YES, Super Bowl LVll is here. Keep This Message In Your Mind. If You Plan To BET ON THE GAME? …

From My Friends of “The National Council on Problem Gambling”…

“TODAY, Sunday, more than 50 million across the country plan to place a sports wager on Super Bowl LVII– a 61% increase from 2022.

If you choose to place a bet, make a plan, set a budget, set a time limit & play #responsibly!“

One In Every Five Problem Gamblers May Try Suicide From The Financial Hardships That Comes From Being Addicted to Uncontrollable Gambling”. . .

Advocate, Catherine Lyon


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Important update from my friends at “Stop Predatory Gambling”…

Director’s Note — Winter 2023

I’m writing this note at one of the most extraordinary moments in the history of our fight to protect the 40 million Americans suffering harm because of the greed of big gambling operators. In early November, California voters overwhelmingly rejected two ballot questions that would have allowed online gambling and sports gambling across the state. They resoundingly voted No in the face of more than $600 million in campaign spending of self-interested gambling operators – demolishing the most expensive lobbying campaign in US history.

And then just two weeks later, in a front page, above-the-fold series, The New York Times published the most detailed, thorough, and revealing investigation into the commercialized gambling industry by any national media outlet in at least fifteen years. If you didn’t read the series yet, you can find the stories here: Story #1, Story #2, Story #3, and Story #4.

The Times investigation shined a powerful light upon the corrupt and deceitful lobbying campaign to push sports gambling and online gambling across the US. Predatory gambling is America’s most-neglected major problem, which is why this Times investigation is even more significant.  

We are trying hard to seize this historic moment. We’ve added several accomplished and passionate national board members. We added three talented and committed staff members but urgently need several others. We’ve attracted even more national press for our work: in recent weeks we’ve been quoted on CNN, Fox National News, and National Public Radio’s All Things Considered along with at least 15 different statewide media outlets from across the US.

To maximize our impact, we are narrowing our focus on what I consider the three pillars of gambling reform:

1) Restrict gambling advertising, marketing, and sponsorships to protect the health and well-being of kids and their families.

2) Cut the financial losses that citizens are suffering from commercialized gambling by 50%.

3) End the profiteering by gambling operators at the expense of citizens who have been turned into gambling addicts.

“How” we achieve these major reforms is by expanding our national reach through advocacy, litigation, and education efforts that reveal the truth behind gambling operators and their partners. Specifically, we will work to restrict gambling ads, reduce gambling losses, and dismantle the sham system of “responsible gambling” that has allowed operators to inflict severe harm on millions of Americans.

We will work with legislators and other opinion leaders on bills that achieve these goals at the federal, state, and local levels. We will partner with reform-minded attorneys to fight for these reforms through the courts.

And, we will dramatically expand our education efforts to include: a 2023 national conference in the Washington, DC area on April 28-29th (registration and more info can be found here or by clicking the image below); at least ten webinar events with the best independent experts in the world; a bigger presence on national media; and a long-overdue focus on social media.

Our members make our country a more just, loving, and merciful place. Thank you for the contributions you make to our network and to our nation.         

                                                                                Sincerely, 

                                                                               Les Bernal, National Director

Gambling Recovery News, Lotteries Updates, and Opportunities to Share Your Story from Addicted Gambling. News Shared By ‘Bet Free Recovery Now!’

Hello Recovery Friends, Supporters, and New Visitors,

I have several updates and opportunities for you! One is about an exceptional video to watch of a conference held last week about STATE LOTTERIES. It is very informative to watch. The other news is TWO opportunities to share your story and experiences with ONLINE SPORTS BETTING.

Then, the fine folks of the MA Council on Problem Gambling are looking for people willing to share their stories of gambling addiction or problem gambling and recovery exclusively for their website. See all the details below. I always enjoy keeping everyone informed and educated, including the public!

~Advocate Catherine Lyon

“Investigative journalist seeking to interview citizens who’ve suffered harm from online sports gambling“

Stop Predatory Gambling was contacted by a national investigative journalist who is seeking to interview citizens who have been harmed in some way by online sports gambling and the gambling operators behind it. The person could be anyone who developed an online sports gambling problem, a loved one or friend of an addicted online sports gambler, an employer, etc. The person can do the interview anonymously if professional or family considerations are a significant factor.

People revealing the truth about predatory gambling with these kinds of stories can make a real difference in bringing about change. Please ask your family, friends, co-workers, and website visitors if they know someone who has been harmed and is open to discussing what happened.

If they are a member of Gamblers Anonymous or Gam-Anon, any interview will not reference GA in keeping with the guidelines of those organizations.

Please call or email me as soon as possible if you know someone, and I’ll pass it on to the journalist to get them connected.

Thank you.

Best,
Les Bernal
Stop Predatory Gambling

Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation
100 Maryland Avenue NE, Room 310  | Washington, District of Columbia 20002
(202) 567-6996 | les@stoppredatorygambling.org

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A Message and OpportunityFrom MA Office of The National Council on Problem Gambling:

Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health

ICYMI: “Our Tell Your Story series” is accepting submissions. No writing is required, just a brief, confidential interview on your real-life experience with gambling.

Check out current submissions here: https://bit.ly/3LReU8l

Interested in participating? Email pshewood@macgh.org.

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And Lastly, A Message From Les Bernal of Stop Predatory Gambling ~ STATE LOTTERIES

Catherine,

Below is the video to watch last week’s important national event, “How States’ Experiment with Lotteries Has Failed and Why It Affects You,” which featured prominent national lottery expert Dr. Jonathan Cohen, author of the important new book “For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America,” and Sean Mussenden, data editor for the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland who was a key figure behind the publication of the 2022 groundbreaking national series on state lotteries, “Mega Billions: The Great Lottery Wealth Transfer.”  Brief background about each speaker is below. 

If you didn’t get to attend, I urge you to watch the forum. Cohen and Mussenden were engaging, highly knowledgeable, and persuasive. After you watch it, I strongly urge you to share the video with your email list and your social media networks, inviting people to learn for themselves how severe and urgent the problem of state lotteries has become and how it affects all of us, including those who rarely, if ever, gamble on the lottery.

I also strongly encourage you to share the video with every local, state, and federal official in your region, along with members of the local and state media.

The video is NOW posted to our Stop Predatory Gambling YouTube channel, and it can be watched here. 
You can also click on the image below.

This webinar is one of a series of events that we’re hosting, and we’d be grateful if you would please take one minute to fill out this brief survey about the event to give us your feedback.

About the Speakers:

Dr. Jonathan D. Cohen is a program officer at the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He is the co-editor of All In: The Spread of Gambling in Twentieth-Century United States and Long Walk Home: Reflections on Bruce Springsteen. He received his Ph.D. in history from the University of Virginia. His new book “For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America” was published by Oxford University Press and can be purchased here. (Use coupon code AAFLYG6 to receive a 30% discount.)

Sean Mussenden is the data editor for the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, an investigative reporting unit at the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism that partners early-career journalists and veteran journalists at news organizations like the Associated Press, PBS NewsHour, and National Public Radio to produce deeply reported investigative stories. 

He was a crucial figure in the Howard Center’s recently published “Mega Billions: The great lottery wealth transfer,” an in-depth look at lotteries in nearly every state.

We can fund essential events like this national webinar because of our members’ selfless financial generosity. If you support our mission to reveal the truth behind commercialize​d​ ​gambling operators to prevent more victim​s​, ​​please ​​become a member of our national network by making a gift of any size you can afford today.

Thank you.

Best,
Les Bernal
Stop Predatory Gambling


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I Support My Friends of The Mass. Council On Gaming and Health. Special Guest Article About Voluntary Self-Exclusion From Gambling Casinos.

Self-Exclusion or self-banning yourself from gambling and casinos can be a tricky thing to do. There has been much controversy over it. So does it really work for the gambler to ban themselves from the temptation to try and stop one from gambling? Well, I can only speak for myself that it didn’t work. But I was far too deep into full-blown addicted gambling.

If we have a positive mindset and attitude about self-exclusion and try it when we’re beginning to feel like gambling is becoming a problem and interfering in our daily lives? Then for those who are aware and looking to curb or nix this habit before it does become a full-blown addiction, it just may work for them.

I began to think more about this after I read this article I’m going to share with you by the fine folks of The Massachusetts Council On Gaming & Health. It made me see a different side to self-exclusion. I hope you can learn a little more after you give it a read. ~Advocate, Catherine Lyon

For some casino patrons, Voluntary Self-Exclusions are the real home run.

Apr 7, 2022 | Blog

For some casino patrons, ‘Voluntary Self-Exclusions’ is a real home run...

Knowing our limits is part of maintaining a safe, healthy lifestyle.
It’s what naturally encourages our bodies and minds to crave breaks. Whether powering off our laptop after a few hours of work or pausing to stretch when we get a muscle cramp exercising, breaks help us reassess and recharge. Even our favorites on the Sox and Celtics take timeouts to breathe and strategize their next play.

You may not know that you can take breaks from gambling activities, too. With Massachusetts sports betting legalization emerging as a real possibility, more Bay Staters could be at risk of developing a gambling disorder. About two percent of the population has a gambling disorder today. And up to 488,000 adults in Massachusetts are at-risk gamblers, meaning they show an increasing preoccupation with gambling.

As Opening Day kicks off this week, these statistics should serve as a vital reminder to policymakers. The passage of sports betting legislation without robust consumer protections such as Voluntary Self-Exclusion (VSE) programs would prove to be a massive oversight and undermine our Commonwealth’s pro-public health reputation.

Gambling can be tough to see or sniff out, literally. Unlike some alcohol or drug use addictions, problem gambling or at-risk gambling can be easily concealed. However, keep a lookout for signs and symptoms. Perhaps you or someone you care about is placing higher bets to try to reach the same adrenaline rushes.

Others find themselves driving to the casino or instinctively pulling up a gambling app whenever they are down or stressed. Individuals are increasingly chasing sports betting thrills on flashy apps and websites. So be mindful of more-than-usual screen time. The sheer accessibility of sports betting poses concerns to public health — and a potentially greater need for self-exclusion programs.

Like anything in excess, gambling can wreak havoc on relationships, workplaces, finances, and your wellbeing. As a former competitive hockey player turned gaming services professional, I have seen countless sports bettors jeopardize their careers and families. And in working as a table games dealer for many years, I’ve seen what happens when gambling no longer feels like a game.

It isn’t only about the damage to your wallet. Even when they pay off their debts, individuals still have a gambling disorder. A break  — sometimes for a year, sometimes for good  — might be the best thing to do.

In my current role as a Senior GameSense Advisor, I have a unique opportunity to help patrons create limits around their gambling. Our team staffs info centers at the state casinos, educating patrons on responsible gambling. Conversations can range from understanding the odds in a game of craps to helping folks take a break and enroll in a Voluntary Self-Exclusion program.

By enrolling in VSE, participants voluntarily exclude themselves from the gaming floors of all Massachusetts casinos. Participants can choose how long they would like to exclude. And just like if Xander Bogaerts tried to belt a line drive between innings, any money wagered, lost, or won during VSE enrollment is forfeited and does not count. Like Bogaerts, you also get a coach. Trained staff, including GameSense Advisors like myself, conduct regular check-ins throughout the term and connect you to local resources.

