New Habitude program at Turning Point!

Many a times we find ourselves right in the middle of a storm. We see that very little is working in our favour.We are stuck. We see our loved ones and near ones are growing apprehensive about our actions. We start to feel that our life has no purpose. We feel like our existence hasn’t made a difference and if it has… it has been a negative one.

We all go through tough times in our lives, but our choices on how to cope with these times can make a difference. Many call it a rough patch but think again. Have you chosen a path that is tearing you apart emotionally and physically? Have you tried to convince yourself that you have no other choices or alternatives?

The truth is that you have choices. We all have choices.

Whatever happens in our life, understandable or inexplicable, it provides an opportunity for choice. Nothing bad is destined and nothing good is pre-written. The choice is yours.

Nothing is ever cut in stone. It is how we perceive things in our lives and what we really want in our lives.

What are the things that we really want and what are the things that we cannot have…. Nothing. There is nothing we cannot achieve with all we have. Many have overcome huge trauma and challenges and become successful in all aspects of their lives. They persevered through the storm.

We need genuine willpower to make it happen.

First, one has to believe in oneself.  You cannot build your credit on what you are going to do. You must do it.

Look inside yourself and open your eyes to a new self-realizing world. Your whole world lies within you. So when the outer world has come to its limit, push through those limits.

Explore your soul. Make a promise to yourself to change the tides in your favour and let your actions do the rest.

Challenge yourself. It can be quite a difficult task to overcome all those challenges, but sometimes listening to your own heart and believing in your dreams can make all the difference.

You might have made some mistakes that are part and parcel for your choices. It’s never too late to make a new beginning. Life is full of opportunity, and new beginnings. Allow yourself the opportunity to see them or to move forward and create them.

Don’t let negative forces overpower you. When you feel you are being pulled back into the negativity, cut those strings and reach out to those who support your hopes and dreams.

The time is now…..not tomorrow, not next week, not next month or next year.

Make the Turn……start creating healthy habits and a positive attitude… one step at a time…… Get some Habitude™

This is your Turning Point.

GRATITUDE

I am going to put gratitude,

in my attitude.

He took away my tears,

took away my pain,

took away my fears,

and made me smile again.

I am going to put gratitude,

fill right up with gratitude.

I’m going to put gratitude

in my attitude.

He restored my soul,

made me walk instead of crawl,

made me new and whole,

made me stand tall.

I am going to put gratitude,

fill right up with gratitude.

I’m going to put gratitude

in my attitude.

He answered the prayer,

of his humble servant,

He is always there,

when I ask, knees bent.

I am going to put gratitude,

fill right up with gratitude.

I’m going to put gratitude

in my attitude.

Thank you Lord for saving me,

before you my sins cower.

You kept my soul free.

You alone have the power.

I’m going to put gratitude

in my attitude.

Merry Christmas

Brenda

Christmas 2011

After completing 4 years at the University of Northern Colorado for my Bachelor of Science in 1990, 1 year at Johns Hopkins University for my Masters in Health Science in 1996, and 2 ½ years into my Ph.D. in respiratory medicine at the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University in 1996-98, I thought I had complete control of my life.

Specifically, my career in aerosol respiratory medicine. I had published my first paper in a respectable peer reviewed medical journal (Chest) when I was 27. Several months after that, I presented the paper at a medical conference in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. It was one of 9 trips I would take to Germany to consult with a medical company established in Starnberg, Germany.

By the time I was in my second year of my Ph.D. I had published/presented 54 medical papers, published 6 peer reviewed medical papers, was contributing author on one book, owned and operated my own consulting company in respiratory medicine, developed a patent for respiratory devices, and was progressing successfully in my Ph.D.

I was 31 years old and I was proud of my accomplishments and my continuing success in respiratory medicine. But, that was all about to change. Addiction would enter my life and take away from me my possessions, my profession, my loved ones, and my sanity.

My pathway to addiction started when I made an appointment to see a doctor, for migraine headaches. I put great trust in him due to the fact that he was the medical schools doctor and was responsible for taking care of the students enrolled in the medical school programs. In a time frame of 7.9 months I was prescribed 6,647 controlled substance pills.

I had pills to help me stay awake and study, pills for helping me sleep, pills for anxiety, and pills for pain. I knew about addiction but I thought I was too intelligent to become addicted.

Anyway, these pills were provided to me by the schools doctor who said he had taken pills when he was in medical school to help him succeed. My ignorance would cause me to lose almost a decade of my life and would bring me close to death many times as a result of my severe drug addiction.

Although the doctor lost his medical license for over prescribing controlled substances and not monitoring that prescribing, it was too late for me. I had to drop out of my Ph.D. program due to my addiction. He lost his license 3 months after I dropped out of the program.

