by staff | May 23, 2017 | Addiction, Detox, Drug Abuse, Meth
The overdose death outbreak across America is most notably in connection to the opioid epidemic. Law enforcement and health officials all over the country continue to combat the impact of heroin addiction and prescription opioid abuse, and this issue is a consistent talking point. But opioids aren’t the only drugs that authorities are noticing for an increase with rates of use and overdose. Several state agencies in the U.S. have recently reported a spike in overdose deaths related to methamphetamine.
What is Meth/Crystal Meth?
Meth as an illicit recreational drug that goes by several street names, such as:
This substance usually comes in the form of a crystalline white powder, although other colors have been observed including brown, yellow-gray, even pink or blue. It is often described as odorless and bitter-tasting.
Crystal Meth is a version of methamphetamine that can be made with simple ingredients from drug stores. It comes in clear crystals or chunks resembling ice and is most commonly smoked. This form of the drug has other street names such as:
- Blade
- Crystal
- Glass
- Ice
- Shards
Both forms of methamphetamine, and even amphetamine prescription stimulant drugs, are incredibly addictive and extremely dangerous substances.
New Crystal Meth Stats
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new statistics from 2015 (the most recent year for which federal data is available) that show:
- In 2014 there were 3,700 deaths from methamphetamine overdoses
- More than 4,500 individuals died in 2015 from methamphetamine
- That is an increase of 30%
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), methamphetamine use jumped from 3% in 2010 to 4% in 2015. That may not seem like much, but consider that in comparison to heroin use, which only rose from 1% to 2% during this same time period.
Meth has become rampant in significant portions of the Midwest and in the South. For example, in Oklahoma:
- Methamphetamine was involved in more than 300 overdose deaths in 2016
- It surpassed death rates for both Oxycodone and Hydrocodone… COMBINED!
This huge upsurge in meth use has also prompted more people to seek treatment for meth addiction. For example, in the year 2015 more than 11,000 patients were admitted for treatment in Minnesota, which is nearly twice as many who sought help for meth addiction 10 years before. Other areas that had no previous history with serious meth use rates have also seen a spike in people seeking treatment for meth addiction.
At the end of the day, whether it is legal amphetamine or illicit methamphetamine, these chemicals are known to be dangerous and addictive. Even prescription drugs containing amphetamines are a risk factor. Depending on how the drug is used, issues related to these powerful stimulants may vary. Amphetamines that are crushed or injected will present different complications.
Treating Methamphetamine Addiction
Confronting the risks and adverse effects of meth addiction effectively and safely means utilizing a medical detox and comprehensive treatment program. The physical and psychological impact leads to a number of side-effects and withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms usually include:
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Incoherent speech
- Dysphoria
- Fatigue
- Lack of motivation
- Sleeplessness
- Vivid dreams
- Suicidal thoughts
The psychological and emotional effects are said to be the most difficult to overcome, while the cravings for the drug are exceptionally strong.
Healthcare officials say they are prepared to help patients during this recent expansion of meth use. However, the director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at SAMHSA, Kimberly Johnson, believes the current need for treatment may far exceed available resources.
The main strategy for treating meth addiction remains medical detox, followed by inpatient treatment and outpatient therapy. The abuse of amphetamines and methamphetamine, such as crystal meth, is quite serious and therefore amphetamine and methamphetamine abuse treatment is crucial to helping those who struggle with meth addiction.
Overall, the rates of meth use are rising, and there are treatment programs in place to holistically face these issues. For many, meth addiction is an all-consuming threat that takes over their life. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please call toll-free now.
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by Sher Delva | May 22, 2017 | Addiction, Addiction Medicine, Addiction Stigma, Mental Health, Stigma, Therapy, Uncategorized, Withdrawal
A recent article in Psychology Today explores the topic of chronic stress and how stress can increase vulnerability to addiction.
Have you dealt with a lot of stress lately? If so, it might be time to take care of it. Stress is a major risk factor in addiction recovery. Stress may increase the chance of a relapse. Stress is a normal part of everyday life and while it may not be possible to eliminate stress completely, there are ways to manage it better.
