Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour

May 16, 2009

Brian: Welcome to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery hour, I am your host Brian Fujii and my co-host Jill Mattingly is not with me today and I hope she is having a good day off, but we have a wonderful show for you, a special guest calling later in the hour, Dr. Lois Dutton, our Director of Families in Recovery at Breakthrough Addiction Recovery will be joining us. Addiction is a family disease and we will find out by looking at various components of recovery and addiction that many times families are impacted and if you are out there and have a loved one or friend that you would like to get some help or help for yourself, give us a call. 770-226-0920. Addiction problems are all across our nation today and we will look at the phases of how one moves into addiction and how family members respond.

At Breakthrough we have a program on Tuesday evenings called Families in Recovery if someone is struggling in your life and dealing with questions and problems this is a way that we might be able to help you this afternoon and talk with you and share with you some of the struggles that other families like yours may be facing and having a place to talk in a supportive and confidential manner. Our website www.breakthroughaddictionrecovery.com can give you the information you need to get in touch with us. Our number here is 770-226-0920 and if you are outside Atlanta, 1-888-920-2665.

I want to share with our audience the different phases in which someone moves into addiction. The first phase is the Introduction Phase and it is the point at which the individual goes to a party, possibly office party for the first time and exposed to the alcohol and there and beginning to think that a small amount is worth a try and no problem. They begin looking around and having a good experience and move on and if the situation stays there they really have no addiction problem, there are many that do well using alcohol and drugs responsibly and now the situation can also develop and they can move to a secondary phase, no life problems, work is going ok, family life ok, social acceptance, happy and the negative consequences are nominal. However as it progresses they move to the Maintenance Phase, we find that now they begin to have a situation where they look at the use of the drugs of choice or drink and begin having problems. Now life becomes a bit problematic and at the same time not over balanced and have still some good social response and excitement and now the problem is developing where they have some life problems and that is one distinction. Early in the first phase and the maintenance you might still call them a user and they can use but not have the consequences and at the same time if they continue to use something begins to change and at the maintenance phase they have difficulty. Tissue dependence, the person looks forward to the event and if there is a choice of a party with alcohol or one without they will choose the one with the alcohol.

Now they realize that the substance takes more and more effect. Families, many times during the introduction phase family members realize that they are having issues maybe they are not recognizing the problems and are confused by the behavior. Sometimes young adults begin to have some difficulty dealing and handling substances and sometimes it is almost an admiration of the abnormal behavior or right of passage that we see a lot through the college or going to a situation with a fraternity or sorority. If you are listening and you think you see that life is beginning to turn in a different direction and find out that your thoughts are more about using, you could be in the mid career or you just want to take an honest look, we have a program at Breakthrough and if you aren’t abusing we have what we call a Harm Reduction Program, sessions that we have covering four sessions 8 hours total and we help people take a look at what is happening in their lifestyle to curb the situation. Looks like we are coming to our break, we are today looking at addiction as a family disease and when we come back our guest Dr. Lois Dutton will join us regarding the family and how they can help.

Commercial break

Brian: Welcome back to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, we are finding that enabling from the family keeps someone in danger of drug or alcohol abuse from getting the help they need. If you are out there and you feel like this sounds familiar, give us a call. We will be asking questions of Dr. Dutton and she will talk with us about the program on Tuesday evenings at our Breakthrough Norcross location called Families in Recovery. Families of addicts face many struggles and we find denial, minimizing and chaotic home life, the alcohol and drugs create emotional barriers and

Dr. Dutton: Hi Brian nice to talk to you,

Brian: Great to have you today, we are hoping that a lot of folks call to inquire about your program. Again, to the audience 770-226-0920 give us a call and ask Dr. Lois your questions. Lois, we are talking about the addiction as a family disease and we see this so often don’t we?

Lois: We do Brian, the alcoholism and drug addiction where there is a family affects everyone and makes them have to come to grips with what is going on in their family.
Nobody escapes it and that needs to be clear that very often we hear folks say that it doesn’t affect them or their children and we know differently. Everyone in the family system is affected usually after it has gone on for some time Family members are very often left high and dry even if the individual comes to get help; they still need the family to be healed along with them. The ones that surround the person using are sitting back and not knowing what to do so we give them the education and sounding board.

Brian: I wonder when I hear about people feeling victimized and this is an interesting category some put themselves in and let’s be honest so many times the denying and minimizing keeps them from enjoying life and so how do we address that issue with the family if they want reconciliation and family intimacy again.

Lois: A part of what we have to do Brian as clinicians there is a lot of hurt and pain and the drinking and drugging individual will stop interacting and stop being a vital part and before we can put the pieces together we need to bridge the gap. We need family members to be educated and let them know what has happened to their loved one, It is a disease, and having said that what happens so often is family members can have their mind opened and it is complicated and they now know that their loved one has an illness. With that illness comes an understanding that this is not a willing act on their part so we give them the tools to use for their recovery, information, it could be genetic. We send them home to a group of people and they have no idea how new they are and the family needs to be in on this.

Brian: This is wonderful and what we are helping the audience to hear Lois is that they are not at fault. So many times I hear this and they all think that they have failed as a parent or spouse and the guilt is not healthy as if they could have changed the course of the events. 770-226-0920 again 770-226-0920 we would love to hear from you your opinions and thoughts. My special guest Dr. Dutton and I will be right back after the commercial break.

Commercial break

Brian: Welcome back to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, my special guest is Dr. Lois Dutton who leads our Families in Recovery at our Norcross location.

We are talking about how families are in recovery and impacted just as much as the loved one.

Secrecy and lying on the part of the user can cause a tremendous rift in the family and

Lois: Addiction is almost always perpetuated by secrecy and manipulation and lying and you have to build a whole system to perpetuate the addiction to make it through the day and what so often happens is that the family gets caught up in that and they secrecy spills off onto them to protect the family. They don’t want anyone to see the ugly side of what is happening. Kids stop participating with the family and spend time away from home because they don’t want to be there when the parent shows up. The family gets caught in the secrecy and the whole perpetuating myth.

Brian: we see this and so many times they don’t think the children will be impacted and we do know that we have what we call adult children of alcoholics and these are the individuals have been raised in an alcoholic family environment and carry their own scars

Lois: for a lifetime Brian. This constellation of people who are together by blood is a system that has an unbelievable ability to protect itself and hold it together and if one in the system begins to behave in a way that adversely effects everyone else, the others must find some way to protect themselves and to cope and to adjust to what is happening. We see this in the small children who know instinctively what they are supposed to do if an argument begins.

Brian: A lot of guilt and shame feeling isolated and alienated and they don’t feel comfortable having company and not knowing what to expect and I know that one of the phases there is an avoidance of the problem.

Lois: you have to have a way to protect yourself not just physically many are not abused but emotionally they do not continue to allow themselves to be bombarded with negativity and they will internalize and carry with them and thus we have an entire generation calling them adult children is really a misnomer and they are grown individuals who are still carrying the bad childhood. Very often our clients grew up in that atmosphere as well

Brian: Many of them coming into treatment were the victims of individuals who had a mom or a dad or living with someone who has victimized them by their drug or alcohol dependence.

Lois: Somewhere along the line they have adapted a system by which to live to survive and then they develop coping skills and mechanisms and they go with you for the rest of your life.

Brian: You are listening today to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery hour and the number is 770-226-0920 we are coming to the break and Lois we would love to have you stay with us and share the special component that many family members deal with in trying to fix everything. When we return you can address these components

Commercial break

Brian: Welcome back, I am Brian Fujii with my special guest Dr. Lois Dutton, leading our Families in Recovery at Breakthrough Addiction Recovery in Norcross, GA www.breakthroughaddictionrecovery.com we would love your participation today so please give us a call at 770-226-0920 and get in on the conversation. 770-226-0920. You know Lois we were talking at the break about people blaming themselves and so many times because these are unresolved issues they really feel the shame about even seeking the help and the children have grown up and now we are finding out that much of the pain that they were suffering is now being experienced because they have not dealt with the issues and families have a complex web of making choices and solving problems and sometimes they are more problematic.

Lois: The family is the kindergarten and learning how to relate to people and have relationships and how to love people and how to trust people and family learning laboratory and when family life is disrupted then somewhere along the line folks have to learn to adjust and the important thing now is and I repeat this every Tuesday night, I tell the people who come to that group that there are three C’s to family members recovery.

The first is you did not CAUSE this problem

Many have been told that if it wasn’t for the family they would not use or have a problem,

The second is You can not CONTROL

It is not within your power to control the drinking or drugging member of your family. You can not control the addictive process

The third is You can not CURE it

You can’t make this go away; you can not cure the problem.

Brian: We have a call from Jimmy in Marietta, welcome Jimmie

Jimmie: I have been using opiates off and on for the last few years and I have caused a lot of hurt in my family and my question is dealing with the family and after all I have done, basically should you renew old relationships that were in your drugging past, even if you loved them.

Lois: It depends on how important this relationship was to you. Do you want an opportunity to really renew the relationship, perhaps if not if the two of you could get some joint therapy and possibly it could show whether there is anything left to save. If not you should move on and if there is a relationship and something worth salvaging my recommendation would be for the two of you to get some therapy.

Commercial Break

Brian: Welcome back to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, I am Brian Fujii and we are coming down to the last segment of our program here with Dr. Lois Dutton as we discuss Addiction as a Family Disease.

Call us at 770-226-0920 or if you would like to visit our website today we have a lot of information about our various meetings and help we can offer to the families of addicted individuals. www.breakthroughaddictionrecovery.com and see what we can do for you.

Well Lois it sure was a pleasure having you here today to discuss these issues

Lois: Any time Brian it was good to be with you too. Remember we have our support group, Families in Recovery on Tuesday nights at 6PM at our Breakthrough location in Norcross Georgia. Come see us.

Brian: There is hope and we can help, please give us an opportunity. Have a great weekend and we will be with you next week when my co-host Jill Mattingly will be back with me.

　

BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVERY HOUR

MARCH 28, 2009

　

　

BRIAN: WELCOME TO THE BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVERY HOUR, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RELAPSE PREVENTION. FOLKS WONDERING WHY THEY CAN’T STOP AND THIS IS A CALL IN SHOW AND I HOPE THAT YOU ARE LISTENING AND IF SO GIVE US A CALL AT 770-226-0920 AND OUTSIDE THE AREA 1-888-920-2665 AGAIN THE LOCAL NUMBER IS 770-226-0920. SO

JILL: I JUST, WELL I SIT DOWN AND WE GIVE ALL OF OUR INFORMAITON AND TALK THROUGH IT AND THEN WE DECIDE TO GO OVER THE PROGRAMS WE OFFER AT THE END OF THE SHOW AND THEN WE GET DISTRACTED AND YOU ARE WAY OFF BASE AND I PULL YOU BACK, SO LET’S GO OVER OUR PROGRAMS AT BREAKTHROUGH FIRST. WE

BRIAN; SOUNDS LIKE A WINNER

JILL: WE HAVE TALKED TO SO MANY FOLKS THAT SAY THEY LISTEN TO THE SHOW AND WANT TO KNOW MORE AND IF THEY ARE LISTENING AND THIS IS REALLY MORE INFORMATION. WITH THIS ECONOMY PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN AFFORD IT. ALL OF THE THINGS THAT BRING SECURITY RIGHT NOW, SO WHAT ARE THE PROGRAMS? FREE CONSULTATION, THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE FREE AND YES WE ARE A BUSINESS TRYING TO STAY AFLOAT BUT WE FIRST OF ALL DO FREE CONSULATATIONS, SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE ASK CERTAIN QUESTIONS, NAME, WEIGHT? NO. WE SIT DOWN IN WHAT IS LIKE A MINI COUNSELING SESSION AND TALK.

BRIAN: THE FAMILY SOMETIMES COMES ALONG OR NOT AND IT IS NICE TO GET THE FULL PICTURE. WHEN PEOPLE START TALKING WE CAN HELP THEM CRAFT A SPECIFIC PROGRAM FOR THEIR NEEDS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM. SO WHAT DO WE OFFER THAT WILL MEET THE NEED.

JILL: PEOPLE WALK IN WITH A PROBLEM AND ONCE WE TALK WITH THEM, WE FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE ANOTHER TYPE OF PROBLEM. THEY ALL OF A SUDDEN SAY THAT THEY NEED THERAPY. ALL OF THIS CAN COME TO LIGHT IN THE CONSULATATION AND NO MATTER WHAT YOUR TIME OR YOUR FLEXIBILITY YOU CAN WALK OUT WITH A PLAN AND WE KNOW FROM THE SCIENCE OF TREATING ADDICTION IS THAT THE PLAN IS 50% OF THE WAY TO GET TO THE CURE. WE KNOW THERE IS NOT A MAGIC BULLET FOR THE ADDICTION BUT WE KNOW THAT HAVING THE PLAN STARTS THE INERTIA TO THE GOAL.

BRIAN: THE PIECE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT ONCE WE HAVE ASSESSED YOU AND HELP THE INDIVIDUAL SEE THE NEED. SOME COME IN TO OUR PROGRAM FOR DETOX BUT IN PATIENT OR OUT PATIENT? WE CAN PROVIDE THE OUT PATIENT BUT IF THEY ARE FACING MEDICAL THREATS, WE HAVE TO REFER THEM TO A HOSPITAL. ONCE COMPLETED THEY CAN COME BACK TO US AND BEGIN TREATMENT.

JILL: YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN, ESPECIALLY ,,THE FREE IS IMPORTANT. KNOWING WHERE YOU STAND IN THE CONSULTATION AND THE NEXT STEP. WHERE CAN I GET HELP. WE CAN HELP YOU UNDERSTAND HOW TO GET THE BALL ROLLING.

BRIAN: GET THE BALL ROLLING, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS IT IS DIFFICULT TO EVEN CALL, WE HAVE A 24/7 LINE THAT PEOPLE CAN CALL ANY TIME OF DAY TO GET INFORMATION ON OUR PROGRAM. YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE THE NUMBER IS THERE AND ALL INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY NEED, WE WILL HAVE SOMEONE TALK TO YOU AND HELP YOU WITH YOUR QUESTIONS.

JILL: I WANT TO JUST SAY YES THAT THIS IS SOUNDING LIKE A SHAM WOW COMMERCIAL BUT HERE IS THE THING, WE ARE LOOKING AT A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR PEOPLE OUT THERE. WHEN YOU START GETTING OUT THE INFORMATION AND TURN IT INTO A LIFE CHANGE IT WORKS. WE WILL THEN GO TO OUR TOPIC TODAY.

BRIAN: OUT FAMILIES IN RECOVERY IS FREE ALSO, IT IS ON TUESDAY NIGHT AT 6PM FOR FAMILIES DEALING WITH THE ADDICTION OF A LOVED ONE. THERE ARE SO MANY LIVING WITH ADDICTION IN THE HOME AND IT HAS A PERVASIVE WAY OF EFFECTING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AROUND SOMEONE.

JILL: YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE IN OUR TREATMENT CENTER TO COME, YOU WILL HAVE TO SIGN CONFIDENTIALITY FORMS AND

BRIAN: OR EVEN SOMEONE WITH A PROBLEM OF RELAPSE,

JILL: FAMILIES NEED TO TALK, TUESDAY NIGHTS AT OUR LOCATION IN NORCROSS. THE LAST FREE PROGRAM IS EVERY SATURDAY 5-6PM SMART RECOVERY. IT IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM AND WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW TO HAVE A PLACE FOR THIS GROUP. IT IS PEER LED AND NON 12 STEP GROUP. YOU HAVE RESEARCHED IT BRIAN.

BRIAN: WE LAST WEEK HAD TWO GREAT INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE PLACED THEMSELVES IN LEADERSHIP FOR SMART AND IT TRULY IS A PROGRAM WORTHY OF ATTENDING SHOULD YOU BE LOOKING FOR COPING SKILLS AND MAINTAINING YOUR SOBRIETY.

JILL: I TELL YOU WHAT I THINK PEOPLE ARE THINKING THAT FOR FREE PROGRAMS, A FREE CONSULTATION, FAMILIES IN RECOVERY AND SMART RECOVERY WHICH MEETS THREE TIMES A WEEK, TUESDAY 7:30 TO 8:30 AND THURSDAY 5-6PM, SATURDAY 5-6 PM. WE ARE GOING TO SEGUAY INTO RELAPSE PREVENTION. 770-226-0920 IS THE NUMBER AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

JILL: WELCOME BACK TO THE BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVERY HOUR, 770-226-0920 THAT IS THE NUMBER 770-226-0920 THIS IS A CALL IN SHOW APPLY DIRECTLY TO FOREHEAD. BREAKTHROUGH ADDICITON RECCOVERY HOUR, APPLY DIRECTLY TO FORHEAD. OUR MINI INFOMERCIAL FOR THE SHOW TODAY, I TALKED BRIAN INTO IT, THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING IN NORCROSS. I AM ALL FOR THIS SO LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND SOMEONE MAY HEAR WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR.

BRIAN: WWW.BREAKTHROUGHADDICTIONRECOVERY.COM, THE INFORMATION IS THERE ONLINE, YOU CAN GET WHAT YOU NEED. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE FREE PROGRAMS SO LETS TALK ABOUT THE LOWER COST FOR PROGRAMS.

JILL: WHEN MOST THINK OF TREATMENT OR REHAB AND THEY THINK MONTHS AWAY FROM HOME FOR $35 TO $45 THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THEN RELAPSE, SO THAT FEELS TERRIBLE AND YOU HAVE MADE AN INVESTMENT AND FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE FAILED. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THIS IN A FEW MINUTES. WE WANTED TO GET THIS OUT TO YOU SO SOME OF OUR LOWER COSTS WHICH REALLY ARE AS AFFORDABLE AS A WEEKLY MANI/PEDI AND GYM MEMBERSHIP.

