Why Long-Stay Treatment Helps Chronic Relapse
The thought of inpatient or residential treatment can bring all kinds of thoughts to our minds. Whether we’ve experienced an inpatient stay or we’re coming up on our first, the idea of picking up and living in a random place with random people can be jarring and frightening, but the reality of long-stay programs can […]
Why Am I an Addict?
If you are addicted to alcohol or drugs, why are you like that? What is the cause and why have you become someone who cannot stay stopped? Is it genetic or caused by living with a family member who is addicted to drugs and alcohol? Is it trauma? Is it because you are an immoral […]
When Fear Crops Up in Recovery
Fear is one of those human traits that naturally arises from life. Fear is everywhere. It’s in work, relationships, money, parenting. I can either choose to do nothing, and the fear of not acting overwhelms me. Or, I can make a decision, and then I’m overwhelmed with impending doom for fear I made the wrong […]
Signs that a Relapse Prevention Plan is Not Being Followed
Do you have a loved one who has been in an addiction treatment program after battling a substance abuse disorder or alcoholism? Studies have shown that anywhere from 40 to 60% of people who seek treatment for an addiction to drugs or alcohol end up relapsing within one year. It’s what makes relapse prevention so […]
Anxiety: What to Do When Panic Sets In
Feeling nervous about an experience or upcoming event is normal. Nervousness is the fire inside pushing us to try new things and enact new experiences. Our nerves tell us something is new, exciting, and a little scary because it’s unknown. But what happens when that feeling of nervousness extends beyond “normal” nervousness and enters into […]
Finding Equilibrium: What to Expect During Recovery
When it comes to getting clean and sober, you always hear stories, opinions, and suggestions surrounding mental health, but what about our physical health? How do we focus on the thing that is keeping us alive? Our bodies are truly magical, and we see the real magic after we have abused it for years with […]
Why Getting to the Root of Your Mental Health Issues Can Heal Addiction
When it comes to substance use, the number one question to ask yourself is why? Why are you having that drink? Why do you need that pill? Why are you harming your body to feel a temporary sense of relief? If you take a good look at the answers, you may start to realize your […]
Recovery Is a Full-Time Job
When we talk about our recovery journey, everyone’s story will be different, but one thing that rings true for everyone is that recovery is a process that begs our full attention. Think about it this way: you can’t be a little pregnant in the same way you can’t be a little clean or a little […]
Don’t Be so Hard on Yourself: How Self-Criticism Fuels Addiction and Mental Illness
If you are someone who has battled mental health issues and or addiction for a significant portion of your life, you understand the processes, routines, check-ins, and self-criticism involved in getting clean, sober, and healthy — and staying that way. But sometimes, the checklists can feel like too much to bear. Even when we are […]
Addiction and Family: Effects of Drug Abuse and Alcoholism
Effects of Drug Abuse on Family Someone who chronically relapses has trouble staying sober. They continuously fall back into their addiction even if they are trying with all of their willpower to stay away from drugs and alcohol. They are sick with a chronic disease. If left untreated, they will eventually relapse or their addiction […]
