Recovering from an addiction could quite possibly be the hardest thing you ever do in your life. Everyday, it could be draining, discouraging, and depressing. It could make you long to go back to using, and to throw caution to the wind. With the right attitude, however, this won’t be your experience. Research indicates that…
Human beings are notorious for finding ways to justify friendships, even when it makes no rational sense for them to do so. In fact, studies indicate that individuals are more apt to remain in toxic friendships than almost any other sort of human relationship there is (this includes family relationships, romantic relationships, and the like.)…
While using drugs or alcohol, emotions often take a backseat to what seems to be one overarching concern: getting the next fix. However, after treatment begins and the recovery process is initiated, chances are that many of latent feelings and emotions that were suppressed during your addiction will come roaring back. It is important to…
For one who has suffered from drug or alcohol abuse, the first step to recovery is seeking professional treatment, as addiction recovery centers have the resources and expertise to guide you to the best possible treatment plans. After initial treatment though, the heat is on you to remain focused and diligent until you’re fully recovered.…
Just like with everything, recovery is a step-by-step process that is at its most efficient when it can be tracked and monitored. Setting realistic goals for your recovery and celebrating milestones of your journey will allow you to reflect on progress and make changes that will help you enormously down the road! Studies indicate that…
We strive for feelings of peace and serenity in our recovery. When we are at ease with ourselves and the outside world, we don’t feel the familiar compulsion to use alcohol and drugs because we no longer need to “fix” anything in our lives. Meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, a 12-Step recovery fellowship, open each meeting…
“A grateful alcoholic never relapses” is a common saying in the recovery community that has been shown to be true. Approaching each day with a sense of appreciation puts us in much less danger of ruminating on the bad things in our lives and helps us maintain our sobriety. Here are three tips to practice…
Recovery is often a complete upheaval of our life. Our addictions consumed us and determined nearly every aspect of our daily lives. It is only natural that when we give up what was once such an integral part of our life, our subconscious still remembers the familiar feeling of being intoxicated and we have dreams…
Addiction can make us lose our self-confidence and self-worth. We get so caught up in our self-identification as hopeless drug addicts and alcoholics that we begin to play the role of the victim. Often time, the resulting depression causes us to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol, leading us to fall deeper and deeper into our…
Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices…