As 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…
Psychedelics, 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…
Early 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…
Going 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…
We 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…
Methamphetamine 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…
When we engage in our recovery program, we find it helpful to go through a process of cleaning up our past mistakes. We come to understand our fault in situations in which we were harmed or harmed others, and become willing to go to any lengths to right our past transgressions. However, there is quite…
Relapse 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…
Many of us fell so deeply into the cycle of addiction that we never had the opportunity to face the world successfully. We retreated into the illusion of comfort provided by drugs and alcohol and, as a result, remained in a state of arrested emotional development. Upon achieving sobriety, however, we found that we had…
It is sometimes easier to approach 12 Step recovery programs without any specific religious ideas because it allows one to be more open to the idea of a personal conception of a higher power. However, many people already have deeply held beliefs about God as a result of their religious beliefs. Fortunately, 12 Step Recovery…