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The negative consequences of an untreated addiction to drugs or alcohol affect almost every domain of life, finances included. The destructive drug or alcohol seeking behaviors that constitute addiction can:
Knowing how to help and not hurt a loved one struggling with addiction is a common dilemma for family members. The reality is that in the absence of good guidance
For all the progress against prejudice, most of the world still tends to pass quick judgment on whatever—or whoever—makes it uncomfortable. If you’re in addiction recovery, and especially if you
A strong support network is among your best defenses against addiction relapse. And especially if you’re short on supportive family or your relationships there are affected by lingering hard feelings,
Perfectionism is the bane of good health. It puts stress on body and mind, minimizes the importance of self-care, and has been known to drive people to suicide. It reduces
Self-pity makes you your own worst enemy. It turns your focus inward in all the unhealthiest ways. It reinforces the idea that life is perpetually unfair and everything is hopeless.
Loneliness may now be a bigger public health threat than obesity, according to a 2017 report by the American Psychological Association. And for people in recovery, loneliness accompanied by a
Taking good care of your health, by exercising, eating well, getting enough sleep and practicing other self-care measures, can help you feel good. It’s also one of the best things
March may be the healthiest month on the calendar—or at least the most obsessed with health observances. From Brain Awareness Week and Patient Safety Awareness Week, to National Kidney Month
Research shows that relationships of love and connection are key to recovery from drugs and alcohol —hence Beach House’s philosophy that “the opposite of addiction is not sobriety” but “love
Fear of saying “no” is behind many a case of addiction enablement—and many a case of addiction. If your first reaction to most requests is, “I don’t want to, but
If you’ve ever been prescribed a substitute opiate to treat heroin addiction, you were probably warned that the treatment would generate its own form of dependence and must be taken
Even with addiction detox successfully completed, convincing people to trust you again is no overnight task. It’s worst if you have to make a fresh start after being convicted of
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, the month of February seems a fitting time to talk about the challenges of dating after sobriety—starting with this perennial question: when do you
In case you haven’t been in a store lately, Valentine’s Day decorations went up in mid-January: this is the season for expressing love. While you seek the perfect gift for
If you’re single and new to recovery, you may be wondering when you can start dating again. The reigning answer in recovery circles is to wait for at least one
It’s a cute acronym, but a problem no one enjoys having: Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. About 20% of the U.S. population is prone to some level of “winter blues,”
For all the progress made against bigotry, many prejudices are hard to root out. Among those who still feel they suffer constantly from stigma are people with mental illness. Whenever
It’s estimated that 40% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions each year—and just 8% of them keep those resolutions. If you’re newly sober in December–January (or at any other time
If “celebrate my first year of sobriety” is one of your New Year’s resolutions, you may be looking uneasily toward the actual turn of the year. Will your family understand
New Year’s resolutions are often easy to make and even easier to break. Research cited in Forbes found that roughly half of Americans make resolutions and only eight percent actually
Decades of clinical research reveal that “therapeutic alliance”—the strength of the client-therapist bond and collaborative working relationship—is a critical mechanism for positive behavior change: For low-motivated clients in treatment for
Nobody said keeping a New Year’s resolution would be easy— but for many of us, sticking with a healthy new habit, whether it’s regular exercise, eating better, or avoiding drugs
More than 3,000 viewers tuned in for last week’s live Facebook event (December 29) hosted by Beach House Center for Recovery. The final installation for 2017 in our continuing monthly
Staci Katz and Cindy Singer are two moms in our local Florida community who are here to make a difference. We at Beach House are happy to be a part
Welcome to Beach House Center for Recovery’s Monthly Book Club! Each month, a member of our community recommends a book that inspired them, changed their life, helped a loved one
When you’re in early recovery, an important rule of thumb is to avoid situations that involve alcohol. The same is absolutely true if you’ll be spending time with family this
This holiday season may be your first sober in a long time. If that’s the case, you may be facing a common dilemma in early recovery: how to connect with
Tis’ the season for being around loved ones. For most of us, that includes the prospect of family drama, which usually comes in the form of one disagreement or another.
