Hope's Horizon

13/12/2016

The holidays are a time to eat, drink, and be merry. But what if you’re a recovering addict? The season for cocktails, parties, and good times can be a tough one to navigate.

“The holidays are a stressful time, and many people find that using a substance is a way of coping with stress,

Don't let temptation ruin your recovery during the holiday season. Try these expert tips to help keep you on track without drugs, smoking, or alcohol.

12/12/2016

With temptation to drink or do drugs seemingly woven into Christmas celebrations, there are individuals who are at an even greater risk for abusing substances. People who are already grappling with addiction or dependence on drugs and/or alcohol often find that this time of year tests their will power.

Encouragement from others to “just have one” or “doing it once won’t hurt” can seem like bludgeoning enticements that can cause an addict to question his or her ability to refrain from succumbing to such pressure.Conversely, if a person struggling with an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol and does not have friends or loved ones to spend Christmas with, the feelings of sadness and loneliness that could ensue could also cause an addict to feel as though he or she is at an impasse in deciding whether or not to give in to cravings to use.

if those in attendance drink excessive amounts of alcohol, life-changing and devastating consequences could occur. With lowered inhibitions, many people are at risk of drinking too much.

23/09/2016

How to Avoid Getting Stuck in the Revolving Door of Rehab

Treating addiction is never straightforward and there is neither a cure nor a single treatment that works best for everyone. Some people seeking treatment for addiction end up stuck in a revolving door of going to rehab, relapsing, going back to rehab and cycling through this pattern over and over. Is rehab flawed or is there more a patient can do to ensure that one or two times in rehab will be enough to be firmly in recovery? There are steps you can take to make sure you succeed, and it starts as soon as you make the choice to get help. Continue reading here: http://www.hopeshorizon.co.za/2016/09/23/how-to-avoid-get…ng-door-of-rehab/ ‎

18/09/2016

Five Ways to Get Someone to Consider Rehab
These will not be the easiest conversations you’ll ever have. In fact, they may be as tough for you as they are for the person you’re trying to convince to get help for drug or alcohol abuse or a behavioral addiction like gambling, s*x or shopping. Issuing ultimatums or storming out the door aren’t the answers, though; neither is wishing things would just get better. What you need are solid, effective techniques that will help you persuade the person you love to seriously consider treatment for their addiction(s).

There are no guarantees, of course, but these five techniques may help no matter who that person is – your spouse or partner, child, best friend, co-worker, parent or a close relative. On the other hand, some people are so resistant to getting help that nothing will work unless and until they’re ready to take that step. For starters, think about how you can use, adapt or combine these techniques to get someone in the throes of active addiction to consider rehab:
Continue reading by clicking the link
http://www.hopeshorizon.co.za/2016/09/18/five-ways-to-get…o-consider-rehab/

16/09/2016

I started partying a lot once I graduated from High school. I moved out of my parents’ house and into an apartment with a roommate. My first taste of freedom being on my own. At first I only partied when my friends did. But I soon found myself drinking and doing drugs more and more. Until one day I looked in the mirror and realized I was an alcoholic. I didn’t care that I was an alcoholic. I had come to terms with the fact that this would kill me. I didn’t care. This is the power of addiction.

I remember bits and pieces of that final night that I drank. I was afraid to lose my life. I was an empty shell of the person I used to be. I was emotionally and spiritually bankrupt. My addiction had beaten me down. I was afraid that this time I might actually succeed in taking my own life. Continue reading http://heroesinrecovery.com/stories/grateful-every-day/

Laura K. shares her journey to recovery and the gratitude she has today in sobriety, with Heroes in Recovery.

