Give A Loved One A Break

What is the greatest burden of all? It’s our sin. All of us have sinned; therefore, all of us must face the consequences of our transgressions. Although we may not realize it, our sins are wearing us out and discouraging us—they are draining the life from us.When we continue to live with such heaviness of soul and spirit, it destroys our body, devastates our soul, and fragments our thinking.

Sometimes the addictions that we are struggling with (sinful behavior) will not only tear us down, but tear down our families as well. We must learn to focus on others, and think about the pain that we are causing them. If anything, let’s make a good attempt at dropping this habit if not for ourselves, but for them. They deserve it. They have stood by us for years and deserve to be happy.

Sometimes taking the focus off yourself and putting it on others can do wonders in relieving anxiety and depression. Is there a friend or a family member who is not happy with your current behavior. Try changing it for a day. I had read some work from a well known psychologist who taught his patients to “Act as if”. Meaning to act as if they were a healthy individual, act as if they were fun to be around. Act is if they were the loving partner that they were meant to be. Give it a shot. Act “as if” for your family or loved one this week. You might see some jaw dropping results.

Here at Christian Help For Addiction Online we pray that your life improves on a daily basis, and that you get closer to God by praying and reading your bible. Sometimes our prayers are not answered immediately, but if we stay strong in faith, you might be surprised with the results. Stay well..

 

Surrendering Doesn’t Mean Giving Up!

 

There are some circumstances that may leave you feeling as if you don’t have a friend in the world.

However isolated you may feel, understand that you’re never alone. God is with you and He has a ministry to fulfill in your life. His primary reason for indwelling you is to live the life of Christ through you—helping you face every situation in a godly, victorious manner. He uses all of your heartaches and burdens to teach you about the love, wisdom, and power of God. He enables you to become the person God created you to be and to succeed in whatever God calls you to achieve.

Some addictions that we struggle with are truly overwhelming and attempting to remedy the situation on our own is impossible. But as the bible says, nothing is impossible with God.

Give your struggles over to the Lord. Surrender and say, “hey you know what God, I surrender, I can’t do this on my own. I need your help” and then wait for God to step in.  It might take some time, but that’s what faith is all about.

Hang in there. We are praying for all our friends who are struggling out there with the multitude of addictions. Don’t ever give up hope. Read the bible daily, think and visualise the new life that you have coming, and start to focus more on God. 

 

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Ever Feel Like A Victim?

A victim is someone who has been harmed

in some way, whether physically, financially,

vocationally, emotionally, or otherwise. Almost

all people are treated poorly at one time or

another. They may have done nothing to deserve

it. But some people never recover from the

mistreatment they experience.Whether or not

they label themselves as “victims,” they allow

hurtful experiences to permanently disrupt

their lives. They use negative incidents as

excuses for sinful or irresponsible behavior.

As believers, we don’t have to fall into this

destructive pattern.Why? Romans 8:28 says,

“We know that God causes all things to work

together for good to those who love God, to

those who are called according to His purpose.”

Our loving heavenly Father is in control of all

things. Instead of allowing personal tragedy to

devastate us, we can choose to allow God to

use it to mature us spiritually.

You might be struggling with an addiction right now. Be it an alcohol or drug addiction, or many of the hundreds of others. Don’t give up hope.. Sometimes it’s in the last hour of your despair that God shows up. You might be at your breaking point, but hold strong and pray. You really have to “surrender” and say, “Lord, I can’t do this on my own, I need you now”, and then wait and see how God steps in.

You could be on the threshold of a break through, hang in there and pray.. Give it over to God, and watch him work in your life. We are praying for you…God Bless

 

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Loneliness Can Be A Trigger

Loneliness is one of man’s most painful and feared emotions. Many people consider isolation, disconnectedness, and abandonment excruciating—especially during periods of crisis

During these difficult times, we sometimes “self medicate” with drugs or alcohol to ease the pain that loneliness brings. It becomes a vicious cycle, as our companion for life is then found in a bottle or other means.  An individual I knew for many years suddenly fell into the grips of loneliness. Detaching from his friends and family he started living an isolated life. Depression set in, and you could pretty much write the end of the story.

Don’t let yourself fall into that the trap of loneliness. Develop a resource of faithful, healthy friends, and lean on them in difficult times. If you don’t know where to look for such people, then try your local church one Sunday. Mingle after the service, and start throwing your name around. After a few weeks of attending, you should start to develop a few “Godly” contacts, that will be a wonderful resource.

Remember, even in painful circumstances, three truths are certain: Jesus stands with us; He strengthens us for whatever task God wants us to accomplish; and He will enable us to fulfill God’s purpose till our final breath. Be comforted and encouraged by these promises of the living Lord. God Bless…

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Keeping Life Simple

The world bombards us with messages that nourish feelings of inferiority. Happiness and satisfaction are promised if we will only drive the latest car, wear the newest styles, or build up those muscles while losing unsightly pounds. If we do not guard against the onslaught of commercialism, it will drive the truth of God from our minds, and we will pursue a fruitless search for adequacy and value.