What is Stress?
Most of us have been stressed before, but how exactly do you define stress? Stress is defined as adversity or hardship that a person experiences. Biologically speaking, stress causes a rise in our blood levels and increases stress hormones, like cortisol. Fight-or-flight is the normal response to stress. In this state, all the blood goes to the muscles so that you are ready to take off when necessary.
There is a difference between chronic and normal stress. Moderate stressors in life are perceived to be pleasant. In fact, some people love a challenging stressful situation that promotes the release of stress hormones. However, intense and prolonged stress due to unfortunate situations can produce feelings of helplessness and depression.
Chronic stress increases the risk for developing:
- Depression
- The Common Cold
- Influenza
- Tension Headaches
- Clenching of the Jaw
- Teeth Grinding
- Tension of neck and shoulders
Stress stems from a multitude of sources. Trauma in early childhood can make people more vulnerable to stress later in life. There are studies that suggest stress in early life can cause methylation of key genes that control the stress system When this happens, we remain in a constant state of emergency.
The workplace is another environment prone to chronic stress.
If your job is very demanding, stress is a likely result. On the same note, those who feel unappreciated at work or unimportant are susceptible to developing clinical anxiety and depression, as well as stress-related medical conditions like ulcers and diabetes.
For some, a common remedy is abusing addictive substances. Research in human studies reveals that adversity during childhood and early life can increase the risk for addiction. Furthermore, people with an unhappy marriage, dissatisfaction with employment or harassment also report increased rates of addiction.
The more stressors a person is exposed to, the greater risk of substance abuse. Economist Deaton (2015) shows that less educated white Americans who struggle in the job market during early adulthood are more likely to experience “cumulative disadvantage” over time, with health and personal problems that lead to drug overdoses, alcohol-related liver disease, and suicide.
Why is this?
One explanation is the self-medication theory. This theory suggests that a person uses drugs to cope with stressors or relieve themselves of anxiety and depression resulting from a traumatic event. Thus, drug use acts as a mean to soothe the psychological distress.
High emotional stress is linked to loss of impulse control and an inability to delay gratification. Chronic stress decreases gray matter volume in the brain. This area is associated with cognitive control and stress regulation.
Essentially, stressed people are prone to give into their impulses as a way of coping with daily stress. In sum, people who are more stressed lack the ability to make rational decisions.
In conclusion, learning to manage stress is crucial to success in recovery. if you are struggling, reach out for help. There are a variety of treatment options available to manage stress. We are a phone call away. Please take care of your health. Call now.
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by Sher Delva | May 22, 2017 | Addiction, Addiction Medicine, Addiction Stigma, Mental Health, Stigma, Therapy, Uncategorized
A needle exchange program in the Bronx, New York is stepping up to combat the ongoing opioid crisis and rising overdose death rates. Their latest tactic is handing out fentanyl test strips to heroin users.
The reasoning behind the test strips is to lower overdoses due to fentanyl-laced heroin.
Staff member Van Asher explains that the test strips will help addicts determine whether or not there is fentanyl is the drugs they’re using. The strips are usually used to drug test urine, but people can put a little of the mixture that’s in their syringe onto the strip to test whether or not what they are injecting contains fentanyl. This will help them make a more informed decision about what they are putting in their bodies, Asher explained to NPR.
Studies conducted by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention revealed that most people do not know whether the heroin they’re using contains fentanyl. Asher told NPR that he started handing the strips out of desperation to curb the overdose rates among his clientele.
With each strip, Asher gives a survey to fill and report back. Unfortunately, Ashley admits getting clients to follow through is a difficult task.
Still, Asher is now working with programs around the country to try to replicate his idea. The idea originated at Inside in Vancouver Canada, North America’s only safe injection facility.
However, the major difference is that if someone is choosing to use their fentanyl-laced heroin at Inside, they can be medically monitored and an overdose is more likely to be reversed by staff, preventing death.
