​Call 1.855.970.2547, 24/7 to speak to a treatment specialist for free. Get help finding the best treatment options available for yourself or a loved one. Rehab centers, detox centers, inpatient, outpatient programs, therapy, counseling, sober living housing and more. A 5 minute phone call is all it takes to get you the help you need. Get help now. Call: 1.855.970.2547

If you’re on probation, then all you have to do is keep your nose clean and stay out of trouble. Stay away from the people and stay away from the drugs. And believe it or not, if they find drugs in your system when you’re tested for drugs then there’s a good chance that they can send you to jail. And that’s the last thing you need right now. So the best thing to do while you're on probation is to quit dope and quit all drugs and stay clean for good.

If your license is suspended then don’t drive. Take the bus or have someone else drive you around. The last thing you want to do is to go to jail for driving without a valid drivers license. Instead just keep on working, (two jobs if you have to), pay off your tickets and get your license reinstated. And hopefully, that day will come sooner than you think. But for now, keep paying your court fines, pay your debt to society and move on with your life. Your probation will be over with soon.
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If you want help and care for others, then you may want to go to college or a medical institute to get your nursing degree. If you’re good with people or you want to help others quit drugs and fix their lives then you may want to go to college and become a certified drug counselor. If you’re not good with people but you’re good with your hands, then learn a new skill or a trade that’s in high demand and/or would interest you the most.

If you enjoy working with cars for example, then you can go to an automotive technical institute and learn how to become an auto mechanic or an auto body specialist. And you can become a good, skilled, honest mechanic and serve the public in that manner as well. Honest mechanics are in high demand and these are just a few examples. But whether you go to college or not, whatever you do, don’t stand still.

We should always be trying to better our lives in every way that we can. And if for whatever reason, you’re not able to get your G.E.D. or go to college then don’t fret, and don’t be discouraged. Because as long as you’re trying your best to live right, then there’s a good chance that doors can begin to open even without all that stuff. I got my first legitimate job at the print shop without a G.E.D. and while on probation. And the same thing can happen to you. Furthermore, you can always start your own business, a business from home or an internet business as well.

Some of you have kids, and you need money now. And starting a business may be your best bet. And if you live down south and like to be outside then you can even start a landscape business by cutting lawns. There are plenty of things to do. And don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with working a regular job, especially if all the bills are being paid. But if your regular job is not enough to pay the bills then you may have to start doing something else or something on the side. And if that requires getting an education to get a better job then do it! Go back to school and get it. Get an education and keep moving forward. And before you know it, you’ll be where you want to be. It may take some time and a bit of hard work, (as getting a degree or becoming certified always does), but whether you go to school or not, that time is going to go by no matter what. So if you have to get your G.E.D then get it. Find out where they’re giving prep classes in your area, sign up and then start going yo classes.

​If you want to go to college then do it. Start visiting schools and community colleges and start getting information on costs, classes, start dates, procedures, financial aid etc. Then sign up and then start going. If you want to enroll in a training institute to become certified then do it. Start doing some research on certification programs in your particular field of choice. Find the schools and get all the information you can get. Then sign up and then start going. You might even qualify for financial aid as well. And if you’re already in college then great! Wonderful! Keep on going and become the best that you can be! But whatever you do, don’t slow down now. Keep pressing on and keep moving forward to a new and better life!
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In order to fix our lives, we need to communicate with others in civilized manner and then force ourselves to do so with everyone we meet. But this can become difficult to do, especially when things don’t go our way. You can be the nicest person in the world, but can you still keep your cool when things go wrong? Can you argue with your spouse without yelling, swearing or throwing things at them?

When we go to a job interview, we’re polite, well mannered and soft spoken. We don’t swear, curse, use slang or talk broken English. But when we’re with our friends and out in the world do we still maintain this same behavior? Imagine how much better our lives would be if we could communicate with everyone in a civilized manner, using normal English, without swearing and adding a touch of kindness as well. Life would be so much better, not only for you, but for every person who comes your way. But doing so is much easier said than done, especially when we’ve been living in the opposite manner for so many years.

When I was on drugs, I didn’t know how to act. And when I got off drugs, I still didn’t know how to act. I didn’t know how to behave. I didn’t know how to be friendly. I didn’t even know how to be civilized. Being around drug dealers and drug addicts tends to remove your civility. I didn’t know how to talk without using slang. I didn’t know how to communicate without using foul language every time I spoke. And as a result it became difficult to make my way back into society and be looked upon as a normal human being and a law abiding citizen. 

