Personal Inventory -
Telling lies or making up stories to cover your tracks.
What is DISHONESTY?
When you let go of resentments towards others.
What is FORGIVING?
These may have kept you from feeling comfortable with yourself and others. It's hard to be open and honest when you are keeping a bunch of these. A personal inventory can free you from these.
What are SECRETS?
You misuse chemicals. At times your behavior may get out of control. You may do things you would not ordinarily do.
What is SUBSTANCE ABUSE?
Chemical addiction is not caused by some other thing like mental illness. People do not become addicted because of moral weakness or weak character. It does not come about from bad habits or life's pressures.
What is meant by CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY IS PRIMARY ?
Feeling sorry for yourself.
What is SELF-PITY?
When you are understanding and accepting of others.
What is TOLERANT?
When you courageously face up to the negative parts of your inventory, you can free yourself from any built up guilt or shame.
What happens when YOU FORGIVE YOURSELF?
Some signs of this disease are: you crave alcohol or some other drug, you made efforts to stop using and have failed, you recognize your use has caused you problems but you continue to use, you lost interest in other activities because you would rather use.
What is CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY or CHEMICAL ADDICTION?
Chemical dependency does not just disappear like a cold or the flu. Chemical dependency is more like diabetes or hear disease. It can be treated successfully but it cannot be cure.
What is meant by CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY IS CHRONIC?
When you hang on to your anger toward other people.
What is RESENTFUL?
You don't need to keep track of your lies when you do this.
What is HONESTY?
By sharing your inventory with someone else, you discover that you no longer have a need to hide out. Now that you have shared the whole truth of your past, your present is free to share with others.
What happens when YOU LOSE YOUR FEELING OF ISOLATIOIN?
You may feel like you are on this ride from all the emotional and physical highs and lows of substance abuse.
What is a ROLLER COASTER?
Chemical dependency gets worse over time if it is not treated. Addiction my not seem very serious at first. Over time it gets worse and worse, doing major damage to the body, the mind an the spirit.
What is meant by CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY IS PROGRESSIVE?
When you criticize or make fun of people with different ideas, attitudes or backgrounds.
What is INTOLERANT?
When you recognize the good things about yourself.
What is SELF-WORTH?
This can take a lot of pressure off your shoulders. It also opens the door for you to consider a power greater than yourself. An honest and thorough personal inventory can provide a strong spiritual base from which to grow.
What happens when YOU DISCOVER YOU ARE NOT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE?
This is the way the mind operates to avoid painful situations and to keep painful truths hidden. Examples of this include: "My only problem is my parents", "Smoking pot does not affect me at all", "Everybody in my school drinks as much as I do".
What is DENIAL?
left unchecked, chemical dependency may cause death. Vital organs of the body may become too damaged to function, or death may come by accident, overdose or suicide. However, treatment and the ongoing work of recovery can allow chemically addicted people to lead full and healthy lives.
What is meant by CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY IS FATAL?
When you take action without thinking of the consequences.
What is IRRESSPONSIBLE?
When you accept your limitations, powerlessness, or ask for help.
What is HUMILITY?
Many of your feelings may have been dammed up for a long time. These feelings could have been blocked by your fears or secrets or lies. Now your honest personal inventory will allow your emotions to flow freely, bringing a sense of peace to your life.
What happens when YOU GET YOUR HONEST FEELINGS FLOWING AGAIN?
This supports your denial and builds a barrier. Some of these include: rationalizing, justifying, arguing, arrogance, minimizing, silence, shouting, smiling, joking agreeing and hiding.
What is the WALL OF DEFENSES?
When you need more of a substance to achieve the desired affect.
What is TOLERANCE?