Tag Archives: Substance Abuse

A Time For Reflection And Prayer On Life-Long Struggles With Addictions At The Recovery House

Posted on October 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

By Jennifer Miller

I arrived Monday morning at the Recovery House with “lululemon” yoga mats to present to the girls. IT FELT SO GOOD! Most of them have so few material possessions now and they were thrilled to have something new and special to call their own.

After the yoga session, I spent some time with the Recovery Home director and she spoke of her 32 years of recovery. I was able to tell her of my experiences with addictions and recovery in the last 20 years with my ex-husband and two sons. She was surprised as she looked at me and remarked that I did not look like I had been “through it”.

This conversation highlighted the fact that addictions affects many of us, either directly or indirectly, in all walks of life. As a young woman 25 years ago, I would never have dreamed that I would be working with women in recovery and that this disease would be such a large part of my life. I still have trouble with how difficult it is for my family and friends to understand and be there emotionally for me. But when you have two children either struggling or dying from a disease, the importance of a support group is never greater as the feeling of isolation can be overwhelming.

People tend to dismiss addictions as something that could never affect THEM.  “Alcoholism” is an addiction, yet it is clearly viewed differently than other “substance abuse” addictions. My ex-husband told me he was an “alcoholic” before we were married, and I attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting to learn more. I read books and articles on the subject.

I remember being so shocked at the meeting when a speaker shared her story of heroin addiction and homelessness. I had no idea at the time what would eventually unfold.

Contact Jennifer Miller at yogagoddesslaguna@yahoo.com

When a woman marries an addict, her sons have a 70% or greater chance of becoming addicts according to one Betty Ford study. Both of my sons now battle the disease, with one celebrating his third year of sobriety and the other not yet ready enter recovery and accept its life-saving principles. I am stronger now than I was three years ago, and I pray for my second son and all who find themselves overcome by alcohol and substance abuse addictions.

Namaste, Jennifer Miller

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Posted in Heart-Based Healing, Life, Love, Prayers, Recovery, Reflections, Self, Wisdom, Women

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“Women Must Break The Chains Of Attachment And Denial To Find Happiness” By Jennifer Miller

Posted on May 19, 2012 | Leave a comment
“Attachment is the origin, the root of suffering; hence it is the cause of suffering.”
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  “The Dalai Lama at Harvard: Lectures on the Buddhist Path to Peace” (1988)
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I have personally known many women who were trapped in unhappy marriages or relationships, and chose to stay in those often abusive relationships because it at least provided them with a sense of financial security and stability. These women, and many like them, have become “attached” to these relationships and lifestyles, and are suffering and miserable as a result.
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So much of our unhappiness is caused by attachment to things, people, images and even “visions of ourselves”. It starts with wanting and desiring and can progress to craving and obsessing. Becoming prisoners, “in” relationships and marriages and “of” things, women often try to numb the pain and suffering, ”living in denial” as they attempt to escape “their” reality.
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I will be writing more on “attachment”,  with unhappiness, suffering and ”living in denial” as a result. I was married to an abusive man who destroyed our family life and financial security through drug, alcohol and sexual addictions. But I made the painful decision to leave him, divorce, and raise my children on my own. Through my yoga practice and spiritual studies, I was able to stabilize and make decisions that have benefitted my life and family.
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The value of living a healthy life, free of craving “things” and being grateful each day for what I have are the secret to being happy. I seek to help women through very tough times in their lives by “going there” and learning to how to break the chains of attachment. I want to use the gift of my life experiences to assist women in coping with substance abuse and addictions in loved ones. And finally, help women transform their body, mind and spirit through their essential soul’s wisdom.
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Namaste, Jennifer Miller

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Posted in Attachment, Balance, Denial, Eating Disorders, Family, Freedom, Gratitude, Hope, Knowledge, Life, Suffering, Wisdom, Women

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“Meditation And Hope At The Substance Abuse Recovery House”

Posted on May 4, 2012 | 3 Comments

Unconditional love, if only for a few moments, will make a difference.

