One of our greatest fears in sobriety is going back to the chaos and pain of life in active addiction. We may be aware of the potential to achieve a happy, joyous, and free life in sobriety, but there are moments when we want the temporary relief provided by drugs and alcohol. There is no…
The relationship between sponsor and sponsee if one of immense trust. We take into account a variety of factors before choosing someone with whom we will develop this relationship. However, there may come a time on our journey when we feel that we are no longer growing in our sober lives, or we may meet…
One of the core components of 12-Step recovery is the idea that we must work with another addict or alcoholic to maintain sobriety. Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, realized early in his sobriety that his cravings for alcohol seemed to dissipate when he turned his attention to helping another person suffering from alcoholism. Alcoholics…
There is a common stereotype of creative individuals as dark and brooding, hunched over a desk or canvas. The reality, however, is that creative expression actually makes us happier. The act of expressing that which we cannot articulate opens us up to a new method of communication, allowing us to show our inner thoughts and…
Many men and women enter into recovery programs with the belief that, if they can break their addiction to their specific drug of choice, they will still be able to drink or even use other drugs that they felt they didn’t have a problem with. The disease of addiction, however, is not dependent on our…
The 12th step of Alcoholics Anonymous states: “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs”. As men and women who have experiences the joys of sobriety, we choose to share our experience, strength, and hope with…
History is rife with stories of great artists deeply entrenched in drug or alcohol addiction. Many men and women attempt to use substances as means of boosting their creativity, but research has shown that drug-use does not enhance creativity, rather, it diminishes our ability for creative thought. Drugs rewire our brains, an experience that…
Many men and women who choose to enter into a life of sobriety believe that Alcoholics Anonymous is a program solely for those who have problems with alcohol. At face-value, this makes sense, and some people in the recovery community firmly believe that Alcoholics Anonymous is for treating the disease of alcoholism, which Narcotics Anonymous…
Early sobriety can feel overwhelming at times. We’ve embarked upon a new life-path, uncertain of what the future holds. Our emotions are heightened, our brains are beginning to heal, and finally, we begin to feel the weight of the external stressors that we ignored in our addiction. Stress, however, can be manageable with a few…
Addiction recovery is a process that goes on long after treatment. Once the program ends, the true work begins. Finding ways to implement what you learned into healthy, sustainable routines will keep you thinking positive and reduce risk of relapse. Here are some benefits of volunteering in recovery from addiction. Activity Increases Volunteering to help…