Footprints In Recovery
The Imperatives for Residents

1) Be Responsible:
You are, or are becoming, physically free of mind-altering chemicals and chemical dependency. The first imperative in recovery is Abstinence. You don’t drink or use again, no matter what! One is too many and a thousand will never be enough. You and your family have invested in this program to save your life. Now the responsibility lies squarely with you.
Having judged what you to be true about addiction, based on your experience and reflection on your experience, you now face the question, “What am I going to do about it?” Be responsible with what you do with what you have judged to be true. What commitments will you make, what risks will you take to act responsibly?

ABSTINENCE
What Are Your Strengths?
What Changes Do You Want to Make?
What Changes Do You Need To Make?
What Steps Will You Take Toward Your Future Plan?

2) Be Attentive:
Be attentive to your experiences, your senses, feelings, intuition and imagination. Are you Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired (H.A.L.T)? The HALT acronym is familiar to people in 12 step programs. It is a shorthand reminder of vulnerability to relapse when you are too hungry, angry, lonely or tired.

HUNGRY
When you were using, you probably neglected your nutritional needs. In recovery, you need to relearn the importance of eating regularly. Being hungry can cause changes in the body chemistry that actually causes anxiety and irritability. Eating regularly increases emotional stability. Are You Restless, Irritable, or Discontent? Why?
ANGRY
This one emotion is probably the most common cause of relapse to drug and alcohol use. You must learn to deal with anger in a healthy way and with regard for consequences. It is NOT healthy to hold anger in or pretend it doesn’t exist. Talking about anger producing situations and how to handle them is an important part of recovery. When Was The Last Time You Were Angry?
What Were You Afraid Of?
LONELY
Recovery can be a lonely process. Maybe you lost relationships due to your addictive behaviors. Some of those relationships may be regained, some will not. You will probably need to give up your friends who are still using/drinking now that you’re in recovery. Feelings of loneliness can be painful and make you more vulnerable to relapse. Looking Ahead, How Will You Cope With Loneliness?
TIRED
Sleep disorders are often a part of early recovery. You must give up chemical aids that you have been using to sleep. Being tired is often a trigger for relapse. Feeling exhausted, and having low energy can leave you very vulnerable and unable to function in a healthy way.
PHYSICAL

3) Be Intelligent:
The experiences of your life have meaning. But, you are not the experience. Don’t identify Yourself as the trauma, drama, or pain that you feel. It is imperative to understand how the pain of shame and guilt, and irrational thinking perpetuate the cycle of addiction. Addicts/alcoholics often share these common irrational beliefs:
1. Beliefs about the need to be loved and approved by everyone.
2. Beliefs about the need to be almost perfect or completely competent in all things.
3. Beliefs about human nature, evil, and deserving punishment.
4. Beliefs that it is awful and unbearable when things go wrong.
5. Beliefs that external events cause misery.
6. Beliefs that it is easier to avoid things than to confront them and deal with them.
7. Beliefs that the past determines the present.
8. Beliefs that pain should not occur, and life should always be good.
9. Beliefs about being helpless to control events, or the need to always control events.
10. Beliefs about the presence of a perfect love or perfect relationships.
There are only two kinds of thinking; rational and irrational. Learn to identify perceptions, to reframe irrational thinking, to refocus and to return to normal activities. You must clear away negative thoughts.

Use these questions as a Criteria for Rational Thinking:

1. Is it based on objective reality?
2. Does it get you what you want?
3. Does it help you feel the way you want to feel?
4. Does it get you into significant trouble?
5. Does it endanger your life? (or the lives of others)?

