There’s been a lot of stuff flying around the tabloids about Aaron Carter and whether or not he was given drugs by Michael Jackson. Though initial reports were adamant that Carter was reporting not only the gift of drugs by Jackson but actually sharing drugs and getting high together when he was well under the legal drinking age, Carter has made a point of coming forward to say that all those early stories were blatantly untrue – he never said anything like that and no such relationship or incident ever occurred between him and Michael Jackson.

According to Perez Hilton, Carter had this to say about his experience with MJ: “It was fun. I personally didn’t see any drug addiction issues [with Michael]. The time that I spent with him, yes, he was fine.”

Though the younger brother of a Backstreet Boy said he had some alcohol while at a party at Neverland, Jackson never gave it to him and definitely never gave him anything else.

Drug Abuse and Addiction Rumors

Because Michael Jackson famously died of a drug overdose, many instantly assume that any rumors that imply that he did anything related to drugs and alcohol must be true. It’s part of the stigma of addiction. Most will find that after they go to drug rehab, people will instantly assume that any found drugs are theirs or that any bad behavior – with bad results – was caused by them and that they’ve relapsed as a result. It’s not uncommon to be accused of things you didn’t do once people find out that drug addiction was a part of your past. How you handle it, however, can make all the difference in the world.

Dealing with the Stigma of Drug Addiction in Recovery

It’s something that can be extremely frustrating in recovery. People will often assume that you are using drugs and alcohol and hiding it even when you aren’t. If anything goes missing – especially money or valuables – many will assume that the recovering addict is responsible. Act a little out of character and some will assume that you’re high or drunk.

The best way to handle these accusations is to take them calmly. Don’t get defensive and don’t get angry. Especially if they have dealt with you during your addiction, they are likely scared that it could happen again. Give it time. Showing them with your actions that you’re doing well and avoiding relapse will be much more effective than throwing a fit.

One of the best ways to avoid relapse in recovery is to stop it before it starts. Noticing when things are happening or changes occur that could signify a relapse is one of the best ways to keep it from happening. The following are seven common signs of relapse. If you notice any of these issues in your life, take steps to manage it before it becomes something serious.

1. No daily schedule or structure. Having a routine helps you to accomplish everything you need to do and when you start to make changes in your life that disrupts that routine, you risk getting overwhelmed, missing out on sleep, or creating more work for yourself. Avoid this by staying away from activities that will throw your schedule out of whack.
2. Isolation. When you spend more time alone than you do interacting with others, you’re more likely to rationalize a drink or get high. If no one can see you, then no one may know and if no one knows, you may not feel that you are accountable. Avoid this by building a strong support network in recovery and staying in touch.
3. Stress. Work-related stress, stress from a loved one, problems in a relationship, issues at school, or internalized pressure to achieve certain things in a certain timeframe can cause you to feel overwhelmed. Stress is one of the biggest causes of relapse. Take steps to remove stressful factors from your life and keep a low-stress attitude all the time.
4. Behavior changes. If you’re feeling irritable or angry with or without reason, it can be a sign of pending relapse. Recognize your own behavior changes and get them in check before relapse occurs.
5. Ignoring your health. Not eating right, not getting enough sleep, working too much, not getting enough down time – all these things can cause health problems. Make an effort to take care of yourself to avoid relapse.
6. Denial. If you find yourself rationalizing that ‘just one’ will be okay or that you ‘deserve’ to cut loose every once in awhile with drugs and alcohol, nip that thinking in the bud before you relapse.
7. Pulling out of recovery. If you start missing 12-step meetings, cancel therapy appointments and begin to pull back from plans with sober friends, it can be a sign that a relapse is on the way. Showing up for your recovery is one of the biggest things that will keep you clean and sober. If you see these things happen, get back involved.

How do you avoid relapse? What are your signs that you may slip or relapse and how do you handle it?

Journaling is a great way to process your recovery. It gives you the opportunity to vent about things that upset you in a productive way that doesn’t hurt your chances of making the situation better, explore your feelings about different options and future possibilities and to work through issues related drug and alcohol addiction recovery. Here are a few journaling ideas to get you started after drug rehab:

• Ask yourself a question. Pick a theoretical question, any question, and run with it. Does God exist? Is chocolate and marshmallow as good as chocolate and peanut butter? Is attitude important in getting what you want in the world? Whatever your question, explore your thoughts on the issue.
• Make a to-do list. Whether it’s a list for the grocery store, errands you need to run, people you need to call, or a combination, if you’ve got your journal with you, you may as well use it to help you get things done.
• Work the steps. If you attend 12-step meetings, journals are a great resource as you work the steps. You are often asked to assess your part in a particular issue or list people you need to make amends to or to explore past events. Even after you’ve worked the steps, you can always revisit the 4^th step or others that held meaning for you when the situation arises.
• Vent about something that bothers. Irritations will happen. People will piss you off. Rather than taking it out on them and making the situation worse, vent about it in your journal. It’s a much better outlet than relapsing.
• Talk about what happened in therapy. Personal therapy and group therapy sessions are great resources in recovery. Each session can give you a lot of food for thought. It will help you to make progress in your treatment as you work through what was discussed, be able to look back on what has happened in sessions, and create a plan for future sessions.
• Map out a budget. Money is of constant concern to most people, but when you’re in recovery is can be a high-priority focus. Use your journal to map out your budget and figure out how to manage your money now that you aren’t spending every cent on drugs and alcohol.
• Draw. Drawing pictures of what you see around you or abstract pictures that define your thoughts can be extremely therapeutic. Use your journal to draw with pencils, inks or even experiment with watercolors.
• Take pictures. Photography offers the same therapeutic effect as drawing and writing. Explore your view of the world and include some of your favorite shots in your journal.

