When I got sober, one of the things I looked most forward to was that I wouldn’t have to lie to anyone anymore. What I didn’t count on was that lying became a habit, almost an addiction unto itself. I realized that while I had been lying to preserve my habit, keep loved ones around,…
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Fighting your way out of addiction is difficult, physically and mentally. Unfortunately, long after your chemical dependence is gone, you will still have to face the emotional and mental scars left by your addiction. Substance abuse is damaging to the brain, and while using we often make irrational and selfish choices that hurt us, our…
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The first time I heard the term, self-compassion, I was just a few weeks into my recovery. The therapist I was seeing while in treatment brought it up during one of our sessions. She noticed that I was carrying around a lot of guilt because of my addiction. Our society attaches great importance on being…
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Carfentanil is a relatively new drug out on the streets, but it has been making the news a lot in a short time. The risks it poses is cause for great concern. In fact, it is more potent than heroin, fentanyl and morphine, which has many worried about the dangers for anyone looking to buy…
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When I first began my recovery, I met a lot of people who had simply switched from one addiction to another. Giving up drugs and alcohol often led them to begin smoking cigarettes or eating excessively. Since I was aware of this early on, I thought I didn’t have anything to worry about. I was…
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Anger is one of the most common reasons we relapse after a period of sobriety. When overcome with anger, we are much less able to make good decisions, because we are acting out of emotion instead of rational thought. In order to protect my sobriety, I had to take steps to control my anger. Most…
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Boundaries are an important part of any relationship, whether with friends, family, or a partner, but when the other person is an addict, they become crucial to the survival of the relationship. Learning to set healthy boundaries with an addict will enable you to move on with your life without taking responsibility for their actions,…
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Nutrition is largely accepted by dietitians and nutritionists as a powerful tool for helping addicts to recover from substance abuse, but this information is not common knowledge. Most substance use disorders are intrinsically linked to unhealthy habits and bodily harm, as substances not only cause direct damage to the brain and the body, but also…
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Whether you’ve been clean or sober for weeks, months, or years, a relapse can hurt. Most of us immediately judge ourselves and may be depressed, angry, and unmotivated about our recovery prospects. However, while a relapse is not ideal, it is important to recognize that you are not the only one who has experienced this…
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Loving an addict is both exciting and heartbreaking. Being with them is like having relationship with two different people. When they have their drug of choice, they are content and happy, but when they are busy chasing it, you’d better get out of the way. They will tell you they love you while they are…
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