basics of addiction recovery

AS YOU BEGIN YOUR NEW JOURNEY FORWARD INTO A BETTER LIFE, ONE FREE FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUGS YOU MUST BEGIN BY NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED BY IT ALL. YOUR RECOVERY WILL BE A PROCESS THAT OCCURS IN SMALL STEPS. THESE STEPS WILL LEAD YOU TO A LIFE YOU SO DESPERATELY DESERVE.DO NOT DWELL ON ALL THE GUILT YOU MAY FEEL BECAUSE OF THINGS YOU MAY HAVE SAID OR DONE WHILE YOU WERE USING. GUILT AND REGRETS ARE WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO SEEK RECOVERY. LOOK TO MOVE YOUR LIFE FORWARDS NOW.CHANGE YOUR ENVIROMENT AND KEEP AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE AND PLACES WHERE YOU USED DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.CHANGE YOUR SCHEDULE AROUND SO YOU HAVE NO FREE TIME TO USE DRUGS OR ALCOHOL... GO TO SLEEP EARLIER OR STAY IN BED LONGER.GET HELP FOR ANY EMOTIONAL STRAINS YOU MAY FEEL. FIND YOURSELF A TRUSTED COUNSELOR WHO CAN HELP DIAGNOSE YOU IF YOU NEED MEDICATION.PLEASE KNOW THAT EVERYDAY YOU ARE IN RECOVERY THE PROCESS OF STYAYING CLEAN AND SOBER WILL GET EASIER AND EASIER.KNOW TOO THAT AS YOU ARE IN RECOVERY, DUE TO YOUR NEWER AND CLEARER THINKING YOU WILL FIND THAT THINGS JUST HAPPEN. THERE WILL BE MORE GOOD DAYS THAN BAD DAYS.MAKE NEW FRIENDS WHO ARE CLEAN AND SOBER.LEARN HOW TO FIND MORE PEACE AND CALMNESS IN YOUR LIFE.THERE ARE MANY WONDERFUL INCENTIVES FOR YOU TO STAY IN RECOVERY, YOUR WELL BEING AND YOUR FAMILY'S MENTAL STABILITY ARE BUT ONE OF THEM.SHOWING OTHERS THE ROAD TO RECOVERY IS A GREAT WAY TO STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR OWN RECOVERY.BLESS YOU... FROM JOHN CARCERANO ADDICTION COUNSELOR AND AUTHOR OF 'A NEW JOURNEY' RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION