Our Associate Sponsors provide valuable support to our community and help build 'The Wall'.
Our partners help move the Wired In agenda forward.
Join our community, create your own profile page, and communicate about what matters to you.
Please consider a donation to support our work.
I joined “Wired In” Community when it was launched, having been on my personal recovery journey from 2001. I had never seen a website like this and could see its benefits towards supporting ex-users/users, families and professionals.
I know that sharing my own experiences of recovery can inspire others who have not yet begun their journey to recovery or are traveling along the path. Additionally, the experiences and proud voices of people around the nation who are in recovery, as well as those who support them, are powerful in conveying positive messages to others.
These words of encouragement can also have a huge impact on the children and other family members of people who have substance use problems. Family members may have suffered silently for long periods, lived with stigma and denial, and have led unhealthy and unproductive lives – trapped in a vicious circle of enabling their loved ones, unaware of the negative effects impacting on themselves.
This online recovery community provides a “Toolkit” in many senses, aiding the process of initiating and maintaining absence.
One of the most powerful and valuable tools to help and educate others are the Personal Stories. These often allow us to share the triumph of overcoming a serious substance use problem. These voices are genuine examples of the benefits of recovery – they help others take the journey to recovery. They help people to recognise the barriers in society to recovery and treatment, such as stigma and discrimination.
These stories (and blogs and articles) help professionals to look at their own services and practices, hopefully enable them to improve what they do and ensure a better continuum of care. They may also help implement a recovery-oriented system, rather than the current services on offer.
Wired In is an essential site towards The Road to Recovery as “Together We Learn and Together We Heal.”
I personally would not be in my own present position without the website and wisdom of other community members. I have experienced an ongoing thinking and learning process. I have come a long way from my own dark days of hell and despair, where fear uncertainty and low self-esteem ruled my life.
I did not know how to move forward in my life, other than focusing on fixing others. I needed to bring it back to my own agenda, dealing with internalized, relatively unexplored underlying issues related to my own addiction and survival in life.
Never have I seen a website like this, with no other issues other than recovery – support to those of us in recovery, those seeking recovery, and support for families and loved ones.
A much-needed vision, inspired by a very dedicated and inspirational individual.
Hi to all. There are not many times I feel the need to write a blog, far more at ease with reading and learning from others. The last few days, to put it mildly, have thrown my thought processes in recovery way off course.
I am having to deal with a loss, sadness, practical and important events that just throw me into anger, illogical thinking. I can see more so now how addiction is such a lifetime problem, to be in tune with and not allowing my vulnerability to be controlled by what “Normal” non-addicts would be able to handle.
It feels like a “Power” struggle between good and bad, what is right and what is wrong to move forward? Scary is what comes up in how addiction is so grounded in my present life and based on past experiences. Only yesterday I realised I am now over 4 years clean, yet in times like these it certainly doesn’t feel liker I am sober.
In many ways, I am writing this not only to support myself but also for the many bloggers and members we have in the community. I reach out to others for wisdom in these times, I personally believe far more so now! It is still very early days with my own recovery.
I contacted a wise friend on moving forward to deal with all I need to achieve in the weeks to come. “Peace & happiness” was what I needed to know in how to move forward. I just feel it fitting to pass on what was roughly passed onto me. Outsiders looking in amaze me how they always seems to understand me, more than I myself think and believe.
I needed to read this and they felt that I was shutting off from myself and the world, which means I just cannot “receive” help, warmth and love from others. I was informed I am at the moment “Running on empty batteries.”
The way I am perceiving peace and happiness within myself is on hold with the world. I am needing to rest from an emotional approach with what I need to achieve and put in place. (Rome was not built in a day!)
I have conflicts with belief systems and was warmly reminded of the relationship with the spiritual – that should be the individual’s description. Essentially it will help me, as I and all of us are humans with free will and can chose to do good or bad things – so the concept of “God” needs to be sperated from religious institutions for a start. There are many views on this. It can help in very dark times.
I feel far more in control from hearing the above and understand this is entirely a personal view and certainly not the “Truth” for everybody. This has in many ways allowed me to LET GO of my addiction and the past and move forward in life. Hopefully succesfully, fulfilling the next few weeks without the power of “Addiction” trying to have a hold on myself.
