07/04/08
ADDICTION JULY 4TH CELEBRATION
One of my clients, a loyal member of Narcotic Anonymous (NA), shared with me that she helped arrange a picnic for members of NA that will be held today. She is a single woman who has struggled with relapse for decades. NA offers her opportunity for healthy friendships and social events. As she talked about ‘doing service’ for NA, I could see the joy in her eyes of being part of a community and being able to celebrate ‘like everyone else’, but, in a ‘safe’ environment. Her hope is to someday be able to go to any celebration event and ‘not have to worry that I’ll be triggered to use.’ She is quite dedicated to her recovery; I am sure she will eventually meet this goal. As I reminded her, and want to pass on to everyone else today: as you are celebrating our independence, please remember all our service people presently serving all over the world, all those that have died in service to our freedoms, and past service people that continue to carry the scars of their sacrifices. Have a wonder July 4th celebration!
MAx Fabry: Learn more about MAx and her private practice at
http://www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
MAx is also the founder and proud member of Online Wellness Association
http://www.onlinewellnessassociation.com
One of my clients, a loyal member of Narcotic Anonymous (NA), shared with me that she helped arrange a picnic for members of NA that will be held today. She is a single woman who has struggled with relapse for decades. NA offers her opportunity for healthy friendships and social events. As she talked about ‘doing service’ for NA, I could see the joy in her eyes of being part of a community and being able to celebrate ‘like everyone else’, but, in a ‘safe’ environment. Her hope is to someday be able to go to any celebration event and ‘not have to worry that I’ll be triggered to use.’ She is quite dedicated to her recovery; I am sure she will eventually meet this goal. As I reminded her, and want to pass on to everyone else today: as you are celebrating our independence, please remember all our service people presently serving all over the world, all those that have died in service to our freedoms, and past service people that continue to carry the scars of their sacrifices. Have a wonder July 4th celebration!
MAx Fabry: Learn more about MAx and her private practice at
http://www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
MAx is also the founder and proud member of Online Wellness Association
http://www.onlinewellnessassociation.com
07/02/08
ADDICTION GRIEF
Now that I am in my awareness of my personal grief process following the death of my mother in January, I feel closer to understanding the grief people in early recovery are experiencing and how it factors into relapse. Imagine sleepwalking throughout your adult life, then quickly waking up. Your first thoughts may be about what is real and what is not real? How much time has passed? How do I fit into this reality? Almost a total disorientation to the familiar! Grief seems to produce a mild state of sleepwalking, add alcohol and/or drugs, and WHOOLA! reality detachment! Now, try to imagine that you do not possess the tools you need to work through the grief and losses in your life. How do you wake up from what has now become a nightmare? This is why, in my private practice, early on I give my clients the tools they need to identify, acknowledge, and work through their grief and loss issues. I believe providing these tools is essential in reducing the possibility of relapse and, in general for everyone, to avoid self abuse to our internal organs. What are your thoughts on grief and loss as a factor of relapse? As a factor over overall health? Please leave your comments at the bottom of this blog.
MAx Fabry: Learn more about MAx and her private practice Lifestyle Changes at
http://www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
MAx is also the founder and a proud member of Online Wellness Association
http://www.onlinewellnessassociation.com
Are you a sleepwalker? Check out RICHARD BLACKSTONE'S website 'Create One Love' for more insight:
http://www.RichardBlackstone.com
Now that I am in my awareness of my personal grief process following the death of my mother in January, I feel closer to understanding the grief people in early recovery are experiencing and how it factors into relapse. Imagine sleepwalking throughout your adult life, then quickly waking up. Your first thoughts may be about what is real and what is not real? How much time has passed? How do I fit into this reality? Almost a total disorientation to the familiar! Grief seems to produce a mild state of sleepwalking, add alcohol and/or drugs, and WHOOLA! reality detachment! Now, try to imagine that you do not possess the tools you need to work through the grief and losses in your life. How do you wake up from what has now become a nightmare? This is why, in my private practice, early on I give my clients the tools they need to identify, acknowledge, and work through their grief and loss issues. I believe providing these tools is essential in reducing the possibility of relapse and, in general for everyone, to avoid self abuse to our internal organs. What are your thoughts on grief and loss as a factor of relapse? As a factor over overall health? Please leave your comments at the bottom of this blog.
