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…
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?…
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…
Maybe you know you have a problem with alcohol. Or, maybe you haven’t had the guts to admit it yet. But you are slowly becoming aware that things are deteriorating around you at a fairly rapid rate. You just can’t seem to put your finger on the cause – or you don’t want to. Perhaps…
Recovery from alcohol and drug abuse or addiction is a long and often difficult process. One of the hardest things to overcome is the almost unbearable craving you have to take a drink, use a drug, just to get over or get back to feeling good again. Cravings are incredibly hard to resist and are…
If you have a loved one who’s recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction, it’s essential to help them have a clean and sober life. When you know how to live with a loved one in recovery, you can give them the best chance at a great future. That doesn’t mean you should do all…
If you are a recovering alcoholic or substance abuser, you know that relapse is a not-uncommon occurrence. While it’s important to recognize this fact, there are things you can do proactively to prevent falling into relapse. Use our tips for relapse prevention to help you. Tips For Relapse Prevention Identify high-risk situations – You know…
It is a common belief that a person with an addiction is “fixed” or cured during drug rehab. But because addiction is a chronic disease, even after completing drug or alcohol rehab, there’s still work to do. Thanks to detox and treatment, you have cleansed substances from your body and gained new insights in therapy…
Technology can be a double-edged sword. Some studies report the hazards of technology and cell phone use while others say social media makes people feel better. With recovery-oriented social media and addiction recovery apps growing, we spoke to David Sack, MD, who is board certified in psychiatry, addiction psychiatry and addiction medicine and chief medical…