Addiction can be an isolating condition. It harms a person’s emotional state and relationships. That’s why creating connections is so important in addiction recovery. Treatment programs encourage the fellowship you find in peer support groups during treatment and after it’s complete. We’ll review why peer support matters and how treatment makes it a priority. …
Relapse can happen during addiction recovery. Some people may feel like a failure if they slip up. But relapse is more common than you may think. It can be hard to talk about, especially because it can seem like starting over. Here we’ll explain what relapse prevention is and how treatment works to prevent it. …
Where a person lives influences a lot in their life. This includes access to substances and outpatient recovery services. So if you need treatment, what can this mean for you? You face environmental risk factors for addiction every day. Your neighborhood, social group and even the state you live in affects you. And when…
Alcohol abuse affects the brain, the body and the mind, causing changes that impact behavior as well as the physical and emotional well-being of its victims. It also creates tremendous personal, social and work-related upheaval in the lives of alcoholics who continue to drink and can’t find a way out of the chemical prison they’re…
Recovery is a life-long journey. Anyone who has embraced lifelong sobriety will tell you that there are times where the road gets particularly rocky. Though you may go through periods of your life when you feel clear-headed and ready to take on the world, sometimes events in life can trigger temptations to return to drinking…
Although addiction, alcoholism, and substance abuse disorders are chronic, recovery is possible thanks to treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and psychotherapy. But what is psychotherapy, and how is it used during treatment? If you’re struggling with a substance abuse disorder, alcoholism, or addiction, you’re not alone. Each year, more than 14 million…
When you’re suffering from alcoholism, addiction, or a substance abuse disorder, it’s common to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and alone. However, addiction is relatively common. In fact, 1 out of 7 Americans will eventually develop a substance abuse disorder in their lifetime, while another 10% of Americans are in one of the stages of addiction recovery.…
Cravings and triggers can linger long after your last use, which is a major reason by 40%-60% of people recovering from a substance use disorder experience at least one relapse. A relapse occurs when you begin abusing drugs or alcohol after a period of abstinence. Thus, understanding how to cope with common relapse triggers is…
New Year’s Eve is a time of celebration with friends and family. If you’re committing not to drink this year, then it can also be a challenging time. Just about everywhere you go, there is alcohol present during this festive occasion. Navigating the evening can be difficult. However, it is possible to have a sober…
One of the greatest challenges to getting sober is re-discovering your identity outside of drinking. Before you began rehab, going to the bars, hanging out at parties, drinking during the game, or unwinding with a glass of wine may have been your normal routine. One of the ways to disassociate with alcohol is to engage…
