Growing up with Alcoholism and Drug addiction in my family origin was probably a real skill builder if I look at it in the proper light now…

• I learned how to survive in a crisis
• I learned how to exist with no support
• I learned how to stuff feelings quite effectively
• I learned how to take the blame for pretty much anything
• I learned not to trust authority
• I learned not to listen to complainers
• I learned to look after other peoples stuff

How to Achieve Codependency Recovery?

Today I can have all Brand New Fresh Feelings! I don’t have to drag all those worn out and hurt yesterdays feelings along into today!

Ful Benefits are realized by:

• Taking the focus off others and strating to deal  with my own primary and secondary addictions.
• Start to be of service to others.
• Put myself in a position to be around positive people, not people who are only interested in finding ways to stall the process of recovery.
• Set up a reasonable time frame to work my recovery program, namely one day at a time.

The loss of one electron turns an atom from negative to positive.

If you try and straighten out a Carneval or Mardi Gras Parade you would be foolish! Mainly because if by some chance you were successful, you would not have an awesome Carneval Parade any more, and a straight parade likely is no fun…

Ego in Reverse

I have sponsored many folks in 12 step programs and found in every case that over thinking of self negatively is “Ego in Reverse gear”… If you have a problem with negative self worth, try the A-Anon fourth step guide called “Blueprint for Progress”.

Also when I assist with Fourth steps i encourage my sponsees to write poems or songs about their issues, which turns them into art instead of garbage…

After being in a codependency recovery program for over 30 years, it should be easy to identify a group of codependency symptoms. But it’s not! And I really dislike lists of symptoms that are cut and dried.

Work “With” the Weaknesses

• For instance if you have low self-esteem, find something that works good with low self esteem – possibly take some classes in etiquette and you will quite likely find out that you are way better at being polite than the super macho people that you have been envying…
• Another common symptom is not liking or accepting yourself, feelings of inadequacy, and worried about what others think. This is actually probably true and somehow nobody taught you how to respect yourself or how to identify or obtain skills that are respectable.
• I have struggled with this for a long time and have had to re-educate myself many times. Even the great Statesman and Engineer “Buckminster Fuller took a couple years off from reinventing the world to unlearn the crap he had learned up to that point“… ergo the Geodesic Dome!

People Pleasing is another worn out phrase that can be turned into a positive simply by getting in the right profession.. People pleasers make wonderful service personnel or small service business owners! And if being concerned with what other people think about you is a negative then the world has somehow reversed its polarity... Of course you should be concerned with what others think about you!

Perfectionism can be a good thing too,   get a job in Quality control or Management.

Talking From Experience

I am a general contractor for 45 Years and have had much experience in hiring people from halfway houses and casual labor pools.

• On one occasion I hired a chap who was really convinced he was no good at anything, but he seemed to have a natural talent for sanding drywall very accurately.  When the work ran out I suggested he try other drywall companies and tell them he would sand drywall.
• A couple years later i saw the chap again and he was grinning from ear to ear. He had gotten the drywall job and worked at it for a few months then he got a job at his reserve teaching drywalling to others…

The Dean of Addictionz

Working the Solution with Multiple and Addicts of all types

• 36 Years Personal Recovery Experience in several Self Help Programs
• Addiction Recovery Outreach Trustee, NW Region Webmaster, Newsletter Editor and contributer for various Recovery Associations Publications
• Published in several major recovery publications:  AA Grapevine, Al-Anon Forum, Overeaters Anonymous “Voices of Recovery” and “Lifeline”, Gamblers Anonymous “Bulletin” &”Toastmaster” Magazine 
• This AddictionZ.com website is featured in Melody Beattie’s current “Codependent no More Workbook”
• Over 45 years successful contracting business experience working with over 2000 employees and Penitentery halfway house temporary staff.
• Sponsoring many recovering multiple addicts with long term good results
• Recovery weekend workshop leader in Western Canada & US Pacific NW
• Author “You Can’t Unscrew Somebody Workbook” for relationship makeovers
• Author “Sex Inventory Workbook” for sex issues
• Author “Drunk Driving Workbook”  for safety
• Author “Breaking The Cycle of Gambling Addiction” arrest the money drain!
• Author “Breaking the Cycle of Compulsive Overeating” get healthy!

Here is a thought!
Why don’t you book your sober recovery style vacation with us in beautiful downtown Victoria BC Canada at our Gingerbread Cottage Bed and Breakfast. Over the years we have had lots of therapists, recovering addicts and health professionals stay at our idyllic B&B steps from the Salish Sea. Oh and we have gourmet breakfasts too! Vanessa makes a fantastic Austrian Apple Strudel! see more on our B&B website…

Please leave your comments below, and I will be sure to answer them. If you want one of the publications but truly cannot afford it leave a comment with your email address and I’ll send you a free one…

This website is about recovery – not making money – but it wouldn’t hurt to pay a few web hosting charges if you  decided to visit one of the sponsors ads… I have kept outside ads to a minumum so its not so frustrating to read. Hate those pages with an ad between every paragraph.

Have a great One Day at a Time! Dean

The post Codependency – Good Things about Codependency first appeared on AddictionZ.

