Palm Partners Blog

How Alcohol Can Affect Those Around Us

palmpartners — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:48:18 +0000

Recently, Gloria James, mother of basketball great LeBron James, was arrested following a confrontation with a valet parking attendant at the Fontainebleau Hotel, in Miami. According to the police report, Gloria James was angry that her car wasn’t retrieved quickly enough, so she allegedly struck the valet across the face. It was further reported that she smelled of alcohol, adding to the speculation that she may have been intoxicated at the time of the confrontation.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first brush with the law for James, who lost her license for a year after being arrested and charged with driving under the influence in January 2006 in the family’s hometown of Akron, Ohio.

LeBron James commented that: “It is my life and there’s certain things you have to do deal with. The people around me are helping me and are helping her and we’ll be fine.” It is an unfortunate reality that alcohol can affect so many people beyond the individual who may be under the influence. Not the least of which are those closest to the person who are left to either make excuses or help to pick up the pieces after the fact.

http://palmpartners.com/about-florida-rehab-facilities.html

Mark Harrigan

Self Help and Recovery

palmpartners — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:51:50 +0000

Since getting clean, I find myself partaking of many self-help weekends and seminars. I recently spent a weekend in Fort Lauderdale attending an Anthony Robbins seminar. As you may know, Palm Partners incorporates a great deal of these philosophies into their treatment program. Similar to the other seminars I have attended over the past few years, this weekend was outstanding and I left with a new motivation for what I want out of life and with a list of areas I would to improve in.

The seminar has me thinking about my recovery and my program, and how I can apply what I learned to them. Working the steps and practicing the principals in all of my affairs is the cornerstone to staying clean, but the real gifts of the program come from seeing the changes in our lives that come from doing the work. Working the steps is paramount to staying clean, but it is important to do things outside of the program to improve the quality of our lives. By working the steps diligently and honestly, we can improve every aspect of our lives, but it never hurts to branch out and do other things in order to work on ourselves.

I am always the last one to see my defects. They may be blatantly obvious to others, but it usually takes someone else to point them out to me in order for me to work on them. That is why I enjoy spending time working on myself in addition to working the steps and meeting with a sponsor. Whether it is therapy, a self-help seminar, or a mentoring program, I suggest finding something to challenge you. This will open up new avenues for growth and will improve your overall wellbeing.

Tony Martino, Alumni Dept. Director

http://palmpartners.com/about-our-rehab-guarantee.html

AA Requires Surrender

palmpartners — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:58:33 +0000

AA requires surrender and willingness, but suppose you are not able or capable of surrender? Suppose you are oppositional, defiant and rebellious? Are you doomed or are there other paths? I propose that many people get clean and sober, then get high again and state they have relapsed; but I believe that most people that relapse have never really relapsed due to their never having recovered! My reasoning goes like this, “Addicts by their nature or just by habit, do what they want to do, when they want to do it, with who they want to do it with, anytime they want to do it.” This means that most addicts that believe they relapsed never relapsed because when they did not want to do drugs or drink they stopped and stayed stopped till they no longer wanted to do “recovery” and wanted to get “high” again. This means that there was no qualitative change in their thoughts or behaviors, for they wanted to use drugs and then they wanted to stop and stayed stopped till they gave into the wants again to get high and then they got high. This means they are just doing what they want whether it is to use or not to use -it is all the same psychic pattern.

An addict has to change this psychic pattern by learning to resist their own impulse to not do something and then they will have changed, meaning: when they learn to force themselves to attend meetings or go to church, (or what have you,) then that person has changed. But any person who has never learned to resist his own impulses has never recovered and therefore could never have relapsed.

A person who loves recovery and going to those meetings and making coffee or calling their sponsor is someone doing what they want to do and nothing, more or less, has changed in any spectacular way. But the person WHO FORCES HIMSELF TO TAKE RECOVERY ACTIONS is developing strong resistance to acting on impulse and they are in RECOVERY. For as long as they DO what they DON’T WANT TO DO, they will be working to resist the temptation or opportunity to get high. The more we practice forcing ourselves to take recovery actions that we really don’t want to do, the stronger we become. We are taking the Rebellious-Defiant-Oppositional behavior and making it an asset instead of a liability.

Gerard J. Egan, LMHC, CAP

Program Director

http://palmpartners.com/training-education-addiction-trauma-treatment.html

It’s Your Life, Play it

palmpartners — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 20:10:36 +0000

It is not what we do as we pass through life but it is who we are and how we touch others. In a world that has all the potential for greatness, there is a propensity for failing miserably. We fight, we hurt, we damage, and we fear. We do this as we feel the uncertainty and perceive it in the conscious mind as something to fear. It is learned. We were taught “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” Is it really? It is a mindset prohibitive of exploration; a world of unrelenting beauty in all of its forms. To leave the certain and adventure the uncertain makes us alive and strong as we experience life and not fear it. As we change “failure” into learning, our experience is enriched. As we are enriched in life, so then are we enlightened and rewarded. Wealth is not defined in and of itself by monetary means but by the caliber of our very existence. Wealth is all inclusive. It is the result of our experience, our enrichment, and our enlightenment as we share with others we are purposeful to the ends of what is beyond our dreamscape.