I hope some members can share similar experiences, or wisdom, from professionals. It brings back to me the time when addiction took hold 24/7. I seriously believed I was the only one going totally and utterly mad.
Best Wishes to you all.
This end, I have had a difficult week. I was searching for a document and came across the one below. I am unsure where I got it from, maybe a rehab. Yet, it just feels so fitting to put on the site for all members. There was no title to it, so I have dedicated it for Wired In.
A= is for “AWARENESS” of those around us.
B= is for “BEAUTY” for all people.
C= is for “CARING” for each other.
D= is for “DIGNITY” that we all posses.
E= is for “ETHNICITY” on which we would be proud.
F= is for “FEELING” important to us all.
G= is for “GIVING” of ourselves.
H= is for “HOPE” for a better tomorrow.
I= is for “INTEGRITY” our standards tell so much about us.
J= is for “JOINTLY” working together.
K= is for “KNOWLEDGE” which erases ignorance.
L= is for “LOVE” to be shared.
M= is for “MANKIND” the entire human race.
N= is for “NOBODY” is unimportant.
O= is for “OPTIMISM” which enhances everyone’s life.
P= is for “PROGRESS” made towards understanding.
Q= is for being “QUIET” when asked.
R= is for “RESPECT” for oneself and others.
S= is for “SELF-WORTH” which we should never be without.
T= is for “TOLERANCE” towards others.
U= is for “UNDERSTANDING” different cultures.
V= is for “VALUES” learned along the way.
W= is for “WEALTH” gained by sharing our diversity.
X =is for “X-RAY” vision that helps us see the good in others.
Y= is for “YOU” make your life go forward and upwards.
Z= is for “ZEAL” to appreciate a multicultural world.
Personally, I think this sums up why Wired In was set up, and what it is meant to be.
All things originate from our minds. As an individual I try to act responsibly and kind-heartedly towards others. This in turn has a positive influence on this community and spreads the word.
Best Wishes to you all.
The above is the title of a wonderful, inspirational true story of a mother’s nightmare with her much loved sons, and how drugs eventually resulted in a mother’s worse fear with the death of one of her twins from heroin. The book is written by Elizabeth Burton-Phillips.
I came upon it by chance last week while walking up an aisle in W.H.Smiths. The title hit me hard in the stomach, and I picked it up to explore. Then I realised I had seen this brave lady on the T.V. a few years ago and thought at the time, “WOW” we need more people like her. With her pain and strength to carry the message for other families, loved ones, addicts and the professionals.
I even contacted her by e-mail as I felt humbled to read the book, unaware there was such a book she had written. She in turn replied with a very caring response.
I finished the book last night and recommend it for all to read, ISBN 978-0-7499-5172-6, recommended cost £8.99p. [You can also get it at Amazon, for £6.69]
The APPENDIX at the back is full, I mean totally full, of organisations and contacts for support including Daily Dose. There are many poems and hard painful ones, statements from many. I wish just to write two, one from a unknown prisoner and one from Elizabeth when the time came in her life to bring in “Tough Love!”
“A poem written by a unknown prisoner”
I will seduce you and make you a slave,
I’ve sent men stronger than you to the grave.
You think you could never become a disgrace,
And end up addicted to poppy seed waste.
So you’ll start to inhale one afternoon,
Then you’ll take me into your arms very soon.
And once I’ve entered deep into your veins,
Your life will never be quite the same.
You’ll need lots of money as you’ve been told,
For, darling, I am more expensive than gold.
You’ll swindle your mother without thought or fear,
You’ll let your child starve if it gets you “Gear”.
You’ll mug and you’ll steal for my venomous charm,
The day when you know the monster you’ve grown,
You’ll silently promise to leave me alone.
You’ll think that you’ve got the mystical knack,
Well, sweetie, try getting me of your back.
The vomit, the cramps, your guts in a knot,
Your trembling nerves scream just for one more shot.
Hot sweats, the cold chills, the withdrawal pains,
Can only be stopped by those little grains.
There’s no other way, there’s no need to look,
For deep down inside you’ll know you are hooked.