Family Members Info

Every addict is said to strongly affect at least 10 people. If you are an affected person you will often feel like you have no where to turn.

An addiction intervention is a project where family members, friends, employers or other concerned individuals are educated about the specific addiction that their particular addict is involved with.

An effective intervention educates the family and concerned others as to what roles they play in the addiction process and how the addicted person needs their participation for his/her active addiction to continue.

•  Enablers – allow the Addiction to Carry On

  •  Family Members often unknowingly contribute to the addiction by enabling the addict by paying bills, providing food and shelter and excusing or overlooking the addicts behaviors.
  •  Employers often contribute by accepting unacceptable behavior
  •  Friends also enable the addict by lending money, food, shelter

Family members, friends, employers and involved professionals also need to learn about how the victim role is necessary to the addiction cycle.

•  Victims – will prolong the Addiction Process

  •  Every Addict plays the victim very convincingly.
  •  Various family members, friends, employers and professionals feel and act like they are victims too.
  •  In order to arrest the addiction the involved people need to stop feeling and acting like victims.

Family members, friends, employers, and involved professionals need to learn about how they prolong the addiction cycle by taking turns acting as persecutors.

•  Persecutors – will prolong the Addiction Cycle

  •  Every addict needs at least one persecutor to blame things on.
  •  Various family members, friends think they can somehow convince the addict to come to his/her senses by yelling, screaming, pleading or threatening. They become the persecutors.
  •  The addict also plays the persecutor a lot

Both the addict, the enablers, the persecutors and the victims occupy all these roles at various times and to varying degrees – the fact that all persons switch roles is why this is called an Addiction Cycle.

A good intervention will have a lot of time spent with educating each family member, friend, employer and involved professional as to how they fit these roles and how to stop themselves from falling into them.

Interventions are not for the purpose of venting, shaming or blaming. Rather they will show each person how they fit into the cycle and how to arrest their own behaviors.

Only when everyone knows the roles that they play will the addiction cycle stop.

Buy the Al-Anon Pamphlet “Alcoholism A Merry Go Round of Denial” to Pass out to family Members prior to an intervention attempt – or Read the Pamphlet online here

The Dean of Addictionz

Working the Solution with Multiple and Addicts of all types

• 36 Years Personal Recovery Experience in several Self Help Programs
• Addiction Recovery Outreach Trustee, NW Region Webmaster, Newsletter Editor and contributer for various Recovery Associations Publications
• Published in several major recovery publications:  AA Grapevine, Al-Anon Forum, Overeaters Anonymous “Voices of Recovery” and “Lifeline”, Gamblers Anonymous “Bulletin” &”Toastmaster” Magazine 
• This AddictionZ.com website is featured in Melody Beattie’s current “Codependent no More Workbook”
• Over 45 years successful contracting business experience working with over 2000 employees and Penitentery halfway house temporary staff.
• Sponsoring many recovering multiple addicts with long term good results
• Recovery weekend workshop leader in Western Canada & US Pacific NW
• Author “You Can’t Unscrew Somebody Workbook” for relationship makeovers
• Author “Sex Inventory Workbook” for sex issues
• Author “Drunk Driving Workbook”  for safety
• Author “Breaking The Cycle of Gambling Addiction” arrest the money drain!
• Author “Breaking the Cycle of Compulsive Overeating” get healthy!

Here is a thought!
Why don’t you book your sober recovery style vacation with us in beautiful downtown Victoria BC Canada at our Gingerbread Cottage Bed and Breakfast. Over the years we have had lots of therapists, recovering addicts and health professionals stay at our idyllic B&B steps from the Salish Sea. Oh and we have gourmet breakfasts too! Vanessa makes a fantastic Austrian Apple Strudel! see more on our B&B website…

Please leave your comments below, and I will be sure to answer them. If you want one of the publications but truly cannot afford it leave a comment with your email address and I’ll send you a free one…

This website is about recovery – not making money – but it wouldn’t hurt to pay a few web hosting charges if you  decided to visit one of the sponsors ads… I have kept outside ads to a minumum so its not so frustrating to read. Hate those pages with an ad between every paragraph.

Have a great One Day at a Time! Dean

The post Addiction Intervention Family Members Info first appeared on AddictionZ.

Caffeine Withdrawal and Nicotine withdrawal are both quite severe on their  own. Caffeine withdrawal is also complic ated by the sugarr withdrawal that almost always are in the coffee drinks.

Quitting Smoking Cigarettes

Nicotine withdrawal severity in the instance of quitting smoking cigharettes  is greatly increased by the amount of addictive additives in cigarette smoke.  According to a report published in 1994 by the major five American Cigarette Companies there are 599 additives in a common cigarette.

The almost 600 ingredients list of cigarette additives is too long to publish here so click this link to see for yourself.

Since many of these additives are addictive chemicals and foods, withdrawal from nicotine is complicated beyond belief. These chemicals have a withdrawal effect as well that increases the failure rate with people who try to give up their smoking habit.

In the past, you may have tried to address your smoking by changing your behavior, like avoiding situations where you might want to smoke or going “cold turkey.” But to quit smoking, you need to understand and address smoking from both a behavioral and a physical standpoint.

