Relapse Information

You Become What You Think About.

Relapse simply put means going back
out drinking or drugging after being
clean for a period of time. Relapse is
often preventable. In class I am told
to be aware of the symptoms/warning
signs as they occur and take control
by making specific changes in my life.

Some of the conditions of your state of
mind that can cause relapse are:

. being depressed
. loss of self-confidence
. poor judgement
. compulsive/impulsive behavior
. confusion
. difficulty in making decisions
. easily irritated/angered
. no daily routine
. feeling helpless
. poor sleeping habits
. apathy
. withdrawal from usual activities
. can't concentrate/focus

Another very important factor is
to AVOID People, Places and Things
this simply means stay away from
ex drinking buddies, druggies,
crack dealers, prostitutes, cops,
or anyone else that reminds you
of your drinking and drugging days.
As the song says, friends in low places.
As far as places go that is simple
enough, bars, crack houses, cheap
motels, streets where you bought
your stuff, liquor stores, you know
the places, avoid them. Things are
anything that remind you of drinking
and drugging and the most important
thing to avoid is a relationship or
major decision for at least one year
into your sobriety. A relationship
gone south with take you with it.

I also think we alcoholic veterans
should avoid war stories about our
service because it can bring back
some unpleasant memories and push
that trigger.

Now we know what will cause a relapse,
in tomorrows blog I will discuss what
I learned to prepare myself so a
relapse will not occur.

If you should relapse, do not be ashamed,
get right back into your program. A wise
man once said, a failure just brought me
that much closer to success, if I learned
from that failure. Oh yes, I am not that
wise man, I struggle one day at a time.

Author: Alden Morrison

Helpful Tool For A Veteran Alcoholic

In class today we learned of a simple
tool to use to help us avoid relapse.
Its a simple acronym we all know if
you did any guard duty. HALT and
it stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely,
and Tired.

Hungry - Do not let yourself go hungry,
it causes you to crave something and
that something could turn out to be
alcohol or drugs. Try to eat healthy,
but anything will do, to keep the hungry
cravings away. Here at the apartment
complex we Veteran alcoholics live in,
you could say the Veterans Hospital
has supplied us with a mini store. No
lack of food or snacks and my favorite
ice cream of course with toppings.

Angry - As I sober up, my feelings and
emotions are returning, I have angry
feelings about the Vietnam war, the way I was treated when I returned home, angry at everyone for no special reason. I am angry that it is hard for me to concentrate, angry at my ex wife and full of self pity. So I am told the second I become aware of these feelings, to speak to someone about them. I try to avoid psychiatrist, I believe they are confused from listening to so many confused people themselves. Only kidding. Talk to your sponsor, net work of friends and other Veteran alcoholics that are sober or go to a alcoholic anonymous meeting.

Lonely - Loneliness can lead to drinking
and drugging again. Call your sponsor,
a friend, go to a meeting, go shopping,
be where people are, do not be alone
if you get this feeling. Here at the
Veterans Hospital we Alcoholic Vets
don't have that problem, but we will
when we leave this program, so now
we are aware of what to do.

Tired - I am told to get myself on a
schedule so I get enough rest and not
become overtired, as my defenses will
not be as sharp and will lead back to
a relapse. All we veteran alcoholics
are getting our bodies use to a schedule
while here at the Veterans hospital, in
bed by 11pm and up by 6am. I plan on
keeping this schedule when I leave this
program.

Author: Alden Morrison

Step Three - Working on It

Step three is making a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him.

In class today we veteran alcoholics discussed step 3. Surprisingly most of all the veterans believed in God, some choose to call him their High Power. I choose to call him God.

For me I believed but that is as far as it went. I lost being in touch with God during the Vietnam war, I think I saw to much, did to much to believe a loving God could let it all happen.

I had traded God in for a bottle and I really
never learned to love after that. I think my
soul and conscience just became hardened.
I felt nothing except for what I wanted and
if I wanted it, I did anything to get it.

