Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive, and fatal disease. Although there is no absolute “cure” for alcoholism, we are able to recover from the hopeless state of body and mind that has resulted from the disease. Rather than a cure, we have recovery programs designed to maintain sobriety and remove symptoms of the disease. Alcoholism can…
Making a significant change in your life is always scary, and getting sober is no different. There can be all kinds of roadblocks between you and your recovery, and they may come from directions you don’t expect. Sometimes, your own attitude about your substance use is the main obstacle in your recovery and lasting sobriety.…
White-knuckle sobriety refers to the practice of desperately holding onto sobriety without working a recovery program. Many programs stress the impossibility of maintaining sobriety by sheer force of will, but there are some—few and far between—who can for some time. The problem with white-knuckling sobriety is that it does not allow one to address all…
Overcoming a drug addiction involves several steps. First, you go through the detox treatment to get rid of the toxins in your body, then you move forward with therapy and living a sober life. The second part is often more complicated than it sounds because of relapse triggers, which could cause you to fall back…
As you begin to thrive in recovery, a whole new world is unfolding before you. Living life to the fullest is now a reality, instead of a gift only bestowed on “other people.” Your future is now.It’s important that you celebrate your successes and your milestones in recovery. You’ve begun to make deep connections with…
Going to see family around the holidays can bring out the most challenging emotions for people. It is a great time of celebration, but it is also challenging in many ways. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years can be daunting to face when sober. That first holiday sober can be especially difficult, especially if others may…
When a person decides to get sober, it is never easy. It might be because they went cold turkey or it might be because they were in rehab where they went to detox and got support for their addiction. It may feel overwhelming at first, with lots of questions to answer. Recovery may be scary,…
Recovery from addiction has its ups and downs, especially early on. At any point, a person can find themselves in a slump of sorts. This might be due to career changes, economic shifts, changes in their personal lives, or any number of things. Recovery is not easy and certainly does not come without its challenges.…
Living sober and clean is a choice. People often put it off because they have anxiety and fear about what life will be like without substances. Many people who choose this option may feel pressured into it by life circumstances, hitting rock bottom, or family members who tell them it is now or never. Most…
Telling a loved one about needing help in recovery is hard. On the other side of addiction recovery is a life perhaps you only ever dreamed about, where you are free to do the things you always wanted to do but felt were not possible with addiction running the show. Whether or not to disclose…