MAx Fabry: Learn more about MAx and her private practice Lifestyle Changes at
http://www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
MAx is also the founder and a proud member of Online Wellness Association
http://www.onlinewellnessassociation.com
Are you a sleepwalker? Check out RICHARD BLACKSTONE'S website 'Create One Love' for more insight:
http://www.RichardBlackstone.com
06/30/08
ADDICTION: LOVING AN ADDICT
My ex-husband was just here on business. Needless to say, he triggers a lot of painful memories for me. You see, prior to becoming an addiction counselor, I was a sleepwalker when it came to falling in love. When I first met my ex it was ‘love at first sight’; I was so blinded by love that I didn’t notice that he was a practicing heroin addict—I just thought he was part of the party scene I was involved with during the ‘70s. After his visit I reflected on those triggers that come up whenever we are around each other. I came up with an article I would like to share with those experiencing loving an addict: Ten Rules for Loving an Addict. Whether your addict is a significant other, a parent, child, or friend you will find this article useful. The article is available for free at Online Wellness Association articles directory: http://www.onlinewellnessassociation.com, click on ‘Articles Directory’, registration is FREE and only takes a minute, go down the list to ‘MAx Fabry’, and click on ‘Ten Rules for Loving an Addict’. If you have a little time, please return to this blog site to leave your comments by simply clicking on ‘Leave a comment’: http://www.onlinewellnessassociation.com/blog. I would be very interested in hearing your story.
MAx Fabry: Learn more about me and my private practice at
http://www.lifestylechangescounselingservices.com
I am founder and proud member of Online Wellness Association
http://www.onlinewellnessassociation.com
My ex-husband was just here on business. Needless to say, he triggers a lot of painful memories for me. You see, prior to becoming an addiction counselor, I was a sleepwalker when it came to falling in love. When I first met my ex it was ‘love at first sight’; I was so blinded by love that I didn’t notice that he was a practicing heroin addict—I just thought he was part of the party scene I was involved with during the ‘70s. After his visit I reflected on those triggers that come up whenever we are around each other. I came up with an article I would like to share with those experiencing loving an addict: Ten Rules for Loving an Addict. Whether your addict is a significant other, a parent, child, or friend you will find this article useful. The article is available for free at Online Wellness Association articles directory: http://www.onlinewellnessassociation.com, click on ‘Articles Directory’, registration is FREE and only takes a minute, go down the list to ‘MAx Fabry’, and click on ‘Ten Rules for Loving an Addict’. If you have a little time, please return to this blog site to leave your comments by simply clicking on ‘Leave a comment’: http://www.onlinewellnessassociation.com/blog. I would be very interested in hearing your story.
MAx Fabry: Learn more about me and my private practice at
http://www.lifestylechangescounselingservices.com
I am founder and proud member of Online Wellness Association
http://www.onlinewellnessassociation.com
06/27/08
ADDICTION COUNSELING: WHY?
When I started my career as an addiction counselor, I set the goal that if I could just change one (1) person’s journey to be more present in life without addiction, I would have succeeded as a counselor. This morning a client shared with me about her mother being in ‘late stage alcoholism’. She went on to tell me how she is intervening to help her mother get through this difficult time. She very succinctly added ‘Of course, I am taking care of ME first.’ You see, for almost twenty years this woman’s mother has been lovingly supporting HER; mom dedicated herself to supporting her daughter through her journey as a chronic alcoholic. As an addiction counselor, I clearly understand that my role in my client’s lives is to guide them through the part of their journey where they have become very clear that they have a willingness to escape the insanity of addiction. For my client to be sitting on my office couch today, utilizing the tools she has gained through the years to now reach out to help someone else, was amazing. All the confidence, all the intelligence, all the capability that I saw in this woman’s soul two years ago when she walked in my office ‘in late stage alcoholism’ manifested in that moment. She is a remarkable human being now so present in the world. THIS is why I am an addiction counselor. THIS is why even when someone is not ready to be fully present in life, I continue the work I am doing. Since I started my career as an addiction counselor, I have seen many clients succeed—somewhere along the line I learned that it is not about my success, but theirs.
MAx Fabry: Learn more about me and my practice Lifestyle Changes at
http://www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
I am also founder and proud member of Online Wellness Association
http://www.onlinewellnessassociation.com
When I started my career as an addiction counselor, I set the goal that if I could just change one (1) person’s journey to be more present in life without addiction, I would have succeeded as a counselor. This morning a client shared with me about her mother being in ‘late stage alcoholism’. She went on to tell me how she is intervening to help her mother get through this difficult time. She very succinctly added ‘Of course, I am taking care of ME first.’ You see, for almost twenty years this woman’s mother has been lovingly supporting HER; mom dedicated herself to supporting her daughter through her journey as a chronic alcoholic. As an addiction counselor, I clearly understand that my role in my client’s lives is to guide them through the part of their journey where they have become very clear that they have a willingness to escape the insanity of addiction. For my client to be sitting on my office couch today, utilizing the tools she has gained through the years to now reach out to help someone else, was amazing. All the confidence, all the intelligence, all the capability that I saw in this woman’s soul two years ago when she walked in my office ‘in late stage alcoholism’ manifested in that moment. She is a remarkable human being now so present in the world. THIS is why I am an addiction counselor. THIS is why even when someone is not ready to be fully present in life, I continue the work I am doing. Since I started my career as an addiction counselor, I have seen many clients succeed—somewhere along the line I learned that it is not about my success, but theirs.
