Many men and women suffering from addiction also have co-occurring mental disorders such as depression. If an individual is taking an antidepressant, using drugs such as MDMA, DMT, Kratom, and other substances that boost serotonin, can lead to a dangerous health complication called serotonin syndrome. Without an antidepressant, serotonin syndrome may also develop from taking…
Everyone needs a sense of purpose if they are to feel fulfilled in life. In active addiction, we often struggled to grasp any sense of purpose or meaning, aside from the incessant and uncontrollable desire for intoxication. As we continue on the path of recovery, we go through a process of personal and spiritual development.…
The decision to seek help is the single greatest decision we have made in our lives. Many of us were averse to reaching out for help because it meant we had to open up about our problems with drugs and alcohol or address shameful behavior that we would rather ignore. We soon realized that reaching…
Developing healthy sleep patterns is incredibly important to our mental and physical health in sobriety. We rarely exercised healthy sleep practices in active addiction. In sobriety, however, we can begin to improve our sleep hygiene and become more motivated, energetic, and rested throughout the day. Sleep hygiene refers to a collection of habits and practices…
The environment one lives in plays a major role in their development of addiction. Addiction arises from a combination of both genetic and environmental factors, but environment can play a major role in whether the genetic trait is activated. Nobody is doomed to become addicted, but environmental factors can be a major determining factor. Environmental…
There is something toxic about resentment. When we hang onto our anger, it festers inside of us and comes out in all sorts of negative ways. Many men and women in recovery have had the experience of feeling resentment grow until it reaches a boiling point, causing them to turn to alcohol and drugs as…
Every day is a day when we must reaffirm our commitment to sobriety. Many recovery programs incorporate daily activities, such as prayer and meditation, that allow us to reestablish a connection with a higher power of our own conception to guide us through the day with happiness, joyousness, and freedom. This way, we are much…
Successful recovery from addiction is entirely possible for anyone. There is no cure for addiction, but the disease can be managed and sufferers can create lives of happiness, joyousness, and freedom without the use of alcohol and drugs. Many people enter into treatment unable or unwilling to embrace a life of abstinence from alcohol and…
Relapse is not a necessary part of recovery, but it is very common. Many people require several attempts at sobriety before finally being able to overcome addiction and alcoholism. The most important thing to know about relapse is that it is not a sign of failure. Relapse simply means that one must summon the courage…
For many men and women attempting to overcome addiction and alcoholism, relapse is a part of their recovery journey. However, this does not mean that relapse is a necessary part of addiction recovery. Although relapse is common, with enough open-mindedness, honesty, and willingness, it is entirely possible to one to overcome addiction without relapsing at…