14/09/2016

We discovered this great resource of inspiration and would like to share it with you. Heroes in Recovery celebrates the heroic efforts of those who seek the addiction and mental health help they need without feeling ashamed or isolated. This grassroots movement is intended to remove the social stigma and to connect those in recovery through sharing our stories and engaging in community together. http://heroesinrecovery.com/about/

13/09/2016

We so often tell stories of unhappiness, frustration, sadness and despair when one is involved with an alcoholic/addict, We thought it would be nice if we wrote about some success stories; stories that through the 100% commitment from the alcoholic/addict to turn his life around and live a clean and sober lifestyle, his relationships with his partner, family, co-workers and friends has made a huge different in everyone’s life.

http://www.hopeshorizon.co.za/2016/09/13/life-after-rehab…ies-of-success-2/ ‎

12/09/2016

With their permission, We have asked Sean and Gloria (names have been changed) in their own words to describe what life was life before sobriety and what life looks like now – clean and sober.

BEFORE

Things felt pretty rocky back then. Especially when Sean was having a bad day, he'd drink earlier in the day and self-medicate. Because he's a quiet, low-key guy, he could hide it by not interacting much with me, the kids or others. It was a lonely feeling, I knew my husband wasn't well, but we hadn't reached the crisis point yet and were making the best of it, I kept my head in the sand, hoping things would get better on their own.

Sean has always been so responsible and he just didn't fit my profile of an alcoholic. Plus, I didn't "want" to be married to an alcoholic.

At that time Sean was unhappy in his job, he'd get depressed, then drink, vicious cycle. One day Sean was denied life insurance because it was noted by his doctor. that he was a heavy drinker and his blood work confirmed it. Continue reading by clicking the link http://www.hopeshorizon.co.za/2016/09/12/life-after-rehab…ories-of-success/

09/09/2016

BOXING THE BLACK DOG
Why does the gift for great performance seem to go hand in hand with unshakable depression? by Dick Cavett

Robin Williams will not be the last cherished performer to be snatched from our midst by depression and su***de.

It’s a melancholy fact that what a musician friend calls “the real blues,” and Churchill called “the Black Dog,” seems to have a much too close affinity to a performer’s life. Depression seems to stalk the lively arts like Jack the Ripper, accompanied by depression’s hand-maiden, su***de.

No one I know claims to know why.

Is there something in the brain chemistry of the actor/performer that produces this woeful result?

Continue Reading: http://time.com/3106170/robin-williams-dead-dick-cavett-su***de-depression/

"The non-actor has a major advantage because it’s harder to hide the symptoms"

07/09/2016

A great presentation that will help you diagnose if you or your loved one have an over-the-counter drug problem, with doctors prescribing more and more drugs we don't always realise that you have developed a problem.

What is drug abuse? Learn about prescription drug abuse and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, including depressants, pain relievers, and stimulants.

06/09/2016

Top 7 Reasons for Out-of-Town Drug Rehab Treatment
1. In your hometown, you’re constantly surrounded by old memories and old routines. These can crowd your attention and break your focus on a successful recovery. Putting yourself in an entirely new environment allows you to spend your time and attention on what really matters—your recovery.

If you or a loved one is struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, addiction treatment at a professional drug rehab treatment center like Hope's Horizon in Limpopo can help you reclaim your life. Embark on your journey to recovery. Call us today. read on to discover the other 6 reasons why out of town rehab treatment is significantly more effective http://www.hopeshorizon.co.za/2016/09/06/top-7-reasons-for-out-of-town-drug-rehab-treatment/

05/09/2016

The 7 hardest addictions to quit - love is the worst!.

Powerful analgesics, taken regularly, are difficult for many (but not most) people to quit. After all, most of us have had intravenous supplies of narcotics in the hospital, followed by prescriptions for powerful analgesics when we went home. What is remarkable is not so much that he**in can produce serious withdrawal for some, but how variable this syndrome is and how comparable it is to other depressant and painkiller drugs and analgesics (like Vicodin and OxyContin), which are the fastest growing drugs of abuse and today are taken by the majority of illicit narcotics users and overdose victims. Continue reading: http://www.hopeshorizon.co.za/2016/09/05/the-7-hardest-ad…ove-is-the-worst/