Menu
Part of being in recovery means coming to terms with the impact your behavior has had on your friends and family members. You may be especially worried about how the
The Role of Spirituality in Addiction Recovery In the realm of addiction treatment, it is widely accepted that some degree of spiritual revelation is required in order to achieve lasting
A Change of Scenery: Change Your Environment for Addiction Treatment Addiction is a disease perpetuated by a variety of factors, many of them environmental. It is nearly impossible to leave
As a person in recovery from a substance misuse problem, you must place a priority on protecting your hard-won sobriety. The holiday season can be an especially challenging period for
Motivational quotes are an excellent tool for those on the long and perilous road to recovery. Unlike longer pieces of literature, they lend themselves to easy memorization and application, activating
Withdrawal is an inescapable part of overcoming dependence or addiction to alcohol or drugs. This incontrovertible fact likely deters many individuals struggling with addiction who might otherwise enter treatment. Yet,
The ever-evolving science of addiction treatment has produced a wide variety of recovery techniques suited to a diversity of clients. Although no two substance abuse treatment facilities offer exactly the
“Alcoholic” is a term used to describe someone suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD)— a medical and psychiatric condition defined by a compulsion and inability to control excessive drinking. In
The personal and societal impact of addiction is unparalleled. According to the National Survey on Drug Health and Use (NSDUH), approximately 22 million Americans aged 12 and older suffered from
Depression is a garden-variety mental illness in this country and worldwide. The condition accounts for roughly 10 percent of physician office visits in the U.S., according to the Centers for
In the rapidly expanding universe of addiction, success stories always offer a welcome light through a dark and seemingly endless tunnel. Overcoming addiction to any substance is, at best, difficult—
Women’s mental health has become a source of growing concern in this country, as women’s rates of alcoholism and other drug addictions, especially heroin and opiates, continue to rise at
Those considering treatment for a drinking problem naturally may wonder about the success rate of alcohol recovery as it relates to their own prospects for finding freedom from the drug.
Before attempting alcohol detox, there are some life-saving facts that you need to know— including why medically supervised withdrawal is an imperative for chronic heavy drinkers. Put on your alcohol
Although they may make up half the general population (official estimates range from 26 to 50 percent), introverts often feel like a second-class minority. The American ideal is the gregarious,
Most chemical addictions begin with attempts to “self-medicate” negative feelings—feelings that life is less than it was meant to be. With or without accompanying addictions, that problem is extremely common.
The decision you’ve made to go to rehab for problems with drugs or alcohol no doubt took a great deal of thought, courage and determination. Now that you’re about to
Whether they are active duty or retired, returning military personnel experience significantly higher rates of alcohol abuse than the general U.S. population. Men and women in the military also have
The popular image of a soldier (depending on whether you believe in the cause they’re fighting for) is either “fearless, tough, unyielding” or “brutal, insensitive, ruthless.” In either case, the
The teenage years present an often-tumultuous period of growth and development. Learning how to effectively cope with raging hormones, conflicting emotions, rapid or delayed physical and emotional growth, peer pressure,
Initially, it may seem like a stretch to consider how treatment for a drug or alcohol problem could actually benefit your future career. After all, deliberations about how 30-plus days
Families considering treatment for a loved one with addiction can benefit from knowing that the gold standard for treating substance use disorders (SUDs) involving alcohol or drugs is dual diagnosis
Looking forward to your life in recovery post-rehab may fill you with simultaneously conflicting emotions of hope and fear. Being new to sobriety means you will be vulnerable to life’s
When you first get clean from drugs, you experience a great sense of relief, even euphoria. For a while, it feels as though you will never have another problem. That
If you or your loved one has begun treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, or a dual diagnosis of substance use disorder and mental health issue, or a process addiction,
What’s next for you after treatment for drug and alcohol abuse? Whether you’re now about to complete residential or inpatient treatment to overcome your addiction or are going to transition
Social isolation and loneliness may be a bigger threat to public health and wellness than even obesity, according to a 2017 press release from the American Psychological Association (APA). As
