Recovered Podcast

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Some people in recovery must take prescribed medication for medical problems. However, it is generally accepted that the misuse of prescription medication and other drugs can threaten the achievement and maintenance of sobriety.

AA provides some suggestions regarding sobriety and use of medicines.

+No A.A. member should “play doctor”;
•Active participation in the A.A. program of recovery is a safeguard against relapse.
•Be honest with your doctor and yourself about your medicine.
•Tell your doctor that you are an alcoholic.

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Convenient Links 1.  recoveredcast.com/speakpipe 2.  recoveredcast.com/wavve and recoveredcast.com/wave 3.  recoveredcast.com/live 4.  recoveredcast.com/premium 5.  recoveredcast.com/freeapp 6.  recoveredcast.com/subscribe   Your thoughts on these official AA suggestions?
What are you thoughts on the council to :
don't play doctor,
go to meetings, and
be honest with your doctor?
Have you heard any other suggestions?

The topic tonight is recovery and medicine.

For me there are different classes of medicine as it relates to the alcoholic.

Let’s start with how we manage medications for minor illnesses and pain.

Minor illness such as colds and flus or and pain management related to dental work and minor surgeries.

What is your experience with medicines for these types of situations, how do you manage a cold?
What about cold meds?
How do you manage cold and flu symptoms?
What about nyquil?

How about pain meds, what is your philosophy regarding these medicines?
Have you taken pain meds?
How did you manage the dosing?
Did you self administer or did you have someone else manage the dosing?

Let’s now move into other medical problems such as mental health care.
Now, a different class of medications.
Medicines for mental health

Feeling miserable isn’t uncommon in early sobriety. Withdrawing from any substance to which you are addicted may produce symptoms of depression, such as changes in sleep patterns, feelings of helplessness, and appetite or weight changes.

In trying to picture the relationship between addiction and depression, it’s important to understand four things:

Not everyone with addiction has a depressive disorder.
Not everyone with a depressive disorder has an addiction.
People with a dual diagnosis have two separate conditions, each requiring different treatments.
Despite this, the state of your recovery from one frequently impacts your recovery from the other.

People who are in addiction recovery are far more likely to relapse if they are depressed. And according to one disturbing estimate, “suicide is the cause of death for an estimated 25 percent of treated alcoholics.”

Thoughts?
Have you taken anti depressants?
What was our experience?

“studies suggest that for individuals with repeated depressive episodes, a combination of therapy and antidepressants are the most effective course of treatment.”

What about therapy and medicine?

Most recovery programs cite abstinence from drugs and alcohol as the best—indeed the only—way to overcome addiction. As a result, stigma often surrounds the use of medication to help with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

What is your experience with stigma and taking prescription medicine within the recovering community?

Now, let’s move into another territory, the medicines that are far riskier in my estimation.

Let’s focus on opioids and benzos

Addictive drugs such as opioids and benzodiazepines have a few things in common. The user feels the effect of the drug soon after taking it and feels high for a period of time. When someone who is addicted “comes down,” they want more. Eventually, the same amount of a drug produces a less effective high, and more of the drug will be required to achieve the desired effect.

Antidepressants, on the other hand, take weeks, and sometimes months to take effect. Further, They do not really make people feel ‘high,’ they are not abused in a pattern of escalating doses and they have little black-market value.” The bottom line? “In general, antidepressants do not pose substantial risk to people in recovery.”

What are your opinions on the differences between these two classes of meds?

Drugs are not the solution to addiction. But for people who struggle with addiction as well as a depressive disorder, antidepressants can be a key ingredient of lifelong recovery.

Thoughts on
Cafine
Tobacco

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https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_A2AivrPzniJtXsa5B0iN8GdsvUvUr_YhYKx7evGYBBBIc94zyHxga-3WkM-gSeQ8Gbn71XvqPg164xtvpwrdogIW8ZbWXOMRF2KEAEFu2qqH7Mtt9l7e8R0Huhi2C8T474ajfk6MYZnJuDB2dE1DeP9g6wyg

Annie
https://www.speakpipe.com/messages

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Go to http://recoveredcast.com/take-our-survey/

 

 

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The Big Book

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Tonight, we decided to do a movie review on Being Charlie.
We just viewed the movie and now I want to talk about it with you guys.

First, the story plot….
Charlie is a troublesome 18-year-old who breaks out of a youth drug treatment clinic, but when he returns home to Los Angeles, he's given an intervention by his parents and forced to go to an adult rehab. There, he meets a beautiful but troubled girl, Eva, and is forced to battle with drugs, elusive love and divided parents.

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Convenient Links 1.  recoveredcast.com/speakpipe 2.  recoveredcast.com/wavve and recoveredcast.com/wave 3.  recoveredcast.com/live 4.  recoveredcast.com/premium 5.  recoveredcast.com/freeapp 6.  recoveredcast.com/subscribe   Here is the trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SDAKgyqKNI


Did you learn anything from this movie? If you did, what was it?
What is the message of this movie? Do you agree or disagree with it?