The unanimous consensus in the field of recovery from any addiction, is that a spiritual admission of powerlessness followed by the removal of any offending addictive substances is required in order to provide an atmosphere for emotional well being. The tapering off method went out with bellbottoms – way back when!

Sugar Withdrawal can be seen to have three elements:

• A pattern of increased intake and changes in brain chemistry
• Signs of withdrawal and further changes in brain chemistry upon deprivation
• Signs of craving and relapse after withdrawal is over.

Sugar withdrawal symptoms

• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Tremors
• Anxiety
• Depression.

These effects are similar to, but slightly less intense than those associated with caffeine withdrawal.

Symptoms can be reduced by eating some less destructive sugars in fruits and vegetables but refined flours actually act similar. So even sugar free baking and breads will synthesize to sugar.

Sugar is in the same category as drugs because it actually synthesizes into alcohol .

Some people, may become overly dependent on sweet food, particularly if they periodically stop eating and then binge. This relates to eating disorders such as bulimia.

The Dean of Addictionz

Working the Solution with Multiple and Addicts of all types

• 36 Years Personal Recovery Experience in several Self Help Programs
• Addiction Recovery Outreach Trustee, NW Region Webmaster, Newsletter Editor and contributer for various Recovery Associations Publications
• Published in several major recovery publications:  AA Grapevine, Al-Anon Forum, Overeaters Anonymous “Voices of Recovery” and “Lifeline”, Gamblers Anonymous “Bulletin” &”Toastmaster” Magazine 
• This AddictionZ.com website is featured in Melody Beattie’s current “Codependent no More Workbook”
• Over 45 years successful contracting business experience working with over 2000 employees and Penitentery halfway house temporary staff.
• Sponsoring many recovering multiple addicts with long term good results
• Recovery weekend workshop leader in Western Canada & US Pacific NW
• Author “You Can’t Unscrew Somebody Workbook” for relationship makeovers
• Author “Sex Inventory Workbook” for sex issues
• Author “Drunk Driving Workbook”  for safety
• Author “Breaking The Cycle of Gambling Addiction” arrest the money drain!
• Author “Breaking the Cycle of Compulsive Overeating” get healthy!

Here is a thought!
Why don’t you book your sober recovery style vacation with us in beautiful downtown Victoria BC Canada at our Gingerbread Cottage Bed and Breakfast. Over the years we have had lots of therapists, recovering addicts and health professionals stay at our idyllic B&B steps from the Salish Sea. Oh and we have gourmet breakfasts too! Vanessa makes a fantastic Austrian Apple Strudel! see more on our B&B website…

Please leave your comments below, and I will be sure to answer them. If you want one of the publications but truly cannot afford it leave a comment with your email address and I’ll send you a free one…

This website is about recovery – not making money – but it wouldn’t hurt to pay a few web hosting charges if you  decided to visit one of the sponsors ads… I have kept outside ads to a minumum so its not so frustrating to read. Hate those pages with an ad between every paragraph.

Have a great One Day at a Time! Dean

The post Caffeine Withdrawal – Nicotine Withdrawal – AddictionZ first appeared on AddictionZ.

If you want to avoid a drug bust check this out! These are telltale signs of addiction to your own products which will lead you to a drug bust quickly and you will not get 2 minute penalty like hockey.. the penalties are much stiffer!

Common Symptoms of Drug Addiction

• Losing time from work or school due to drug using.
• Home life is unhappy due to drug use
• Reputation is affected due to drug using
• Feeling remorseful after using
• Selling drugs to afford habit
• Using causes a decrease in ambition or efficiency
• Borrowing money to finance habit
• Selling possessions to get money to buy drugs
• Reluctant to use money to pay bills because need for drugs
• Become careless of self or others due to drug usage
• Partying longer than planned
• Used drugs to escape worry or trouble
• Committed illegal act to finance drug use
• Difficulty in normal functions like eating or sleeping
• Considered or attempted suicide

So if you are seeing any of these symptoms in yourself and want to avoid an  inevitable drug bust its time to get out of the business and seek some help! Call your local Narcotics Anonymous office for help.. They have many recovered drug addicts that can help you to begin recovery.

My own nephew didn’t see his own addiction signs and was involved in a Las Vegas Swat Team drug bust confrontation… died way too early! This page is dedicated to him in the hope that someone else will read it and recognize their own typical addiction signs.

I still miss him and did try to help him but he thought he did not have a problem!

Best Wishes from AddictionZ!

The Dean of Addictionz

Working the Solution with Multiple and Addicts of all types

• 36 Years Personal Recovery Experience in several Self Help Programs
• Addiction Recovery Outreach Trustee, NW Region Webmaster, Newsletter Editor and contributer for various Recovery Associations Publications
• Published in several major recovery publications:  AA Grapevine, Al-Anon Forum, Overeaters Anonymous “Voices of Recovery” and “Lifeline”, Gamblers Anonymous “Bulletin” &”Toastmaster” Magazine 
• This AddictionZ.com website is featured in Melody Beattie’s current “Codependent no More Workbook”
• Over 45 years successful contracting business experience working with over 2000 employees and Penitentery halfway house temporary staff.
• Sponsoring many recovering multiple addicts with long term good results
• Recovery weekend workshop leader in Western Canada & US Pacific NW
• Author “You Can’t Unscrew Somebody Workbook” for relationship makeovers
• Author “Sex Inventory Workbook” for sex issues
• Author “Drunk Driving Workbook”  for safety
• Author “Breaking The Cycle of Gambling Addiction” arrest the money drain!
• Author “Breaking the Cycle of Compulsive Overeating” get healthy!