Some patrons have shared that heading to a casino to enroll in a VSE poses too much of a temptation. That’s a valid point, and it’s one of the reasons why we created remote VSE enrollment, which is the first of its kind in the nation. Patrons can still self-exclude in person or through confidential, online platforms. The program has created hundreds of success stories: over 1,000 Bay Staters are enrolled in a VSE. This is solely because Massachusetts lawmakers prioritized public health in crafting the Expanded Gaming Act in 2011.

One of the Boston greats, Pedro Martinez, said, “If you’re healthy, you’re capable of doing everything.” VSEs serve as an innovative, critical resource and keep countless Bay Staters healthy and safe. As such, making sure that these resources are within reach for all should remain paramount in future sports gambling legislation.

The health of thousands of Bay Staters — and the health of gaming in Massachusetts  — is at stake.

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Ken Averill is a Senior GameSense Advisor with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and The Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health. He has over 24 years of experience in the gaming industry and previously worked as a table games dealer and operations manager. 

For gambling-related questions, chat with a member of the GameSense team 24/7 via LiveChat at MACGH.org by calling the GamLine at 1-800-GAM-1234.

An Introduction and Resource For Gambling Addiction to Recovery, Meet Dr. Louise Stanger, an Interventionist Who Shares Addicted Gambling is Very Treatable.

Article Courtesy of Dr. Louise Stanger who is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, BBS #4581) for over 35 years, and specializes in substance abuse disorders, process addictions, mental health disorders, sudden death, trauma, grief, and loss. She is a great resource and offers interventions and helps heal not just the addict, but the family as she focuses on strength-based solutions and invitational change.

Information Courtesy of Dr. Stanger.

Wanna make a bet?

Gambling Shatters Records, Takes Hold Of America

The gambling industry shattered records in 2021, taking in over $53 Billion. That’s a 21% increase over the previous record, set in 2019. With sports gambling now publicly embraced by and partnered with the major sports leagues, gambling is more popular and more acceptable than ever.

The Super Bowl had the highest TV rating of any sports media event in history. That one game alone was expected to bring in 31.4 million gamblers and $7.4 billion in bets. Is it a coincidence that the highest year in Super Bowl TV ratings happens during the same year that gambling is breaking records? To a lesser extent, this kind of gambling happens at every sports event, in every league, throughout the year.

Do you have a smartphone? Then you can gamble in real-time on just about any event (not just sports) you can think of. Quick access and instant results also come with another price (not just money lost). It reminds of me the video games that lure you into a new world and the only way to continue to advance in the game is to continue to play. If you set down the controller and stop playing, you lose ground in the competition. 

It is not only just sports enthusiasts who are addicted to gambling or feeding the industry’s record year in 2021. Casinos continue to lead all revenue sources, with large amounts of walk-in traffic. Seniors make up as much as 50% of casino visitors, and casinos prey on them in order to increase revenue. And continues into 2022!

What do Americans think of gambling? If you believe that people’s votes tell the story, then this ABCNews headline from the 2020 elections says it all: Jackpot! Expansion of gambling in the US wins big at polls

So, gambling will become more pervasive, more impulsive, and easier to access. This can lead many to an unhealthy relationship with gambling — ruining relationships, costing families their fortunes, and leading to other addictions. The link between gambling and substance abuse is well-known, and most casinos still offer a free drink (or many) while you play.

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If you know someone who is addicted to gambling, there is hope. It is a process addiction that can be addressed before it’s too late. I sure encourage you to visit Dr. Stanger’s website for more information and resources on she can help. You can take her “Gambling Self-Assessment Survey” while you visit and you may contact her on her site as well. An intervention is a great place to start if you have a loved one who has a gambling problem or needs serious help.
https://www.allaboutinterventions.com/test-yourself/gambling-self-assessment/

Here are a few additional stories you may want to take the time to read.
https://www.allaboutinterventions.com/2019/05/28/aging-in-the-time-of-the-silver-tsunami/
(https://www.allaboutinterventions.com/2018/07/06/video-game-addiction-in-the-communication-age/)

More About Dr. Stanger:

Dr. Louise is no stranger to adversity. Born on a fault line of trauma, she knows what it is like to grow up in a family beset with anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and death by suicide. She brings her own years of experience working with families in bespoke fashion as well as her ability to work alongside talented professionals to ensure you get the best possible care. In doing so she and her team are collaborative, strength-based, and invitational.

Dr. Louise Stanger received her doctorate in education from the University of San Diego, a master’s degree in social work from San Diego State University, and a BA in English Literature and Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Louise is an Ivy League Award winner (2019 Interventionist of the Year from DB Resources in London and McLean Hospital – an affiliate of Harvard), educated social worker, popular author, internationally renowned clinician, interventionist and speaker, and an expert on mental health, addiction, process disorders, and chronic pain. She gets to the heart of the matter in helping families because she’s passionate about bringing hope and healing to loved ones.

“When you call, you won’t have to go through any intermediaries. She will pick up the phone and talk directly with you.“

Dr. Louise developed and refined her invitational method of mental health and substance abuse interventions using the well-established research methodology of portraiture. She has performed thousands of family interventions throughout the United States and abroad.

She has received numerous awards for her years of dedication to the fields of intervention & recovery. In addition to her years of experience, Dr. Louise is a published author whose work covers a range of topics including mental health, substance abuse, and well-being, the opioid epidemic, marijuana, and other drugs, parenting, high wealth clients, finding happiness, spirituality, failure to launch, chronic pain and pain management, family and many more.

Her latest book titled Addiction in the Family: Helping Families Navigate Challenges, Emotions, and Recovery (2020) is a #1 bestseller on Amazon. Her book Falling Up: A Memoir of Renewal is available on Amazon. and The Definitive Guide to Addiction Intervention-A Collective Strategy is available on Amazon and University Bookstores.


Addiction in the Family: Helping Families Navigate Challenges, Emotions, and Recovery

Dr. Louise is also known for lively, informative, customized, and invigorating training for staff, families, and clients. Foundations Recovery Network’s Moments of Change Conference proclaimed Dr. Stanger the “Fan Favorite Speaker.” In addition, the San Diego Business Journal listed her as one of the top 10 “Women Who Mean Business” and she was ranked as one of the top 10 Interventionists in the Country.

In 2017, she received the Dr. Joseph P. Galleta Spirit of Recovery Award and the DB Resources in London Journalism Award. In 2018, she was honored by the Forgiving Foundation and spoke in London on World Drug Day in June. She also received the 2018 Friendly House Excellence In Service Award.


Presented and Shared By Advocate/Author Catherine Townsend- Lyon – Let’s Raise Awareness!

Bet Free Recovery Now…

My “Reflection For The Week.” Do My Contributions As An Advocate Give HOPE and Support To Others Within My Recovery?

“My Own GA Reflection for the Week”

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit, Aristotle.
By repeating my gambling acts, I became progressively more likely to do them again and again. By repeatedly attending meetings, talking with my Higher Power, sharing my feelings, and keeping connected with Gamblers Anonymous members between meetings, I become what I am doing: part of the GA Fellowship and being of service to others. If I continue to repeat these acts, I will become progressively more likely to do them again and again.”

Do I recognize that any small contribution I make at a meeting, in a blog post, or speaking event has a much greater return on investment than any bet I ever made, even my biggest hit?

Today I Pray
May the acts that I repeat today be according to the will of my Higher Power. May I understand that, although perfection is not my goal, progress is possible, and I can achieve excellence at what I am doing for my recovery? It can be attainable to help me rid myself of my self-destructive habits and replace them with ones that will aid my recovery and to continue to share hope and support with others.

Today I Will Remember,
Recovery is not an act; it is a habit through ACTIONS”. . .

Our Special Guest Post is by Author/Advocate Marilyn Davis of ‘From Addict 2 Advocate.’ Reading Gives Us Our Power Back. . .

Recovery Books: Just When You Need Them

 POSTED ON NOVEMBER 3, 2021 BY MARILYNLDAVIS

Post Courtesy of Marilyn Davis, Advocate, Author, & Writer

Books: The Way We’ve Always Learned

“I think books are like people, in the sense that they’ll turn up in your life when you most need them.” – Emma Thompson

I’m old enough to remember when books, either from a library or book store, and where how we escaped, found comfort, got an education, or discovered ways to improve our lives. Books bring the world to us. 

Today, that world is smaller with online booksellers, reviewers, and sites dedicated to types of books. One of these is Shepherd.com. I enjoyed writing reviews on five books about addiction and recovery.  Each of those books helped me see that addiction has common themes. Yet, each of the authors admitted their addictions and found recovery in different ways. 

Easy Access to Information

It may just be me, but the first time I read Alcoholics Anonymous, or as we call it, The Big Book, I cried. There were so many passages that I could relate to in that first reading. I felt that the writers in 1939 were doing a “Letter to your future self – me.” 

When we find a book that resonates with us, we cherish it. The second, third, fourth, and fifth times I read the book while in treatment, I was shocked at how much I’d missed in a previous reading. I got out my trusty highlighter and started marking practically every page. I realized that meant that eventually, I would highlight every passage, so I stopped that practice. That was 33 years ago. 

Cherished Writing

I still have my original Big Book, tattered and worn with margin notes, highlighted passages, and phone numbers from people in treatment. It needs rebinding, but I’d lose those notes and numbers, and I don’t want to do that, so it stays together in its case when I’m not reading it. 

I still read it; antiquated and stilted language doesn’t matter. That’s why there’s another book, a dictionary for the seldom-used words. These 100 men and women who wrote The Big Book were the founders and pioneers who admitted their problems and gave us solutions. We can’t ask for more than that in any book. 

Inclusive Writing 

When we read a book and see ourselves on the pages, we pay attention. Sure, the names, places, ages, or genders might differ, but it’s us. How does an author do that – by relating feelings and thoughts, which transcend ages, genders, races, and places. 

I’ve gotten emails and messages from men who’ve read my book, Finding North: A Journey from Addict to Advocate, who’ve asked if we’re twins. Or the email from a twenty-year-old who could relate. Believe me, those are the best validation an author can get. To know that you’ve written an inclusive book. 

Books Help Us Understand Ourselves 

When I first got into recovery, I went weekly to the Unity Bookstore in Gainesville, GA. They had the largest selection on recovery, codependency, spirituality, and Native American beliefs. I’d “sacrifice” a steak to get a new book. 

Some of my earliest books were: 

The Recovery Book: Answers to All Your Questions About Addiction and Alcoholism and Finding Health and Happiness in Sobriety

 Healing The Child Within: Discovery and Recovery for Adult Children…

Stage II Recovery: Life Beyond Addiction

The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations for Codependents 

Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Meditations for Women 

Broken Toys Broken Dreams: Understanding and Healing Codependency, Compulsive Behaviors and Family

No, I’m not their spokesperson, nor do I get a commission for anything I’ve listed or from Thriftbooks; it’s about following through on Neil deGrasse Tyson’s second bit of advice, “For me, I am driven by two main philosophies: know more today about the world than I knew yesterday and lessen the suffering of others. You’d be surprised how far that gets you.”

Any of these will help you in your recovery and perhaps lessen your suffering. Plus buying a used book makes economic sense. 

Reflections: Guideposts and Images for the Journey: 

Around the Year with Emmet Fox: A Book of Daily Readings

Narcotics Anonymous book by Narcotics Anonymous

Rehab Works 

Healing the Shame that Binds You

The Road Less Traveled and Beyond

Facing Codependence

Now That You’re Sober

Addicted to Dimes ~ THIS ONE IS MY BOOK!

