THE WARRIOR'S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL SOBRIETY
THE WARRIOR'S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL SOBRIETY
How to Gain Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Muscles
DR. K.J FOSTER
Fostering Resilience, LLC
Copyright 2020 by Dr. K.J. Foster
The Warrior's Guide to Successful Sobriety (2nd Edition)
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Cover Design by Piers Issler
First Printing, 2020
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It is with immense gratitude in my heart, that I express my deepest appreciation for my family, friends and all the courageous warriors who have helped me along this incredible path of healing and recovery.
First and foremost, my husband, Tony, whom I would have never met had it not been for my struggle with addiction and subsequent recovery. Thank you for your unwavering and relentless belief in me, especially during those times when I struggled with believing in myself. You are my heart, my partner, my best-friend , and a love like no other.
Thank you to my sons, Chase and Piers. Getting to be your mother is one of the greatest blessings of my life. You are my inspiration for everything. Thank you to my stepson, Lex, and my grandson, Troy. You are both a gift and a treasure. Thank you to my Mom and Dad, and to my entire family, who motivate and support me always.
I am also incredibly blessed to have the most amazing tribe, who are numerous in number, strength and power. Thank you to the many warrior guides who have impacted my life; Hilary, Kim, Carman, and Joe (to only name a few), and for my spiritual soul sisters, Kim, Kelly, Maria, MaryAnn, and Kristen. You are my heart and my rock.
And finally, but of the most high, is my eternal gratitude to the ultimate strength and power that helps me, help others. It is through you that all true love flows.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
K.J. Foster, Ph.D., LMHC, CAP is the Founder & CEO of Fostering Resilience, Co-Founder of the Center for Sobriety, Spirituality & Healing, and Family Program Director at the Beachcomber Family Center for Addiction Recovery in Delray Beach, Florida. She is the author of Fostering Resilience for the Family in Recovering and The Resilient Warrior Journal.
Dr. Foster has also authored numerous articles and book chapters, including a chapter in the Addiction and Recovery Handbook and Spirituality and Religion in Counseling: Competency-Based Strategies for Ethical Practic e. She presents locally, nationally and internationally on a variety of topics related to substance abuse and addiction recovery.
Dr. Foster created and manualized Fostering Resilience Relapse Prevention, an integrated program model for adults with substance use disorders. Dr. Foster is certified in addiction, mindfulness meditation, relapse prevention, and trauma. She earned a PhD in Counselor Education and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Florida. She has been working with individuals and families helping them to overcome substance abuse, addiction and codependency issues for over 10 years.
Dr. Foster lives in Boca Raton, Florida with her husband, Dr. Anthony Foster. Drs. Foster have three sons, one grandson, the sweetest dog on the planet, and four disagreeable cats.
www.drkjfoster.org
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to the millions of people who struggle with substance use disorders, and to the friends and family who love them unconditionally. Shame and stigma permeate the souls of those who are affected by substance use disorders. May this book be another positive step toward helping those who suffer and enlightening those who dont know what they dont know, come to understand.
My goal in writing this book, and in everything that I do (research, writing, presenting, teaching, YouTube videos), is to inform and educate as many people as I possibly can about substance abuse, addiction and codependency issues, and to help people recover. This is my passion and mission, based upon my own personal experience with an addiction to alcohol and my sons struggle with an addiction to drugs.
Recovery changes everything.
Recovery changed me, it changed my son, and it changed our family. It ultimately made us stronger, more resilient, and made our lives better than I ever imagined possible. I have since become an expert in addiction recovery and relapse prevention and I have worked with thousands of individuals and families struggling to overcome substance use disorders. What was once my worst nightmare, a nightmare of hopelessness, despair and shame, has now become my greatest legacy. A legacy of helping others to achieve strenghth, resilience and successful recovery. Never, ever give up hope.
This could be the recovery that changes everything.
Contents
EVERYONE IS RECOVERING
All of us, at some point in our lives, experience something that requires a recovery process. Everyone! I believe all human beings on the planet (truly) are in some stage of recovery at any given time. Whether its a medical issue, a trauma, a relationship, any form of loss (i.e. person, job, way of living), or some other physical, mental or emotional issue.
Its easy to consider just how many people are recovering from physical health issues. Lets take the most common medical issues such as colds, flus, broken bones, and surgeries. Now, lets expand this to encompass the millions of people who have, or have had, some form of cancer, heart disease, stroke, or diabetes. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, half of all Americans live with at least one of these chronic illnesses.
Now, add to that number the percentage of people who struggle with mental health issues, such as psychiatric disorders, personality disorders, and substance use disorders. Addiction, in any form, such as alcohol, drugs, food, sex, gambling, the internet, or even being addicted to a person, is a widespread and chronic issue in our culture where the word recovery is commonly associated.
There are also a variety of other issues and experiences that involve an emotional recovery process. For example, a loss of any kind involves an emotional recovery process, where grieving is a part of that process. Whether the loss is a loved one (human or animal), job, relationship, or position within the family. Even a pursuit or passion, such as an athlete who gets injured and is forced to suddenly and unexpectedly change their goals. All of these experiences involve a recovery process. Hopefully, youre beginning to see where I may be on to something.