BRIAN: A LOT OF FOLKS COME IN AND WANT TO FIND A PLACE FOR A FAMILY MEMBER COMING OUT OF INCARCERATION OR HOSPITALIZATION. THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT IS WORTH GETTING TO. WE DO KNOW THAT PEOPLE START THINKING OF OVERCOMING BAD HABITS OR BEHAVIOR AND THEY WANT TO STOP BUT DON’T KNOW HOW AND THIS IS WHERE IN OUR PROGRAM WE CAN GIVE TOOLS TO HELP THEM. WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES IS PEOPLE PLACES AND THINGS

JILL: THE OTHER IS INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, OUR THERAPISTS WHICH ARE VERY HIGHLY TRAINED AND CREDENTIALED FOCUS IN ON HOW BEHAVIOR AND ADDICTION GO HAND IN HAND. WE TAKE INSURANCE AND THERE ARE A LOT THAT LEAVE THE CLIENT WITH JUST A $25 COPAY TO SEE A HIGHLY SKILLED THERAPIST,

BRIAN: AT BREAKTHROUGH WE SPECAILIZE IN ADDICTIONS AND WE HELP PEOPLE BECAUSE THOSE IN OUR PROGRAM NOT ONLY UNDERSTAND MENTAL HEALTH THEY UNDERSTAND THE ADDICTION ISSUES AND HELP THEMSELVES.

JILL: JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS IS MAKING SOMEONE THINK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THERAPY AND THIS IS A CALL IN SHOW SO CALL US ANYTIME, 770-226-0920 THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS AND NOW GOING INTO THE MEAT OF THE PROGRAM AND THAT IS THE INTENSIVE PROGRAMS AND THE CENTERPIECE IS INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT DAY OR EVENING. MANY PROGRAMS RUN DURING THE DAY AND WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW TO OFFER EVENING GROUPS AND THAT WAY SOME HAVE NO NEED TO LEAVE WORK FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

BRIAN: MOST THAT HAVE JOBS WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT BEING INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM,,,,,,,,IT LASTS FOR FOUR WEEKS AND SO THAT IS NINE HOURS A WEEK FOR 4 WEEKS, AND THE INTENSITY YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH OVERCOMING ADDICTION AND PAYING ATTENTION TO THE OTHER OBLIGATIONS

JILL: ANTI CRAVING MEDICATIONS AND NUTRITION EDUCATION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT. THE FREE CONSULTATION GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHETHER OR NOT WHAT WE DO IS WHAT YOU NEED.

BRIAN: IT IS NEVER A COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH, WE TRY TO MEET YOU AT YOUR UNIQUE SITUATION AND WORK THE PROGRAM TO WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD AND WHAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE. WE CAN LOOK AT INSURANCE BUT SOME FOLKS AREN’T COVERED AND SOME ONLY PARTIALLY, SO WE TRY TO LOOK AT ALL OF THESE VARIABLES AND MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU.

JILL: THAT HIGHLIGHTS ALL OF IT AND THERE REALLY IS A LOT MORE. IN TALKING ABOUT IT WHEN SOMEONE LEAVES THE INTENSE PROGRAM AND GOES TO AFTERCARE, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN TEACH IS RELAPSE PREVENTION.

BRIAN: RIGHT, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME GOING OVER REARLY RECOVERY, IT HELPS TO UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE MOVE INTO ADDICTION AND TEACHING THE RULES OF RECOVERY. IF YOU WILL STOP DRINKING AND DRUGGING THE BRAIN CAN HEAL.

JILL: THINK ABOUT THE DAY TODAY. SOMEONE OUT THERE IS ASSOCIATING THE WEATHER WITH CURLING UP IN THEIR FAVORITE CHAIR WITH A GLASS OF WINE

BRIAN: OR BOTTLE

JILL: WELL, RELAPSE DOESN’T START WITH OH THERE IS A GLASS IN FRONT OF ME, WE HEAR THOSE STORIES, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SPECIFIC WAYS THE BRAIN WORKS AND A DAY LIKE THIS CAN START A CASCADE OF NEUROTRANSMISSIONS WHEN WE COME BACK WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT RELAPSE PREVENTION.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

JILL: I LUV LOUAVULL, OK NO MORE NCAA I LUV LOUAVULL AND ALTHOUGH YOU MAY NOT REALIZE IT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ADDICTION. 770-226-0920 AND THIS IS A CALL IN SHOW AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RELAPSE

BRIAN: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BRAIN CHANGE AND WHAT WE UNDERSTAND FROM RESEARCH IS THAT EVERY PERSON CHANGES THEIR BRAIN BY DRINKING AND DRUGGING TOO MUCH AND CHANGE THE CHEMICAL BALANCE IN THEIR BRAIN. WE LOOK AT THIS TO HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND, IT ISN’T LACK OF CHARACTER OR WILL POWER. WHEN THE CHEMISTRY OF THE BRAIN CHANGES AND THEN THEY CHOOSE TO STOP DRINKING THE BRAIN HAS A FANTASTIC MEMORY AND

JILL: THAT IWHY I SAY IT IS A DISEASE OF MEMORY,

BRIAN: IT IS, THE MOMROY DOESN’T GO AWAY, AND THEN THE BRAIN SAYS WHERE IS THE DRINK OR THE PILL?

JILL: WE ARE GEARED FOR SURVIVAL AND OUR BRAIN IS LOOKING FOR PLEASURE STABILITY AND SECURITY AND SO WHAT IT WILL DO IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS OR VISUAL CUES OR AUDIO CUES WILL CAUSE IT TO BRING SOMETHING TO MIND AND START A CASCADE OF CONNECTIONS THAT BRING IN WHAT WE CALL CRAVING AND YOU KNOW PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT JUST ON A DAY LIKE THIS, THE MEMORY CAN CASCADE DOWN INTO A BEHAVIOR AND THEY ARE POURING AND DON’T KNOW HOW THEY GOT THERE. WHAT WE HAVE TO TEACH IS HOW TO BE VERY AWARE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AND LOOKING AT A DAY LIKE THIS AND ASKING ABOUT THE TRIGGERS, SADNESS OR ANTSY, THE BRAIN WILL SAY THAT WE KNOW WHAT TO WORK AND THAT IS THE WINE, IT HAS ALWAYS HAD A POSITIVE EFFECT. IT IS NOT AS CLEAR AS THAT USUALLY BUT THAT IS AN INTERESTING THOUGHT AND YOU CAN GO OUTSIDE AND HAVE THE WEATHER EFFECT HOW YOUR CRAVINGS BEGIN.

BRIAN: FAMILY MEMBERS DON’T UNDERSTAND CRAVINGS. BUT TIME OF DAY IS A VERY LARGE TRIGGER FOR MOST PEOPLE. MANY SAY THAT THEIR TIME IS FROM 7 TO 12. THEY PLAN AND THINK THROUGH THEIR TIME. IT IS A BIG ISSUE THAT WE DEAL WITH AND WE TRY TO FIND WAYS TO BE ABLE TO QUALIFY OR ERADICATE THAT THOUGHT AND REPLACE IT SO THAT THE CRAVING WILL SUBSIDE.

JILL : WE TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER, YOU CAN TURN ON THE NCAA TOURNAMENT CAN BE ASSOCIATE WITH LAST YEAR WHILE YOU WERE WATCHING IT AND WHAT YOU DRANK OR WHAT YOU ATE. YOU JUST MAY BE HAVING INTENSIFIED CRAVINGS WHILE WATCHING SOMETHING THAT YOU ENJOY.

BRIAN: EXACTLY JILL, THESE ARE CALLED TRIGGERS. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYONE HAS TRIGGERS. SOMETIMES IT COULD BE FOOD, OR FAMILIAR PEOPLE.

JILL: IF YOU HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED YOUR TRIGGERS, THEN YOU BASICALLY ARE AT YOU KNOW THE MERCY OF THE TRIGGERS,

BRIAN; WE HAVE A CALL HERE,

JILL: TONY IN ATLANTA, HOW IS IT GOIN? THIS IS SOMEONE THAT KNOWS ME, OK WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND

TONY: I RECENTLY TOOK PART IN A 12 STEP PROGRAM AND WHEN IT COMES TO RELAPSE I WALKED AWAY FROM THE 12 STEP MEETING FEELING LIKE IT WAS ME AGAINST THE WORLD OR DAVID VS. GOLIATH AND THE BIG DIFFERENCE WITH BREAKTHROUGH AND SMART RECOVERY IS RELAPSE PREVENTION TOOL AND HOW IT MAKES IT MORE LIKE MULTIPLE WITH ME AGAINST THE WORLD.

BRIAN: WHAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST TRIGGERS YOU FIGHT.\

TONY: ONE FOR ME WAS LONLINESS. AND WHAT I TRY TO DO IS MAKE A GRATITUDE LIST AND TAKE FIVE MINUTES OR AN HOUR AND WRITE OUT WHAT YOU ARE THANKFUL FOR AND LOOK OVER IT AND SEE WHAT WHOULD BE EFFECTED IF YOU DID DRINK. IT IS A POSITIVE MESSAGE, IT ISN’T ABOUT BEATING YOURSELF UP IT IS ABOUT SEEING WHAT YOU HAVE.

JILL: THAT IS GREAT TONY. WHEN YOU FIRST CAME INTO THE PROGRAM SOME OF THE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE DID YOU FEEL LIKE THINGS GOT BETTER WHEN YOU STOPPED USING OR DID YOU LEARN NEW WAYS TO COPE.

TONY: I HAD TO LEARN BUT I MENTIONED I AM ABLE TO DEAL WITH MORE CLARITY.

JILL: THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

TONY: MY DRINKING WAS EFFECTING ALL AREAS OF MY LIFE AND HAD GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL AND THROUGH BREAKTHROUGH AND THE TOOLS IT WAS NICE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK.

BRIAN: TONY THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE LISTENING AND THANKS THAT YOU SHARED AND I AM SO GLAD THAT T HE PROGRAMS HAVE HELPED.

JILL: WE ARE DOWN TO A BREAK AND SO 770-226-0920 STAY WITH US WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

　

JILL: WE ARE BACK 770-226-0920 WITH BRIAN FUJII

BRIAN: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RELAPSE AND JUST TOOK A CALL FROM TONY WHO GAVE HIS EXPERIENCES, ONE OF OUR QUESTIONS WE ASK AT THE FREE CONSULTATION IS “HAVE YOU EVERY TRIED TO CUT BACK ON YOUR DRINKING?” IT CAN BE PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE THE BRAIN IS TRAINED TO EXPECT IT. WE LOOK AT REPLAPSE PREVENTION, THE TRIGGERS WHICH ARE PEOPLE PLACE THINGS EVENTS TIMES OF DAY FOR CERTAIN THINGS AND THAT IS THE WAY THE BRAIN ACTS. YOU DON’T THINK ABOUT SOME OF THESE THINGS LIKE CATASTROPHIC EVENTS. I KNOW OF SOME WHO HAD A TIME WITH DEATH OR JOB LOSS, MANY ARE FACING THAT OR RELATIONSHIP CRISES.

JILL: THERE ARE SOME GREAT WORDS HERE, ANCILLARY QUANTIFY CATASTROPHIC, OK CATASTROPHIC EVENTS ARE WHAT CAUSE PEOPLE TO CALL US. DIVORCE, DEATH, THEY CALL AND CRY FOR HELP. YOU KNOW THE TRIGGERS WE CAN REITTERATE THOSE. WHAT WE SPOKE OF EARLIER, RAINY WEATHER, THE BASKETBALL GAME, SPRING BREAK WHICH WE HAVEN’T HAD THAT DISCUSSION YET. THE THINK IS IS THAT ALL OF THESE JUST THE THOUGHT OF THEM AND PKLACEING YOURSELF IN THAT POSITION IN YOUR MIND AND START PUTTING THE BRAIN IN THE BEHAVIOR AND THEN THE USE.

BRIAN: SOME OF THE THINGS THAT TRIGGER, IF BEING AROUND CERTAIN PEOPLE CAUSES YOU TO THINK ABOUT USING, ONE OF THE THINGS WE TEACH IS HOW TO MAKE NEW FRINEDS. I KNOW THAT IS HARD BUT, IT IS AMAZING IF AT BREAKTHROUGH THEY DEVELOP POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS.

JILL: THAT IS TOUGH ESPECIALLY FOR OLKDER PEOPLE LIKE US BUT YOU KNOW IT IS EASIER TO STAY HOME AND NOT TALK TO ANYONE THAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE DRINKING, WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE.

BRAIN: WE ARE COMING DOWN TO THE BREAK, 770-226-0920 GIVE US A CALL, STAY WITH US WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

　

JILL: WELCOME BACK TO THE LAST SEGMENT OF OUR SHOW THE BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVERY HOUR, YOU KNOW WITH OUR LAST SEGMENT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RELAPSE PREVENTION AND WE MAY NEED TO CONTINUE. WE STARTED THE PROGRAM WITH OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR SHAMELESS INFOMERCIAL BUT WE NEED TO

BRIAN: BUT HELPFUL

JILL: YES, ONE OF OUR FREE PROGRAMS STARTS IN AN HOUR IN NORCROSS, IT IS SMART RECOVERY FROM 5 TO6 AND CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE AT WWW.BREAKTHROUGHADDICTIONRECOVERY.COM AND TALK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON AND IT IS A FREE CONSULTATION OR ON THE PHONE, THAT IS HOW WE STARTED THE SHO, WITH THE PROGRAMS, OBIOUSLY THAT ISN’T GOING TO GET SOMEONE TO WALK THROUGH THE DOOR

BRIAN; WELL THEY COULD BE LISTENING AND THINKING THERE MAY BE HOPE AT WHATEVER LEVEL THEY ARE COMFORTABLE AND SO MANY TIMES WHEN THEY ARE TALKING TO THE FAMILY THEY MAY SAY THAT THEY WERE ARRESTED OR IN DANGER OF LOSING A JOB. THAT MAY BE THE INITIAL REASON BUT WE HAVE SEEN IS THAT IS NOT WHAT KEEPS THEM IN RECOVERY. FEAR IS NOT ENOUGH AND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TREATMENT AND RECOVERY.

JILL: EXACTLY AND WHAT I HAVE NOTICE BRIAN WHEN SOMEONE IS COMING IN TO PLEASE THE FAMILY MEMBER IF THAT FIRST WEEK CAN BE ROCKY BUT THEN FINALLY OVER THE WEEKS THAT FOLL0OW YOU START TO RECOVERY AND TOUCH THAT PERSON WHEHERE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE IN RECOVERY FOR THEMSELVES. YOU CAN’T DRAG SOMEONE IN AND EXPECT THEM TO BE COMPLETELY COMPLIANT. IT TAKES INPUT AND TIME.

BRIAN: THAT IS WHERE THE FAMILY IS NEEDED, IT IS SO TRUE, IF A PERSON COMES IN EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE FINE…..THEY HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. WE HUNDERSTAND …”FEAR ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH.”

JILL: HONESTY AND WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE. WE LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS SHOW BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE HERE THIS THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS ANOTHER PATH. NOT JUST FOR THE LOVED ONE BUT FOR THE FAMILY.

BRIAN: IT LOOKS LIKE OUR TIME HAS RUN OUT AND WE WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATIONS NEXT TIME.

JILL: THANKS EVERYONE FOR JOINING US TODAY AND TUNE IN NEXT WEEK, REMEMBER THAT BREAKTHROUGH IS DIFFERENT AND WE CAN HELP.

BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVERY HOUR

MARCH 21, 2009

SMART RECOVERY AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS

BRIAN: WELCOME TO THE BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVERY HOUR, WE ARE HERE TODAY WITH TWO SPECIAL GUESTS, JEFF AND TONY FROM OUR SMART RECOVERY PROGRAM. IF YOU WANT TO CALL TODAY AND GET IN ON THE CONVERSATION AND GET SOME INFORMATION, CALL US AT 770-226-0920. HEY GUYS.

GEOFF: HEY BRIAN,

BRIAN: I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU GUYS HERE TALKING ABOUT SMART RECOVERY AND THIS PROGRAM HAS TAKEN OFF AT BREAKTHROUGH AND WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS IT HAS BEEN GETTING A LOT OF GOOD RESPONSE. GEOFF IS CERTIFIED TO LEAD THE SMART RECOVERY PROGRAM AND GEOFF HOW IS THAT

GEOFF: IT HAS ENABLED ME TO LEARN HOW TO RUN AN EFFECTIVE SMART RECOVERY.

BRIAN: SMART STANDS FOR

GEOFF: SELF MANAGEMENT AND RECOVERY TRAINING, IT GIVES THE PERSON THE ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES REGARDING THEIR RECOVERY.

BRIAN: WE SEE PEOPLE AT OUR FREE CONSULTS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE PROMOTE IS SMART RECOVERY. WE TRY TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THAT RECOVERY IS MULTI FACETED AND WE HELP THEM UNDERSTAND, MEDICATIONS AND ALSO VERY IMPORTANT IS THE PSYCHOEDUCATION. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT GEOFF WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVEN’T HEARD OF SMART. SHARE SOME OF THE UNIQUE FEATURES.

GEOFF: IT IS AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM TO HELP FOCUS ON THE ADDICTION AND SHARE IN A METTING SETTING THE PROBLEMS AND HOW TO COPE.

BRIAN: TONY HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SMART

TONY: SINCE COMING TO BREAKTHROUGH ABOUT A YEAR. WHAT I FIND ABOUT IT IS THAT THE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DETERMINED TO DEAL WITH THE ADDICTION AND RECOVER, NO SHAME FEELING LIKE THEY CAN TAKE THIS ON AND BEAT THIS AND THEY ARE NOT THE ADDICTION. THEY ARE GREAT HUMAN BEINGS WHO HAVE A PROBLEM AND A DISEASE THAT CAN BE TREATED AND GO ON TO LIVE FULLER LIVES.