Famous Authors

Today’s books differ only slightly from my original listing. Today, we’ve got more people writing about addiction and recovery who don’t necessarily work in the field. Some are famous, and coming out and stating that they are addicts and alcoholics is commendable.  

Here’s a list of three I’ve read because I was a concert promotor and managed bands and maybe understand some of the temptations and availability of drugs backstage.  

Recovery book by Russell Brand 

Robert Downey Jr.: The Fall and Rise 

Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood


When You’re Ready to Write About Your Recovery

I believe in diaries and journals. They help us record our thoughts and feelings and can be a way to discover patterns in our lives. Here are two journals that work: 

My Walk, My Journey, My Recovery: Drugs… book by Mama Cotton (thriftbooks.com)

The 12 Step Journal

And when you’re ready to write your story, consider getting Memories into Memoir: The Mindsets and Mechanics Workbook to help you remember, reflect, and write an excellent memoir about addiction and recovery to help someone else. 

Are you ready to lessen someone else’s suffering? Then consider a guest post. 

Marilyn Loves Guest Post Submissions For Her Website!

About Marilyn L. Davis

Advocate, Marilyn L. Davis

Marilyn Davis is a Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist who opened and operated an award-winning residential facility between 1990 and 2011, called North House. She also facilitated men’s, women’s, and HIV-positive groups. 

She recently celebrated 32+ years of abstinence-based recovery.

Davis is the author of “Therapeutic Integrated Educational Recovery System.” In 2008, Brenau University created the Marilyn Davis Community Service Learning Award. This ongoing award honors individuals working in recovery and mental health. In 2010, Marilyn received the Liberty Bell award. This award is given to non-judges and attorneys for contributions to the criminal justice system and communities.

Before the Blogs and Book

Before finding recovery in 1988, Davis was a desperate woman on drugs, managing bands at night, giving up her children, having her house foreclosed, and running to Georgia. After an intervention by Brenau University, she attended two 12-Step meetings a day. A chance encounter with a 74-year old Native American named Gray Hawk showed her that healing would include meetings and Steps. He had searched for her and wanted her to open a house of healing for other women. This encounter with Gray Hawk helped her realize that opening North House was her purpose.

She recently published her memoir, Finding North: A Journey from Addict to Advocate.

Writing and Recovery Heals the Heart

Davis is also Editor-in-Chief at twodropsofink.com, a literary blog, where she continues to encourage collaborative writing.

The site’s writers are poets, problem-solvers for writers, and bloggers. Prose and essays educate, entertain, and enchant readers with the written word. The writers represent different countries, viewpoints, and opinions from around the world.

Visit Marilyn Today!

Visit the author: Website, Join Author’s Newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, Linkedin…

Why is Gambling Addiction The Hardest Form of Addiction To Beat? Is It The Denial & Lying? Or Is It Really All Just Fun and Games?

There could be thousands of reasons why people adopt gambling, and even psychologists don’t know why people gamble? It started as fun for some persons, and for some, it was meant to escape their sorrows. But in the end, the result was always the same; Gambling Stops Being a Diversion and Becomes an Addiction. 

~Catherine Townsend-Lyon Author and Experienced Gambling Advocate of Recovery

~Marc Alo

A while back I came across what looked like a new Gambling Addiction and Recovery blog that seemed to really never transpire. I happened to visit again and the same original first post was still up, but not much activity after. That is the “nature of the beast” when it comes to addicted gambling. It seems sometimes the addiction may win over just trying to “will it away” and it won’t work very well.

But then? EUREKA! More New Posts Began To Be Posted! And many of Uri’s posts are not only informative? They are very revealing to the facts that Gambling Addiction truly is the hardest addiction to KICK! So, my deepest hope for all who visit me will take some time and go visit Uri and read a few of his posts about his recovery journey.

He speaks very openly as he shares his gambling and his recovery hopes and challenges. One that is really difficult and will share a little of his post is about LYING to his partner. For me? That was all about being in DENIAL.

Denial is like lying to ourselves that we do have a gambling problem, and why true surrender is so hard to come to that place. So here is a little of Uri’s post about “LYING” to his partner, and then you can finish reading his new post… https://gambling-addictions.com/2021/06/05/why-i-cant-stop-lying/

~Catherine Lyon

~William Bolitho

“I am not upset that you lied to me; I am upset that from now on I can never believe you” ~Friedrich Nietzsche

After being more than 2 years free from gambling activities, I noticed that I still have a huge problem with lying to my partner. It became a habit and somehow I can’t stop lying to my partner. Someone once said to me that for as long as you lied to your partner, expect them not to believe you for the same time after you stop lying. It will hurt when they question you when you are telling the truth, you will be surprised because you never even thought to lie.

This advice helped me to think that did I achieve anything worthwhile by lying or cheating. I started thinking that what I am hiding from her? Why I am so insecure? Why my self-respect is at rock bottom? Why I am addicted to lying? Sooner I realized that lying is like a slippery dangerous slope with nothing good at the bottom but misery and empty life.

We all lie in different situations in our lives. We all have our reasons for lying, it may be to escape punishment in our childhood. When we grow up, we lie to get attention or sympathies and some even create stories to set friends against each other or get others in trouble. It is an expression of being afraid, what others will think, afraid of facing the reality. We want to show people that we are better than others and reflect the weakness of our character. This could be the result of low self-esteem, fear of rejection, desire to please, or any other nuanced reasons.


A liar justifies or makes stories to cover up something he has done wrong. To cover the first lie, another lie is required and this leads to an endless chain of lies. I had no idea about my case, why I was manipulating different situations to lie with my partner. Sooner I realized that I am a habitual liar, I tried to discover the root of my behavior, why I am doing and what I am avoiding. I thought that if I want to spend the rest of my life with my partner, I must avoid this habit of lying to restore the level of trust in our relationship. 

If you are constantly lying to your dear ones and you are not able to do anything about it, then you don’t want to change. You cannot change what has developed in you for years. If someone matters to you in your life then you have to be truthful or else you will end up losing not only that person but your importance, your respect and the likeness you were trying to create will go away in a moment and will never come back.

All the lies which are still covered can come crashing down on your head at any time. You will live in constant fear of the truth being discovered and expose you which creates a bad effect on your nerves. Stop living in dream world with a fake identity. Get out of your unreal world and start living in present rather than the past or future.

A person who often tells fibs will never have trustworthy friends and will not be loved by anyone. Life is not only judged by a rich lifestyle, fluent language ability, or branded clothes. It is measured by the number of faces who simile when they hear your name. Analyze your life and try to find how it has impacted your life and others around you. Somewhere or somehow it has broken a lot of innocent hearts or brought tears to the eyes of your loved ones.

Do you think you feel happy about it?

How To Stop Lying?

Start thinking, why you want to quit lying, think about the bad things associated with being a liar. I am not an expert by any means but you must ask yourself why you are lying? Why are you not comfortable with the truth? Learn to appreciate things you have in life and be satisfied with your family, friends, and your surroundings.

But what makes sense to me is that instead of trying “not to lie anymore” which is difficult to achieve in one day, try to focus on making little but sturdy progress. Think to yourself why you’re lying? Why are you not comfortable with the truth? Is it because you are not confident? Or on the other hand you fear reality?

You can’t change the past, the past is immutable. But as long as you understand that the time of yore was something that you’ve learned, and then it won’t haunt you as much.

Few imperative things to consider while struggling to come out of this habit:

• Never give up! People have thrived in breaking the nastiest & most addictive habits, you can do the same!
• Change is going on in little- often not noticeable steps. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t observe changes immediately, YOU ARE CHANGING!
• There will be setbacks. There is no way to accomplish a goal without failing on the way. Remember: failing doesn’t mean to stop struggling and starting all over again; you rewired your brain by fighting your habit & it will become easier & easier until it will go away!
  
  
• NOW I hope you’ll go and read “The Rest Of The Story” by Uri… https://gambling-addictions.com/2021/06/05/why-i-cant-stop-lying/
  
  
  

Humor Soothes The Soul…

More Informative Articles and Posts:

https://www.beforeyoubet.org/10-common-lies-compulsive-gamblers-tell/

https://www.beforeyoubet.org/the-quiz/

https://gambling-addictions.com/2021/04/22/gamblings-impact-on-families/

Finally, We Are Coming Out COVID & That’s Great For My Mental Health. A Re-share Article That Is More Important Today. My Mental Health Matters & Yours Does Too…

The Mind Can Be a Scary Place 

Ever wonder what happens in the mind of Stephen King, or Stanley Kubrick? Or the thoughts in the mind of a serial killer? These are areas that most people would never venture into. It’s too scary. It’s too dangerous. But danger is in the eye of the beholder. It’s a reflection of our life experience, individual biases and perception. But as we all remain indoors, the confines of our own minds can be the greatest danger.

As people, our outward actions toward the world reflect our own mindset, individual biases, and our outlook on the world. If that outlook is positive, we tend to see the world in a positive light and consequently treat people and situations with that positivity. The converse is also true. If, because of our life experience or chemical imbalance, we have a negative or pessimistic world view, we view the world through that lens. It’s how we think, act, and speak. It attracts or detracts others to or from us. How do mental disorders alter that world view?

~Gravitate Online (Dot Com)

The Different Mental Disorders

For individuals dealing with depression or bipolar disorder, the mind can be a very scary place. Many people are undiagnosed with depression or anxiety. In the U.S. two-thirds of all cases of depression are undiagnosed. That means that they are not getting the proper help or medication to help them see the world without a dark shroud. Through their prism, they see the world in a dark, negative and suspicious way when in reality may not be the case.

Unfortunately, this mental strife can sometimes lead to drug abuse and addiction. Teenagers and young adults are especially susceptible to this unfortunate reality which is why proper mental health resources in their in-person or online education are imperative.

There are more types of depression than most people realize. According to https://www.healthline.com/, these are some of the different depressive disorders:

Persistent depressive disorder

This is chronic low-level depression less severe than major depression and lasts two years or longer. This is accompanied by constant feelings of deep and dark sadness and hopelessness, as well as symptoms like indecisiveness, low energy and fatigue.

At times, this depression is spurred by aging. When family is out of the house, and estate planning decisions are to be made, it can have an effect on an individual’s sense of longevity. This, of course, is all part of a mental disorder that can have quite an effect on an individual’s day-to-day.


Bipolar disorder

Another type of depression is bipolar disorder or manic-depressive disorder. It involves the episode of a manic, a heightened state of being or over-energized mood. These episodes may be followed by episodes of dark deep depression. Huge swings from high to low and sometimes back again. It is the very manic highs paired with the low depressive state that determines the type of bipolar disorder is diagnosed.


Postpartum depression

As much as 80% of new mothers experience the “baby blues” following delivery. Symptoms include sadness, mood swings, depression, withdrawal, lack of appetite, and negative thoughts. According to the American Psychological Association, about 10 to 15 percent of U.S. women have a depressive episode within three months of childbirth. and fatigue and typically pass within a week or two.

This is caused by the fluctuation of hormones following childbirth, combined with lack of sleep, and the stresses of caring for an infant. If these symptoms stay longer than a couple weeks and escalate in severity, it may be a hint of a deeper issue.

