PLEASE READ AND ENTER MY FRAGILE & UPSET MIND!

Hi, this blog post finds you with me feeling very upset and emotional given the harmful actions of others.

Right, let me try and construct this right.  As many of you know I am nearly 18 months into my recovery.  The last few months have seen me find solace with the fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous.  I love my program and it keeps me in recovery.

A fellow member of NA has de-friended me and claimed to want to have nothing to do with me and not talk to me as I have 'been seen to' break the traditions of NA! I have not! I know how these things work and am sure my name is now shit and being slagged off far and wide and this hurts me as I only ever have the best of intentions and would never hurt a soul.  Yet the few involved in falseley slanderring my name right now are acting in a vile and spiteful manner in an act of insecure jealously! I don't wish to allow my ego to take over but the facts are;

- I have a great flat
- I have a great family life
- I have a loving relationship in my life
- I have written, published and sold 3 books
- I am admired as such and in talks to do many great talks and media appearances
- I have an upcoming interview for a great job in the substance misuse sector
- I am working toward a great career within the substance misuse field, which WILL happen soon enough
- I have written 3 mini training programs and worksheets which are rolled out successfully and facilitated by me to service users.
- I am near on 18 months into my recovery

The fact is it is easy to be envy-us of all the above if you are deep routed in resentments and insecurities and these sorts of thoughts can lead to spiteful behaviors.

The accusation arises from the fact that I have recently written a book 'one foot in front of the other'.  In the book there is a section which list some of the catchphrases that do the round in recovery.  At no point do I mention the fellowships or NA or services for that matter, how can any such setup claim ownership of little phases that PEOPLE say.  The section is below so make up your own mind, and please if you see the fictional part where I break the tradition point it out to the blind me!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are a lot of addiction and recovery catchphrases; in this chapter I will list some of them.

One step at a time

It’s an inside job

Just keep coming

Work the steps

Fake it till you make it

One day at a time

You’re in the right place

It’s a journey, not a destination

Poor me, poor me, pour me another drink

Live in the NOW

No pain, no gain

Keep the plug in the jug

It takes time

90 meetings in 90 days

You are not alone

Count your blessings

Change is a process, not an event

It's a marathon, not a sprint

Keep it simple stupid

Addiction requires lies, recovery requires honesty. You can't save your face and your arse at the same time

Addiction is suicide by installments

It's not what you know about recovery that keeps you sober, it's what you do about recovery that keep you sober.

Just say no

Listen to learn, learn to listen

When something bad happens in life you have three choices: you can let it define you, let it destroy you or you can let it strengthen you

By the grace of my higher power

If it’s not in your hula hoop then it's none of your business

This too shall pass

Recovery will be a road of discovery for me

You’re worth it

It works if you work it so work it your worth it!

The elevators broken take the stairs.

A new life for a old yin

Progress, not perfection

Except the things you can't change

Hugs not drugs

Pass it on

An addict alone is in bad company

One drink is too many and a thousand not enough

We will love you until you love yourself

One promise, many gifts

One moment at a time

To thine own self be true

Easy does it

Change your thoughts, to change your actions, to change your life

Time to grow up

Stop running

H.A.L.T. Don't get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired

7 Days without a meeting makes one weak

If there's a light at the end of the tunnel, stop ordering more tunnel

In a society that profits from your self doubt, liking yourself is a revolutionary act

Let in the good, block out the bad

Think! Think! Think!

Live & let live!

Walking the bridge to normal living

Keep doing the right thing, and the right things will happen

Name it, claim it and dump it

Not my circus, not my monkey

Do the action and the attitude will follow

It's not the place you're at. It's where you're at in the place

Don't leave before the miracle happens

I’m now living, instead of just existing

If you get lost, you can find us on the steps

Baby steps

Feelings are not facts

Let go and let God

If you do what you always do, you will get what you always got

Don’t pole volt over an ant hill

Play the tape through

What you throw out comes back to you!

Stick with the winners, win with the stickers

NUTS – Not using the steps

Keep coming back

Just for today

It is clear that there are a lot of different catchphrases that do the rounds within recovery, some are more useful then others but one must be wise enough to acknowledge them all and draw inspiration and strength from them where ever possible
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MY NEW BOOK! ORDER NOW!