BRIAN; WE SEE AT BREAKTHROUGH THAT YOU KNOW ADDICTION IS A DISEASE AND ATTACKS THE BRAIN AND THE PHYSIIOLOGICAL BODY AND CAUSES DESTRUCTION AND IS NOT JUST A TRAGEDY BUT A HOPE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL. IF YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, 770-226-0920 ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW IN RECOVERY IT IS NOT AN “I” PROGRAM. HAVING SUPPORT FROM THOSE WITH SIMILAR GOALS.

GEOFF: OUR GOAL IS ABSTINENCE FROM ALL DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AND THAT UH STARTS WITH GOING TO THE MEETINGS AND BEING ABLE TO EXPRESS PROBLEMS AND HAVING OTHERS HELP YOU AND IN THE EVERY DAY KIND OF SCENARIOIS AND

BRIAN: SO GLAD YOU SAID THAT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT STAYING IN RECOVERY IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT THE DISEASE. IF YOU ARE TRYING TO FIND HELP WITH YOUR ADDICTION AND NOW WE KNOW SO MANY ARE ADDICTED TO PAIN MEDICATION, WE HAVE SOME GREAT PROGRAMS AND A GREAT PLAN TO HELP YOU OR A LOVED ONE, WE ARE COMING TO THE BREAK, THE NUMBER IS 770-226-0920 AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU GIVE US A CALL AND INSIGHT. STAY WITH US.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

BRIAN: WELCOME BACK AND I AM HERE WITH MY GUESTS GEOFF AND TONY. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SMART RECOVERY, A PEER PROGRAM AT BREAKTHROUGH. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT SMART AND OUR SERVICES AT BREAKTHROUGH. GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.BREAKTHROUGHADDICTIONRECOVERY.COM AND VISIT OUR SERVICES OFFERED FOR THOSE STRUGGLING AT THIS TIME WITH ADDICTION. YOU CAN GET MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU OR A LOVED ONE AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. 770-226-0920. BEFORE THE BREAK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW BREAKTHROUGH LOOKS AT ADDICTION AS A DISEASE. WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT ADDICTION FIRST OF ALL IS A PRIMARY DISEASE AND IT IS SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT AND NOT A SYMPTOM OF ANY OTHER DISEASE AND HAS ITS OWN SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS. WE DO KNOW THAT IT IS CHRONIC AND IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE OVER IN A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS. IT IS ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AS LONG TERM AND IS VERY MANAGEABLE. WHEN SOMEONE IS STRUGGLING THEY FEEL HOPELESS, THEY TRY TO BEAT IT ALONE AND HAVE NOT HAD SUCCESS. AT BREAKTHROUGH WE KNOW THAT YOU CAN GET THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH. SOME OF THE MEDICATIONS THAT WE CAN OFFER WILL HELP IN DECREASING CRAVINGS AND THEN PROVIDE YOU WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GOOD INFO THAT WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRE AND THE WILLINGNESS TO MAKE THIS THING WORK. THE DISEASE WILL ONLY GET WORSE IF YOU DON’T ADDRESS IT RIGHT NOW. IT IS PROGRESSIVE AND OVER TIME YOUR BRAIN CHEMISTRY WILL CHANGE AND A LOT TIMES GUILT AND SHAME IS LEVIED ON FOLKS IN ADDICTION AND NOBODY GETS THE HELP THEY NEED. HERE IN ATLANTA WE WANT TO HELP THOSE THAT NEED TO GET PAST THE STIGMA AND THE GUILT AND SHAME. THERE IS HELP OUT THERE, ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ADDICITON IS A CHRONIC DISEASE AND YOU CAN GET THE HELP THAT YOU NEED. THAT IS WHY GEOFF AND TONY ARE HERE TODAY. THERE IS A PEER SUPPORT SYSTEM CALLED SMART RECOVERY. WE OFFER THIS GROUP THREE TIMES A WEEK, TUESDAY EVENINGS 7:30 TO 8:30 AND THURSDAY EVENINGS 6 TO 7 AND SATURDAY FROM 5 TO 6. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A CLIENT JUST COME TO A MEETING. YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AT OUR WEBSITE AND MEET THESE FOLKS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THE BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM ARE.

GEOFF: BRIAN DURING THE MEETINGS WE TRY TO INTRODUCE SOME SORT OF TOOL THAT THE PERSON CAN TAKE WITH THEM AND START USING IMMEDIATELY. ONE GOOD ONE IS SOMETHING CALLED THE ABCS. YOU MAY HAVE AN EVENT THAT IS GOING TO MAKE YOU ANGRY OR

THIS ACTION IS REALLY GOING TO MAKE YOU UPSET AND THROUGH LOOKING AT THE ACTION YOU CAN KIND OF FORMULATE A NEW BELIEF THAT THIS ISN’T SUCH A BAD THING AND THROUGH THAT YOU CAN HAVE AN EFFECTIVE NEW THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

BRIAN: IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS TOOL BUILDS HOPE AND NOW THEY CAN ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT WHEREAS BEFORE THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY COULD NOT STOP. THESE ACTIVIATING EVENTS COULD THEY BE AN ARGUMENT WITH A SPOUSE OR A CONFLICT AT WORK?

GEOFF: EXACTLY AND IT CAN BE ANYTHING LIKE THAT OR AS SIMPLE AS SOMEONE CUTTING YOU OFF IN TRAFFIC. OF COURSE NOT IN ATLANTA. ANYWAY, AN EFFECTIVE NEW WAY OF THINKING IS THAT MAYBE SOMEONE DIDN’T SEE ME, OR THEY WERE LATE GETTING TO WORK, ETC., THINKING IT THROUGH AND DISPUTING THE FIRST REACTION AND IT WILL TAKE A WEIGHT OFF OF YOUR SHOULDERS, THIS ANGER THAT YOU CARRY OVER INTO YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND YOUR HOME LIFE. IT IS A REALLY GOOD TOOL TO USE IN ALL AREAS OF YOUR LIFE.

BRIAN: SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE TAKING CONTROL BACK RATHER THAN THE SITUATION CONTROLLING. 7702260920 IS THE NUMBER AND WE HAVE A MINUTE LEFT BEFORE THE BREAK SO PLEASE CALL AND GET IN ON THE CONVERSATION.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

BRIAN: 770-226-0920 BE PART OF THE SMART RECOVERY CONVERSATION. I AM BRIAN FUJII WITH BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVERY. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SMART RECOVERY THAT MEETS AT OUR LOCATION IN NORCROSS. GEOFF AND TONY ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE PROGRAM HELPS THESE INDIVIDUALS STAY CLEAN AND SOBER. ADDICTION TRULY IS A BRAIN DISEASE. ADDICTION TRULY HAS IMPACTED THE BRAIN IN SUCH A WAY THAT NOW THE PERSON IS IN SOME WAY FORCED TO USE THE SUBSTANCE TO FEEL BETTER.

TONY: I RECENTLY HAD AN EXPERIENCE MY WIFE AND I WERE ARGUING AND THAT WAS THE BIG ACTIVATING EVENT AND I CAME SO CLOSE TO GOING TO A BAR AND DRINKING IT AWAY LIKE I WOULD USUALLY DO, I WAS SO CLOSE, MY KEYS IN MY HAND READY TO GO AND THEN I STARTED THINKING OF THE CONSEQUENCES, IT MAY MASK THE PAIN BUT THE END RESULT WOULD BE TO MAKE THINGS WORSE. MY WIFE WOULD BE DISSAPOINTED AND MY OWN DISAPPOINTMENT AND SO IT CHANGED MY BELIEF BECAUSE I REALIZE THAT I AWAS AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCE AND THE ACTIVATING EVENT AND THAT CHANGED MY BELIEF THAT I COULD OVERCOME IT AND DEAL WITHOUT DRINKING. SO I DECIDED TO WATCH A MOVIE AND DIDN’T DRINK.

BRIAN: I HOPE THOSE OF YOU LISTENING UNDERSTAND THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN MAKE GOOD CHOICES AND IT IS IN THESE CHOICES THAT WE ACHIEVE GOALS OF MAINTAINING SOBRIETY AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ONGOING AND A STRUGGLE BUT TONY AS YOU ARE STAYING MORE AND MORE CLEAN AND SOBER OVER TIME YOU FIND THAT LIFE IS BECOMING MORE MANAGEABLE AND YOU CAN SEE THINGS MORE OBJECTIVELY AND FEEL MORE INNER STRENGTH.

TONY: ABSOLUTELY, I SEE THE WORLD WITH MORE CLARITY AND CONFRONT MY PROBLEMS WITH MORE STRENGTH AND A LOT MORE BRAVERY

BRIAN: WITH THE TOOLS THAT YOU HAVE YOU NOW HAVE SOMETHING TO USE AND IN THE USING OF IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN NOT ONLY YOUR THINKING AND BEHAVIOR.

TONY: YEAH IT IS MUCH NICER FEELING TO WAKE UP PROUD OF OVERCOMING THAN HUNGOVER.

BRIAN: 770-226-0920, PLEASE CALL WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR INPUT AND YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING TOPIC TO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO MANAGE THEIR ADDICTION AND FIND THE HELP THAT THEY NEED. THE MORE INFORMATION YOU HAVE THE BETTER YOU WILL FEEL. GEOFF, IS THIS SOMETHING ONLY UNIQUE TO ATLANTA?

GEOFF: SMART IS A WORLDWIDE PROGRAM AND HAS 300 MEETINGS WORLDWIDE. AND WHAT IS GREAT IS THAT IT PROVIDES TRAINING FOR NEW FACILITATORS AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED YOU SHOULD COME AND CHECK OUT A MEETING AND SEE IF YOU LIKE IT AND THEN LEARN HOW TO BECOME A FACILITATOR IN YOUR OWN AREA AND WE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BE SUCCESSFUL.

BRIAN: THAT IS A WONDERFUL OFFER WHAT A GREAT IDEA. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING IN YOUR AREA YOU CAN COME TO OUR PROGRAM AND THEN TALK WITH GEOFF OR TONY AND ASK FOR HELP TO GET IT GOING IN YOUR AREA. 770-226-0920 IT LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER BREAK AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL HANG IN THERE AND BE A PART OF THIS AND TAKE A LOOK OF WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

BRIAN: WELCOME BACK, WE ARE DISCUSSING A NEW APPROACH AND IT IS CALLED SMART RECOVERY. AT BREAKTHROUGH WE ARE NON 12 STEP AND WE USE MEDICATIONS TO HELP CURB CRAVINGS ALONG WITH SUPPORT GROUPS LIKE SMART RECOVERY TO HELP MAINTAIN THAT DESIRE TO REMAIN ABSTINENCE. TONY AT THE BREAK WE SPOKE OF YOUR STORY, WOULD YOU SHARE?

TONY: I STARTED DRINKING 10 YEARS AGO, FOR 9 OF THEM I WOULD DRINK DAILY IN EXCESS. IT REALLY WHEN IT CAME TO THE POINT I REALIZED THAT I COULD NOT REMEMBER A DAY THAT I WENT WITHOUT DRINKING FOR ALMOST 8 YEARS AND I SHARED IT WITH MY FAMILY AND WITH THEIR SUPPORT AND MY WIFE AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM MY WIFE AND ALSO THE ENCOURAGMENT FROM THE PROGRAM AT BREAKTHROUGH AND SMART, THERE WAS SOMETHING FOR ME I MADE THE CHOICE TO MAKE CHANGES IN MY LIFE.

BRIAN: AS YOU TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE CHANGES DO YOU FIND THIS TO BE BENEFICIAL SUCH AS FAMILY AND WORK? DO YOU FIND THAT YOUR LIFE IS MORE MANAGEABLE.

TONY: ABSOLUTELY I LOOK AT THINGS MORE POSITIVELY AND IT IS FUNNY, MY WIFE AND I WERE TALKING THE OTHER NIGHT ABOUT HOW SHE IS HAVING TO LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH ME WHEN I AM NOT DRINKING AND SHE DOESN’T SEE THAT GUY ANYMORE. WE ARE RELEARNING OUR RELATIONSHIP AND OUR .

BRIAN: I WISH OUR AUDIENCE COULD SEE YOUR FACE. HIS LIFE REALLY HAS CHANGED FOLKS. THE SUPPORT AND THE EDUCATION THAT WE GIVE AT BREAKTHROUGH WE ALSO OFFER SOMETHING FOR FAMILIES BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO RELATE TO THE FAMILY MEMBER NOW THAT THEY NO LONGER ARE USING. WE HAVE A PROGRAM TWO IN FACT THAT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE FAMILY EDUCATION ON WEDNESDAY EVENINGS 6PM TMO 7:30 AND WE EDUCATE THE FAMILY ON THE DISEASE OF ADDICITON AND RECOVERY. THE OTHER IS FAMILIES IN RECOVERY WHICH IS STRICTLY A SUPPORT GROUP ON TUESDAY EVENINGS FROM 6PM TO 7:30 AND THEY CAN COME WITH THEIR LOVED ONE ON TUESDAY FOR SMART RECOVERY. IT IS LED BY OUR OWN DR. LOIS DUTTON WHO WORKS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS ONLY TO TRY AND FIND WAYS TO RECONNECT WITH THEIR LOVED ONES IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN NOW BE SUPPORTING THEMSELVES AND THE FAMILY. WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK ON OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND YOU CAN ALSO CALL US TODAY AT 770-226-0920 AND WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SMART RECOVERY. IT IS HELPFUL TO LOOK AT SMART AND THE ATTENDANCE. HOW MANY ARE USUALLY AT THE MEETING?

GEOFF: YOU DON’T HAVE TO TALK YOU CAN SIT AND LISTEN AND THAT IS ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS, THESE ARE UPBEAT MEETINGS AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO LISTEN TO EXPERIENCES OF OVERUSE IT IS A FOCUS ON HOW TO GAIN YOUR LIFE BACK. THAT IS THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING AND IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE YOU DON’T HAVE TO SHARE AND THERE CAN BE FROM 8 TO 10 PEOPLE AT A MEETING AND THE SUCCESS OF THE GROUPS HAVE FORCED US TO START AN EXTRA MEETING AND AS WE GROW WE WILL ADD MORE.

TONY: ALSO IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT SMART IS THAT NO ONE ROMANTICIZES THE USE OF ALCOHOL OR ADDICTION THEY ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO LIVE WITHOUT THE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.

BRIAN: I LOVE THAT, THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT. HELPING PEOPLE LOOK AT SOBRIETY AS A LIFESTYLE AND RECEIVE THE QUALITY AS A RESULT. 770-226-0920

COMMERCIAL BREAK

BRIAN; WELCOME BACK TO THE BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVERY HOUR, WE KNOW THAT SMART RECOVERY LIKE BREAKTHROUGH IS A NON 12 STEP RECOVERY PROGRAM.

GEOFF: ;IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN A 12 STEP AND ARE NOT GETTING WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF IT GIVE SMART A CHANCE AND WE CAN GIVE YOU THE TOOLS THAT CAN HELP YOU NO MATTER WHAT IT IS. WE CAN GIVE YOU THE TOOLS TO HELP OVERCOME THE ADDICTION.

BRIAN; SO IT DOESN’T MATTER THE ADDICTION?

GEOFF: THAT IS RIGHT BRIAN.

BRIAN: AT BREAKTHROUGH WE WOULD WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT THE ISSUES CAN BE MANAGED. AS TONY SAID HIS WIFE IS NOW LEARNING HOW TO RELATE TO HIM AGAIN. WE TEACH THIS AT BREAKTHROUGH, WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVATION.

TONY: IT IS NICE TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND FEEL ALIVE AND ENERGIZED.

BRIAN: WE ALSO TEACH THAT OF HOW THE BRAIN CHANGES AND ALSO THE HOPE IS THAT YOUR BRAIN CAN HEAL. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE MARVELOUS BODY HAS HIGH RECUPERATION POWER AND ….WE FIND OUT WE CAN GET BETTER, TRULY MANAGE OUR DISEASE. I WANT TO CLOSE WITH A COUPLE OF THINGS. WE TALK OF ADDICTION AND IT IS A PROBLEMATIC THING BUT I SEE THE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE SHARED, THIS IS ONE OF THE TOOLS, IT IS CALLED TOOLS FOR HAPPINESS., DON’T BLAME OTHERS, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING YOURSELF HAPPY. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

TONY: I BELIEVE SIMPLY FOR ME MAKING A DECISION NOT TO DRINK IS A WAY TO KEEP MYSELF HAPPY AND I DON’T HAVE A REASON TO BLAME MYSELF OR OTHERS FOR MAKING ME UNHAPPY MY DRINKING MAKES ME UNHAPPY AND MY CHOICE NOT TO MAKES ME HAPPY.

BRIAN: GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY. I HOPE THIS HAS HELPED YOU AND IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.BREAKTHROUGHADDICTIONRECOVERY.COM, JOIN US NEXT WEEK, WE ARE DIFFERENT AND WE CAN HELP. THANKS FOR LISTENING.

BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVERY HOUR

MARCH 14, 2009

RECOVERING FROM PAIN PILL MEDICATIONS

Brian: Welcome everyone to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, my name is Brian Fujii and my co-host is Jill Mattingly. Today we are discussing the issues surrounding pain pill medications and the situations surrounding them.

