You can’t get enough of something if it isn’t what you really need. This statement attributed to philosopher Eric Hoffer, is the basis of understanding all addictive behavior.

If you need something (perhaps rest), but think that you should not need it, you may stumble upon something that makes you feel better temporarily (perhaps coffee) and think that is a solution to your problem. However, no matter how much coffee you drink in an attempt to feel better, it only masks your exhaustion instead of providing the rest you really need.

Eventually, you get so accustomed to having large amounts of caffeine in your body that you need it to feel normal. No matter how much you have, it doesn’t feel like enough, because you don’t really need coffee, you need rest.

Everyone has similar basic physical needs, but our emotional needs are very diverse. An emotional need is something you MUST have for you to BE YOUR BEST. When I ask people to choose their top ten needs from a list of over 200 possibilities, no two people make the same choices. The more you know about what you really need, the more likely you are to be successful and happy.

Misidentified emotional needs lead to addictions too. If you did not grow up in an emotionally literate family, you may never have correctly identified your emotional needs. You learned to do whatever was normal in your particular family and if that happened to coincide with what you needed, great. If it didn’t, it was just too bad.

In fact, you may now find yourself repeating uncomfortable behavior patterns that seem to be a good idea when you were a child, but now cause you repeated problems.

If you learned to wait to be noticed and to be nice to others instead of asking for the recognition you needed when you were a child, you may still be doing the same thing now. But now you may be angry that others get more rewards than you do because they call attention to themselves, and you don’t.

Procrastination, repeatedly saying yes when you want to say no, and getting into relationships that hurt you are other examples of behaviors that are misguided attempts to get what you need.

Addictions to physical substances like alcohol, drugs and tobacco also start as attempts to get what you need. Unfortunately, the craving that develops from the use of these substances becomes a new problem that may be very challenging to solve.

Even when the addiction is treated, if the underlying needs are not addressed, those unmet needs will still cause distress. It is worth your time to understand your own needs and find effective ways to manage them.

When you do identify and accept your most important emotional needs, you can consciously arrange your life so those needs are regularly filled, giving you the vitality that comes from being your very best self.

Communicate skillfully about sensitive subjects in business situations. Have the challenging conversations that lead to cooperation and success.
http://www.blogs2u.net
Laurie Weiss, Ph.D. is a Master Certified Coach and communication expert. Dr. Weiss has spent 35 years helping clients resolve conflict in business and personal relationships. Email feedback@blogs2u.net

Alcohol rehab and drug rehab centers and programs require a sincere dedication on the part of the addict to make sure that they are successful in their task. Some say that if the person addicted to the substance abuse is dedicated and sincere about wanting to be rehabilitated, that is as much as 50% of the way to the road to recovery. So clearly, finding the right alcohol rehab program or drug rehabilitation center can make all the difference. If you choose the wrong program, your chances for successful treatment are greatly reduced.

Depending on the type of addiction, treatments vary from center to center and from program to program. Alcohol rehab programs will concentrate on various aspects of the addiction, but the focus areas will be different for drug rehabilitation. And even further for drug rehab, there is a difference in treatments depending on whether the drug addiction is prescription drugs or street drugs such as heroin or amphetamines. The rehab center is almost an all-encompassing term for the medical and psychotherapeutic treatments that are used during the rehabilitation process.

The first step in the treatment process is to make an evaluation of the addict. One of the steps here is to determine the addict’s sincerity in wanting to enter the rehab program, which again plays a key ingredient to the success of the program for the individual. A complete profile of the person being treated will be gathered, and one of the many focal points will be the reason for the addiction. Was it related to job stress, marital problems, financial problems, or what? Typically, a person does not start with substance abuse out of a clear blue sky, so part of the profiling is done to determine the reason for it, as well as to work with the family during the rehab process to see if the issues that caused the patient to turn to substance abuse still exist in their life.

Another step in the rehab process will focus on the aspects of withdrawal, whether the withdrawal is from alcohol or drugs. Depending on the severity of the addiction as well as the personality of the patient, the detoxification process can be grueling, although this step is absolutely necessary. The patient’s body has become accustomed to being pacified with the abused substance, and taking away that substance will almost guarantee a reaction. It may not be pleasant but it is a very necessary part.

Since people who are diagnosed with substance abuse are frequently at the point of ignoring other daily necessities, the program will keep a close eye on providing the proper nutrition for the patient, who frequently has nutritional deficiencies. The diet of the patient during the rehab process is one of the important parts of rehab, creating a very balanced a vitamin-rich diet.

