Getting to the Roots of Your Addiction
The phrase “knowledge is power” rings true when it comes to addiction recovery. Learning about addiction and sobriety—and yourself—is really helpful. Becoming self-aware means learning your triggers and how to cope with them. It also means learning some of the things that led you to drink or use, so that you can address any underlying […]
Making and Breaking Habits
Repeated use of substances “teaches” the brain to crave them. While substance use disorders are an extreme example because they significantly impact dopamine levels—which are responsible for reward and motivation—any habit has roots in the brain. The amount of time it takes to build or alter a habit varies based on the habit, the person […]
Falling Into Old Patterns
The difficult thing about recognizing patterns is that they are by nature instinctive. We “fall into” old patterns because they are something like our default setting—what we do when we’re not paying attention. Recovery gives us the chance to work on ourselves so that we become attuned to our default patterns. Therapy is a great […]
Joy Is a Skill
We tend to think of joy as something that just happens to us. When good things occur, we’ll be happy. But really, finding joy is a skill that you can practice. You don’t have to sit around and wait for your life to be perfect. Relatedly, joy and grief can exist in tandem. In active […]
Learning About Yourself in Recovery
In active addiction—especially for people who started drinking or using early—it’s hard to form a sense of self. Your self during that time is under the influence of or recovering from substances. Addiction often stunts your emotional development. In recovery, you learn who you are without substances. This can seem overwhelming—especially in early sobriety—but it […]
Common Fears About Sobriety
Getting sober can be scary. It’s a huge change that affects almost all aspects of your life—not to mention that addiction changes your brain so you come to rely on the substance to get through life. Below are some common fears about recovery that I, at eight years sober, have found to be false: I […]
Why Recovery Is a Gift, Not a Punishment
In the years I knew I had a problem before I got sober, I had two ideas about sobriety. 1. It would be the end of all that was good, dooming me to a life of denying what I wanted, and 2. Sober people who touted the miracle of recovery were exaggerating or lying. Nearly […]
Emotional Resilience in Recovery
Developing emotional resilience—the ability to cope with and adapt to stressful situations—is a big part of recovery. When I was in active addiction, I could barely handle even the smallest stressors. When you drink or use drugs any time you’re uncomfortable, you don’t build healthy coping skills. In less than a month I’ll be eight […]
Getting Sober Is the First of Many Big Changes
When you first get sober, you don’t immediately know how to cope with challenges without substances, set boundaries, or any of the other things that often come with longer term sobriety. But once you get sober, you are able to do the work. Your brain and body will start healing once you quit drinking or […]
This Too Shall Pass
Sobriety is a wonderful experience, but it doesn’t stop life. Life can be hard. Recovery allows us to work on the coping skills needed to face difficult experiences with strength. The phrase “this too shall pass” reminds us that suffering isn’t permanent. It’s a common phrase—but it’s used particularly often in the recovery world, and […]
