The holiday season is usually synonymous with unfiltered joy and a plethora of love and freedom to start anew. However, for those in recovery or recently sober, this time of year is generally linked with higher depression, stress and anxiety rates. How do you weigh your familial and holiday obligations while still focusing on your
The idea of mental rest might seem straightforward. Yet, with exciting distractions at our fingertips, a relentless demand to be “on,” and a holiday season around the corner, it may be tougher to feel revitalized than you expect. Have you ever had one of those days where you wander off into space, staring blankly at
Triggers, cravings, tolerance and physical dependence are all factors that get in the way of the recovery process, but there is another factor that deserves to be a part of this list: lack of motivation to overcome substance abuse. For those who struggle with finding the motivation to seek out addiction treatment and using that
Those living with addiction may already be all-too-familiar with a sense of loss that coats their hopes and dreams and sours their relationships. Unfortunately, loss and addiction often go hand-in-hand. What did you first want to be when you grew up? Now that you’re here, looking around at the reality you’ve made for yourself can
Together, We Are the Change The journey through recovery is not an easy one. Nor is it always easy to embody the ideals of what it means to be a recovery advocate. Recovery month as a whole promotes emerging research in the field. It also celebrates connections between members of the recovery community and the
Addiction and substance use disorder (SUD) can completely take over someone’s life. Even to the point where things seem hopeless, and the promise of change feels worlds away. The deterioration may occur slowly, but addiction is an absolute beast, especially when combined with any other coexisting mental health issues. Deep in the throes of active
Sharing stories of change and relating to others in recovery provides a sense of shared empowerment as you walk the path of abstinence and life change. Knowing that others have and are going through some of the exact same feelings, cycles of shame, and realizations can make all the difference in your ability to carry
Some important truths, such as knowing that change is about the little things rather than monumental gestures, can be learned. Even in the midst of a challenging and arduous process like committing yourself to recovery from addiction. At first, when we set these goals for ourselves, we feel ready to take on every obstacle to
Two critical demands of the recovery process are the concepts of acceptance and change and the balancing act required to hold these two ideas in tandem. We may hear and accept these ideas superficially, although only upon deeper reflection do we realize that they are actually opposites. How can we accept what needs to change?
Emotional intelligence skills in recovery involve a specific type of knowledge referring to how well someone can perceive, communicate and evaluate emotions. Individuals recovering from an alcohol or drug dependency or addiction may find it especially helpful and healing to practice emotional intelligence, considering that in the past, they used to rely on alcohol or
Most Important Emotional Intelligence Skills in Recovery Read More »