Seasonal depression

Many experience feelings of depression when seasons change. This is known as seasonal affective disorder. Up to 5% of the U.S. population (16,500,000) experience seasonal depression every year. Seasonal affective disorder is typically initiated at the beginning of autumn and lasts throughout the winter, during the dark and cold months of the year.

Psychotic depression

If any of these depressive situations are accompanied by paranoia, hallucinations or delusions, it is an indication of a major issue known as psychotic depression. This condition is rare. A quarter of patients admitted to a hospital due to depression actually have psychotic depression. The extreme cases are incapacitated and may need to be admitted to long-term hospitalization.


Natural treatments

Many depression diagnoses are tied to an actual chemical imbalance in the brain and must be managed with medication. Some less severe conditions may be managed, at least in part, through more natural means.


These include the following:
Physical exercise. The endorphins released in the brain during physical exercise can have long term positive benefits for depression.

Healthy diet. Eating fresh, clean, healthy food can boost positive vibes in the body and can be a helpful step in battling depression.

Good sleep. The power of good sleep is beneficial for all people, especially those with depression.
Supplements. Natural remedies like fish oils and folic acid have been known to help individuals with depression. However, when using natural supplements check with your physician.


Positive mental thoughts

Fighting depression can be hard work. A lot of the work is mental, challenging your negative self-talk and changing how you think. Individuals with depression leap to the worst possible conclusions in many scenarios. Challenging those conclusions and replacing them with positive ones can help make depression just a little brighter.

Positive self-thoughts maybe act as the light switch that transforms a person’s negative outlook from continuous darkness into a much brighter view of reality. This can lead to a happier and more rewarding life.

Medications
Many Americans that suffer some form of depression, live perfectly normal and healthy lives with the help from the advances in pharmaceuticals. Working with a doctor to find the proper medication and dosage can change the life of an individual with depression.

We all strive to make the world a better place. But for some, this is more difficult because of internal personal turmoil. For people to treat others in a way that makes the world a better place, they need to feel that way about themselves. Helping those with a chemical imbalance to see the world through a brighter prism has exponential benefits to society. So, never be afraid to explore all your options.

“By small means, great things are possible.” ~Catherine Lyon, Advocate


Visit my friends of SAMHSA for help and options for treatment, information, and much more!

Who We Are

Learn more about the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-treatment

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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation and to improve the lives of individuals living with mental and substance use disorders, and their families.

Vision

To provide leadership and resources – programs, policies, information and data, funding, and personnel – advance mental and substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services in order to improve individual, community, and public health.

Mission

SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.

Last Updated

Last Updated: 05/05/2021

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Find Help and Treatment

The National Helpline provides 24-hour free and confidential referrals and information about mental and/or substance use disorders, prevention, treatment, and recovery in English and Spanish.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline
800-662-HELP (4357)
TTY: 800-487-4889

For additional information on finding help and treatment options, visit www.samhsa.gov/find-treatment.

General Questions

For general questions about SAMHSA, including information about mental and substance use disorders:

SAMHSAInfo@samhsa.hhs.gov
877-SAMHSA-7 (726-4727)
TTY: 800-487-4889

My Recovery Guest: Self-Help Author, Marilyn Fowler: What Is Your Recovery and Life Telling You? And Do You Like What You’re Creating?

“You can live your whole life not realizing that what you’re looking for is right in front of you.”  ~David Nicholls

Recently I had a birthday, and that’s always a time for a one year check up to look at where I’ve been, where I am now, where I want to go, and if I stayed on track with last years directions. But that procedure is not enough to look closely at a life and how it’s being lived. Life is a daily experience and needs daily attention to be the life you want it to be. You wouldn’t drive your car on a journey without checking a map now and then to avoid getting lost and having to find your way back to the highway. So when was the last time you took a close look at your life?

“Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?” ~Bob Marley

Nobody’s life is sunshine all the time. We don’t expect that. We all have challenges, painful experiences, times when we want to run away for a while. But the overall quality of life can and should be generally happy and peaceful. Are you satisfied with your life? Could it be better? Think about it. Do you ever wake up in the morning dreading another day, wanting to get off the road for a while and find a peaceful rest stop along your journey? Are there times when all you see are clouds?

Today I was driving with dark ominous clouds overhead, and I hoped I’d reach my destination before the downpour. Then I noticed a break in the clouds with a beautiful clear blue sky where sunshine sparkled. How could both exist at the same time? But they did, and I got a message about life. Pay attention, and you see the whole picture. Would you like more sunshine in your future? You really can create it. And one of your best tools for growth is understanding your past.

“The best thing is looking back and realizing how good life is. If you don’t take the time to think about it and analyze it, you’ll never realize all the dots that are connected.”    ~Beyonce Knowles

The Past: All of your experiences in the past are connected to the rest of your life, for the past has been your teacher. Look back and remember good times and bad. Remember specific events and people, times you wish you could do over. Remember your feelings, your disappointments and happy surprises. Admit your weaknesses,and praise your strengths. Who were you back then? And how did all of that bring you to where you are now?

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“Remember the moments of the past. Look forward to the promise of the future. But most of all, celebrate the present, for it is precious.”  ~Unknown

Present: The present is where you live your life…where decisions you make decide your past and your future, and where you can create miracles. So look closely at where you are now. What would you like to change, or keep, or expand upon, or create brand new? If you can’t change a situation, you can work on your response to it. Examinewhat you’ve learned from your past and how you can use it today. Look within and find that eternal, special essence that is you, and know you have all you need within to move forward.

“It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell.” ~Walt Disney

Future: And what kind of story will you be telling in the future? According to Peter Drucker, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” And that’s all we can do, thebest we can at any given time. We check the past, live in today, and try to create a future we want. And as time passes, if we stay aware and vigilant, our tomorrows can bebetter than our todays.

So don’t wait for your birthday. Use time every day to monitor your progress, and make necessary changes as you go. You really are a miracle, capable of creating miracles. Make your journey whatever you want it to be. And be happy.

I wish you a miraculous journey!

Marilyn Fowler, Author/Writer

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About The Author:

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I’m a retired Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Psychotherapist. My professional experience includes Mental Health Team Leader, then Director of Mental Health Services in the Duval County Jail in Jacksonville, Florida;coordinating Mental Health Services in nursing homes, working on in-patient units,and in private practice for a number of years. I teach a class at the University of North Florida on The Influence of Childhood Messages on Adult Life, I belong to Chat Noir Writers Circle, and I write a self-help blog posts to help others live a better well balanced life!

My Memoir, Silent Echoes was published a wee few years ago, and I’m now working on “Me and Granmama in the Hill Country” in southern dialect with a video on now on Youtube: http://youtu.be/R4EGPkKtRBk  …

My stories have appeared in several magazines and a book entitled “When God Spoke To Me.” I’m active in my church, I enjoy blogging, and I believe that a sense of humor is a blessing to be used often. Life should be…..

Please Visit: Marilyn on her Amazon Author Page for all her Book!

 

A Message From “The White House & Our President, Barak Obama.” And National Day of Action from Gambling Addiction…

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A National Message From Our US President, Barak
Obama from “The White House.”

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
August 31, 2016

“Presidential Proclamation – National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, 2016

NATIONAL ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION RECOVERY MONTH, 2016

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Every day, millions of Americans prove that recovery from alcohol and substance use disorders is possible — yet at the same time, millions more are struggling with the disease of addiction. These individuals are our family members, friends, and neighbors, and when they are not able to get the help they need, our communities and our country are not as strong as they can be. It is up to all of us to help our loved ones seek life-saving services when needed and steer them toward recovery. Throughout this month, we celebrate the successes of all those who know the transformative power of recovery, and we renew our commitment to providing the support, care, and treatment that people need to forge a healthier life.

Substance use disorder, commonly known as addiction, is a disease of the brain, and many misconceptions surrounding it have contributed to harmful stigmas that can prevent individuals from seeking the treatment they need. By treating substance use disorders as seriously as other medical conditions, with an emphasis on prevention and treatment, people can recover. This month’s theme is, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Our Families, Our Stories, Our Recovery!”. Focusing on the importance of family support throughout recovery, it invites families, loved ones, and other individuals to share their stories and triumphs in fighting substance use disorders to inspire others that may follow in their footsteps. I encourage all Americans looking for assistance to use the “Treatment Locator” tool at  www.SAMHSA.gov or call 1-800-662-HELP.

This disease can touch any American in any community, and my Administration has made combatting substance use disorders a priority. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies must now cover substance use disorder services as essential health benefits. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires health plans that cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment to provide coverage that is comparable to that of medical and surgical care. Through our National Drug Control Strategy — a 21st-century approach to reducing drug use and its consequences — we have promoted evidence-based health and safety initiatives that aim to prevent drug use, increase opportunities for early intervention and integrated treatment in health care, and support recovery.

In response to our Nation’s opioid overdose epidemic, we are highlighting tools that can help reduce drug use and overdoses such as evidence-based prevention programs, prescription drug take-back events, medication-assisted treatment for people with opioid use disorders, and the overdose reversal drug naloxone. That is why, in my most recent budget proposal, I proposed investing $1 billion to expand access to treatment for prescription opioid misuse and heroin use. I will continue urging the Congress to fund treatment like I have proposed — because if they fund these efforts, we can help more individuals across our country seek help, complete treatment, and sustain recovery.

During National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, let us thank health care professionals, support groups, and all those dedicated to helping individuals in need find assistance and reclaim their lives. Let us continue working to address substance use disorders in our communities and promote the health, safety, and prosperity of the American people.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2016 as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-first.

BARACK OBAMA

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AMEN!! SO, in Honor of this ADDICTION PROCLAMATION, I will be blogging and having many addiction/recovery guests and guest articles all month long on all types of addictions…. So please drop by all month of September and Together we can make a difference and help “SAVE LIVES!”

I am also Honoring this Special Month by lowering my current e-book titled; “Addicted To Dimes, Confessions of a Liar and a Cheat” my story in a Memoir is now only $3.10 per download here on  Amazon Kindle  …  And September is also:

NATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION SEPT. 25TH – OCT. 1ST ~ Along with Les Bernel, Founder of “Stop Predatory Gambling” – Government & Gambling. http://stoppredatorygambling.org/

Author and Recovery Columnist,
Catherine Townsend-Lyon

An Exceptional Guest Article Share~Recovery Expert, Author & Coach, Roger Stark …

Hello Recovery Friends and Welcome New Friends,

 

I want to introduce you to a new friend and fellow author of mine who has a large amount of addiction and recovery experience. He is a recovery coach, a writer of exceptional books and guides, and has just released his second book titled Reclaiming Your Addicted Brain. which can be ordered on the link provided and you can always find him over on his website, The Waterfall Concept and is the title of his first book. I happen to come across an excellent article and little interview I ‘d like to share with all of you that is very interesting.

So with further ado, Meet Roger Stark  …. ( Courtesy of www.breakingthecycles.com/ )

 

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(The Waterfall Concept ~ Now on Amazon & In Kindle Store)

 

Face of Recovery | Roger Stark
By, Lisa Frederiksen

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The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as “a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry.” Yet there is a great deal of confusion, stigma, shame and discrimination surrounding addiction, addiction treatment, and addiction recovery, and often what are called behavioral or process addictions/disorders – such as sex, gambling, spending and eating addictions/disorders – are the least understood. Perhaps the most harmful reality in all of this is how little we know about recovery, about individuals who have the disease of addiction but are in recovery, living healthy, productive, engaged lives — the same kinds of lives as people who do not have this disease.

