The holiday season is a time of celebration, connection and gratitude – but for those in recovery, it can also bring unique challenges. Between family gatherings, work parties and the social pressures that often accompany them, maintaining sobriety takes planning, self-awareness and support. With the right strategies, it’s absolutely possible to stay grounded and enjoy the holidays with clarity, confidence and peace of mind. 1. Plan Ahead Preparation is key to staying sober through the … [Read more...] about Staying Sober During the Busy Holiday Season: Tips for Success
Addiction
Five Tips for Maintaining Recovery During the College Semester
College is a time of growth, new experiences and academic challenges – but for students in recovery, it can also present unique stressors. Whether entering college for the first time or returning for another semester, maintaining a focus on recovery is essential for long-term success. Without a solid plan, students may find themselves overwhelmed by the fast-paced environment, social pressures and mental health struggles. Recovery requires structure, support and intentional self-care. Here are … [Read more...] about Five Tips for Maintaining Recovery During the College Semester
How to Talk About Addiction During the Holidays
December is here, which means the holiday season is in full swing. The holidays represent a time of celebration and joy for most families. It is a chance to share time with great company and enjoy time off in a stress-free environment. However, this experience is not universal for everyone. The holiday season can be incredibly stressful for individuals in recovery from alcohol or drug addiction. This time is also stressful for their friends and family members, who are a big part of the recovery … [Read more...] about How to Talk About Addiction During the Holidays
Get Moving: Exercise is Essential in Recovery
When someone first enters into recovery, it can be tough to get motivated. When most of your life revolves around alcohol and not taking care of your body, it can be extremely difficult to break that cycle. Addiction gets us comfortable in an unhealthy cycle of sitting around abusing substances and not moving our bodies. Someone in recovery may have no idea how close they are to feeling better if they just started to get out and move. The start of recovery is difficult. Sobriety seems like an … [Read more...] about Get Moving: Exercise is Essential in Recovery
Keeping Your New Year’s Resolution to Get Sober
The new year provides an opportunity for many people to start fresh, begin eating healthy and start exercising. This is also a great time for those battling addiction to set goals for recovery. One of the best things a person can do is set themselves free from addiction. Getting sober can improve nearly every aspect of a person’s life by repairing long damaged relationships and boosting overall health. Starting the new year is always an exciting time for new beginnings. If you are one of … [Read more...] about Keeping Your New Year’s Resolution to Get Sober
Outdoor Adventure Therapy: Treating Mental Health Issues that Lead to Addiction
Society can sometimes take a binary view on the way that we look at addiction. A person begins doing drugs and alcohol recreationally, which leads to overindulging in drugs or alcohol, which leads to addiction that requires treatment. However, as we continue to better understand mental health issues and the role these issues play in addiction, we being to understand that some people’s relationship with mental health and addiction is much more complicated. The last two years, from the start of … [Read more...] about Outdoor Adventure Therapy: Treating Mental Health Issues that Lead to Addiction
Treating the Brain Disease of Addiction
The mere fact that relapse is more common than uncommon sheds light on how difficult it truly is to break addiction. No one enters rehabilitation with the intention to fail; rather, they enter a treatment program hoping in their heart they can stop using for good. The problem with this approach is addiction doesn’t happen in the heart. It happens in the brain. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a chronic, underlying, largely genetic brain disease, making … [Read more...] about Treating the Brain Disease of Addiction