Letting God into my life was a challenge
for me because, I could let him in but
would he forgive me for all the destruction
I had created in my life? Some other
Veterans spoke up and said he would, if
I asked, this all seemed to simple for me.
Some other alcoholic veterans said they
already had turned there lives and wills
over to God, but I didn't see any changes
in them. The class was now over, but
I would discuss this with several other
alcoholic veterans for the next several days. It seemed like the instructor Fred had given my soul and conscience a kick
start. I was glad we had several more
Step 3 classes to attend.

Author: Alden Morrison

Mindful Meditation

You Become What You Think About.

One of the Classes I attended today is:

Introduction to concepts of emotional regulation and mindfulness meditation.

TYPE OF VISIT: Veteran participated in a one hour session of Mindfulness-based stress reduction.

PROBLEM: lacks knowledge of healthy coping strategies/relaxation techniques for recovery.

INTERVENTION:

Goal:

1) To participate in a group discussion on principles of mindfulness meditation for developing strategies for emotional regulation in recovery.

2) To participate in an experiential class that will demonstrate a type of mindful attention through watching the breath and other experiential exercises.

METHODOLOGY: Experiential educational group with participant sharing and processing.

GROUP CONTEXT: Group session focused on members engaging in an experiential exercise, mindfulness sitting meditation, standing
stretching meditation and mindfulness walking meditation, followed by discussing their experience. They read and discussed the seven principles of mindfulness meditation, and how they relate to coping in recovery.

PARTICIPATION: Veteran was attentive during the discussion and participated in the meditation (sitting, stretching and walking) portion of the class. He He felt that he benefited from the experience.

PLAN: Continue mindfulness meditation group.

Prior to this class on meditation, I had come across
a web site that offered a free download for the military
and veterans, its called "Be Still And Know", and it
has a lot of other mindful information to help us in
our goal of staying sober for a better life. Its at the
FHU web site located on the sidebar of this blog. I
recommend it to all veterans.

Author: Alden Morrison

Substance Abuse Treatment, VA Hospital

I was now admitted for substance abuse
at the Veterans Hospital, Gainesville, Fl.

Since the program is voluntary, all
Veterans sign a compliance contract,
stating they will adhere to all rules of
the program, to many to mention here.

The program provides housing off of
hospital grounds in a apartment complex
modified to accommodate 20 veterans of
both sexes. Most of the veterans were
homeless, so this is the first housing they
have had, in some cases, years. We now
had a bed, clean sheets and of course
medical attention that most of us
needed.

All individual medicines were locked up,
and it was each veterans responsibility
to take it as per scribed but all under
supervision of a health technician, at the
time it all seem like a big pain, but in
hindsight very professionally handled
considering you have 20 veterans all
in different stages of recovery, all with
different attitudes towards the program,
themselves and others. Its a mental
ward actually, wow!! I did not want to
tell the world I was in a mental ward.

Daily classes were at another location
and the Veterans Hospital provided
transportation, they also provided
transportation to and from the hospital
for medical appointments and to take
urine samples several times a week. The
Health Technicians would give us blow
test when they deemed necessary. If
your urine test came back dirty, you
were gone.

You could not just come and go as you
pleased, your time was completely
occupied from morning to night.

A usual day was up at 6am, fix your
own breakfast, lunch was brought in
to us at the class location and supper
was fixed by two of us for the whole
20 people in the program. Two different
individuals cooked every evening with
a planned menu voted on by the veterans
themselves under the supervision of
the Diet Technician. Then you did your
assigned house chores, got ready to go
to class by 8am. Your day ended at
11pm. There was very little free time
until later in the program.

We were self governed by electing a
President, Sgt at Arms and a Secretary
of course all supervised by a Health
Technician.

The Peer Leader was appointed by the
staff, usually a vet with some time in
recovery that was doing well and
followed the program. Every week
all patients were given a grading sheet
and we graded each other in all aspects
of our recovery. I think this sheet was
used to pick the Peer Leader, but I am
not sure.

I was able to adjust to this program
fairly quickly without any problems. I
think my fourteen years in the Marine
Corps had taught me to adjust to any
situation in life and be content with it
and I was.

I had now been sober for about four
weeks in the outpatient program and
now set my sites on learning how to
stay that way. Sobriety had become
my number one and only goal I had
set for myself, now I was going to learn
the steps to achieve that goal because
my way of living had become hell.