NEW BOOK! ORDER NOW! One Foot in Front of the Other By Karl is a recovering addict he has written this book as a source of help and advice to help the still suffering addict on the journey into recovery! The book is also helpful for everybody, addict or not, as a source of help and advice on how to live a well balanced and 'well' life. It includes diet and well-being tips and lots about mindfulness and a lot lot more! You can find it on Amazon by searching 'karl newton one foot in front of the other'

ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_19qIxbVW89GFR

MUST READ, Most honest share I've done in a long time, if not ever!

Hello, so this is the first post I have written in a long while.  Its also gonna be a very strong and honest one please read it and feedback to me!

Where to begin? Ok so on New Years eve I got told that I had to move out of my accommodation in Rugby. I thought it was the end of the world, I was 10 months into my recovery at the time and thriving out the stability in my life and support network I had which I was now going to lose, told on the very day I was fearing most, my first new years eve in recovery. New years eve a night of excessive alcohol and cocaine use normally, New Years eve normally meant having a £500+ blowout of some kind and here I was first 1 in recovery sat alone in a house full of anger, fear and anxiety about having to move and over analyzing the land lady my aunt's motives and overthinking it all and taking it to heart. How I did not lapse that night is still a complete mystery to me to be honest!

I moved back to Birmingham at the end of February and for a month either side my lapse radar was strong, scarily so and I dealt with it all alone, again how I did not crumble is beyond me, I guess there must be some strength there deep down somewhere even if I don't feel it! By the end of March my mental health had took another turn for the worse and I felt alone in my new flat and no recovery community around me and not being engaged with a service for the first time since giving up drink and drugs, I was struggling and I remember one afternoon I went to my local shop and stood for 15mins staring at a bottle of vodka daring myself to buy it and indulge! I needed help!

I called CGL, Change Grow Live. They say things happen for a reason and fate plays it part, CGL call line is a busy one and its pot luck who answers it in a busy office. I got through to someone and explained that I was unsure where I was because I was a year or so into my recovery but feeling weak so maybe I needed to be a service user again. The lady on the phone knew me from Coventry Recovery community and knew of all the blog and book work and media appearances and training and volunteering I had been doing and said "Karl??!!, its Kelly" I was shocked, as if "Hi Kelly how r ya" I relplied. She cut through me "Karl your smashing it I don't think your service user, your on the other end why not do recovery coach training and train toward paid work in the field?" BOOM she read my mind! WOW I signed up and did the training. I now work 5 days a week 1 in hospitals and 4 in detox in a box, where I have also written and deliver 3 programs, as well as several worksheets.

NA meetings! WOW what can I say? I had only ever been to one fellowship meeting in 2010 and I felt it was a bad meeting, in reality it wasn't I just wasn't ready. I spent 6 years running from them circles and demonizing them in my head and feeling anger and resentment and verbally acting out about them. I was scared looking back! I faced my demon about 3 weeks ago. I have now surrendered to them and got my white key-ring, got a sponsor and committed to hitting my steps and attend meetings most days. A huge load has been lifted and the penny is dropping and Im putting my faith in it, I don't know what it is, but my faith is in it!

The whole process, shares I have heard and conversations I have had has got me thinking a lot at the moment.

I now view me in my addicted days as K, as in DJ K. I was a wreck, a self destructing mess. I hated me and couldn't look beyond my own nose. I didn't give a shit about myself or anyone else. I wanted to and did hurt myself and would pile myself full of alcohol and cocaine determined to kill myself, I wanted to die.  I would mess up things in my life like work opportunity's and relationships because I was convinced I did not deserve them. I would sell anything nice I ever got because I did not deserve them. My self worth was non existent.  I had even become a regular criminal stealing from work places and even getting caught and arrested on one occasion.  Alongside my alcohol and cocaine addiction I developed pain killer, gambling, sex and self harming addictions. Im not even talking light self harming like wrist cutting, I even broke many of my own bones.  I get asked if I was a horrible person in my addiction days, yes I was but I was not horrible to others, I was horrible to myself!

