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…
Drug and alcohol addiction, substance abuse, trauma and mental illnesses can significantly impact the quality and dynamics of family relationships. When individuals go to treatment and work toward reclaiming their life from behavioral issues, mental illness or substances, their relationships require similar attention. Healing family relationships and improving them so that communication and interactions are…
Have you ever thought of how your mindset can impact your life? The mood you are in, any fluctuations you experience and the state of your mental health can influence how you feel about yourself, how you regard your relationships with others and the quality of these relationships. Even your physical health depends on your…
Often at the root of our urge to smoke, we will find anxious ruminations simmering just under the surface. It may be the weariness from a long week, the stress of planning for an upcoming trip or move or the fears that plague you as you try to fall asleep that has you reaching for…