​But one thing I do know is that we all have the ability to control how we act, what we say and how we communicate with others. Because even back then, as messed up as I was, I could still at times control myself and make myself talk like a normal person, without swearing and without using slang when speaking to civilized and professional people. And I realize that some of you are highly educated and speak and communicate like normal human beings. But some of you might still be rough around the edges and act like thugs. And to remain as such, will make it very difficult to make your way back into society and fix your life as well.

We can build up or tear down just by the words we use. And if we’re going to have a positive effect upon those we come into contact with then we’re going to have to communicate in a clean, decent, positive manner.

​Using foul language for example, cursing, swearing, etc, affects others and yourself in a negative manner without you even realizing it. Furthermore, continual and consistent use of foul language will not allow you to become a better person. In fact, it’s impossible to become a better person while continuing to use constant foul language each and every day.

Sound is a carrier for energy. And every time you swear you’re sending forth negative energy which will affect you and those around you in a negative manner. And everything we put out there comes back to us in one form or another. But as you grow and work on becoming a better person, then you’ll soon begin to find yourself swearing less and less as time goes on. This is a good thing. And it’s guaranteed to have a positive effect upon your life and those who hear you as well.

Furthermore, instead of talking all the time, we need to learn how to become better listeners as well. Everyone needs someone to talk to, even if everything they have to say is sad, depressing and negative. Because if they keep all that stuff trapped inside for too long then sooner or later they’re going to explode and maybe hurt themselves or someone else. But once they let it out, then they can begin to heal and get help. And with practice, you can become that person who will listen to them and then help them figure out a solution to help deal with their problems. But even that takes practice and patience along with a genuine concern for others as well.

But in time, it can be done. And you can make a major difference in someone else’s life just by becoming a good listener and being there to listen in their time of need. And when it comes to our daily lives, good communication skills are needed for professional and personal relationships as well. It’s important to learn how to listen without lashing out, or getting upset with the other speaker, or shutting them out completely. And it’s important to respond without trying to make the other person feel bad and make ourselves feel good.​

​Practicing calm and effective communication skills is essential in order to get along with others and avoid situations which can trigger relapse as well. And it’s very possible to speak and even argue without yelling but we must train and force ourselves to do so.

For example, after 24 hours of quitting, blood pressure and pulse rate can begin to drop. After 48 hours of quitting, carbon monoxide levels in the blood can begin to return back to normal. And after just 3 weeks of quitting cigarettes, circulation can begin to improve and lung function can begin to increase.

​​And there are many more benefits to quitting smoking as well. For one, you'll save a lot of money from not buying cigarettes, (about $130 per month). Your mind and body will begin to function a whole lot better. Your food will taste better as well. Your breath, hair and clothes won't smell like cigarette smoke anymore. Instead, you’ll feel clean and fresh all the time and it’s one of the best things that you can do to improve your overall health.

Just by quitting drugs, cigs and alcohol, you’ll begin to fix your health almost immediately. Even smoking less can help as well. And then from there on out, you can begin to put in the extra work to improve your health and overall state of being. You can begin to drink 7 bottles of water each day, starting with 1 bottled water first thing in the morning, (before coffee). And then divide your water intake throughout the day or as needed. Water is the most important element your body will ever need and without it, we become weak and ill.

Get out and get some sun as often as you can. And go outside without sunglasses on. You can also look at the sun from an indirect angle in order to allow the rays and energy of the sun to enter your body through your eyes. Sunlight is essential for the body and the mind. And it is impossible to obtain optimal health without obtaining sufficient sunlight. Furthermore, proper intake of sunlight can heal many diseases as well, including HIV/Aids and Hepatitis.

If you’re able to walk, then you might want to start taking walks around the block or in the park in order to get blood circulating throughout your body, for better circulation and lung function as well. And if you’re able to join a gym, then do it. You’re more likely to stick to an exercise routine when paying for your gym membership than working out at home. Furthermore, you’ll begin to feel the difference within a matter of days. And exercising counteracts drug addiction which can help you stay clean for good.

You can also start taking vitamins, supplements and eating healthy meals as well. Do everything you can to fix your health and then the rest is just a matter of time and dedication to a better and healthier lifestyle.