Author: Alden Morrison

Ineffective Positive Coping Strategies

Diagnosis: Substance Dependence

Problem: Ineffective positive coping strategies
Long Term Goal: Veteran will be able to implement positive coping strategies independently.

Intervention:

I. Session Title: Coping Skills.

II. Group Therapy time/date: 60 minutes.

III. Topic of discussion/needs addressed:
positive coping strategies for recovery.
The group members read and discussed
the handout "An affirmation is a gift to
myself" looking at how their way of looking
at situations can determine how they feel
about it. They created a personal
affirmation and shared it with the group.
Having a positive attitude was processed
as a coping skill for recovery. They read
"Affirmations" by Louise Hay which
focuses on gratitude, making positive
changes, being in the here and now as
well as having a positive outlook on life.
The statement "those who think they can
and those who think they can't are both
right" was processed. They were encouraged
to keep a gratitude journal to increase their
positive thoughts.

IV. Goals and/or Objectives: Group member
will participate in discussions and exercises
during the group. He/she will demonstrate
an understanding of the topic as evidenced
by quality/content of participation.

V. Participation/behavior A. Attendance:

{x} Attended full session {} Arrived late.

B. Level of Participation {} Appropriately
initiates, discloses and sustains conversation, engages appropriately in discussions.

{x} Discloses relevant information within the structure of the group.
{} Excessive discussions, may disclose
information inappropriately at times or
discuss items not pertinent to topic.
{} Requires maximum cuing to
participate or does not participate in
discussion.

C. Attention

{x} attentive, eye contact as appropriate,
appears interested throughout the group
{} intermittent periods of attention/inattention
{} lacks eye contact, appears disinterested
throughout the group.

VI. Outcome:
He/she met goal to demonstrate an
understanding of the topic as evidenced
by quality and content of participation: {x} Yes.
He/she met goal to participate in the group
discussions and exercise: {x} Yes.

VII. Plan: Continue coping skills group
/es/ PAM, MHSE OTR/L Occupational Therapist

I left the class thinking, if I believe I can stay
sober, I will. I had been drinking for forty years and it nearly killed me. I have to believe that
statement.

I did not particularly like this instructor, her
class came over pretty flat.

Author: Alden Morrison

My Trauma and PTSD Evaluation

The below examination is from my health record
located at the Veterans Hospital, Gainesville, Fl.

TRAUMA/PTSD SCREEN:

Some people have had terrible experiences that others never go through,
such as:
- being attacked - no
- being sexually assaulted or raped - no
- being in a flood or natural disaster - no
- being in combat - yes
- being in a bad accident - no
- being threatened with a weapon - yes
- seeing someone badly injured or killed - yes

(a) Did any of these experiences ever happen to you? (X)yes ()no ()N/A
If you answered "no" to question a, skip questions b, c, and d.

(b) In the past month, have you been bothered by repeated, disturbing
memories, thoughts or images of one or more of the stressful events
experienced above? ()yes (X)no ()N/A

(c) In the past month, have you felt distant or cut off from other people?
()yes (X)no ()N/A

(d) In the past month, have you been "super alert" or watchful or on
guard? ()yes (X)no ()N/A

Scoring: If patient answers affirmatively to question a and endorses ONE
of the subsequent questions (b, c, or d) refer to a mental health

professional for further evaluation and treatment of probable PTSD.

DEPRESSION SCREEN

1. During the past month, have you often been bothered by feeling down,
depressed, or hopeless? ()yes (X)no

2. During the past month, have you often been bothered by little interest
or pleasure in doing things? ()yes (X)no

A positive test result = a yes response to either question.
LIVING ENVIRONMENT SCREEN


PATIENT NAME AND ADDRESS
MORRISON, ALDEN
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA 32609

VISTA Electronic Medical Documentation

Printed at N. FLORIDA/S. GEORGIA VHS
Page 459

() Home/apartment with family
() Home/apartment alone
() Structured living environment (i.e. Oxford House, Assisted Living)
() Shelter or transient home
(X) Homeless

ALCOHOL USE DISORDERS IDENTIFICATION TEST (AUDIT)

1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?