Lacking follow-up treatment or post-discharge aftercare services contributes to a high rate of relapse in the first year after treatment. Yet, as research has found, enhanced post-treatment care, such as
The best addiction-recovery journey is one that involves, not just the person struggling with the actual addiction, but his or her entire family. Whatever the specific details of the situation,
Mindfulness-based therapies are behavioral interventions for addiction and other health conditions that apply elements of mindfulness meditation to help make healthy habits stick and improve overall wellness. Often, mindfulness-based therapies
The growing consensus in the field of substance abuse treatment is that addiction is a disease of alienation, and that love and connection are central to successful recovery. With Valentine’s
True addiction recovery means more than losing immediate physical cravings: it implies a long-term healthy life. The typical recovery path has four stages: Acute detox or withdrawal: the physical process
There’s a lot to think about and put into practice when you start on the path to recovery from addiction. If you’ve gone through professional treatment, you’ve likely gotten quite
What’s key to keeping a resolution to stay sober in 2018? The question is never more relevant than at the start of 2018 and another New Year. Getting sober—detox—is a
Over roughly the last decade, the science of behavior change has become a hot topic of research in the medical field— and it is easy to see why. The more
Following the commercial success of Sonja Lyubomirsky’s 2007 book, The How of Happiness, happiness and other emotions have gained the dignified status of being serious scientific matters—and perhaps the key
What’s one ingredient that’s essential to a positive recovery outcome? Get the answer and related tools here. Once the decision is made to enter treatment to overcome drug or alcohol
When holidays approach, instead of facing them with dread because you aren’t confident you can handle festive gatherings, office parties and other events without jeopardizing your recovery, be a little
Making it through the holidays without a precipitous slide into relapse is never far from the minds of those in recovery. The earlier the stage of recovery, the more vulnerable
Will you be celebrating the holidays with family this year? If so, learn what three addiction triggers to watch for—and, how to manage them with your family’s help. Your family
Quality of life is something everyone wants, but few find easy to describe. Even professional researchers agree only that it touches most life circumstances and is based on personal perceptions
Addiction experts now know that gratitude can improve treatment outcomes for substance abuse. But there is another invaluable way in which gratitude can boost your long-term recovery. Gratitude can strengthen
Researchers in recent years have sought to understand the link between gratitude and health. Specifically, they have wanted to know whether a practice of giving thanks yields positive health benefits
A growing body of research has revealed that certain factors correlate with positive recovery outcomes. What are these biggest predictors of success in recovery? This article provides an overview based
“Love is all you need,” went the Beatles hit. Now, there’s scientific evidence to vouch for it. Discover why love and connection are an integral part of recovery from addiction,
The added value of treatment and recovery to families and communities can be hard to measure—especially when obscured by more sensationalist headlines about today’s deadly opiate epidemic. That’s why we
What’s one factor that can make or break your recovery? Learn what it is, and how to have more of it in your life. Your friends can be instrumental to
It’s commonly a contributor to addiction and an enemy to recovery. Discover what it is and how to beat it: The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes in its official
Family support can be critical to successful recovery outcomes—but how do you find the encouragement you need when your family isn’t supportive or when you don’t have any family at
There’s no exact science to finding work-life balance when you’re in recovery—but that doesn’t mean a less stressed, more focused and self-disciplined version of you isn’t within reach. Get some
Guilt can be a common obstacle in recovery, but feeling badly over what you have done or failed to do in the past doesn’t have to lead to relapse or
When can I expect to recover? For those considering treatment for a drug or alcohol problem, the answer may be “sooner than you think.” Discover why based on the latest
More of this emotion can benefit your health and boost your recovery … Discover what it is and how to get more of it in your everyday life: “Awe” is
A happy hour without booze can seem unfathomable if you’re a working professional in recovery. Then again, so can the prospect of avoiding happy hour altogether. Check out these tips
Addiction experts say sticking with recovery really pays off. Explore how, and get the secret to persevering: Sticking with recovery—perseverance—can improve your chances of freedom from addiction, according to experts.
