You may have seen or heard in some version a thousand times; “I quit smoking, so I started eating.” “I quit drinking, and now all I eat is sugar.” There is always some version of addiction replacement available out there. Some of these are harmless, to a degree. No one should fault a person forRead More
Learning to heal during recovery is a long path. Confronting the traumas that can lead to anxiety or other mental health disorders, which in turn can lead to addiction and self-defeating habits, takes long talks and meaningful conversations with qualified therapists. Talking to a therapist is one of the biggest steps we can take towardRead More
Recovery can be a difficult road. Each one of us has an “inner voice” that we hear. Many people think of that inner voice as our subconscious. What we hear from our inner voice can make our recovery journey easier or more difficult. When you hear your inner voice, pay attention to how you feelRead More
A tremendous amount of recovery time is slow time. As we put aside the substances we abused or addictive behaviors we have indulged in for years on end, we suddenly find ourselves with lots of time to fill in our lives. It is astounding how much time, how many hours of every day, we putRead More
The past can be a place full of roadblocks you set for yourself, intentionally or unintentionally. Healthy reflection on the past is necessary to learn and grow; an unhealthy obsession with the past keeps people stuck and unable to move forward. Many people with substance use disorder (SUD) and other mental health issues frequently haveRead More
Most people overlook the profound impact watching films can have on their recovery. Like other artistic outlets, the film can create a pleasurable experience that inspires and provokes conversation. One can experience movies individually or within a group. This type of therapy allows people to feel empathetic toward characters and place themselves in hypothetical scenarios.Read More
Everyone has a variety of needs. From the moment an individual is brought into this world, their clever brain begins to create the list of things it expects from this world. The developing mind takes natural cues from the body attached to it. It listens to the simple demands for food, water, shelter, and protectionRead More
Forgiveness can be complicated. Forgiving is closely tied to empathy and changes how you view the world. Anyone who has suffered a deep hurt understands how badly it turns our inner world upside down. If the pain is big enough, it is impossible to function, concentrate or think about anything other than your pain. ForgivenessRead More
Wandering out into the woods with a group of strangers may seem like an extravagant, unnecessary approach to many of us seeking treatment for trauma or addiction. It does not fall in line with our expectations of what treatment should be. There should be doctors and couches for sitting and talking about our lives andRead More
Trauma is part of everyday life; at what point in life does trauma turn into the tipping point that propels someone into substance use disorder (SUD)? Trauma shapes how people try to find physical and emotional safety and get rid of emotional pain. People who have survived trauma frequently use substances in an effort toRead More