Sammy,
Thank you for posting. I'm sure that will motivate a few more to try their wings. Best of luckand keep helping others.
oh gosh - thank you all for your nurturing support and kind words you have expressed to me. wow - talk about love in action! but guys/gals - i'm no hero. i'm an addict, grateful for recovery and just hope that something i share helps someone.
emmett fox once said:
"the art of life is to live in the present moment, and to make that moment as perfect as we can by the realization that we are the instruments and expression of God Himself."
this spiritual program of recovery that i have been blessed with brings me closer and closer as an instrument and expression of God's love each day. AND the longer i hang around and continue to try to the next right thing, more is revealed.
peace ~
sammy
emmett fox once said:
"the art of life is to live in the present moment, and to make that moment as perfect as we can by the realization that we are the instruments and expression of God Himself."
this spiritual program of recovery that i have been blessed with brings me closer and closer as an instrument and expression of God's love each day. AND the longer i hang around and continue to try to the next right thing, more is revealed.
peace ~
sammy
Sammy, if I may ask...how do you cope with pain now? Do you still get migraines? I am so NOT believing there is any medicine that helps...I am going as holistic as possible. Got real sick from my md's latest suggestion.Thanks, Sharonn
Good story sammy, keep up the good work (-:
dear sharon ~
it's been a long time since i have had a migraine. i think once my body was completely detoxed from all drugs it took about 12 months to realize that the migraines i was having were largely due to the rebound effect of all the dope i took.
in early recovery, i utilized a lot of different things for the physical aches and pains that surfaced, after being masked for so many years. first, i started with a complete physical. i had some blood pressure issues that needed to be addressed and once my physician and i found the right combination of blood pressure lowering medicines, i noticed a big difference.
additionally, for the first 4 months i went 3 times a week for auricular accupuncture. this was offered through the outpatient program of my local community mental health and substance abuse that i attended. there are 5 trigger points in the ear where they stuck the accupuncture needles. i would sit and read, or meditate. or believe it or not sometimes fall asleep for 45 mins to an hour, while they played some very relaxing background music. have the accupuncture definitely cut down on cravings and brought a sense of balance to my mind, body, and spirit. also, i'm a firm believer in aromatherapy therapeutic massage and jump at the each opportunity i have to receive one.
all of this was coupled with going to meetings, finding a sponsor and working the steps, attending an intensive outpatient group 3 times a week for the first month, then relapse prevention twice a week after that. the contract i signed for relapse prevention only required 3 months of attendance, but i stayed for 18 months - hey it was working and i thought well why not? i had one on one counseling with a therapist and a psychiatrist i saw once. it was good that psychiatric services were available for those with dual diagnoses.
i kept busy in recovery, sharon, and by the time i hit 9 months i began to entertain thoughts of going back to college. i applied - was accepted - made the financial arrangements and all of this was done with the help of my state's vocational rehab. addiction is considered a disability where voc rehab is concerned. one cannot collect social security disability for this disability but there are many, many avenues that i found available to help me. i had no idea what i wanted to do with my life but knew i had to get out of the medical arena. it was a little too slippery a place for me to be and it took almost dying to finally stop the insane thinking that i could continue in that career. voc rehab had me do a lot of testing and some career counseling and that's when i made the decision on what i wanted to do. they pointed me in the right direction to the universities, obtaining grants, etc.
the pain i have today is post surgical. it is what it is. when i had my kidney removed last september, the surgeon had to do a little more cutting than he anticipated. i don't know how much longer i will go on living with it, but you know, i refuse to give it power over me. i've learned how to embrace my pain today and do some common sense things like rest, ice or heat, i love the calming effect of music and a candle lit room, and occasionally i require prescription strength motrin. amazing - i remember a time when i use jump up and down and scream - motrin? tylenol? those are sissy drugs that do not work! well they do work today. i also find myself saying quite a bit - this too shall pass, this too shall pass.
i've probably told you much more than you really wanted to hear but i missed out on a whole lot while using - a whole lot of life. it was time for me to wake up and take the next step.
i don't know if you have ever read anything by eckhart tolle, but he has this to say about the next step.