You’ll give up morals, your conscience, and heart,
And you will be mine till death do us part.
____________________________________________________________________
I have never heard this poem before and it brought home the hard and harsh facts of drugs, alcohol and addiction, “Till death do us part!”
The painful decision for Elizabeth Burton-Phillips I can only imagine as I have no parents. It must have been the worst thing a mother has to face. I feel I want to write her poem as a tribute to Simon, her son who died. Yet she has shown herself to be a brave, courageous lady who, in many ways, couldn’t sink any lower than she had.
____________________________________________________________________
“Tough Love”
One day, it just happened
The hope died, the dream was gone
I realised I had done everything
There is now nothing more I can do.
Thousands and thousands of pounds
Lost to drugs, to dealers and to pins in arms,
Our house about to be remortgaged
So many times our lives have been wrecked.
My decision to break with my sons where made.
It’s been like I imagine it to be in war
A battle, but charging at your own life to save it
And yet, trying too, to save the lives of others.
Eventually you win or lose.
I have lost everything – except a mother’s love for her sons.
I lay my head upon the pillow so many times
Water – can you call it tears? – pours from my eyes
In my mind I plan their funerals, choose the music,
The hymns, the readings and who I will ask to be there.
The dream has gone, I knew it would in the end.
I remember, through flash backs, those certain special times
The day they had their first bikes, the times we went skiing,
The love, the cuddles, the laughter
The mother I was, now replaced with an inner scream of pain
As I know my sons are near to death.
They know, whenever they die, that I loved them-
I cared for them, I did everything I could for them
But my dreams for them have already died
In pain, not ever really to be cried.
Author: Elizabeth Burton-Phillips, from her book
“Mum, can you lend me twenty quid?”
(What drugs did to my family)
____________________________________________________________________
I will not elaborate any further on her book, other than it costs less than a fix of any drug, has been recommended from Judges who wept, Gordon Brown, and many influential individuals. I also am recommending it to all on this site.
In so many ways we, the addicts family and loved ones and the caring professionals, have many similarities! “A wound that is physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual, a wound so profound and individual, the connection with the mother, family and loved ones is painful, seems mystical, mysterious, spiritual and ever lasting.”
Dear Elizabeth is strengthening the message to other families and loved ones, like this site is achieving, slowly but surely there will be a time when “We are only strong when we are all undivided.”
Nobody should ever feel they are on their own, carry shame guilt and fear in their hearts. This book is helping to break the silence and offering so much hope to all who wish to read it.
Thank you, Elizabeth Burton-Phillips. Best Wishes to you and your family and all on this site.
My oh my, I know so little in life! A few days ago, I watched “Can I get high legally?” on BBC3. I was so gobsmacked at what I was watching, half-way through I wrote some notes on the subject to ask my 3 daughters to see if they could educate me more?
The program in my view was well presented and I felt was thoroughly investigated and researched with the presenter testing a legal drug with a Doctor present in case of problems. The conclusion of the programme basically stated it was probably safer to take illegal drugs than legal drugs.
I was shocked, stunned by what is a growing market. Total madness. Many of the legal drugs, herbal or chemical based, have effects that far outweigh and are more powerful than cannabis. It clearly is a mad addictive world we live in and a greedy one at that.
There are over 100 products legally available and there are no regulations in place to control this market. The individuals who take these drugs do not in any way know what exactly they are taking and what the long term effects could be.
The program went to a clinic and showed individuals that had suffered with taking these drugs, with symptoms very similar to Parkinson’s disease. One of my daughters loves the night scene up in Camden in London and told me so much that backed up the program. Tablets similar to ecstasy and the shops selling legal drugs up there.
On the program, they even showed a 24 hour call service where what ever you wish is delivered to your home. Wow, you can’t even get a Pizza service like that or a supermarket! I know this site is for addicts, families and professionals yet I just had to write this blog.
I do not usually write blogs yet I would really appreciate anybody who knows of this trade to enlighten myself of what I found extremely disturbing. My head was thinking “What on earth is the point of fighting for illegal drugs when another problem is legally destroying lives.”
Best Wishes to you all from a very naive individual.
Annemarie W
Kaya1990