Yellow Light Y2 - Intentionally putting oneself at Place of Risk ~ Caution

Some might ask how can being "somewhere" be a Yellow Light?  I mean, it's just a "place" right?

Well, for some with an addiction, just being somewhere can be the trigger.  Even though a "place" doesn't speak to you to convince you to "act out", it can actually trigger the voice in your mind that tells you what to do.

Follow me on this.  For those who suffer from alcoholism, going to a bar for happy hour may not be the smartest of decisions or going to a friends party where you know there will be alcohol.  Because at this "place" you have access to the actual thing that you are trying to break away from.  Or for those suffering from a pornography addiction, perhaps going to Hooters will trigger the feeling inside that you so crave leading to "acting out".  What about those with a shopping addiction?  Should going to the mall be on your agenda?

Now these are not hard and in stone rules.  Of course not.  Each person must decide for themselves if being at a certain place is dangerous to the undoing of their sobriety.  However, sometimes we just don't know.  Or perhaps it is so early in the recovery process that we know these "places" are triggers.

So, I would think logic would say to STAY AWAY!  You have worked so hard to finally admit your problem and start the hard work of beating this addiction, why would you place yourself in harms way?

The reason it is considered a Y2 light, "Intentionally putting oneself at a Place of Risk" is so that you are accountable for putting yourself there.  Remember, Yellow Lights are not acting out lights..these are just the flags that say..Stop and Slow Down! Consider the Implications!  What could this lead to?

Because entering a yellow light requires adding an explanation of the situation it is helpful so that your accountability partner can see the situation.  It is also helpful to begin to see patterns.  When searching over a months time, see how many yellow lights you had.  Are they all on a certain day of the week?  Do they always occur when ...

Sometimes it really is obvious - at least most often for an outsider.  But not always.  And with data at your fingertips, you can't deny the actions of your life.

So PLEASE don't be afraid to report a yellow.  Be accountable to someone for it and perhaps come up with plans on how to change why the yellow even happened so it doesn't turn into a red light in the future.


Don't have recoveryBox yet?  Make the SMALL investment and begin to see your habits change.
To download, click here.  For more information, visit the recoveryBox app website (you can always download it from there if you decide).

Random Resource ThuRsday - So I shouldn't Go "There". Now What?

This week I wrote about how just being at a location is dangerous to the undoing of our sobriety. I found a wonderful resource that talks about this and a lot more.  In this document are tons on strategies to fight the addiction.  Take a look.

For more from this recovery website, visit http://www.markhoustonrecovery.com.

Below is the section from the resource that deals with Being at the Place (the Y2) and strategies.
I am glad the author put this trigger at the top of the list.  It's why I have the Person of Risk as the Y1 and the Place as the Y2 Yellow Lights.  Warning!!  Warning!!  Use Caution here!

Relapse Trigger #1: Putting Yourself In Difficult Situations Like Visiting Your Favorite Bar Or Hanging Out With Friends Who Are Still Using

Perhaps the most difficult part of recovery is leaving behind old friends or old habits that got us into trouble in the first place. Even if we are committed to staying away from your previous group of friends or hangouts, if we don’t change our habits and interests, we can quickly find yourself with a new group of friends or hangout spots that are just as damaging to our recovery process.
Relapse Prevention Action Plan:

• Find alternative places to hang out like a local bookstore or coffee shop.
  
• Choose companions who seek a healthy lifestyle.
  
• Go to a recovery based meeting. 
  

I really do encourage you to read the rest of the pdf file.  It is loaded with strategies to help in your addiction recovery.

To download recoveryBox,visit the Apple App Store.

Random Resource ThuRsday - Inhalants

Many times when we talk about addictions we immediately think about drugs and alcohol. Thinking about inhaling something is not the first thing that comes to mind but it is one of the most easily accessible of "things" to become addicted to.

Think about it, what's under your kitchen sink? Or in your garage? Sniffing inhalants is an addiction that starts when kids are young. Yes, kids DO go in the garage and sniff a can of paint. And just one time can cause irreversible brain damage or even death. It's a horrible addiction.  Keep reading to become educated on inhalants. Parents when you talk to your kids about drugs and alcohol, don't forget this IS a drug even if it's legal to get.

