Aug 14, 2018 / By BRC Recovery / In 12 Steps 2, Addiction Relapse, More News

Gratitude in Early Addiction Recovery

gratitude in early recovery

What are you grateful for today? There’s so many possible answers: To be alive, to be sober, to have your family talking to you, to see the sun shining, to feel the grass on your feet, to have the chance at a better life. Having an “attitude of gratitude” can be a pretty powerful tool in early recovery and beyond. While it will likely take some work – it requires adjusting your mindset and thought patterns – learning to be grateful can have some big benefits as you begin the road to recovery. Gratitude can help you to… Stay motivated […]

Jul 24, 2018 / By BRC Recovery / In 12 Steps 2, Recovery

Alcoholics Anonymous: What Newcomers Should Know About Steps 1-3

12-step-alcoholics-anonymous

12-Step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are excellent supplements to substance abuse treatment because they offer safety and support, which are especially valuable during the fragile stage of early recovery. Many people new to the 12-Step program are often skeptical, and it can take some time for a newcomer to become a willing, engaged participant. Here’s what newcomers–and those who want a refresher course–should know about Steps 1-3: 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol–that our lives had become unmanageable. If you continue your addiction, do you think it will continue to create more problems […]

Jul 17, 2018 / By BRC Recovery / In 12 Steps 2, Recovery

6 Ways to Let Go & Get Out of a Recovery Rut

let-go-recovery-rut

In recovery, “letting go” doesn’t mean you have to stop caring. It means you have to let go of the things that don’t positively serve you and your recovery. When people take this 12-Step principle to heart and find true happiness and fulfillment, they’re more likely to hold onto sobriety. Those who can’t find happiness in sobriety are more likely to relapse. Ruts in recovery are inevitable, and sometimes they can be tough to get out of. These tips will help you get back in touch with yourself, your recovery and push through. 1. Be kind. In life and especially […]

Jan 31, 2017 / By BRC Recovery / In 12 Steps 2, Blog, God, Relapse Prevention

Manic Mondays and Such

Manic Monday Have you ever heard the expression “Manic Monday“? I swear it must have been coined by someone who works in the field of addiction treatment. Sometimes I walk into Monday morning staffing with what seems like “umpteen” issues coming at me like rapid fire. Bam, bam, bam! Last week Monday seemed to roll into Tuesday which bled into Wednesday. Problems and issues ranging from easily solved to 911, and in no particular order. A resident wants to leave AMA, a family is upset about a development note web portal glitch, an alumni relapsed and is unwilling to reengage […]

Sep 20, 2016 / By BRC Recovery / In 12 Steps 2, Addiction, Alumni Personal Stories, Alumni Stories, Blog, God, Prayer

Divine Intervention

BRC Recovery For many years, I bought into the delusion that if I wanted to stop using, I would. “I just don’t want to,” was my response to family members and loved ones who watched me face external and internal consequences repeatedly.  Despite the uncontrollable sadness, anxiety, overwhelming anger, and an overall inability to show up for life, I could not see how sobering up would solve these problems. It seemed impossible, and honestly, I was not interested in a new way of living. At 18 years old, I was faced with a number of legal consequences – consequences I […]

Aug 16, 2016 / By BRC Recovery / In 12 Steps 2, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blog

Fixing Myself, Part 2: The Paradox of Focusing on Myself

You’ve discovered your loved one or friend is an alcoholic or addict—now what? For many people in that situation, their first reaction is, “What can I do to fix my alcoholic/addict?” It took a while for me to figure out that I couldn’t “fix” my son. Instead, I needed to focus on fixing myself, because my son wasn’t the only one who had issues; our whole family system was broken. As I began going to therapy sessions and reading books about broken families, l discovered many resources are available to people who are on the journey toward recovery. Because people […]

Jul 12, 2016 / By BRC Recovery / In 12 Steps 2, Alumni Personal Stories, Alumni Stories, Blog, mens program, sober living, sober living Austin

My Journey Through Sobriety

Before arriving at BRC Before arriving at BRC I was a broken man. Struggling in life, jobless, penniless, drowning in alcohol, drugs, and misery, a shell of my former self. Not knowing where or how I went wrong in life, I was lost. Fortunately my worried, loving, and supporting parents held an intervention on me and by the grace of God, I ended up on BRC’s doorstep. At that point in my life I wanted to change, but I just didn’t know how or even where to start. Through the excellent direction, support, and caring of the staff, I started to gain […]

Jun 14, 2016 / By BRC Recovery / In 12 Steps 2, Addiction, Alcohol rehab, Alcoholism, Blog, drug addiction, God

Fixing Myself, Part 1

You’ve discovered your loved one or friend is an alcoholic or addict—now what? For many people in that situation, their first reaction is, “What can I do to fix my alcoholic/addict?” I know that was my reaction, and I tried a lot of things that didn’t work: checking his trunk to see if he had bottles or cans stashed, drawing up agreements for him to sign, buying a breathalyzer, and the list goes on…. It took a while for me to figure out that I couldn’t “fix” my son. Instead, I needed to focus on fixing myself, because my son […]