RedChair

Addictions Counselling & Treatment

Freephone: 0800 530 0012

Category: Tactical Abstinence Program

  • Apricity – The warmness of the sun in winter

    Apricity – The warmness of the sun in winter

    apricity – The warmness of the sun in winter

    Apricity, the warmth of the sun on a cold winter day, is a feeling that can bring joy and happiness to anyone who experiences it. For those in sobriety, finding apricity can be crucial to living a rich and meaningful life. Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a powerful tool that can help those in recovery find the warmth and light they need to thrive.

    An Anonymous Client Who Introduced Me To The Word “Apricity” – Thankyou. It is a beautiful connection to a feeling.

    Mr Good Person

    Loving His Rich & Meaningful Life

    ACT is based on the idea that pain and suffering are inevitable parts of life, but that we can choose how we respond to them. Instead of trying to avoid or eliminate negative emotions, ACT teaches us to accept them and focus on living a fulfilling life in spite of them. This can be especially important for those in recovery, who may face ongoing struggles with addiction, cravings, and other challenges.

    One key aspect of ACT is the concept of values. By identifying our core values and committing to living in alignment with them, we can create a sense of purpose and meaning in our lives. For someone in recovery, this might mean prioritizing relationships with loved ones, taking care of their physical and mental health, or giving back to their community. By focusing on these values, we can find fulfillment and satisfaction that goes beyond simply avoiding drugs or alcohol.

    Another important component of ACT is mindfulness. By learning to observe our thoughts and emotions without judgment, we can develop a greater sense of self-awareness and self-compassion. This can be especially important for those in recovery, who may struggle with feelings of shame, guilt, or self-doubt. By practicing mindfulness, we can learn to accept ourselves as we are, flaws and all, and move forward with greater confidence and resilience.

    Of course, none of this is easy. Sobriety is a journey, and there will be setbacks and challenges along the way. But by embracing the principles of ACT, we can find apricity even in the darkest of times. We can learn to accept our pain and suffering, find meaning and purpose in our lives, and cultivate a sense of inner peace and contentment that goes far beyond temporary pleasures.

    So if you’re struggling with addiction or are in recovery, remember that apricity is within reach. By embracing the principles of ACT, you can create a rich and meaningful life, full of warmth and light, even in the coldest of winters.

  • Boredom -A misunderstood friend?

    Boredom -A misunderstood friend?

    Bored? You are not broken, yet you may need to add a new response to boredom. It is probably your best friend. Choose to accept the message from boredom. Don’t send it packing this time.

    A Letter from Boredom. Maybe Write one back.

    Bemoaning boredom prior to relapsing is a common occurrence in the stages and cycles of dealing with addiction issues. I’m bored. What’s the point, and a call to the dealer is placed, or a hand reaches for the next bet on an app, or another trip to the pub or off-licence is made. Boredom, like far-reaching possibilities, is put on hold for the time being.

    Inviting clients to “lean into boredom” in my ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy – pronounced “act”) therapy sessions raises a few eyebrows. Boredom, on the other hand, is important feedback, a messenger who is frequently shown the door far too soon. Perhaps we should get our journals out and spend some time being bored. Keep an eye out for its subtle message. It’s interesting to take proactive time to sit with boredom, noticing feelings and sensations with openness and curiosity. I choose to engage in a curious relationship with boredom, being open to its presence. Perhaps take notes and record any thoughts that arise.

    The urge to move away from boredom may be the old behaviours. What can you do differently today?

    We can feed it addictions or invite its assistance as we begin to identify our values and aspirations. Simply put, boredom is a disconnect from our true values, what we stand for, and our purpose.

    I believe that addicts and alcoholics (although with ACT we are not hot on labels) have amazing personalities. When addictive, creative types like us are willing to open up to boredom and allow it to speak to us, we will discover our true self and, with it, our purpose. Listen to your amazing competitive talent self.

    That can be quite overwhelming and frightening, so we resort to our old familiar avoidant behaviours. However, there are times when we have a choice. Choose to be open to our aspirations, inspirations, and a version of ourselves that are willing to strive, thrive, and pursue a new path.

    Boredom will message you incessantly when your experience is exposed to abstinence. Your mind will autopilot to “avoid and control unwanted experiences with whatever it has long been trained to do, thus relapse will appear to offer respite.

    Radical Acceptance invites a paradoxical response to boredom. Just maybe, your boredom opens the door to possibility. A room brimming with new possibilities. Will you enter or leave today?

    Boredom is sending you a message. You do not have a problem with alcohol or drugs. You have a sober problem. As a result, sobriety and abstinence as a life goal will only take you so far. Boredom invites you to consider living from values of sobriety/abstinence, and thus you are now open to a Rich and Meaningful Life. One that challenges your fears and blocks because it serves a real purpose. It’s an identity you desperately want to feed.

    The RedChair ACT Pathway Programme is designed for addictive creative types when abstinence and sobriety are insufficient. Your ambitions can become a life role, a way of life, my “what I do.” What makes that really effective is when you also create a path that includes getting paid to do something you truly enjoy and want to spend your time involved in and with. Boredom will message you, and relapse will appear, offering respite, if there is no purpose and possibility in action.

    Bill Stevens

  • Higher Perspective

    Higher Perspective

    How do you do what matters, no matter what? How do you move out from being stuck, rigid, inflexible? We all hit points in our lives when this becomes an experience. One way to start to move again is to take a higher perspective, to notice with compassion what is in play.

    I do not see the world the way it is, I see the world the way I AM.
    Thoughtful man
    I do not see the world the way it is. I see the world the way I AM

    You can notice what is most in play for you right now. You can observe where you are at, what is guiding your behaviours. I invite you to actively notice, and then choose what suits you best in moving you towards who and what is important to you.