To find out more visit Drug Free World's Post on Inhalants or visit their entire site.  It's filled with loads of information. 

Below is the post from Drug Free World.  Become Educated!

Group Accountability ~ Crucial to Addiction Recovery and Why It's a Green Light

Group Accountability is crucial to addiction recovery. Many posts on this blog have been about one-to-one accountability, but (and I know this is hard) it's so important to attend some sort of Group Accountability meeting.

It can be a traditional 12 Step Meeting, it can be a group therapy session, or a Celebrate Recovery meeting.  Whatever that looks like for you...but it's so important.  

It counts as a G2 - Group Accountability Light.

I mentioned that it's important to find a group that deals with similar addictions.  I will say personally I would not relate to someone who had a drug addiction while I was dealing with CoDependency.  I know from experience that Celebrate Recovery starts with everyone combined to have a worship time and then breaks apart into separate groups and most often by gender.  Others like AA meetings combine everyone together men and women. You are the only one who can decide what feels right but there IS a group that can help you out.

At most meetings you don't have to say a single word until you are ready. But as the time goes along, the reason you attend is to be able to open up, have others understand your experiences, and offer support. Not all meetings are alike - don't give up finding the right one!

Your support system ought to include others who have walked the path that you are going through.



Use recoveryBox with your group to share how your life is turning around and the Green Lights are improving (showing growth in healthy areas).  Share your yellow or red lights when ready.  There is no need to have to rethink everything since you already recorded it. Use that to reflect back at a later date and learn from those mistakes.  Then move on!

Click here to download recoveryBox from the iPhone store.

Support Beyond an Accountability Partner - Twitter and Facebook Integration IS HERE

UPDATE:: It's HERE!!

 Facebook and Twitter integration with recoveryBox. We all know support and encouragement are a huge part of addiction recovery. Infact, I believe it goes well beyond the notion of an accountability partner.

Recovery is not going to be achieved by having "will power".  Good grief if that's all it took life would be so much easier wouldn't it?  No, recovery is going to be achieved by making life adjustments in how you think, what you do, who you interact with, what you think is important and more.  Being sober is not a quick and easy thing to achieve.  It takes work.

Part of your recovery system is going to include peers, allies, friends, family, therapy members, meeting members, counselors, sponsors, and in today's day even social networks.  We need to be encouraged and supported in order to maintain sobriety.  Interacting with such individuals will eventually bring us back into the community as a healthy individual who will be ready to give back.

The more I interact with Twitter and Facebook the more I realize there are others who want to support by offering information, words of encouragement and more.  The stigma of having an addiction is slowly being chipped away and I TRULY believe social media is part of that.  

I want to make something very clear.  If you are in recovery for an addiction, you are an "individual who has an addiction".  You are not an "addict".  Dealing with an addiction does NOT define who you are.  As a person you have so much more to offer and focusing on those talents and skills and purposes will be part of you.  Allowing others to love you is part of who you are.  Offering love back is part of who you are. 

With social media outlets, it's easy to connect with others who have the same battles.  And I also believe those who are reaching sobriety milestones want to celebrate.  

And so, coming very soon (the updates are in the app store awaiting approval) is the ability to tweet on Twitter or post on Facebook the accomplishments earned in recoveryBox for being Sober as well as sticking with a treatment plan (entering lights, texting a sponsor, creating goals, working the steps).  

Not everyone is at the stage in their recovery that they want to blast to the world about their addiction, but when you are ready to share, recoveryBox will be there to help.

Choose from Twitter or Facebook if running iOS6.

 iOS 5 users can Twitter to tweet their successes.

The badge you earned will appear in the Twitter screen as well as the accomplishment that defines the badge you earned.  

And below you see Twitter.  Pops up for all your followers to see and congratulate you.  The additional feature for Facebook is the ability to post to certain groups or individuals to give you more control as to who sees it.

I really want to see badges flying all around Twitter.  

Post away on Facebook.  

Make sure to find recoveryBoxApp on Twitter so I can follow and be part of your support system. 

"Like" the Facebook" page so you can join the system of support there.

~ Be Engaged In Your Recovery  ~ Be Accountable To Yourself & Others  ~ Be Rewarded For Your Hard Work  ~ Be Supported By Many Others