Newcomers are often dismayed to hear that they should wait one year before getting into a relationship. Waiting one year is not a rule, but a very sound suggestion based on the cumulative experience of countless men and women in recovery. The first year of sobriety should be focused on the enhancement of our spiritual…
Alcoholism is a disease that affects more than just the sufferer. Family and friends are also greatly affected when they have a loved one suffering from alcoholism. It may be difficult for them to determine the best course of action to take to support their loved one suffering from alcoholism, and they may be dealing…
Many recovery programs focus on a spiritual experience as a necessary means of changing our thoughts, behaviors, and reactions in our lives. Some people experience a sudden and drastic upheaval, while for others, the spiritual experience occurs more gradually. While the experience may be powerful in momentarily changing our views, it is rarely enough unless…
There is something toxic about resentment. When we hang onto our anger, it festers inside of us and comes out in all sorts of negative ways. Many men and women in recovery have had the experience of feeling resentment grow until it reaches a boiling point, causing them to turn to alcohol and drugs as…
Successful recovery from addiction is entirely possible for anyone. There is no cure for addiction, but the disease can be managed and sufferers can create lives of happiness, joyousness, and freedom without the use of alcohol and drugs. Many people enter into treatment unable or unwilling to embrace a life of abstinence from alcohol and…
The best way to ensure that one maintains sobriety after treatment is by continued involvement with a long-term recovery programs. There are many abstinence-based recovery programs, and it may be difficult to determine which one will be most effective. Exploring the variety of options available can be an enjoyable experience in early sobriety, and help…
Criticism can quickly put us on the defense. No matter how constructive it may be, we can easily react as if we are being personally attacked. Going with our gut instinct to defend ourselves from criticism can keep us from being able to gain valuable insight into possible flaws. If we can learn to accept…
Meetings are a great way to get involved in the recovery community and benefit from hearing the experience, strength, and hope of others. In early sobriety, it is suggested to attend a meeting every day for the first 90 days. “90 in 90” is a great way to develop the healthy habit of incorporating recovery…
We almost always enter into recovery thinking that we are alone in the feelings that led us into addiction. Perhaps we faced trauma or suffer from mental health conditions and feel as though we are somehow immune from the ability to recover from our addiction. We may see others as being better or worse off…
There is a saying in the rooms of 12-Step recovery fellowships: “Whatever you put before your sobriety, you will lose.” When we entered into the beginning stages of our recovery, we made the decision that we were willing to go to any lengths to achieve victory over alcohol and drugs. Sometimes, however, we begin to…