In the United States, safe injection facilities do not exist yet. While there are few areas testing the concept, none have yet to become established. Furthermore, harm reduction strategies remain a controversial topic. Therefore, it is up to the drug user to monitor how they use the drugs.
Some simply are not convinced.
Drug users like Vincente Estema explain that knowing there is fentanyl in his heroin is not going to stop him from using.
“It’s stronger! If it makes me feel the euphoria, I’m going to go for it,” he told NPR.
When an addict is at the point of wanting to use drugs, it is unlikely that the fentanyl test strips would deter them from using. However, it would at least inform them of the risk they are taking, and could potentially reduce the amount of the drug they take.
In 2015, the spike in fentanyl-laced overdose deaths led the Drug Enforcement Administration to issue a nationwide warning about the drug.
“Drug incidents and overdoses related to fentanyl are occurring at an alarming rate,” said DEA Administrator at the time, Michele Leonhart, calling it a “significant threat to public health and safety.”
During a three-month period in 2016, 74% of opioid overdoses in Massachusetts were caused by fentanyl! Fentanyl is up to 100 times stronger than morphine and is the strongest opioid available to doctors; even worse, different variations of fentanyl are hitting the streets like carfentanil and acryl fentanyl.
The numbers from Massachusetts indicate that heroin overdoses are dropping, but opioid-related overdose deaths continue to increase. Authorities agree that fentanyl is to blame. In a press release, Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders called the data, “a sobering reminder of why the opioid crisis is so complex.”
Do you believe these strips could help combat the opioid epidemic? Would it affect how an addict uses? Regardless, any addict continues to use needs to seek help instead. The next time you use could be your last. Recovery is possible. We want to help you. Call now.
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by Justin Mckibben | May 18, 2017 | Addiction Medicine, Detox, Heroin, Maintenance Drugs, Methadone, Opioids, Prescription Drugs, Withdrawal
Ever since Methadone was introduced to combat opioid dependence, it has been leaned on by countless people over several decades to treat opioid abuse. For a long time methadone clinics have been looked to as a source of relief from an addiction to opioids, but are they as effective as people seem to think? Over time more people who have used methadone to try overcoming serious addictions have realized methadone maintenance also comes with a great deal of damaging side effects.
What is a methadone clinic?
A methadone clinic is a clinic for the dispensing of methadone. Because this is a schedule II opioid analgesic drug, access must be restricted. Methadone clinics are a way to provide people with this medication. But before you rush out to find the one closest to you, there are a lot of things to consider.
What is a Methadone Clinic: History of Methadone
Firstly, let us not that methadone is an opioid drug. It is used to treat pain, like most opioid medications, but most people know it as a maintenance drug for detoxing from dependence on other opioids, such as heroin. Methadone, sold under many brand names, including:
- Methadose
- Dolophine
- Symoron
- Amidone
- Physeptone
- Diskets
Different countries have different brands as well. A few footnotes of the history of methadone include:
Methadone was developed in Germany by Gustav Ehrhart and Max Bockmühl.
The United States approved the use of Methadone.
About 41.400 kilograms of methadone were manufactured globally
What is a Methadone Clinic: Methadone Detox
Methadone is available in various forms, including:
- Pill
- Sublingual tablet
- Two different formulations designed for the patient to drink
Drinkable forms include:
- Methadose- the ready-to-dispense liquid form found in theUnited States.
- Diskets- tablets designed to work like Alka-Seltzer, dispersing rapidly in water for oral administration.
The most common method of administration is the liquid form, because it allows for small dose changes. Methadone is almost as effective when administered orally as by injection.
Detoxification using methadone is intended to be a way for people addicted to opioids such as heroin or powerful prescription drugs to taper off, but at the same time detoxification using methadone has been met with a great deal of controversy.
