prevention

What Is Emotional Relapse? - Lasting Recovery Outpatient Addiction Treatment →

Emotional Relapse Defined

Because it is the earliest stage, during emotional relapse you have not yet even started to think about drinking or using. Instead, you are experiencing negative emotions and acting in self-destructive ways that can undermine and jeopardize your continued recovery.

Signs of Emotional Relapse

Some of the “red flag” emotions include:

Anxiety – overwhelming uncertainty or fear about your new, sober life

Intolerance – rigid, uncompromising ideas; refusal to cooperate with others or accept new ideas

Anger – feelings of resentment that flare up whenever something doesn’t go exactly as you would like

Defensiveness – reacting to any criticism with hostility

Mood Swings – having no control over how you feel

Some of the dysfunctional behaviors include:

Social Isolation – avoiding friends and family; purposely spending all of your time alone

Refusing to ask for help – trying to “do it all” without assistance, especially when you KNOW that you need help

Poor Meeting Attendance – finding excuses to not go to 12-Step (AA/NA/Celebrate Recovery) meetings or outpatient counseling sessions

Unhealthy Eating Habits – eating as a response to emotional pain or stress; eating only fast food or junk; alternatively, loss of appetite

Disrupted Sleep Patterns – insomnia, poor quality sleep; alternately, excessive sleeping, usually because of depression

Avoiding Emotional Relapse

There are 3 keys to avoid emotional relapse and other, more progressive stages:

Self-Awareness –This means actively practicing better knowledge of your moods and emotions.

Self-Care –This simply means making it a habit to do those things that are necessary for your physical and emotional well-being.

Eating right

Relaxation techniques

Stress Reduction

Getting enough restful sleep

Ask for help –Addiction is too big a problem to tackle alone. Accepting help from positive and supportive people gives you additional resources and keeps you from feeling isolated.

Pulling back from emotional relapse keeps you away from the next, more dangerous step –, where you actually start about using or drinking again.

Gilead Begins Major Clinical Trial of Descovy vs. Truvada as PrEP - POZ →

Gilead Sciences has begun a major trial to compare the efficacy of Descovy (emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide, or TAF) versus Truvada (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or TDF/emtricitabine) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV.

In addition to determining how well Descovy protects against HIV compared with Truvada, the trial will compare the drugs’ effects on bone mineral density and kidney function, as well as other safety data.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Descovy in April 2016 to be used in combination with other antiretrovirals (ARVs) to treat HIV. Researchamong HIV-positive people has shown that the drug is less toxic to the bones and kidneys than Truvada. The reason is that Descovy contains an updated version of the drug tenofovir, called TAF, while Truvada contains the older take on that drug, TDF. Both tablets also contain the drug emtricitabine.

Talking to Your Partner about Condoms →

holisticsexualhealth:

It’s much smarter to talk about condoms before having sex, but that doesn’t make it easy. Some people — even those who are already having sex — are embarrassed by the topic of condoms. But not talking about condoms affects a person’s safety. Using condoms properly every time is the best protection against sexually transmitted disease (STDs) — even if you’re using another form of birth control like the Pill.

So how can you overcome your embarrassment about talking about condoms? Well, for starters it can help to know what a condom looks like, how it works, and what it’s like to handle one. Buy a box of condoms so you can familiarize yourself.

The next thing to get comfortable with is bringing up the topic of condoms with a partner. Practice opening lines. If you think your partner will object, work out your response ahead of time. Here are some possibilities:

Your partner says: “It’s uncomfortable.”
You might answer this by suggesting a different brand or size. Wearing a condom also may take some getting used to.

Your partner says: “It puts me right out of the mood.”
Say that having unsafe sex puts you right out of the mood. Permanently.

Your partner says: “If we really love each other, we should trust each other.”
Say that it’s because you love each other so much that you want to be sure you’re both safe and protect each other.

Your partner says: “Are you nervous about catching something?”
The natural response: “Sometimes people don’t even know when they have infections, so it’s better to be safe.”

Your partner says: “I won’t enjoy sex if we use a condom.”
Say you can’t enjoy sex unless it’s safe.

Your partner says: “I don’t know how to put it on.”
This one’s easy: “Here, let me show you.”

Timing

After you’ve familiarized yourself with condoms and practiced your routine, you’ll want to pick the right time to bring up the subject with your partner. A good time to do this is long before you’re in a situation where you might need a condom. When people are caught up in the heat of the moment, they may find they’re more likely to be pressured into doing something they regret later.