Was there something you didn't understand about the film? What was that?
What did you like best about the movie? Why?
What did you like least about the film? Why?

Who was your favorite character in the movie? Why?
Who was your least favorite character in the film? Why?

Did anything that happened in this movie remind you of something that has occurred in your own life or that you have seen occur to others?

What were you thinking as you finished watching the film?
Would you recommend this movie to a friend? Explain your reasons.

What part of the story told by the movie was the most powerful? Why?
If you had a chance to ask a character in this movie a question, what would it be?
If you had a chance to ask the screenwriter a question, what would it be?

If you were writing the screenplay for this movie, would you have changed the ending? Explain your answer.
What feelings did you share with any of the characters in the movie?

Did any of the characters in this movie make you angry? Tell us why.
Did you come to respect any of the characters in this movie? Who was it and why did you come to respect that character?

What comment is the author trying to make about the culture of the characters in this story?

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Denise From Canada
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Demographic survey link

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Today, we have author Annie Highwater with us in the studio.
Annie, welcome to the Recovered Podcast studio.

Annie, I’m going to have Anna introduce you to our listeners.
Anna take it from here

Introduction
Author Annie Highwater is a long distance runner, health and wellness advocate and a fanatical researcher of behavioral science, family pathology and concepts of dysfunction and conflict. Annie resides in Columbus, Ohio where she has worked in the insurance industry. She also enjoys writing, yoga and visiting her son in Southern California as often as possible.
Facebook link:
https://www.facebook.com/AnnieUnhooked

Annie’s links will be in the show notes

As you know Annie, the Recovered Podcast is intended to be a support for those of us in 12-step recovery program.

Before your experience with your son, did you know anyone who had struggled with addiction?
Did you know anything about recovery before Elliott?

Your new book is Titled “Unhooked”.
A mother’s story of Unhitching from the roller coaster of her son’s addiction.

Annie, your memoir starts with your experiences of life in a grossly neglected home. But in the book you share how those experiences both helped and hindered what would be the hardest, most heartbreaking, challenge of your life-- your son’s addiction to opiates. You say these experiences have been illuminating.

What do you mean by illuminating?

Elliott is your son, tell us more about him.
Do you have any other children?
Does alcoholism run in the family?
Were you familiar with recovery programs before Elliott?

The book is structured like a boxing match,
You don’t have chapters, you have rounds.
Tell us why.

Tell us about some of the boxing quotes you included.
Are you a boxing fan?

Tell us about your upbringing?
How did that affect your journey with Elliott?
It doesn’t sound like you felt safe growing up, how did that affect your parenting style?

Tell us about your grandparents?
What did you like to do as a kid?

What was the circumstances of you becoming pregnant?
Did you grow up with religion?
Tell us about your relationship with your mother.

How did you find out about Elliott’s addiction?
How did you learn about the disease concept of addiction?

What type of help did you think you needed at the beginning of Elliott’s disease?
What actual help did you need?

Tell us about stigma, secretes, shame, blame, did you experience these things?

Tell us about Elliott’s recovery process.
What were some of your experiences?
What were some of your fears?
Tell us about loneliness.
How did your family react?
Tell us about the 3 c’s.

Did you experience recovery?
What did surrender look like for you?
How did you unhitch yourself from Elliott’s addiction?

Do you ever hitch yourself back on?

What would you say to a parent that suspects their child is experimenting?
What would you say to a parent who suspects their child has a problem?

Did you find others who were going through what you went through?

How did you select your pen name Annie Highwater?
What was the #1 thing that held you back in writing this book?
What is the best advice you ever received about writing this book?
What is something that is working in your life right now?
What is the best book you have read on recovery?
This podcast is about Hope
What would you say to the parent who is struggling with their addicted child?

How can people get the book?
How can listeners contact you?

Annie, thanks for joining us in the studio.

Demographic survey link
Go to http://recoveredcast.com/take-our-survey/.

The Recovered Podcast has been contacted regarding possible sponsorship to help with podcasting costs. The right sponsor could help underwrite our efforts to carry this message of hope to an even larger audience, but that costs money and we need your help. To help find the right sponsor, we need to conduct a demographic survey to better understand who is listening to the show.

Your participation in this demographic survey will help us find the right sponsor. Your email address will not be sold and I will not spam you. After a few weeks, we will randomly select one name from the list of people who participated in the survey.

This winner will receive:
1. The Novel "Detroit Muscle" by Jeff Vande Zande
2. The Graphic Novel "3AZ" by Matt O.
3. A signed Big Book from yours truly.
4. $100 Amazon Gift card.

We need 250 responses in 2 weeks to be considered.

If you would like to help and take the 7 question survey, just
Go to http://recoveredcast.com/take-our-survey/.
That’s http://recoveredcast.com/take-our-survey/.

That link is in the show notes which appear right now on the screen of your mobile device or computer.

Thank you for your support.