"the next step in human evolution is not inevitable, but for the first time in the history of our planet, it can be a conscious choice. who is making that choice? you are. and who are you? consciousness that has become conscious of itself."
that's kind of cool i think and pretty much sums it up for me today. i have always sensed that there is another realm: beyond thoughts about myself and about you; beyond the multiple identifications and labels that attempt to define; beyond my perceived wants, needs and desires; beyond the wisest words and fervently held beliefs; beyond, "i" and "my" and you" and "your;" beyond win and lose; beyond things and nothing; there is Oneness.
i declare to myself and to the universe my willingness to move beyond my current understanding and consciously choose to take the next step.
xoxoxoxox
sammy
it's been a long time since i have had a migraine. i think once my body was completely detoxed from all drugs it took about 12 months to realize that the migraines i was having were largely due to the rebound effect of all the dope i took.
in early recovery, i utilized a lot of different things for the physical aches and pains that surfaced, after being masked for so many years. first, i started with a complete physical. i had some blood pressure issues that needed to be addressed and once my physician and i found the right combination of blood pressure lowering medicines, i noticed a big difference.
additionally, for the first 4 months i went 3 times a week for auricular accupuncture. this was offered through the outpatient program of my local community mental health and substance abuse that i attended. there are 5 trigger points in the ear where they stuck the accupuncture needles. i would sit and read, or meditate. or believe it or not sometimes fall asleep for 45 mins to an hour, while they played some very relaxing background music. have the accupuncture definitely cut down on cravings and brought a sense of balance to my mind, body, and spirit. also, i'm a firm believer in aromatherapy therapeutic massage and jump at the each opportunity i have to receive one.
all of this was coupled with going to meetings, finding a sponsor and working the steps, attending an intensive outpatient group 3 times a week for the first month, then relapse prevention twice a week after that. the contract i signed for relapse prevention only required 3 months of attendance, but i stayed for 18 months - hey it was working and i thought well why not? i had one on one counseling with a therapist and a psychiatrist i saw once. it was good that psychiatric services were available for those with dual diagnoses.
i kept busy in recovery, sharon, and by the time i hit 9 months i began to entertain thoughts of going back to college. i applied - was accepted - made the financial arrangements and all of this was done with the help of my state's vocational rehab. addiction is considered a disability where voc rehab is concerned. one cannot collect social security disability for this disability but there are many, many avenues that i found available to help me. i had no idea what i wanted to do with my life but knew i had to get out of the medical arena. it was a little too slippery a place for me to be and it took almost dying to finally stop the insane thinking that i could continue in that career. voc rehab had me do a lot of testing and some career counseling and that's when i made the decision on what i wanted to do. they pointed me in the right direction to the universities, obtaining grants, etc.
the pain i have today is post surgical. it is what it is. when i had my kidney removed last september, the surgeon had to do a little more cutting than he anticipated. i don't know how much longer i will go on living with it, but you know, i refuse to give it power over me. i've learned how to embrace my pain today and do some common sense things like rest, ice or heat, i love the calming effect of music and a candle lit room, and occasionally i require prescription strength motrin. amazing - i remember a time when i use jump up and down and scream - motrin? tylenol? those are sissy drugs that do not work! well they do work today. i also find myself saying quite a bit - this too shall pass, this too shall pass.
i've probably told you much more than you really wanted to hear but i missed out on a whole lot while using - a whole lot of life. it was time for me to wake up and take the next step.
i don't know if you have ever read anything by eckhart tolle, but he has this to say about the next step.
