Treatment is a time to develop the tools necessary to maintain sobriety when one reenters the “real world”. When we leave treatment, we are not cured of addiction. We are at the beginning phase of entering into a lifetime of sobriety and personal growth, free from the constraints of addiction. Our chances of maintaining our…
DetailsMany of us develop routines in our recovery that keep us feeling safe and protected from anything that could potentially put our sobriety at risk. While these habits are wonderful for us, we can’t allow our lives to be controlled by such strict adherence to routine. There is an entire beautiful world out there, and…
DetailsInhalants, as the name suggest, are a group of drugs that are inhaled by user to achieve a high. These drugs are capable of doing tremendous damage to the brain and body, the effects of which can be far worse than many “hard” drugs. The fact that these drugs are legal to buy make greatly…
DetailsThe Serenity Prayer— “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.” — is used to open up most 12-Step fellowship meetings. In recovery, we strive for a state of serenity in our sobriety so that we do not…
DetailsEveryone will have to face strong emotional experiences in recovery that can feel like a test to their sobriety. The unfortunate reality is that, because addiction is a fatal and progressive disease, men and women in the recovery community are very likely to experience the loss of a friend or loved one to the disease…
DetailsOne of the first steps toward entering into a life of sobriety is detoxifying our bodies of any remnants of drugs or alcohol. The process is uncomfortable, but a happy future in sobriety it waiting for us at the end. Determining how long it will take for acute symptoms of withdrawal to diminish is difficult,…
DetailsOne of the greatest gifts of recovery is the ability to experience a spiritual awakening. The experience, although powerful, can easily be forgotten or diminished in our memory overtime. A spiritual awakening must be nurtured and maintained through a process of continuous spiritual growth if we are to stay happy, joyous, and free in our…
DetailsCoping skills are the behavior patterns we exhibit when faced with problems. For most people suffering from the disease of addiction, their only way of coping with external stressors was by using drugs or alcohol. In sobriety, however, it is imperative that we develop healthy mechanisms and behaviors to handle these stressors. Anxiety and fear…
DetailsThere are many spiritual books that, although not necessarily related to recovery or sobriety, have found popularity among men and women in the recovery community. These books are no replacement for the main texts used by your chosen recovery fellowship, but can be helpful in gaining a better understanding and connection with the spiritual aspects…
DetailsAlcoholism is a complex disease that encompasses the mind, body, and spirit. It affects every aspect of our life and those around us, damaging our relationships and well-being at every level. Acceptance of the disease is difficult, and many people believe that, although their lives are no longer manageable as a result of their drinking,…
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