As we share with others, they are also moved to new heights of their existence. In our society we are taught to deny passion, to deny lust, to deny those fires which create the momentum of life. The reason is again fear. If we indulge our passions, engage the lust, and fuel those fires we become forever enhanced by our own internal experience. We live then in our reality and life and do not live in someone else’s. Our life is or our own design. It is our own dreams. Our own enlightenment brought to fruition. People around us will be forever changing and if we do not change with people and times, we lose what is the very essence of our lives and that is the experience of leading a life that is charmed, spoken of in tales of fantasy, and every bit as real as the very core of our being. We are not robots. We are not uncaring, unloving, unfeeling beings. We are care; we are love. We are thinking and feeling. In this lies for us all that we are and all that we may ever be.

And as we are told we live and therefore must die, the truth is life springs eternal when you and I stand up, reach out, touch others and make a difference. In these acts we will be immortalized and be in life as long as it exists. And in life you are never lost as long as someone knows where you are.

It’s your life, play It.

http://palmpartners.com/contact-palm-partners-florida-rehab.html

Trauma and Nicotine Addiction

palmpartners — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 19:28:04 +0000

Trauma & Nicotine Addiction

Have you ever been curious as to the reasons behind why people smoke? If you asked them, you might hear, “I don’t know, it’s just something to do, especially when I’m nervous about something,” or, “I know it’s not good for you, but…”

Research in the fields of sociology, addiction, and physiology; have shown that addictions can be in many cases, the result of direct emotional and physical abuse during childhood. This is a crucial stage of life in which our character traits are molded and shaped, whether for good or bad. Our adulthood, by contrast, is where we are more able to process information from our environment and make conscious decisions based on our experiences. But even this ability, can be impeded by traumatic events that occurred during youth.

One mark of addiction is cognitive dissonance, or the mental separation between the reality of a situation and what a person believes things to be. In the example above, nicotine addiction, from an emotional perspective, can be triggered by one or more traumatic events in one’s life. From a physiological standpoint, however, cells are damaged, hormone levels are shifted and cardiac and brain functions are severely altered. Hence, there is difficulty in ceasing addictive habits. One’s internal and external factors must be changed before both understanding the reasons for addictive behavior, and changing said behavior, can be accomplished.

http://palmpartners.com/contact-palm-partners-florida-rehab.html

Mark Harrigan

Exercising Using One’s Own Body Weight

palmpartners — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:54:02 +0000

Exercise can be performed using the body’s own weight which creates automatic resistance, all without the purchase of a gym membership. This can be a nice alternative to going to a gym as the gym can be expensive, and shuts us indoors where recycled air, unnatural temperatures, and loud music can be problematic.

Bodyweight exercise also builds the body in a more efficient manner and reduces strain on the musculoskeletal system, and in some cases, can assist in rebuilding the tissues. It has been shown that former NBA and NFL athletes, who are known for heavy weight training regimens, especially in the off season, begin to experience aches and pains in their joints once they retire in part because of the burden placed on them during their careers.

Below are a few modified bodyweight exercises that reveal part of an endless array of movement:

Incline Push-ups create greater resistance with one’s bodyweight and are excellent for strengthening the abdomen, triceps, and upper back.

Incline Push up

Chin-ups are best for the forearms, biceps, front shoulders, abdomen and upper back.

Chin up

Squats strengthen the quadriceps located at the front of the thighs and encourage flexibility of the ligaments and tendons in and near the knee joints. I also encourage proper posture as seen in the figure below. Squats are best when done without weights, which can place too much pressure on the tendons and ligaments in the knee joints, and may also produce wear on the knee cartilage. If you observe professional dead lifters, you see most, if not all of them, wearing knee and back braces due to injuries sustained during years of heavy weightlifting.

Squat

Walking outdoors is also good because it helps us to take in more oxygen and clear the body of impurities. We tend to move a bit faster than normal, and are exposed to fresh air and sunlight. It is a good idea to remove your shoes and walk barefoot if you walk on dirt, sand, or grass, as this massages the reflexology points on the bottom of each foot that correspond to each organ. Most importantly, if you have a loved one to walk with or even a group of people who would like to join you, enjoy it with them; this has the added benefit of lifting your spirit as well.

Walking

http://palmpartners.com/contact-palm-partners-florida-rehab.html

Beliefs and Realities

palmpartners — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:22:39 +0000

Where does a belief come from? The answer is that it is nothing more than a hunch that the person accepts as truth for themselves but it has absolutely nothing to do with reality. All a belief does is provide proof where there is none, and this can become a powerful driving force in a person. This force gets its energy from the feelings, not the facts, which are associated with the belief.