If you have a serious medical condition then you might want to consider surgery. If you have a condition which hinders your daily life and can only be fixed by surgery then it might be something to consider, (if the surgery wont bring other complications). If you don’t have medical insurance then visit your local social services office to apply for Medicaid or any other type of state funded insurance. But do whatever you can to fix your health and your state of well being.

If you have dental problems then go see a dentist. If you have dental insurance then great! Wonderful! But if not, then either try to get the cheapest insurance possible or visit your local dentist to see if they can work out a payment plan with you. But if you have no insurance, no cash and no way to fix your teeth then do what you can with what you can afford.

For example, if you have a damaged tooth, then you can visit your local CVS pharmacy and buy a small container of “Refilit”, which is a temporary filling agent that can be used as fillings until you can get to see a dentist. And in the mean time, cut down on sweats, rinse with Listerine and brush after every meal and after your morning coffee as well. And this is just one example of how to do the best you can with what you can afford.

Your health is important, but it won’t get better by itself. Therefore, do everything you can to fix your health and remain healthy in order to have and enjoy a better and healthier life.
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​But in the process of building and re-building structure, difficulties can occur and catch you off guard. And these difficult times can become triggers that can cause you to relapse as well. Therefore, you’ll need to identify these triggers and have an escape plan in place for when these triggers occur. But one trigger most common to all is depression. And without goals and a better life to look forward to, life can become depressing and meaningless as well.

If you have nothing to look forward to then that in itself can become a trigger for relapse. So the first thing you’ll want to do is to write down your goals and plans for creating a new and better life and then keep reminding yourself that even just one relapse will set you back greatly, and quite possibly, ruin your plans for good. Furthermore, believe it or not, just one relapse is all it takes to over dose and die. So whatever you do, don’t let yourself relapse. Instead, recommit yourself and continue your mission to quit heroin, stay clean and turn your life around. And doing everything you can to avoid relapse is going to keep you afloat and allow you to fix your life for good.

But to avoid relapse means to resist the urge to use. And there are ways to resist that urge which can be broken down into 3 approaches.

1. The Cognitive approach: Using your mind
2. The Behavioral approach: Taking action
3. The Social approach: Reaching out for help

When using the Cognitive Approach of using your mind to battle the temptation to use, the first thing you have to do is start fighting those thoughts of getting high, right away, the second they come into your mind. Don’t let those thoughts linger in your mind, not even for a minute. The minute they come in, you throw them out right away and then keep telling yourself, aloud, "No, no, no!" (Repetition works!) And then replace those thoughts with thoughts of how wonderful it is to be free.

Think about how wonderful it is not to have to be living that lifestyle ever again. And if you’re a woman, then start taking pride in being a woman and start seeing this drug as a dirty, nasty, filthy drug that turns good women into prisoners of heroin. Women are beautiful, and heroin is nasty. And you need to start seeing this drug as a nasty and disgusting drug in order to start hating it and get rid of it for good. And always remember that this drug destroys lives and tears families apart.

With the cognitive approach you can begin to think of the negative aspects of doing heroin and the positive aspects of staying clean. For example, another negative aspect to relapsing is that you can become addicted all over again and possibly worse than ever before, and that’s the last thing you need. The positive aspect of staying clean is that you can continue to pursue your goals without dope slowing you down. And without dope, you’re going to have a much better life no matter what. 

The positive aspects will always outweigh the negative aspects of using heroin. And any kind of “I can do it” behavior is positive and will help greatly. You can use whatever will power you have left to help you resist the urge to use. And any positive technique will help as long as it’s empowering and not self destructive. For example, getting down at your self wont help much, but getting mad at the drug for what is has done to your life, will. 
 
The Behavioral Approach is when you take action to do something else instead of giving in to that urge to use. When those thoughts of getting high come in to tempt you, then you can begin to fight it with your mind and begin to take action right there and then and get out of the house and go for a walk. Go out to the mall and buy yourself something nice, sweat and tasty as a reward for staying clean. You can even take 2 Valerian Root capsules as a replacement drug to relieve anxiety and help resist the urge to use. But you’ll need to take action right away and do something different in order to distract yourself from thinking about using.