Poor family communications are a frequent contributing factor in addiction and relapse. A household including one or more people who abuse drugs or alcohol is typically saturated in untruthfulness, secrecy,
Students who have managed to stay sober in college for months may find themselves dreading new dangers as spring break approaches. Binge drinking is a feature of many spring break
Spirituality is an important component of recovery from drugs and alcohol. Spiritual practices like gratitude, among others, have also been proven to support overall health and wellbeing. In this sense,
Overcoming addiction is not easy, but thanks to innovations in science and the supports we now know to be effective for sustaining sobriety, successful recovery can be a reality —
Love ever after, despite all difficulties, is a consoling concept and does, in many instances, exist. In the best of times, a couple’s relationship goes through ups and downs, sometimes
Valentine’s Day is a special event for many couples, although the candy, flowers and intimate dinners may seem a little out of place when the other half of the duo
“Spirituality” is a term that has been defined in various ways and as a phenomenon can differ from one person to another. In its most basic sense, spirituality refers to
The start of the New Year is an excellent opportunity to take a good look at your recovery plan and add some things to your routine to help keep you
Relapse, or the recurrence of drug or alcohol addiction following a period of remission or recovery, is common among those with diagnosed substance use disorders (SUDs). Rates of relapse for
Recovery is about a lot of firsts: first sober date, first sober job, first sober holiday, and on and on. Some sober milestones—for example, one month without a drink—can be
Celebrating the holidays can be challenging for those new to life in recovery. Both the internal and external pressures to drink can be strong at this time of year. Such
Christmas and the holidays can be a stressful time of year for anybody, but for those in recovery from drugs or alcohol (especially in early recovery), this reality can be
Finding holiday cheer isn’t always easy for those in recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs) who also suffer from a dual diagnosis known as seasonal affective disorder, also known as
“Mindfulness” is an approach to meditation that has been shown to aid in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. This article will educate readers on mindfulness and what recent research
The decision regarding which drug or alcohol rehab setting will be right for you—inpatient vs. outpatient—can be a difficult one. Clients and their families can feel insufficiently equipped to choose
A “dual diagnosis” or “co-occurring disorder” (COD) denotes the coexistence of another diagnosable mental condition in those with a substance use disorder (SUD). The 2014 “National Survey on Drug Use
Recovery from a drug or alcohol addiction is a journey, destination and way of life. It’s also a big achievement, one that consists of many smaller but nonetheless significant accomplishments.
“Stigma” is a common phenomenon with drug or alcohol addiction. The term stigma refers to the negative, often false stereotyping and discrimination that people with substance use disorders (SUDs) receive,
Drug and alcohol addiction is startlingly common in this country. So is the pervasive and persistent stigma of substance abuse, which assigns negative, often false stereotypes to people who suffer
Summer is high season for family vacations, but for those in early recovery and/or just out of rehab, the prospect of vacationing with other family members while newly sober can
A big challenge in early sobriety is learning how to become comfortable with discomfort. The misconception is that if it’s not comfortable, there must be something wrong—but this is not
“No man is an island,” the author Ernest Hemingway once observed. The same might be said of those who struggle with addiction: one person’s substance abuse problem affects those around
Staying sober in college when you’re also in recovery can seem like an intimidating prospect. Since time immemorial, after all, college campuses have been petri dishes crawling with young adult
Alcoholics Anonymous founder Bill W. had long suffered from severe depression, but that promptly ended when he began taking significant doses of certain food nutrients under the personal direction of
Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are as much a family disease as an individual struggle and coping with alcoholism in the family can be extremely difficult for everyone involved. Those who
Maybe you’ve always been a religious person, devoted to your faith. Or perhaps you never, or only occasionally, go to church. Either way, spirituality can help guide you in your
Attending a rehabilitation program is a critical first step in addiction treatment, but it is just that—a first step. True recovery from addiction is a life-long process, and the longest
You’ve made the important decision to seek treatment for your substance abuse problem. Congratulations—this is a critical first step in your recovery. As you prepare, you’re probably wondering, how long
Successfully completing a treatment program for a drug or alcohol addiction is a huge milestone. With a fresh lease on life, you may feel confident and ready to take on
Rehabilitation is one of the most important steps in the recovery process, but it’s only the first of many. Sobriety is something that needs to be worked on every day
Your loved one just made the courageous decision to enter rehabilitation for their addiction. While that’s ultimately an important step toward their new life free of substances, it can leave