Here is a thought!
Why don’t you book your sober recovery style vacation with us in beautiful downtown Victoria BC Canada at our Gingerbread Cottage Bed and Breakfast. Over the years we have had lots of therapists, recovering addicts and health professionals stay at our idyllic B&B steps from the Salish Sea. Oh and we have gourmet breakfasts too! Vanessa makes a fantastic Austrian Apple Strudel! see more on our B&B website…

Please leave your comments below, and I will be sure to answer them. If you want one of the publications but truly cannot afford it leave a comment with your email address and I’ll send you a free one…

This website is about recovery – not making money – but it wouldn’t hurt to pay a few web hosting charges if you  decided to visit one of the sponsors ads… I have kept outside ads to a minumum so its not so frustrating to read. Hate those pages with an ad between every paragraph.

Have a great One Day at a Time! Dean

The post Drug Bust – Addiction Signs Symptoms – AddictionZ first appeared on AddictionZ.

Self Medicating is the addicts favorite way to prolong their addictions, it can be done in many “politically correct” ways. Like over eating, working, dating, computer.  In short, any other distraction may become a medicating process.

Taking medications to do things that you can normally do on your own may be a warning sign.

Anxiety can be Managed

Taking life in smaller doses is helpful in reducing anxiety, 12 step programs use the one day at a time approach which allows the scope to be less. Some members even live an hour at a time or a minute at a time. Try It it works!

In my experience life has usually taken its toll and the addict does not have the proper tools to deal with the overall but rather hangs all the problems on one nail, so to speak rather than resolve a complex Gordian Knot of theirt life to date…

My workbook can help with this approach whether you are an addict or a codependent or just a normie!

Click here to read more or purchase your own copy of our workbook by clicking the buy now button.

The Dean of Addictionz

Working the Solution with Multiple and Addicts of all types

• 36 Years Personal Recovery Experience in several Self Help Programs
• Addiction Recovery Outreach Trustee, NW Region Webmaster, Newsletter Editor and contributer for various Recovery Associations Publications
• Published in several major recovery publications:  AA Grapevine, Al-Anon Forum, Overeaters Anonymous “Voices of Recovery” and “Lifeline”, Gamblers Anonymous “Bulletin” &”Toastmaster” Magazine 
• This AddictionZ.com website is featured in Melody Beattie’s current “Codependent no More Workbook”
• Over 45 years successful contracting business experience working with over 2000 employees and Penitentery halfway house temporary staff.
• Sponsoring many recovering multiple addicts with long term good results
• Recovery weekend workshop leader in Western Canada & US Pacific NW
• Author “You Can’t Unscrew Somebody Workbook” for relationship makeovers
• Author “Sex Inventory Workbook” for sex issues
• Author “Drunk Driving Workbook”  for safety
• Author “Breaking The Cycle of Gambling Addiction” arrest the money drain!
• Author “Breaking the Cycle of Compulsive Overeating” get healthy!

Here is a thought!
Why don’t you book your sober recovery style vacation with us in beautiful downtown Victoria BC Canada at our Gingerbread Cottage Bed and Breakfast. Over the years we have had lots of therapists, recovering addicts and health professionals stay at our idyllic B&B steps from the Salish Sea. Oh and we have gourmet breakfasts too! Vanessa makes a fantastic Austrian Apple Strudel! see more on our B&B website…

Please leave your comments below, and I will be sure to answer them. If you want one of the publications but truly cannot afford it leave a comment with your email address and I’ll send you a free one…

This website is about recovery – not making money – but it wouldn’t hurt to pay a few web hosting charges if you  decided to visit one of the sponsors ads… I have kept outside ads to a minumum so its not so frustrating to read. Hate those pages with an ad between every paragraph.

Have a great One Day at a Time! Dean

The post Self Medicating Depression Anxiety – AddictionZ first appeared on AddictionZ.

12 Steps meetings usually only have one requirement and that is ” a desire to stop your particular addiction”

Some groups like those that deal in sex addictions and are wishing to avoid predatorial folks will require a prescreening prior to inviting a prospective member to an actual meeting.

You can usually get the location of an appropriate 12 step meeting by calling the Alcoholics Anonymous office in any community. Simply tell them you wish to deal with your specific addiction and they will let you know which 12 step groups are available in the area.

if there is no local AA office call police station or local enmergency ward.

A call to a local community help line may provide links to other services that cost money or have their own agenda’s and would not be as effective.

Generally speaking, 12 steps meetings are either:

•  Open to all people.
•  Closed to members and prospective members only.

There are some other types of meetings that are aimed at specialty groups such as gay or lesbians, straight male or female groups as well. These groups often have some guidelines that make them specialty groups

All seem to offer good recovery basics and support.

Open Meetings

The most common definition of an open meeting is one where family or friends or other interested individuals are welcome to attend. The sharing at these meeting is generally not as in depth and more on a public information basis.

