Getting sober is a multi-step process. For many alcoholics and addicts, it takes years to shift from being abstinent to enjoying a healthy sober lifestyle. Along the way there are many hurdles to overcome, some large and some small. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common issues that come up. Other […]
Peeling Away the Layers of Addiction: The Process of Recovery Read More »
On the road to recovery from your addiction, you face an uncertain future. As an addict, your life revolved around one thing. You were consumed by your need to get the next high. Now, without that drive, you may be wondering what to do with yourself. How will you spend your time? How will you
How to Replace Addiction With a New Passion Read More »
So you’re trying out the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) route to sobriety. That’s wonderful, but if might feel a little overwhelming. It may seem like you’re learning a whole new language and culture—so many slogans, acronyms, books to read, meetings to attend, 12 steps to learn and a sponsor to guide you through it all. What’s
How Does an AA Sponsor Help? Read More »
Getting sober can be a life’s work—it may seem like a monumental effort, sometimes overwhelming. Right when you think you’ve got a foothold, something always goes wrong—something outside of you, beyond your control, that sucks you in and demands that you face and deal with situations and people that push you to your absolute limit.
Don’t Let Family Dynamics Threaten Your Recovery Read More »
By now, the tinsel and streamers from New Year’s Eve celebrations have been swept away, party attire carefully put back into garment bags and closets, and it’s back to work and time to get serious about recovery goals. Faced with 12 months ahead and a list of resolutions you have no idea how to tackle,
10 Tips for Meeting Your New Year’s Goals Read More »
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about 12-step programs: A lot of addicts new to recovery have many questions, fears and anxieties about 12-step meetings. This is perfectly natural. However, these gatherings are actually safe, straightforward, usually enjoyable affairs. Below are some of the more common questions people have about 12-step fellowships. Hopefully
What to Expect at 12-Step Meetings Read More »
By Robert Weiss LCSW, CSAT-S It is lunchtime at Miriam’s House. Denise sits with her twin 6-year-old boys, Dante and Darrell, encouraging them to eat not only the grilled cheese sandwiches on their plates, but the green beans. Stymied in her efforts, she uses the age-old mom trick of saying they won’t get dessert if
Miriam’s House: Giving the Gift of Recovery Read More »
Drugs and alcohol are mind-altering substances. When you are deep in your addiction, these substances change who you are. Getting your next fix becomes your purpose in life—getting money to get the next fix, or enjoying the brief pleasure from finally getting it. Your world revolves around your addiction. Many addicts fear giving up their
Finding Your Real, True Self After Addiction Read More »
If it sometimes seems like you can’t escape the memories of your addictive past, there is a solution: The only way to get past the past involves forgiving yourself for whatever you have done and then to get busy living life in the present, making new memories. This holiday season, while others you know and
Give Thanks for Sobriety, Make New Memories in Recovery Read More »
Spirituality is the general term for a worldview that places an emphasis on interconnection and the presence of larger forces beyond the realm of the individual human being. This worldview differs from a strictly religious orientation, which seeks to describe reality in terms of a specific set of organized beliefs. In a study published in
The Role of Spirituality in 12-Step Recovery Read More »