There is much debate on the topic of whether addiction is a disease or a choice. From experience, men and women who have successfully recovered from addiction and alcoholism can emphatically say that they had lost the power of choice. Willpower simply was not enough, and recovery meant more than just making the choice not…
DetailsGreen tea is one of the healthiest beverages you can drink. It is packed with nutrients and antioxidants that have proven benefits to the body and mind. It even has properties that can be preventative in the formation of certain diseases like cancer. In early sobriety, our health is beginning to be restored, and by…
DetailsThere is a saying in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous: “A grateful alcoholic never relapses.” This is true for all addictions. When we stay grateful, we find that we are in much less danger of giving up on our sobriety. We stay appreciative of all that we have been given that has helped us along…
DetailsPsychedelics, like LSD, DMT, mescaline, and psilocybin, are a class of hallucinogenic drugs takes because they alter perception and cognition, giving users feelings of heightened and altered consciousness. Psychedelics do not create the same changes in brain chemistry that lead to physical dependence as other drugs, so many people do not believe that addiction to…
DetailsAs men and women suffering from the disease of addiction, we have trouble appreciating the moment. Before we found sobriety, we were consumed by thoughts of the next drink or drug and developed a preoccupation with what the future may or may not bring that we became unaccustomed to living in the present. Early sobriety…
DetailsGoing to treatment is one of the best decisions we can make for ourselves. Some may be worried about the stigma associated with going away for treatment and what they will tell their loved ones. However, we will often be surprised by how understanding others are about our decision and may even find encouragement from…
DetailsEarly in our sobriety, there will be moment when we feel down in the dumps and don’t want to do anything. Lethargy, depression, and anxiety can all be symptoms of Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome, and can keep us from feeling motivated. Many of these symptoms can be manageable, but it’s important to find a sense of…
DetailsMethamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant drug. The effects of methamphetamine are short-lived so many users take the drug in increased frequency and amount overtime, leading to strong physical and psychological dependence. Like other euphorigenic drugs, methamphetamine creates strong surges of dopamine, the brain chemical responsible for motivation, pleasure, and reward. Methamphetamine use causes major…
DetailsWe use all sorts of techniques to keep ourselves from feeling judged for our addictions. We wear masks throughout our day-to-day interactions, doing our best to keep others from seeing the suffering and desperation we feel internally. Eventually, we begin deceiving ourselves and others by playing roles that do not accurately reflect who we truly…
DetailsRelapse is a frightening prospect. We have worked so hard to achieve sobriety and the thought of entering back into the world of addiction seems unthinkable, but it does happen. If we do relapse, we need to keep in mind that it does not mean we are unable to ever recover. Rather, we must look…
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