September 17, 2020

Being There for the People in our Lives

Posted by Pat S in Recovery
Recovery Support

Everybody needs somebody. Life is not only better shared with the people we love, but we all go through times in our lives when we need other people, whether it’s just for support, a kind word, or a long hug. People helping people is some of the most incredible and powerful stuff of life. For those of us who have suffered from alcoholism and drug addiction, reciprocal relationships with people can be complicated. Either we need so much help that we feel like a burden, or we so loathe the idea of needing and asking for help that we avoid people as much as we can. We either feel like we don’t have anything to offer and can’t help anybody, or we try to force our “help” in ways that cause conflict. Needing people and being needed by people can be a scary, messy, and confusing part of life for…

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September 15, 2020

Remaining Professionally Adaptable

Posted by Pat S in Recovery
Teamwork

Any professional organization that deals with the health, wellness, and healing of individuals and communities must remain alert, educated, and adaptable. While the primary and most effective treatments for alcoholism and addiction remain founded in the 12-Step program model of recovery, there are always new ways to approach people with this solution. However, it is not always that simple.  In the fields of mental health, emotional wellness, and trauma healing, there seem to always be new methodologies, new approaches for care, and new scientific information. Because of how these areas impact the overall health of a person and how they intertwine with the effectiveness of 12-Step programs, it is imperative to remain not only adaptable, but informed enough to adapt properly.  The Jaywalker Difference Luckily for those who come to Jaywalker Lodge, helping people recover isn’t just our job. It is our singular passion and our deepest calling. Every member…

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September 13, 2020

Staying Focused, Yet Flexible

Posted by Pat S in Alumni
Focus

Sometimes what we planned for doesn’t always work out the way we thought it would. It’s important to be flexible with your routine. Call (866) 529-9255.

September 11, 2020

How Can I Deal With Isolation?

Posted by Pat S in Recovery
Coping with Isolation

In these strange and unprecedented times, isolation is not only recommended but in some cases mandated or otherwise necessary. The health and safety of ourselves, our loved ones, and others currently require that we do as much isolating as possible. Though this is the safe and responsible thing to do for our physical health, it may not be so healthy for us mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Add to that the constant tornado of news, social unrest, and the alteration of everything from school to shopping to our favorite sports, and we suddenly have quite a lot to deal with. Isolation can be a potentially precarious situation, particularly for alcoholics, addicts, and people with mental and emotional health issues. So, how do we manage all these changes and keep our recovery healthy? Keep Your Recovery Routine as Normal as Possible With many meeting halls closing down and people unable or discouraged…

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September 9, 2020

Striking a Balance in Daily Life

Posted by Pat S in Lifestyle
Balancing Recovery

For most of us who are new to recovery, balance can be a very unfamiliar thing — so much so that we may even be resistant to it. A life lived in active alcoholism or drug addiction rarely has any semblance of balance, moderation, or peace. Most of us jumped between extremes in our disease, always pushing the limits. When we get sober, we may still feel the urge to seek out extremes wherever we can. We revel in emotional highs or wallow in dramatic lows. Most of us don’t seek out balance, or even like the thought of achieving balance. We may not have experienced much balance in our lives while we were drinking or using, but it can certainly benefit our lives now. What Balance Means in Recovery Seeking balance in recovery doesn’t mean that we stop feeling joy or sorrow. It doesn’t mean that we stop having…

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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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