Do whatever you can to distract yourself and sure enough those thoughts of using will begin to simmer down and fade away, within a short period of time. And if they come back, then go to battle once again and keep fighting those thoughts till they’re subdued and put in their place, outside of your mind.

The social approach is when you reach out to others for help and support or take yourself out of harmful settings in order to resist temptation. If you’re home alone and feel the urge to use and simply can’t help yourself then reach out for help by calling a friend or attending an NA meeting.

If you’re in the wrong type of environment around the wrong type of people then take off as quickly as possible. But whatever you do, don’t give into that urge to use. Instead, start battling those thoughts, escape the premises and reach out for help.

Always remember that one bad decision leads to another. But at any point you can put a stop to it by making the right choice. And in doing so, it will change the course of your life. And in the mist of a thought provoking attack, you can rescue yourself by making the right choice, and believe it or not, no matter how bad you were before, you do have the ability to slam on the breaks and avoid relapse completely. But in the mean time, you must stay on guard, keep yourselves busy, all day and all night, working to achieve your goals, and building and rebuilding structure in your lives as well. And in doing so, you will quit heroin, stay clean and turn your life around.
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No matter how bad or how good your life is, you can still find ways to have more happiness while you strive to fix your life. However, for some of you, the more wrong that you’ve done in your life and the more messed up your life is, then the harder it is to be happy. But even so, there are still many things that you can start doing to improve your overall happiness.

Try not to think about the past: It’s almost impossible for many people to forget about the past. But many times it’s needful to try not to think about it as much in order to stay positive about where you’re at now and where you’re heading to. However, feeling guilty about all the wrong we’ve done in our lives is normal and is part of our reaping as well. And there’s nothing we can do about that, other than to catch ourselves before going into deep depression and start focusing on the present, in order to create a better future.

Focus on now: Look at where you’re at now. You’re on a web site that teaches you how to quit heroin, stay clean and turn your life around, and only good things can come from this. Now there’s hope! And now you’re on the right track. And if you’re still alive, then you’ve been given a second chance at life. This can become the beginning for a whole new life for you in ways that you never thought possible. This can become the turning point of your whole entire life!

Think about the future: Think about how wonderful it is, or how wonderful it will be to be free from heroin slavery, once and for all. Think about what it’s going to be like to wake up in the morning and feel your normal body without the need for dope. Think about all the possibilities. Think about how much your life is going to change just by quitting dope. Because once you get heroin out of your life, then the possibilities are endless. The sky’s the limit! And no matter how bad things look, it’s better to be optimistic than to have no hope at all.

You can strive to become a better person in every way that you can. And that’s one of the most important things that you could ever do with your life. But it doesn’t stop there. You can actually start planning your future and then begin to build and create a new and better life.

And if that means going back to school or going through some sort of certification program, then go for it. Do it. Do what you love, and the money will follow.  And I realize that money isn’t everything, but it can sure help solve a lot of problems. And once those problems are solved, then overall happiness improves as well. So there’s nothing wrong with trying to improve your financial situation. And there’s nothing wrong with trying to find a better paying and more meaningful job. And as long as honesty and integrity are at the top of the list, then there’s nothing wrong with trying to improve your life in every way that you can. And when things do start to improve, then be thankful like never before.

Be thankful: Start your days off with gratitude. Be thankful for what you have even if it’s very little. For if you’re thankful and appreciative for the little things, then maybe, just maybe, better things may come your way.

Tell yourself first thing in the morning; “today, I’m going to do my best to live as right as I can and do the right thing in everything I do”. And that must be our goal for each and every day no matter what may come our way. And by the end of the day, you’ll have something new to be thankful for, even if it’s just for another day of sobriety.

“People who keep gratitude journals on a weekly basis are healthier, more optimistic, and more likely to make progress toward achieving personal goals, according to author Robert Emmons. Research by Martin Seligman, founder of positive psychology, revealed that people who write “gratitude letters” to someone who made a difference in their lives score higher on happiness, and lower on depression—and the effect lasts for weeks.” Yes Magazine

Spend more time with your loved ones: Family and close relationships are one of the best ways to improve overall happiness. So for those of you who still have a family, and you’re able to be with them, then spend as much time as you can with your family whenever the opportunity is there.