Part of my recovery is a process of mourning K and letting him go, burying him once and for all and developing some self worth and respect for myself. It is something I still struggle with massively but im trying.  Im even trying to avoid entering another relationship as I have spent my whole adult life going from one girl to another searching for love and acceptance and connection, I need to take some time to learn to love myself and get to know me, especially now I don't use substances to escape who I am! For the first time Im having to sit with ME and MY NUT and its uncomfortable and we are having teething problems but we are both stuck with each other so we are going to have to work through this shit!

Thanks for reading

Happy Thursday, how are ya?

Hi how are you? so whats new?

Today I am planning the production of a video about Naloxone, which I will share later.

Tomorrow I have a meeting about going into a local Rehab to do a Q n A session and help the guys in there

Next week aswell as my birthday I have a training course, so lots going on I guess

The NEW BOOK! and I need questions from you all

Mooorrrnnniiinnggg! How are we all? 

So as if you need reminding, the new book 'Casting Stones' is now on Amazon.co.uk.  It is a book full of facts, stats, opinion and debate.  A crucial read with a strong message.

I need some questions please, as im intending to do a Q & A video later, please

email questions to - karl.w.newton@googlemail.com

tweet them to - @kwn1804

or Facebook them to - www.facebook.com/karlnewtonaddiction

Thanks

Love Karl

MY NEW BOOK!! ITS OUT!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1530868122/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_4opdxb105ZBZ0

Its out, my new book is out!

Please allow me to introduce ‘Casting Stones’, My NEW Book This book is a rally call for reform from the front line of addiction and recovery. I am a recoverist, who has been abstinent since February 2015.

Having already published a book called ‘Get that Monkey off my Back’ which was charted my recovery, commentated on the finding of studies I did and offered self help guides to other, I have written ‘Casting Stones’ as a book calling for reform.

Casting Stones offers my opinions and views, as well as lobbying and campaigning for reform on issues including;

• The legal status of Cannabis

• The War on Drugs

• Naloxone

• The Education System

• MP’s and Taxes

• Recovery Communities

• Homelessness

Casting Stones is available to order now on Amazon, just search ‘Casting Stones Karl Newton’.

I am also on the following social media sites

Blogger : http://karlsrecoveryblog.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: kwn1804

Facebook: search ‘Karl Newton Addiction’

Latest Meme Quotes!

New Meme Quote for the NEW book

New Meme Quotes from the 2nd book 'Casting Stones' and an update

Hello all, see above new Meme quotes for the 2nd book, 'Casting Stones'

Im just finsihing the first draft so it should be out soon!

Im also starting to write a play centered about mental health and addiction

Update 21st March 2016

Hi all how are you?

So we published the book 'Get that Monkey off my Back' and we have been doing bits and pieces associated to it, the book is on amazon in paper book form : http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1523857056/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_Eog8wb0FVMFRQ

and

Kindle Form Digital format http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01BYKMGC4/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_epg8wb05PN26N

It is now with much joy that I can confirm I am currently writing my second book ' Casting Stones' which is a book debating and calling for reform, a mini book which is a spin off from part of the first book.

Stay tuned for updates :)

We Need to Reform issues

1. 1)      We need to look at the idea of following Americas lead and making the minimum drinking age 21, so as to burden Crime and NHS less
2. 2)      We need to supply schools and youth organisations with Naloxone and the relevant training.  I would hope and pray that it would never need to be used, but if doing this saves 1 life then it is fully worth doing.  Furthermore we need to be realistic about the fact that peer pressure leads to younger and heavier drug use in the world we live in today.
3. 3)      We need to reform our education around the subject of drink and drugs, as early as year 6 or 7.
4. 4)      We need to re-debate minimum unit pricing of alcohol
5. 5)      We need to address how alcohol is advertised and where in Supermarkets, for example in one set aisle not as soon as you walk in the door, besides food or at till points
6. 6)      We need to label alcohol the same way we label boxes of cigarettes
7. 7)      I want to see new technology attempt to reduce drink driving.  My suggestion is that on a car key fob we introduce a tiny breathalyser.  To open the car you blow a sample and if it is under safe limit the car opens.  If you are over the limit the car does not open.  If then the car is opened via another sample that is not in sync with the amount of time for the drink level to come back down to a safe level a GPS signal is sent to local traffic Police who can track the vehicle and carry out checks.
8. 8)      We need to establish and fund Recovery Communities, 1 in at least each region of the United Kingdom if not every town or city, to build a solid backbone of recovery within the United Kingdom.
9. 9)      Instead of cutting funding for services, we need to re-distribute taxes made via addictive manners, such as prescriptions, gambling and drinking, into  not only the recovery sector but also into mental health services.

hello how are we?