Jill: That’s right Brian, and I wanted to say why we are doing this show because we have been seeing a lot of folks in our office in Norcross and it wasn’t like they are looking for the drugs they get the prescription and using a medication that was for a specific problem and then found out that it did more for them and didn’t see a problem. We are also getting calls here Brian and people listening to our show. With all of the people out there we need to address this a little bit more,

Brian: Yes, last week, we had calls coming in about the pain meds and our aging society with pain issues and we are seeing oral surgeries, back surgeries and could be listening and wondering if the pain medication has been used too long. What happens when you have to stop? If you are listening and would like to participate in the conversation please call us, 770-222-0920 again the number is 770-226-0920 and if you are outside the area 1-888-920-2665. Jill one of the things we see at our offices is people are coming in of all ages and so it is not a condition that is age specific. They begin using pain medication to calm themselves and even energy .

Jill: Let’s clarify that we are not talking about the illegal opiate the heroin and things like that we are talking about prescription drugs that are also called narcotics made from the opiate and actually you may have some in your medicine cabinet at home like oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphene, these are all in the category. Their trade names are vicodin, percocet, and such that people perk up for when they are looking for them. It is very easy when you have a root canal or a herniated disc in the back or neck, a car accident injury, um, there are so many reasons to receive the medications that are well within the realm of good medicine. Interestingly enough Brian, many times after surgical procedures it was expected to have pain in healing and now in our culture we have developed medications that have developed into a whole area of medicine, pain management. So now there is alarm if there is pain at all, an arthritic joint, 50 years ago people were in pain chronically and living full lives, we have now trained people to not accept pain in any form, so that enters into a difficult era. My engineer is laughing, especially for a physician, if you don’t believe in pain meds for a bad hip and if someone is still walking and aches at night, that is not an issue for a pain medication maybe an analgesic. So we enter into the difficult era and people don’t accept the pain in healing.

Brian: So true not for the physical pain or the emotional pain. Sadness, frustration, worry, they don’t like to have that,

Jill: Right, and now we have financial environment, foreclosures, people feel emotional pain and increased stress and we know that opiates can hit a place in the brain that can relieve that. 770-226-0920 call us if you have a question or comment about prescription pain pills and the problems with dependency and the problem of coming off of a pain medication. People don’t realize that everyone is different. Some feel real good when on them and energized and then as it wears off, they don’t go seeking it but they remember the positive feeling. There are people like me that can take a small amount of pain meds and get sick.

Brian: You will never be dependent. Some people become addicted and others don’t because of the physiological reactions that people have to different types of drugs or alcohol.

Jill: Hopefully if you are listening you will take this bit of truth and understand a bit more about addiction but one thing I want to say addiction is a brain disease of memory. When you have a positive situation in the brain with the release of neuro transmitters the brain remembers that it can relieve whatever ails you. So, many times the disease of memory deals with many complex things however, I think that it is interesting when we talk about pain medication.

Brian: When we return we will talk about drug memory and that is a powerful piece of how people move from using to dependence. 770-226-0920 is the number and we will be right back.

Commercial Break

Jill: Welcome back to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, 770-226-0920, my name is Jill Mattingly and we are sitting together talking about pain pill addiction and as I look outside and that song of Fleetwood Mac, everything seems so heavy right now, but how do you lighten up the subject.

Brian: In some way we can say there is hope if you are suffering in this web of using pain meds for other reasons than pain. This program can help you and give you direction.

Jill: Some of the saddest situations in treatment are the person caught up in web of opiate addiction and it is powerful in terms of how it directs your thoughts and your life. You have everything you need in that one pill and when it is missing or there are no more, your whole body will follow suit.

Brian: We know that the biggest reason for not stopping is they can not tolerate withdrawal. It is so uncomfortable and that is another reason why it is so difficult.

Jill: The number to call if this is something you are experiencing. 770-226-0920 please call in if you want to make a comment. Our website contains a secion on opiate treatment and if you look around there is “One Man’s Story” or “Paul’s Story” this is a fascinating journey of someone who didn’t mean to but ended up in dependency on prescription drugs and he tells an amazing journey of going for a root canal receiving vicodin and his wife had been given pain meds also and he realized that just taking one or two of those a night, was like drinking a glass of wine and enabled him to enjoy the kids and not stress about money and everyone liked him more and he didn’t mean to make this into an abuse or dependency problem but reading the story you see the journey and down to 22 doctors that did not know about each other. This is extremely doable and people are doing it every day.

Brian: Mark in Cumming is on the line. Hey Mark

Mark: Hi, I am blessed, I just want to comment and I want to hear the response. I went through a divorce two years ago and I was kind of a party drinker after the divorce and got to a point where I would get off work and drink three or four every day and I did that for about 6 months and on the weekends heavier. It got to the point where I was tired of feeling like garbage every morning, so I quit, Does this happen? Do I have a drinking problem?

Brian: You were into binge drinking but at the same time we see that you had personal problems and dealing with a chemical. What we would like for you to do is take a look at the pattern and that is why you can quit. You didn’t cross the line into dependence.

Mark: That makes sense.

Jill: Abuse can look many ways but in your emotional struggle the neurochemicals made you feel better but unfortunately the next day you didn’t. You can feel good when you are doing it and for you were able to put the brakes on. You are very fortunate in that case.

Mark: My biggest problem was my kids, I love them so much and one day I realized I didn’t get to see them and I am remarried happily and very seldom touch the alcohol and you have a great weekend, thanks for your time.

Jill: When you look back at your own situation like Mark, that is a good question where were you in the scheme of dependency and abuse. Many ask when they come in for a consultation they don’t think there is a problem and maybe they don’t need treatment and by talking we can help you understand where you are on that slippery slope and Mark is very very fortunate and not many can pull back.

Brian: You do see this a lot. Cutting back hardly ever works. 770-226-0920 the number to call and we are talking about addiction related to prescription pain killers. Some do this to just feel energetic and not for pain at all. This is a huge issue.

Jill: The medical model now is more along the lines of helping people manage pain and the translation is in the mind of the patient that they should not feel any pain. Physicians are controlled tightly by how they prescribe or give the medication and not take the time to educate the patient about how and when it should be used. I mean people can actually take a bottle of pills and use them for other matters and feel better and on about day 7 the pain is over and so they stop taking the meds and lo and behold they are having withdrawal symptoms. As an internal medicine PA I have had people talk about how horrible they feel. They need to be educated. 770-226-0920 please call we want to hear from you.

Commercial Break

Jill: 770-226-0920 Opiate addiction is difficult to treat because opiates have a natural receptor in the brain and the brain loves opiates and actually our bodies make our own called endorphins and then when you take something like an opiate derived from the poppy plant you can see how pleasurable this is to the brain. Opiates do for us more than just ease the pain, they ease anxiety and insomnia and they do help detach from difficult emotional situations and deaden your emotions and help with depression and so when it comes to that if you don’t know this about opiate medication it is a really good reason to go and research what your doctor is giving you for your surgery. We advocate education about your medication.

Brian: As we take a look at the education component this is the age of information and we need that. Another piece is that when a client comes in and they are trying to detox from their meds and put on anti-craving meds the studies have shown that they can stay off of those drugs and not only important to have medication but education. So many times people take something for pain without having pain. They take it for stress and anxiety and so we need to find out what is going on in these various emotional issues.

Jill: A breeding ground for opiates is depression and anxiety. They will take the medicine from a few weeks ago for a tooth extraction. There is a dangerous behavior because this is the way opiates and the brain work. The neurotransmitters create a memory for the brain and then you get the desired result.

Brian: We look at addiction as a brain disease and opiates as you said creates the emotional memory. The brain knows exactly where to go to and digs up that memory and that gets them back into using.

Jill: I would like to talk to people that are really their ears have perked up and they are taking a few hydrocodone a day because it is there and thinking that it is helping you get through the day and maybe taking at least 8 if it is a bad day. It may be time to start looking at why you are doing this. What do you feel like when you start to cut back. Let’s talk after the break. 770-226-0920

Commercial Break

Jill: Welcome back we are the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour and we are talking about opiates, pain killers, how it feels to stop taking them and the feeling that comes over you. That body ache as if you were getting the flu and then the aches become much more intense and your heart begins racing and you are so uncomfortable you feel like you have to pace and you are restless, that’s not the flu. We need to help you understand that is a withdrawal from narcotics. That is a withdrawal from the medicine taken religiously for the last six months. People don’t realize the more they take the medication, the more sensitive they are to a pull or a strain. If they had just taken Advil after working in the yard, now they feel as if they need the vicodin or percocet. There are people with true pain from ruptured discs and things like that, what I am talking about now is how the use becomes very cavalier and no thought given to the fact that the pain is not that deep.

Brian: If they are already having trouble with physical pain and then the emotional they will become frustrated and take the medication to ease the emotional pain. They don’t want to face withdrawal and are struggling with emotions that are hard to manage.

Jill: The client will feel bad for a day and try to take Tylenol and go to bed early and then they may feel better in a day or so. They might miss work or worse they might try to go to work in withdrawal and that can be very dangerous. So, you could actually move through this and maybe two or three days later have the understanding that they don’t ever want to be going through this again, and that might do it. Unfortunately, those that come to Breakthrough usually have a problem and have said I can’t walk away from it and that is where our program comes in.

Brian: Now they are struggling with a drug dependence and in our free consultation we see the struggles with this type of addiction or abuse of pain medication and if you are one of those people listening today, it is a free consultation and we can talk about all of the different options and so for example if someone is struggling with this addiction we can help them not only help with detox but also getting them the very important psychoeducation and they can begin understanding what is happening to them.

Jill: You have the medication from your doctor, go back to him and talk about your problem and he or she might refer you to an addictionologist to be able to come off of the opiate or narcotic and sometimes that is the only way to do it without ending up in the ER because of the withdrawal being so intense. So, I encourage you to talk to your doctor. We have an addictionologist that works with us that can help you step down off of the drugs and address your problem.

Brian: 770-226-0920 and we are talking about pain medications and prescription drugs that have caused addiction or abuse. If you or a loved one is struggling, it is not hopeless we can help you.

Jill: I understand this is a somber problem and it is hitting many households. Paul, who has struggled out of the depth of pain pill addiction and when you hear the amounts that he was taking you will be shocked. 770-226-0920. We are actually we might have a caller. I want to tell you about the internet story of Paul on our website. He actually got to the point where he was taking about 30 or so pills a day of vicodin.

Brian: Most folks can not comprehend that. That is so horrible

Jill: 90 pills usually in a prescription for a month or two is gone in three days. Which is why you have to go to a doctor or different doctors to get what you want. A creative person can go a long way and addiction gets your brain driving you into places you would have never dreamt of going. We have a few calls…..Derek in Gwinnett

Derek: Hey how are you. I know after taking so many oxycodones, even though I feel better I just couldn’t stop and now withdrawal, the cold sweats, um from um,

Jill: Derek people need to know that at first you are taking them for the feeling, then you keep taking them and the switch does come so that you are taking them to not get sick. How are you doing with that,

Derek: I was tying to ease off of them and the pain got worse, and it scared me with the cold sweats and nausea

Jill: You were in withdrawal and I am glad you saw it as a negative, we have to talk to some other callers, thanks for calling, people needed to hear what you went through. Take Care, we have got to take a break and we will talk to more listeners.

Commercial Break

Brian: Welcome back we have a caller, Cove in McDonough welcome.

Cove: This is for my mother, we lost my sister and my mother is taking the medication and everyone can tell this is not healthy and I am kind of well,

Jill: Cove let me stop you, you don’t need to read the scripts on the air, we are heading into the last of the program. Hold on and I will talk to you after we are off the air.

To our listening audience, call us and talk to someone over the phone, let us help educate you to the symptoms and it is your health so take responsibility we are there to help you.

Brian: Thank you for listening today, that is it for this week’s show and again www.breakthroughaddictionrecovery.com, our offices are in Norcross, GA and we would be happy to sit down with you in a free consultation so call us, 770-734-8091.

　

BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVERY HOUR

FEBRUARY 14, 2009

WOMEN IN DENIAL

Jill: Absolutely, almost like being in love it’s Valentines Day. Welcome Atlanta to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, I am Jill Mattingly and here with me today is Dr. Lois Dutton and it was easy to get her here today since neither of us had anything to do on Valentines Day.

Lois: Right,

Jill: You know we are going to talk about valentines day first then our unique position to talk about valentines day which is being women now we are going to have our own views and then we will go further and discuss what alcohol and drug abuse is like for women. It is very different and there are gender differences and since the show revolves around addiction we are going to take a women’s perspective and I would like to use the title of southern women in denial. How are you today lois?

Lois: I think valentines was invented for women, men don’t care.

Jill: Our engineer is agreeing, whole foods has figured out that men forget and I went by to get some things and there is a sidewalk sale on flowers and candy and they have completely taken over and they will wrap too. All of these guys in line and

Lois: They saw the date on their morning paper and thought they had better get themselves out to shop at the grocery to get off the hook, right? The southern women waiting at home will treat him like he is king even though they know he bought them something at the grocery store.

Jill: I am sure whole foods liked the plug. Valentines Day made for women and I think some guys get into it I know of one particular guy and not going to say his name who said he has a weekend planned. He is few and far between,

Lois: His mother raised him right, she got him to the point where they will be different from all others (laugh)

Jill: From a woman’s perspective you could say exactly what you did last valentines day and could tell you the worst one and the best one of their life and like me might still have some from the second grade stuffed away in the keepsake box.

Lois: If you laid them out Jill you could tell the different phases that you went through in your love life growing up and older by the valentines you saved because the ones that are important are the ones you keep and you write on the outside the year because you will get forgetful and women those kinds of memories are the things that our lives are really made of.

Jill: Right, it is important to understand that we tend to make emotional memories much more readily than our male counterparts. Bringing up emotional memory and gender differences with this day abnd talking about how women react to certain things happening in their lives and how they react when they have a problem with alcohol or drug abuse, think about this, we have families impacted by financial problems and the woman reacts differently than the male in the family and before we go into talking about the different reactions I want to give out the phone number for questions or talking about your best or worst valentines day, we are a call in show, 770-226-0920 and we promise to talk to you but what I want to ask Lois in talking about the families how is the Families in Recovery Program at Breakthrough?

Lois: We have been going for about 5 weeks and we have had individuals show up for the program because of the radio advertising and come in and meet with the group and talk about the kinds of issues going on apart from the individual in their lives that is actually using and we have had some really deep emotional conversations, parents, wives, children and it is an eclectic group and some consistent individuals back each week as we go further along in the program and we are not structured and we come in and listen to what people are talking about and some share and why they are there and we have been able to use that as a jumping off point just to talk about such issues as communication and talk about boundaries and responsibility and control and all of those things that happen in the dynamics of a family.

Jill: It is a program that we have going on right now that Dr. Dutton facilitates and it is called Families in Recovery and it is free. It is free to the listening public and free to the people in Atlanta, and you do not have to have someone in our program at Breakthrough and it is held on Tuesday evenings from 6pm to 7:30 and the only thing you have to do is sign an confidentiality statement because of the nature of the group. It is a powerful group and when someone is struggling a child or spouse that will not get help you can come and get the help you need to talk to some people that are where you are. This is a very powerful program and I encourage you if you have a loved one that is struggling in or out of treatment please come and Dr. Dutton is very good at what she does. Ok, enough of that. We have been talking about how women react to things like a using spouse and let’s talk about the women themselves and how they may be in complete denial and not motivated to look at themselves and that extra bottle at night or the uptic in their xanax use and when we come back from the break we will talk more about women and denial and please if you have someone that needs to listen tune in to 920 am WGKA and listen live. 770-226-0920 call us, we will be right back.

Commercial Break

Jill: Welcome back to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour 770-226-0920 that is the number to call my name is Jill Mattingly I am the Director of Operations at Breakthrough in Norcross and uh, we were talking during the break that since I have had such extensive broadcast training, (laugh) you probably don’t detect a southern accent, I don’t know how I lost it, I grew up in Kentucky in the land of mint juleps, how about you Lois,

Lois: I grew up in the land of mimosas and that was northwest Florida known as LA lower Alabama and when you cross the line you are in mimosa country and if you are familiar with the northern Floridian woman you know what I am talking about.

Jill: Southern women and the art of denial the southern woman that I think of is Scarlett O’Hara, fiddledeedee I will worry tomorrow, unfortunately when you look at it it is a very nice way to say I am not going to deal with what is happening even if I see it and you tell me Atllanta is burning, I will deal with that later, it comes down to denial in addiction it is very dangerous and the better you are at denial the more sever the illness can become. So, that special form of denial that the southern woman can give is well it is not too different from other women it is just denial with an accent.

Lois: Southern women pride ourselves on strength and we are southern women have a lot of starch and they are able to withstand a lot emotionally, physically, the steel magnolia syndrome, we love the movie because it speaks and at the same time with the strength comes a belief that there are certain things we just absolutely do not succumb to and one is the weakness of not being able to control, our families, or our alcohol intake and so we deny that it even exists and many southern women become pantry nippers they drink at home by themselves and after everything else is taken care of and it becomes a problem when it becomes that part of the day they look forward to the most and the chores are done and they can sit back and have their wine but sooner or later it becomes more in the morning and you still have

Jill: After working at Breakthrough I hear all different types of ways that women integrate drinking into their day, there is mainly the 5o’clock drinker after work or I may go into getting everything done and then I drink, but I have heard so many different ways that women fit the drinking into their day, they do it because of a physiological dependency occurs and doesn’t matter where you are from it can occur.

770-226-0920 and we will keep giving out the number so that you acan call and ask questions about denial and dependency and it can occur to anyone and it becomes a problem when someone comes in and says for the longest time I had no idea there was a problem and when I get with my friends they do the same thing and here in the south there is a lot of country club women with their friends in the daytime or such and they will have the martinis and the drinks and the wine, the wine is the favorite and unfortunately everyone is doing the same thing and so no one thinks this is a problem and in numbers you do feel safe so they come in and tell us they have realized that the two glasses have turned into a bottle and a half and still find others doing the same thing and not identifying it as a problem then there is a dui, a legal problem, loss of a relationship or a blackout that is usually when I see people like that come through the door.

Lois: Or when someone’s child says to their parents that they weren’t listening and don’t remember what they have said. That is real, women pride themselves on their social responsibilities getting taken care of and when they realize that the drinking every night can not stop they can’t remember the days activities and can’t remember getting the kids ready for bed so I am going to stop and they realize they can’t.

Jill: The other issue I see is the person coming in have developed the habit with the one glass at night but unfortunately it is turning into more up to a bottle but I am drinking with my husband so I don’t know if I am drinking the whole bottle, and if the husband is sitting there he will look at her and say but you are drinking the whole bottle. It comes down to making that leap into admitting you are doing it from the place of denial. We are wanting people to hear today that if you are in your car right now and it is like an aha moment for you, then there is something going on and there is some type of abuse or dependency happening and I would love for you to look at this honestly for the next few minutes and keep listening and go to the website www.breakthroughaddictionrecovery.com and read about abuse and dependency and understand why and how you have gotten to that place, and if you have questions, call 770-226-0920 ask the questions on the air and we will get your answers. I really think that there are those hearing us today that think this is something they can identify with. When we return we will talk of psychological and physiological abuse.

Commercial Break

Happy Valentines Day, we are talking about women and addiction today on the Breakthrough Addiciton Recovery Hour and we have narrowed it down to southern women and I really didn’t have a real southern woman as a mother, she was like mason/Dixon line mother a lot of the neurosis of northern and charms of the southern.

Lois: I had a very southern mother, she taught all of us to really tell people off and they almost liked it because we are always gracious and very nice about it um, and we can smile through most anything. We may do it through clenched teeth and after it is over with they wonder if they are being read the riot act.

Jill: We are just tying denial in to how women can just very pleasantly be in denial of their addiction. That is something that is very dangerous because as I have worked in medicine and in addiction medicine one of the things I see women do is say, well I drink because I have this physical problem and the number one problem is insomnia. Well I can’t fall asleep unless I have my wine or I can’t fall asleep unless I have my xanax, um, and unfortunately what they don’t understand is the action of the alcohol or the xanax on their brain function and how that is keeping them from normal sleep cycle. Alcohol can be extremely difficult to break an insomnia cycle if you are drinking heavily each night.

Lois: That initial effect to put you to sleep where you nod a little bit and then there is that real agitated second phase that goes along with alcohol and that is when people go to sleep at 10 or 11 pm and then at 2 am in the morning they are gittery and they can’t go back to sleep so

Jill: One reason is because alcohol broken down in the liver does actually increase gabba and that neurotransmitter in the brain is a mellower and it mellows you out and it slows everything down and makes you feel god. As the effects start to wane you have another neurotransmitter that becomes more prevalent and glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter and you will be anxious and irritable and it is going to feel like you need another drink and so goes the cycle. Understanding that your neurotransmitters are responsible in some part for what you are feeling and why you can’t sleep is very important. Xanax, same functions and you need to understand these things so that you are not caught in the cycle of not sleeping without the sleep aid and that really is a problem of about 75% of the people listening to us right now and those are probably familiar with this problem and the aids.

Lois: Then of course the is another thing that they are treated for because sleep depravation can be translated into anxiety and the feeling that you need something to help you get along.

Jill: Using that as a reason to drink now you can come out of denial and understand that that is something that is causing the problem. The other issue I hear of is pain. The body aches, restless leg, all types of aches and pains and when I drink I feel better, or when I take my lortab in the evening I feel better, well once again a self medication that is only going to come back and bite you. It is not going to take the problem away, it will intensify it. Let’s talk about that after the break and how using alcohol or pain killers frequently could make the problem worse. 770-226-0920 and we will be right back.

Commercial Break

Jill: 770-226-0920 that is the number, this is the Breakthrough ADdiciton Recovery Hour and my name is Jill Mattingly my co host today is Dr. Lois Dutton and we are talking about women and denial and using the motif of southern wiomen but I think we have milked that enough.

Loi9s: Yep

Jill: We have been talking about the reasons women get caught up in abuse or dependency of alcohol and I brought up xanax and also lortab or any other pain medication, you know there are a lot of women that live in households or are of a belief that you do not drink, and so they have gone into another realm of relief. If they can’t have any drink, they may go into a doctor’s office and get something that seems to really do the trick but unfortunately it has become a problem and that is usually, valium, xanax or clonipin, and they are not using to the prescription. If they miss a dose it will be an issue with them physically and therein lies the dependency. When there is withdrawal there is dependency and if there is supervision of a physician that may be the case and it is not where you run for the hills but you need to talk with your doctor about that. If you know you are an abuser. It is hard to come off of those types of meds without treatment and without help. The rural area has become a landing place for a lot of the pain medications and tolerance develops quickly and women may use these for their aches and pains and they may use the xanax for pain and sleeplessness, they may use their bottle of vicodin to sleep or to get rid of the aches and pains but realize that if they don’s the aches and pains are worse and increased sensitivity. to neuromuscular pain with heavy use of prescription meds. It will get worse, and it will need to be looked at by your doctor and yourself or a treatment professional if you can identify and get through it. This is what we struggle with in getting women in to treatment.

Lois: We also have a tendency to not say much and we minimize it and we minimize a lot of things. You know the husband is drinking, it’s not that bad, we minimize certainly with our own use that we don’t want to face head on the fact that we are now using the medication for migraine headache and then we use it if we hurt or not. We anticipate that we may have one two days from now and anticipate and keep a level all of the time to prevent something from happening and minimize the whole idea of why they have been given to us and our use of them.

Jill: Denial and minimizing and even the severity of the type of use that or abuse that you might have is such a survival mechanism and you know you have to be in a safe place to divulge these details and one of the things you were talking about is the stoic southern woman and when times are bad we rise up and take charge, and you can not see the weakness in me or everything might fall apart and so unfortunately we have a mix of you know cultural type of situations and then a dependency and you mix that together and you have women that have never come clean with anyone about their abuse or dependency.

Lois: The other part is Jill that women’s responsibility and social responsibilities all of those things go on regardless of what she maybe feeling or her insomnia or pain. In her mind she may well be thinking I need this in order to get through what I have to deal with on a daily basis.

Jill: Because my child is sick, that is not going away for another 10 or 15 years, so let me just say 770-226-0920 um, the number again, 770-226-0920 and another reason for denial is the art of being a victim and being a victim is a part of the identity of the woman therefore giving that up is not going to be easy and when I get back from the break I want to talk about where you can find a safe place to talk about your problem with substances because if you can’t find the safe place you will keep that inside and it will stay internal and so finding the safe place and understanding the reason why you are not sharing that is worth it’s weight in gold. To anyone. So the victimization of self or the status of the person can keep them in denial

Lois: That is the part that we want folks to be able to come to us and talk about in an environment and you can come out it is free consult and come on Tuesday and if you are living in relation to a using individual

Jill: 770-226-0920 we will be right back.

Commercial Break

Jill: Welcome back to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, 770-226-0920 is the number to get in on the last part of the program we are talking about the southern woman the steel magnolia and her ability to deny a problem in her own life or the lives of those she loves. As we were at the break and talking about the fact that finding the safe place to divulge what you have been doing you know if we are talking to someone and you know you are using alcohol or other drugs to help make it through life and you need a safe place or person to tell that to well there is a lot of different ways to do that, and I will tell you that the first in one hour is our facility and go to a free SMART Recovery meeting from 5pm to 6pm this evening in Norcross and if you go to www.breakthroughaddictionrecovery.com you can google the address and take off for the location, walk through the door and you are in the safe place with people that have been there too or are there and they will be very accepting and accommodating and it is a safe place to be to talk about these issues, now of course you have many many AA, NA meetings even Alanon meetings are safe and people will listen and it will be cathartic to get that out there and start to talk about it we also do free consultations at Breakthrough in Norcross, our hours Monday through Friday 9-5 and you can come in and sit in a very comfortable space and talk to someone and it is extremely confidential and it will give you some answers right then and there about the direction you are headed and the direction you can choose. So it is important to understand that the first step is really understanding that there is a problem and we are talking about it. Not the 12 steps the first step to say that you do have a problem and

Lois: Don’t let fear or pride get in the way of a willingness to come it is a difficult thing Jill it is very difficult to come in and sort of open up your heart and open your gut if you will and let what is going on with you just come out to a “perfect stranger” but rest assured that the resources you just talked about or coming out to talk to one of us or coming to the group on Tuesday night if you are not the actual drinking person but have one in your life, it is safe and no judgments against you.

Jill: SMART and Families in Recovery those programs at Breakthrough are free, free, free. SMART Recovery is meeting tonight at 5;m and Families in Recovery on Tuesday at 6:00 and that is something in this economy is a very good starting point if you don’t have the ability to pay for treatment and don’t have to worry about being asked to do that. You can check out our facility and what we do there and we do have programs outpatient during the week and it is a phenomenal place to heal from substance abuse and I am not just saying that but it is good people and a very nice safe atmosphere. I want to just say this it is a day of love enjoy it and we will be here for you when you make that choice today is loving yourself and getting the help you need.

Lois: We will love you right back.

Jill: Thank you for being with us for the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, if you would like to call our office our number is 770-734-8091 and there is someone on call all weekend. Happy Valentines Day.

BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVERY HOUR

FEBRUARY 7, 2009

Brian: Good Afternoon Atlanta welcome to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour my name is Brian Fujii and my co host is away today but we are going to continue our subject of denial I also have two special guests today to discuss our new programs at Breakthrough Jeff and Scott. We are looking forward to hearing from them and this exciting program and what we are going to talk about. Last week we talked about denial and denial is basically a common defense mechanism that everyone uses to some degree, do you remember that, getting caught in the cookie jar. It is a common characteristic of individuals struggling to determine if they need help in recovery. We know that denial can take up many forms and there is the excuse that I am not drinking that much, or blaming others. We know denial truly blocks individuals from getting the help that they need and a study that was done in 2001 they say about 5 million people that need and did not received treatment and estimated 77thousand needed treatment for the drug problem. Some made efforts but were unable to get the help they needed.

For those in recovery we need to be able to extend the hand of help to them. There are some out there coming through the holidays and they know they need help and don’t know what to do. If you need support or a way to help yourself get through a problem with alcohol or drugs, I know that a big problem we face is opiate use also, pain killers and more and more they are addicted. Take a look at Atlanta you know that opiate addiction is prevalent and is becoming a large problem. Alcohol throughout the holidays many relapse and get drunk or get in trouble, give us a call. 770-226-0920. Are you in a position of denial?

I will share again the difference between using, abusing and also becoming dependent. When you are using alcohol or drugs you are using it in a way that is not causing any problems and we do know that there are those that drink responsibly but then there are others that have problems with drinking and now having problems with the spouse and difficulty with the job. Take a look at your life, do you experience discomfort when you don’t drink or take the drugs. Do you have tolerance to the drug or drink and you need more and more for the desired effect? Then the biggest thing is continuing to use despite the consequences. If this sounds like you give us a call at 770-226-0920 get in on the conversation and let’s talk about it.

Jeff and Scott, we are so glad to have you here today and I know that you are going to be talking about your experiences and I know that you are willing to share your journey in recovery and the work with SMART recovery program. Jeff tell us about SMART>

Jeff: Brian SMART Self Management and Recovery Training. IT is based on four points being. 1.motivation to stay sober, control cravings, solve problems without drug and balancing long and short term satisfactions by following a path based on ones higher values. Going through every day life and coping with it.

Brian: Values, we do teach and train at Breakthrough and help people to understand that many many times when you move into alcohol or drug abuse that their value systems begin to diminish and when I talk of values I mean honesty openness and communication. How does SMART help our folks to maybe understand how these diminishing values to reclaim them

Jeff: It is a program where it is fellow recovery helping each other cope and look at the beliefs and being able to dispute them and then work through them and having a lot of others we brainstorm and the help is valuable to coping for the recovering addict.

Brian: Skills, learning to adjust

Scott: SMART has a lot of good tools that the facilitators utilize to help guide the individuals on their way through the recovery process it is a peer led group and we dsit down and discuss events of the week and the upcoming struggles are out there and we try to take them down one at a time and look at the best way to deal

Brian: Again, it is a process that people are every day trying to improve their ability to stay in recovery and guys lets talk about the idea of denial and we know that denial is huge and that befoe people get into treatment and dthe word is ready they have different stages of readiness and help people understand that readiness is very important and even though someone else wants them to do it are they ready? Briefly before a person knows there is a problem, do you remember that?

Jeff: Yes I do, and it stays fresh in my mind because you have to stay motivated when you are in recovery and that is very important and even though you have not gone through major consequences it doesn’t mean you aren’t headed for them.

Brian: 770-226-0920 we are going to go to a break so give us a call and we will be happy to answer your questions.

Commercial Break

Brian: We are back and welcome to Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour and we are with Jeff and Scott talking about the new group called SMART recovery in our offices at Breakthrough today at 5pm, 8000 Miller Court East in Norcross go to the website at breakthroughaddictionrecovery.com.

Jeff and Scott are with us and we were discussing how someone begins to see that they may have a problem and the role that denial plays in this process. Blaming and putting things off. The second phase is contemplative and this is where someone is beginning to think that they could possibly be headed for a fall. You know they get tired of the arguing at work, at home. Jeff or Scott do you know that point at which you ask that.

Scott: I would say foremost is that I put down my camera and I am a wanna be photographer and I love taking pictures but I realized I had not picked it up in over four months. I realized that there was something wrong and I knew I was using heavily but I thought I was in control and could stop any time. I think the thing for me was when I was at the liquor store too often and having to find time to shop for it and then started buying by the case and that was a wake up call for me and I knew the thoughts were haywire and I had a problem.

Brian: Again, just the fact that that was in front of you and so what we see here is the evidence produced itself and something needed to change. Did anyone say anything to you to help you think about this and you are picking up a case and not a bottle did the family or friends say anything to you or get you to see.

Scott: Not really, I drank alone and isolated myself and put myself in situations so I would be alone. My wife did have an idea that something was wrong but I had been sober for 8 years and relapsed obviously and she did not believe that it was possible for me to go down the same road so she was in denial and that didn’t help at all either. I thought I could control this all along. WE were in double denial

Brian: This is a powerful thing, several hundreds of people saying to themselves and they may be thinking that they can casually drink, what do you say

Scott: In my case I was sober for 8 years and it did start with one and I justified with the 8 years of sobriety and thought I would be safe. I did not have the capacity to go there again, but I was wrong. It started a couple a day and then another or two and felt fine and before I knew it I was drinking vodka and as I said it happened so quickly from a pint to considering buying it by the case.

Brian: 770-226-0920 outside the area 1-888-920-2665 if this is touching you and you have someone that needs to hear this please give us a call. These two guys here can really give some insight, Jeff and Scott have gone through this and can help.

Jeff: Brian we have a lot of different tools to offer at SMART. You can dispute the irrational beliefs of alcohol but and learning how to use these tools help you cope with some of your urges and cravings and deal with them without going down that road.

Brian: Disputing a thought is very powerful and that is a tool. Let’s think about that and when we come back we will talk about it. 770-226-0920 give us a call

Commercial Break

Brian: Welcome back we are talking about how denial gets in the way of getting the help you need, the lies that you tell yourself and then the way to get help. We know many right now are looking for help and if you are seeking treatment and need a place that is supportive and educating and getting medication to help with cravings you need to visit our website at breakthroughaddictionrecovery.com. You will find a host of information regarding the programs and how different types of drugs impact the brain and it is a tremendous website filled with information and also we will talk about SMART recovery. That is one of our programs and is not unique to us but it is a national program available to all. Tuesday at 7:30 PM, Thursday 6:00PM, Saturday 5:00 PM. I hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity and it is free.

So, Jeff and Scott we were talking about how a person can stop the thought of drinking and the scenario was someone wanting right now to stop at the store and pick up something they think they need, how can we help them dispel that thought.

Jeff: A technique we learned is urge surfing and you take your thought and you play it all the way through and look at all the consequences that will come to be after making that choice and they can go way beyond that to a DUI or you know you wake up the next morning with a sick headache miss work get fired and it is a great technique and one of the keys is you have to make sure you play the tape all the way through and

Brian: Excellent. We do encourage the client to call someone before they drink, once they use they have already made a decision and that is important. Call before you use.

SMART is a national program and many states have it please tell us how they can find it in their area.

Jeff: You can go to www.SMARTrecoveory.org and that is the online website and if you are feeling timid about the meeting they have a couple of meetings on line and they have a chat meeting and they also have voice sessions where you can share and talk to others that are recovering as you are. They also have the chats and that is helpful to a lot of people to deal with their problems. This is a great alternative to some meetings.

Brian: 770-226-0920 if this discussion is hitting a mark give us a call and we will be right back.

Commercial Break

Brian: Tell me Jeff I know that there are many ways to get online with the chat rooms for SMART recovery and actually doing the voice communication is this something that is available 24 hours a day or just particular days.

Jeff: There are several moderators that keep the conversation going in a positive direction and on the website you can find literature and they have loads of motivational stuff and you can find face to face meetings in your area and find ways to contact us too.

Scott: You can go to the SMART recovery website and click on meetings and it will prompt you to the meetings in Georgia and that will even show you our part in this and

There is a variety of information for other locations also. There are email addresses to the facilitators and we would love to answer your questions and are anxious for your input.

Brian: Jeff you just finished a training to be a facilitator. Tell us about what is involved with that.

Jeff: It is a six week on line class, 90 minute sessions and how to run a quality smart meeting and has great information from directors, etc., and is extremely helpful to learn how to run a quality program.

