You know how some people live paycheck to paycheck? Well, as an addict, I lived from high to high. The only thing that mattered in between was getting the money I needed to capture that next high. Once I began my recovery, however, I quickly realized that I was suddenly going to have quite a…
Recovering from a substance use disorder is a long process that can be mentally and physically exhausting. Once you make it through physical withdrawal, you will likely have to face months of cravings, mental addiction, and emotional ups and downs. Maintaining a positive attitude during recovery can be difficult, but it is often necessary for…
12-Step is the most popular addiction recovery method in the United States, and you can typically find a 12 Step meeting for almost any type of recovery. However, while 12 Step is popular, many people find that they initially have trouble making the meetings work for them. In most cases, many of us like to…
When I got sober, one of the things I looked most forward to was that I wouldn’t have to lie to anyone anymore. What I didn’t count on was that lying became a habit, almost an addiction unto itself. I realized that while I had been lying to preserve my habit, keep loved ones around,…
Fighting your way out of addiction is difficult, physically and mentally. Unfortunately, long after your chemical dependence is gone, you will still have to face the emotional and mental scars left by your addiction. Substance abuse is damaging to the brain, and while using we often make irrational and selfish choices that hurt us, our…
When I first began my recovery, I met a lot of people who had simply switched from one addiction to another. Giving up drugs and alcohol often led them to begin smoking cigarettes or eating excessively. Since I was aware of this early on, I thought I didn’t have anything to worry about. I was…
Anger is one of the most common reasons we relapse after a period of sobriety. When overcome with anger, we are much less able to make good decisions, because we are acting out of emotion instead of rational thought. In order to protect my sobriety, I had to take steps to control my anger. Most…
Getting over a drug or alcohol use disorder is life changing. It’s more than just walking away and staying clean. It’s the process of beginning to put your life back together and taking control of who you are and what you want to be. If you’ve recently gotten clean or sober and are moving into…
Whether you’ve been sober for a week or are going on your fifth year without a drink, the holidays present an extra temptation for many in that almost everyone is drinking, most people will try to get you to drink, and alcohol is everywhere.Topped with the often high-stress environment of spending time in a room…
While the holidays are all about celebration, I find it to be the most stressful time of the year. As an alcoholic in recovery, it is extremely difficult for me to be in a room full of merrymakers drinking alcohol. It seems to be at every party and at every family gathering. And invariably, there…