Carnival of All Substances - May 20, 2007

Well, what's this?
It was a gift and it's beyond me how one actually balances the bottle on the piece of plexiglass or lucite. . .whatever that thing is. FD figured it out. He used to be called him genius doc on this blog for a reason.

For sure, in some families this is where the bottle should remain, suspended by a piece of plexiglass and admired from afar.


That's the only lecture you'll get from me today.

This, dear friends, is the first Carnival of All Substances. I asked bloggers to submit stories that had anything to do with substance abuse and recovery. We even have a post on sugar addiction! But next time? Recovery stories rule, and there will be NO BOTTLE in the picture. I'll think of something, though, trust me.

So let's take a look and see what we have. Some VERY interesting stuff. I'm posting them as I see 'em.

The ever delightful Meg Moran clearly concurs that "crazy" is addicted, and tells us she's not crazy after all these years. For sure, read Meg and see her post secret. (You've all been to that site, right, www.postsecret.com?)

Meg posts again, this time about a relapse dream and tells us how

relapse always = secrets, deception, and out and out lies

so true. Once you get a sober brain, the lying and deception thing is so, so second rate.

Lushgurl returns to tell us that she's in court, trying to get her kid back. In case you should think that perhaps the risk of chaos and crisis is worth while, read Lush at Back to Court I go posted at Yo Sick Momma. "Looking back into what a mess I had made of my life," she says, "I realize just how far I have come!"

Lushgurl also presents Life is a Journey, Not a Destination about working-- pre-recovery-- insane."

Two Dogs Blogging, or was that Two Dogs Barking, has it figured out that if a person hasn't got hope, then winter is definitely going to be a downer. Come to Chicago, Dogs, and we'll show you that although the weather is hopeless, the spirit's (as in, can I help push your car out of that snow bank?) is quite high. Dogs also teaches us a lot about alcoholic thinking (I simply love this stuff, by the way) in Everyone But Me is an Idiot.

If that weren't enough, Dogs Blogging/Barking is Kvetching, too, about being unstable and "cranky."

Erin presents What is My Story? posted at What Winners Do. Erin started out at age 9 with her first beer and cigarette. Her polydrug dependencey culminated with a secret oxycontin addiction that she tried to beat cold turkey, ultimately winding up in a 5-day lock down in rehab. But she made it. Anything worth having is worth working for, she tells us.

Definitely the post I have the least credentials to even comment upon, Dreaming Life presents Chacruna Report by Juan from DreamMagick posted at Dreaming Life. Dreamer tells us that this is a report from the jungles of Peru where his friend tookmind-altering substances with the assistance of a shaman to lose weight. It's pretty unusual, I have to admit, but fascinating.

Hal Sommerschield, Ph.D. presents North Star Mental Fitness Blog: Codependency Debunked posted at North Star Mental Fitness Blog. He's got another point of view. I'd like to hear yours. Come back and tell me what you thought of it.

Bill Urell is all about persistence. His post, A Baby Falls 300 Times Before They Learn To Walk is worth it for the title alone. Find Bill at Addiction Recovery Basics

Meera Patel presents Quit Smoking For Good! posted at Meera on the Wall.

Kara-Leah Masina presents Remembrances of a drug lifestyle posted at K-L Masina.

John Hill presents How to Stop Drinking Alcohol posted at Universe Of Success.

Dr. Vitelli gives us the history of cocaine. Wow. Thanks.

And of course TherapyDoc responds to that with the history of your marriage if you keep using that @#!#, in her post, Relationships and Recovery, considered in some circles a classic, I'm not gonna' lie.

Jo Lynn Braley presents Are You Addicted To Sugar? posted at The Fit Shack, saying, "Did you know that sugar creates the same reaction in the brain as does heroine, morphine, and opium? This article includes 10 questions based on "The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Program", that will help you determine whether or not you are addicted to sugar."

And The Nourisher tells us about Rapadura, the way sugar is supposed to be. And here I thought it was all about chocolate, butter, eggs, and flour, in equal measure, or whatever recipe you got from your mum.

I'm An Alcoholic writes There's a Reason They're Called Spirits, to tell us that this sobriety business is no picnic.

Hueina Su presents Life Balance Lessons: 7 Keys to Avoid Burnout posted at Intensive Care for the Nurturer's Soul, saying, "Chronic stress could interfere with recovery. It could also lead to burnout, which could greatly impact a person's physical & emotional health, relationships, work, and everyone related to him/her. When you are burned out, you can't function at your best, and everyone you care about suffer with you. It's not difficult to see that there is much at stake. Here are some proactive steps you can take today to prevent (or overcome) burnout."

And Dr. Allen tells us that change only happens when we have the courage to attach to other people. I'm guessing he means to choose humans over that bottle at the top of this post. Great idea, D.A.

Dr. Allen also shares a story about the miracle of a 12-steps, a sexaholics anonymous group that has helped people in recovery for sex addictions. Check it out. In my opinion, these groups are incredibly powerful for treatment of sexually compulsive behavior.
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of all substances using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

OKAY! Next Carnival of All Substances is scheduled for June 24, 2007. RECOVERY STORIES take precedence!

Bring 'em on.

Thanks everyone,

therapydoc

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