Try bringing up the topic in a matter-of-fact way. You might mention that you’ve bought some condoms and checked them out. Offer to bring the unopened condoms along. Or suggest that your partner buy his or her favorite brand (and then bring some of yours with you, just to be on the safe side). Offer to try different types of condoms to find which works best for both of you.

Make it clear that you won’t have sex without a condom. If someone threatens you or says they’d rather break up than wear a condom, it’s time for you to say good-bye. Tell the person you won’t have sex with someone who doesn’t respect you or themselves enough to use protection.

Here are some tips for using condoms:

  • Check the expiration date (condoms can dry and crack if they’re old). Don’t use a condom if it seems brittle or sticky — throw it away and get another one.
  • Choose condoms made of latex, which is thought to be more effective in preventing STDs. (If one of you has an allergy to latex, use polyurethane condoms instead.)
  • If you use lubricants with condoms, always use water-based ones. Shortening, lotion, petroleum jelly, or baby oil can break down the condom.
  • Open the condom packet with your hands, not your teeth, and open it carefully so you don’t tear the condom.
  • Choose a condom with a reservoir tip to catch semen after ejaculation. Lightly pinch the top of the condom and place it at the top of your (or your partner’s) penis. This gets rid of trapped air, which can cause a condom to burst.
  • Roll the condom down until it’s completely rolled out — if it’s inside out, throw it away and start over with a new condom.
  • Remove the condom immediately after ejaculation, before the penis softens. You or your partner should hold the condom at the base of the penis (the part nearest the guy’s body) while he withdraws to prevent the condom from slipping off.
  • Slide the condom off the penis, keeping the semen inside. Since condoms can clog the toilet if they are flushed, tie it off or put in a plastic bag (so it’s not a health risk for others) and throw it out.

These aren’t the only tips on discussing and using condoms. If you want more advice, talk to your friends, siblings, or parents. Yes, parents. Not everyone feels comfortable talking about sex with their parents, but lots of teens do. Parents often have the best tips.

Health professionals are also great sources of advice on sex and sexuality. A doctor or nurse practitioner or someone at a local health or family planning clinic can offer you advice — confidentially if necessary.

Of course, the only way to be 100% protected from pregnancy and STDs is abstinence (not having sex of any kind). But if you do decide to have sex, using a condom allows you to protect yourself.

Head of the Class

My best friend Joseph, interviewed me today for his Speech class final.  His topic is HIV/AIDS and the need for people to get tested (know your status).  I was happy to answer any questions he had for me about living with HIV and the not only the physical toll but the emotional toll it took on me as well.  Of which, my addiction progressed. 

It was also great to be able to catch up with him; we had not seen each other since the summer.  I wish him the best of luck on his final.

Alcoholism Council Of New York | 1-800-56-SOBER →

I am getting my training to become a CASAC (Credentialed Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counselor) at ACNY.  Well, I learned this week that the organization may have to shut its doors in 2013 after 50 years in providing educational, prevention, outreach, family, youth, and community services to New Yorkers. ***Bill Wilson once served on the Board of this organization.****  It is scary to think that it might close down.  

I am asking that anyone in recovery, or anyone who is willing to support their cause, to make a donation to help keep their doors open.

If you are unable to make a donation… Please Tweet this post, Reblog it, +1 on Google, PinIt, and/or Share it on Facebook.

Thank you!

To learn more about ACNY CLICK HERE

September is Recovery Month!! →

Recovery Month promotes the societal benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental and substance use disorders, celebrates people in recovery, lauds the contributions of treatment and service providers, and promotes the message that recovery in all its forms is possible. Recovery Month spreads the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that prevention works, treatment is effective and people can and do recover.

POZ: Rwanda Seeks 2 Million Male Circumcisions by 2013 →

pozmagazine:

Rwanda’s national male circumcision program aims to circumcise half the country’s male population by June 2013 in order to reduce HIV transmission, PlusNews reports. The program, which began in 2011, offers free circumcisions at all district hospitals. Research indicates that male circumcision decreases transmission risks from vaginal intercourse by 60 percent. Because of Rwanda’s lack of trained medical personnel—the country has only two doctors per 100,000 people—it’s unlikely that the goal can be met unless personnel are adequately trained. Despite promotion of the program, many Rwandan men are either unaware of the program or are unwilling to participate in it. Click here for more.