Since it first aired December 8, more than 2,300 viewers have tuned in for the live conversation that Beach House Center for Recovery hosted on its Facebook page, and which
When Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935, the question “What’s your religion?” meant, “Are you Catholic or Protestant?” The only other alternative was Jewish—Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists lived somewhere in
When someone develops a substance addiction, well-meaning family members often become “enablers”—out of denial, pride or fear, they begin “helping” in ways that make it easier for the addiction to
The word “stress” carries so many negative connotations, many people are unaware that medical science recognizes negative and positive forms of stress. We’ve all heard of “distress,” mostly in the
If you try to live by proverbs, you soon learn that life is full of paradoxes. Many hands make light work, but too many cooks spoil the broth. Out of
Welcome to Beach House Center for Recovery’s Monthly Book Club! Each month, a member of our community recommends a book that inspired them, changed their life, helped a loved one
When we talk about having an attitude of gratitude in recovery, what we’re really talking about is the practicing of gratitude. That distinction can be helpful for those of us
With Thanksgiving around the corner, this month we’ve been unpacking the theme of gratitude as it relates to recovery. The physical and mental health benefits of gratitude are numerous, according
If this Thanksgiving will be a first without alcohol for you, you may be thinking that your main concern is making it through the day without a drink. (And, to
When you’ve finally gotten comfortable with the “new normal” of consistent sober living, that’s among the worst times to be hit with a major shock. Nonetheless, no one is guaranteed
If you lived through any of the major hurricanes of August–September 2017, you probably had thoughts like “I never knew what stress was before this!” Sometimes, the stress is worst
The world is full of people who sabotage their own happiness by complaining when little things go wrong and taking for granted all the little things that go right. It’s
Trivia snippet: Nearly a decade before Richard Carlson made “Don’t sweat the small stuff” a household phrase, Michael R. Mantell published the first self-help book with that title. Carlson didn’t
Welcome to Beach House Center for Recovery’s Monthly Book Club! Each month, a member of our community recommends a book that inspired them, changed their life, helped a loved one
It’s September, and education is on everyone’s mind. Just because you’re no longer in school doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take every opportunity to increase your knowledge—especially about topics related to
It’s September, and education is on everyone’s mind. Just because you’re no longer in school doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take every opportunity to increase your knowledge—especially about topics related to
It’s September, and education is on everyone’s mind. Just because you’re no longer in school doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take every opportunity to increase your knowledge—especially about topics related to
It’s September, and education is on everyone’s mind. Just because you’re no longer in school doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take every opportunity to increase your knowledge—especially about topics related to
This September marks the 28th year of “National Recovery Month.” It’s an annual celebration, sponsored every September by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which is meant to
In our celebration of this year’s National Recovery Month and its 2017 theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Strengthen Families and Communities,” I’m reflecting on what it means to be
Only about half of drug or alcohol-addicted family members will seek treatment—but of those who do seek treatment, a “vast majority” will go on to recover, according to a 2006
Healthy friendships are a critical lifeline in recovery from drugs and alcohol. Recent research has revealed, for example, that people with at least five healthy friends—meaning (in the substance abuse
People with supportive friends do better in recovery. So the research shows. But being a friend to someone in recovery can be challenging, precisely because it’s unfamiliar territory for many
Ditching a substance abuse habit often requires shelving unhealthy relationships to make room for new friendships that don’t revolve around drugs or alcohol … but finding sober friends is rarely
Addiction is commonly compared to slavery. Look at the portrait of a human-trafficking victim and you see many parallels to the life of an addict: Constantly anxious or depressed In
After having the stereotypical toxic, codependent, drug using relationship, how could one expect me to ever feel repaired enough to allow myself to fall in love again? I was always
People with substance use disorders are six times more likely than nonusers to commit suicide—and one in three suicides involve someone who was “high.” With or without addiction connections, the
I did not have the slightest clue about what the term, “being sober,” meant when I made the phone call to my two best friends asking them for help. I
Fear can capsize just about anyone’s recovery. In this sense, what Franklin D. Roosevelt once famously said about fear also holds true for anyone in the grip of addiction: “the
Despite increased public sympathy for the problems facing addicts and their loved ones, misconceptions about drug abuse still abound. Here’s the truth about seven popular beliefs. Misconception #1: Alcohol is
Every July 4, Americans celebrate their national freedom and independence. Recovery is about celebrating freedom and independence, too—only in this case, it’s freedom from drugs and alcohol, and the celebration
Many substance-addiction problems begin in high school: the majority of teenagers either use chemical substances at least occasionally, or know someone who does. In fact, many parents breathe a sigh
It took a little longer for me than most people with the disease of addiction to progress and eventually destruct most areas of my life. For a few years after
“No one understands how hard it is for me!” How many times have you said that—before addiction, during addiction, and after detox? Often, it’s too close to the truth. The
Someone once quipped that, “80 percent of success is just showing up.” The same thing could be said about this month’s theme of “mindfulness.” So much of what it means
The U.S. is notorious for allowing minimal vacation time, but even so, it’s a rare person whose routine doesn’t see some changes when summer arrives. Routine being an important factor
What ultimately drives drug or alcohol addiction? In the 1970’s, scientists at Simon Fraser University set out to answer that question, by carrying out a series of “Rat Park” experiments.
My whole life I was the average student. Never once did I think that smoking weed every day was hindering my ability to learn and perform at the highest level
Addiction is not so much defined by an addictive substance, such as drugs or alcohol, as it is by a pattern of behavior in relation to that substance. When we
Coping with workplace addiction triggers can be a big concern for those in recovery. One classic example is the question of how to navigate work happy hour when you’re sober.
