Self Control Strategies To Prevent Relapse

February 21st, 2012

Exercising self control in addiction treatment
Hank Robb, Ph.D.

How can you exercise more self-control in addiction recovery? How can you implement strategies to prevent relapsing?  How can you resist cravings and overcome thoughts? We explore here and introduce you to methods taught in the SMART Recovery ® model . Let’s start by defining some words.

Addiction – Something you regularly do quickly and easily in the moment, but that doesn’t really work in your life.

Beliefs – Words consistent with the way you behave and that you seem to be taking seriously.

Self-control – What you choose to do.


Belief can drive addiction

Perhaps the most important way a belief compels substance abuse occurs is when a person takes this idea seriously:

“I cannot stop myself from doing my addictive behavior.”

When you truly believe:

“I don’t have control over my hands, arms, feet and mouth,”

you can be sure that you will engage in addictive behavior, the opposite of self treatment for addiction. Why? Read more »

It’s As Plain As The Nose On Your Face…Or Is It?

February 14th, 2012

Online SMART Event: Is it True? or Is It Helpful?
With Hank Robb, Ph.D.
Saturday, March 10, 2012, 1pm est

HankRobb

Though it often seems as though the most important question is: “Is it true?” we actually have choices about which questions we make the most important in our lives. For example, it is likely “true” that you have a nose on your face, but is this fact really helpful? If you want to be a loving parent, how useful would it be to remind yourself several times a day that you have a nose on your face? Perhaps not so useful, even though it remains “true.” In this presentation, Dr. Robb will explore an alternative basis for choosing which questions we make the most important in our lives. Asking ourselves  “Is this helpful?” may better help us to develop a more fulfilling life than “Is this true?” Join us and find out for yourself!

Dr. Hank Robb will join SMART Recovery to present Is it True? or Is it Helpful? on Saturday, March 10, at 1:00 pm EST in the online meeting venue, The SMART Room. Read more »

New To Recovery?

February 14th, 2012

Try this free online web course

Download: Printable Flyer

SR Web Course
If you are new to SMART Recovery, this study may be of interest.

New SMART Recovery members are eligible to participate in a randomized clinical trial of a new program, Overcoming Addictions.

You may benefit in two ways:

1. You may learn how to achieve and maintain abstinence from drinking and

2. You may get support from others in SMART Recovery that could help with your recovery.

You may also be reimbursed up to $120 for your time to collect outcome data for the study.

More information

Read more »

How to Choose a Treatment Program

February 7th, 2012

NIDA Releases New Guide for Those Seeking Treatment

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has recently released a new guidebook to help those in need of treatment make the right decisions regarding their care.  The guide, “Seeking Drug Abuse Treatment: Know What to Ask”, provides evidence-based information on various types of treatment that are effective in addressing substance abuse disorders.

The publication provides information regarding five key questions an individual should ask when searching for a treatment program:

1. Does the program use treatments backed by scientific evidence?

2. Does the program tailor treatment to the needs of each patient?

3. Does the program adapt treatment as the patient’s needs change?

4. Is the duration of treatment sufficient?

5. How do 12-step or similar recovery programs fit into drug addiction treatment?

The Obama Administration is committed to reducing the demand for illegal drugs in the United States through a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery support.  More information on treatment for substance use disorders can be found on ONDCP’s Treatment and Recovery page.

Source: Office of National Drug Policy Blog

Combatting Procrastination

January 31st, 2012

Understanding, Identifying and Correcting Procrastination Habits
youtube Watch the video

procrastination One of the greatest traps for a person trying to overcome an addictive behavior is procrastination. SMART Recovery and Dr. Bill Knaus are pleased to jointly announce their new video presentation: Combatting Procrastination. The video is now available on SMART’s YouTube channel. The video presents introductory material and a model for understanding, identifying, and correcting damaging procrastination habits.

Psychotherapist Dr. Bill Knaus, renowned authority in the field of overcoming procrastination, joined SMART Recovery in July, 2011 to present an online procrastination workshop series — the first-ever of its kind. The workshop was adapted and condensed from his highly successful face-to-face workshops to suit an online audience.  Podcasts of the event are available. In that spirit of public service, SMART Recovery, and Dr. Knaus are pleased to announce a video presentation that captures the workshop in a different medium. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful. We look forward to continuing this series of videos and are grateful that Dr. Knaus is so generous in sharing his knowledge and talent.

Dr. Bill Knaus, Ed.D., is the author of over 20 books, including “Overcoming Procrastination”, which was co-authored with Dr. Albert Ellis. Knaus is a licensed clinical psychologist and former psychology professor. He has authored books on diverse topics in addition to procrastination where he is the top authority on corrective measures. He is known for his work in the cognitive revolution in psychotherapy and as one of the original directors of post-doctoral training in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy.

To review and order Dr. Knaus’s books, see his FB page. He writes regularly on Psychology Today in his blog, Science and Sensibility.

For information on SMART Recovery’s program to support overcoming addiction, please visit our website.

Navigating The Road To Recovery

January 24th, 2012

How can you prevent relapse?
Henry Steinberger, Ph.D.

