Hedonic adaptation is known as ‘the hedonic treadmill,’ a concept studied by researchers who focus on happiness and well-being that refers to people’s general tendency to return to a set level of happiness in spite of life’s ups and downs. It is known as a treadmill because of the experience where people always end up…
The relationship between low self-esteem and addiction has been established for a very long time. People who use drugs, especially women, may have low self-esteem which can lead to behavioral addictions like eating disorders and compulsive buying. Alcohol or drugs may mask insecurities but they don’t help a person’s self-esteem get better. Rebuilding Self-Esteem When…
Decisions get made every single day. You may not realize just how many but there may be thousands of decisions people process through about life, family, work, recovery, and other things like what to eat for lunch. Making better decisions is less about what you think about and more how you think about it and…
Most people experience sleep issues in early recovery, leaving them cranky, unable to function, and reaching for the wrong types of foods for a boost. Lack of sleep can also put recovery at risk. Learning how to get more sleep in recovery is important for healing and growth. Why Sleep Matters Insomnia is more common…
Codependency is a term used when people struggle with substance use and seek the approval of others to find self-worth, validation, protection, and identity. Codependency develops before a person even realizes it has happened. This may negatively impact recovery by not making a priority of taking care of themselves. Learn how codependent behaviors can derail…
The first 60 days of sobriety will be very challenging. Addiction affects all aspects of a person’s life. The brain becomes physically and psychologically dependent on drugs and alcohol. In treatment, you will learn how to make lifestyle changes to cope. The brain needs to be re-trained to function normally without drugs or alcohol. In…
Addiction causes self-destructive behavior despite harmful consequences. The brain changes chemically and physiologically when a person is addicted. The individual becomes physically dependent on the drugs or alcohol and experiences painful withdrawals when he or she stops using them. Lifestyle changes must be made for recovery when treatment ends. The brain needs time to learn…
Even with negative thoughts racing through your head, it may be hard to focus on anything else, especially those ambitions. Goals can seem hard to achieve when the mindset is not right. Negative thinking can get in the way of your recovery if you don’t stop it in its tracks. Here are some strategies to…
Feeling guilty about feeling bad, about depression, anxiety, or other emotions, can be really difficult. You may think when you experienced an emotion based on a response to another emotion you were having ‘all the feelings.’ Watching a movie that made you cry, or feeling guilty for feeling happy when good things happen to you.…
Like veganism, raw veganism excludes foods from any animals. Raw foodism goes even further in that it dictates which foods should be eaten raw or heated at temperatures below 104–118°F. There are some benefits but also risks to adhering to such a strict way of eating. Learn more about this before diving into this raw…