“Happier people tend to have good families, friends, and supportive relationships, say Diener and Biswas Diener. But it’s not enough to be the life of the party if you’re surrounded by shallow acquaintances. “We don’t just need relationships, we need close ones that involve understanding and caring.” Yes Magazine

Get out and get active: Get out and get some sun. Spend some time outdoors. Observe and appreciate nature. Take a walk in the park. Start doing some sort of physical activity each and every day in order to improve your health and overall happiness as well.

“A Duke University study shows that exercise may be just as effective as drugs in treating depression, without all the side effects and expense. Other research shows that in addition to health benefits, regular exercise offers a sense of accomplishment and opportunity for social interaction, releases feel-good endorphins, and boosts self-esteem.” Yes! Magazine

Make things right: If you want to be happy then you have to do your best to make right the wrongs you have done. If you’ve done someone wrong, then do your best to make things right. Apologize, ask for forgiveness and do everything you can to make things right. And then go the extra mile in any way that you can.

Show kindness to others: Start showing kindness to everyone who comes your way. All it takes is a simple smile to make their day. And you can add to your happiness by making others happy as well. Then keep smiling all day long, (even if you don’t feel like it). It’s easy to show kindness to people you like, but it’s harder to show kindness to those who’ve done you wrong. But in doing so, you’ll always win, knowing that no matter what they’ve done to you, you did the right thing in showing kindness to them. And you can’t go wrong by doing right.

Everything we do comes back to us in one form or another. And how we treat others, will have a great affect upon how others treat us and our loved ones as well.

Don’t take revenge on those who do you wrong. And don’t even think about revenge for that matter as well. Let it go. For their day will come. And sooner or later, it will all come back to them. But when it does, then don’t take pleasure in their misfortune. Instead, feel sorry for them realizing that if they don’t change soon, then there remains no hope for them, and their life will be a life of sadness and misery with no end in site. And be happy for others, when good things happen to other people. For if we’re happy for others when good things happen for them, then maybe some day, good things will happen for us. And being happy for others, improves our overall happiness just as well.
       
Help others: Helping others is one of the best ways to show kindness to your fellow man and can also bring an immense feeling of satisfaction and happiness as well.

Researcher Stephen Post says “helping a neighbor, volunteering, or donating goods and services results in a “helper’s high”, and you get more health benefits than you would from exercise or quitting smoking. Listening to a friend, passing on your skills, celebrating others’ successes, and forgiveness also contribute to happiness”, he says. Researcher Elizabeth Dunn found that those who spend money on others reported much greater happiness than those who spend it on themselves.” Yes Magazine

Helping others can also help you to forget about your own problems as well, while engaging in social interaction. It helps you to learn how to put others first, instead of yourself. It helps you to remove selfishness and increase generosity. And more importantly, helping others can add value and bring happiness to peoples’ lives, and as a result will bring happiness and value to your life as well.

Have purpose: Having a purpose in life, and knowing what your purpose is, can help improve happiness and give meaning to life as well.

Start searching from within and start asking yourself: “What is my real purpose in life? What do I really want to do with my life? What would I really enjoy doing?” You might get the answer right away. Or it may take you some time to figure it out. But you’ll know when it comes. And most likely, it will be the answer that pulls on your heart the most. And if you can’t find your purpose where you’re at now then move on to better pasture. Move to another city. Move to another state. Or move to another country. But whatever you do, don’t stand there and let life pass you by. Move on and find your purpose in life.​

Know what is right: A happy man or a happy woman is one who finds out what is right and then does it. Because there’s no way that you can begin to be happy when you’re still doing wrong. But when you’re trying to do right, regardless of the present circumstances, then you’re able to obtain an inner peace from within, knowing that no matter what you did before, at least you’re trying your best to do the right thing now, and that's what matters most. Therefore, if you want to be happy and have peace from within, then start searching, start asking and start finding out what is right in every area of your life, and then start doing it!

Its one thing to know what is right but it’s another thing to do it. And we won’t get rewarded until we start doing right. Therefore, the best thing that you could ever do with your life is to find out what is right and then start doing it. And in doing so, things can begin to change and we can begin to change. And who knows, the best may be yet to come. And you can end up having a far better life than ever before. Therefore, do your best to live right and fix your life in every way that you can and let life take care of rest. Good luck. And may the good force be with you.

Sincerely,
Jorge (George) Fernandez 
Over 20 Years Clean from Heroin 
About Jorge (George) Fernandez
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