While countless recovery programs provide very specific directions on what needs to be done to achieve and maintain sobriety, not everyone will have the same experience with recovery. For some, the process may be easy, but others may require...
The initial wave of the baby boomer generation turned 65 years old in 2011. Currently, older adults make up 30% of the population in the United States. The rates of older adults are increasing, and so too are the rates of alcoholism and addiction...
Passing judgment on others is a negative defense mechanism that ultimately makes us feel worse. On the other end of the spectrum, feeling like we are being judged can cause all sorts of negative emotions and reactions to arise. We can use judgment...
Overcoming addiction and alcoholism puts us in a unique place. We are able to understand the true nature of addiction and alcoholism in ways that most people never will. The insight we gain about addiction and how to successfully recover is one of...
The importance of being connected with others in recovery cannot be understated. Getting involved with others who are attempting to recover from addiction is a great way to develop a support system that can help us get through the difficult times...
Newcomers to the rooms of 12-step recovery programs like Alcoholics Anonymous may hear the word “member” and think that there is some sort of process required to officially join. Fortunately, this is not the case. There are no dues, fees, secret...
Pat Schneeweis, better known as Pat the Bunny of the band Ramshackle Glory, sings in the song Never Coming Home (Song for the Guilty): “Forgiveness from those that we hurt in this world never was guaranteed.” Schneeweis, whose struggles with heroin...
Therapy and the development of coping skills are an important part of treating addiction. However, therapeutic treatment is only on part of the puzzle. For treatment to be effective, the problem of addiction must be addressed from a variety of...
Ceasing drug and alcohol use abruptly is extremely dangerous. Our bodies have adapted to the increased intake of substances and made physiologically changes. When we abruptly discontinue drug and alcohol use, our bodies respond with painful...
Addiction is a complex disease that affects mental, physical, and spiritual health. The complexity of the disease means that it requires daily maintenance and recovery practices to maintain sobriety. There is no cure for addiction, but that does...
