September 7, 2020

We Believe Treatment Is Not a Consequence of Addiction

Posted by Pat S in Recovery
Treatment

At Jaywalker Lodge, we let our beliefs guide our actions. In fact, we let our beliefs determine everything we do here. We believe there is a solution to alcoholism and addiction. We believe that solution works. That’s been true for us, and we believe it can be the truth for anyone who comes to us. We are passionate about what we believe in, and we let that influence every choice we make and every action we take. We believe so strongly in the 12-Step program of recovery and what it’s done for us as people and as a facility to help people recover that we embrace its influence in every aspect of the Jaywalker Lodge programs. Through years of helping alcoholics and addicts find recovery and being active in recovery ourselves, we have formed some core beliefs here at Jaywalker Lodge. These beliefs are our heart, our compass, and what…

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September 5, 2020

Men’s Issues: Fear of Intimacy

Posted by Pat S in Alumni
men's fear of intimacy

Men in our society — and especially men who struggle with alcoholism and addiction — are trained to “tough it out” or “man up” or similar archaic nonsense. Because of the subculture surrounding abusive drinking and drug use, men are not allowed to have feelings, get close to people, or open up. Men are told in subtle and not-so-subtle ways that they cannot be themselves. It isn’t masculine to have emotions. It’s not manly to have close male friends — we can only have “bros” and “dudes” that we “hang” or “chill” with. We’re not supposed to have close companions with whom we can share our hopes, fears, and dreams. And as far as relationships and significant others go, forget about it. We can’t tell a person who we’re dating that we have fears, or they’ll never see us as manly again. Thank heavens these ridiculous and destructive attitudes are…

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September 3, 2020

What Can I Do When They Don’t Want Help?

Posted by Pat S in Recovery
Addiction Support

It is very common for people today to know someone who struggles with alcoholism or addiction. Many times it is a loved one or someone else we are close to, such as a family member, spouse or significant other, child, parent, or friend. The disease of alcoholism and addiction can affect anyone — and while it is surely a terrible thing for the person suffering, it is often nearly as painful and devastating for the people who love them.  Though there is an effective solution to alcoholism and addiction, not everyone who needs help will want it when it’s offered. Luckily, there is also help available for those who love someone suffering from this heartbreaking disease. If you know someone who needs recovery but isn’t ready yet, what exactly can you do about it? Thankfully, many have walked in your shoes before and can provide valuable insight. Look for Healthy…

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September 1, 2020

The Reward of Self-Discovery

Posted by Pat S in Recovery
Addiction Recovery

For many of us, the journey of knowing and understanding who we really are is the journey of a lifetime. People grow, change, and undergo transformative experiences throughout their lives. For those of us who suffer from alcoholism and addiction, we find ourselves very lost, even totally waylaid from this journey. We become fully obedient to our disease, losing all sense of direction and sacrificing our personality, dreams, joy, and growth. We lose sight of what truly matters in life, as we give more and more of who we are up to satiate our disease. That’s why it’s such a blessing to find people at Jaywalker Lodge who can help us on the path to recovery.  Mere sobriety is a wonderful start, but it’s not all most of us need to really thrive. Entering into the wider, deeper world of recovery has almost innumerable benefits, but one of the most…

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August 30, 2020

Treating Depression in Recovery

Posted by Pat S in Insights
Treating Depression in Recovery

Among alcoholics and addicts both in and out of recovery, issues of mental and emotional health are highly prevalent. All of these issues — from substance abuse and recovery to mental and emotional health problems — often have correlating causes and sources. Just as often, they have related treatments and solutions as well. Some studies claim that as many as 30% to 40% of alcoholics also suffer from depression. Likewise, one of every four 4 adults with a mental health issue also experiences a substance abuse disorder. Two-thirds of people with depression do not actively seek help. In this regard, alcoholics and addicts may be lucky, as our primary disease requires us to seek treatment and recovery in order to live. Even more luckily, the 12-Step program of recovery can help us grow and heal in ways that may make us more likely to seek treatment and help for the…