Closed Meetings

The most common definition of a closed meeting is one where only folks wishing to recover from their specific addiction are welcomed.

For more information on various 12 step meetings in your community please consult your local telephone book or contact your local crisis information service.

What to expect at a 12 Step Meeting

•  Addicts are expected to share their experience, strengths and hopes.
  •  Whining and blaming are discouraged
  •  Individual issues are best discussed with a sponsor.
•  It is expected that the condition of anonymity be respected to provide everyone with a safe haven to recover in.

Who you see here, What you hear here, Let it stay here – is the common motto of 12 step groups

12 Step Tools

Multiple addicts are usually simply folks with addictive personalities that reach out for solace and escape from troubling or foreign situations and feelings.

Though the symptoms may seem fragmented they are merely diversified from the common mainstream 12 step recovery programs. These programs, one at a time, provide positive relief and personal growth to many more selective addicts, but may prove disillusionment to multiple addicts when they do not receive the same quality of recovery as their more singular brothers and sisters.

All 12 step recovery programs use these tools to one degree or another, we have adapted them here for people using multiple programs.

•  Make A Daily Recovery Plan Detail all addictions( even socially acceptable ones), check out all medications, find 12 step programs that deal with the specifics, abstain from specific addictive behaviors.
•  Attend Recovery 12 step Meetings. Source out and attend specific 12 step recovery programs that suit your specific addictions. Attend one meeting per week for minor addictions. Attend more for active and destructive addictions. Use the help offered and don’t try to gain acceptance for other addictions at non specific meetings.
•  Sponsorship Source out and obtain a sponsor for each specific addiction.
•  Telephone Contact your specific recovery sponsors daily. Calling in specific daily recovery plans is helpful. Make sure they are to the specific sponsor. ie; don’t call your food plan to your AA sponsor.
•  Literature Read program approved literature only for each of your specific addictions. Many outside publications focus on the problem where 12 step programs focus on the solution.
•  Writing All 12 step programs suggest writing out your feelings, journaling and doing written inventories. Try to keep these journals program specific will eliminate the overwhelmed feeling of rolling everything up into one big ball.
•  Anonymity Many 12 step programs use the anonymity feature as an important recovery tool. Multiple addicts can use this to keep from feeling different at each program by not revealing outside program connections when they are not comfortable.
•  Service Sharing your recovery with others who need it is a healing experience. Take your talents and creativity to advantage of others.

Hypnotherapy is sometimes a great tool for recovering addicts.

12 Step Critics

Sad to say, 12 step critics are usually folks who are not ready to deal with their own addictions. While it is true that 12 step programs have a few failings often they are the addicts only chance to attain a clean and sober state.

In the 29 years I have been involved in recovery I have seen many folks who could not obtain any amount of the humility that is required to start to recover. These folks usually became resentful and critical at the members who did achieve recovery.

The 12 step critics are always welcomed back to their respective programs should they wish to return.

12 Steps Failures

The statistics for attaining good solid recovery and lasting sobriety at a 12 step program are not high. 12 steps failures often have hidden addictions to self produced drugs like adrenalin and endorphins, common in eating disorders, sex addicts, compulsive gamblers and criminal activity addictions.

An objective look is needed to find the secondary addictions if good recovery is desired.

About one person in every ten will do fairly well. The rest are not failures they are just possibly not ready to deal with their demons.

Just as most news today is bad news, the good news is that one in ten do achieve some recovery!

12 Steps role in Resolving Dissociation

Dissociation is a state of acute mental de-compensation in which certain thoughts, emotions, sensations, and/or memories are compartmentalized because they are too overwhelming for the conscious mind to integrate. This subconscious strategy for managing powerful negative emotions is sometimes referred to as “splitting”, as these thoughts, emotions, sensations, and/or memories are “split off” from the integrated ego.

Dissociation’s role as a defensive mechanism employed in response to psychological trauma.

Considered dissociation an initially effective defense mechanism that protects the individual psychologically from the impact of overwhelming traumatic events, a habitual tendency to dissociate would likely be a marker of a more pronounced addictive personality.

Attention to dissociation as a clinical feature has been growing in recent years as knowledge of post-traumatic stress disorder increased, due to interest in dissociative identity disorder and the multiple personality controversy.

In 12 step programs members are shown how to identify their dissociations and take responsibility for their actions and behaviors.

12 Step Fallacy

The fallacy is usually that: The 12 steps do not work – which of course is true!

if the participant is unwilling to believe in the concept and put their own work into their own process. The 12 steps are simply tools that the individual has the option to use if they wish.

It would also be true to say that a pile of saws and hammers don’t work. Until a carpenter picks them up they do absolutely nothing.

Use your 12 step tools! It works if YOU Work It!

