Helping a Loved One in Recovery: How Family Members Can Recognize the Signs of Relapse
Recovering addicts face many obstacles as they try to stay sober in recovery, with the threat of relapse an ever-present danger. Now that the person you care about so much has completed their stay at rehab and returned back home, they will need your support and encouragement more than ever. Relapse is a real danger […]
Know the Dangers: The 9 Most Common Addictions in America
Those who have never struggled with addiction often view drug and alcohol dependency as a single illness, one that can be cured through simple willpower and a desire to live a sober life. But those who have struggled with addiction know better, and they also know that drug and alcohol addiction is not a single […]
Is There a Cure for Your Addiction?
Addiction is an illness that is typified by a compulsion to take alcohol or drugs even when those substances are causing physical, mental, and social problems. Contrary to the opinions of many people, it is not caused by a lack of willpower. People who are addicted have undergone a change of brain function that makes […]
Treat the Family, Not Just the Addict
Written by Carey Ferren, LCDCAssistant Clinical Director, Burning Tree Ranch When one considers addiction treatment, treating and supporting the family as a supplement is imperative. Addiction is a family disease where each member experiences negative coping mechanisms to deal with the stress addiction causes. In my eleven years as an addiction counselor, higher success rates […]
What are the Four Absolutes and How Do They Relate to Alcoholics Anonymous?
Before Bill Wilson and company wrote the book Alcoholics Anonymous and found a solution to their chronic alcoholism, the Oxford Group helped many people with many problems. The Oxford Group worked to improve members by teaching a formula for spiritual growth that is similar to the 12 Steps in Alcoholics Anonymous: inventory, admitting mistakes, making […]
Benefits of a Life Without Alcohol
Have you finally taken the leap and decided to stop drinking? There is nothing but benefits when you choose to quit drinking. Just being dry has its health benefits. But being sober is where you will learn to live a new life and feel free. Here Are Some of the Benefits of a Life Without […]
Mistaken Beliefs by Alcoholics on Avoiding Alcohol
Alcoholics cannot control their drinking. They just can’t. It’s a difficult concept to understand for both alcoholics and their families. Often alcoholics think they can do things to control the amount they take. It usually does not go well. Here Are a Few Things Alcoholics and Common Knowledge Will Tell Us When Attempting to Control […]
What is a long-term community in recovery and why is it important?
Before we can answer this question it’s important to understand the chronic nature of addiction and alcoholism. If you’re a chronic relapser then you know that it is almost impossible to stay stopped. No matter the will power you possess or the emotional appeal or the relationships or the consequence that you are facing, they […]
What to Expect From an Al-Anon Meeting
There are support groups available for friends and families of alcoholics called Al-Anon groups. Al-Anon meetings can help those close to alcoholics who find themselves caught up in an overwhelming whirlwind of frustration and disappointment. What is Al-Anon? Al-Anon meetings are not based on any particular religion. They focus on a spiritual fellowship in which […]
The Dangers of Benzodiazepines
Given their appealing sedating effects, benzodiazepines are among some of the most abused prescription drugs in America. In fact, according to WebMD, about one in every five people who use benzodiazepines will abuse the potentially addictive drug. Below, we will discuss the potential risks associated with benzodiazepines and how they affect your body. What are […]
