Timothy Welch - EzineArticles.com Expert Author Bio

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Timothy Welch - EzineArticles.com Expert Author

I've been practicing mental health counseling and drug and alcohol addiction counseling for over 15 years. I am the author of "The Forgotten Five Steps" addiction recovery workbook which is a self-help recovery alternative to AA, NA and treatment.

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A Recovery Alternative to Current Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment
[Self-Improvement:Addictions] This article presents drug and alcohol addiction as a choice, not a disease. Instead of labeling the failure to remain sober as "the disease" we should be looking at the messages we are sending those who are seeking help. The messages these people get when they enter treatment: "You are powerless", "You will always have the disease", "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic"; lends itself to the endless struggle and failure in addiction recovery. Do some struggle more than others? Absolutely but freedom is not affected, choices don't leave and just because something is unpleasant or hard doesn't make it a disease.

Faith, Forgiveness, and God - What Does All This Have to Do With Addiction Recovery?
[Self-Improvement:Addictions] So why have faith? Why trust in God when your drinking and drug use has pulled you into the depths of despair? You may feel that you have asked God for help in the past but did not get an immediate response back. After a night of drinking or drugging you may have cried out to God for help and received nothing, no answer - silence.

Drug and Alcohol Addiction Relapse - Another Perspective
[Self-Improvement:Addictions] Telling people drug or alcohol addiction is a disease, and relapse is part of that disease, is setting them up for failure. The disease concept may discourage the drug or alcohol user from choosing and controlling what they can to improve their lives. The addicts' self-confidence will be low and emotional vulnerability high. The disease model may further victimize the addict by telling them they will never be cured and need to become even more powerless. The disease concept strips the addict of free will and puts them under the control of an imaginary disease.

Living With an Alcoholic Husband Or Spouse? How to Give the Alcoholic Help
[Self-Improvement:Addictions] Everyone struggles with difficult times in their lives and often these difficult times are caused by the behavior of an alcoholic husband or spouse. No matter what you may have been told, the alcoholic does not continue using alcohol because of something you said or did. Just because you can't just turn your back on an alcoholic husband or spouse, does not make you sick. Caring is not a disease.

A "Choice" to Quit Drinking
[Self-Improvement:Addictions] Drug addiction and alcohol addiction is not a disease, but a choice. You do not have to be a passive bystander to an imaginary disease of drug addiction or alcohol addiction; give up your will; be labeled as an alcoholic or "in recovery"; or attend meetings and treatment for the rest of your life!

Why Rock the Boat in Addiction Recovery?
[Self-Improvement:Addictions] Those who struggle with addiction recovery are finding that often the mainstream thinking isn't helping them. Three or four alcohol or drug rehabs later, many counseling sessions attended, and hundreds or even thousands of dollars spent only to find out that relapse is a part of treatment and the "disease" is with you forever! What? Then why go? If something does not produce acceptable results, why continue in it?

Chemical Dependency - The Influence of Familiarity
[Self-Improvement:Addictions] You could say that we are all creatures of habit. We go through life hacking it out the best we can. Exploring and experimenting with new things. Through experience we learn to avoid some things and hold on to others. We do this by accumulating and consolidating information.

Stop Drinking Or Using Drugs - Understanding the Influence of Fear
[Self-Improvement:Addictions] Fear is an important influence to understand for those who want to stop drinking or using drugs. To look at what you have become and acknowledge what you created would be too scary. You have used alcohol or drugs so long to buffer you from the stress and emotions of life that you wonder if you can still face life alone when you stop drinking or using drugs.