The Dean of Addictionz

Working the Solution with Multiple and Addicts of all types

• 36 Years Personal Recovery Experience in several Self Help Programs
• Addiction Recovery Outreach Trustee, NW Region Webmaster, Newsletter Editor and contributer for various Recovery Associations Publications
• Published in several major recovery publications:  AA Grapevine, Al-Anon Forum, Overeaters Anonymous “Voices of Recovery” and “Lifeline”, Gamblers Anonymous “Bulletin” &”Toastmaster” Magazine 
• This AddictionZ.com website is featured in Melody Beattie’s current “Codependent no More Workbook”
• Over 45 years successful contracting business experience working with over 2000 employees and Penitentery halfway house temporary staff.
• Sponsoring many recovering multiple addicts with long term good results
• Recovery weekend workshop leader in Western Canada & US Pacific NW
• Author “You Can’t Unscrew Somebody Workbook” for relationship makeovers
• Author “Sex Inventory Workbook” for sex issues
• Author “Drunk Driving Workbook”  for safety
• Author “Breaking The Cycle of Gambling Addiction” arrest the money drain!
• Author “Breaking the Cycle of Compulsive Overeating” get healthy!

Here is a thought!
Why don’t you book your sober recovery style vacation with us in beautiful downtown Victoria BC Canada at our Gingerbread Cottage Bed and Breakfast. Over the years we have had lots of therapists, recovering addicts and health professionals stay at our idyllic B&B steps from the Salish Sea. Oh and we have gourmet breakfasts too! Vanessa makes a fantastic Austrian Apple Strudel! see more on our B&B website…

Please leave your comments below, and I will be sure to answer them. If you want one of the publications but truly cannot afford it leave a comment with your email address and I’ll send you a free one…

This website is about recovery – not making money – but it wouldn’t hurt to pay a few web hosting charges if you  decided to visit one of the sponsors ads… I have kept outside ads to a minumum so its not so frustrating to read. Hate those pages with an ad between every paragraph.

Have a great One Day at a Time! Dean

The post 12 Steps – Meeting Preview – Tools – AddictionZ first appeared on AddictionZ.

Natural Highs

Here is a list of how to get high naturally that can replace negative feelings. It was taken from one of those goofy emails that went around in the mid nineties endlessly. I edited out all the ‘natural highs’ that had to do with cookies or chocolate. The email writer obviously had a sugar and chocolate addiction.

• Laughing so hard your face hurts.
• A hot shower.
• No lines at the supermarket
• Getting mail.
• Taking a drive on a pretty road.
• Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
• Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
• Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
• A long distance phone call.
• A bubble bath.
• Order something from mailorder
• Giggling
• A good conversation.
• The beach.
• Laughing at yourself.
• Running through sprinklers.
• Laughing at an inside joke.
• Friends.
• Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice
• Waking up and realizing you still have a few hoursleft to sleep.
• Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
• Playing with a new puppy.
• Road trips with friends.
• Swinging on swings.
• Wrapping presents under the Christmas tree
• Song lyrics printed inside your new CD so you can sing along without feeling stupid.
• Going to a really good concert.
• Watching the sunrise.
• Getting out of bed every morning and thanking God for another beautiful day
• A good day hard work
• A nice long bike ride

Interesting Note

Here area top 3 search questions for “get high” on  Internet searches all three have 1600 search volume each in last 30 days

• does hookah get you high
• does tramadol get you high
• does nutmeg get you high

Please  feel free to add your own suggestions of how to get high naturally in the comments below!

The Dean of Addictionz

Working the Solution with Multiple and Addicts of all types

• 36 Years Personal Recovery Experience in several Self Help Programs
• Addiction Recovery Outreach Trustee, NW Region Webmaster, Newsletter Editor and contributer for various Recovery Associations Publications
• Published in several major recovery publications:  AA Grapevine, Al-Anon Forum, Overeaters Anonymous “Voices of Recovery” and “Lifeline”, Gamblers Anonymous “Bulletin” &”Toastmaster” Magazine 
• This AddictionZ.com website is featured in Melody Beattie’s current “Codependent no More Workbook”
• Over 45 years successful contracting business experience working with over 2000 employees and Penitentery halfway house temporary staff.
• Sponsoring many recovering multiple addicts with long term good results
• Recovery weekend workshop leader in Western Canada & US Pacific NW
• Author “You Can’t Unscrew Somebody Workbook” for relationship makeovers
• Author “Sex Inventory Workbook” for sex issues
• Author “Drunk Driving Workbook”  for safety
• Author “Breaking The Cycle of Gambling Addiction” arrest the money drain!
• Author “Breaking the Cycle of Compulsive Overeating” get healthy!

Here is a thought!
Why don’t you book your sober recovery style vacation with us in beautiful downtown Victoria BC Canada at our Gingerbread Cottage Bed and Breakfast. Over the years we have had lots of therapists, recovering addicts and health professionals stay at our idyllic B&B steps from the Salish Sea. Oh and we have gourmet breakfasts too! Vanessa makes a fantastic Austrian Apple Strudel! see more on our B&B website…

Please leave your comments below, and I will be sure to answer them. If you want one of the publications but truly cannot afford it leave a comment with your email address and I’ll send you a free one…

This website is about recovery – not making money – but it wouldn’t hurt to pay a few web hosting charges if you  decided to visit one of the sponsors ads… I have kept outside ads to a minumum so its not so frustrating to read. Hate those pages with an ad between every paragraph.

Have a great One Day at a Time! Dean

The post How to Get High Naturally – AddictionZ first appeared on AddictionZ.

Here are a few relationship quotes and tips that i have accumulated over the years after being involved with many shattered lives and relationships.