Brian: I like the words quality program. I notice the smiling faces at our place when they attend a SMART program.

Scott: When someone comes in to a meeting there is no intimidation and it is very comfortable non confrontational and you are welcomed then we bring everyone up to speed on SMART and the tools we use and then what we do is go around the room and check in and that entails your first name what brought you and what you would like to work on and after that point we take some of the more unanimous problems and we will focus on those and come up with ways to deal with it on a daily basis.

Brian: 770-226-0920, if you are just tuning in we are talking about denial and getting that loved one into treatment. Jeff and Scott are here to talk about SMART recovery.

Let’s talk about another program we offer and that is Families in Recovery and so if you are a spouse or parent or sibling of someone struggling to stay in recovery this is just for you. It is a completely free program every Tuesday evening from 6pm to 7:30 led by Dr. Lois Dutton and it is a support group and you can share about your life and the struggles you are facing and what some of the hurts area and what confusions you face as you help someone stay in recovery or get into recovery.

Scott: Denial can sneak up on you uh it is not something that is blatant it is very subtle and it is difficult to isolate because of that.

Brian: Subtle, how did that hurt your marriage.

Scott: Well, we were not communicating she was denying that I had a problem and then I couldn’t believe I was headed there either. Communication being cut off was serious problem.

Brian: I appreciate that where you understand denial is relationship disruptor.

Commercial Break

Brian: 770-226-0920 that is the number to call we are talking about SMART recovery

And as we come down to the end of our program we want to remind everyone of the times that these meetings occur. SMART recovery meets at Breakthrough Addiction Recovery on Tuesday evenings 7:30, Thursday 6:00, Saturday at 5:00. Our Families in Recovery meets on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 pm led by Dr. Lois Dutton. We hope that the show today has been informative to you and has helped others cope in their journey to stay on the road to recovery. I will be back next week with my cohost Jill Mattingly and until then thanks for listening.

BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVERY HOUR

JANUARY 24, 2009

JILL: Hello Atlanta I am Jill Mattingly the Director of Operations at Breakthrough Recovery here in Atlanta, Welcome to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour.

For those of you listening on line, welcome we will have a great show today because if Dr. Dutton brings her game we will have fun.

Lois: I am already here Jill, no bribery

Jill: Dr. Lois Dutton is one of our premiere educators and therapists at Breakthrough and we are going to talk about the theme Denial. We will not use the Egypt joke the whole hour and if you call in and force us to use it maybe, but no Egypt joke just denial. Before we do that we have to do in the news……when you look for it you will find it, and I found the addiction story today. The magazine is financial because that intrigues me

Lois: This makes me nervous when you do this

Jill: if it is a reputable magazine, it was talking about sin stocks, sin, that exists? I guess alcohol, tobacco and casino stocks anyways they said in the article that vice or sin stocks are safe in this economic environment. When people need fast money this is the place they put it because they are going to cut back on their spending but not their addiction especially in a very pressured time and it is bucking the trend. This recession is showing a difference and these stocks are taking a hit too. It may be the companies and their debt that has piled up so they are like the banks and everyone else. I am not going out there as an employee of Breakthrough I can’t buy alcohol stock and feel good about myself.

Lois: Well at least sin is losing and that sounds very interesting.

Jill: The last sentence says that maybe people have finally decided to clean up their act I just don’t believe this Lois and coming in contact with people really struggling, I just feel like it is getting worse and it will get worse before it gets better. The financial environment and losing jobs lots of stuff going on.

Lois: You are right and I think that folks are still going to look for ways to make things feel a bit better the

Jill: The ultimate self medication. WE are talking about denial and that is the title of our show and while it can go in many directions please stay tuned to see what direction we take it. 770-720-0920 or 1-888-920-2665 and the number from your cell is 770-226-0920 and if you want to call someone outside the area, tell them to tune in on the computer at www.wgka.com/listenlive. We found quite a few definitions of denial we found are like the first one here. Refusal to acknowledge to acknowledge the unpleasant external reality or internal feelings. This is one way to explain it and I thought that the external reality could be I loose my job but I am still going to purchase things I won’t be able to afford. That is an extreme and when it comes to addiction it is more difficult and

Lois: For years those of us in the field of addiction and not just the treatment folk but those who loved individuals that are involved over this and those that work with them have puzzled how someone could just ignore what is so obvious that the results of the drinking and drugging has called so much difficulty and the person is oblivious to the situation. Opening your eyes is not that simple, denial is a protective mechanism and we all have shades of it. It is not letting yourself be open and vulnerable and that is impossible. They try to make it more paletable and it can get so sever so that they don’t recognize reality. Our purpose is a form of minimizing and saying that it is really not that bad, or because I haven’t acknowledged it it doesn’t exist.

Jill: When faced with uncomfortable facts you will instead insist that it is not true, so you decide what you are faced with is not true and even in overwhelming evidence says it is. It has to be a defense mechanism to protect us from melt downs if you will and I think of horrendous things such as a terrible injury in war or other things and they don’t even acknowledge the fact as if it didn’t happen. This is a disconnect in the brain.

Lois: Denial is so much a part of the addiction process that it is even considered putting together symptoms to come up with a diagnosis. Individuals despite the evidence the obvious continue to use at a level that is detrimental to them. That is a part of it, denial is not used in the diagnosis and there you know it is implied.

Jill: That to me is an amazing thing and being a person that enjoys brain research to look at how in the world can a brain do that type of behavior and knowing it will destroy it lives in and so how does that happen and the research is out there and I will bring some of that up after the break. Please call and just share comments or questions 770-226-0920, and we also can be found on the web at breakthroughaddictionrecoveory.com we have so much information on the website and you could find pictures if you dug in too. I don’t put it out there for obvious reasons. Don’t call to the website and look at all the information we are talking about every type of information. 7702260920 is the number you want to call we will talk.

Commercial Break

Jill: Welcome back to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, I am your host Jill Mattingly and I am with my special co host Dr. Lois Dutton, our topic today is denial and not the one in Egypt. I say premiere therapist what does that mean? First?

Lois: I will deny you said that (laughter)

Jill: Denial as it pertains to alcohol dependency and abuse and drug addiction and even coming down to opiate addiction and I would like to talk about that in a segment in the next few minutes. Those struggling with pain med addiction and how denial can work with you to the point it becomes much bigger than you bargained for. I thought we would do this segment Lois by asking does this sound familiar? What does denial look like. There are common statements and if you are someone who is having trouble with drugs or alcohol and I want you to hear what we hear all the time in treatment.

Lois: “I have an excellent record and never missed a day of work because of my drinking,” that would be the most common.

Jill: I just heard that one too. “I have a B average and just cause I do meth on the weekends doesn’t mean anything.”

Lois: “I can stop any time I want to.” The other is “I am not that bad.” “I haven’t had a dui or been in jail”

Jill: Operative word is “yet” the

Lois: This is the one that makes us mad, they say “I am not hurting anyone but me.” The other is “I have to drink because it is part of my job and I have to entertain my clients.” That is just the excuse.

Jill: I want the listeners to know that if you have heard this in your own home or friends or relatives and you want to call please do or if you have heard other types of denial we want to hear from you if we haven’t mentioned it this time. 770-226-0920 that number again is 770-226-0920 and if you call we will put your denial excuse on the air and talk about it and you know the one is always, “I don’t have a problem” then they qualify like the good grades, no job loss, no dui, I am in good health, this is all of the “haven’t happened yet.”

Lois: When we see people and they always have the hesitation in the voice but they know they have the nagging possibility that because it hasn’t happened does not mean it isn’t just around the corner

Jill: Also it doesn’t have to be someone in the office obviously if they felt that way they wouldn’t come in unless dragged in. We have a lot of family members say they want help because their family member is in denial and through the family education or families in recovery we can teach them how to address this with the loved one. Also living through someone in denial

Lois: The power of denial does bleed over into the family and family members can also perpetuate the stories and we see it all the time where um, it is just so difficult when you are in relationship with someone drinking or using and it is hard to be the messenger to the individual and to keep saying to them “Your drinking is causing the problem…then comes the denial and they accept the lame excuses. That is what you really want to believe. A piece of the whole denial is that we often wonder why they don’t learn from their mistakes.

Jill: We have a caller, Bob in Atlanta, Welcome Bob

Bob: How are you

Jill: Great, the sun is out and we aren’t in denial

Bob: The thing is that my family has gone through this, I have been in recovery for 30 years and Bob is not my real name, and around this and my sense is that what the problem is that everyone in order to qualify and go to program or mental health you have to hit a really low bottom and I think that just because we don’t know and after 30 years you finally get to the fact that there is a whole in my soul and it takes a long time in sobriety to find out I survived a lot of the time and I didn’t want to go back out again. It is just that when I think culturally we get so injured early in life and don’t know it and um, what we are doing to our kids is just creating addiction and the denial is not so much for the addict it is the enablers too. I really appreciate your show because you don’t hear this very much and my main concern is how low the bottom has to be before you say you have a problem and that is the root of denial

Lois: I agree Bob, a bottom for one person doesn’t have to be as devastating or catastrophic and what we attempt to do and in AA or helping roles what we do is help people create a bottom for themselves so that they don’t loose everything before getting something done.

Jill: The enlightenment goes a long way, so far back, we use cognitive therapy which is peeling back layers in a slow manner so that it is an all of a sudden a shock in our therapy we do a lot of educating so that individuals can get their heads wrapped around the process they are dealing with and the better off you are to manage it going forward, that is a big piece of the program.

Bob: I just wish there are well, our schools and churches are failing because people go to church and you feel like you are the only one and and every congregation is loaded with people suffering from substance abuse.

Jill: Bob we are coming down to a break um, I would like to thank you so much, your call has probably gotten a lot of folks thinking about denial so thank you and keep listening, we will be right back 770-226-0920

Commercial Break

Jill: Welcome Back we are talking today about denial and the role it plays with someone who needs treatment for drugs or alcohol abuse, 770-226-0920 and you can get in on this conversation. Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, you ,now what, denial can go on in many types of addiction we see devastating effects from gambling, sex, things that can cause just havock in lives and families, we have a call from Mary in Kennesaw.

Mary: How do you get someone out of denial

Lois: this is a personal situation? Drinking and drugs,

Mary: he is an alcoholic

Lois: I’m sorry first of all there comes a time when individuals who love the person around them have to do what we call tough love and I know that is a term that is thrown around but it is simply a matter of no longer allowing an individual to operate as if there are no consequences to the behavior that he or she is going through. It is a matter of responsibility just know that. It is a lot easier said than done and it is easy for me to tell you this but I know that it works and I have seen it time after time where you choose and communicate to them that you choose no longer to sit by and participate and it is not a part of your commitment or your love for them to sit by and watch them head down a road of devastation and catastrophe. I think that is the strongest thing you can do is simply say I choose not to do this any longer. I will not

Mary: Um, I never see him drink. He won’t drink in front of us and he won’t drink in front of family and I have written to him and have well he is in denial

Lois: So he doesn’t believe there is a problem

Lois: You and others feel that he does

Mary: yes, he has already been in jail

Lois, you communicated to him that he does have a problem and it is serious and simply again reiterate to you that you not participate anymore and you are not going to allow him to push you in the corner where you perpetuate the denial

Jill: Have you sat down as a family to devise a plan? It really isn’t like the show Intervention but the family as a whole is a powerful statement. At Breakthrough calling and talking to a counselor about how to organize that it might really help you to start down the road of not feeling powerless and I can hear it in your voice over this person and their decision and what they are doing, you can make some steps to feel like you have more power in this situation and especially how you will respond to it.

Mary: I would love to get some help

Jill: Any place where the family can present a united front

Lois: Just tell him what I said earlier, you are here for him but if you continue to deniy that there is a problem then here are the conquences.

Mary: What are the conquences

Jill: That is where the family comes in and you have to put this down on paper, go to our website, www.breakthroughaddictionrecovery.com. The person on call is the one that can help you set up an intervention. Would you like the number?

Mary: yes

Jill: 770-734-8091 and he will help you walk through this, I want to thank you for making a difference by calling today, We are coming to another break so hold the next call and we will get it when we return.

Commercial Break

Jill: 770-226-0920 is the number and we are a call in show, The Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, my name is Jill Mattingly and with me today is Dr. Lois Dutton and we are talking about denial. Not much time left but we are making headway talking about the different situations, let’s go to Mike in Marietta

Mike: Well I have been drinking and would judge due to dui and jobs, etc., and then it dawned on me that I needed to do something.

Jill: We will be the first to say, fantastic, the first step is definitely admitting that it is a problem and laid it down but the journey is beginning a

Lois: The phrase is this is the first step and that is to stop drinking and you are from our perspective you are beyond an acute withdrawal of any kind physiologically but keep in mind that we are talking about an addictive process and Jill, I can see her

Jill: Think about this a `12 pack a night you have a tolerance to the substance and you have inherited the ability to break down alcohol and coming out of 8 days you are out of acute withdrawal which is the first 72 hours. You are however in post acute withdrawal and I wouldn’t be surprised if you aren’t irritable. We think you need more information and you can get more through AA or other types of support systems but also to get information which is what you find in treatment individual therapy or education about alcohol and how it effects you and is insidious and worked it’s way into the thought processes.

Mike: I can make a lot of arguments in my head that make sense and then I think I can just do it and not let it get out of hand.

Lois: There may come a time where your blood sugar thing the adjustment that your body is making to not pouring this alcohol in on a daily basis and going down the road to get yourself some stop gaps.

Jill: Talking to your buddies and if they are supportive or treatment and ask what worked for them and if you are looking for something we can do a free consultation for you to get you walking through this and you can get close to slipping so you need a good support group

Mike Give me that number again.

Jill: 770-734-8091 and someone is on call to talk with you today. Breakthrough Addiction Recovery and Mike if you don’t come to us please get yourself entrenched in good therapy or a good alcohol program even if it is AA meetings and getting that support you need. Thanks for calling you made a difference.

Jill: We have seen some wonderful calls today and if you want to get one in call us at 770-226-0920 and we will talk about some of the brain research with denial. It could be your brain!

Commercial Break

Jill: Welcome Back to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, I can’t believe that I have not mentioned our newest group at Breakthrough. We have a free program and it meets in one hour in Norcross Georgia called SMART Recovery and you can check it out it is national and we are the only facility housing these meetings. SMART Recovery.com and you can check it out and look at what they talk about in their support group and it is a free support group fantastic people and fantastic form of support

Lois: Meets three times a week, Tuesday at 7:30, Thursday 6:00, Saturday 5:00

Jill: I wanted you to know and anyone listening a lot of what we are talking about today, the guys and girls will tell you all about denial and especially Mike if you are listening that might be a neat support program to be involved with and not a hit on your wallet.

Jill: Last segment we talked about the brain, I am a brain junkie and I love brain research and Norah Volcow and Dr. Paul Earley and I get really into this, one thing going on is looking at insight deficit which might explain drug addiction and when you look at them and they are putting a needle in the arm and scars and absesses something is wrong and there is a serious disconnect and they are looking at it like schizophrenia, there might be the same area in the brain effecting the consequence or the reality of what the addiction is doing to you. What they are seeing is that if they can get a handle on this they might be able to tweek treatments to help people grasp the gravity of the addiction and I think that you know I pray that that does happen because this is so devastating and there is a time element involved you cant stay addicted for more than a certain amount of time. You will see the physical consequences, so there is a time constraint and it is important to see how we can get into the brain and turn denial into acceptance.

Lois: We want to leave folks remembering that addiction is an illness and has consequencial problems with it. Continuing to blame others is not helping the problem it is only feeding the denial and pushing away the help that you need. The other thing is that you can’t shoot the messenger, they are coming to you and trying to help and that is what they want to do and help individuals get into treatment and the earlier you come the earlier you can make the decision that you want to stop and come into treatment and you can be successful.

Jill: Very well put, that is what this is all about, fighting denial on every front. We are at the end of our show, thanks for tuning in and we will be back at 3pm on Saturday and there is a replay on Sunday at 6pm here on 920, www.breakthroughaddiction recovery.com and we welcome you to come in for a free consultation. Let the light shine into your life and the denial is not a river in Egypt. I got it in there

Lois: You sure did

Jill: We will see you next time.

BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVERY HOUR

DECEMBER 20, 2008

Brian: Welcome to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, Happy Holidays Jill! I hope you are getting into the spirit with this wonderful Christmas music.

Jill: We are all laughing there should be little cartoon characters dancing around with the music. Thanks for joining us today in this wonderful balmy Florida type of weather. I am sure if we sing White Christmas across Atlanta something may happen.

Brian: Magical thoughts perfect

Jill: Unfortunately when you through alcohol and drugs into the mix of the holiday season high stress and celebration people think that things will be different this time if they drink or take drugs. I know one thing for sure Brian, we are heading into ground zero coming up this week and next week even though some are going back to work and the the new year. On Friday a lot of you went on vacation and

Brian: Become laid back and it can catch up with you.

Jill: Let’s talk about what is going on. During the week of celebration we have parties, in-laws, we also have a celebration after celebration and we could light up the phones by just asking who was at a party last night and has one tonight and tomorrow. For the last years alcohol has been a right of passage for the holidays and so this year we put ribbon on bottles booze.

Brain: That is magical thinking.

Jill: Call us and get in on the discussion, 770-226-0920 and if someone is outside the area it is 888-920-2665 and if you want to call a loved one or a friend you can listen live at www.920.WGKA.com and hit listen live. If you have good internet.