If someone you love is addicted to alcohol or drugs, the best thing you can do for them is to encourage them to seek help. Their addiction is going to continue to get worse, and the final outcome without help is bleak. The best thing you can do for them is to convince them that they need the help to kick the habit permanently. Getting them into an alcohol rehab or drug rehab program will be the best thing you could ever do for them.

Jon is a computer engineer who maintain a variety of web sites based on his knowledge and experience. For more information about Alcohol Rehab and Drug Rehab, please visit his web site at Alcohol Rehab and Drug Rehab Information.

Step 8 Made a list of persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.This is step eight as used by Alcoholics anonymous (AA) Narcotics anonymous (NA) Al-anon Cocaine anonymous (CA) Gamblers anonymous (GA) Emotions anonymous (EA) Sex and Love addicts (SALA) anonymous Co dependents anonymous (CODA) Overeaters anonymous (OA) recovery programs.

Step eight.

Made a list of persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

The list in a sense was already part written, because those persons were on my resentment list and my guilt list from step 4.

I wrote down a list of all, not just the ones who I thought it would be easy to approach, but all. To the best of my ability I wrote my list and I also wrote why I should make amends to them. With the exception of sexual abuse, every person that I resented, every person who I had harmed, I had done myself in one way or another. I have never sexually abused anyone. It was strange. The man who raped me when I was a boy kept coming into my mind. I realised that if I wanted people to forgive me, then I had to forgive!. I don’t know where that man is or whether he is still alive, but I forgive him. What did Jesus say?, “Let he who has not sinned, cast the first stone”, not “Let he who has not committed the same sin as him, cast the first stone”.

A sin is a sin. I am no better than anyone else, forgiveness sets people free, arrogance and a sense of being cruelly treated cause pain, friction, etc!.

Well, my list was long, I went back to Dave and we talked it through, who I should physically approach, who I should write to, and those who I would be willing to make amends to. Willing, well I was involved in serious crime, if I went to these institutes I would end up in prison!. So, I became willing.

The people I had inflicted my will, my violence, my arrogance, my selfishness my jealousy, my envy, my lust, my greed, my dishonesty, my pride, my self pity etc.

see http://www.the12steps.com

I had beaten a man up and this tortured me because he was not the usual gangster type character that I associated with!. He got on the wrong side of me over a petty argument and I went berserk and became violent, which led to him being hospitalised!. I would, when driving around Liverpool, avoid where he lived because I did not want to see him, because of the guilt it would trigger if I saw him!.

I could see the value of this step in short, say your sorry, ask for forgiveness and try not to do it again, and live a blameless life!.

It would be a waste of time making amends and then going out and doing the same things that lead to friction, resentment or violence.

So again, I set about learning to practice opposites. The road to freedom where I could look the world in the eye, knowing I had tried my best to clear the wreckage of the past.

In doing that, it makes the character stronger. It is not a weak thing to see that you are the problem, but it is a great strength. In reality, I can really only change myself. To know you are trying your best to bring about peace.

When I finished my list, I wrote the plan of action, who I would approach and when. I had stolen, so I paid money to charities to help drill water wells in India. I also sponsored 2 children in the third world by paying a monthly sum, so they could be helped in various ways.

Sure, I was nervous about approaching people, but I did it. I was never once made to feel guilty by anyone I made amends to!

The other side is that it gives people faith knowing people do care. I would ask you to think about that step if you want people to forgive you for the way you have treated them. Then you have to forgive people for the way they have treated you!

I did not know I had defects of character, I only found out after doing my inventory. Now, if people are not on a 12 step programme how are they ever going to change, so you have to understand that you have changed but don’t expect everyone to start thinking and reacting the way you do now, now that you are on a spiritual path.

Soldier Billy is the name I am known by in the 12 step fellowships I belong to. I am a recovering alcoholic and addict. I owe my life to the 12 step recovery program. I have been through some very tough times of late and I have not relapsed back into addiction thanks to the help of the 12 steps and some great members of the fellowships I belong to!
I have lived a tough life amd know heartache. The 12 steps has helped me to rebuild my life and find peace of mind.
see http://www.the12steps.com

Step 7 Humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings. as used by Alcoholics anonymous (AA) Narcotics anonymous (NA) Al-anon Cocaine anonymous (CA) Gamblers anonymous (GA) Emotions anonymous (EA) Sex and Love addicts (SALA) anonymous Co dependents anonymous (CODA) Overeaters anonymous (OA) recovery programs.

