Going to treatment is one of the best decisions we can make for ourselves. Some may be worried about the stigma associated with going away for treatment and what they will tell their loved ones. However, we will often be surprised by how understanding others are about our decision and may even find encouragement from…
DetailsEarly in our sobriety, there will be moment when we feel down in the dumps and don’t want to do anything. Lethargy, depression, and anxiety can all be symptoms of Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome, and can keep us from feeling motivated. Many of these symptoms can be manageable, but it’s important to find a sense of…
DetailsMethamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant drug. The effects of methamphetamine are short-lived so many users take the drug in increased frequency and amount overtime, leading to strong physical and psychological dependence. Like other euphorigenic drugs, methamphetamine creates strong surges of dopamine, the brain chemical responsible for motivation, pleasure, and reward. Methamphetamine use causes major…
DetailsWe use all sorts of techniques to keep ourselves from feeling judged for our addictions. We wear masks throughout our day-to-day interactions, doing our best to keep others from seeing the suffering and desperation we feel internally. Eventually, we begin deceiving ourselves and others by playing roles that do not accurately reflect who we truly…
DetailsRelapse is a frightening prospect. We have worked so hard to achieve sobriety and the thought of entering back into the world of addiction seems unthinkable, but it does happen. If we do relapse, we need to keep in mind that it does not mean we are unable to ever recover. Rather, we must look…
DetailsWhen we engage in our recovery program, we find it helpful to go through a process of cleaning up our past mistakes. We come to understand our fault in situations in which we were harmed or harmed others, and become willing to go to any lengths to right our past transgressions. However, there is quite…
DetailsMany of us fell so deeply into the cycle of addiction that we never had the opportunity to face the world successfully. We retreated into the illusion of comfort provided by drugs and alcohol and, as a result, remained in a state of arrested emotional development. Upon achieving sobriety, however, we found that we had…
DetailsWe can’t be happy all the time. We can, however, allow ourselves to maintain a positive outlook by making an effort to let go of negativity. It’s easy to get caught up in bad feelings, especially in early sobriety when our emotions tend to be heightened. When we break the cycle of pessimism and stay…
DetailsIt is sometimes easier to approach 12 Step recovery programs without any specific religious ideas because it allows one to be more open to the idea of a personal conception of a higher power. However, many people already have deeply held beliefs about God as a result of their religious beliefs. Fortunately, 12 Step Recovery…
DetailsAddiction is recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as Substance Use Disorders. These disorders vary based on the specific substance one is using, as well as the severity of the problem. The current edition of the DSM no longer uses the terms “substance abuse” and “substance dependence.” Rather,…
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