12-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…
If 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…
Recovery 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…
Recovering 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…
Many 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…
The 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…
They 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…
The 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…
Getting back on your feet following addiction takes time. Learning to manage work stress after your coping mechanism was taken away can be frustrating and downright confusing. Building good strategies for managing stress at work will help you find balance in recovery. Manage Work Stress Better with These Tips Engage Co-Workers Having friends at work…
There is a definite connection between addictions and a part of the brain that is impacted by addiction called the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC). This part of the brain integrates conflict and pain with thoughts and behaviors. Learn more about why the ACC can create some challenges for people with addiction. Brain-Body Connection The ACC…