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August 29, 2020

Men’s Issues: The Hole in the Doughnut

Posted by Pat S in Alumni
Men’s Issues: The Hole in the Doughnut

At Jaywalker Lodge, we help men who struggle with achieving long-term recovery from alcoholism and addiction. We particularly seek to reach the ones who can’t seem to stay in recovery, despite the honest desire to do so. These are the Jaywalkers, just like we were. By being part of this specific population of alcoholics and addicts, and recognizing what has helped and continues to help men like us, we have identified techniques, actions, and ways of thinking that are effective. We have also been able to recognize common themes and dangerous patterns that seem to plague men who struggle to maintain sobriety. We would like to take time to address these men’s issues and share useful information and insights. This month, we have selected an extremely common fear amongst men — fear of being the hole in the doughnut. What Does a Doughnut Have to Do With Me? This fear…

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August 27, 2020

What If the Obsession to Drink or Use Doesn’t Go Away?

Posted by Pat S in Recovery
What If the Obsession to Drink or Use Doesn’t Go Away?

For alcoholics and addicts, the mental obsession to drink or use is one of the most dangerous symptoms of our disease. It is a hallmark symptom, and one from which we have all suffered. In the same way that our disease is something common among us, so too is our solution. If the 12-Steps work for one alcoholic or addict, they can work for another. Though we have the disease and solution in common, it is often the case that our recovery happens on a different timeline from person to person. This is perfectly normal. Just like with medicine, some people return to health faster and some more slowly. It doesn’t mean the medicine is bad or the person is bad — it just means that each person has their own unique and personal healing to do. Early in sobriety, it is not uncommon for us to experience vivid dreams…

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August 25, 2020

Love and Tolerance of Others Is Our Code

Posted by Pat S in Recovery
Love and Tolerance of Others Is Our Code

For most alcoholics and addicts, it was our personal relationships — with friends, family, significant others, or even strangers — that we found to be the most vexing and difficult. We couldn’t be the person we wanted to be when interacting with others, and we often seemed to cause harm even when our intentions were good. Now, in recovery, it is still often our relationships with others that cause confusion and require us to work the 12-Steps with renewed purpose. When seen from the proper perspective, our relationships with others are the most beautiful and important part of life. Few things matter more than learning how to love and treat other people well. Our loved ones, and even new friends or strangers, can add so much to our lives. People Need People, Especially in Recovery It’s a fact that we can’t work the program alone. We need other people to…

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August 23, 2020

The Importance of Versatile Trauma Treatment

Posted by Pat S in Insights
The Importance of Versatile Trauma Treatment

Amongst alcoholics and addicts, trauma is a sadly common experience. Traumatic events and experiences often go hand-in-hand with active alcoholism and addiction. The effects of trauma at any age can contribute to a rapid addictive decline. Often the mental and emotional wounds combine, creating a perfect storm of pain, seeking relief, more pain, more relief, and so on. For the lucky ones, the addiction cycle is eventually broken with sobriety. It is at this crucial point that it’s often necessary — even vital — to introduce trauma treatment in addition to the processes of recovery. Failure to address and treat trauma in conjunction with a recovery program can leave the sufferer unnecessarily vulnerable to relapse. It can also make maintaining recovery far more difficult than it needs to be. Healing is an important part of the recovery process, and healing from trauma is of particular importance. Effective Types of Trauma…

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August 21, 2020

Finding Serenity in Calamity

Posted by Pat S in Alumni
Finding Serenity in Calamity

No ocean, no matter how beautiful, is calm all the time. There will inevitably be storms. But when we sailed the ocean of life in our active alcoholism and addiction, we were sailing with a boatload of extra trouble. Now that we have entered recovery at Jaywalker Lodge, our ship is no longer making things worse. The 12-Step program and active recovery have taught us how to be better sailors and shipbuilders, so to speak. We see the ocean of life for the beautiful thing it really is. But this doesn’t mean that there will never be storms. It does, perhaps, mean we’ll be causing less of them, but life does not stop being life just because we’re sober. We simply, finally, have a design for living well and better that really works. Prepare for Rough Seas Though calamity will eventually come, we can meet it with a better attitude,…

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