Shame is such a harmful emotion when it lingers around too long. It usually partners up with guilt to pummel you in recovery, just to remind you it is kicking butt and taking names. Active recovery requires looking at your baggage, including shame, and realizing there are ways to get rid of it that will…
Going out at night may be a thing of the past in recovery. Or is it? It does not necessarily have to stop you from having fun unless nightlife is triggering for you. If you are used to thinking going into the night is equated with drinking or using drugs, you may feel stressed to…
Recovery is not easy, but it is essential for people with addiction. It might mean medical detox, treatment for drugs or alcohol, or picking up some coping skills training. The time after rehab is the best time to focus on your needs and desires to stay clean and sober. Among them is the need to…
Pathways to recovery are many and varied, depending on the individual. One of the best ways to experience recovery is with resiliency to handle whatever comes your way. Resiliency research looks at how the brain is wired, especially regarding addiction and recovery, for renewal and reintegration of what it is learning. There is a shift…
Regret is a strong emotion to have. It can hold you back from going forward in life and alter the course of your recovery. There are simple ways to let go of shame and guilt about what happened in the past and move forward. When you look ahead, you are able to see the future…
Learning how to live in recovery is something everyone has to discover on their own. Even when they feel like they might have it figured out, the work of recovery has so much more to offer. Self-care is part of the crucial journey. Self-awareness is important when assessing how to best take care of yourself…
Going home after finishing rehab can feel exhilarating (and nerve-wracking). So many things have changed, and yet, so many things are still the same. Feeling like a new person in old skin can be challenging at times. With recovery, there are some things people can do to get started with that to-do list, including seeking…
Tension can be a difficult thing to address in recovery. It pops up unexpectedly and may linger for a while, depending on what is going on. The hidden signs of stress left unaddressed, can become triggers to use substances or some other means of coping. Even for people who have been in recovery awhile, stress…
The anniversary of a loss or painful experience can bring up difficult memories. It may be triggering for someone in recovery to want to use drugs or alcohol to numb that pain. With the right tools, that person can learn how to navigate it and stay sober. Every day is one step away from addiction,…
Attitudes toward growth in sobriety shift for people over time. Early on, they are seeking opportunities to grow at a rapid pace, constantly evolving into who they want to become. Eventually, this starts to slow down and they process who they are now and begin to see things differently. What was once a burden is…