The amends-making process can be difficult to navigate. We embark upon a mission to clean the wreckage of our past and set things right, but sometimes we find that we are unable to directly communicate with those whom we have hurt. Whatever the reason may be, we still must find a way to clean the…
Details12-Step recovery programs often refer to the necessity of a spiritual awakening or experience to maintain long-term sobriety. Carl Jung, as quoted in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, described the nature and importance of a spiritual awakening, explaining that “once in a while, alcoholics have had what are called vital spiritual experiences. To me…
DetailsIf you just want to be happy in recovery, it may be closer than you think. Joyful living is not just for people who are living a happy, carefree life without worry. It is how a person turns around a miserable circumstance into something beautiful. Recovery teaches you that sobriety is possible and joy is…
DetailsRecovery should never be a lonely endeavor. There are, however, suggestions from the recovery community concerning the development of romantic relationships in early sobriety. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous does not discuss this topic, telling us only that “we do not want to be the arbiters of anyone’s sex conduct”. The recommendations come instead…
DetailsRecovering from relapse is hard, but you can definitely beat it by not letting it get you down. The road to recovery never ends but the more familiar you become with recovery, the easier it becomes to keep moving forward. Relapse is extremely prominent in recovery but so is moving past it to be successful…
DetailsMany of our addictions consisted of, or began with, prescription medication abuse. Many people in recovery fear that taking doctor-prescribed medications may be putting their sobriety at risk. There is no simple answer as to whether a person in recovery should or should not take medications prescribed by a doctor. The decision depends on the…
DetailsAddiction recovery impacts men differently than women for many reasons. Substances affect everyone differently and the way men handle addiction is also different. For many decades, people assumed substance abuse problems were exclusive to men but there are unique challenges facing men with addiction. Find out what they are and how men can push past…
DetailsThe dangers of relapse are apparent to nearly everyone in the recovery community. We have gone through the pain of detox, taken steps forward in our lives and recovery, and experienced the joys of sobriety. To lose our newfound sobriety and enter back into the state of desperation and chaos of addiction is a fear…
DetailsThey say that a grateful alcoholic never relapses. In early recovery, it’s easy to lose touch with all the things we have gained through sobriety. Showing gratitude everyday helps us stay mindful of the new life that we have been given, allowing us to maintain an awareness of why we made the decision to enter…
DetailsThe model of a successful entrepreneur is all about working hard, building a business and putting in long hours to make it go. Addictions, however, can become part of the mix due to the culture of entrepreneurship which includes long hours, stress and coping with how to keep a business going. Entrepreneurship is both emotionally…
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