The Lifelong Quest for Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 8

Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 8 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a Ph.D. in mythological studies.

In the ancient mythopoetic story of the Odyssey, Odysseus is desperately trying to find his way home after a 10-year war, to the Island of Ithaca where he is King. The armies of the great city states of Greece had been locked in a struggle to conquer the impregnable City of Troy on the extreme west coast of modern day Turkey. Odysseus was one of the leaders of the Greeks, the one who devised the plan to penetrate Troy through the gift of a giant horse secretly filled with soldiers, the Trojan Horse.  The behavior of the Greeks once inside the City and the slaughter of the Trojan population angered the gods.  The Journey home of all the Greek leaders was fraught with calamity, but none so severe as Odysseus.’

Odysseus encounters all sorts of disasters on his tortuous Journey home, much of it accompanied by the bad behavior of his men and him.  After nine years on the Journey, having lost everything, all his ships, all his men, all his possessions, he is washed up on the island of Scheria, naked, exhausted and broken.  He is taken in by the people of this land, and in a fit of surrender, he tells his whole long story.  It is in this telling that he finally gains the support and insight to complete his Journey home and, once back in Ithaca, to ultimately regain his rightful place as King.

The story is another classic hero’s journey, filled with all the elements of similar epics. Odysseus’ arrival home results in some additional conflicts with others on Ithaca seeking to rule.  With the help of the goddess Athena, a peace is declared by all the conflict parties accepting a sacred oath to restrain from any further violence forever.  This ending is dealt with rather briefly in the actual story, but the journey of Odysseus, in the torments and trials he must overcome, very much parallel our own Journeys to Sobriety.

He can only finally find forbearance and release from his tragic journey after he loses everything, surrenders and tells his story.  Having done so, and following the dictums of his hosts on Scheria, he can find his way home and achieve a sense of peace for himself and his people. For all of us, it is in telling our story, truthfully and with energetic rigor, that we can finally make progress on the elusive quest of Sobriety…and, in having done so, we can finally find peace and a rightful place for ourselves in the world.

Logout is the Hardest Button to Click

Are you consistently refreshing your Facebook or Instagram feed? Upon waking, do you check your social media apps before getting out of bedSocialMedia? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you may be addicted to social media. You are not alone.  Or are you? Social media can make you feel connected with other individuals, yet it can also lead to isolation from the real world, personal interactions and connections.

The impact of being obsessed with cell phones and the world inside of social media is steadily increasing. People have begun to describe their need for presence on social media to be worse than craving a cigarette or alcoholic beverage. Shockingly, the average person between ages of 15 and 29 spends between two and three hours of their day on social media accounts.

What Does Social Media Addiction Look Like?

Daily use of social media in itself is not enough to be called an addiction. Many users can refrain from use when their attention is needed elsewhere. At what point does social media use become a process addiction? Like any other addiction, it occurs when the drug of choice (in this case social media), becomes more important than anything else and begins to interfere with personal relationships, education or the work environment.

Are any of these feelings familiar to you?

  • Anxiety or depression surrounding times when social media cannot be accessed
  • Anger or irritability when use of social media is interrupted
  • Using social media during situations in which such use could be considered rude (i.e. during dinner or a meeting)
  • Continued use of social media after being warned by parents or boss about its effect on studies or job duties
  • Use leading to detrimental loss of personal relationships
  • Unable to refrain from use in dangerous situations such as driving
  • Avoiding social situations or hobbies which you enjoy in order to be active on social media
  • Desire to use social media is so strong loss of sleep occurs

Help is Available

If a loved one has suggested you are on social media too often, arguments over use occur, or you feel you have lost the ability to enjoy life outside the realms of social networks, you may have a true addiction. Once the addiction is recognized, although it is not easy, people may be able to quit “cold turkey”. However when struggling with a process addiction, it may be valuable to seek the help of a therapist or counselor to find the root cause of the issue and establish a treatment plan. At the end of the day, the goal in overcoming social media addiction is to live and enjoy life to the fullest with those around you!

The Council on Recovery is often the starting place for individuals seeking outpatient rehab and counseling, as well as help for their family members. Call 713.942.4100 or visit www.councilonrecovery.org

http://www.socialmediatoday.com/social-networks/carianneking/2015-06-26/social-media-addiction-statistics-infographic

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/social-media-addiction-peak_us_56ab9360e4b0010e80e9c71e

Alcohol-Related Liver Damage: Are You at Risk?

As the second largest organ in the human body, the liver preforms many functions, but, most importantly, it removes harmful substances from blood. The liver normally breaks down alcohol as a process of removing toxins from the body. But, when alcohol is abused, liver cells can be damaged and excessive, long-term drinking can cause serious, irreversible harm to the liver.

