Investing in Yourself in Recovery
When I got sober, it was among the first times I invested in myself as an adult. In active addiction, many of us spend a lot of time neglecting self-care and living on instinct. If you’re sober or thinking about entering recovery, you’ve already made a huge self-investment. While recovery is bolstered by support and […]
Staying Connected to Your Recovery Program
Getting sober is a huge deal, especially in the beginning. Often for the first weeks, months, and even years, sobriety is at the forefront of our minds. However, life goes on and we can become distracted. Recovery is always important though, even if you’ve been in it for a long time. You don’t have to […]
What to Expect in the First Weeks and Months of Sobriety
The first days, weeks, and months of sobriety can be some of the most difficult. Depending on what substance you used, the severity of your use, and other factors, you may be going through withdrawal for a few days to a few weeks. If you have any concerns about the safety of withdrawing, it’s useful […]
Living With Intention Versus on Instinct
Being in active addiction often means living on instinct. Your brain has changed so that your main motivation is the substance(s). This makes it hard to set goals, plan for the future, or do much higher processing. In many cases, addiction actually changes parts of the brain involved in higher cognitive functioning, which adds barriers. […]
National Recovery Month
September is National Recovery Month! About 20 million Americans, or approximately 1 in 10, are in recovery from a substance use disorder.[1] This month is a time to celebrate our lives in recovery and show that it is possible, in whatever form it takes. Everyone’s Recovery is Unique There are many, many ways to recover […]
International Overdose Awareness Day
Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, leading into September, National Recovery Month. Relapse (and unfortunately in some cases, subsequent overdose) is part of recovery and important to talk about. 2020 Overdose Rates 2020 was a very difficult year, and it had the highest rate of drug overdose deaths. While final numbers won’t be ready until […]
Margaret Cho
In 2016, comedian and author Margaret Cho had a birthday celebration—to which she brought wine—that was really an intervention. Her friends, who had seen her opioid and alcohol use spiral, brought her to addiction treatment. She stayed there for a year and a half and has been sober since. Cho has talked openly for decades […]
What is Vivitrol?

Vivitrol is a medication used to treat opioid and alcohol use disorder. It is sometimes used for medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which is the use of medications—often in combination with therapy—to treat addiction. Vivitrol is the brand name and injectible form of Naltrexone. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it blocks the effects of opioids. It […]
Anthony Kiedis
Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers has been continuously sober since the year 2000. He’s struggled with cocaine, heroin, and alcohol use. The song “Under the Bridge,” one of the band’s most popular, is about a time Kiedis used drugs under a bridge in LA. One day during his first attempt at sobriety, […]
Channeling Addictive Tendencies in Recovery
Addiction is complex. The factors that contribute to its onset (genetics, environmental factors, traumatic experiences, co-occurring mental health disorders, and more) are multifaceted and different for everyone. Substance use disorders then change the brain, and while it heals throughout recovery, this further complicates things. People with Addiction and Addictive Tendencies I’m not a big fan […]