Step seven Humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings.

When I was writing my defects, I would burst out laughing at time, when I would see these defects that were causing me and the people around me so much pain!. These defects were so obvious they stood out like a light in the dark. I had brought on so much of my pain by my reactions and in other ways by my lack of action.

So humility was not a case of being ridiculed, but a sense of humility, “Yes, I am the problem”. So all I had to do was do what my creator wanted, and that was to use what I had learnt from the first 6 steps to practice opposites, simple, practice opposites. In doing so, you are getting your shortcomings removed.

Today I know how my creator designed me. I have started to use the, “User handbook”, “The makers instructions pamphlet”. It designed me to love other people as well as myself, to care about other people, “To do unto others as you would have done unto yourself”. To be polite, gentle, caring, loving, tolerant, patient, humble, honest, courageous, gratitude and to try your best to live a blameless life. In doing so I will have peace of mind, knowing I am trying my best and that is all that I can do, my best. If I don’t follow how my creator designed me, then I will suffer and those around me will suffer.
So all I had to do was practice opposites !

see http://www.the12steps.com

Soldier Billy is the name I am known by in the 12 step fellowships I belong to. I am a recovering alcoholic and addict. I owe my life to the 12 step recovery program. I have been through some very tough times of late and I have not relapsed back into addiction thanks to the help of the 12 steps and some great members of the fellowships I belong to!
I have lived a tough life amd know heartache.

The 12 steps has helped me to rebuild my life and find peace of mind.
see http://www.the12steps.com

Step 6 We’re entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.This is step six as used by Alcoholics anonymous (AA) Narcotics anonymous (NA) Al-anon Cocaine anonymous (CA) Gamblers anonymous (GA) Emotions anonymous (EA) Sex and Love addicts (SALA) anonymous Co dependents anonymous (CODA) Overeaters anonymous (OA) recovery programs.

After writing what I did in steps 4 and 5, and seeing the exact nature of my wrong, it is obvious that I would want those defects removing just like a cancer!. Remove, well, replace is another way of looking at it, if you have problems with God and don’t know how God is going to remove those defects. Well you could start to add things to your character such as tolerance, patience, gratitude, honesty, courage, humility etc these lead to a blameless life. Sure people will get pissed off with you, whatever you do, but to live a blameless life, where you mind your own business, get on with your own life, stop people pleasing, stop arguing (does it matter?), help, be caring, listen and learn. Let people be your teacher, not your master! Who would you sooner be stuck in a lift with, an arrogant self-centred person, or a caring gentleperson?.

David B helped me so much, he was a devout catholic and I was on the Buddhist path. I asked him why I should do step 4, and he replied “In your case, Billy, to become a Gentle-man”. I had heard that word a million times; I understood a gentleman in word, deed and nature. So I could not see any good reason why I should hang on to my defects, so, yes, I was ready.

If I think the same, expect the same, react the same, want the same, say the same, do the same, resent the same, hate the same, I will feel the same!.

All I had to do was PRACTICE OPPOSITES!

see http://www.the12steps.com

Soldier Billy is the name I am known by in the 12 step fellowships I belong to. I am a recovering alcoholic and addict. I owe my life to the 12 step recovery program. I have been through some very tough times of late and I have not relapsed back into addiction thanks to the help of the 12 steps and some great members of the fellowships I belong to!
I have lived a tough life amd know heartache.

The 12 steps has helped me to rebuild my life and find peace of mind.
see http://www.the12steps.com

Step Five Admitted to God, to ourselves and another human being the exact nature of wrongs . This is step five as used by Alcoholics anonymous (AA) Narcotics anonymous (NA) Al-anon Cocaine anonymous (CA) Gamblers anonymous (GA) Emotions anonymous (EA) Sex and Love addicts (SALA) anonymous Co dependents anonymous (CODA) Overeaters anonymous (OA) recovery programs.

I was very nervous after I had written my resentments, guilt’s, fears and sexual conduct. I arranged a time and I went to my sponsors house, and I shared with him over a few sessions, my moral inventory, not a life story but a moral inventory. In other words all the stuff that made me feel dis-eased!. It was painful, at times I felt I was going to burst out crying and run away!.