Brian: We are going to be talking not only about the individuals maintaining sobriety. But they don’t have to throw a party or family coming over and what can they do to keep their place safe. Strategies to plan in advance just as you would the menu and give you a heads up on how to plan a safe alcohol free holiday season. I am excited about that

Jill: Parties family celebration time off work, they are driving around to places they don’t get to go to during the year and vacations and those can be stressful and they can be fantastic and then when you add alcohol you know you can see a lot of difficulty as the holiday season goes in lives dealing with depression and

Brian: The sadness and those listening that have made a choice to stop drinking this is the very first Christmas that they say what do I do now. How do I celebrate without drinking. There are things that they can plan because if you don’t plan they will set themselves up for failure. Individuals may become over confident and not having resistance skills and get into the magical thinking.

Jill: That term comes from reading a newsletter from Dr. Aman on Brain News. Don’t medicate with alcohol and drugs this season. It hits the nail on the head, “Sometimes we set ourselves up to fail on the holidays thinking for some magical reason this year will be different when we haven’t done anything to take care of the problem it is easy to slip into overeating isolating and abusing alcohol and unfortunately the relief wears off fast.” Many people that don’t have the dependency may set themselves up to start drinking and abusing because of how good it felt during the holidays and then carry it on from going back to work, tight finances and keep drinking each night and this could be the time of year that they start on this difficult path.

Brian: Feeling good is a good point, when the client goes back and reflects on the first drink they discover that those euphoric feelings and new that this was the key to feeling good and we know at least 9% of addicts move down that road as a result of this feeling. If you are listening and you had that experience be very aware.

Jill: The genetics and the way your body breaks it down. When people come in and we give them this information they are surprised and so we can research this we use the Matrix Model for neuro biological factors. We use the book Seven Weeks to Sobriety by Dr. Joan Larson and deals with the metabolism and how it responds to the client. We will give the books away today and I am in a giving mood and we will send you a book and it may not get there before Christmas. 770-226-0920 that number is 770-226-0920 we are going to go into a break and if someone does call we will hold you over.

Commercial Break

Jill: Welcome back, this is the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour and we are talking about the holiday season, the most wonderful time of the year! Oh know it is not the most wonderful time? Before break we got a couple calls we have a call right now from Jan, hey Jan how are you?

Jan: Well, I was spinning the dial and you have made me think of my college girls and the culture of the campuses they have been on, it is so casual now the alcoholism, they don’t know if they are predisposed to it.

Brian: You are on target, what we have seen with binge drinking on campuses the best thing to do is educate, educate and give as much information as you can and let them do the talking. You have planted seeds in their lives, and if there is predisposition to alcoholism that is an indication that there is propensity to moving to that direction.

Jan: I can certainly say that on both sides there are those abusing alcohol.

Brian: There are the differences with those that use and don’t move to abuse or dependence. There are those moving into problems as a result of drinking, if they see those occurring that will be something for them to look at. If the drinking is in that realm then it needs to be brought to attention.

Jill: There are organizations on campuses about responsible drinking and the health alert for those in this lifestyle. Those thoughts if they can verbalize those, you have something to work with. The brain change by the use of the alcohol is very important to understand and substances will change the brain and how it deals with the world around them. Their emotions stress they are building brain circuitry right now.

Brian: As they begin to cope with different stresses in college and use alcohol as a way to feel better is a real problem. So

Jill: Hope this helps

Jan: Yes, I am going to explore what the University has available.

Jill: This book we will send you has a lot of good information if there is problematic drinking going on. Our engineer will take you name, we have another caller, Shawn,

Shawn: Well I was wondering about the balance between mind and body and reading about it and even in high school they taught how chemicals and such throw the body off and you have given the information out and breakthrough is a great word because education is what helps you break through..

Jill: When you talk about the brain people start to listen, it isn’t the moral failure it is what is happening in the brain

Brian: There is help out there and ways the brain can heal, there is hope and many times those moving through it feel hopeless, there is help and hope and we use medications to help people deal with cravings and I hope you got the website and you can learn more about our programs.

Jill: Shawn, we have your address and we are going to send the book out to you it should be real helpful.

Shawn: Merry Christmas.

Jill: That is cool hearing what others need to hear. It feels sometimes we are just talking to each other in the studio but when we get feedback it is pertinent. Jan said earlier, doesn’t everyone have someone on drugs or alcohol? It looks like we are coming to the break, give us a call 770-226-0920, we are going to talk about survival during the season.

Commercial Break

Jill: Welcome back we are so glad to be here celebrating the season with you going into ground zero let’s see Hannukah tomorrow night, solstice tomorrow, my birthday is tomorrow and that is a celebration and then there is festivus for the Seinfeld fans and Christmas and kwanza and then new years, so my gosh could we find one more holiday? I am the only one allowed the birthday. Lots of football too,

Brian: Ron is calling from Marietta, hello Ron

Ron: Well, I am trying to decide after listening to some of your program as to what approach to take, I have a 25 year old daughter who ten years ago was diagnosed with ADHD and five years ago in college got on meth and then rehab and her comments were that she was an addict. She has been on constant medication and has seen numerous doctors and we have been there and she has a social anxiety disorder especially durint the holidays it is a prime season for a melt down.

Brian: We do joke but it is a critical time and the stimulus is accelerated and that produces a lot of anxiety

Ron: The alcohol and the propensity with genetics, it does run on her mom’s side of the family and her biological father is a mystery so we don’t know much about the heritage. In the last five years she will drink every night away from home and how she hasn’t been arrested I don’t know. She has had several accidents,

Brian: Ron, has she had any help or sought treatment as far as in the present has she been involved with any type of counseling or education.

Ron: Because she has been classified as an adult we have been blocked out of it and

Brian: But in communication does she want help?

Ron: Well she says she has gotten counseling but my frustration is that I don’t see any improvement and at times I have a glimmer of hope

Brian: Ron our time is running out, let me suggest, it sounds like you have some communication so our program offers free consultations and if she will bring her in and let’s sit down and talk about where she is and what can help her. We offer a wide range of therapy and programs that could be helpful to her. Call us at 770-734-8091 that is the office and the website is www.breakthroughaddictionrecovery.com you are doing the best you can and you may want to take advantage of what we can offer you.

Jill: Hang on too let us get your address, we are at the break and we have another call holding. Jack don’t hang up we want to hear your story.

Commercial Break

Jill: This is the Breakthrough Addiciton Recovery Hour and we are rockin’ and rollin’, we are going to give a few more points on a sober season. Jack in Atlanta,

Brian: Jack welcome to Breakthrough Hour

Jack: Merry Christmas, I was listening about how to deal with the holidays since so many like to splurge. What I did, I am a business owner and had a lot of stress, when I would get home I would stress drink and a year and a half ago I changed that to running

I joined a team and when the holidays approached I didn’t know what to do and New Years also, I had decided a marathon by spring so I decided on New Years not to go out and I went out New Years Day and run farther than I had ever run, I did an 18 mile run and that changed everything for me, the light went on and I knew this was it.

Brian: What a great story, you did it naturally

Jack: It definitely changed my life and I cut out the bad habits, it worked for me and you can do it, it is a great way to get rid of stress.

Jill: Interesting, we are planning a show with a personal trainer and one of our psychologists about exercise and how it helps you in recovery. You used in place of the habit of drinking. You could have been an abuser but you did what we are going to discuss in a couple of weeks. You have set the stage, thanks so much. We will send you the book too. We appreciate your call and hopefully someone else would do what you have done.

Jack: Great thanks

Jill: Well, Brian I think you have a list for people trying to get through

Brian: A couple of things, first many times while trying to stay sober you need to increase your activities

Jill: He joined a team which is encouragement and accountability.

Brian: That worked for him and he made the right choices. Another is actually planning every day of the holiday if you are spending all day with drinking activities you won’t know what to do with your time. Fill your schedule with meaningful things that have a positive effect. Something that brings excitement. Get the dopamine released and you will want to do it again and again. Another is asking for support from family and friends and have someone join you

Jill : Right now you may have family flying in or the house is filling up with company, say to your family I am not pulling our the 5 bottles for dinner and if you want a glass you can have one, but I don’t want any and maybe someone will take up the cause and say let’s all stay away from the first glass let’s help her, that is support. How many family members are waiting for you to say that you don’t want to do this anymore.

Brian: A lot of families say that too.

Jill: When we come back we will be telling you about a new program at Breakthrough and we are offering it for free to families in recovery and we will talk more after the break.

Commercial Break

Jill: Welcome back to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, we have a very exciting program to tell you about, at our office in Norcross, Georgia. If you are looking for a place to understand addiction for a family member.

Brian: This evolved from family members of our clients. They have an education class in our facility and the families decided that they needed support. For the month of January we are offering this program free for family members only. Anyone with a relationship and touched by addiction can have a place to talk and learn from others.

Jill: Addiction will effect the life of the family and whatever help the loved one needs but what you can do is something for yourself and this is what is so powerful and Dr. Lois Dutton will be leading this group she is amazing and can really pin point some of the most important issues in the lives of the family. Tuesday Night at Breakthrough 6PM to 7:30PM call us at 770-734-8091 and put your name on the list and we will be happy to have you. We are at the end of our program, next week we will be with our families and hopefully be running the “Best Of Breakthrough” I hope that you have a fantastic holiday whatever you celebrate, Merry Christmas. That was my sister’s Christmas CD playing, Joy Earle produced by Jeff Earle, if you want one, please call us at Breakthrough.

Brian: Happy Holidays Everyone!

BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVERY HOUR

DECEMBER 13, 2008

Brian: Welcome to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, my name is Brian Fujii and my co host Jill Mattingly, Jill, how are you?

Jill: Hey Brian, I am doing pretty good

Brian: Almost over that cold? Good to see you feeling better.

Jill: Yea but my voice is about an octave lower.

Brian: We are excited about the information on today’s show entering the holidays and how people move into the areas of abuse with drinking in the season and talking about some holiday safe planning to take a look at ways to navigate through the season and be safe.

Jill: Right, it really is important when you are looking at parties picking up in the next week or so and have a plan, having a plan is very important and that is what we are going to go through with you today. Like you said, abuse is possible for everyone across the board and alcoholics and dependent people usually have a very good handle on how they drink every day and people that don’t drink every day, go to a party with free flowing alcohol and having fun and before they know it they have passed over the line and if they have not planned but devastating things can happen.

Brian: That probably is the time when there is heightened time of year for accidents and violence. We are facing an economy that is tough and then integrating the season, it is a squeeze, I want to be happy but I just lost a job. There is a lot of anxiety this time of year and depression and yet this is supposed to be happy? 770-226-0920 is the number to call and get in on the conversation. WE would love to hear your plans for the holiday. You may have some good recovery time and have some ideas to share that make the holidays safe and not involving alcohol or drugs. 1-888-920-2665 if you are out of the area.

Jill: I was perusing the internet before the show looking for things pertaining to the season and alcohol and it didn’t take long. There are articles that seem this year that the news agencies are putting out articles being a more dangerous season because of the economy and the job losses, foreclosures and tight money, children don’t understand that situation and they believe that combining this with alcohol could be very deadly. We need heightened awareness of why are you drinking the second drink when you don’t drink at all? Also the possibility of dangerous highways and domestic violence, families getting together and combine this to make it a perfect storm.

Brian: This show is going to be vital because if they are not planning or preparing they will certainly have problems coming up. We teach that the planning is key. Many tell me they go into the party with a drink in their hand, like a bottle of water, seltzer, or gingerale they already have something in their hand and someone is not continually offering. Good strategy.

Jill: The second half of this show is talking to those that want to hold on to the sobriety and want to go to the parties with friends that don’t know they have alcohol issues, so we are going to talk about that the second half. Rigiht now we are talking about the abuse issue, just like we do when we talk about use, abuse and dependency if you want to give those definitions.

Brian: There is a difference, a user is someone handling alcohol well, a glass of wine or a bottle of beer, abusing is now drinking is causing problems in the family or job or law, dependence is now you experience tolerance, more and more to get the same effect, withdrawal when you try to stop and then the key is that you keep using despite the negative consequences.

Jill: Abuse sounds like you are sad so you use alcohol to take away the sadness, you want to forget your troubles and you are with friends so you use alcohol to forget the troubles you are in, you are in foreclosure, you have a pink slip, you don’t want to feel the disappointment and abuse can come in. Going to a party you think you can cut loose and that is an issue that can be devastating and could actually cause someone to loose a life over the third or fourth drink. 770-226-0920, we are talking about abuse and how that can be devastating this holiday season. There are many articles going over the possibility of this being dangerous season and alcohol consumption has a lot to do with that. What if you are at a party or family gathering and someone or yourself decides to go ahead and drink past the amount that is safe. Pre planning before these events is crucial to your safety and health. One thing that is important is to eat. Something with fat and protein, finger foods that can do something about the absorption and if you are drinking on an empty stomach you will have to call a cab. The absorption is at a higher rate and intoxication will come quickly. Where driving is involved and you plan to drink who is driving you home? Don’t think you can if you don’t drink a lot during the year and have 2 glasses of wine do not get in the car, have a plan before you go.

Brian: Also, family members, people at the party, if you notice someone intoxicated or getting there, you need to remind and encourage others not to drink and drive and be aware of the need for a sober driver. I just think that is a challenge for others too. I would like to ask the audience how they have tried to address this issue with others in their own home or office what strategy did you use to keep someone safe and let them know they should not drive, etc., we are coming to the break, 770-226—0920 call us and we will be right back.

Commercial Break.

Jill: Welcome back to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, we are talking about how to plan for the holidays and give support to those that need to be aware of their drinking. Wee need to hear from you today and would like to know how you have handled those that drink at your party did you take the keys away? Did you corral them and lock them in the bedroom? Kidding, that has got to be the most uncomfortable situation to deal with someone while intoxicated and you want them to be safe. Alcohol abuse and how many people can stumble into the abusive situation they are going to a party and drink more than they planned and they decide they just want to feel good and go too far.

Brian: You talk about that and many times you think you do it cause you feel bad. Many clients say they drink when they are happy too. We have to understand that some triggers are happiness and celebration.

Jill: More people are going to drink this time of year because of a lot of reasons. Some plans should be made for what may happen. If you are going to consume or someone else is, first of all absolutely no drinking and driving and if you plan to have that wine and you are not a drinker you need to have a plan. Who is going to drive you home? Have a plan, this is a celebratory time and raising a glass is from the days of old and there are those that will be drinking and do not think that you can drive after the time you feel different. Do not even think that someone will know and stop you, sometimes people don’t know what you had to drink throughout the evening. Someone that knows you that knows you need not drive.

Brian: Many people that come to us will say that they have to have a buzz before the party and want to be comfortable. So, already people who are celebrating will start drinking prior to the party.

Jill: If you are throwing a party tonight and will have wine with dinner and wine and other drinks available at the party, yes, if people are drinking and it will be more fun and that is your thinking, number one you can have a party without alcohol, if it is something that you just can’t fathom, then you need to know what your risks are for someone leaving your home or office intoxicated. You need to make yourself aware. This article says that you take the keys and don’t let them drive. A lot of times you may anger someone

Brian: They could see it as an aggressive move and become threatened. You know many times people under the influence their thought patterns are disoriented.

Jill: If you are having the party have sober drivers, those type of things.

Brian: Great strategy.

Jill: Have a plan, the theme of this show. Have a good time, remember that? You don’t have to have alcohol to have fun. You can do so many different things rather than be altered. Games, movies and things to do to interact with people, how about conversation? You can make ornaments,,,,,,kidding. I tell you one thing if you think fun, we play Catch Phrase and it is so much fun and you will have a great time. The more people the better, you don’t need alcohol. It makes the party, so

Brian: I am glad you say that, many times, well we are not talking about elegant parties, there are family gatherings and few friends over, not a huge thing. Playing games talking to each other and doing other kinds of non alcohol activities is so good for those in recovery too. You need to be aware of those that are having their first Christmas without alcohol.

Jill: They aren’t going to want to make ornaments. Ok, so what we need to do is give our audience some more tips for planning. The article talks about being proactive and principled so show an example, you don’t have to drink because others are. Even if you don’t have a problem, you can carry a bottle of water and having the ability not to sink to a level that everyone else is with overindulging and you can go in with that plan and know that although there is drinking it is not necessary.

Brian: When you have a party and you are the host and some may abuse the good will of the host and that means we need to be prepared to handle that. Be a responsible host and plan if abusive behavior is present.

 

Jill: Have a plan but know where to draw the line. Having the boundaries set before things get out of hand and then you may backpeddle out of things happening out of your control. We are talking across the board and if you want a sane and safe holiday have a plan. 770-226-0920, we will be right back to talk with our friends in recovery going to parties, they can go and have a good clean sober time.

 

Commercial Break

 

Jill: Welcome back to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, my name is Jill Mattingly and we are here today talking about the holiday season and there are those in recovery that want to hold on to that in this season. There are so many festive situations with alcohol and it is difficult and there are people that are actually holding on by a thread and they go into the stores, as with the guy that said he goes into the stores with red ribbons on bottles, it is a time to drink. There are people Brian that are listening and don’t know how to make it through tonight.

 

Brian: Right, they are experiencing possibly the first season without alcohol and that is a tremendous trigger and that is an emotional trigger, they are worried, anxious and frustrated and want to know what to do so that they can maintain their sobriety. Those in recovery groups, SMART Recovery that we do and the 12 step programs. You can go and get some relief 24/7 and they have sober parties. Focusing on what we do at Breakthrough, we have some options and you can meet today at our facility with others in recovery at 8000 Miller Court East in Norcross. We usually have 8 to 10 folks that come and they develop some positive relationships and being proactive. You then develop strategies as to what to do that is safe and fun.