All the words and definitions and explanations in the world are not as powerful as these people themselves. To that end, we are grateful to the people in recovery who have decided to share their experiences so that we all may put a Face to Addiction Recovery.

Addiction Recovery – It’s real, it happens to real people, and it happens all the time.

It is my great pleasure to introduce Roger Stark – today’s Face of Recovery.

How Did Your Addiction Start?

Mine is a sexual addiction. That admission elicits a wide variety responses, from “You can’t get addicted to sex,” to “Gee, I would like to have that one!” and everything in between.  Is it a real addiction?  Ask the hundreds of thousands of folks involved in Sexaholics Anonymous, Sex Addicts Anonymous, Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous and like self-help groups. They will tell you that their lives are surely unmanageable, that they have learned to use the brain chemicals of lust compulsively, and have become truly powerless.  They will also tell you, standing amidst the rubble and wreckage of their lives, that you, surely, do not want this addiction.

My journey had it’s beginnings when a scoutmaster insisted on showing me some things that were not in the scout handbook.  His sexual abuse created some powerful, dysfunctional emotional currents in the life of a very naive and innocent child. I was raised in a faith-centered, loving home. My father struggled with ETOH and very probably fixed me up with some genetic markers that weren’t very helpful also. But my main concern after the encounters with my perpetrator was to prove that I did not like boys. (I apologize for the homophobic sound of that but in the 1950’s our culture presented much differently.) The only way I knew to prove that I didn’t “like” boys was to “like” girls and I tried to like them a lot.  It became a matter of conquest and while the level of sexual activity was on the innocent side, in the beginning, it quickly grew to “going all the way.” The purpose always being to gather more evidence that I was “normal.”

Over the nearly 40 years of fighting the behaviors that had yet no name, I fell into a Dr. Jeckel and Mr. Hyde life.  Wanting and trying, successfully at times, to live by a very high moral code, and betraying myself with compulsive sexual acting out.  The levels of shame and guilt were off the chart, and of course, over time became part of the acting out cycle.

What was the turning point for you – what made you want to get sober?

Such an interesting question. From very nearly the beginning I wanted to be sober. Acting out broke the moral rules I was striving to live by.  I believed in virtue and monogamy but as the compulsion gained power I failed so many times that hope of doing that left me.  I guess my turning point was the day my therapist put a name to it.  He stopped in our session, rather abruptly and said, “Roger, you do realize you are a sexual addict don’t you.”

Well, I absolutely did not realize that and was quite offended that he wanted to put such a brand on me.  He didn’t argue with me, just gave me a copy of The White Book the Sexaholics Anonymous’s manual.  By page 38, I branded myself. I found hope in the fellowship because I found others in the same struggle that had found sobriety.  Like a fellow mentioned in The White Book, “I didn’t need help quitting, I have quit a thousand times, I needed help staying quit.”  And there, in that group, I found the beginnings of that help.

I cannot adequately convey the excitement I felt about learning skills and finding tools that actually worked and helped me slowly
extinguish the compulsion.  After those first early successes, I was “all in.”

What was your initial treatment?

Much of my early treatment was self-inflicted.  We did not then have the recovery resources that are available today.  I read a lot.  If Patrick Carnes wrote it, I read it.  My White Book and the Big Book were read and reread as were a host of other recovery titles.  I lived in a quite remote area at the time, but found 3 recovery meetings, 2 were an hour away and the other 3 hours.  I tried very hard to attend each weekly. I met weekly by phone with my therapist. I found a sponsor and worked through the steps.

Education helped me immensely.  Beginning to understand brought healing.  Recovery strategies developed as I understood more about what was going on inside of me.

My faith also played an important part.  I have always felt a special Higher Power connection in my life.  When I took this struggle to Him, I felt His sure promise that as I continued to do my recovery work, my heart would heal, (His words not mine.)  I also made a commitment to Him that if He could help me find my way out of this addiction mess, I would spend the rest of my life helping others.  That fall I enrolled in a local college program that led to state licensure as an addiction counselor.

Do you do anything differently, today?

My recovery does have an evolutionary feel to it.  As my understanding deepens my dysfunctions slowly get shed.  As I peel the onion and grow, my approach takes that new wisdom into account, and I seek new skills.  Of late I have benefited from trying to truly live in this particular moment. I am working to grow my understanding of this great concept.

Working with other addicts has also created some changes.  I sometimes feel selfish, that I “recover” more than they do as we work through the process.  It has brought into focus the clear value and importance of carrying the message to others in our own personal recovery experience.

What is your life-like, now?

From the darkest days of my addiction, my current life would have been simply inconceivable.  Recovery has brought me to a belief in miracles. One example is that my wife and I are still together and enjoying life in remarkable ways. My relationship with my 7 children continues to grow or better said, heal. I love serenity. It is such a contrast to the chaos of my addict life.  Peace, calm, quiet, were unknown commodities. I feel a joy in them that renews me daily.  I continue to work with other addicts and write about recovery.  For me, there could be no better life’s work.

Do you have anything you’d like to share with someone currently struggling with a substance abuse problem or an addiction?  How about anything you’d like to share with their family or friends?

Oh, I have a thousand things!  The details and nuances of individual recovery seem to be endless.  But the overriding message is this: Recovery happens!  It is real!  Miracles happen if we submit to the process of recovery and do the work it requires.  A willing heart, armed with some hope and courage, all held together by commitment makes us candidates for recovery and will carry us home.

Addicts should probably be aware that sex is a very common cross addiction.  I long ago lost count of the number of clients who begin the recovery conversation with, “I had a drinking problem 20 years ago and went to AA but now I think I have a sex addiction.”  (Thirteenth Steppers please take note!)

Unfortunately, the learning curve for addicts and family members is remarkably flat.  This is tough stuff.  Many spouses don’t survive the betrayal and feelings of rejection.  I cannot fault them and only feel compassion and empathy for the uninvited struggle they find themselves in.  Recovery is measured in years not months and slips can be crushing.  That said, I do believe in miracles.  I have seen many, I have lived one.  When a couple overcomes this level of adversity, their love can take on an exquisite fullness
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What is the best part about your recovery?

Part of it is that we are having this conversation.  That we can learn and grow from each other and I get to be part of that. Life is such a precious gift.  Having the blessing of living part of it in recovery, free from the chaos and carnage is of great value to me.  Being able to love and cherish my family in an honest faithful way is priceless.

There have been gifts from my addiction.  Things that I know that I would never have come to understand without the affliction.  I am grateful for learning acceptance, finding compassion and empathy, and the joy of unconditional love. These are wonderful fruits of my struggle and I will ever be grateful for them.

These gifts and the opportunity to help others, give the suffering meaning. It was not wasted, not just indiscriminate suffering, but a vehicle for becoming and discovering a better self.  And, if somehow, some way, my work diminishes the suffering of some other poor soul trying to figure out sexual addiction, well, I am pretty okay with that.  Then the gratitude comes, that I have been blessed to learn what could be learned in no other way.

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Thank you, Roger, so very much for sharing your story and CONGRATS on your more than a decade in recovery!

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Connect with Roger on: Facebook
Linkedin

 

 

 

Gambling Recovery “Thought of The Day”…

Hello, Welcome Recovery Friends!

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“Let us always remember in recovery? BELIEVE In Yourself  &  You Will Be UNSTOPPLE In Recovery!”

Author & Recovery Columnist, Catherine Townsend-Lyon XOXO

How the Smart Mom Does It All.

When mom lives life in recovery, how does she get it all done and keep her recovery in check?
Here are some things recovery mom’s can do to have a well-balanced family life and recovery.
A new guest article by: Darci Maxwell.

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Every mom has a hard time trying to “do it all.” It’s no surprise, there is so much to do – taking care of the kids, cleaning the house, cleaning the house again because your kids got into something, cooking dinner, doing the laundry, running errands, staying in touch with your friends and family, working out, going to work, being an effective employee, etc. etc. etc. The unfortunate truth is that there is not enough time to do everything. However, there are ways to make your life more effective. Read on for twelve tips and tricks to help you accomplish more in less time.

Realize That You Can’t Do Everything

Each of us is limited to 24 hours a day. There are so many things that we want to do, but it is impossible to do everything. You need to learn to let go of the myth of perfection, and only do what you realistically can. Decide what is good enough, and let go of the rest.

Take Care of Yourself

The safety video on an airplane tells you to first secure your own oxygen mask before helping others. If you are burnt out, you will not be able to help your friends or family. Make sure that you get enough sleep, eat right, exercise daily, etc.
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Be Prepared

Save yourself time by being prepared. Keep an overnight bag for each child in the car, stock your fridge and pantry with meals that you can make in a jiffy, have medicines on hand (and keep them labeled), and keep a notebook and pen in your car. It may take a little bit of planning now to make sure that you have things ready for the future, but it will save you time in the long run.

Prioritize

Decide what is most important and tackle those tasks first. There are probably a few things on your list that can be postponed for when you have time, and a few that need to happen right away. Take things one day at a time, and try not to get overwhelmed with your to-do’s.

Make a List

Every day make a list to keep track of the things that you need to get done. Make sure that you put the most important things at the top, and the least important things towards the bottom. Keep a running list throughout the week as well, so that you know what still needs to get done. Mark things off as you accomplish them so that you keep yourself on track. Find a way to organize your list that works for you. Do you like having it on a piece of paper, on your phone, or in your planner?

Set Reminders For Yourself

This blog suggests that you should use your phone or computer to help you complete your to do list. Set timers and reminders for yourself to keep yourself on task. Make sure that you put all of your appointments in your calendar so that you don’t accidentally forget a doctor’s appointment or tee-ball game. If you are not near a phone or computer, keep a kitchen timer at your side so that you can keep track of time.

Organize

You waste a lot of time trying to find things, like your keys, shopping list, reading glasses, coupons, bills, etc. Organize your life and stop wasting time looking for things. ” When you use something, put it away, so that you can find it the next time you need it. Make sure that you label everything, so that you remember where it goes. Create a folder system for your bills so that you can get them all paid. Better yet, set up automatic payments to streamline your process. Adopt the mentality “Everything has a place, and everything belongs in its place.

Simplify

You don’t need to do everything. Find things in your routine that you can cut out so that you can do more in less time. For example, save time by cutting mouthwash out of your dental routine (you may not actually need it after all). Do quick 15 minute cleanings, and keep cleaning supplies in your bathrooms and kitchen so that you don’t have to take extra time to prepare for gather your cleaning supplies. Find other ways to simplify your routine every day so that you can be more efficient.

Throw It Out

Get rid of old clothes, mail, receipts, etc. If you have not used it in the past year, chances are you’re not going to use it in the next year, so get rid of it! Give it to a neighbor, donate it to a local charity, or just throw it away. Sit down with your children, and help them decide what toys they can give away. Go through your own closet as well and decide what you don’t need anymore.

Don’t Buy It

When you are at the store, avoid buying new unnecessary things to add to the junk in your life. Ask yourself “Do I really need this?” before you buy anything new. Check out rental options around town instead of buying something that you will only use once. For example, rent a carpet cleaner rather buying a new one that you will then have to store somewhere in your house.

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Illustration of the different activities of a mother and a child on a white background

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Spend Time With The Family

It is more important to give time to your family than it is to have a spotless house or do everything on your list. Your children will not remember how many errands you run, rather, how much time you spend with them. Take the time to play trains with your 4 year-old son and to dress up with your 3 year-old daughter. Time spent with your children is precious, so make the most of it when you can.

