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International Overdose Awareness Day – August 31st.
Naloxone & Opiate Overdose
There has been a sharp increase in the amount of deaths attributed to drug misuse since 2012. In 2016 there were 2593 deaths in England and Wales alone. Deaths due to opiate abuse account for a third (32{6a401f752cb3568a2d5800cabbf60b88de184f5d248c967e29e47dfca872a621}) of all deaths related to drug poisoning (NHS 2018).
This is not a problem associated only with big cities, or the great “American opiate epidemic”, opiate use is indiscriminate and has filtered down to all aspects of our society. It’s closer to home than you think.
The Road to Recovery – Lee’s Story
My life before I started drinking was pretty damn normal, and very good more to the point. I had the close loving family, good friends, and I couldn’t have asked for a better childhood. One thing I have noticed, only since being in recovery, is that I wasnt very confident in myself. I was always very shy and quiet with new people, even more so with the opposite sex.
Active Recovery
Let’s get Physical
Physical activity and exercise, I believe, are a fundamental component of a solid recovery plan. If you’re not doing it then- you should be, and if you are procrastinating about it – ask yourself why?
However, this is NOT a biased opinion piece from someone who loves exercise.
Sure, it’s your own fault!
Stigma, Substance Misuse and dependance.
The term ‘Stigma’ can be best understood as a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that people have about a particular circumstance, quality or person.
These negative beliefs are mainly fueled by misinformation, there is a great deal of stigma surrounding addiction causing; avoidance, rejection, and discrimination, ultimately stopping people from seeking the help they so desperately need.
One thing ARC Fitness aims to do is to change the conversation around alcohol/drug dependence. It does this by being transparent and honest about the realities of dependence and reinforcing this through evidenced based education provision.
ARC Essentials –
The Recovery Checklist
Here is some simple and straight forward advice from me when approaching your first year in recovery. I wish I had this, however learning from my mistakes should help you on your path.
Use this reminder as a guide to help you stay on track and navigate any pitfalls in the days and months ahead.
What is an Addiction Recovery Coach?
An Addiction Recovery Coach is a term that covers many different roles. As a coach I believe that I provide invaluable support to people trying to overcome their addictive, compulsive, obsessive and destructive behaviors.
Think of it as a kind of “Life Coach” that focuses on helping people make smart choices and healthy decisions, with the #1 priority being not using alcohol or drugs or acting out in their addiction.
ARC Fitness adds the additional approach of introducing physical activity as a medium for recovery.
Withdrawal’s & Sleep
Quitting drugs and alcohol use is a positive step toward a healthy lifestyle, but it’s rarely easy. After prolonged use, the body becomes physically dependent on alcohol and certain drugs and withdrawal or detox is its response to the absence of the substance.
The withdrawal process often causes physical and emotional discomfort and can include:
Feeling achy
Anxiety and restlessness
Sweating
Insomnia
Stomach upset
Rapid heartbeat and high blood pressure
Not a pleasant combination.
So, you’re just a sort time into your sobriety, its going well however you knew this was going to happen eventually. The dreaded social event. The Wedding, Christening or 80th Birthday party you can’t miss.
The panic of socialising with people when you don’t drink any more can be paralysing. It can even cause some to avoid interactions with people completely. Unfortunately, such avoidance can affect your relationships with good friends and family who value your time and company.
“Tip the Scales” – Learning Balance in Recovery
“Me. I’m all or nothing, no middle ground here.”
Sound familiar?
Learning to find balance can be particularly challenging in recovery
(trust me I am still practicing almost 8 years later)
You see, leading a balanced life means avoiding extreme highs or lows. It forces you to pay attention to those compulsive tendencies that many of those who experience dependence own.
In recovery we then have a tendency to focus on or obsess too much on one activity, such as exercise or work. When these scale tip too far in one direction, it can trigger the urge to turn back to old behaviours to cope.