 

Jill: You know what? What if they are going to a party tonight and gathering tonight, why not go to SMART Recovery first and talk to people and get some ideas and have your mind in the right place before you walk in the door. If you would like to go to SMART go to the website, www.breakthroughaddictionrecovery.com or you can call us here and we will get you there. 770-226-0920. Have a plan that is the key. In talking to people in recovery I found an article in the NYT this past week that was written by a man with 16 years of recovery and he was very honest in how he sees the holiday season, he looks at it as an uncomfortable distraction. You have something that is in front of your face the memory of how you used to live your life, we have always said that addiction is a disease of memory and your brain remembers how to feel good, you know if it needs to get over a sadness or celebrate or comfort you brain will trigger thoughts of what can we do? There is circuitry in your brain that will say to go get the alcohol. If you are approaching the season in recovery your triggers can be huge in your thinking patterns.

Brian: We call it euphoric memory and even during the seasons the recall is very strong. Memories are vivid.

Jill: And how it felt to be drunk after 16 years. Let’s talk about the article he wrote when we come back from the break. We are talking with those that have recovery time that want to help you get through the season. Stay with us, 770-226-0920,. Be right back.

Commercial Break

Jill: You know it is tough out there right now and there might not be the most extravagant parties but there will be more difficult free flowing bars but you can come to my house and we will make ornaments, ok? I think……

Brian: They are lining up.

Jill: I need support, call in and say nothing is wrong with making ornaments. I need some support so call. We are talking about the Times blog article and the man with 16 years sobriety looking at the season with disdain. In this article he says it is so difficult to not have what we were talking about before, the feeling of the party atmosphere, I remember what alcohol did to me and I remember being drunk and then the dreaded though and that is maybe I can have just one and that is the danger.

Brian: Euphoric recall, unfortunately we don’t have the dissident recall, what happens after the drink. We don’t remember the negative consequences we only remember the good part, that is the dopamine. It wants us to keep doing it over and over again. Is this nature or nurture? In a sense that when you continue to use alcohol the brain begins to change and this is what we teach at Breakthrough and it is a brain disease. This article talks of the idea that the brain changes in two different areas and that is the brain reward system that makes us feel good with alcohol on board.

Jill: Some people that are prediabetic may be prone to using alcohol for sugar content and coming around to your support system. You have one that allows you to walk the road to sobriety. Nothing pulling you down and holding you back. Where is your spiritual foundation and many different things around the wheel and many different approaches, not a magic pill.

Brian: People want the magic pill, what we want you to know is that it doesn’t exist. We will help you manage your cravings

Jill: You may be in the midst of a problem with daily drinking. You can’t get past 5pm without drinking. If you don’t though you won’t sleep, you will feel anxious and that is dependency and it needs to be treated, not only by coming in to a facility but actually medically being looked at too. So at Breakthrough we do a medical evaluation and psychiatric and psychological assessment, this is not a cookie cutter approach.

Brian: We design the program for the individual and we work together as a support system for the clients. We take all of these in consideration to help that person meet the need.

Jill: We are coming down to our next break, so to the family listening let’s talk about what you can do to help the loved one that is dependent on alcohol. We will be right back.

Commercial Break

Jill: Welcome back. Someone goes to a party for the holidays and someone gives them a drink and before they know it they are intoxicated. You are in an emotional state and you decide I want to numb this and drink more than I should. So if you are in danger of abusing it can end with loss of family members, dui, or loss of live. Abuse is not planned for and what we want to do is encourage you to have a plan before you go into the setting where there is alcohol and do not believe your brain when it says you can have three or four drinks.

Brian: You brought up talking to adults but we have parents out there with teenagers going to their parties and maybe the family is saying that although they don’t drink, there may be alcohol served and no parental guidance over there. What do you do? How do you say no thank you and get out if you need to. Have the plan, so the family needs to get this out to the kids.

Jill: The other type of scenario is someone with the problem has gotten in recovery and the boss says you have to come and you are worried about your sobriety, if you brain is saying have just one, that is a lie also because brain diseases the circuitry that will trigger maybe that day you can have just one but we know from experience that it will turn into two or three the next day. It is a slippery slope.

Brian: They keep going until they are drunk. The brain will trick you.

Jill: Be aware have a plan no drinking and driving.

Brian: We saw in this article that many families have a member in recovery and they want to be kind. Let’s get the non-alcoholic beer. Don’t do that the studies have shown that this is a trigger to move into the road to use again. If it acts like beer they will eventually want the real thing. That is the worst thing to do.

Jill: Non alcoholic or sparkling wine make it look like you are drinking are fun for some but what if you are in recovery, it can be a huge trigger, think it through people when inviting someone in recovery. We hope you have a safe evening tonight and SMART recovery in Norcross we would love for you to take advantage of this group.

Brian: This has been a great show and I hope you take the information and use it even this evening and Jill, I am glad you feel better, I look forward to next week.

Jill: I am going to the Falcons game tomorrow, I am studying the stats….

Brian: Join us next week, happy holidays.

BREAKTHROUGH ADDICTION RECOVERY HOUR

DECEMBER 6, 2008

Brian: Good afternoon Atlanta and welcome to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, I am Brian Fujii and my co host is Jill Mattingly

Jill: I was walking in the park

Brian: It is so cold out there

Jill: At Piedmont Park there are teams out there playing kick ball and soccer and dressed in layers it is fun. I love this weather, I wish it would snow. Don’t listen to that and buy bread and milk but I repeat it is not going to snow! I am excited today about the show

Brian: Happy Holidays to everyone, getting cold out there shopping,

Jill: No they are all at Starbucks, anyway, I didn’t get the espresso but I can generate excitement without it. I promise an exciting show. We are talking about problems with what is going on in the economy, every week we get more bad news and that just makes us want to get in front of the microphone and tell people

Brian: Struggling with stress and anxiety and maybe you know someone,

Jill: Job losses, when we get in here we think ok, maybe we can talk someone off the ledge if they are holding hard onto their recovery or their sobriety and are feeling a lot of stress and pressure because of job loss or family and financial difficulties, we are here we have a divine calling to talk to people about how to make it through a tough time.

Brian: This is a show to help get the confidence back up and get some help.

Jill: The number is 770-226-0920 and we are all up for questions, we know it is hitting folks in their emotional and family life. Call us 770-226-0920. We are going to always talk about how you can get help right away and how you can get help without making a huge investment of money and we believe as a caller said once, “Treatment works.” You don’t need a bottle or pills or illegal drugs to help you. You can learn coping skills and others can help you to get through times like these. Getting these skills is what Breakthrough is all about. Celebrations sometimes push us over the edge.

Brian: Triggers and events that can get the thoughts to drinking or drugging are also celebrations.

Jill: Florida and Alabama fans don’t get too carried away with the game and go out and do something stupid. Welcome to our fair city! We are looking at the news items the economy and finances but Brian

Brian: The story you have is so funny

Jill: It should make you cry, well I am a newspaper hound, I love current events and I was pouring through the AJC and those of you listening may have seen this that a man in Florida was arrested pulled over by the cops but he wasn’t driving, his nine year old son was driving the father to the liquor store to buy more alcohol and then he was asked why the nine year old was driving his reply was that he was teaching him to drive. This is what I want to talk about today. This is over the top. What was he thinking?

Brian: He wasn’t thinking and that is what happens with the hijacked brain.

Jill: This buy thought this was ok, this kid can’t ride certain carnival rides but we will put him behind the wheel of a car. You know I see these stories and I know you do to with the clinical side of Breakthrough you do very intensive psychological histories and find out what people have done and there is a lot of very bad choices and crazy what are you thinking types of things when it comes to drugs and alcohol. If you have a similar story we are going to talk about these, the hijacked brain. The number is 770-226-0920, a lot of you have seen first hand the evidence of the hijacked brain. Our website, Breakthroughaddictionrecovery.com and if you click on opiate treatment you can click on Paul’s story, a true story from a root canal to spiraling into opiate addiction and I think this story really would hit some people between the eyes

Brian: We have had several calls about the very story and said they had identified themselves.

Jill: If you are looking for painkillers to get through a hard time, it can hijack your brain and I think we can use Paul’s story after the next break. The number again is 770-226-0920 and if you want to listen on line it is www.920.wgka.com and that means you can go to the website and listen live.

Commercial Break

Jill: Welcome back, 770-226-0920 is the number to call we are discussing those what were you thinking moments. We talked last segment about the man arrested for having his nine year old driving him to the liquor store. In talking about what they were thinking we go to Paul’s story on our website www.breakthroughaddictionrecovery.com and it goes into one man’s journey into addiction, this is an actual client that shared decisions that he made and one of the things that struck me was his financial problems he was distressed and took oxycontin and lortab, he shared that he was so happy over oxycontin because he was worried about the lortab effecting his liver and it had Tylenol in it. Anything with acetamenaphine can cause damage and some drink on top of those pills so it is a double whammy so he was so happy about that not effecting his liver.

Brian: One of the things too as the holidays approach and many are dealing with relationship issues and we need to see that it hits the pocketbook and the heart. Those that are struggling as a result of addiction see that it drives the family apart. Holidays where people get together and then the emotions certainly cause individuals to look at ways to soothe that.

Jill: Many will stumble across old prescription meds from the dentist or something like that and find out that a couple of pills takes the edge off and the job worries and gets them through the evening with the kids without being irritable and that is a big black hole to stumble into. Before continuing the number is 770-226-0920 that number again is 770-226-0920. The story we are sharing is one of a man’s spiral into opiate dependency and he had gotten to the point that he realized he could not get enough lortab or percoset and he began to doctor shop and go to a different doctor a week that they can use. The pharmacy many times does not follow up but sometimes they are on top of it and there are ways to get through it and he was getting 30 pills a day. 30 of the 10 milligram hydrocodones a day and walking around and driving a car. What we are talking about is this is difficult to do over time because no doctor will give you enough to take and so he got online and thought there would be no repercussions and he was going online ordering the 90 pills for $400 to $500 and doing it in a few days. So, now these online companies know your habit better than you do and he was getting email reminders and phone calls asking if he wanted to re order and so you know he even told me that this one online company debited his bank account of the $400 and sent the pills without him even giving an ok.

Brian: I find that to be a real problem.

Jill: What was he thinking?

Brian: What he was needing. There are companies that will do this and cause an individual to get hooked in and no escape.

Jill: This man had a masters degree a successful career and addiction knows no class, and many will picture a homeless looking fellow but he discovered our program with suboxone and this helps people come of f of opiate medications and was successfully able to get off. What was he thinking? He was thinking it was normal and ok. Each time he ordered he thought it would be the last time.

Brian: 770-226-0920, that is the number to call and I know that there are those that know someone that could benefit from this show and so call them tell them what we are talking about.

Jill: Everyone reads the paper and can see the tragic problems around cocaine and heroin, mothers and fathers putting kids in the car and taking their kids to a crack house while they binge, that is another episode of this topic. The theme doesn’t go with one substance.

Brian: The addiction drives them, not safety or caring for someone else, it is the addiction within that drives them and there are a lot of people that know what we are talking about. The addiction motivates.

Jill: I have heard of single mothers not wanting to forfeit their social life and can’t afford babysitters and will leave their kids to go party and hopefully make it back and hopefully the 12 year old will know how to respond to an emergency. This happens a lot more than we can imagine. This is a brain disease and we want to talk about the brain and how these substances change the way the brain works and gets information across.

Brian: We know that it is a disease and as the brain chemistry changes so do the thought processes. We are coming to a break, the phone number here is 770-226-0920 and today we are talking about how addiction is a brain disease.

Commercial break

Brian: Welcome back to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour 770-226-0920 and my name is Brian Fujii

Jill: We are coming back to the second half of our show and asking what in the world were they thinking when they endangered themselves or others and it was usually attached to a substance like alcohol. You know at the break we were discussing how people are listening right now that are struggling and they are in the throws of job loss or financial problems foreclosure or the pressure of the holidays and we wanted to make sure that today during the show we got across to the people you can go somewhere today and be around people that want to stay on solid ground or learn to be on solid ground and it is free.

Brian: They really need the support. We do have an individual that is on the line right now and his name is Scott.

Scott: Hi guys,

Jill: We asked Scott to call to talk about our Saturday program at Breakthroiugh.

Brian: It is called SMART and it is peer led.

Scott: Well, we meet in Norcross at 5 pm on Saturdays and it is a 60 minute meeting and is open to anyone wanting to come and sit in and have a good safe place to talk openly.

Brian: 8000 Miller Court East in Norcross. If you are out there and write down the address and put it in the GPS. Scott, you gave us an idea, does SMART meet any other day than Saturday?

Scott: Yes, Thursday from 6pm to 7pm and it is open to anyone.

Brian: Anyone having an addiction problem can come and discuss openly without fear and be of confidence that they are safe.

Scott: It is very laid back approach of talking about problems we have and the best way to deal with them and deal with life and that itself as it comes to us can be difficult. It is getting a lot of different points of the process, some are long clean and some are struggling and some are trying to find the best way to make it through. There are some that are just thinking about what they can do to get sober.

Brian: This is a national program

Scott: Yes SMARTRecovery.org, you can get more information through the internet and that is another avenue through SMART.

Jill: People listening right now, what would you say to someone on the fence wondering what they are going to do in their situation and they are stressed, talk to them

Scott: I tell you if you are out there struggling with the whole thought of how can I get my life back, um, I would suggest coming in and sitting down and even if you don’t participate you will get something out of it and there is no requirement you can just feel the concern and the non confrontational approach that we strive for and it is a good safe place to talk openly and I would highly encourage those struggling to do this just start talking, that is the key to a lot of it. Just start the conversation and start the process and it sheds light on the problem and it is no longer a secret.

Brian: These are all people recovering in different phases?

Scott: Right,

Brian: Scott thanks for calling and I am sure again we will give the address, 8000 Miller Court East, Norcross, GA Scott will greet you.

Jill: The coffee, you will have it ready?

Scott: You bet.

Jill: We have a caller holding so we will take that call when we return from the break and we will contine the conversation.

Commercial break

Jill: Welcome back to the Breakthrough Addiction Recovery Hour, Brian I meant to ask are you Florida or Alabama?

Brian: Florida.

Jill: Call in and harass Brian. I am a Floribama,

Brian: We have a call from John in Buford.

Tom: It is Tom in Buford

Brian: Thanks for holding

Tom: They built Floribama after the storm

Jill: You have been there! Tell us about hydrocodone

Tom: I heard you talking about the guy taking 30 mg. hydrocodone and I have had kidney operations and got on that hydrocodone and was told to manage the pain and take it every five hours so there would not be a lot of pain and then I would not have to wait and I got hooked on them for four months and after the last procedure I was hooked and taking 10 a day and I am a recovery alcoholic 20 years and I picked up one white chip. The hydrocodone was hard to kick and for three to five weeks the feelings and all the weird stuff, it was really tough, if I have kidney stones again, I would beg for it again because it worked on the pain.

Jill: Kidney stones are so painful and I think all men should go through it to identify with pregnancy.

Tom: Several nurses would ask how I could work with kidney stones and I was buzzing on hydrocodone and some told me that they had kidney stones…

Jill: The one thing about you that is amazing is that coming off of 10 a day? Did a physician help you?

Tom: I had to cold turkey and my last procedure was 2007 and then I just went off just like when I stopped drinking. I heard about tapering, but I think you have to face it and get with it.

Jill: Some people can not do it. They have tried and the withdrawal is a real physiological event and

Tom: It was more physical than mental and since stopping drinking I knew what I was facing.

Jill: combining with the psychological problems with dependence there are those out there that want to stop and there are a lot of different ways to come off of the pills it could be help with suboxone or something like that and people who don’t know of options and don’t have the wherewithal need to know that there are options and it is important to come off of these medications. Paul’s story is a great example.

Tom: Did he taper?

Jill: He actually did taper with suboxone, it is doable and safe in a facility like ours and in a doctors care and just seeking a way to get off of these pills and I am so glad that you could tough it out and maybe going through alcohol really made you much more in tune with what the brain was doing to you.

Tom: What got me through drinking was AA

Jill: Fantastic and

Tom: Well you start and you think that it isn’t doing you any good but after meeting after meeting, I went to some 40 meetings before I realized it was helping. I didn’t go back to AA and I know I am supposed to but this bunk about someone who just stopped drinking or drugging you have the same investment if you go back to it. If I went back, my gosh I would be drunk two to three days in and so I have 20 years invested, it is a lot more than someone with a week.

Jill: Here is the thing Tom, you are talking about success and many people are listening about your success and they are encouraged and that is why I am glad you called.

Tom: You can do it and it will flat mess up your life and ruin your life, your job and relationships and

Jill: That is the message we wanted to get out there. We have to go to a break. I really appreciate it. Florida or Alabama?

Tom: I’m an Auburn fan, but since Auburn isn’t in it I am Alabama.

Jill: Tom in Buford, 770-226-0920, that is the number to call, call us and ask a question or give us a comment.

Commercial break

Brian: Welcome back we are talking about addiction as a brain disease. Many ask me why it is a disease if we are doing it to ourselves. Addiction whether it be alcohol or other drugs is a disease. It impacts the brain and that is the part that most don’t understand and when they use the drugs of choice it changes the brain. We know that it impacts the lower brain and the dopamine release and we help you understand

Jill: There are options and we offer that at Breakthrough.

Brian: We have daytime, nighttime, weekend SMART you can come in and take advantage of the education

Jill: Going to school,

Brian: And they can talk with others and share their stories and all therapist led. Someone can really understand how to get better and talk about what is happening to them.

Jill: We have psychiatry and we can go over the options in a free consultation you can share your unique situation and we will find the perfect fit for you and we will find a plan. We are down to the end of the show, it went by so fast.

Brian: 770-734-8091, someone is always on call

Jill: Hope everyone is having a great season and I know it is hard for families out there please call us if you have an issue facing you this holiday season and we would be happy to talk with you on the phone. Join us next week.

Brian: We are different and we can help.

Jill: Have a great day.