Tag Archives: addiction

Is a Personal Inventory Part of Your Recovery Program?

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Doing a personal inventory is an important part of maintaining your sobriety and recovery. In fact, Step 10 suggests you do it regularly. But just how do you do it?

In The Recovery Book (page 362),  Dr. Al suggests asking yourself a number of specific questions, all sorted into our familiar Recovery Zone System categories. 

Read through the questions below, or download a printer-friendly version with space for writing. 

Recovery Activities

  • Did I have a plan for the day, and did I follow it?
  • With whom did I spend most of my time?
  • Where did I spend my time?
  • Did anything threaten my sobriety recently? What?
  • What specific work did I do on my recovery program (attending meetings, doing meditations, reading fellowship materials, or listening to recordings, etc.)?

What is Addiction? What is Alcoholism?

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Addiction is a disease of the brain. It is not due to a moral failure or a lack of willpower. It doesn’t happen because someone is a “bad” person. It is a chronic disease, just like diabetes or high blood pressure.

The first time a person takes drugs it is by choice. But over time, with continued use, the drugs “hijack” the reward system in the brain, as well as causing other changes. These  changes affect a person’s ability to make good choices and control their behavior.

In time, they are addicted: they have strong cravings for drugs and compulsively seek out more, even when they know there could be devastating consequences, such as going to jail or dying.

The picture is similar with “alcohol use disorders.” In the early days, alcohol use is optional. But over time, it becomes more important, there are strong cravings for a drink, and … Read more...