Any good addiction treatment program includes a component that helps patients learn how to avoid relapsing. This type of aftercare is needed considering that most patients in recovery for a substance abuse disorder will eventually relapse. A recent study concluded that the inclusion of mindfulness therapy in aftercare and relapse prevention work leads to the …
Mindfulness Therapy Best for Relapse Prevention, Study Finds Read More »
When you first get sober, you may avoid attending weddings or other social events where people may be drinking or drugging. But sooner or later, you attend one of these events, knowing that picking up a drink or a drug to be sociable isn’t an option for you. Some people choose to preserve their anonymity. …
Socializing Sober: Tips for Surviving Ignorant Remarks Read More »
Cinco de Mayo is like other holidays during which there is so much over-drinking that police plan on it. Besides offering widespread DUI checkpoints, authorities advise celebrants to stay sober — or at least sober behind the wheel — for a safe, no-regrets celebration.
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 »
When in recovery for a drug or alcohol addiction, the question of relapse is often not “if,” but “when?” Most addicts relapse at least once, and many do so multiple times. If you are supporting a recovering addict, understand that relapse is part of the deal. Don’t give up on your loved one just because …
What are the Common Relapse Triggers in Addiction? Read More »
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 …
In the context of substance use, craving means a strong urge to drink more alcohol or take more drugs or medications. People affected by substance cravings are significantly at-risk for developing substance use disorder. In a study published in January 2014 in the journal Addictive Behaviors, researchers from three U.S. institutions sought to determine whether …
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 …
The process of recovery from addiction presents many challenges, but one of the most significant is overcoming the psychological grasp of “triggers” or “cues” to use drugs. Relapse is a daily reality in treatment centers, and one of the main reasons it’s so common is that triggers and cues to use exert a very real …
Breaking the Cycle of Triggers, Relapse and Addiction Read More »