So often we look at externals to prove to ourselves and others that we’re valuable. Or we think, If only I were better-looking, richer, or smarter, I would be accepted and esteemed. It’s not wise to let others’ opinions and standards determine our feelings about ourselves; the only accurate assessment of our worth comes from looking into the eyes of the One who loved us enough to die in our place.

Christ loves us just the way we are, whether we are rich or poor, addicted or not. We don’t have to impress others, or be influenced by their dysfunctional behavior. Read your bible this week. Start with the book of Psalms. It will help give you guidance and strength in difficult times. God bless…

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Prescription Meds And Addiction Risks

Hi everyone from Christian Help For Addiction Online,

A call from my neighbor the other night revealed that his brother-in-law was admitted into a drug rehab facility for treatment. I was a bit shocked, as I knew the guy, and he was what appeared to be a pretty “high functioning” individual. He held a good job and had a wife and a young child. Initially I was thinking the “hard stuff”, maybe even Heroin, but when I asked further, I found out he was hooked on “pain killer” medication, specifically…”Vicodin”

Initially I thought how did that happen, but now i realize that more  and more people are getting hooked with these type of prescription meds. Oxycontin is another pain med that comes to mind, as this is another pain medication that can be quite addicting. If you are using any of these particular pain meds, and find that you are relying on them more and more, then we suggest talking with your doctor immediately, and see if there are any different options for you.

We truly are creatures of habit so to speak…and these “habits” can develop quite quickly. Developing a tolerance threshold with pain killer medications could be possible, and before you know it, you will need more of the meds to achieve the desired results. Again, proceed with caution here. Talk with your doctor. The last thing you want is to be hooked on these type of meds. You deserve the best in Gods eyes, so be careful.

We hope that whatever your struggles might be, that you include God in coping with those Struggles. It really is difficult to navigate this life alone, or relying on other human beings. Sometimes only a true loving God can help us cope with the “mountains” of life, and lead us to the other side coming out a healthier and happier person.

We recommending getting an easy to read bible, and incorporate it into your daily life by reading life changing scriptures. God Bless…and have a great week….

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Here Come The Holidays

Well the summer is kicking off with the Memorial Day weekend celebrations. Then comes the July 4th bash and some private summer parties as well. Temptations run rampant, as people enjoy “letting loose” so to speak for the nice summer months.

For someone in recovery, or others who are trying to minimize their drug or alcohol use, the challenge becomes great. That “just one” at times, suddenly turns into a couple, then a few, and then who knows.  It truly is difficult to remain sober and straight when the world seems to be self-medicating with everything from wine to ground up and snorted Vicodins.

One of the best methods to avoid these temptations is to avoid the “group” that is associated with these temptations. If your circle of so called “friends” are actively using or recklessly boozing, then find a healthier group to hang out with. The majority of those individuals aren’t going to change, so be advised, you are literally going into the Lions den when you hang out with them. Life is too short. Your health is more important then hanging out with active users who have yet to get their lives on track.

Politely tell them you have “other plans” and spend a peaceful day with somebody “healthy” or by yourself.  If you long to be near “people”  regardless of their shortcomings, then you have to quickly find a healthy group before the others bring you down with them. Say a prayer for them and move on.

Meeting “healthy” people can be a challenge for sure. But try to stay away from the summer “partying” group this year. It just might save your life.

Here at Christian Help For Addiction Online we pray that your struggles are few and that your focus on God is increasing everyday. Learn to pray and read the bible more. Become happier with yourself as a child of God almighty. Enjoying some time alone with you and God can do wonders to clear a troubled mind. Take a walk on the beach or in a park alone. You will soon learn that you don’t always have to be around dysfunctional people, and that you are really becoming happy just by yourself at times. Avoiding that “risky” group will go a long way in maintaining your inner peace.

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Addictions And Stress

Greetings all from Christian Help For Addiction Online

Sometimes when we are under stress (relationship problems, money problems, health problems, kid problems, school problems, work problems, ) did I leave anything out, we tend to self-medicate. Self medicating can be dangerous, especially with such items as alcohol and drugs. What some people really need help with is healthy ways of relieving and coping with the stress in their lives.

What has been working for me lately is an exercise program. With the weather getting nicer I started to walk and walk and walk. Wow, what a stress buster. It seems the faster I walk, the more my head clears, and I can re-focus on the moment, and just leave those issues behind.

Now granted, exercise isn’t for everybody, so make sure you check with your doctor prior to beginning an exercise program, but if he gives you the “okay” then jump in. Life is stressful, and stimulating those good hormones by exercising will help us in coping with stress.

