Volunteering is a wonderful way to support your recovery from addiction. After completing an intensive program of addiction treatment you may feel invigorated and ready to take on the world. It could also be that you feel lost and unsure what to do next. Many people find themselves without purpose post-rehab. For a long time …
As an addict in recovery you have been through a major life struggle. You lived with your addiction. You forced yourself to realize the problem you had with drugs or alcohol. And finally you accepted offers of help and made it through a rehab program to get sober and learn how to stay sober. You …
As an addict in recovery you know that addiction is far more complicated than a failure of willpower. Drugs and alcohol cause chemical changes in your brain that encourage you to use them repeatedly. With more use come more alterations to the brain. These leave you nearly helpless in your attempts to stop using. However, …
It seems like a simple idea, and maybe like an unnecessary thing to worry about when you have bigger issues to deal with, but exercise could be very important to your recovery from addiction. Some of the latest research into addiction treatment indicates that healthy lifestyle changes can help recovering addicts resist the urge to …
Addicts often blame everyone but themselves. To admit having a problem and then taking responsibility for it are both very difficult to do. The truth is that attitude is very important when it comes to addiction recovery and blaming external sources for problems is counterproductive to successful sobriety. Blame never leads to real change. It …
By Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW One of the most challenging aspects of getting sober, regardless of your drug of choice, is exposure to drugs and reminders of drug use in daily life. Alcohol, for example, is omnipresent. Characters in movies and television shows are often portrayed with a drink in hand. Advertisements make imbibing seem …
For 20 years, I battled with a cycle of depression that went from manageable low moods to periods of isolation and despair. Yet it wasn’t until I had a complete breakdown that I started to challenge my mental health status. When I did, it turned out to be the first step to overcoming depression and …
5 Key Elements of Recovery from Depression and Substance Abuse Read More »
Even with all of the right tools in place, individuals with addiction often find themselves relapsing soon after completing a treatment program for substance abuse. Relapse is a common occurrence, and those attempting to cease using drugs or alcohol can become discouraged as they find themselves in a seemingly endless cycle of recovery and relapse. …
Working Toward a Successful Recovery From Addiction Read More »
Life can be tough. Dysfunctional families, health issues, work problems and relationship difficulties can all impact how you live your life. As a reaction to stress or trauma, psychological disorders can develop, as can a reliance on substances which provide only temporary relief. It’s vital to seek the right treatment and support. It’s also important …
Addiction Recovery: It’ll Change Your Life Forever Read More »
For many in recovery, 12-step meetings provide stability and sanity in the face of the whirlwind of addiction that threatens to toss them into the air and dash them against rocky cliffs. Just like the adage, “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere,” is used as an excuse to drink, so too is there a meeting happening somewhere …
Where Two or More Are Gathered: A First Person Look at Recovery Read More »