But courage my held me. Courage as a soldier, I saw bravery, people being involved in violence after the event, there was no reaction just, “Well, I did my job”. Courage is going into a situation with the heart racing, the mouth dry, the sweat and a new panic experience, but still doing it. Well, I did it and today I am glad, it was like getting rid of a Cancer!. Cancer of the emotions, caused by resentment, guilt and fear.

My sponsor gave me a lot of feedback and never once criticized. He kept saying “you too?”. What that meant was, he had done a lot of the things I had done!. When I finished he said to me, “Well, Billy, everything you shared I have heard before, you shared nothing I have not heard before from my other sponsees”

It was a burden carrying all the resentment, guilt and fear. Dave was my sponsor, but I know people who have used Priests, Rabbi’s, Mullah’s, Counselors etc. What is important is not to see it as an act of confession but as a learning of your character

When I admitted to God, I admitted it to my creator, I prayed that what I had learnt may be of use to my fellow humans!.

My creator wants me to be happy, joyous and free!. If I am full of resentment, guilt and fear, then it speaks for itself. I could not be truly happy; maybe I was pretending to be happy in the past!. Always behind that, the fear of impending doom!

What I also learnt from my step 4 and step 5 was to write a gratitude list. I had always been obsessed by what I did not have and what I wanted, never looked at what I had.

I had always been obsessed with people I resented, and never the people I liked!. I had always been obsessed with guilt, my badness, my self loathing. Well, after step 5 I realized I was a human being. The only person saying I was bad was me!. All I had to do was to be willing to make amends (note,it says willing!), I did not have to hurt the world, I had seen things in a different light, what it meant was; If I could go back, I would change the event. I was willing!

All my needs have been met since I did my inventory. I realized I was not happy running my business, so I stopped, it paid my taxes. The problem was that I had brothers working for me. To be happy, joyous and free meant I had to have courage and look at the long-term problems if I stayed in business. Sure, I did not want to effect my brother’s finances, but I had to put myself first! I had to remember “The man who asked a question feels a fool for twenty minutes. The man who does not ask a question is a fool for the rest of his life”. I felt guilty, what would my brothers think of me, but I prayed and realized that my intentions were not to harm them. So, I had to be at ease with my intentions and not their reactions!. I stopped being a prisoner of people’s opinions. I realized I was in an unhappy relationship and I had to do something about that.

I never wanted to hurt my partner when I left and I had to be comfortable with that, again.

INTENTIONS

Happy, joyous and free! Did not mean that I had to put up with the unbearable, it meant getting into a way of life, which was blameless. Sure you might think that walking out of a relationship is cruel, but my intention was not to hurt. I was sure that in my step 4, that I resented a women for finishing with me, after listing that resentment I realized she had the right to do what was best for her. Just like I had the right to do what is best for me, again I state it was not my intention to harm!. After knowing how I hated that woman for finishing with me because I wanted to be liked also had I ever finished a relationship ? Yes, so who am I to point the finger ! I stayed in an unhappy relationship, which lead to resentment and unhappiness. A vicious circle!

see http://www.the12steps.com

Soldier Billy is the name I am known by in the 12 step fellowships I belong to. I am a recovering alcoholic and addict. I owe my life to the 12 step recovery program. I have been through some very tough times of late and I have not relapsed back into addiction thanks to the help of the 12 steps and some great members of the fellowships I belong to!
I have lived a tough life amd know heartache.

The 12 steps has helped me to rebuild my life and find peace of mind.
see http://www.the12steps.com

For many years I was deeply involved in both the practices of drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. For the better part of 15 years I did both things to the tune of a pack of cigarettes and a twelve pack of beer a day. Many people, who are involved in these two practices for as long as I was, say that they were addicted to them. That the practices themselves had “control” over them in some way, and the effects of drinking and smoking are decidedly negative. I walked away from both practices without the aid of any patches, pills, lozenges, or anything else. I found out that everything that I needed to walk away, was right there inside of me the whole time.

While many individuals rail against the negative effects of drinking and smoking, I have a different take. For me, both drinking and smoking were incredibly positive experiences. For example, how could I have told my daughter that she shouldn’t smoke cigarettes, without having the direct experience of smoking? Do you think anything that I said to her would ring true, if I hadn’t had the direct experiences? I’ll tell you from experience the answer is a resounding…NO. People who have no direct experience of things, then preach about the evils of said things, hold about as much water as 50 year old inflatable raft!