• Active alcoholics addicts don’t have relationships; they take hostages
• “zipper slipper” – self explanatory!
• There is a “slip” under every skirt – ( an oldie from the politically incorrect days of AA that still is important today)
• The lesson I must learn is simply that my control is limited to my own behavior, my own attitudes

“You Can’t Unscrew Somebody”

I feed my body all kinds of crap, when do I ever feed my soul a proper diet?

Our New Recovery Workbook

Some of the 99 topics covered in  this workbook are:
Jealousy – How does your jealousy or someone elses affect you?
Envy – How does your envy or someone elses affact you?
Distractions – How do you use distractions to medicate or placate situatrions
Exes – How do the ghosts of your past affect your life today?
Children – What roles do children play in your life?
Dependency – What dependecies do you have that affect your life today?
Depressed – How does my mood affect my life and relations with others?
Pain – What pain do i have to deal with ?
Medicate …
Energy …
Venting …
Clear Air …
Self pity …
Panic …
Suicide …
Grieving …
Loss …

The truly great part about this workbook is that it has only one page for each topic so the usual pitfall of spending too much time on one issue is avaioded until all the issues are dealt with at least a little.

Buy the Printable PDF today!

This $14.95 is about the cost of a decent soup and sandwich lunch.. I always ask myself the question : I feed my body all the time.. when do I feed my soul? 

The Dean of Addictionz

Working the Solution with Multiple and Addicts of all types

• 36 Years Personal Recovery Experience in several Self Help Programs
• Addiction Recovery Outreach Trustee, NW Region Webmaster, Newsletter Editor and contributer for various Recovery Associations Publications
• Published in several major recovery publications:  AA Grapevine, Al-Anon Forum, Overeaters Anonymous “Voices of Recovery” and “Lifeline”, Gamblers Anonymous “Bulletin” &”Toastmaster” Magazine 
• This AddictionZ.com website is featured in Melody Beattie’s current “Codependent no More Workbook”
• Over 45 years successful contracting business experience working with over 2000 employees and Penitentery halfway house temporary staff.
• Sponsoring many recovering multiple addicts with long term good results
• Recovery weekend workshop leader in Western Canada & US Pacific NW
• Author “You Can’t Unscrew Somebody Workbook” for relationship makeovers
• Author “Sex Inventory Workbook” for sex issues
• Author “Drunk Driving Workbook”  for safety
• Author “Breaking The Cycle of Gambling Addiction” arrest the money drain!
• Author “Breaking the Cycle of Compulsive Overeating” get healthy!

Here is a thought!
Why don’t you book your sober recovery style vacation with us in beautiful downtown Victoria BC Canada at our Gingerbread Cottage Bed and Breakfast. Over the years we have had lots of therapists, recovering addicts and health professionals stay at our idyllic B&B steps from the Salish Sea. Oh and we have gourmet breakfasts too! Vanessa makes a fantastic Austrian Apple Strudel! see more on our B&B website…

Please leave your comments below, and I will be sure to answer them. If you want one of the publications but truly cannot afford it leave a comment with your email address and I’ll send you a free one…

This website is about recovery – not making money – but it wouldn’t hurt to pay a few web hosting charges if you  decided to visit one of the sponsors ads… I have kept outside ads to a minumum so its not so frustrating to read. Hate those pages with an ad between every paragraph.

Have a great One Day at a Time! Dean

The post Relationship Quotes for Recovering Addicts – AddictionZ first appeared on AddictionZ.

For any level of relationship or sexuality  issues or sex problems.

Everybody has Baggage from life, relationships, past mistakes can be turned into art if looked at properly!

Relationship and Sexuality Recovery Review Tool

It is absolutely necessary to improve the communication skills when recovery is attempted as so much of the trust is gone in an addicted relationship due to the lies that have gone on in the name of addiction.

Sex Addiction Recovery Workbook

Self Assessment Questions and Tips

• Feel young and alive again!
• Do you still feel Sexy?
• Or do you want a makeover?

Sex Inventory Workbook is a guide for folks wishing to assess their sexuality by looking at their sexual history, past and current feelings and behaviors.

•  The Sex Inventory guide can assist you to break out of the deadly silences that you may have about your own sexual behavior, thoughts and feelings.

•  The Sex Inventory guide can assist you to empty out old and possibly unnecessary thoughts, feelings and  enable previously stuck energies to begin to move in healthier ways.

•  The Sex Inventory guide can assist you to trace the steps from your first education about sex through your family values and devalues, identify and clarify abuse issues, addictive behaviors and infidelities

•  Taking a successful Sex Makeover will improve your skills and abilities to be in current relationships, discover some truths about past relationships and give to confidence to develop better future relationships.

Turn your Emotional Garbage into Fine Art

Get Back on the Loving Track Again! Ive sold these workbooks to many individuals and professional therapists worldwide with great results! Get your copy today and start living again! 

Sex Addiction Recovery Workbook

Sex Inventory 2015 edition

A 118 page sex addiction recovery workbook is full of leading questions that will help you trace your sexuality and deal with any issues that may need dealing with.

Temporarily unavailable.

