Welcome Everyone Who Finds Me and My Recovery Blog Today ~ Merry Christmas!
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So I happen to do a Facebook Post yesterday that gave me some things I’d been pondering for a while as I was reading in many of my recovery groups how relapse and struggles have been shared about and by trying to help others looking for help. And like addicts, we can have roadblocks during the holiday season. But one area that hit home for me was swirling in my head from my own past early recovery days … “Being Of Service To Others” and Advocacy. So I thought I’d share and elaborate a little more from my post.
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Facebook Asks? What’s On Your Mind This Christmas Day?
Hear It Is … A Recovery Message We At Times Need 2 HEAR …
NEXT Month on Jan. 29th, 2019 I will have maintained my recovery 12-years. No “Ego” nor Bragging about this at all.
Why Am I Sharing This?
Because I chose that date as my actual recovery date as it was my “Sentencing Date” by a Judge in So. Oregon who Gave ME A Blessing of a 2ND CHANCE from a crime I had committed and so it would not follow me the rest of my life once I completed all of the punishment given was satisfied …
I Had Never Committed a Crime before, nor after this crime, but I wanted this “Recovery Date” even though I had some time already, BUT? I didn’t want to Never Forget the Poor Choices I had made through all the years within my gambling addiction and abuse of alcohol …
We all have wreckage and baggage from #Addiction.
But when I began Advocating and Raising Awareness about Addicted and Problem Gambling, I too right away wanted to “Be of Service” and help reach out to those suffering as I had.
YOU CAN’T DO IT if your not solid in your OWN Recovery as it CAN be stressful and a Quik source of #Relapse as most who are reaching out are in CRISIS MODE …
I am sharing this because RELAPSE CAN and DOES HAPPEN. Especially around the holidays. But those with under a YEAR or TWO of Firm, Solid Recovery Time, has done Inner Work, and underlying issues addressed? That has to come first.
There are many ways and phases to be of recovery service. IF YOUR Not 100%? But, how can YOU BE 100% for someone needing or reaching out for help and maybe in crisis?
YES, I Know, It’s in our nature to want to help …you can refer them to someone who can. You can share treatment resources, even connect them to someone that has longer-term recovery or is a Certified Advocate, Recovery Coach, or Interventionist who can make some calls for an open bed, or you can even take them to a recovery meeting.
I do Advocate, and I had a couple mishaps that made me relapse a time or two when only 90 days to 6 months into my journey. But today I chose to do it through sponsoring others, through my book, through my recovery blog, by email, phone, and of course, through social media and lend my skills as a marketer and promoter of recovery events.
OF Course! But my mental health disorders don’t give the option or pleasure in doing so. Well, PLAN B …
I Always Say;
“Someone needs to be there to answer the emails, answer the phone, or be ready when people reach out through social media or even through my blog.”
DON’T LET anyone discount how you choose to Advocate with and for others when you’ve maintained long-term recovery … Just make sure you are solid and have some long-term recovery or it can be a source of relapse …
Doing Advocacy Work Is Not About a Popularity Contest or Who Has The Most Facebook Likes or Followers … NOT When People Are Dying Out Here From Addictions …
GOD Knows My Heart and It’s In The Right Place 🙏👏🙏😉
PSSST – Stop by my other “Passion” … Books and my Fine Authors I promote if you love reading! “Cat Lyon’s Reading and Writing Den”
Catherine Townsend-Lyon – Recovery Advocate/Author
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Sharing My Journey of Hope, Help & Recovery From Gambling Addiction, News & Resources. 