At this point in my life, I had to confront and accept some very disturbing facts: I no longer was pursuing the goal I had been following for the past 15 years, I was severely addicted to prescription drugs, the doctor who had been prescribing me the drugs had his medical license revoked, and the main focus of my life was to obtain drugs. I was, in essence, trapped in the severity of my addiction. For the first time I had lost complete control over my life.

My first of numerous addiction related detrimental events came when I was presenting a medical paper at a conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Before my lecture I forged a prescription on my computer and proceeded to the pharmacy to have it filled.

Since the prescription was for Demerol, the pharmacy called the doctor and verified the prescription was forged. The police were waiting for me (at the conference lecture hall) to finish my lecture and when I did they handcuffed and arrested me.

I was taken out in front of all my colleagues and conference members and taken to jail. Needless to say I was immediately fired from my job as a senior aerosol scientist for a prominent German company established in the United States.

For many years I was doctor shopping. I would acquire my drugs in many ways: the internet, hospital emergency rooms, forged prescriptions, clinics, private doctors, and in other countries. I would stay employed by various companies because of my experience in respiratory medicine. But, I would ultimately get fired when my drug addiction interfered with the quality of my work.

Eventually, word of my addiction became known to my colleagues and the respiratory medicine industry. From that point on, I was not called upon to lecture, to consult, or in any way work in the respiratory medicine industry. I was, for all intents and purposes, “blackballed” from my profession. It has taken great effort to restore my reputation and I still encounter numerous ‘roadblocks’ to this very day.

My future is still somewhat unknown. I do know that I am very thrilled and inspired living life as a sober individual. And, for the first the first time in 9 years I have a sense of self-confidence and respect for myself.

This confidence reminds me that I can do anything I put my mind to. For this reason I have enrolled and been accepted to complete my doctorate in public health. My dissertation concentrates on prescription addiction in today’s society.

It has been a long, arduous, and self-revealing journey through my 9 years of addiction to recovery. Unfortunately along the way I became deceitful, dishonest, unreliable, and untrustworthy. On the other hand I can proclaim that through my adversity came great prosperity. My experiences will allow me to empathize and help countless others starting down or already on their own pathway from addiction to recovery.

To view the video and read the article go to this site http://www.albertaprimetime.com/Default.aspx and click on Headlines. Well worth viewing.

I destroy homes, I tear families apart,

I take children and that’s just a start.

I’m more valued than diamonds, more precious than gold,

The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.

If you need me, remember, I’m easily found,

I live all around you, in school and in town -

I live with the rich, I live with the poor;

I live just down the street, and maybe next door.

If this scares you to death, it certainly should

I have many names, but there’s one you’ll know best

I’m sure you’ve heard of me, My name’s Oxycontin or Percocet.

My power is awesome; Try me, you’ll see,

But if you do, you may never break free.

Just try me once, I might let you go

Try me twice and I’ll own your soul.

When I possess you, you’ll steal and you’ll lie,

You’ll do what you have to, just to get high.

The crimes you’ll commit for my narcotic charms,

Will be worth the pleasure you’ll feel in my arms.

You’ll lie to your mother, you’ll steal from your dad,

When you see their tears, you must not feel sad.

Just forget your morals and how you were raised,

I’ll be your conscience – I’ll teach you my ways

I take kids from parents and I take parents from kids

I turn people from God; I separate friends.

I’ll take everything from you, even your good looks and Pride

I’ll be with you always, right by your side.

You’ll give up everything – your family and your home

Your money, your friends, you’ll be all alone.

I’ll take and I’ll take till you’ve got no more to give.

When I finish with you, you’ll be lucky to live.

If you try me, be warned: This is not a game,

If I’m given the chance, I’ll drive you insane.

I’ll ravage your body and I’ll control your mind,

I’ll own you completely; your soul will be Mine

The nightmares I’ll give you when you’re lying in bed,

And the voices you hear from the inside of your head.

The shakes, the sweats, and the visions you’ll see,

I want you to know, these are your gifts from me.

By then it’s too late, and you’ll know in your heart,

That you are now mine, and we shall not part.

You’ll regret that you tried me; they always do,

But you came to me; not I to you.

You knew this would happen; how many times were you told?

But you challenged my power; you chose to be bold.

You could have said “no” and just walked away,

If you could live over, now what would you say?

My power is awesome, as I told you before.

I can take your mother and turn her into a whore.

I’ll be your master, you’ll do as I say,

Even when I tell you to go to your grave.

Now that you’ve met me, what will you do?

Will you try me or not? It’s all up to you.

I can show you more misery that words can tell,

Come, take my hand – let me lead you to hell.

~Anonymous