Arriving Wednesday at the substance abuse recovery home, I was aware of just how much more comfortable and open I felt teaching yoga here. I knew that many of the young women truly looked forward to our time together. They knew that we would share some laughs and possibly discover some new aspect of addiction recovery together. I was hopeful that each of them could experience a moment of self-realization and acceptance. I prayed for a touching moment for each of us to remember.

 
As we begin the yoga practice, I sense the increased level of trust in the room; my previous sessions clearly represented an initiation process as this is not an easy group to be accepted into. But many remain shut down emotionally.
 
For the most part they like me; the few that had brought the energy in the room down are not there. Funny how life works. The women have all embraced meditation as they seem to enjoy this time of letting go. I pass out lavender-scented washcloths as part of aroma therapy and they place it over their eyes.  
 
One of the girls, who has a 4-week old newborn, wants to do the meditation but  her baby starts to cry. I offer to hold this precious child and a beautiful calm settles over the room. Starting with a “guided meditation”, I gaze upon this bundle of life and so many feelings go through my mind.
 

Was the mother using while pregnant? Did this baby have to go through withdrawals? 

 
It has been rough journey for this young mother and baby. I gently rock the newborn with a gentle, loving motion. I feel gratitude that there there are clean, safe places for these women with children in recovery. 
 

There is hope, and I feel it in my soul.

 
During this precious hour I feel connected to these brave souls, knowing that we are all one connected to a higher purpose.
 

Unconditional love, if only for a few moments, will make a difference.

 
I feel my myself going into another realm, joining these women on a higher plane where peace, harmony and serenity take exist. The responsibilities of their world are momentarily at bay.
 

Holding this young life and knowing he is our future.

Holding hope that these woman continue on this stable course to recovery.

 
As the class ends and I prepare to leave, one of the girls asks me if it would be ok if she brought her daughter, who is four, to the class next week. I answer “YES” with a big smile, knowing that another young life could be touched by yoga. Another young yogini.
 
” May we all be open and accepting of all. We may look and feel different from one another, but in the end we are all “ONE”.
 
Namaste, Jennifer Miller
 

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Posted in Hope, Life, Love, Recovery, Wisdom, Women, Yoga

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Thoughts On My Day With Young Women In A Recovery Home….

Posted on April 23, 2012 | 1 Comment

I walked into the substance abuse recovery home, filled with young women in various stages of recovery.  Some were pregnant and some were with young children. Many had tattoos and were smoking.  The “younger” me might have stood there “in judgement”; the older, and wiser woman walked in with open arms of love and support,  knowing that I could make a difference in their lives.  I want to teach them yoga and connect them with their body, mind and spirit.

I had to first prove myself to them to be accepted into their tribe.  I showed them two asanas that were quite difficult. There was a hush in the room and I felt that I had mad a good start. I shared with them that I almost lost my son to drug addiction. I could tell they were pretty “shut down” emotionally and not ready to go there. I would not judge them and so I moved forward.
 
 
I had noticed immediately that the girls wanted to sexualize every posture. This told me that they were very detached from their bodies. I went along with their humor. I knew that they began to see that their bodies could work for them rather than against them.
 
 
Some of the girls were laughing which was another distraction, but eventually they were able to come back to the present moment. I feel that having hope for the future is incredibly important. Though some were mothers, or soon to be mothers, the girls were still young and immature.  I gave them all a candle and a stone and shared a story about manifestation and intention.  I asked the girls to put a wish into the Universe. I led them through a meditation which they all seemed to enjoy and they began to relax, until one of the girl’s pants caught on fire.
 
 
We gathered in a circle and I shared what Namaste meant. We all put our hands in prayer and bowed. I thanked them and as I looked around, they thanked me from their hearts. I could feel sincere gratitude. I had given a little bit of my heart and made a difference in a few of the young girl’s lives.
 
 
My prayer for these girls is, first, that they can connect with their body, mind and spirit . Second, to have hope for the future. Third, that they will be able to mother these babies and pass on the gift of unconditional love. Finally, that they can forgive themselves and love the beautiful woman that they are.
 
I thank yoga for all that it has given me and give thanks for the gift of my practice.
Namaste, Jennifer
 

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Posted in Recovery, Women, Yoga

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