Feelings are not facts but can be accepted as facts. This can create a hell on earth for the addict or alcoholic, if they believe they “have to drink or drug” or “are bored “or “are powerless” then that is exactly the reality they create for themselves. This perception, however, can go the other way. If the addict would believe in creating a spectacular future and a new view of themselves, then that would be the reality they would create.

No one has an “Addictive Personality” but if they believe they do then they will be powerless to think otherwise. But if they have the belief that they can manage and control any situation or event, then they would have a “Resourceful Personality.” In the final analysis, each person creates their lives through the feelings they allow to dominate them. By changing those dominating feelings from disempowering ones to empowering ones, they can alter their reality and will absolutely have a “Change for Life.”

http://palmpartners.com/contact-palm-partners-florida-rehab.html

When is Enough, Enough?

palmpartners — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:21:56 +0000

When is enough, enough? There comes a point in addiction treatment where the client and practitioner come to terms with the need for more independence outside of a clinical setting. From a strict medical perspective, a client’s treatment is given by the practitioner who works with them to ensure success. Both their expertise and the client’s willingness to follow through are equally important in the process.

Once an agreement is made that the time has come to leave a clinic or other treatment location, it is important to remain focused throughout each minute of each day on the recovery process. A friend in the self-help/improvement field actually teaches this as the center of his lectures in order to train the mind to narrow its thought process enough so that emotional and mental healing occurs subconsciously. Though it takes time and effort, both of us have seen results from this method.

Focusing your thoughts and energy can be used in everyday life. Focusing on business endeavors, controlling the words we use, what we eat, and yes, even addiction, can yield positive results. Once personal accountability and observable progress is made, the prospect of a new life is close at hand. This will build the confidence necessary to be free from addiction.

Smoking Addiction

palmpartners — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:25:16 +0000

I am frequently asked if smoking addiction can be cured through natural means, what with all the patches, “fake” cigarettes, anti-smoking gum, and self-help books that have filled the market.My immediate answer is always “Yes, absolutely!” and before I can continue their face lights up wondering how they can do it. They they ask: “How can I quit?” Once they realize the level of commitment to the emotional healing process and rigorous discipline that it takes to stop and remain off of cigarettes, their shining face turns sour. Ending any type of addiction, whether it is drug related, sexual, social media, or smoking, is an ongoing, continual, and sometimes painful process.

There is no such thing as a panacea–or cure all–in the world of addiction treatment. Each case can be a trial for both the patient and the practitioner. The former is dealing with the psycho-spiritual and physical ramifications of smoking, sometimes for decades, including alienation from family members and various social settings, while the practitioner must focus on the issues surrounding the actual addiction itself, such as the patient’s relationship to their parents, siblings, and extended family, their friends, and the world at large.

The best prevention for smoking and other addictions is for the parents or guardians to avoid substance abuse in the home, which serves as the center of children’s values. Even with outside influences from their peers at school, the home can be a powerful countermeasure.

http://palmpartners.com/contact-palm-partners-florida-rehab.html

How to avoid having to say, “I could have been”, with Nick Jones and Palm Partners

palmpartners — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:51:23 +0000

My story should serve as an example; if it sounds familiar to you, get help. I could have been. That was my dilemma. I’m not certain I was born an alcoholic, but on my path to recovery I have become convinced I exhibited many of the “fine” qualities most alcoholics possess at a young age. Lying was an excellent tool, which, when implemented, helped me evade consequences quite nicely. Manipulation was also a tool I used to see that I got what I wanted, when I wanted it. Though I seemed to be functioning quite nicely, I felt out of place, and ill-fitted to life. Socially, I was more backward than most people I knew. I feel that I was an alcoholic far before the substance ever polluted my senses and eroded my body. I could have been; that was ever my dilemma.

I was an intelligent youth, well suited for a career in academics or athletics, both of which I excelled in growing up. My potential, to me, seemed endless, and most certainly meant a life of fame and fortune. Yet, as the story goes, I nearly failed out of high school, couldn’t even walk onto a third rate college football team’s “B” squad, and barely avoided a dishonorable discharge from the military. I was fired from almost every job I had, was married and divorced, burned every bridge I crossed, and lost the respect of all who know me, including myself. Alcohol found me at an early age, and what I could have been, was no longer.

Today, I am sober, and have been for a little over two years. Recovery has taken me from being a hopeless outcast from society, to an upstanding man whose eyes I can meet in the mirror. Alcohol helped bring me to my knees, but a slice of my higher power’s humble pie opened the door to a better way of living. I asked for help. I was powerless and living unmanageably, and was in desperate need of a “life skills 101” course, which I found in recovery. With prayer and humility, good people and a twelve step program, “what I could have been” is now “what I can be.” Healthy Recovery, simply stated, rocks!

http://palmpartners.com/contact-palm-partners-florida-rehab.html

Nick Jones, BHT

Palm Partners Treatment Center