Many who oppose methadone clinics refer to this strategy as methadone substitution. As a treatment of opioid addiction methadone is heavily criticized for its role in what some call “social control of addicts.” Many who oppose methadone suggested that the drug does not function as much to curb addiction as to redirect it and maintain dependency. In other words, some insist methadone is essentially keeping people addicted, but making sure the money goes to drug manufactures and methadone clinics instead of street dealers.
What is a Methadone Clinic: Methadone Side-Effects
There are so many adverse effects of methadone, which may vary in range and severity depending on the individual. There include, but are not limited to:
- Sedation
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Perspiration
- Heat intolerance
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Itching
- Weakness
- Chronic fatigue
- Sleep problems
- Nausea
- Hallucinations
- Memory Loss
- Weight gain
- Stomach pains
- Mood changes
- Restlessness
- Decreased libido or impotence
- Urinary difficulty
- Blurred vision
- Skin rash
- Low blood pressure
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Heart problems
- Respiratory problems
Some of these adverse effects of methadone use are much more serious than others.
What is a Methadone Clinic: Withdrawal Symptoms
There is also a massive list of possible withdrawal symptoms from using methadone. This is one of the primary issues many people have with methadone treatment.
Physical withdrawals include:
- Runny nose and sneezing
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Sweating
- Chills
- Aches and pains (especially in joints)
- Sensitivity to pain
- Hyperventilation
- Tremors
- High blood pressure that may cause strokes
Others are more concerned with the mental aspect of the withdrawals experienced from methadone.
Cognitive withdrawals include:
- Suicidal ideation
- Drug cravings
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Delirium
- Hallucinations (auditory and visual)
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Panic disorder
- Paranoia
- Delusions
- Apathy
The irony is that methadone withdrawal symptoms are even reported to last significantly longer than withdrawals from some other opioids. In some cases, people may even try to treat an opioid addiction with this drug not knowing that it is actually a much worse opioid to withdrawal from.
What is a Methadone Clinic: Methadone Overdose
As mentioned before, there are some very real dangers when it comes to using methadone.
- Between 1999 and 2004, deaths in the U.S. linked to methadone quadrupled.
- In 2004 reports credit methadone as contributing to 3,849 deaths, 82% of which were reported as accidental.
- In 2011, there were 4,418 deaths in the United States involving methadone. At the time that made up 26% of total deaths fromopioid poisoning.
Respiratory depression is probably the most common overdose risk related to opioid drugs. Other symptoms of a methadone overdose include:
- Hypoventilation (slow/shallow breathing)
- Drowsiness
- Cool, clammy skin
- Limp muscles
- Unconsciousness
- Coma
- Excessive vomiting
- Risks are greater with higher doses, as well as mixing methadone with any other drugs.
The risks of methadone are very, very real. In fact, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Public Health Advisory back in 2006 about methadone titled “Methadone Use for Pain Control May Result in Death and Life-Threatening Changes in Breathing and Heart Beat”. In the report, the FDA stated that they received reports of death and life-threatening side effects with patients who were newly starting methadone.
Both individuals who were starting methadone for pain, or who were trying to switch to it from another powerful narcotic pain reliever were included to be at an elevated risk, according to the FDA.
What is a Methadone Clinic: Another Way
Getting off of powerful opioid drugs, whether they are prescription narcotics or illicit street drugs, is possible without the use of methadone. While maintenance drugs can be useful to some extent as a means of harm reduction, these should not be considered as sustainable means of addiction recovery. Maintenance drugs are typically only ever effective if utilized in combination with therapy and other forms of addiction treatment.
Luckily there are other ways to get help. It is possible to be safely and effectively removed from a methadone taper through a safe medical detox. Understanding methadone can also be fatal is of vital significance. Methadone detox can be deadly if not supported by a medical staff with the right medications to help ease the pain and discomfort of the detox. Medical detox combined with a holistic treatment program is a proven strategy for saving lives.
If you or someone you love is struggling, do not wait. Please call toll-free now. We want to help. You are not alone.