The Dean of Addictionz

Working the Solution with Multiple and Addicts of all types

• 36 Years Personal Recovery Experience in several Self Help Programs
• Addiction Recovery Outreach Trustee, NW Region Webmaster, Newsletter Editor and contributer for various Recovery Associations Publications
• Published in several major recovery publications:  AA Grapevine, Al-Anon Forum, Overeaters Anonymous “Voices of Recovery” and “Lifeline”, Gamblers Anonymous “Bulletin” &”Toastmaster” Magazine 
• This AddictionZ.com website is featured in Melody Beattie’s current “Codependent no More Workbook”
• Over 45 years successful contracting business experience working with over 2000 employees and Penitentery halfway house temporary staff.
• Sponsoring many recovering multiple addicts with long term good results
• Recovery weekend workshop leader in Western Canada & US Pacific NW
• Author “You Can’t Unscrew Somebody Workbook” for relationship makeovers
• Author “Sex Inventory Workbook” for sex issues
• Author “Drunk Driving Workbook”  for safety
• Author “Breaking The Cycle of Gambling Addiction” arrest the money drain!
• Author “Breaking the Cycle of Compulsive Overeating” get healthy!

Here is a thought!
Why don’t you book your sober recovery style vacation with us in beautiful downtown Victoria BC Canada at our Gingerbread Cottage Bed and Breakfast. Over the years we have had lots of therapists, recovering addicts and health professionals stay at our idyllic B&B steps from the Salish Sea. Oh and we have gourmet breakfasts too! Vanessa makes a fantastic Austrian Apple Strudel! see more on our B&B website…

Please leave your comments below, and I will be sure to answer them. If you want one of the publications but truly cannot afford it leave a comment with your email address and I’ll send you a free one…

This website is about recovery – not making money – but it wouldn’t hurt to pay a few web hosting charges if you  decided to visit one of the sponsors ads… I have kept outside ads to a minumum so its not so frustrating to read. Hate those pages with an ad between every paragraph.

Have a great One Day at a Time! Dean

The post Sex Addiction Recovery Workbook $4.95 – Video first appeared on AddictionZ.

Here is my list of codependency recovery tools:

• 12 Step Meetings – Regular attendance at 12 step meetings

  is the best way for a recovering individual to see first hand how the recovery program works and to benefit from the combined experience of many other recovering individuals.

• Telephone contact – with another recovering member of your codependency 12 step program between meetings is a great way to avoid the isolation that is common with many codependents.
• Sponsorship – all members may benefit by utilizing a member with more positive experiences under their belt as a sponsor. Seasoned members become sponsors to share what they have learned in their recovery journey and to keep their recovery.
• Anonymity – members identities and personal sharings are protected and held in confidence to create a safe place for all to recover.
• Service – to other recovering codependents helps recovery goals stay in the forefront. Service is done by taking part in the regular responsibilities workings of the 12 step group. Set up chairs, clean up the room or lead a meeting are a few ways all members may contribute.
• 12 Step Literature – is an important part of every members program. Reading the approved literature will assist a recovering individual to learn more about the recovery program and its various workings.
• Writing and Journaling – will allow a recovering individual to clear up old feelings and maintain a personal recovery plan.

The Dean of Addictionz

Working the Solution with Multiple and Addicts of all types

• 36 Years Personal Recovery Experience in several Self Help Programs
• Addiction Recovery Outreach Trustee, NW Region Webmaster, Newsletter Editor and contributer for various Recovery Associations Publications
• Published in several major recovery publications:  AA Grapevine, Al-Anon Forum, Overeaters Anonymous “Voices of Recovery” and “Lifeline”, Gamblers Anonymous “Bulletin” &”Toastmaster” Magazine 
• This AddictionZ.com website is featured in Melody Beattie’s current “Codependent no More Workbook”
• Over 45 years successful contracting business experience working with over 2000 employees and Penitentery halfway house temporary staff.
• Sponsoring many recovering multiple addicts with long term good results
• Recovery weekend workshop leader in Western Canada & US Pacific NW
• Author “You Can’t Unscrew Somebody Workbook” for relationship makeovers
• Author “Sex Inventory Workbook” for sex issues
• Author “Drunk Driving Workbook”  for safety
• Author “Breaking The Cycle of Gambling Addiction” arrest the money drain!
• Author “Breaking the Cycle of Compulsive Overeating” get healthy!

Here is a thought!
Why don’t you book your sober recovery style vacation with us in beautiful downtown Victoria BC Canada at our Gingerbread Cottage Bed and Breakfast. Over the years we have had lots of therapists, recovering addicts and health professionals stay at our idyllic B&B steps from the Salish Sea. Oh and we have gourmet breakfasts too! Vanessa makes a fantastic Austrian Apple Strudel! see more on our B&B website…

Please leave your comments below, and I will be sure to answer them. If you want one of the publications but truly cannot afford it leave a comment with your email address and I’ll send you a free one…

This website is about recovery – not making money – but it wouldn’t hurt to pay a few web hosting charges if you  decided to visit one of the sponsors ads… I have kept outside ads to a minumum so its not so frustrating to read. Hate those pages with an ad between every paragraph.

Have a great One Day at a Time! Dean

The post Codependency Recovery Tools 2015 – AddictionZ first appeared on AddictionZ.