The recent decriminalization of marijuana in many states has led to many people to the conclusion that marijuana is a safe a non-addicting drug. Although the addictive potential of marijuana is not as great as that of “hard” drugs like cocaine and opioids, marijuana is, in fact, capable of causing physical dependence and addiction. According…
Our decision not to use mind or mood-altering substances is no reason to allow our health to suffer. Physicians have our best interest in mind, but it is our responsibility to openly communicate with them about our disease of addiction. Most medical professionals will be understanding and help guide us toward a solution with minimal…
When a loved one is struggling with addiction or alcoholism, we want to be as supportive as possible. However, sometimes our love can cause us to hurt them rather than help them. Our attempts to support them can turn into enabling behavior, which exacerbates the nature of their addiction. If someone in a state of…
Feelings of depression are very likely during withdrawal and the early stages of sobriety. It is important to speak with a professional about feelings of depression to determine the best course to take to manage the symptoms, as depression can easily lead one toward relapse. Symptoms of depression can occur at any point, but are…
Phencyclidine, commonly referred to as PCP, is a dissociative drug with dangerous mind-altering and hallucinogenic effects. Although popular in the 1980’s, since 2012 PCP has gained a resurgence in popularity. The effects of PCP on the brain and body can cause potentially lethal immediate effect and long-term health complications. PCP was first used in the…
Forgiving those whom we have harmed in the past can be difficult. We look back at the situations that hurt us and are often unable to see past the damage that was caused to us. Holding onto the pain caused by another person can be dangerous in our sobriety, however, and impede us on our…
Many of can feel lost when we enter into a life of sobriety. In the past, our only sense of purpose came from the feeding our addiction. Now that this element has been removed, we must begin searching for a new driving force in our lives. Though our perceived lack of meaning may initially seem…
When a loved one begins falling deeper and deeper into the dangerous life of addiction, we are often left searching for answers as to how to help them embrace a life of sobriety. Our judgement is often clouded by our relationship with the individual and the love we have for them, and we may find…
The way that we react to the situations life presents to us depend entirely on our perspective. If we are pessimistic, a situation will seem much worse than it is. If we approach our day with a sense of optimism, however, the opposite is true. As a result of the suffering and hardships we have…
Prayer and mediation are suggested by 12-Step recovery fellowships as a means of improving “improving our conscious contact with God as we understood Him.” However, prayer and mediation can be effective tools of improving our overall well-being regardless of our chosen recovery program. When we pray and meditate, we are able to let go of…