There is a very clear link between work stress and anger—especially among men, who are much more likely than women to turn to alcohol when they are feeling angry. When
Join Us for “A Connected Life: “Confronting Recovery with Courage” When: June 12, 2017 at 1:00pm ET Where: The Beach House Facebook Page. What’s the secret to persevering in recovery
Finally, the feelings of fear, insecurity and self-pity had morphed into courage, confidence, and clarity … I’d found that missing piece of the puzzle that I’d been searching for the
Addiction is not a one-person problem. It’s a family problem—and not just because its side effects cause trouble for everybody. Often, the addiction is only the most obvious of many
If recovery were a desert island, and you knew a) you’d be stranded there for a very long time and b) could only bring one thing … what would you
I grew up in a beautiful suburb 30 minutes south of Boston, in an area that most families would dream of raising a family. I had two loving parents in
The trouble with most self-help writing is it minimizes the journey from “I saw what I was doing wrong and committed myself to developing new habits” to “now I’m a
Welcome to Beach House Center for Recovery’s Monthly Book Club! Each month, a member of our community recommends a book that inspired them, changed their life, helped a loved one
Every year 40 pre-selected runners from around the world take part in an insanely grueling 100-mile trail run through the mountains of Tennessee. The so-called Barkley Marathon, which was humorously
Many cases of substance addiction are rooted in perfectionism: unhealthy stress thrives on feelings that you’re never good enough, that everyone is judging you, that life owes you cooperation in
Let’s face it: stress happens. Whether it’s chronic (a rough daily commute) or acute (like a sudden serious accident), stress is a real physiological phenomenon, wears many faces, and can
Welcome to Beach House Center for Recovery’s Monthly Book Club! Each month, a member of our community recommends a book that inspired them, changed their life, helped a loved one
The mockingbird is the state bird of Florida, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. One reason he’s so popular is he can singlehandedly bring the music of a dozen birds to
Expanding Americans’ access to substance abuse treatment is only one piece of addressing addiction as a public health issue. Another very important piece is persuading those who have been able
The 6:00am rush at a busy New York City airport — generally a fairly hectic experience. Standing in a line almost a quarter mile long, I waited nearly 35 minutes
If you violate your post-addiction abstinence—you’ve got plenty of company. The National Institute on Alcohol Use and Alcoholism, for example, reports that chances of making it through the first four
Heavy, chronic drinking damages regions in the brain that govern and modulate our emotional responses. A large body of research has catalogued these emotional effects of alcoholism. For example: Brain
Anger and alcoholism often go hand in hand. On the one hand, problem drinking can begin as a mechanism (however poor) for coping with feelings of anger. On the other
While working through the steps of recovery, you’re bound to come across painful reminders of things you wish you’d done differently. Especially if you spent years in addiction, there will
Alcohol is ubiquitous: you can find it just about anywhere, and it’s the only drug that’s not just widely socially accepted but often heavily encouraged. Over half of all Americans
Welcome to Beach House Center for Recovery’s Monthly Book Club! Each month, a member of our community recommends a book that inspired them, changed their life, helped a loved one
This month’s theme is overcoming addiction … but what does winning in recovery look like? That’s the focus of my next couple blogs, each of which will examine a different
Broken any New Year’s resolutions yet? Even people who regularly moan “But I just can’t change” get caught up in the turn-of-the-year spirit and spend the last week of December
The same “quick fix” attitude that leads people into addiction can make addiction treatment less effective. Every behavioral-health professional has stories of patients who demanded quick cure-all programs, complained that
Someone once said, “When the pain of your pain is greater than the pain of actually changing, then you change.” The same might be said about taking responsibility for your
Winning the battle against addiction is this month’s theme, and so far we’ve looked at two dimensions of what it means to be victorious over drugs and alcohol: first, the
All of recovery, of course, is about starting over. But to start over means even more than giving up drugs, rediscovering a sense of responsibility and making amends to those
The majority of substance abusers retain some elements of “normal” life up to the time of entering rehab. Chances are that, treatment completed, you have a family, home and job
Research has confirmed that connection to a Higher Power is associated with better recovery outcomes for clients in treatment. But connecting to a Higher Power isn’t always an intuitive process
Regular exercise reduces stress and depression as well as improving overall health—and emotional and physical strength are powerful defenses against relapse. But if you have a full-time office job plus
“Logotherapy” is a school of psychotherapy that takes its inspiration from psychiatrist and neurologist Viktor Frankl’s (1905-1997) concept, “will to meaning.” Frankl, a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps, came
If every criticism cuts you to the heart, you may have a TTP (Taking Things Personally) problem. If you assume that everyone who fails to answer your messages is laughing
You think you know the truth. The truth is you know nothing.”– Harlan Coben With enough humility, you are teachable; without it, you’re stuck and you cannot grow. Of all
Relapse is always a danger for recovering addicts, especially in the first 6–12 months after treatment. Complete avoidance, though the best defense against relapse triggers, isn’t always an option, so
Life without purpose is like a body without a soul.” – Tasneem Hameed I’m now in the second week of my new job as a behavioral health tech. I’m finding
Just about anyone in recovery knows that relapse can deal a blow to your self-confidence. Studies have also shown there is a strong link between poor self-confidence and addiction and
The grass isn’t greener on the other side. It’s greener where you water it.” – Anonymous It’s 5:00 in the morning. It’s still dark outside, yet this is my new
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
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