In terms of how to tell someone that you’re in
recovery, there are several options. Generally, the best approach is to be
direct and matter-of-fact: “I’m in recovery.” If you’re in a situation where
drinking or drug use is suggested or you’re offered a drink or a joint (or
something else), you can simply say, “No thank you.” If the other person wants
to know why, you can simply say, “I don’t drink (or smoke pot, or do other
drugs).”
Other options include: “I’m retired from that area,”
“I’m allergic to alcohol,” etc., and “I just don’t like it.” However, it’s
important to know that the other person isn’t owed an explanation and offering
one is strictly your choice. Like any other new skill, telling another person
that you are in recovery becomes easier and more comfortable with time and
practice.
The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
"Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