 

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The Big Book

The 12 and 12

24 Hours a Day

Demographic survey link

Go to http://recoveredcast.com/take-our-survey/.

Acceptance is one of the most important tools in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. There are many things that are out of my control, but if I can accept that everything is the way it’s supposed to be at all times, I might be able to attain inner peace. This is often easier said than done. If you’re like me,
you want
what you want
when you want it.

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Convenient Links 1.  recoveredcast.com/speakpipe 2.  recoveredcast.com/wavve and recoveredcast.com/wave 3.  recoveredcast.com/live 4.  recoveredcast.com/premium 5.  recoveredcast.com/freeapp 6.  recoveredcast.com/subscribe Matt, let’s go to you first.
What does acceptance mean to you?
How did you learn about this concept in early sobriety?
Did you have an ah ha moment?


For the alcoholic, loss or disappointment are usually involved in this acceptance process.


When you were new, tell us about your experiences of loss and disappointment.
What losses were you experiencing?
What were some of your disappointments?


In early sobriety, did you try to force certain outcomes, were there some consequences you were trying to avoid?
Did you get the outcome you desired?


For me, I had to accept that things were as they were. I was in denial of reality because I really didn’t like the reality of that time.
In early sobriety, did you struggle against reality? Give specific circumstances.
How did this affect your energy level?
How did this affect your mood?


What is the serenity prayer?
What is your experience with the prayer?


What does acceptance look like today?
Do you struggle today regarding desired outcomes?


What are you trying to accept today?
What tools, steps, prayers, slogans, traditions, are you using?


We have calls


Charlie - the way out podcast
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Floann
https://www.speakpipe.com/messages




What would you say to the new guy?

I want to be in charge of my own life and maybe even the lives of those around me. I want to get my own way,
And I can get pretty upset when I don’t. Accepting rather than controlling usually brings me serenity.

 

 

Some have recommended that those who are in early recovery

(the first couple of years)

limit contact with former drinking and drug using friends.  

This is not to say they are bad, just maybe not the healthiest choice during early recovery.  

We will explore this position.

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Convenient Links 1.  recoveredcast.com/speakpipe 2.  recoveredcast.com/wavve and recoveredcast.com/wave 3.  recoveredcast.com/live 4.  recoveredcast.com/premium 5.  recoveredcast.com/freeapp 6.  recoveredcast.com/subscribe   What are your thoughts on this recommendation, limiting contact with using friends early on?


Why do you think this is recommended?
What was your experience during early recovery?


Now let’s talk about later in recovery.
Let’s talk about after the obsession to use has been lifted.
Some recovery professionals say
one of the important tasks that people undertake in early recovery is to build a new social support network of people who support their sobriety. These do not necessarily have to be people in recovery,
but they should not be those who are actively involved in substance abuse.


This means that by the time the person has been sober for a few years they will have all the friends and support they need.


Thoughts, opinion?
Do you socialize with people who drink?
Do you find this awkward?
How do you react when people ask for permission to drink?


Do you socialize with people who actively use drugs?
Is this different for you thank for people who drink?
Why or why not?


Do you serve alcohol at home?
Why or why not?


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Brianna
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_C4tlkKesQv9AzuaF3bNE13WWOov7fyf1VIq9Vx8PHGCHKj32jiu3WeD_s3SMUA21U969api1tlWOyWK_Q6HdLOE1-xkP92kBDkJJKDlvJ0ikpR_6uSqjl0YbWc65W0P6jNpvGpukIRpmf378S1HKxu3w5iSw


Nicole from Ottawa
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_BBSADFZTGJ_W18E5XKckdPNcww_3xUddpTzz0Z8deqq6n9U_OOk0nZ5NIfTpX3B5HWMfcwkOqQqi-U0shWdYxQJyI9zaUkM9WmTcDahTmfV4_MDIilj1wupbZsIkBkWDeJmeU7z-5U8h_xzgS23liI0O1Q4g


Flo - parts 1 and 2
https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_CI0Ps2Ksc9o0fRzXPvayj3s4fwUkwyCJZXRyq9MA4uxfNx0Bz3pCeSmqqk0snp9lBgDmZnmCXyjyG0aMKxzUURhHo1bglvynIMTo_ssa7x30iQ6_fXQUFHDIwE49TfNb6Z1Smgsbc4oBAw665jwPvHBwhEdw


https://www.google.com/voice/fm/00557165274674955804/AHwOX_Avso4sX_t2wQoTXfYB0Jt23ME9bFAbMbm_7Wnx198wAwAxmYbQbWvpR5386ZV0SlSKweHs6yZkAvXsxNhvOd1hykdF2b0yd7eRzg3Tzgp2FHnH8IRLa3V3bqC_Xzmw7wtq9pTfJqp8YSUUbfjtGcP9aSSj6Q


Mike (anonymous)
https://www.speakpipe.com/messages


What would you say to the new guy?

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The Big Book

The 12 and 12

24 Hours a Day

What if you had only 6 months to live, what would you do?  What would be your priority?

 

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