There is no skirting around the issue that words like “God” and “Higher Power” are commonplace in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. It’s easy for a newcomer to assume that A.A. is composed of religious men and women, and that a belief in a religious deity is a core component of the program. This, however, is a…
After the perils of detox, a person early in sobriety may still have feelings of depression, anxiety, insomnia, loss of interest in things they previously enjoyed, and/or an inability to concentrate. These problems, coupled with strong drug cravings, may be overwhelming to someone early in sobriety, but they do get better over time. According to…
Self-Care Our goal in recovery is to get a new lease on life as sober, happy individuals. It can be easy in early recovery to develop routines around our recovery that take up nearly all of our time. Recovery should remain at the forefront of our minds, but whenever we dedicate all of our time…
Many men and women entering a life of sobriety are not accustomed to having fun without the use of alcohol or drugs. For many of us, our sole source of pleasure was derived from substances and we cannot imagine ever experiencing the same sense of joy without being under the influence. Many of us forget,…
The 12th Step of Alcoholics Anonymous states: “Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs”. We are encouraged to carry these spiritual principles with us through our daily lives. The core principles of the program…
Millions of Americans struggle with addiction with family members falling right behind. When you experience addiction, your family comes along for the ride. It is important to have some guidelines when dealing with a loved one who has addiction because it is a difficult situation to cope with alone. Families can do a great deal…
Pete Doherty, singer of The Libertines and Babyshambles, reflected on the beginnings of his heroin addiction in a 2014 Independent article. “To me,” he said, “it wasn’t a dirty street drug, it was this magic potion I read about. It was Kubla Khan, Thomas DeQuincy, Oscar Wilde: it was an aspect of their world that…
Detoxifying the body of drugs and alcohol is the first major step a person can take toward recovery. The process is often painful, frightening, and overwhelming. Many men and women struggling with addiction choose to enter treatment facilities that provide assistance during this period. Some, on the other hand, attempt to detox at home without…
The first step on the path toward sobriety is detoxifying the body of drugs and alcohol. Healing can only begin once our system has been purged of any remnants of substances. The process can be overwhelming and painful. Without proper medical assistance through detoxification, it can cause an array of health risks or even death.…
Recovery is about the mind and body-eating healthy foods to replenish the physical body but help the brain feel restored. Addiction strips nutrients from the body which makes proper nutrition all the more important. A healthy diet, however, may not be on your radar when you have so many other things on your mind. It…