Make a Plan That Works For You

You can find hundreds of self-help books and articles on the internet, each with their own advice. Don’t try to do every helpful hint, as you will exhaust yourself. Find things that work for you, and ask for help when you need it.
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New Recovery Book Cover Reveal of Author, Kevin Coughlin’s Book Soon To Release!

 “Parents, do you know what your teens are doing? This will be the book you’ll need to read to know about the Drug Epidemic happening with your kids.”

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New Book Cover Reveal for “Addictions”

 

About The New Book and Author:

Addictions: What All Parents Need to Know to Survive the Drug Epidemic has been used successfully by numerous individuals, residential recovery programs, out-patient programs, professional recovery coaches, aftercare professionals, counselors, therapists, probation officers, ministries, recovery retreats, sponsors, sober companions, and family members to help them to get a deeper understanding of the disease of addiction, the solution to the problem, and the program of action that promotes change in the substance abuser.

A Support system for family and friends of substance abusers that will help to provide clarity, understanding, education, prevention, and awareness. PLEASE VISIT: The Addiction Expert  for other books written and published by Rev. Dr. Kevin T. Coughlin Ph.D., there you can join his mailing list for advanced notice on his next book.

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About The Author, Rev. Dr. Kevin T. Coughlin Ph.D.,

Rev. Kevin T. Coughlin Ph.D., DCC, DDVA, DLC, DD, NCIP, NCAMP, IMAC
Reverend Coughlin is a Founder and the Director of New Beginning Ministry, Inc., an evidence-based, twelve-step residential addiction recovery program for adults that is accredited by the A.A.C.T.. Rev. Coughlin has helped thousands of people to change their lives over the past eighteen plus years. He is an Addiction Expert, Author, Blogger/Writer at Addicted Minds and VIP Interventions, Sober Services, Inc., Contentwriters.com, Fromaddictict2advocate.com, Twodropsofink.com, small press, newspapers, magazines, websites, and he is a member of The International Association of Professional Writers and Editors. Rev. Coughlin was the Editor in Chief of  Joel’s House Publications from 1997 to 2005. He has been a Professional Associate member at Gemini Behavioral Health.

He is a two-time World Champion and nine-time National Champion and State and National Record holder power lifter, a gentle giant who has championed many in his career. Most call him Rev Kev, they enjoy his lectures and workshops on addiction, recovery, and life. Rev Kev has been very successful with pastoral counseling and recovery coaching with both those addicted and their families. Reverend Coughlin has trained many recovery professionals that have interned at the ministry. He is considered an expert on addiction and recovery. Many have utilized him as a consultant. Rev… Coughlin is a member in good standing of the A.A.C.C., The American Association of Christian Counselors, The Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling, and The National Council on Problem Gambling, NAADAC, USAPL, and IAM Minister’s Fellowship, and The International Christian Coach’s Network.

Rev Kevin is also an internationally published poet and writer, mostly on Addiction and Coaching subjects. To date, he has had over five hundred poems published. He is the founder, CEO and President of Phase II Christian Coaching, LLC, the company operates structured assisted living homes for clients in recovery. Rev Kevin is also a Nationally Certified Recovery Coach and Anger Management Specialist, a Nationally Certified Family Recovery Coach, a Nationally Certified Christian Recovery Coach and Family Recovery Coach, and a Nationally Certified Gambling Addiction Coach, Nationally Certified Case Manager, Life Coach.

Kevin also is an International Master Addictions Coach, Sexual Addiction Coach, Life Recovery Coach and Trainer. Rev. Coughlin is also a Nationally Certified and PA credentialed Interventionist. Rev Kevin also works with The Addictions Academy in Miami, Florida where he designing recovery coaching courses and manuals and is an instructor for the Academy and is now the Program Director.

Author, Kevin Coughlin volunteered his services with Break of Dawn International, Inc. He continues to further his education with The Light University, NAADAC and the Christian Coach’s Network taking several courses and webinars. The Reverend has been awarded ‘Doctorates and Diplomatic’ status: A Doctorate in Christian Counseling and a Doctorate in Divinity, a Degree in Life Coaching, in Domestic Violence Christian Advocacy, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy in Psychology. He also has a BS and an MS in Christian Counseling.

He is Board Certified with DIT Seminary in Christian Counseling with specializations in Grief, Substance Abuse, Alcohol Abuse, Family, and Developmental. He is a licensed Domestic Violence Christian Advocate, a licensed clinical Christian counselor, an AACT-DCU Associate Professor. He also is the Northeastern Vice President of the Administrative School Board.

Please visit Kevin’s Rev. Kevin Coughlin – Amazon Author Page for a list of all his books. You can also connect with Kevin on Goodreads Author on Goodreads.
His Website: WELCOME TO REV KEV’S RECOVERY WORLD
Follow him on Twitter: @new_beginning1
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*Cover Reveal Presented By Author, Catherine Townsend-Lyon ~ Recovery Advocate*

Another Couple 5 star Reviews on My Book “Addicted to Dimes”

HELLO RECOVERY FRIENDS & FOLLOWERS & NEW VISITORS,

Just thought I’d *Share* 2 more Reviews of my book. One was just posted on Amazon on 9/13/2013……I like to post them so others can understand how my book came about, and what my Recovery Blog here is all about. I hope it gives some insight to those who have not read my book yet. It is available on Amazon in both paperback & eBook for Kindle.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0984478485/  it is also on Barnes & Noble in paperback too!

YOU can also now subscribe to my Recovery Blog on the go! My blog here is now on Published Kindle Blogs! Called: Recovery Ramblins of Author Catherine Lyon. There are some really awesome blogs there on Kindle Blogs. So, here are the last 2 Reviews from
readers from Amazon Books for, “Addicted To Dimes” (Confessions of a Liar and A Cheat)…

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Addicted to Dimes (Confessions of a Liar and a Cheat) (Paperback)

It was amazing how similar our stories are. The only difference is that I am a recovering drug addict. But we went through the same trial and tribulations. Child-hood traumas, death, feelings of hopelessness, etc. If you are suffering from ANY type of addiction, You should read this. I believe it could help you understand what you are going through and that there is help out there.
And most importantly, you are not alone. With the help of others suffering the same way you are, it’s much easier than doing it alone. And even if you don’t have any type of addictive behavior. This book might help you understand what a suffering addict goes through. It might make people use less Judgement and have a little more compassion for people like us. Not that we want our behavior condoned. We just want to be a little more understood. Catherine did a GREAT job explaining all they cycles and everything that a person goes through with addiction. Thank you for writing this book!…

Ulrica G. Addict in Recovery~~Sherman Oaks, CA

5.0 out of 5 stars A true insight to what a person goes through with gambling addiction, September 13, 2013

By  grants pass neighbor – See all my reviews

This review is from: Addicted to Dimes (Confessions of a Liar and a Cheat) (Paperback)

This book was an insight for me, I never understood what the journey is like for a person dealing with an addiction. This took me awhile to complete reading because there was so much that needed to be digested to really grasp what the author was trying to tell in her recounting of her life. It was a very rough emotional journey that you feel like you are experiencing along with Cathy. I felt so many different emotions when reading this book, that at times I had to set it down because it was so intense and overwhelming. I would recommend this novel for anyone looking to understand the up and downs a person faces when dealing with a gambling addiction. I loved reading about Cathy and her life, and I also appreciated how the book was left in her words and how honest she was in telling her struggles.

I do want to note that, I met Cathy in real life, she was my neighbor for a time. She is a wonderful woman. After we talked for a while, she asked me to read her novel and write a review, so I did. But it took me forever to do so. I have to say I am sorry to her for taking so long. Cathy, it was a touching and insightful journey your story has taken me on these last few months. Thank you for sharing it with me. It gave me hope in knowing that anything can become overcome with love and trust. God bless you. Keep writing and telling your story so others will know that they are not alone and that there is hope after addiction.

**I’m really touched by these kind reviews, and it tells me that there really ARE others who understand and appreciate a REAL TRUE life story. The only condition I gave my Publisher when he wanted to take ME and My Book on to publish was, Nothing be changed of my STORY. I wanted to keep it raw and unedited. WHY? Because I want others to truly FEEL the EXPERIENCES I went through. Gambling Addiction can destroy
lives, as it almost TOOK MY LIFE along with Mental & Emotional disorders.

SO, all I ask is that you read my book, and if you like it or not, share a REVIEW. I’m also on GoodReads as well, so Reviews there would be helpful to spread the word about Addicted Compulsive Gambling. Reviews for me are not about *Rankings* or *Standings*……NO, it’s about people being educated and informed about the Dark-side of a form of “FUN & ENTERTAINMENT” that can easily become an addiction.
Because most of us addicted gamblers suffer in silence. I have NO ill will or feelings
toward others who can Gamble for FUN…..I JUST KNOW I CAN NOT……**

Author, Catherine Townsend-Lyon

“The Cruelest Lies are Often Told In Silence”
*Robert Louis Stevenson*

Another Fabulous Blog Award ~~ YES…you can be Fabulous in Recovery!

HELLO RECOVERY FRIENDS, FOLLOWERS. AND NEW VISITORS…WELCOME!,

I have decided to TURN my AWARDS POST into an NEW Awards Page….WHY?
Because my Awesome Pals keep showing me LUV and Nominating me for More of them. I’m SO Blessed and Humbled by all The Awards & Nominations I receive.

WHY?…It makes me feel GOOD that others really are interested in what I Blog about, which at times can be DULL Subject Matter to read. I TRY  to put some humor into where I can, but I missed COMEDY SCHOOL!!

I do find that MYSELF, and Many others FEEL, the only way to *SHATTER the STIGMA* around others who suffer from ANY type of Addiction, or being a person in Recovery, And/Or,  someone who BATTLES ANY type of Mental and Emotional illness, or Disorder is to SPEAK OUT about these ISSUE’S!  SO I take these Awards Seriously. So I have a permanent page for All My *FABULOUS* Blog Awards!  And I’ve been Nominated AGAIN for Another,……. so Hang on to your HATS!!

**My Fabulous Blog Awards ~~ YES…you can be Fabulous in Recovery!**

**HERE is my Newest Blogger Award Nomination**

By: ANNA ROSE  http://AnnaRoseMeeds.wordpress.com

Well, even with all the *DRAMA OF EVICTION* going on around me……I try to still Help, Encourage, Reach-out, and still *Spread *HOPE* to others who may be still stuck on the *CYCLE* of Addicted Gambling, or ANY type of Addiction. I’ve been Posting of my own *Life Challenges* going on in my Life, and the ONLY thing that keeps me Grounded, and filled with Hope & Joy is to be of Recovery Service to others NO MATTER WHAT!

AND……A very Kind follower of my Blog has NOMINATED me for *The Inner Peace Award* I love HER Blog as well.  ANNA always Shows Courage, and helps MANY with her Sharing of her True Inner feelings of *HOPE* as well, and is not SHY about Speaking OUT and Speaking Up of Recovery, Mental health & many other disorders I, and others Suffer on a Daily Basis…….Please Meet Anna and Her Blog, “ROSE WITH THORNS~~Recovery HOPE for ALL”…….SO I THANK YOU ANNA from my Heart To Yours for My Nomination!!

