As someone who wrestles with addiction, you likely lied and told stories about your addiction. Maybe you lied about where you went and who you spent all that time with, where the money went, and what you had to do to get it back. Not communicating or outright lying is typical in families with substance…
In our journey toward sobriety, we may find ourselves at a point where we feel as though we are just “going through the motions” of our program. We find ourselves losing the feeling of excitement we had when we first entered into our recovery program. Boredom was often a reason for our past use, and…
Taking a break from life is important when you are in recovery from addiction. It is hard work navigating this new phase of the journey, mentally and physically. If you find yourself exhausted, try giving yourself a break with these tips. 3 Tips to Having Fun Learn to Laugh Laughing has the potential to bring…
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,…
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…
We have to gain emotional intelligence in order to stay sober. Many treatment centers start their group therapy sessions with a chart. This chart is full of “emojis” faces that are expressing different emotions. Underneath the face is the emotion. The chart is passed around the group of people so everyone can “check in” and…
Addiction takes over all life skills. Many people don’t realize how intimately addiction weaves its way into their lives until they start living life and doing things sober. Budgeting, grocery shopping, meal planning, cooking- health, wellness, and nutrition is not often a focus for people who are completely overwhelmed by their chemical addiction to drugs…