What Does it Mean to Thrive in Recovery

During the Q&A portion of a recent panel, I heard someone ask, “What’s the difference between surviving and thriving?” This is interesting to consider in general, but it made me think about the difference between white-knuckling recovery and thriving in it. What Does Thriving in Recovery Look Like? Like with anything, this is highly personal. […]
Expressing Your Feelings in Recovery

Sometimes during active addiction, the only time we allow ourselves to express emotions is when we’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Then it comes out distorted, and we might say or do things we regret. We might not even allow ourselves to feel our emotions at all. In recovery, we have a chance […]
Coping With Sleep Issues in Recovery

Addiction significantly impacts sleep. People in active alcohol addiction may think drinking is the only way they can fall asleep (I did), but alcohol is associated with sleep disturbances and related disorders like sleep apnea. 25-72% of people in treatment for alcohol use disorder report sleep problems.[1] Cocaine, on the other hand, can cause insomnia. […]
Having Compassion for Your Past Self

As your mind clears in recovery, you might feel like a very different version of yourself. You may want to separate current you from the past you who was in active addiction; I know I did. That’s okay, but even as you distance yourself from past you, it’s important to save them some compassion. Guilt […]
Recovery Is Not One-Size-Fits-All

An important thing I’ve learned since being sober is that there isn’t only one way to “do” recovery. It can be really helpful to get tips from others, and people in recovery can relate in a lot of ways. But in the end, everyone is different; everyone’s recovery will be different as well. Put a […]
Podcasts About Addiction, Sobriety and Mental Health

Podcasts about addiction and recovery are useful for people in any stage of sobriety or anyone who wants to learn about addiction. They teach about recovery, and give insight into other people’s experiences. We’ve previously shared some podcasts about these topics; below are some additional suggestions: Brutal Vulnerability: This podcast is not solely about addiction or mental health, […]
On Being Ready
There were people in my life who wanted me to get sober long before I did. Your friends, partners, or family can very much want you to change, but it won’t happen until you’re ready. There’s an idea that people only get sober after they hit rock bottom, but this is a myth. Sure, it […]
Having New Experiences in Recovery

There is no one cause of addiction—with a lot of factors contributing—and no one quality that all people with addiction have. That said, a trait many in recovery (myself included) share is the desire for novelty. According to an article in the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, “On the behavioral level, both human and rodent studies […]
A Conversation With Carl Erik Fisher About His Book the Urge: Our History of Addiction

I spoke with Carl Erik Fisher over Zoom about his book The Urge: Our History of Addiction. Fisher is an addiction physician and bioethicist. He is an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University’s Division of Law, Ethics, and Psychiatry, and maintains a private psychiatry practice focused on addiction. Fisher’s writing has appeared in […]
9 Things to Do When Your Loved One Refuses Help

When our loved ones are addicted to alcohol or drugs, it is normal to want to help, or “save” them. We can offer our loved one help, but they don’t always take it, which often puts us in uncomfortable or upsetting situations. At TruHealing Centers, we provide support for addiction in a number of ways, […]