Relapse prevention is essential in recovery from chemical and behavioral addictions. Why? Because addiction has been found to reoccur more often when steps are not taken to cope with the cravings, urges, peer pressures, situational cues, bodily discomforts, neuro-biological changes, and other factors which pave the way for slips and relapses.

Therefore, we regard relapse as a “normal” (though distinctly undesirable) possibility on the road to recovery. When you choose to view a relapse as a mistake, grist for the mill,  a learning opportunity and a discrete single event rather than viewing it as a total failure and as evidence predictive of failures, then your chances for success increase greatly.

“The person who really thinks, learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes.” – John Dewey

Top 10 relapse prevention strategies

1. Learn to willingly accept your mind – The first step to preventing relapse is to Read more »

Can You Quit Smoking?

January 17th, 2012


So, what’s your motivation to stop smoking?

Sometimes it comes more from the outside than within – perhaps from a doctor, a partner, boyfriend, girlfriend, or parent. But without being personally motivated, your likelihood of successfully stopping smoking is low. So how can you get and stay motivated?

We think that some of the techniques of SMART Recovery can help you quit nicotine addiction. SMART is a program that’s been designed to help people who want to quit any addictive substance or behavior by teaching them self-help techniques based on psychological principles. Can these strategies work?

Yes.

The SMART Recovery program uses a number of tools to help build and maintain motivation. In fact, Enhancing and Maintaining Motivation is Point #1 of the 4-Point Program®. Here are a few ideas and tools for you to consider when you want to stay motivated and avoid smoking. Read more »

Is Mandated 12-Step Attendance A Violation Of Your Constitutional Rights?

January 10th, 2012

Choice In Recovery & The First Amendment:
A Resource For Criminal Justice Personnel And Other Stakeholders
by Claire Johnson Saénz, Esq.

gavel
Many Paths To Recovery

At SMART Recovery®, we believe that there is no right or wrong path to recovery, and that individuals seeking recovery have the highest chance of success when they have the opportunity to choose the pathway (or combination of pathways) that best suits them.

Therefore, it is a secondary mission of SMART Recovery® to support choice in recovery, and we are devoted to getting the word out about the variety of recovery options that exist today. As part of that mission, we want individuals in the judicial system and other government systems to be informed not only about the existence of a variety of recovery paths, but of their legal obligation to offer options to those they serve.

One important and ongoing development in this area is the growing number of courts which have declared that mandated attendance at 12-step programs (such as AA-Alcoholics Anonymous and NA-Narcotics Anonymous ), without providing the option of a non-faith-based alternative, violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution Read more »

What Happens At SMART Recovery® Meetings?

January 3rd, 2012

by Patrick Garnett, Facilitator, SMART Recovery Chicago

meeting
Maybe you are reading this article because you feel you may have an issue using illegal or legal drugs, with drinking, or with another type of behavior, such as gambling. While you may have thought about seeking a support group, you are hesitant to go because you don’t really know what happens at meetings.

Well let me describe what happens at a SMART (Self Management And Recovery Training) Recovery face-to-face meeting. First, you will be greeted with a smile, a welcome, and usually given a few pages that explain SMART.

The SMART meetings last anywhere from 60-90 minutes, are free (donations accepted) and are open to anyone. Our meetings focus on self-empowerment and choice and we do not use labels like alcoholic or addict. A typical meeting may have anywhere from 3 to 12 people, sometimes a few more, and all participation is optional.

The meetings are run by a trained, volunteer facilitator Read more »

Take Control of Your Cravings

December 27th, 2011

Take the First Step to Take Control of Your Cravings
by Julie Myers, PsyD

Urge Log

Cravings are controlled by a variety of brain chemicals, including norepinephrine, dopamine, and glutamate. Many people describe their cravings as coming out of nowhere, as if these chemicals pop into their brains and create cravings spontaneously.

These chemicals and the manifestations of cravings are actually triggered by stimuli from external environmental cues and internal mood states, particularly anxiety, irritability, and dysphoria. Environmental cues can include familiar people, places or things, (e.g., being in a favorite place that you used to use). Environmental triggers are often easier to identify than internal mood states, particularly if the moods are subtle. For example, a mildly irritating discussion may be enough to trigger a craving, although it may be difficult to identify this discussion as the trigger.

So does this mean that you are at the mercy of the environment and your own internal mood states? Absolutely not! It means that you can minimize your cravings by employing ways to control your environment and modify your mood. You have the power to choose what people, places and things you expose yourself to that might trigger a craving. You also have the power to recognize and change your own reactions, thereby changing your mood state.

The first step is to identify your specific triggers. Try keeping a simple log of your cravings. What environmental cue did you encounter? What were you feeling? Sit down and write it down. Think about it backwards, from the time that the craving hit, backwards until you can identify something you believe triggered that craving.

If you can identify your triggers, you have taken the first step to taking control of your cravings.

Reprinted with permission:
Copyright (2011) Julie Myers, PsyD: Psychologist in San Diego. All Rights Reserved

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