About

Opening My Heart to Hope

Aspergian, depressed, anxious, anorexic, past compulsive over-eater, PTSD sufferer, SIB inflictor, allergy sensitive, sleep struggler: I have had many labels placed on my in my life.  However, as a college student, I am finally beginning to see a ray of hope at the end of the tunnel.

My name is Anna Rose and the purpose of this blog is to help support and give hope to all of those struggling with any mental illness, learning disability, and hardship.  Also, those who support family or friends dealing with these issues can gain insight and ideas for caring for loved ones.

At my baptism  my mother brought a rose.  The priest told her that it was good that she brought “a real rose with thorns” because my life would be “beautiful but full of pain.”  Those words to a baby he barely knew have certainly come true.  Because of this as well as my name, roses have become an important symbol of my life and struggles.

Overall, this site is for everyone and everyone who needs a ray of light in the dark, understanding voice, and non- judgmental encouragement giver.

If you so choose, you can also follow me on these other sites.

• Twitter  –  Anna_Rose_M
• Youtube  –  AnnaRose Meeds
• Pinterest  –  Anna Rose

***HERE ARE THE DETAILS AND THE RULES OF THIS BLOG AWARD & My PICKS who I’ve Nominated!***

1.) There is ONLY ONE RULE TO THIS AWARD!!….LOL…Nominate as Many Awesome Blogs you’d like that bring your Inner Peace, Hope, and Courage, as YOU pass it to others!…….HERE ARE ALL MY BLOGS & WEBSITE I NOMINATED……..

1.) http://good2begone.wordpress.com
2.) http://jenniferbchaz.com
3.) http://www.gracepete.com
4.) http://www.gracepete.blogspot.com
5.) http://themiracleisaroundthecorner.wordpress.com
6.) http://bipolarforlife.me
7.) http://awaywithwordsblog.com
8.) http://sobergrace.wordpress.com
9.) http://Quarksire.wordpress.com
10.) http://runningonsober.com
11.) http://byebyeBeer.wordpress.com
12.) http://rossmurray1.wordpress.com
13.) http://humaninrecovery.wordpress.com
14.) http://mylifein24hours.wordpress.com
15.) http://messageinabottleblog.wordpress.com
16.) http://IwantmylifeBack.wordpress.com
17.) http://inspiredbythecomforter.com
18.) http://projectlighttolife.wordpress.com
19.) http://cogitabunda.wordpress.com
20.) http://mm172001.wordpress.com 

**Lets Always remember what the good doctor Says, “You were not born to JUST fit in, You were born to Stand Out”!!** Dr. Seuss

ALL OF my nominated Blogs & Websites are very Worthy of this award. The Truly help bring INNER PEACE to me in one way, and they Inspire ME in my Recovery!!
SO go pay them a Visit and tell them Catherine sent you……. 🙂 🙂
**To see all my Nominations for Awards, check out *MY Fabulous Blog Awards Page**
May God Bless You My Friends!  *Author, Catherine Lyon* 🙂

 

God Grant Me The SERENITY~~ Serenity Photo of the day

*This is in *Yosemite National Park,* Ca….I had the blessing of seeing it in person on a High School Trip in 1980~~at the bottom is called *Bridle Falls* where we had a Picnic for Dinner*
It was Beautiful then, and still beautiful Today! It truly does give Serenity when you are there! *Catherine*

DO NOT LET YOUR PAST DEFINE YOUR FUTURE!

*THIS is most important to Remember In Recovery! TWO things are needed to be Know…..Our Past does not define WHO we are today..at this moment, & OUR PAST of where we have been in addiction and recovery, IS A VERY POWERFUL TOOL to share with others in Recovery……*Thanks for your Post my Friend **

Not Guilty (7/16/13)

I feel this goes with a bit of what I had posted earlier Today! God Bless, Catherine….

THE RIVER WALK

Read: 1 Chronicles 22:1-23:32, Romans 3:9-31, Psalm 12:1-8, Proverbs 19:13-14

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. (Romans 3:22)

Relate: I was reading up about the Trayvon Martin case and came across a Huffington Post article talking about how many churches turned this past Sunday into “Hoodie Sunday” as they shared their various messages. This sparked a couple thoughts about faith and justification that tie in well with what Paul is talking about in Romans 3.

First of all, lets just pretend in reality that George Zimmerman is as guilty as sin. I know different people have differing opinions but for the sake of argument lets just pretend that Trayvon Martin did absolutely nothing wrong and George Zimmerman was a power hungry maniac who chose to kill him out…

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Everyday is a NEW day to be Kind & Help someone in Recovery & Life!

Hello friends and visitors!

I sometimes get asked, “Catherine, why do you spend a lot of your day helping others on your Blog??…….You do *Showcase’s & Spotlights,* you Troll the internet for New Recovery sites to share, and things”? “You could have had a few more books out by now.” Well my “Higher Power”, which I really don’t PUSH on folks, my HP is the lord Jesus Christ……and the gospel tells us, IN what ever we do in life each day, always remember the Big Show!…..The Kingdom of Heaven……The future……your Eternity in heaven!!

SEE, I don’t DO these things to GET into heaven……because I already know that it is Expected of me to be Kind, Helpful, have Compassion for others no MATTER who they are, or where they come from. They could be homeless folks, addicted peeps, a Doctor or a Lawyer,….doesn’t matter the Color of one’s skin, who their sexual partner is, or if they are a Christian or not…….AS long as they are Breathing, and on this Earth……I will be kind, generous, caring, helpful, and anything else you want to add. 🙂

I know that the lord called me down this path for a reason???……my life, my trials, my addiction, my trauma & abuse, ALL of it…..NOT to be a Victim……it was so I would have empathy for others, to care about people, and help them if need be. I have learned so much from all my life experiences, and so I *SHARE* it with others in HOPE of giving them encouragement to do the same. To be kind and helpful to others.

As far as my HP,…..he only asks so little of Me. To tell others WHY he was born, WHY he DIED, and WHY he is in Heaven with his Father, and in return, HE sends US blessings……But we only see those blessings if we have *FAITH & BELIEVE* & have a *Spiritual* Open mind and Open heart. Not by judgment of, or not helping others, turning a blind eye to what’s in front of us……….

NO…being in longer term recovery means sharing what you have learned, what skills & tools help you stay on your journey. Telling our own stories to others is our Testimony of where we have been, but just as important, where we are headed. Words are very Powerful tools to help one another in Recovery!

When I was still working in banking, I used to tell my clients that, “NO matter how much money you may have here, it could $500.000.00….or just $10.00……my clients all get treated the same, with respect, and Excellent client service!”……Because the gospel tells me….the one’s with the least……will be the first into the Kingdom…..So that is my LONG ANSWER to why I do the things I do for others…….Lets Just be KIND,….It takes WAY Less Energy!!..LOL….

**Have a Fantastic Day & Week Everyone!!** Author, Catherine Lyon ~~ 🙂 🙂

*No Recovery Post Monday*~~ Meet Author, Art Crandon*

SO, Yes….I live Life in recovery, but I’m also an author, writer, and I Love to read!! In my Short writing career I have been blessed to meet some pretty COOL and Popular writers, and this man is NO exception! He has been such a wonderful guy and so supportive of me and My Recovery! Those type of PEEPS are rare! So let me introduce you to “Arthur Crandon” and his New Release, (Which  got early!)
“Deadly Election” just launched, he lives like *The Cats Meow” in Hong Kong, and I just Love him……SSSHHHHH…Don’t tell anyone!!

Life in Hong Kong – and cats!

07/14/2013

A rubber duck in Victoria harbor – bizarre!

It’s been a hard week here in Hong Kong – it is nearly the height of the summer now, so very hot. My friends and family in the UK are always complaining about the economy, the weather, the politicians, the bad TV, the expensive restaurants and the poor service everywhere – and then about the economy again.   I do consider myself lucky to live in Hong Kong.  The economy is strong and people generally (expats and locals) have a much more positive attitude to life, the universe and everything.As a writing community we are also lucky.  Many famous writers live here, some teach in on the creative writing programmes of the Universities.  There are a couple of active writers groups who are both supportive and informative. Most writers I know here adopt the J.K. Rowling model – writing in Starbucks!  Living spaces here are very expensive – and very small and cramped, so the coffee shops are full of students (in Hong Kong students are VERY diligent) doing their homework – businessmen having meetings – and the occasional writer.

I guess Hong Kong achieved notoriety for a few short days recently when Edward Snowden stayed here while shopping around for asylum.  He stayed at the Mira hotel – a hotel I visit regularly, but I did not see him.
Now that the giant rubber duck (see picture) has gone from Victoria Harbour there is not really much exciting going on here.

Oh well, back to the writing.  I have started on the second novel in my ‘Asian Intrigue’ series.  Did you know that a lot of gold is smuggled out of the Philippines and ends up in China (via the Hong Kong)? Well, there is – and my story is about that, and the surprising spy agencies involved and the unsavoury characters they use to achieve their questionable objectives.In the meantime, my relaunched novel Deadly Election now has more than 20 reviews – an amazing total in so short a time. Here are some brief details of the book – click the cover to go to the Amazon page:

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The murder of three innocent villagers is the prelude to a tale of intrigue, deceit, greed and more murders as Senator Consuelo, an aging but ambitious politician desperately pursues his bid for the Presidency – at any cost.  He reckoned without Paul, a retired military man, who engineers his downfall.   After an unsuccessful murder attempt Paul is resolved to bring the evil man to justice.  With the help of friends in high places he manages to do so, but only just in time.   As the Senator languishes in his jail cell, others have difficult decisions to make.  The Senators fate is sealed, but there may be other ways for his family and associates.  The Senators plans for escape are brought to an abrupt and final halt.

click for more details   Arthur Crandon – click for more info

As usual – the blog would not be complete without the cats! – a duck is no substitute! I have promised many readers that I will not go another week without fur  – so here they are: If you have trouble relaxing – try watching this cute cats parade video – it works for me. click here for cats video

 

**Fantastic MJ TRIBUTE & A SWEET BOY**

I happen to be on Google+ checking out some Blog posts, and I happen to come across this video…..It gave me Goose Bumps as I watched it!! Not sure what country it is from, but you know it’s Xfactor TV Show. It is a *FABULOUS* Tribute to *Michael Jackson* I’ve EVER SEEN!! I’m not one to share video’s, but this GRAB MY ATTENTION!! Yes….has nothing to do with addiction or recovery…..look at it as Life Balance!!  *SMILE…IT’S MONDAY!!* {Click Link below to watch!}

Best Ever Michael Jackson Dance You Have Ever Seen.    Click here 🙂 🙂

*And Another GONE to Soon…….*Update*”Glee Star” Cory Monteith Dies*

**HERE IS AN UPDATE ON COREY MONTEITH**

July 16, 2013 as of 6:54 PM

• Coroner says Monteith died from overdose

  The ‘Glee’ star died from heroin & alcohol in his hotel room Saturday, says a coroner in British Columbia.

• Rep: Lea Michele grieving with Monteith family

Coroner: Cory Monteith died of heroin, alcohol overdose

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — “Glee” actor Cory Monteith died of an overdose of  heroin and alcohol, the British Columbia coroner’s office said Tuesday.

“There is no evidence to suggest Mr. Monteith’s death was anything other than  a most tragic accident,” the office said in a statement.

The 31-year-old was found dead in his Vancouver, British Columbia, hotel room  on Saturday, after he didn’t check out on time. He was believed to be alone when  he died.