"the next step in human evolution is not inevitable, but for the first time in the history of our planet, it can be a conscious choice. who is making that choice? you are. and who are you? consciousness that has become conscious of itself."
that's kind of cool i think and pretty much sums it up for me today. i have always sensed that there is another realm: beyond thoughts about myself and about you; beyond the multiple identifications and labels that attempt to define; beyond my perceived wants, needs and desires; beyond the wisest words and fervently held beliefs; beyond, "i" and "my" and you" and "your;" beyond win and lose; beyond things and nothing; there is Oneness.
i declare to myself and to the universe my willingness to move beyond my current understanding and consciously choose to take the next step.
xoxoxoxox
sammy
Thanks for the story of your recovery Sammy! I needed to read it tonight, especially about being "terminally different." Good wake up call!
Sammy darlin!
Thank you for you!
I love you!
buggy
Thank you for you!
I love you!
buggy
Sammy for some reason i cant stop thinking about you..................
you ARE an expression of Gods love.
your story and the story of Glad (even though he gets crazy lol) really touched my heart..........if you all can do it and stay away form pain pills so can i......even if it 15 pills like i just got GLADITOR TOLD me i would relapse and i did.......i felt like a BIG baby after i read you story.............i know that so many folks here have such amazing stories and at one point i was going to stop posting here.............because a lady at work was talking about this site and she said it sounded like me........i heard her!.................
i dont care.............I LOVE ADDICTS........and addicts are the only folks who really understand my STRUGGLES with pain meds.........and i have gotten so much love and support here........
sammy......i am gonna think of you today a work and i am gonna use your story and GLADS to remind me not to take even one pain pill.
i am gonna be strong.........
God Bless you sammy...............thank you for sharing your experience.........
love...................thumper
you ARE an expression of Gods love.
your story and the story of Glad (even though he gets crazy lol) really touched my heart..........if you all can do it and stay away form pain pills so can i......even if it 15 pills like i just got GLADITOR TOLD me i would relapse and i did.......i felt like a BIG baby after i read you story.............i know that so many folks here have such amazing stories and at one point i was going to stop posting here.............because a lady at work was talking about this site and she said it sounded like me........i heard her!.................
i dont care.............I LOVE ADDICTS........and addicts are the only folks who really understand my STRUGGLES with pain meds.........and i have gotten so much love and support here........
sammy......i am gonna think of you today a work and i am gonna use your story and GLADS to remind me not to take even one pain pill.
i am gonna be strong.........
God Bless you sammy...............thank you for sharing your experience.........
love...................thumper
Sammy: I just read your story! What an inspiration. I am so happy that you are where you are in your life right now. It proves God is in control!!!
Thanks for sharing.
God Bless
Joy
Thanks for sharing.
God Bless
Joy
Sammy.as usual, you are an inspiration.S
i remember a time when i use jump up and down and scream - motrin? tylenol? those are sissy drugs that do not work! well they do work today.
I will never forget the day I admitted to myself that 800 motrin works. Mistyeyes was there to enjoy the moment...lol.
Sammy, I sent you and email...is it comcast.net?
I will never forget the day I admitted to myself that 800 motrin works. Mistyeyes was there to enjoy the moment...lol.
Sammy, I sent you and email...is it comcast.net?
Hi Sammy, it's good to hear from you. I'm gonna have to read your long post later, cause as usual Im running late. You are always (usually or often so almost always) a real inspiration to me. I sort of remember you talking about the things that you see for yourself as being those of value & what makes you a success. To me it is a delight that such a thing can be true and a person can learn and earn their way to true success. I am sorry to say (aand I know I sound like a cynic) that it is a rare experience for me to meet or even encounter truely good people, and many times those who follow religions (even or maybe especially those who don't say their faith is a religion, but a spiritual blah blah) turn out to be the worse, much to my dissapointment.
I'm not exaxtly sure what I'm trying to say other then thanks for you being you & walking the walk and helping us out. I hope u r doin OK. Much love,
Harry
I'm not exaxtly sure what I'm trying to say other then thanks for you being you & walking the walk and helping us out. I hope u r doin OK. Much love,
Harry
