How To Enjoy Sober Holidays
The holidays can be a difficult time if you are new to recovery. You will definitely encounter several challenges from family gatherings, emotional triggers like stress, and parties with plenty of alcohol. As difficult as it may sound, it is possible to enjoy sober holidays. You can resist your relapse triggers by creating a plan […]
It’s Never Too Late to Change
Sometimes our brains lie to us. We can be at a low point and think we’re stuck there forever or change is impossible. This is far from true. No matter where you are in life, there is always hope for growth. I’ve seen this mode of thinking keep people in a relapse; they believe that […]
Addiction and Wanting to Be Elsewhere
I’ve heard addiction described as (in part) the desire to be somewhere else—whether that’s literally a different place or a different emotional state. This passage from the book Boundaries and Protection by Pixie Lighthouse really stuck with me: “The desire to be somewhere else is the phenomenon of craving that addicts report feeling beholden to…Perhaps […]
How Did the Opioid Crisis Start?
In the 1990s, pharmaceutical companies reassured doctors that patients would not become addicted to opioids. Physicians began prescribing them at higher rates. It became common practice for these companies to give doctors money and gifts to get them to prescribe pills. This led to widespread misuse of prescription opioids, both by people who had prescriptions […]
Kid Cudi
The rapper Kid Cudi is candid about his struggles with anxiety and depression. He first opened up about his mental health in 2016, when he wrote a letter to his fans saying he was attending treatment for anxiety and depression. In this letter, he said, “My anxiety and depression have ruled my life for as […]
Showing Up in Recovery
One thing about recovery I find really rewarding—and sometimes overwhelming—is the fact that I can show up. When we’re in active addiction, that’s really difficult to do. We are too caught up in cycles of craving and use, and not able to be present or make intentional decisions. When we get sober, we can take […]
What are Reputable Sources About Addiction and Mental Health?
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction or mental health disorders, you probably want to learn more about these topics. Doing so can help you figure out the next steps for yourself, or better support your friend or family member. There is so much content available online, but not all of it […]
Finding Comfort in Recovery
While it is important to go out of your comfort zone in recovery, it’s also helpful to find a sense of comfort. This doesn’t mean complacency—it means figuring out what makes you feel most supported, safe, and secure. Support Systems When you feel a basic sense of safety and comfort in recovery, it can give […]
What is Naltrexone?
Naltrexone is a medication used to treat both opioid and alcohol use disorder. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and can be used as a medication-assisted treatment (MAT). MAT is the use of medications—often in combination with therapy—to treat addiction. Naltrexone works by binding to and blocking the opioid receptors in […]
Building Self-Awareness in Recovery
Self-awareness is an important part of recovery. Learning about both what triggers and what centers you can help you make healthy choices for yourself. Self-awareness also helps all your relationships with other people, improving quality of life and increasing your motivation to stay sober. Reconnecting to Yourself After Active Addiction It can seem like self-awareness […]