Bing: Cory Monteith on  ‘Inside the Actor’s Studio’

Police said Monteith had been out with people earlier, but video and  electronic records from the hotel indicated he returned to his room by himself  early Saturday.

Monteith’s death recalled the lives of Heath Ledger, Corey Haim and River  Phoenix — actors who battled substance abuse and died in their 20s and 30s.

Monteith had talked bluntly about struggling with addiction since he was a  teenager, calling it a serious problem and telling Parade magazine in 2011 he  was “lucky to be alive.”

Monteith admitted himself to a treatment facility in April for substance  addiction, a representative said at the time. He also received treatment when he  was 19.

“Glee,” with its catchy song-and-dance numbers and high-profile guest stars  like Gwyneth Paltrow and Britney Spears, became an instant hit  when it debuted in 2009. Monteith served as the show’s resident hunk with a  heart of gold.

The Fox network and the producers of “Glee,” including 20th Century Fox  Television, have called Monteith an exceptional performer “and an even more  exceptional person.” 

Gia Milani, who recently produced and directed a Canadian film featuring  Monteith, this week said Monteith “seemed healthy” when she last saw him four  weeks ago in Los Angeles.

“He looked super fit and he was energetic and excited,” Milani said. She said  Monteith showed no signs of a substance abuse problem while shooting the film a  year ago. 😦 😦

ANOTHER *STAR* GONE TOO SOON ROCKS THE ENTERTAINMENT WORLD!!

“THE CRUELEST LIES ARE OFTEN TOLD IN SILENCE”
*Robert Louis Stevenson*

• ‘Glee’ star Monteith found dead at 31

  Cory Monteith, who portrayed Finn Hudson on the hit TV series about a high school glee club, was found in his room at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver.

• Stars react to Cory Monteith’s death
• In memoriam photo gallery | Celebs we’ve lost too soonSO…..REALLY, what’s it’s going to take to STOP the killing, the overdoses, the demons that lurk around Drugs and the people they KILL….Another young man gone to SOON??
  Another *Most Likely SUICIED*…..a wasted LIFE because of Drugs??How many more lives will the this thing called DRUG ADDICTION claim??? Yes, I know my addiction was Addicted Compulsive Gambling, but in the Recovery World we say, “addiction is addiction no matter what the type”…….One addiction can sometimes lead you to another, I know there were times when I gambled heavy, I would start drinking along with my gambling. When you tend to have an Addictive Personality* or tendencies all addictions to you can be WIDE OPEN.

  See, I just don’t get it??….Where were his family, or his close friends, or co-workers???….Could NO ONE see any signs of distress, or him looking outwardly high or acting strange???…..that is what I don’t understand. Someone must have had a red flag or feelings that he wasn’t all together???….So many unanswered questions. That’s what makes this so much more *HEART BREAKING*…….

  ‘Glee’ star Cory Monteith dead at 31
  July 14, 2013, 2:54 AM EST

  By Jethro Nededog

  Cory Monteith, who played  jock-turned-gleek Finn Hudson on FOX’s musical phenomenon “Glee,”was found dead Saturday at a Vancouver hotel. He was  31.

  The Canadian actor’s body was found just after noon at the Fairmont Pacific  Rim Hotel, said Vancouver police at a news conference Saturday night. They did  not give a cause of death, but said foul play was not suspected.

  Monteith had recently finished a stint in rehab for substance abuse, after  previously seeking help for addiction at age 19.

  “On behalf of the Vancouver Police, I want to pass on our condolences to the  family, friends, castmates and millions of fans of Mr. Monteith,” acting chief  Doug LePard said. “As was the case in countless homes, I watched ‘Glee’  regularly with my daughters, and I know there will be shock and sadness in many  households with the news of his tragic death.”

  As Finn on “Glee,” Monteith helped make it cool again to sing on scripted  shows. He served as a surrogate for those in the audience who weren’t sure about  embracing music — and delivered jaw dropping renditions of songs like U2’s “One”  and Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.”

  “We are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Cory was an exceptional talent  and an even more exceptional person,” FOX said in a statement on behalf of the  network, the show’s producers and 20th Century Television. “He was a true joy to  work with and we will all miss him tremendously. Our thoughts and prayers are  with his family and loved ones.”

  Also: In memoriam photo gallery: Cory  Monteith

  Monteith had seemed to have turned a corner recently, emerging from rehab and  appearing last month with longtime girlfriend and “Glee” co-star Lea Michele at a  charity ball.

  Police responded within minutes of receiving a call Saturday from the BC  Ambulance Service regarding a death in a room on the 21st floor of the Fairmont  Pacific Rim Hotel at 1038 Canada Place in downtown Vancouver.

  Upon arriving, paramedics advised the officers that Monteith was dead.  Coroner’s staff was also on hand.

  Officials said no cause of death was apparent, but said Monteith had  been dead for several hours before his body was discovered.

  According to the police statement, Monteith checked in July 6 and  was due to check out Saturday. Monteith had guests Friday night, but video and  key entry records show him returning by himself in the early morning, and police  believe he was alone when he died.

  Hotel staff discovered his body after he missed check-out.

  An autopsy is scheduled for Monday. The coroner will be determining the next  steps with respect to establishing cause of death, but all indications are that  there was no foul play.

  Born in Calgary on May 11, 1982, Monteith began his acting career in  Vancouver.

  An original “Glee” cast member, Monteith played Finn Hudson since the FOX  series debuted in 2009. He also stars in the upcoming independent film, “All the  Wrong Reasons.”

  The actor admitted himself into a facility for substance addiction earlier  this year and completed the treatment program in April.

  Monteith is survived by his parents, Joe Monteith and Ann McGregor, and  a brother, Shaun.

  **R.I.P**~~Corey…..You will be missed!……**

   

*A Wee Bit about my Gambling Addiction I’m Recovering from*

**WHAT IS ADDICTED COMPULSIVE GAMBLING?? **
By William Morrison, Wed, July 10, 2013~~Courtesy Of www.MyAddiction.com

In the latest edition of the Diagnostic Services Manual (DSM-5), problem gambling is classified under “Impulse Control Disorders Not Elsewhere Classified.” It is referred to as pathological gambling, but we know it best as an addiction, and this view is supported by the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG).

NCRG cites Dr. Charles O’Brien, a contributor to DSM-5:

According to Dr. Charles O’Brien, chair of the Substance-Related Disorders Work Group for DSM-5, brain imaging studies and neurochemicals test have made a “strong case that [gambling] activates the reward system in much the same way that a drug does.”

A Basic Conflict of Interest

The pathological gambler is to a casino as an alcoholic is to a bar. They become the best of customers – sitting for hours at a time, with little interest in food or distracting entertainment, and they gamble. Sometimes, they gamble until the run out of money and can’t get any more. Until they can’t write any more checks and until their credit card limit is exhausted. But the irony is that the casino is supposed to intervene when they detect such a person.

That’s right. We expect the casino to ban their most valuable type of customer. A customer so loyal they’ll spend their last nickel, go home broke and still come back for more as soon as possible.

The Black List

Problem gamblers can bar themselves from casinos. Often, as part of a treatment program, a gambler will sign up to have him or herself put on a black list. Once on, the gambler cannot get removed until a set time period has passed – usually 3 to 5 years. This is good – when it works. The lists aren’t necessarily shared across establishments and only rarely will a self-banning in one state transfer to another.

Still, the black list is a good idea. And if casinos really wanted to address the problem of pathological gambling, they’d be quick to spot these players and offer help, perhaps even blocking them from a return visit. But do they?

An Insider’s Report

In a recent re-airing of a 2012 report, National Public Radio’s ”This American Life” covered the story of a problem gambler who was loaned (over six markers) a total of $125,000. They sued her and won, not only the gambling debt, but damages for a total judgment of $500,000. Her only defense was that the casino knew she was addicted and encouraged her to keep playing – well past her means to pay.

The victim talked about casinos calling her at home, fighting with one another to get her “business.” She says she came to dread the calls, knowing they would trigger another round of the addiction cycle.

The casinos claim they operate like any business and they don’t support pathological gambling. But the radio show host interviewed one of the pit bosses and got a different story:

Sarah Koenig: [talking to a pit boss who worked at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas]: Did you ever serve gamblers that you knew personally, that you knew or suspected that they were addicted? Kristian Kunder: Yes…  There’s a lot of people who come through who are obvious. I’ve seen players gambling. And I could go home, come to work the next night, they’re still there in their same clothes, in the same seat. … Sarah Koenig:  So when he [the casino spokesperson] says, “Our objective is to try to identify addicted gamblers as best we can and encourage them to seek treatment and help,” that’s not true? Kristian Kunder: Not one bit. Not the slightest part. In no way. The only time they’ll approach a player is if they’re suicidal or something like that.

Is it a case of the fox watching the hen-house? Perhaps. Plainly, there’s a lot of money to be made serving problem gamblers. With 1 to 3 percent of US adults thought to be problem gamblers, the potential profit is huge. And 48 of our 50 states have some form of it available. (Stats here.)

As long as casinos remain immune from lawsuits, nothing will change. Bars can be sued when they serve alcohol to a drunk, but a casino cannot be successfully sued for bankrupting one of its clients – even when they should have known they had a gambling addiction.

Call Now to Speak with a Specialist

Call 877-425-7312 any time to discuss treatment

**I HAVE TO ADD THAT, I myself banned myself from one casino that is 42 miles from my home…..it back fired…..Because in THE STATE of OREGON, we have video and slot poker machines EVERYWHERE! I can right NOW go across the street to the bar and gamble on there Machines. And it’s what I did! I got addicted to the Oregon Lottery Machines, instead of going to the Indian Casino.

I can walk up a block and 1/2 to one of the MANY SO called Lottery Retailers that have 6 gambling slot/video poker machines in them at each retailer!! This makes it very difficult for recovering addicted gamblers to stay NON-COMPLACEMENT in their recovery. I go to the grocery store, I go through the check out line…..LOW & Behold, there are SCRATCH TICKETS staring at me under plexy glass while I pay for my food.

This is WHY I have posted my Permanent *Recovery Relapse Guide* on a page here on my Blog, so others can use it and Help SAFE Guard themselves…..

God Bless My Friends!   Catherine 🙂 🙂

An Open Letter To Ellen DeGeneres

If you haven’t seen this wonderful, funny blog yet….YOU NEED TOO!! Trust me, you be get *HOOKED*….I read this post and it was *SCREAMING RE-BLOGG!! So Enjoy if you haven’t seen the 100’s of it’s RE-BLOGGS ALREADY! *Catherine* 🙂 🙂

You've Been Hooked!

Dearest Ellen,

Hello. How are you? That’s great to hear, seriously. Listen, I know you’ve got a full plate in front of you right now (Okay, maybe not literally; you don’t look like you eat that much, to be honest. However, I stand by the statement.), especially considering how many challenges you have to deal with right now.

• Voicing animated fish is no mean feat. (How do they record your voice underwater anyway?)
• Arranging for Sofía Vergara to be “accidentally” deported so you can be the reigning CoverGirl has to be a lot of work.
• Teaching millions of people to dance like no one is watching while hosting a kick-butt talk show must be exhausting. And sweaty, no doubt.

Normally I use this forum to write about my life as a bellman in Niagara Falls, but today I want to write to you from my heart.

I’ve been married to…

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