Apr 16, 2013 / By BRC Recovery / In 12 Steps 2, Addiction, Addiction Relapse, Alcoholism, Alumni Personal Stories, Alumni Stories, Announcements, Cocaine, Cutting, Depression, Drug Free, Drug News, Drugs, General Category 4, God, Guest Posts, Health and Wellness, Heroin, Humor, News, Personal Stories, Prayer, Readers Responses, Recovery, Relapse Prevention, Texas Drug Rehab, Women's Issues

The Pieces of Vulnerability

Just like pieces to a jigsaw puzzle, I take the lessons God presents in my life and connect them to create a cohesive picture. The pieces to my life puzzle this week: -“Triumph of the inner spirit” While sharing his story at BRC Recovery, Mike D. expressed the importance of getting unblocked from the spirit that resides within our hearts and becoming okay with who we are at the core of our existence. -“Perfect and Bulletproof” Brene Brown expresses in her book, Daring Greatly, the seductive features of being perfect and bulletproof. She suggests that we must be willing to […]

Apr 3, 2013 / By BRC Recovery / In 12 Steps 2, Addiction, Addiction Relapse, Alcoholism, Alumni Personal Stories, Alumni Stories, Announcements, Cocaine, Cutting, Depression, Drug Free, Drug News, Drugs, General Category 4, God, Guest Posts, Health and Wellness, Heroin, Humor, News, Personal Stories, Prayer, Readers Responses, Recovery, Relapse Prevention, Texas Drug Rehab, Women's Issues

13 Tips Gained from 13 Miles

Unlike the Boy Scouts who are always prepared, I arrived at my very first half marathon lacking some fundamental “Do’s” and “Don’ts.” After some practical experience with the process, however, I learned these basic guidelines to make future races a bit easier: 1. Weather—always check the weather forecast! I arrived ill-prepared for the climate change from Austin to Dallas: 84—hot and humid to 51—cold and cloudy. 2. Nutrition—stay away from fiber to avoid unexpected port-a-potty visits and go heavy on the carbs to sustain energy. 3. Transportation—not a great idea to drive 200 miles after you run 13.1 miles! I […]

Mar 15, 2013 / By BRC Recovery / In 12 Steps 2, Addiction, Addiction Relapse, Alcoholism, Alumni Personal Stories, Alumni Stories, Announcements, Cocaine, Cutting, Depression, Drug Free, Drug News, Drugs, General Category 4, God, Guest Posts, Heroin, Humor, News, Personal Stories, Prayer, Readers Responses, Recovery, Relapse Prevention, Teen Drug Use, Texas Drug Rehab, Women's Issues

BRC Recovery: A Sense of Community During Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery

On Saturday, March 9, current residents of BRC Recovery, Alumni, family and proud members of Austin’s Recovery Community gathered at the Mark Houston Hall to hear former Program Director Audrey C. tell her story. My house manager said to me once that you know a good story when you don’t look at the clock one time. I didn’t notice the clock or any wandering eyes last night, but I did take a few moments to look around in gratitude. And those in attendance were literally on the edge of their seats, as BRC Recovery went back to its roots. As […]

Feb 23, 2013 / By BRC Recovery / In 12 Steps 2, Addiction, Addiction Relapse, Alcoholism, Alumni Personal Stories, Alumni Stories, Announcements, Cocaine, Cutting, Depression, Drug Free, Drug News, Drug-related Video, Drugs, General Category 4, God, Guest Posts, Health and Wellness, Heroin, News, Personal Stories, Readers Responses, Recovery, Relapse Prevention, Teen Drug Use, Texas Drug Rehab, Women's Issues

Never Ask Why

I had a conversation recently with a dear friend about the importance of “not asking why” We agreed that this was one of the biggest lessons we learned from the BRC Recovery experience. I know that when I first arrived, it was hard for me to understand the logic behind the rules. I think I rolled my eyes the entire time my buddy went through the Code of Conduct. I could not understand what “zen-ing” my room and not bringing red cups downstairs had to do with me not shooting dope anymore. How was this supposed to keep me sober? […]

Feb 21, 2013 / By BRC Recovery / In 12 Steps 2, Addiction, Addiction Relapse, Alcoholism, Alumni Personal Stories, Alumni Stories, Announcements, Cocaine, Cutting, Depression, Drug Free, Drug News, Drugs, General Category 4, God, Guest Posts, Health and Wellness, Heroin, News, Personal Stories, Readers Responses, Recovery, Relapse Prevention, Teen Drug Use, Texas Drug Rehab, Women's Issues

Single Girl in the Middle

Single girl in the middle—that’s exactly where I found myself on Valentine’s Day. I was sandwiched between Courtney’s sweet flower bouquet and Tracie’s chocolate covered strawberries. Yikes! Suddenly, I wasn’t just a single girl…I was an especially single girl. In that moment I felt lonely, incomplete, and insufficient. Basically, not enough as is. However, a quick spot-check, known as the tenth step of recovery, quickly stopped the self-pity express. No amount of chocolate, flowers, diamonds, or even affection will fill the void in my soul. That space is only satisfied with God. As I meditated it became clear that I do […]

Feb 15, 2013 / By BRC Recovery / In 12 Steps 2, Addiction, Addiction Relapse, Alcoholism, Alumni Personal Stories, Alumni Stories, Announcements, Cocaine, Depression, Drug Free, Drug News, Drugs, General Category 4, God, Guest Posts, Health and Wellness, Heroin, Personal Stories, Readers Responses, Recovery, Relapse Prevention, Teen Drug Use, Texas Drug Rehab, Women's Issues

One Bad Run

According to someone on Pinterest, “Even a bad run is better than no run at all.” Obviously this person neither suffers from alcoholism nor perfectionism. Four weeks into training for my first ever ½ marathon, I experienced my first “bad” run. The stage was set for the perfect five-mile run: sunny day, picturesque country road, and the necessary endurance. One mile into the run, BAMMM! I was tired. The road too hilly. Hot. Songs weren’t right. Bored. Not enough food in my belly. I stopped running at mile three and chalked the entire run up as a failure. Negative thoughts […]

Oct 30, 2012 / By BRC Recovery / In Guest Posts, Health and Wellness

Bountiful Recovery at BRC

BRC Recovery residents worked hand in hand this summer to produce a bountiful fall harvest and there is, perhaps, no better metaphor for the process of recovery. Even as Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on the East Coast, we are reminded of the gifts of nature, forces beyond our control and the rewards of hard work and patience. Just as Mark Houston’s mantra of “chop wood, carry water” emphasized the daily disciplines of recovery, today’s BRC residents roll up their sleeves with an equal combination of purpose and faith. “After all,”says Marsha Stone, CEO, “you can’t grow a garden with just […]

Apr 2, 2012 / By BRC Recovery / In 12 Steps 2, Addiction, Addiction Relapse, Alcoholism, Alumni Stories, Announcements, Cocaine, Cutting, Depression, Drugs, General Category 4, God, Guest Posts, Health and Wellness, Heroin, News, Personal Stories, Readers Responses, Recovery, Relapse Prevention, Teen Drug Use, Texas Drug Rehab, Women's Issues

Fear, Mad Men and Cowboy Boots: Leading a Sober Life

Cowboy boots are empowering. At the very least, they are somewhat symbolic of my acceptance into the realm of sobriety. It wasn’t until I was surrounded by a group of strong, happy women in Texas that I began to change my concept of what long-term sobriety could look like. Until that point, my resistance and fear could be attributed to an image I had of sitting in a 12-step meeting while the rest of the world had fun. The very idea that I was having fun toward the end of my drinking is ridiculous enough, but even conceding that, the […]