The effects that both drinking and smoking had on me are decidedly positive. I can now tell my daughter why neither practice is really the way to have fun and relax, although people will tell her that they are. I can tell her how terrible it feels to not be able to run 100 yards, without being completely out of breath. I can tell her that the quote is true: “If you follow the crowd, you end up stepping in shit!”. Why, because dad spent part of his life stepping in that shit.

The the effects of my drinking and smoking are all positive. I’m thankful that they happened, and that I made it through both of them unscathed. In my mind, focusing on everything that may have been negative about them serves no purpose. I thank God every day for my daughter, because her incarnating into this world is what made dad finally wake up and start living. It’s like Elizabeth Barret Browning said, “You don’t look for miracles, you live one”. I spent 15 years looking for miracles before realizing that I was living one the entire time.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country…..Montana!

Go Fishing With JRW!!!.

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Do you wish that you could stop or control your drinking? Is the alcohol starting to take over and you feel that you need some help in regaining control? Are you fed up with all of the problems and aggravation that comes from being addicted to alcohol? Have you ever thought of trying a successful and effective way to control or stop your habit? The why not give hypnosis a go to help you regain a lifestyle that is right for you? Hypnosis could just be the answer that you are looking for now that you know that the answer that you find at the bottom of a glass does not help you.

As a hypnotherapist and author I have helped many people in my career to regain a hold on their life and take control of their alcohol addiction or alcoholism. People get addicted to alcohol for many reasons, however many of them end up in the same situation and this is not a great situation to be in. A dependence on alcohol can rip apart relationships with loved ones and can crush families leaving children with a tough time trying to understand what is going on with the person that they love so much.

What would life be like if you dealt with this issue right now? What would change over the next few days and weeks as you started to take control? What would your get back – maybe even things that you thought had gone forever? You owe it not only to yourself but to the people that need you to be around to make a success of controlling your drinking. Just imagine all of the great things that life is offering you and just imagine how much more you can enjoy them with out the drink controlling you.

Hypnosis works to reprogram the part of your mind that makes you… YOU! We call this part your sub-conscious mind and this is where all of your habits, beliefs and behaviors are kept, including the ones that relate to your drinking habits. So whether you want to stop drinking alcohol completely or just want to control your intake then hypnosis may be just right for you.

I wish you the best of luck in achieving success with your drinking.

If you are serious about being a happy and content person that can control their drinking habits or stop completely then I suggest you try a hypnosis download or recording or look up your local hypnotherapist.

For information on how to stop drinking alcohol and alcohol addiction please visit Richard’s website.

Part 2: Balancing Mind, Body and Spirit:

As stated in my previous article, recovery from any life threatening disease requires a balanced approach of the mind, body and spirit. In Part 1, Charlie makes a great start to his recovery program by asking for help. He recognizes that exercise is an integral part of his recovery program and has started to work with a health professional to help restore the structure and function of his ailing body.

A consistent exercise program will impact almost every aspect of Charlie’s health.

In fact exercise can:

• Reduce the risk of premature death

• Reduce the risk of heart disease

• Reduce high blood pressure

• Reduce high cholesterol

• Reduce the risks of many types of cancer

• Reduce the risk of acquiring diabetes

• Reduce body fat percentage and optimize body weight

• Build and maintain healthy muscles, bones, and joints

• Reduce depression and anxiety

• Enhance performance in work and in sports

In this article, I am going to focus on the importance of physical exercise in a balanced and comprehensive recovery program.

How does one do this?

Recall that Charlie is 50 pounds overweight and gets out of breath easily. He finds walking exceedingly painful because of an ongoing low back condition. However, after four weeks of chiropractic treatment, Charlie is now able to walk pain free for five to ten minutes. He is excited about his progress and definitely sees light at the end of the tunnel. He finds that walking has decreased his level of stress and increased his sense of vitality and well being. He had always enjoyed walking and stretching but chronic pain and addiction to alcohol and drugs prevented him from performing these activities.

The next step for Charlie is to add four simple low back stretches to his daily walking regime. If he can become more flexible, his low back musculature will be better able to support him during weight bearing activities. Charlie’s chiropractor has given him two exercises seated and two exercise lying on his back. He has no trouble doing the exercises at the office and feels he can perform these exercises almost anywhere.

Charlie decides that he can perform his walking and low back exercises down at the nearby beautiful park. He will also be able to read his daily meditation and spend time in quiet prayer as well. In this scenario, he is exercising his physical body and also nourishing his mind and spirit. Furthermore, he enjoys his exercise in the beauty of nature.