( )0. Never
( )1. Monthly or less
( )2. Two to four times a month
( )3. Two to three times a week
(X )4. Four or more times a week

2. How many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you
are drinking?

( )0. 1 or 2
( )1. 3 or 4
( )2. 5 or 6
( )3. 7-9
(X )4. 10 or more

3. How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion?

( )0. Never
( )1. Less than monthly
( )2. Monthly
( )3. Weekly
(X )4. Daily or almost daily

4. How often during the last year have you found that you were not able to
stop drinking once you had started?

( )0. Never
( )1. Less than monthly
( )2. Monthly
( )3. Weekly
(X )4. Daily or almost daily

5. How often during the past year have you failed to do what was normally
expected from you because of drinking?

( )0. Never
( )1. Less than monthly
( )2. Monthly
(X )3. Weekly
( )4. Daily or almost daily

MORRISON, ALDEN
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA 32609

6. How often during the last year have you needed a first drink in the
morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?

( )0. Never
( )1. Less than monthly
( )2. Monthly
( )3. Weekly
(X )4. Daily or almost daily

7. How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or
remorse after drinking?

(X )0. Never
( )1. Less than monthly
( )2. Monthly
( )3. Weekly
( )4. Daily or almost daily

8. How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what
happened the night before because you had been drinking?

(X )0. Never
( )1. Less than monthly
( )2. Monthly
( )3. Weekly
( )4. Daily or almost daily

9. Have you or someone else been injured as a result of your drinking?

(X )0. No
( )2. Yes, but not in the last year
( )4. Yes, during the last year

10. How often has a friend, relative, doctor, or other health worker been
concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?

( )0. Never
( )1. Less than monthly
(X )2. About once a month
( )3. About once a week
( )4. Several times a week

Total Score= 25
A score of 8 or above is considered indicative of a clinical alcohol
disorder, and further evaluation should be performed.
/es/ A. D.
RN, C
Signed: 11/30/2007 10:16

LOCAL TITLE: SATT RESIDENTIAL INITIAL NURSING ASSESSMENT (T)
STANDARD TITLE: NURSING NOTE

VISTA Electronic Medical Documentation

Page 461
DATE OF NOTE: NOV 30, 2007@09:43 ENTRY DATE: NOV 30, 2007@09:43:46
AUTHOR: D, L EXP COSIGNER:
URGENCY: STATUS: COMPLETED

This is a 64 year old, FEB 4,1943, DIVORCED,MALE who was admitted
to SARRTP from the Gainesville Salvation Army where he has resided for 1 1/2
months. Prior to this, vet lived in Tallahassee, FL in an apartment x 1 1/2yrs.
Vet put his belongings in storage and came to Gainesville for substance abuse
treatment. Upon arrival to Gainesville vet entered into Ambulatory Detox and
completed x 1wk. Vet referred to SARRTP by: Fred, MSW and Irma
, CAP. Vet will be followed by Ms. Irma

SARRTP. DOC - Alcohol. Vet denies h/o substance abuse treatment.

1. INITIAL NURSING ASSESSMENT

RATED DISABILITIES - NONE FOUND
___________________________________________________________________
Height: 68 in [172.7 cm] (11/30/2007 08:57)
Weight: 252 lb [114.5 kg] (11/30/2007 08:57)
Temperature: 98.2 F [36.8 C] (11/30/2007 08:57)
B/P: 130/79 (11/30/2007 08:57)
Pulse: 66 (11/30/2007 08:57)
Respiration: 18 (11/30/2007 08:57)
___________________________________________________________________
BAL: 0.0 Urine DS Sent: ()Yes ()No (X)Pending
__________________________________________________________________
NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT:
Appetite: ()Very poor ()Probably inadequate (X)Adequate
()Excellent
History:
Current diet: regular
Religious/Ethic/Cultural Food Preferences: denies
Appetite - good
Recent weight loss/gain - stable
Difficulty Chewing/Swallowing - denies
___________________________________________________________________
Allergies: Patient has answered NKA
___________________________________________________________________
Reason for Admission: Substance abuse treatment:

PATIENT NAME AND ADDRESS
MORRISON, ALDEN
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA 32609

I was now in residential treatment in the Veterans
Hospital, Gainesville, Fl

Author: Alden Morrison

___________________________________________________________________