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by Justin Mckibben | May 16, 2017 | Addiction, Detox, Drug Abuse, Panic Disorder, Prescription Drugs, Xanax
With prescription drug abuse being one of the biggest issues facing the country today, there is an increasing need for education and awareness as to what these drugs really are and how powerful they can be. One of the prescription narcotics most commonly abused is Xanax, a name brand medication in the Benzodiazepine (Benzo) category of depressant drugs. This medication can be very helpful to those who use it accordingly, but it can also be seriously addictive and even life threatening.
So in taking a closer look at specific substances, we want to of course answer the question- how long does Xanax stay in your system.
How Long Does Xanax Stay in Your System: Understanding Alprazolam
Alprazolam is the generic name for a potent, short-acting anxiolytic drug in the benzodiazepine class. Xanax is actually a brand-name for Alprazolam, and is typically the most commonly known version. Alprazolam is frequently utilized in the treatment of anxiety disorders, such as:
The drug binds to a number of specific sites on the GABA receptor of the brain, and elicits responses as a:
- Anxiolytic (Anti-panic)
- Sedative
- Muscle relaxant
- Anti-convulsant
- Amnestic
- Antidepressant
While there is some debate about people building a tolerance to the anxiolytic effects, there is a clear indication that tolerance to the sedative effects will build in a couple days of using the drug. Thus, withdrawal symptoms can occur after only a few weeks of use if the drug is suddenly stopped.
How Long Does Xanax Stay in Your System: Side-Effects
There are various possible side-effects that may occur while taking Xanax or any Alprazolam drug. Some possible adverse effects include:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Dry mouth
- Slurred speech
- Suicidal ideation
- Urinary retention
- Skin rash
- Respiratory depression
- Constipation
These side-effects can be uncomfortable and some are more common than others. However, probably some of the greater risks come with prolonged use, which can lead to severe dependence and withdrawal.
How Long Does Xanax Stay in Your System: Withdrawal
Another reason people as how long does Xanax stay in your system is to determine how long the withdrawal periods are. Once the body has developed dependence on a drug, withdrawal or “rebound” symptoms can make it extremely difficult to discontinue use. Some common symptoms of withdrawal from Xanax include:
- Rebound anxiety
- Panic
- Hallucination
- Insomnia
- Moodiness
- Tremors
- Nightmares
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Seizures
Some of these seizures and other reactions can actually become life-threatening, making Xanax withdrawals some of the most dangerous one can experience.
How Long Does Xanax Stay in Your System: Overdose
When asking- how long does Xanax stay in your system- you may be concerned about the risks of overdose. An Alprazolam overdose can range from mild to severe depending on how much of the drug has been taken. One of the primary problems with an Alprazolam overdose is that it creates an excessive depression of the central nervous system. Some of the signs of Xanax overdose are:
- Dizziness
- Impaired balance
- Muscle weakness
- Hypotension
- Drowsiness
- Shallow breathing
- Fainting
- Coma
- Death
These risks may be more or less serious depending on a number of factors, including if Xanax is taken with any other substances.
How Long Does Xanax Stay in Your System: Half-life
As with all drugs, and even most chemicals or substances that enter our bodies, there are a number of factors that influence how long it takes for Xanax to leave the body, such as:
- Metabolism
- Height
- Weight
- Body fat content
- Age
- Health of the liver
- Kidney health
- Amount of the drug taken
- Length of time using the drug
Typically Xanax has a half-life of 9-16 hours, meaning it takes a healthy body 9-16 hours to get rid of half of a dose of the drug. Because of the half-life, the drug will typically be out of the systems after 4 days. However, this is usually just for the occasional consumption. Xanax can stay in the system for a week or longer for frequent or heavy users depending on the above factors.
How Long Does Xanax Stay in Your System: Detoxing
A huge problem with drugs like Xanax is that a lot of people assume these prescription narcotics are safer because they are not street drugs. Yet, Benzodiazepine drugs like Xanax are commonly connected to serious health issues. Beyond that, the dangers of addiction and the potentially fatal withdrawals are exactly why these medications are not nearly as safe as some people like to think they are.