MAx Fabry: Learn more about me and my practice Lifestyle Changes at
http://www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
I am also founder and proud member of Online Wellness Association
http://www.onlinewellnessassociation.com
06/23/08
LIFESTYLE ADDICTION
Have you ever noticed how the Universe provides direction for us to go in? Of course, if we are still on our course as ‘sleepwalkers’, we really don’t get what the Universe is trying to show us. My car recently broke down so I have had to resort to the transit system for local transportation. I understand that not every town has a transit system, let alone a GREAT transit system. But, as it turns out, Eugene, Oregon, my town, has a great transit district. There is a bus stop four blocks from my home; it stops three blocks from my office. It runs every ten minutes during weekdays. AND, the bus on my route is free. FREE! If I did have to pay to ride the bus on other routes, it costs around $2 to ride all day. As of this morning, gas in Oregon is $4.10/gallon. Parking in Eugene is horrible and I usually end up with at least one ticket per month; cost: $15/ticket. Last night I contemplated having to ride the bus instead of taking my car five miles to work every day: not only am I getting exercise that I really needed, I am saving money on gas, not stressing about parking, and allowing myself a ‘transition’ time from the office to home. My thoughts also drifted to how dependent we, Americans, are on oil. Slowly, over the centuries, oil has seeped into every part of our lives: transportation, medicine, food, clothes, building materials, our overall economy!!! I am a little disappointed in both my fellow baby boomers and myself. ‘Back in the day’ we would have stood up for ourselves when gas started pushing $2/gallon; yet, here we sit moaning about it reaching $5/gallon and still driving our gas-guzzling automobiles and buying into the whole ‘oil economy’. I wonder what would happen if, unless we were going long distance, we just stopped driving our cars for one week? Oh, wait, what would probably happen is that the guy pumping gas would get laid off—the guy that is being paid $7/hour to pump $4/gallon gas. I will have to think this out more clearly before calling in the troops. Meanwhile, while I was writing this, I received a call from the garage—nothing was wrong with my car. Hmm. What is it that the Universe is really trying to help me see? Any ideas?
MAx Fabry: Learn more about me and my private practice at
http://www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
I am also the founder and proud member of Online Wellness Association
http://www.onlinewellnessassociation.com
Have you ever noticed how the Universe provides direction for us to go in? Of course, if we are still on our course as ‘sleepwalkers’, we really don’t get what the Universe is trying to show us. My car recently broke down so I have had to resort to the transit system for local transportation. I understand that not every town has a transit system, let alone a GREAT transit system. But, as it turns out, Eugene, Oregon, my town, has a great transit district. There is a bus stop four blocks from my home; it stops three blocks from my office. It runs every ten minutes during weekdays. AND, the bus on my route is free. FREE! If I did have to pay to ride the bus on other routes, it costs around $2 to ride all day. As of this morning, gas in Oregon is $4.10/gallon. Parking in Eugene is horrible and I usually end up with at least one ticket per month; cost: $15/ticket. Last night I contemplated having to ride the bus instead of taking my car five miles to work every day: not only am I getting exercise that I really needed, I am saving money on gas, not stressing about parking, and allowing myself a ‘transition’ time from the office to home. My thoughts also drifted to how dependent we, Americans, are on oil. Slowly, over the centuries, oil has seeped into every part of our lives: transportation, medicine, food, clothes, building materials, our overall economy!!! I am a little disappointed in both my fellow baby boomers and myself. ‘Back in the day’ we would have stood up for ourselves when gas started pushing $2/gallon; yet, here we sit moaning about it reaching $5/gallon and still driving our gas-guzzling automobiles and buying into the whole ‘oil economy’. I wonder what would happen if, unless we were going long distance, we just stopped driving our cars for one week? Oh, wait, what would probably happen is that the guy pumping gas would get laid off—the guy that is being paid $7/hour to pump $4/gallon gas. I will have to think this out more clearly before calling in the troops. Meanwhile, while I was writing this, I received a call from the garage—nothing was wrong with my car. Hmm. What is it that the Universe is really trying to help me see? Any ideas?
MAx Fabry: Learn more about me and my private practice at
http://www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
I am also the founder and proud member of Online Wellness Association
http://www.onlinewellnessassociation.com
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