Although not all heavy drinkers develop liver disease, extended periods of drinking and large quantities of alcohol greatly increase the chances of acquiring the disease.

Alcohol-related liver damage manifests in three diseases: Alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis.

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

The initial stage of alcohol-related liver disease results from the deposit of fat on liver cells. Unfortunately, there are typically no symptoms and tests for liver function often return normal. But when symptoms do occur, they may include discomfort in the abdomen, fatigue, or weakness. Many heavy drinkers suffer from fatty liver disease, though it may be reversible with abstinence from alcohol.

Alcoholic Hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis can be mild or severe, and is often accompanied by fat deposits on live cells, mild scarring, and inflammation of the liver. Symptoms include poor appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, jaundice and fever. When tested, liver functions show abnormal with elevated liver enzymes. Research indicates that up to thirty-five percent of heavy drinkers will develop alcoholic hepatitis. Though mild cases may be reversible with abstinece from alcohol, severe alcoholic hepatitis can have a sudden onset leading to liver failure and death.

Alcoholic Cirrhosis

As the most serious and dreaded liver disease, alcoholic cirrhosis occurs when scar tissue replaces healthy, soft tissue, resulting in disruption of normal live function. Statistically, ten to twenty percent of heavy drinkers develop cirrhosis. Symptoms are similar to severe alcoholic hepatitis, but may also include jaundice, inability to think clearly, buildup of fluid in the legs and abdomen, abnormal bleeding and bruising, clay-like or clay colored stools, redness on palms of hands, and men may notice testicles shrinkage and swelling of breast tissues. Although late stage cirrhosis is irreversible, abstinence from alcohol may prevent further damage and improve the symptoms.

Treatment of alcohol-related liver disease:

It is essential to seek medical help for alcohol-related liver disease. Severe cases may be irreversible and may require medications to help manage complications caused by liver damage. Abstinence from alcohol is universally advised. If you are or a loved one are suffering from liver damage, but cannot stop drinking, The Council on Recovery may be able to help. We are the starting place for people seeking outpatient rehab and counseling, as well as help for family members of loved ones who are struggling with alcoholism. Get help now by calling 713.942.4100 or visit www.councilonrecovery.org

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000281.htm

http://www.liverfoundation.org/abouttheliver/info/alcohol/

KRBE’s Around H-town Features The Council’s Lori Fiester

KRBE’s “Around H-town” program recently featured Lori Fiester, Clinical Director of Treatment Services at The Council on Recovery. Hosted by Freddy Cruz, the engaging interview with Lori highlighted the problem of addiction in our community and The Council’s innovative services for dealing with it. Listen to the entire interview here.

lori

The Lifelong Quest for Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 7

Guest Blogger and long-time Council friend, Bob W. presents Part 7 of a series dealing with Alcoholism and Addiction from a Mystical, Mythological Perspective, reflecting Bob’s scholarly work as a Ph.D. in mythological studies.

So…having taken the steps to engage the process of Recovery in earnest, we have seen that the initial requirement is a rigorous exploration of the events of our past lives in the addictions. This “fearless inventory of ourselves” is meant to bring into consciousness the full extent of our disease, in all of its aspects.  We take inventory, try to understand the full extent of our disease and who we hurt in the travesties of our “acting out,” and then work to repair such travesties where we can.  The final steps, outlining the requirements of a continuing life in sobriety, provide a road map for daily living.

Continue reading “The Lifelong Quest for Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 7” →

National Prevention Week – May 14-20, 2017

National Prevention week2The Council on Recovery is proud to participate in National Prevention Week, May 14th-20th, an annual health observance dedicated to increasing the prevention of substance use and promotion of mental health. Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Prevention Week brings individuals, organizations, coalitions, states, and communities together to raise awareness about the importance of preventing substance abuse and mental disorders.

During this year’s National Prevention Week, The Council on Recovery is highlighting its prevention and education programs, including those at work in many elementary, middle, and high schools in the Greater Houston area. The Council’s educational programs include the Life Skills Training for students in grades 3 through 5; Curriculum-Based Support Group (CBSG®) Program and All Stars Program for students in grades 6 Through 8; and the Reconnecting Youth Program for students in Grades 9 Through 12.

In addition, The Council’s Center for Recovering Families operates the CHOICES program in eight area middle and high schools. CHOICES is a unique prevention and counseling program based on successful prevention techniques typically missing in other school programs: A focus on multiple high-risk behaviors, and programming tailored to fit a specific school culture. The success of the CHOICES program was documented a research article recently published in the Journal of Addiction and, in April 2017, the program was awarded a $1.15 Million grant from the Hildebrand Foundation to expand the program into an additional twelve schools.

The Council on Recovery’s prevention programs are well-known throughout our region. As the leading resource for prevention, education, treatment, and recovery services, we are often the starting point for people seeking help.