Meditation and prayer is another method that I use for coping with stress. Just refocusing your thoughts on God, and the promises that he has made (Hebrews 13) is therapeutic as well. Try reading the book of Psalms. It will tell the story of a mighty King named David, who relied on God for everything.

What I really like about that book in the bible is how the mighties King in the land fell short. He had an affair with a married woman, which led to death and an unplanned child etc etc. Incredible drama. But the good news is that our God isn’t a “condemning God” he is a forgiving God. David repented, changed his behavior and turned back to God who forgives us and allows us to move forward with our lives.

The good news is that your are “forgiven” Other people might not forgive you, but that’s ok, as long as you are forgiven in God’s eyes, and you have changed that sinful behavior.  Then you are on the road to spiritual recovery.  Read the bible, it does provide great insight.

Stay well..

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Do I Really Have An Addicton?

Answering that question, “Do I Really Have An Addiction”, is probably one of the most difficult questions in life to answer.

Webster defines addiction as: compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; broadly : persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful

Here’s some basics that I have found in common with people who are actually addicted:

—Regardless of the consequences..I still fill a need to engage in a certain form of behavior or take a particular substance.

–Even though family members and friends are concerned about my behavior, and have openly questioned me why I do or use something on a continual basis….I still feel compelled to engage.  This could be something as innocent as being on the computer “every” night, even though you partner is with you and would like to engage in converstaion.

–I feel a need to regulate my mood. Sometimes I feel so wired I need a depressant (alcohol) just to take that so called “edge off”  Or perhaps I’m so disengaged, that I need some stimulants to engage me.

–A colleague of mine gave me the best definition of addiction: Addiction is the voluntary altering of your brain chemistry ( by ingesting a substance or engaging in a behavior) in an attempt to self-regulate your  mood.

Where addiction really gets scary is when you start developing “Tolerance” Always remember that word, as it is truly the killer. Tolerance can be be described as a “user” or “doer” needing more and more of the substance/behavior to get the same initial effects they had when they first started using/doing.

—By the way, an example of a “doing” type behavioral addiction might be sex. It could be as discrete as visiting Internet porn sites on a daily basis, or going to the extreme and utilizing prostitution services. Internet sex addiction online is a multi-billion dollar industry I have read.

So take warning. These addictions can creep up quite quickly. We are truly creatures of “habit” and some of these habits that we develop are destructive. Your best bet is to get checked out by a physician just to make sure you aren’t struglling with some physical ailments.

I always recommend reading the book of Proverbs in the bible. Even in those days they had there struggles with addictions. King Solomon use to call them “fools” who returned to their “folly” Great book. Give it a try.

We are always praying for you here at Christian Help For Addiction Online. God loves you. You are a “Victor” and not a “Victim” in his eyes. Start thinking good thoughts, and say them out loud. Start the day with a bible verse. What really helped me was getting one of those “New Living Bibles” that are really easy to read. You could check out Amazon for them.

Until next time, stay well and God Bless.

Self Medicating-Be Really Careful

It just seems that the stresses of life are on an upswing these days. I know more and more friends who are out of work, or forced to take a lower paying job just to make  ends meet. Others I know have been volunteering their time just to stay busy.

Actually that is really a great idea. Rather then sitting at home, go out and volunteer somewhere. A local soup kitchen, thrift store, wherever. I know what you might be thinking, that sure won’t pay the bills. I agree. But sometimes you can do a little “networking” and meet people who know somebody who is looking for help. You know what I mean.  Give and it is usually given back to you. It’s called the law of “Reciprocity”. Your act of kindness in helping others is usually returned.

But getting back on track, sometimes during these tough moments we want to “ease the pain” Escape from reality so to speak. That escape can be accomplished by alcohol or drugs, including grass. You have to be real careful when you fall into that “defeatist” mentality and the “woe is me” thinking. That is Satan talking for sure. Like Christ said, and I always keep repeating it, “The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy your life”  Be on guard. The last thing you want to do is start developing a “habit” where you are relying on something to get you through the day.

Get out of the house. Stay occupied. Like I said, volunteer. keep your mind focused on healthy things. And most of all pray. Every day that you can get up and out of the bed is a victory. Thank God for that. There truly are people worse off in this world. When the “temptation” comes to self-medicate, change your surroundings quick. If you’re with so called “friends” get out of there. Leave and go for a walk.

If you are home alone. get out of there as well. If it’s the middle of the night, then open the bible and start reading the book of Psalms. God will reveal himself to you for sure, and re-direct that stinking thinking. You are special. You are a creature that was made by the almighty God. He loves you and wants to help us navigate “This Life”. So lean on him, its never too late.

From all of us here at Christian Help For Addiction Online we continue to pray for you and know that God will eventually intervene in your struggles.

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