Because of the risks of Xanax withdrawal it is crucial to seek out safe medical supervision for the detox process. Because Xanax can be present in the body for over a week for long-term users, it is important to have a means to monitor the complications Xanax withdrawal may cause. This is especially true if the individual has been using other substances in combination with Xanax.
Detoxing does not have to be what stands between someone who is suffering and a full recovery from this progressive and far too often fatal disease. If you want to get Xanax out of your system in a safe and effective way, a medical detox is the best choice. If you or someone you love is struggling, please call toll-free now.
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by Sher Delva | May 16, 2017 | Addiction, Addiction Stigma, Mental Health, Stigma, Therapy
When Frank McKinney graduated high school, he earned his diploma with a less-than-stellar 1.8 GPA. With $50 in his pocket, McKinney left his native state of Indiana and headed to Florida in search of his life’s highest calling. Despite all odds, he managed to become successful.
McKinney is an accomplished author, real-estate artist, and philanthropist. In real estate, McKinney started with a $50,000 fixer upper and worked his way to a $50 million oceanfront mansion. He is a 5-time International Bestselling Author (in 4 genres), and an ultramarathon runner.
The Real Deal On… Reinvention
Recently, McKinney was a guest on The Real Deal On… with Dug McGuirk. The conversation occurred in one of McKinney’s stunning micro mansions where he discussed the theme of reinvention and rediscovery.
In the first 25 years of his real-estate journey, McKinney focused on building huge mansion-like homes for the ultra-wealthy, but later he discovered a shift in the mindset of the rich. McKinney talks about his decision to develop “micro mansions.” He says the experience was a valuable life lesson.
“We realized there was a shift. You can become complacent, you can become in denial, but there’s been a big shift in that the ultra-wealthy are not wanting houses that are as big as they used to. So we took the opulence, the grandeur, the artistry, the beauty [and] shrunk it down to a more manageable size.”
“That was huge— I’ve built bedrooms bigger than this house!” McKinney says. “4,100 sq. ft. is the biggest bedroom I’ve ever built. This [home] is 4,087, so it’s 13 sq. ft. smaller than the bedroom I built.”
“But part of the beauty of reinvention is a reigniting of the soul after you’ve done something for so long…” he explains.
On Running Ultra Marathons
Along with his professional accomplishments, McKinney has run several ultramarathons. An ultra-marathon is a marathon “of any distance longer than a regular marathon” which means it can be a marathon of 35, 50 or 100 miles. The ultra-marathon McKinney runs is an astounding 135 miles.
Known as The Badwater Ultramarathon, it is considered the “world’s toughest footrace” according to National Geographic. It takes place in the Badwater Basin in California’s Death Valley.
Initially, McKinney says the idea of completing the ultramarathon was “unfathomable.”
“It’s 135 miles nonstop through the desert in July where the daytime temperatures are 125 and the pavement temperature, because you’re running on a road, is over 200 degrees,” he says. “You can fry an egg on it. I’ve seen people fry an egg on it.”
“I learned about this race, and I had it—insurmountable, incomprehensible, impossible— lay itself on my heart. I had two choices, to believe that it was those three things…but others had done it?” He says.
“So I hired a coach.”
Although McKinney did not consider himself to be a “coachable” person, he knew it was what he needed to get on the starting line. He explains how runners must be selected to participate in the Badwater Ultramarathon and to apply to the race “is like applying to Harvard or Yale.”
In total, McKinney has run the race ten times and completed the race seven times.
“When I’m in that race, it is a metaphor for life. There are extreme highs, euphoric highs, and then ten miles later, I could be bawling my eyes out because I feel like you-know-what, and I’ve got another 70 miles to go, and I already have blisters on the bottom my feet,” he says.
“What I’ve learned though is with faith, patience and the passage of time, those low points pass. Unfortunately, so does the high points!”
Still, McKinney says he learns from his failures as much as his successes. There were three consecutive races that he did not finish.
“I’ve failed three times in a row. I’m aging out; I’m getting too old,” he admits.
