For most of us, it can be difficult to imagine the worst-case scenario happening. When it comes to substance use, you may think you are invincible or, at the very least, believe that overdoses only happen to other people. However, an overdose can happen to anyone at any time, even to people who only takeRead More
Fear of the unknown is a common experience for anyone seeking treatment for addiction. For those who go through medical detox, it can seem even more frightening when you’re not sure what comes next. Once you learn about the ins and outs of life after detox, you will start to feel more at ease. DetoxRead More
Recovering from substance use disorder (SUD) does not happen overnight. It takes time to build healthier thinking and behavior patterns on your journey to recovery. Therefore, you may find yourself romanticizing your addiction and your life before recovery. When you find yourself feeling stuck and overwhelmed in recovery, it can be easy to imagine aRead More
Journaling and expressive writing are powerful activities that can help you strengthen your connection to yourself in addiction recovery. Journaling can help you process emotions and release negative energy. It can also help you set positive goals and reinforce your drive to find lasting sobriety. Benefits of Journaling Journaling can help you focus on theRead More
Your commitment to ending your substance use is a commendable first step on your recovery journey. However, discontinuing substance use on your own can be life-threatening. Your body has become so used to the substance that stopping them abruptly can be a shock to your system. Therefore, without professional support, you can experience overwhelming sideRead More
Trying to help a loved one seek treatment can feel daunting. Commonly, you may find yourself worrying about how to help them. What should you say? How do I keep them safe? It is understandable that you want to protect your loved one, but sometimes that protection can go too far. For example, being tooRead More
Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States. It is also one of the most dangerous. Casual drinking can easily turn into dependence, with many people unaware they have a problem until it’s too late. Alcohol Addiction Risk Factors According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), aRead More
Stress can be a normal and healthy part of life. Common examples of life stressors might include the week of your deadline for that big project at work, or feeling worried about getting your kids ready in time for the school bus after you overslept. The initial effects of stress usually go away once youRead More
You have likely heard people online, in shows, or maybe even some people you know use the word “trigger” causally. Someone might say, “It really triggers me when my neighbor’s friends parks in my driveway.” What they really mean is it annoys, frustrates, or makes them angry when their neighbor does not respect their space.Read More
One of the most difficult parts of any recovery journey is processing multiple disorders. It is not uncommon to discover that the addictive behavior we are trying to remedy is only a piece of a more complex riddle. Co-occurring disorders happen when a substance use disorder (SUD) coincides with an often underlying mental illness. TheseRead More