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If you need proof that sticking with a plan of recovery is a big achievement, here it is: just eight percent of the nearly half of all Americans who usually
What is now proved was once only imagined.” – William Blake Tuesday was the slowest night of the week, yet the parking lot at my AA home group meeting was
“All the things I really like to do are either immoral, illegal or fattening,” the 20th century American critic and writer for The New Yorker, Alexander Woollcott, once joked. He
For every fear that shakes your peace, for every night you feel alone, for every moment, you lose a little hope, there is an angel who whispers: “I am here.”
A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson My mom is going to the hospital. She’s diabetic with
“Clean, as clean as I’ll be” croons the singer Martin Gore in the 1990 Depeche Mode hit — and the sentiment can resonate for those fresh out of rehab for
Lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at you.” – David Brinkley The life skills I learned from AA led me to successful living in sobriety. So
During the holidays, most people think about giving to charities as well as to loved ones. Since the best holiday charities help people help themselves, you may be able to
This month’s theme is about “dual diagnosis,” meaning another mental illness that coexists with a substance use disorder (SUD). The term reportedly describes roughly half of all people in recovery
Transformation literally means going beyond your form”– Wayne Dyer Just like a butterfly, I feel newly emerged from my isolated cocoon. I am no longer darting off to rescue others
Fans of early-twentieth-century American literature often choose this time of year to reread “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry. In that story, a poor housewife sells her only
This month we’ve been looking at important milestones in recovery: sober anniversaries (and finding opportunities to celebrate them) were one; gratitude (and practical ways to cultivate it) were another; and
Did you survive Black Friday? Officially, the “black” in the name refers to “being in the black” economically, because it’s among the biggest business days for retailers and among the
The best way to find yourself is in the service of others.” -Mahatma Gandhi I’ve just joined the service and I’m chock full of patriotic fervor. I’m happily sober and
A sense of connection and connectedness to others helps to heal addiction. That’s a mantra that grounds so much of the therapeutic work we do here at Beach House Center
For a great number of Americans with opiate and/or heroin addictions, the story of how they ended up hooked on painkillers begins with what was originally a legitimate medical need
Awakening is not changing who you are but discarding who you are not.” -Deepak Chopra My last story was rather dark. I can’t put much lightness into a story about
In the post-treatment period, you likely feel better than you have in years. Your cravings for the next fix have dissipated. Your personal energy is renewed. And the days ahead
Willpower is trying very hard not to do something that you want to do very much.” -John Ortberg Somehow I managed to accumulate ten months of sobriety and I felt
In the spirit of “National Recovery Month,” an annual celebration of recovery that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) hosts every September, I’ve been devoting each blog
The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” -Steven Covey I already have a white surrender chip and today I’ve just earned my
Substance abuse is heavily related to stress. That’s a common theme among research findings into the public health dimensions of drug and alcohol addiction in America. It’s also a trend
“A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking.” – Earl Wilson So, now I’m on vacation, scheduled for eight days of detox.
In the spirit of this month’s theme of celebrating recovery, I’ll be featuring four key milestones in recovery that are worth striving for and commemorating in fun, special ways. Broadly
If you’ve been in the sobriety game for a while or even just been to a couple 12 step meetings, you’ve probably heard the phrase higher power thrown around. In