THE CYCLE OF ADDICTION
Physical
Mental or
Emotional
Pain
\/
Reaching out to an addictive agent
\/
Temporary Pain Relief
\/
Negative consequences of using
\/
Pain of guilt and shame…

4) Be Reasonable:

You quite naturally engage in the process of seeking meaning. But being aware of it and pulling it apart into discernible parts helps you to be intentional about how you understand your life and your recovery. Below are the “Five R’s” for addiction intervention, for coping, and a model for problem for problem-solving. Different people access the tools differently. What is important is learning them in the first place, understanding them, and knowing these tools are the cornerstone of recovery.
1. Recognition: is the ability to become aware of what is going on with you – internally and externally – name it, and respond to it. It is the ability to attend to and be aware of thoughts, feelings, questions, sensations, etc. that are either causing the situation or preventing you from addressing it.
2. Re-framing: is about changing and/or correcting errors in thinking once recognition of problematic thinking or misconceptions has occurred. Re-framing allows for long-term resolution of perception, mistaken beliefs, unrealistic expectations, and defensive thinking patterns.
3. Redirection: is a physical and immediate intervention, altering the current physical behavior in order to change the current signals being processed in the brain – it is a way of sort of re-starting the machinery of the brain as it is performing a certain behavior or set of behaviors. For example, sitting down if you were standing when the situation became a crisis, standing instead of pacing, or something as simple as taking three deep breaths or getting rid of the chair you always sat in when you were using or drinking – the point is a physical change.
4. Reaching Out: is about asking for help and involving others in the management of your addiction in whatever ways are necessary – both in an immediate crisis and in the long run over the course of your life. Interaction with, and feedback from others for information and clarity is imperative.
5. Refocus: is about returning to normalized activities; renewed attention to tasks at hand; and the ability to learn from events and return to what was being done.

MENTAL & EMOTIONAL

5) Be Transformed: The elements of effective intervention address all aspects of behavior and personality – personality is defined as patterned ways of thinking, perceiving and behaving. Thus, intervention addresses the processes of:
Thinking and Perceiving
Behaving and Emoting

The Twelve-Step Principles
HONESTY
HOPE
FAITH
COURAGE
INTEGRITY
WILLINGNESS
HUMILITY
HONESTY
COMPASSION
PERSEVERENCE
PRAYER/MEDITATION
SERVICE

Author : Lynn Spears

Checking-In at the Footprints In Recovery Rehab Center

Edward Bulwer-Lytton said, “The easiest person to deceive is oneself.” Residents of the Footprints In Recovery Program for rehabilitation from substance abuse and alcoholism quickly realize how prolonged addiction, substance abuse, and chemical dependency affects the mental and emotional aspects of the personality, and how irrational thinking and emotions run-riot have contributed to the destructive cycle of addiction.

Mornings at the Rehab

Every morning begins the same at the Footprints recovery house. Residents begin the day with daily readings from literature from the Twelve-Step programs of Alcoholics Anonymous, or Narcotics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery, or some other daily practice of prayer and meditation, known as the Eleventh-Step. Afterward everyone pitches in to prepare a hearty breakfast, clean the kitchen, and get set for the first recovery psycho-education group of the day.

Some mornings begin at one of the AA meetings, a group called “Turning Point” that meets in the Parish Hall of the Presbyterian Church in Kill Devil Hills, on the Outer Banks. There they hear the stories, experience strength and hope of others who have abstained from all drugs and alcohol and achieved long-term sobriety. When the group re-gathers at the Footprints In Recovery rehab facility, each individual shares in a round-robin format in a process simply referred to as “Check-In” and everyone becomes attentive to the fact that they have embarked on another 24 Hours of being clean and sober. The recovery check-in model is based on the concept that addiction has played a holistic role in damaging the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual make up of each individual addict and alcoholic in the program, and regardless of whether the chemical was alcohol, marijuana, crack cocaine, heroin or other opiates, pain-killers like Oxycontin or Percocet, or inhalants’; that rehabilitation and recovery will also include healing of mind, body, spirit, and emotions. The Footprints In Recovery residents take turns sharing with the group how they are doing in each of the holistic areas.

Most of the addicts and alcoholics who arrive at the Footprints In Recovery Rehab Center are still in the early stages of detoxification from chemical dependency. Footprints’ is not a medical facility, but does partner with detox facilities in the area and arranges the whole process as part of the rehabilitation and recovery program. Even after several days of detox, some residents arrive with symptoms of withdrawal. For instance, heroin and recovering opiate addicts might still feel some of the physical aches and pains associated with detox. In the immediate phase of abstinence, addicts might refer to what is commonly called being “dope sick”. Alcoholics who have safely detoxed, meeting the preliminary requirement of the Footprints rehab program, are sometimes still shaky or restless. Sleep disorders are fairly common early on in detoxification from chemical dependency.