Women are creative beings and using journals to explore different modes of creativity is an a great way to discover your authentic self in recovery. How will you use your journal to progress after drug and alcohol rehab? 

Women need the friendship of other women to sustain them through the bad times and help them celebrate the good times. Friendships are said to increase longevity, happiness, and quality of life – and isn’t recovery devoted to all those things? But what do you do when your girl friends do nothing but cause you pain and drama? How do you find positive friendships in recovery that will support you as work toward a balanced life without drugs and alcohol?

The Problem with Girl Friends in Recovery

If you haven’t been there, you know someone who has: girls who are “frenemies,” always talking about each other behind each other’s backs until something gets back to someone else and suddenly the fur is flying. Women who are in recovery have the same problem: sleeping with each other’s partners, back stabbing each other at work, or just plain being mean out of feelings of insecurity or jealousy. Just because you meet someone in recovery who purports to have the same goals of finding a healthy balance in their lives without drugs and alcohol, it doesn’t mean that they are going to be a good friend for the long haul.

Other issues arise with women who you befriended before or during your addiction. If your friend is still using, it can be a problem for you, even if she just drinks recreationally. You are trying to build a new life that doesn’t include going out to bars and clubs, and if your friend is still spending her time this way, it can mean problems for your friendship with her.

The Benefit of Girl Friends in Recovery

Sometimes, though, you have girl friends who have known you your entire life. They loved you before you developed an addiction, they hung out with you during your addiction – they may even have been at your intervention. And now that you’re out of alcohol and drug rehab, they are still there to support you. There’s nothing like it.

Then there are the women that you meet during drug and alcohol addiction treatment. These women have been through what you’re going through, and they want to give support as much as they need you as a positive influence in their lives. Some of the women you meet in drug rehab will provide friendships that will last you the rest of your life.

Seeking Out Positive Friendships in Recovery

If you don’t have friends that you wish to keep up with from before your time in addiction treatment or if the women you met during drug rehab have all relapsed, then you can seek out positive friendships in recovery. Group therapy, support groups and 12-step meetings are all great places to meet likeminded women who will support your sobriety, but you can also meet new people in the community as well: at church, taking classes at the community college, at work. Take a moment to make a friendly comment to your neighbor or co-worker. Sometimes all it takes is a few words to start a friendship that lasts a lifetime.

You’ve been through hell the last few months - drug addiction, family problems, having an addition intervention, then finally starting drug rehab.  Now your life is pointed in a much better direction and your rehab journey is over.  It’s time to start living your life out in the world again, away from the cocoon of rehab.  What’s next for you?

Outpatient Treatment After Drug Rehab

Certainly one option is to do drug treatment with an outpatient treatment clinic.  This could include group therapy two or three times a week plus individual sessions.  You would live in your own home and community, blending yourself back into your life and your new treatment plan.  If you have good support at home and an environment that will adapt well to sober living, then you may be comfortable heading home directly after your drug treatment is finished.  It can be comforting to be back among people who love you and are ready to help you keep the changes in your life.

Sober Living Helps With Transition After Drug Treatment

If you are at all in doubt about your ability to stay sober because of your home circumstances or other issues brought up in rehab, the sober living arrangement may be well-suited for you..  This provides a home-like environment with the added support of an all-female staff and co-residents.  Everyone is either in addiction recovery or there specifically to help women with their recovery.  It provides more freedoms than inpatient drug rehab, but does provide more structure than a person’s home environment.

Curfews and visitation restrictions exist to protect women in post-rehab transition.  The women who live there have more open opportunities to join support groups and plan their individual recovery program.  Many people have the idea that a half-way house or sober living arrangement is just a run down joint in the seedy part of town.  This is hardly the case for the Orchid sober living home.  It has the same kind of compassion and attention to feminine needs as the inpatient drug rehab. 

Is Sober Living the Right Choice for You

It’s hard to know when the sober living home might be the best thing for you.  Perhaps it is as you transition from drug rehab to your home community.  You might decide that after being at home for a while, you would do better in a sober living arrangement for a while.  No matter what your choice, the Orchid’s sober living home has an open door and a welcome mat out for you.

Making the decision to start addiction recovery is challenging enough.  Getting released from rehab is a big moment, but it’s just the beginning of your journey.  Life in rehab is very different from life at home, no matter how supportive everyone is.  Choosing a sober living home following drug rehab is a way to make your adjustment a little smoother.  Dedicating yourself to a drug free lifestyle is so important, and sober living homes are a great way to bridge the gap between rehab and home.