How The Holidays Impact Social Anxiety

For many, holidays are an exciting time, full of lots of parties and family traditions. For others, however, these can be moments that evoke stress, trepidation, and social anxiety. While it is normal to feel a bit anxious about meeting new people, feeling uneasy in such everyday situations can indicate a problem. When the thought […]
Altruism in Recovery
When we’re in active addiction, it’s difficult to care for or help others. Addiction changes the brain so that we are hyper-focused on the substance, and we tend to become more self-absorbed. In recovery, the ability to help other people is one of the best gifts—to the people you help, but also to yourself. When […]
3 Common Holiday Addiction Triggers

Holidays should be happy occasions that provide an opportunity for friends and family to get together and enjoy the season. However, these gatherings can pose a risk of relapse due to addiction triggers such as stress and increased access to drugs and alcohol. If you are recovering from addiction, you surely know that treatment does […]
Staying Sober During the Holidays
No matter what holiday you celebrate, this can be a stressful time of year. There are so many factors: boozey parties, triggering relationships with family, the financial and social pressure of buying gifts if you do that. I’m over six years sober, and this holiday season is my seventh in sobriety. Beyond that, I’ve gone […]
Control in Recovery
Control in recovery is a complex and interesting thing. It’s important to try to release the need to control your life or your feelings. On the other hand, for many of us, getting sober is the first time in our adult lives we have control over our lives and our actions. While these can sound […]
Recovery as Healing
Recovery is not just about physical sobriety. It’s a lifelong process of healing mentally, emotionally, and physically. It means addressing the reasons you drank or used in the first place, and learning how to cope with the ups and downs of life sober. Many of us in recovery find that even when we take away […]
How To Maintain Your Sobriety During The Holidays

Holidays can be a fun and exciting season of the year. There are plenty of parties, gatherings, and seasonal activities that call everyone to eat, drink, and be merry. For people in their recovery journeys from alcohol or drug addiction, holidays may not be a fun time. Holidays have a lot to deal with, from […]
Memory and Recovery
Memory is a strange thing when it comes to recovery. Triggers are essentially memories-circumstances, people, places, or feelings that your brain has come to associate with drinking or using. But for many of us, memories of times when we were intoxicated are distorted and fragmented. In recovery, we can feel grateful that we’re able to […]
What Is Seasonal Depression?

Seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a type of depression linked to changes in the seasons. It usually occurs during winter and ends in spring, and usually occurs perenially. However, it is more than just “winter blues” since the symptoms can be quite distressing and overwhelming and could affect your normal […]
Jason Biggs
On October 11th, 2018, the actor Jason Biggs—best known for his roles in Orange is the New Black and American Pie—shared that he had been sober for a year. Next to a photo of an Alcoholics Anonymous chip, he said, “I first tried to get sober over 5 years ago, when the weight of my […]