When you have decided to seek help for mental health issues or addiction, you may not give much thought as to whether you will have any sort of fun or adventure during your healing process. It is easy to think of fun as a luxury, or as something not needed or necessary. Or maybe youRead More
When you are suffering from an addiction or a mental health issue, it can be an isolating feeling. You may feel like you have no one to talk to, that no one understands how you are feeling, or ashamed that your loved ones see you in this manner. The truth is, addiction affects every singleRead More
Recovery is a very isolating experience. The feeling that a person may not be understood by their own peers, or that they are feeling guilt or shame related to their trauma, can all cause them to constantly feel like they are on the defensive. This feeling can even take a physical form as a personRead More
When you embark on the journey to recovery, you are actively deciding to experience the greatest pleasures that life can offer. While finding peace after substance use is a long and sometimes challenging road, it is worth the effort. Drugs, alcohol, and other substances are the source of your problems, not the solution. Therefore theyRead More
There are enough distractions throughout the year to test your will power in recovery. However, the holiday season can add stress and anxiety that may jeopardize your recovery even further. Before you succumb to thoughts of false-futures surrounding the holiday season, take a moment to recognize your sobriety and that the greatest joys in yourRead More
Trauma is incredibly difficult to overcome and can have lasting effects on a person, including anxiety and depression. Trauma can even compromise one’s sense of self-worth. When seeking recovery for trauma, simply feeling like you are deserving of your own happiness can be a very difficult hurdle to overcome. Trauma can cause a person toRead More
After years of struggling with substance use, you may feel emotionally numb and directionless. However, this is typical to feel in early recovery. You have suppressed your emotions, limiting yourself from experiencing things to their fullest. Some even compare becoming sober to coming out of a cave. You might start your recovery journey and becomeRead More
Overcoming addiction and unhealthy coping mechanisms is a difficult task. While recovery can help each person better understand the unique way addiction has affected their lives, it is also important to be constantly vigilant and employ self-checks to ensure that one addiction or unhealthy coping strategy isn’t being replaced by another in the same vein.Read More
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, about 2.6% of the population (10 million people) have a gambling addiction and experience hardships from gambling. Gambling addictions can result from replacing and avoiding emotions associated with pain, stress, grief, and anxiety. They could also manifest to replace another addiction, such as substance use disorder. UnderstandingRead More
Recovery from a substance use disorder can be challenging at times. Maintaining recovery takes discovering healthy ways to combat your cravings and impulses, some of which might include meditation, mindfulness, exercise, or pursuing a hobby. However, sometimes you begin to develop another addictive outlet to replace the cravings and impulses. It is known as aRead More