Stepping Stone Three Making personal change

Now, once you have taken control of your life. You are now mentally strong enough to change certain aspects of life. Beginning, with those whom are around you, with Negative attitudes and outlooks in life.

*Normally, this is the people for whom you had around

While you were using drugs*

This crowd you must let go of, as they only drag those around them down with all the negative doings. No, it’s not easy, but is necessary for you to have a successful recovery. As, you no longer, use the drugs nor hang out at the same place, you will be only surrounding yourself with temptation if you continue to keep the same crowd around you.

*If you surround yourself with trouble, you will be trouble*

Here you are faced with more choices, Life Choice, they are the hardest for they have the largest affect one one’s entire life. Reflecting on your past choices in friends, peers, and crowds you were around, for do you recall any positive events? Normally, if being honest, the answer to this question is No! For, they all had negative attitudes, just as you did, and outlook on life. As, they are all still doing the things you, now, are trying to overcome. Therefore, continuing to keep this crowd around you, will Never, in any manner be helpful for you in life other than keeping you headed down the long, lonely, dark path you once were traveling.

*Those who are doing the same you were doing

Can’t help themselves, how could they ever help you?*

The influences around you folds great power over your ability to stay focused and on track. Direct influences, hold the most influence over you. This is someone who is in your life on constant bases and who you look up to. You want theses person(s) to be a positive influence.

*Example: brother, sister, mom, dad .grandparent, aunt, uncle*

In order, for this to be a positive influence, they should be one who is self established, confident, loyal to others, not easily influenced by others, have and show self respect, and always striving forward. These are ones that have a job, in which they attend every day and do Absolutely No Drugs!

        Seeing how by now you should know the difference between positive and negative surroundings. Put It To Use!!  The challenge is to find the strength to separate from the “old” to allow room for the “new”. This is a major direct change. As the way you get yourself away from them can be indirectly or directly done. But, must be done one way or the other! Otherwise it will be difficult an almost impossible to stay focused and remain sober.

*Examples: Change your phone number, delete their numbers,

Stay clear of your Old hang outs, surround yourself only with Positive!*

          Positive influences, isn’t as difficult as it may see, you just never have looked around, for they are everywhere, except where you been. There are many different places you can go and be surrounded by only positive people and environment.

*Examples: church, youth club, and rehab!*

Going to church can have many opportunities; You have several different individuals whom all come from different backgrounds, in which some, just as you, have changed their life around. Also, there are good to come from your testimony, by using your past, to speak with the youth, teens and young adults, could help them not to make the same mistakes, as you have. You will have so many others that are willing to sit and speak with you, and give you advice, also will never judge you nor put you down for things you may or may not have done, throughout your life. They also, can give you their testimony, in which you may use to help see the changes you too need to make.

          Staying Busy!! Having different activities, outlets other than drugs, can help you stay on track. You can volunteer at a local youth club, in helping the children there lean different activities, can be a great deal of help for you. As, you feel wanted and needed, this will help you to want to continue to do well in your recovery.

          After evaluating, these options, or others you know of, and still you can’t seem to decide on something, or having a more difficult time with recovery, you might want to think about rehab. Before you panic at the sound of this word, do some research, as there are many types of rehab facilities? You may find that there is one that fits your needs.

*Examples: inpatient, outpatient, long and short term*

Inpatient facilities are where one will go and stay at the facility to complete the program they need for their recovery. Outpatient facilities one will go at appointed times, as they will then attend classes and sessions of group and private therapy as they recover. You can choose depending on your personal needs.

* Remembering outpatient rehab is very had to stay focused

In which takes a very mentally strong person, Inpatient rehab holds higher success ratings*

Now, once you decide if you are going to be in or outpatient, you must decide the time you may need. For, there are short term and long term treatment programs, in both. This depends on your addiction, mental strength, and your past encounters.

          Short Term Treatment, this is a (3-6) month treatment, in which you will attend class, therapy (group and private), and gather knowledge on

How to, overcome and live with your past. Depending on if you choose in or out patient rehab will depend on how, when, and where your treatment takes place.

          Inpatient, you will stay at the facility, as there you will have your room and board, more of one on one time with the staff, and you will attend your classes and programs there, until you complete them.

          Outpatient, you will go on assigned days of the week to the facility, as then you will have your meeting, classes, and group at that time. Normally, two to three days a week. They will set an end date, date for your completion, and you must have done all the work till that point. In the case you didn’t they will just sign you out and you much start over.

*Inpatient will talk with you at the end

If not ready can allow you to stay for further treatment*

In short term treatment programs, as in all, the impatience treatment will always hold the best results. It is up to you.

        Long term treatment is only, held with impatience treatment. As, like short term, you have all the classes and groups, but this program requires a (6-12) month stay. For, during this time, you will go through two parts of treatment. The first six months are just as if you were doing the short term

program, as you must start from the beginning to reach the end. The second part, the last six months is what they call a Work Program.

          The Work Program, is a program set up to help, the now, recovered addicts find and establish work (jobs), and learn how to maintain without their addictions.  Here, they will also learn how to manage their finances and encourage the positive things in life they can spend the Extra, after their bills, on. This is the highest success rating program, in my opinion, if  I would had done this it may not had taken me so long with so many times of failure before I got it.

*You must choose not what you like but

What is the best for you and your addiction*

Reviews

[Sunshine]

You can't change anything if you don't start with yourself and personal life