This is a great example of a recovery program that balances the mind, body and spirit. It should be noted that many people minimize or totally ignore the exercise component of their recovery program.

Charlie has asked for help, and has taken action steps to achieve his goals. He is working his recovery program consistently each day and is beginning to reap the rewards of his efforts. Not only will exercise help him recover from his addiction problem, it will also help him reduce the risk of another heart attack and help him lose weight. Ultimately, he will once again be able to play with his two adorable grandchildren.

Remember that physical fitness is a vital component of any recovery program. Take action now and become physically fit!

Dr. Larry Smith Chiropractor and Author of:

Embrace the Journey of Recovery: From Tragedy to Triumph!

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What is a dry drunk, and the ‘dry drunk syndrome’? as it is sometimes called? It can best be described as someone who fits one of two conditions. The first is someone who has given up drinking and drugging and not made any internal or emotional changes, they stay the same but the substance use has stopped. Or in the second case what was once someone abstinent and on a progressive path of recovery has slowly returned to chaotic and unrealistic thinking.

Being active in your addiction sets up many trains of thought, attitudes, feelings, and actions that are problematic. Simply removing the alcohol or drugs without changing these underlying factors will produce a dry drunk syndrome. The dry drunk really refers to a condition and not the person. It is important to recognize a reversion back to our old ways of thinking and acting, or lack of progress in moving forward in recovery.

The dry drunk can be a precursor to the beginnings of relapse, the AA Big Book describes this condition as being “restless, irritable, and discontented”. This set of attitudes can apply to anyone who is chemically dependent, or even those were not. Here are some of the attitudes common with the dry drunk syndrome.

Grandiosity - Grandiosity basically means a return to a self-centered, the world revolves around me attitude. In 12 Step literatures this is the concept of being “self-centered in the extreme”. It does not have to necessarily mean that I believe I am the best; it can also be seeking attention through playing the victim or sitting on the pity pot.

Impulsivity - A common attitude or observable behavior of people with addiction problems is poor impulse control. We tend to do what we want when we want, with little regard for self harm or hurting others around us. Impulsivity can be linked with grandiosity to engage in behaviors designed to make us the center of attention.

Being judgmental - This is a very destructive attitude for people in recovery. When we judge a person as being better than or less than, we are setting up a situation where we inflate our egos feeling better than other people. On the other hand if we judge ourselves to be on the short end we can feel bitter and generate low self-esteem. Being judgmental is a low self-esteem generator.

Complacency - This is not only an attitude of somebody in dry drunk syndrome, but is a red flag warning sign of someone who is well into the relapse process. An important facet of being in active recovery is just that, being active, and moving forward. It is not how fast you are going but rather the direction in which you are headed. If you become lazy or disinterested and stop being proactive about your recovery, the natural to a tendency is to fall back into addictive behaviors. Your re-engagement in them is just a short step away.

Once you are lured into any of these attitudes, they start to affect how you think. Once your thinking is affected and you start to buy into self-centered thoughts, chances are you’ll engage in the actions stemming from these self-centered thoughts.

Here are some destructive patterns and actions that can result from dry drunk thinking:

1. We become restless and irritable and discontent.

2. We become bored, dissatisfied, and easily distracted from productive tasks.

3. Our emotions and feelings get listless and dull, nothing excites us anymore.

4. We start to the engage in the euphoric recall that is yearning for the good old days of active using and for getting the pain and shame of use.

5. We start to engage in magical thinking we get on realistic and fanciful expectations and dreams.

6. The last thing we want you is engaged in introspection to improve ourselves.

7. We start to become unfulfilled and have the feeling that nothing will ever satisfy our yearning or fill the hole in the soul.

Looking back at the list of attitudes and thought distortions listed above, it is easy to see how the dry drunk syndrome is simply nothing more then reverting back to the way it was when we were active in our use. If you are starting to notice some of the attitudes discussed creeping back into your life, is target time to start paying attention to the possibility of relapse and start turning your life in sobriety and recovery around. The dry drunk syndrome is a bright red flashing warning sign for relapse.

Pick up your Free Recovery Rolodex, Over 88 pages of self help and recovery tips, resources and links to enhance your life in addiction recovery.The author, Bill Urell MA.CAAP-II, is an addictions therapist at a leading drug and alcohol rehab. He teaches healthy life styles and life skills. Join our growing community. Tell your story! Visit: http://www.AddictionRecoveryBasics.com/