Appetites are also out of kilter for most addicts and alcoholics immediately following detox, and early in the rehabilitation program phase of recovery. The nutritional meals at the Footprints In Recovery House takes into account the foods that aid the body in detoxification and renewed energy. Within a week or so, residents usually begin to settle into a balanced, healthy diet. Just as sleeping habits and appetites begin to normalize, residents are introduced to the joint exercise program between the Footprints In Recover Activities Director and the YMCA facility in Nags Head. Trainers and staff at the YMCA are available three days each week for an hour to hour and a half to assist the recovering addicts or recovering alcoholics in developing personal fitness goals. Residents are introduced to nautilus machines, free-weights, and a full gym with racquet-ball courts and two pools, one outside and one inside the main building for lap swimming. There is always an activity planned in the afternoon to engage Footprints clients in physical activity. Beach-combing, nature trails, kayaking adventures, and a popular indoor rock climbing wall for the daring!

The clinical and house techs at Footprints In Recovery take the physical well-being of each rehab client seriously. It is imperative that those recovering from addiction and chemical dependency are afforded every opportunity for healing through proper rest, activity, and diet; and the wellness program at the Footprints rehab and recovery center delivers the best!

This week we are focusing on the things that motivate us to change in our lives.

The old saying goes you go to rehab because of a nudge (by someone) a grudge (with someone) or by te judge (ordered).

Its amazing how we motivate ourselves to do so many things that really want but if we could chase the recovery like so many do things in our lives could get so much better and more sane. When things go bad in our lives we have a tendency to ask God why me? When you make the cross over to admitting powerlessness (step 1) you don’t even ask you say take over I’m done.

Have a great day everyone. Let the sunshine in your heart, it warms your soul!

Looking forward to another gorgeous day here.

Today a baby harbor seal was spotted off Jeanettes pier in Nagshead by one of our Alumni.

We have been looking forward to the great warm up so we can get outdoors more ofter and have some beach clean up action and sea glass hunting on the south end of the island. My daughter found a piece of purple which is a rare find. The ponies are out and about they must be ready for some sunshine too.

Were so proud of our sober house and their accomplishments of starting a AA meeting and it has been going very well everyone is taking turns and they have had some great speakers with long term sobriety. Please stop in its on Wednesdays nights at 7 pm.

Id like for you all to see a awesome sight video if I can download it to here if not go to Footprints In Recovery community facebook page and watch.

Have a great day everyone!!

Another beautiful day here at the beach in the Outer Banks of NC
Art class went very well with Ms Stephanie. She is amazing and helps so many with her Art and expression.

Looking forward to gym at the YMCA today and some collage posters and photographs this week.

Hope every one has a great day….

We all went bowling last night and laughed til our sunburn ached more.
Great meetings and meeting newcomers has been a blessing to everyone.

Tonight we have started a new AA meeting that is an open meeting at the sober house next door and the guys are running with joy to have to sponsor it.

Today were finished group and looking forward to getting out to enjoy the day between counselor appointments.

Maybe I’ll add some pictures of our day later. Have a good one.

Headed out to the Civil War reenactments today in Elizabeth City.
Welcome to our new girl coming in today Heather. Looking forward to our journey together in recovery, remember its a we programand together WE can overcome anything.

Have a great day everyone!

This week we focused on the Disease Concept of Addiction and were lucky to have a great new DVD to understand it in laymans terms even for our families to comprehend.

Looking forward to sharing the DVD with the families and enjoying a great weekend.

Who knows maybe some hiking in Nagshead woods with cameras for wildlife photos or if were lucky fishing for some big fish down at Oregon inlet.

Keep you posted!

The Footprints In Recovery Gang had an awesome day yesterday making the beginnings of their painting masterpieces and mutli media pictures on canvas.

I will post some pictures to see the beginnings and then of course the final projects for all to see.

YMCA day here this afternoon to work on fitness of the body, mind fitness is this am with checkin and also group this week on what motivates us in recovery and what the benefits would be in our recovery walk.

Some new comers this week and next week, hope to welcome them to a great life in recovery.

If you know someone who needs help give us a call 877-429-0713