Good morning how are we all?

I have a busy week on, moving my stuff in storage at my brand new built flat in Birmingham ahead of my moving in next Sunday/Monday if not sooner.

Also Im on a course in Coventry Tuesday and Wednesday and then at the National DDN conference in Birmingham on Thursday.  All this and trying to push book sales and secure media appearances book some launch events.

Love Karl

the book is live on Amazon and has an ISBN code so libraries and book shops can order it!

Please buy my new book 'Get that Monkey off my back' http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1523857056/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_f6XXwb15KQVN9 … all about drink,drugs,addiction,mental health & recovery

THE BOOK IS OUT AND ON SALE NOW!!

createspace.com/6045891  my debut book 'Get that monkey off my back' about drink, drugs, addiction, mental health and recovery!

The book is finished and out, go order your copies now!

Update on Book, I have penned a poem

Hi how you doing?

SO quick update, Im working away on the book, its getting toward final edit part now, all very exciting!.

I have penned a poem especially for the book here it is, hope you like it, speak soon

Storm

By Karl Newton

As I stand here on the jetty, looking at my boat bobbling around in the calm of the shore

I feel a sense of nerves and emotion

I have seldom felt before

As I look across the bay, I see a land of much allure

Full of hope and promise

The likes of which, I have never had before

I take one last glance behind me, at the place my heart once called a home

The fairground now is shutting, and dark clouds are setting the tone

I board my boat and cast off out to sea

Full of hope and desire

For my new life to be.

I row and I row until I hit some choppy seas

All of a sudden a dark mist is surrounding me

I’m lost in the wilderness between

The past and where I want to be

I find myself lost and full of doubt

Sinking emotionally

But then in a glimpse of wilting hope I recall

The land awaiting me

I grab my Orr, brace myself, then I fight the powers that be

Breathe by breathe, stroke by stroke, battling through the choppy seas

It is not too long until the black clouds fade and a ray of sunshine beckons me

The sea goes calm, the load gets light

And what is this I see?

The coast of the new land which welcomes me warm and gratefully

I take a look back across at the sea to my home that used to be

It has been battered and destroyed by the storm that troubled me

But not no more, As I stand on this shore.

I rode the wave and I was brave

And now I find the happiness I crave

Riding on the crest of my own happiness wave.

Happy Wednesday!

Hi Guys how are ya? Its Wednesday and again I am working away on the book.  I completed the first draft before Christmas.  Over the last week or 2 I listened back to the book and decided where editing was needed which Im currently in the process of doing.

After that it has become clear that a few more chapters need to be added and I will be writing a brand new poem for the book aswell.

As well as this the artwork is currently being worked on for the book, and I can confirm one way or another the book will be published by, no later then , June 2016!

Keep on keeping on

Love Karl

Its Tuesday, New week, Update

Hi Guys

Its a new week, Its Tuesday, Im back in book editing mode, also campaigning hard on social media etc to rasie awareness and help the book along.

Please see

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/487557470/get-that-monkey-off-my-back-the-book

or

https://twitter.com/kwn1804

or

https://www.facebook.com/karlnewtonaddiction/

Please give us a like and share

Love Karl x

update, its now 49 weeks, more work on the book and a video cameo by me lol

https://www.facebook.com/karl.newton.5264/videos/vb.100007063655323/1700929190152520/?type=3&theater

see my vid x

So its now 49 weeks I've been sober, ya!! only 3 weeks until the big 52, Year Mark!!

Im busy editing the book today

Love to you all x

Thursday, more editing!

Hey, happy Thursday, editing on the book continues

:)

Here is the complete collection, taster quotes from the book x