Goodbye

Goodbye is never easy to say you have been in my life for along time now. I learned to accept the friendship and the taste of yours. You made me numb and you made me tingle. Laughter was always easier when you were there; but so was the sarrow. You sent me alot of mixed feelings.

Right now I miss you, but like other things in my life; I feel I'm better without you. Its not to hurt your feelings but to better mine. It took me a long time to find out you were trying to do me in. You were taking my body and my senses and using them for yours. Now I know I'm worth more than you ever were. So, I am telling you Goodbye and saying Hello and introducing myself to more....You took my family and part of me for granted for too long.

I've found somthing better and its called life withe freedom of choice and spirit and its clear now you made only headaches, negativity, and sorrow in my door.

So goodbye ALCOHOL and HELLO to my world that awaits me whether it's good or bad anything is better without the likes of you.

By: Lisa

In Loving Memory

We lost a beautiful spirit yesterday. Faviola Hernandez brought positive life to the office and her presence will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to her family and friends. We wish them the best during the weeks to come. We hope you can remember her gracious demeanor and kind smile. Thank You for your support.

-ACES

A Thief In The Night

ADDICTION
Addiction is like a thief in the night,
It will rob you of your joy.
It strips your courage and fills you with fright,
Abandoned like a lost and lonely boy.
It lies to you like the devil himself,
And says "I'm your friend forever".
It makes you put your dreams on the shelf,
Or any good thing you endeavor.
It wants you to die, but not right away,
It is patient, it will wait.
It will make you suffer with the things it will say,
And fill your heart with hate.
It wants you to believe it is "all powerful",
And nothing can match its might.
And throughout your existence, feeling sorrowful,
It blurs God from your sight.
It knows it can be beaten,
By one thing, and one thing only.
A loving God, against lying and cheating,
God will never leave you lonely!

By: Joseph Trimachi

"The future depends on what we do in the present."

- Mahatma Gandhi

Sobriety

I used to have fun when I used drugs and alcohol. Eventually, my whole world started to revolve around using and it wasn't as fun anymore. In fact, my life became miserable. At the beginning of treatment fun is the last word I'd use. However, with each day of sobriety I find myself smiling more than I used to. I laugh more and I have fun with my family and friends. the same family and friends that I used to avoid, because I was high. Also, I have a bunch of new sober friends. I can have fun being sober.

Now That I'm Sober, Why Does Everyone Else Seem Nuts?

This whole treatment journey has been challenging for me. I have to go to groups, individual meetings with my counselors, AA meetings and a whole bunch of other stuff just to stay sober. However, I think deeper about it and discover that this journey has been all about me. What about my loved ones and what they're going through? I try to apply the lingo and skills that I've learned in treatment at home and I swear I'm living with a bunch of aliens.

Today, I learned about this woman named Virginia Satir. She took a medical word called homeostasis, that means balance, and applied it to families. I discovered that my use changed the balance in my family. Now that I've changed and grown in treatment, my family needs to do the same or we're not going to make it. I need to help my wife find support like Al-anon, maybe a therapist for my kids and possibly a marriage and family specialist to help support my family in growing and changing together, as a family. It's a neat feeling that I can change, but it's way cooler of an idea that my family can grow together. -Jon S.-

Negotiate Don't Manipulate

When I was using I would manipulate others to get what I wanted, mostly drugs, because that's what I wanted the most. I would trick, swindle, steal and come up with a thousand different scams that would get me what I needed to stay loaded. The people I scammed usually didn't even figure out what happened until I was long gone.

In group, my counselors taught me about using assertive communication to negotiate getting my needs met. Needs that are good for me versus things that are bad for me. The big difference between negotiation and manipulation is negogiation supports awareness amongst all individuals involved, the only person aware in manipulation is the manipulator themself. In other words. When I am manipulating, I was acting unhealthy, selfish and continuing old using behaviors. When I negotiate with others, it fosters healthier relationships in my life.