Willingway

“No better examples of abstinence-based treatment programs than

Betty Ford and Willingway” –Dr. Harry Haroutunian, Physician Director, Betty Ford Center

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A Willingway delegation traveled to the Evolution of Addiction Treatmentconference held at the Westin LAX Hotel and conference center in Los Angeles February 5-8, 2015. This heavily…

Process Addictions & Recovery - What are Process Addictions and how do they relate to my recovery?

What are Process Addictions and how do they relate to my recovery?

Did you know that a Google search of the phrase ‘process addiction’ yields 97,000,000 results?!

A fairly new term, “process addiction” has made a splash in the world of addiction. The terms “substance abuse”, “chemical dependency”, “drug abuse”, “alcohol abuse”, and even “alcoholic” are generally self-explanatory. The term…

So much time, energy, research, and media coverage is given to addiction and the addict.  Did you know that for every alcoholic/addict, there are at least 5 people who are directly impacted by that alcoholic/addict’s disease?  In a book entitled “When Two Loves Collide”, this statistic is illustrated is numerous ways.  The author of this true story about a physician’s and his wife’salcoholism…

Relapse: "It Just Happened" - Relapse into active drinking or drug use is a process; it’s not a spontaneous event.

Relapse:  “I don’t know what happened, it just happened.”

(Ring Ring)

“Thank you for calling Willingway; may I help you?”

“I relapsed. I can’t stop using.”

“We’re glad you called and are reaching out for help. It was a big step to pick up the phone and make this call. Let’s talk about what happened.”

“I don’t know what happened…it just happened.”

This is an example of a call that we might…

Hold on just a minute! A statement like that can evoke a myriad of reactions!

We know! And we respect them all! Of course disclosure is a personal decision. For decades people usually chose to share the status of their recovery only with other people in recovery, the newcomers to the recovery group and maybe a few very close family members and friends. Ironically though, active addiction has a…

Journaling – How and Why - To discover all the benefits and possibilities, all you need to do is get started.

Have you ever been told to journal? Perhaps a therapist or sponsor or a good friend has suggested that keeping a journal would be beneficial for you in some way. Perhaps that suggestion came as a result of some conversations you’ve had related to difficult experiences or emotions. Or perhaps the suggestion was given simply as a means of self-improvement. Whatever the reason, the seed has been…

The BIG GAME is this weekend – and that means lots of Super Bowl party planning.  Did you know that statistically, 10% of the population have issues with addiction? That means there is a chance that 10% of the guest you invite to your party will either be in recovery from addiction or currently in active addiction.  If you have loved ones in recovery, you have probably pondered a few of these…

Addiction in the Workplace - Once problems related to addiction begin to surface on the job, the addiction related issues are already much worse in the addict’s personal life.

The analogy of a duck on a pond is a great illustration of how an active addict/alcoholic functions in the workplace.  Imagine if you will, a beautiful duck gliding gracefully along the surface of a pond. The duck’s movements seem effortless at first glance. In reality, just below the surface, the duck’s feet are paddling rapidly to keep the duck afloat and to uphold the appearance of the…

Willingway was recognized at the Bulloch County Boys & Girls Club’s annual meeting on Tuesday, January 21st for the generous volunteer efforts in supporting the 2014 Haunted Forest.  Willingway’s Clinical Director, Tracie Smith, received recognition and a commemorative plate for her volunteer leadership for the Haunted Forest.  The commemorative plate has special significance as it was hand…

Intervention - Is It Time? What happens when someone you love needs help and doesn't realize it?

Approximately 10% of the population is classified as an “alcoholic or addict”, and we all know someone who has been directly touched by some form of prevention or treatment for mental health or substance abuse issues.

But what happens when someone you love needs help and doesn’t realize it? What if they know they have a problem but won’t pursue help?

Addiction can become the “elephant in the…

If you are reading this post, you are probably like me in many ways…you either work in addiction treatment in some capacity, are in recovery from addiction, know or love someone either in active addiction or recovery, are generally interested in the topic of addiction, or a combination of any of the a fore mentioned.  Whatever brought you to this post, I’m grateful to have a few moments to share…

Willpower & Addiction Recovery - Why is willingness considered an essential component, and willpower a danger to 12-step recovery?

Did you make New Year’s resolutions a few weeks ago? If only making the resolution were enough to bring about change!

Below is the Stages of Change model from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), that shows the 5 stages of readiness to change. Where are you in your process of changing?

1. Pre-contemplation: Avoidance. That is, not seeing a problem behavior or…

Mandating Treatment for Alcohol & Drug Related Offenses - Varying Opinions

  Several articles recently have reported on various people receiving mandates for treatment after being charged with alcohol or drug related offenses.  There are many opinions about mandating people to treatment servicesbecause of alcohol or drug related crimes.  Some say it’s pointless to try to force an addict into recovery – saying efforts are futile if the addict isn’t ‘ready to change.’…

All or Nothing Thinking– New Year’s Resolutions Beware of the slippery slope of negative self-talk!

By Wayne Cooper

Out with 2014 and in with 2015!  The New Year brings a fresh outlook and a fresh start – a chance to make some resolutions and set some new goals.  For some people, within a few weeks or months, those resolutions will either be forgotten or fall by the wayside.  And many will chalk those failures up to being just how New Year’s resolutions go anyway.

This is a popular time for…

A recent article indicates that young adults addicted to opiates may have the best chance at long-term abstinence in residential treatment programs. The article outlines the findings of a longitudinal studyconducted by Dr. Zel Schuman-Olivier of Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard Medical School. This study looked at the effectiveness of long-term residential treatment programs for young adult…

AND THE WINNER IS…..JOHN WILLIAMSON! - Read John's reaction upon winning the Employee of the Year Award

The holiday season is in full swing at Willingway! Along with the annual staff and patient Christmas parties, we look forward to the exciting announcement of Willingway’s Employee of the Year. The entire Willingway staff submits nominations for the award – so this is a very special honor for the recipient. The winner is chosen by a tabulation of the nominations by the previous years’ winners.

At…

It's Okay to Ask - It’s time for holiday celebrations and gatherings with family and friends – and that means party planning. If you have loved ones in recovery, you have probably pondered a few of these questions:

This week’s post is for all the family and friends of people in recovery and/or active addiction.

It’s time for holiday celebrations and gatherings with family and friends – and that means party planning. If you have loved ones in recovery, you have probably pondered a few of these questions:

Is it okay to have wine/beer at the party?

Should I avoid inviting them because there will be alcohol…