“Last year, […] I wanted to quit so many times, and I had all my meltdowns, problems and issues, but I never let my mind cross over. It wanted to, and it was ready to. I take my shoes off and throw my glasses down… but I never made that cross over,” he says.
“So maybe for somebody who’s going through recovery, you’ve crossed over, you’re sober now; don’t ever allow your mind to cross back over.”
Pushing Through the Internal Dialogue
Later in the interview, Frank McKinney answers how he overcomes the monsters in his head considering all of the risks he’s taken to be successful. Ultimately, he says outside criticism can be a source of motivation. He learned this lesson when he was building a 30 million dollar spec house a while back.
“I was told when we built that house…a guy from M.I.T was quoted in this article in the USA Today saying, ‘There’s no market for a $30 million spec house, there’s no buyer for it. That young man (at the time I was younger), will be dumpster diving in a year.”
“I’m like, ‘Oh my god! What if he’s right!’” he remembers.
“I went out and busted even harder, and I ended up selling that house in a relatively short period of time, and I took the article that was written about that house. I remember cutting it out, and I took a picture of me sitting in a dumpster, and I sent it to the dude at M.I.T.”
The lesson learned, McKinney says, is to take it from the source. Sometimes that inner dialogue can be a tool of productivity, he explains.
“I will always consider the source, and it’s really important to allow the little monster in. It’s okay! I allow some of that in. I want the feedback from the marketplace,” McKinney says.
“It gets back to that creation of your own reality,” he says.
“People that go through recovery […] they’re wired a little bit differently. They’ve got a synapse or two that are different than the rest of us. I think it’s a gift. I think that the person who enters those doors, they struggle. They can be tortured at times with that gift. But if you can turn that into a true gift, as I mentioned before, you’re not going to change, but redirect into something constructive instead of destructive, you can set the world on fire. “
“I have not changed. I still have that addictive personality. I’m addicted to excitement, but I’ve found a constructive outlet.”
The Difference between Motivation, Inspiration, and Aspiration
Whether it’s in recovery or everyday life, many dig for motivation or inspiration to push them along hardships. Looking back, Frank McKinney says an important lesson he learned in life was understanding motivation does not last.
Motivation “washes down the body and goes down the drain with the soap at night,” he says.
“You can read a motivational quote on Facebook, how long does that last? About three seconds?” he says.
“There’s a little bit of relief to know that we are not, as a species, meant to stay motivated.”
As for inspiration, that does not last either.
“Inspiration lasts about as long as a bad sunburn,” he says. “You can read an inspirational book, and it will last for a while. I’ve had some that lasted for a while. Or you watch an inspirational movie. Eventually, it wears off.”
So if motivation does not last and inspiration does not last, what does last? What is it?
“It’s aspiration. When you identify something that really is greater than you can comprehend now,” McKinney says.
Ask Yourself:
- What legacy do you aspire to leave behind for your family?
“If you answer that every single day of your life, you may lose motivation or inspiration, but that aspiration, endeavor or undertaking, you’ll never lose sight of that,” McKinney affirms.
- Who do you aspire to emulate?
- “I aspire to _blank_ which is higher than I can comprehend ”
Overall, love is at the basis of everything, he says. Everyone wants to be happy, but beneath all of that is the want to be loved. Peel all the layers and love is beneath it all.
“Being in love and living in love and having that beautiful word in your life is magic,” McKinney says.
Throughout the 40-minute interview, McKinney discusses taking and embracing risks, the importance of creating a creative space and other powerful lessons learned through his real estate journey. When asked about his greatest accomplishment, he credits his philanthropy work in Haiti, building homes for the less fortunate. Furthermore, he also shares lessons learned in his 27-year marriage. Please watch the full interview to hear more about his incredible journey!
Frank McKinney’s journey shows the importance of recreating your reality and the importance of reinvention. Regardless of the cards handed to you in life; you still have the ability to move forward. If you or someone you know is struggling in recovery, know there is help out there. It is never too late to change. Call now.
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