Hi,

I'm pretty new to all of this and am considering having Lap Band surgery. I was wondering if Seraquel is okay to continue to take after having this surgery. Any information would be great.

Thanks,
Frogger

If you are not in therapy, I highly suggest it.  You may need a psych eval for meds, if that is not already done. 

As for getting moving, take baby steps and reward yourself in healthy ways.  Set goals for the treadmill, like 10 minutes in the morning, and 10 in the evening for a few days.  After you do your 10 minutes, take a bubble bath and luxuriate in that.  Make a list of things you can do to pamper yourself, and do one after you do the treadmill.  Buy yourself some scented lotions at Bath and Body Works and use them.  Listen to soothing music, like Vivaldi's Four Seasons, or Pachelbel's Canon.  Buy yourself some DVDs on sale, and watch them.  Comedy is what I recommend, like "There's Something About Mary."

Therapy and meds are what helps me get to where I am motivated to work on myself.  Then, I do the pampering to maintain my stability.

Hugs,
Trish

I know it's tough, Olivia. I'm in the same kind of non-motivational episode. I *used* to be a gym rat, but now I don't seem to want to move much. Well that's not true for either of us. We WANT to get up and get moving and walk or lift weights or whatever, but we feel trapped almost. I thnk if we just DID IT...just force yourself to walk even 30 minutes to start, it'll be enough to get things moving for us. It's never easy to pull yourself out of a rut, but sometimes it's necessary.

Marie

01-24 REFLECTION FOR THE DAY

Among the many gifts that we are offered in The Program is the gift of freedom.  Paradoxically, however, the gift of freedom is not without a price-tag; freedom can only be achieved by paying the price called ACCEPTANCE.  Similarly, if we can surrender to God's guidance, it will cost us our self-will, that "commodity" so precious to those of us who have always thought we could and should run the show.  IS MY FREEDOM TODAY WORTH THE PRICE-TAG OF ACCEPTANCE?

TODAY I PRAY
May God teach me acceptance -- the ability to accept the things I cannot change.  God also grant me courage to change those things I can.  God help me to accept the illness of my addiction and give me the courage to change my addictive behavior.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Accept the addiction. 
Change the behavior.


Link to AA online..

http://www.aa.org/?Media=PlayFlash

First video -- a little humor to see if you may be an alcoholic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkqjKf2QxNA&feature=PlayList&p=D9D9700762E004BE&playnext=1&index=29

Second video -- Movtivation, Don't Ever Quit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkCFeNeqyHk&feature=related

I have received over the past couple years .. a few PM's from people who are worried and scared that they are now addicted to alcohol.  I've tried to help them by sharing by my own experience as to what helped me. 

Just now I read a PM that I received from an anonymous person on OH.  They appear concerned about a friend who they feel is a lost soul or even worried about their life.  They wanted to know if I have ever saved a lost soul.   To my knowledge... I don't know if these postings have affected a person's life enough for them to get the help they need or not.  I do believe that I personally cannot save a lost person.  If I (or anyone) believes that someone is suicidal.. call 911 immediately.  Otherwise.. I believe that the addictive person MUST find it within themselves (thru experiences) to save him or herself along with their HIGHERPOWER !!  If you as a friend can get that person to a rehab by giving them ultimatiums.. then wonderful.  But.. by the time they get out.. it must be their own chosing to stay clean.  No more ultimatiums!!  You have no control over their decisions.. their choices!!

The advise I always give... if you think you have an alcohol/drug addiction... please go to an AA meeting.. and keep going back!!  And if these readings help in some way.. it's a blessing and I am truly happy that I can post them and I'm sorry if some days (weeks) I slack in doing so.

So here is todays.. I pray that it relates in some form to todays PM I received.

01/23 REFLECTION FOR THE DAY

We must never be blinded by the futile philosophy that we are just the hapless victims of our inheritance, of our life experience, and of our surroundings-- that these are the sole forces that make our decisions for us.  This is not the road to freedom.  We have to believe that we can really choose.  As addictive persons, we lost our ability to choose whether we would pursue our addictions.  Yet we finally did make choices that brought about our recovery.  DO I BELIEVE THAT IN "BECOMING WILLING,"  I HAVE MADE THE BEST OF ALL CHOICES?

TODAY I PRAY
May I shed the idea that I am the world's victim, an unfortunate creature caught in a web of cir****tance, inferring that others ought to "make it up to me" because I have been given a bad deal on this earth.  We are always given choices.  May God help me to choose wisely.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
God is not a puppeteer.