It’s no secret that most people new to recovery lack major life skills. Learning these is part of treatment and recovery. You’re not expected to know anything when you get to recovery. The only requirement for recovery is a desire for change. The rest will come in time. One of the primary traits of…
People suffering from addiction have likely lost a lot. Substance abuse destroys an endless list of things including relationships, hopes, and dreams. It tears lives apart and makes people forget who they once were. Making the decision to get clean and sober can completely change the direction of your life. People in the depths…
In active addiction, our world became smaller and smaller as we retreated into isolation, shutting out family and friends. We let go of the hobbies and activities we once enjoyed. It’s often said that in the beginning, our drinking and drugging was fun; then it was some fun, and at the end, no fun. Some…
How can someone avoid addiction relapse? By knowing and planning for the stages of relapse: emotional, mental, and physical. Self-care is the biggest step toward emotional healing in addiction recovery. It may sound like jargon, but it’s actually a meticulous therapeutic process made up of lots of small, calculated steps. When you’re stressed, frustration, or…
Addiction and mental health issues usually go together. Someone suffering from an addiction is twice as likely to suffer from at least one more mental health issue; and vice versa. Co-occurring disorders are now a common diagnosis in the medical field; the recognition is somewhat new but undeniably important. If a person with depression and…
Addiction treatment has made many strides over the last decades. Many evidence-based treatment options have proven to be effective in helping people overcome addiction. Cognitive-behavioral therapy was discovered in the 1960s as a way for doctors to help patients change their ways of thinking. During the session, doctors would help turn negative thoughts and behaviors…