Forgiving those whom we have harmed in the past can be difficult. We look back at the situations that hurt us and are often unable to see past the damage that was caused to us. Holding onto the pain caused by another person can be dangerous in our sobriety, however, and impede us on our…
Phencyclidine, commonly referred to as PCP, is a dissociative drug with dangerous mind-altering and hallucinogenic effects. Although popular in the 1980’s, since 2012 PCP has gained a resurgence in popularity. The effects of PCP on the brain and body can cause potentially lethal immediate effect and long-term health complications. PCP was first used in the…
Many of can feel lost when we enter into a life of sobriety. In the past, our only sense of purpose came from the feeding our addiction. Now that this element has been removed, we must begin searching for a new driving force in our lives. Though our perceived lack of meaning may initially seem…
When a loved one begins falling deeper and deeper into the dangerous life of addiction, we are often left searching for answers as to how to help them embrace a life of sobriety. Our judgement is often clouded by our relationship with the individual and the love we have for them, and we may find…
The way that we react to the situations life presents to us depend entirely on our perspective. If we are pessimistic, a situation will seem much worse than it is. If we approach our day with a sense of optimism, however, the opposite is true. As a result of the suffering and hardships we have…
Prayer and mediation are suggested by 12-Step recovery fellowships as a means of improving “improving our conscious contact with God as we understood Him.” However, prayer and mediation can be effective tools of improving our overall well-being regardless of our chosen recovery program. When we pray and meditate, we are able to let go of…
Many 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…
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…
The 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…
Inhalants, 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…