Blogs
Are Eating Disorders and Bipolar Disorders Linked?
Bipolar disorder has been linked to many substance abuse cases, but recent studies have shown that substance abuse is not the only
Recovery is hard under the best of circumstances. When you have a co-occurring mental illness, recovery goes from hard to harder and
Can Seasonal Affective Disorder Happen in the Summer?
Many people already know that seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mild form of depression that can occur because of the shorter
Creating a Local Support System After Moving to a New City
Moving to a new city can be nerve-wracking, even if you will be in the same state. International moves or out-of-state moves
How Toxic Positivity Can Derail Recovery
So many things can trigger a relapse for those in recovery, but did you know there is a form of positive thinking
How to Take Advantage of Talk Therapy During Recovery
Sobriety is more than abstinence. To achieve happiness and progress in your recovery, you need to work through what caused you to
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Diet Pills?
Don’t you wish you could just pop a pill and magically lose weight? That is exactly what many people hope for when
Tips for Overcoming Social Anxiety Post-Covid
The lockdowns and social distancing measures that most cities had to put in place during 2020 added an extra layer of stress
The Importance of Structure in Recovery
You’re fresh out of rehabilitation and moving into recovery on your own outside your inpatient stay. When you first find yourself discharged
What Is Smiling Depression?
When people think of depression, they often think of someone who sleeps all day, isolates themselves, lacks interest in daily activities, etc.
You may be familiar with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but there is a more severe form called complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD).
How to Create a Safety Plan
How to Create a Safety Plan A safety plan is a critical tool for anyone with a history of addiction, emotional or
Depression and Expressing Your Emotions
Depression affects your emotions and impairs your ability to think clearly. Symptoms often include sleep disruptions, mood swings, a lack of motivation,
The Most Common Challenges in Recovery
You’ve made it through detoxification, rehabilitation, and now you’re in recovery and sober–it should be smooth sailing from here, right? If only
Do I Need Anger Management Therapy?
We all get angry in response to specific situations, but when you find yourself overreacting to minor inconveniences, there may be an
You’ve Been Through Detox, Now Detox With Nutrition
Your body has been through detox for substance abuse. Now it’s time to detox from the poor eating habits you developed while
How Can I Help Someone with an Addiction?
One of the worst feelings in the world is watching someone you love hurt themselves. It’s one of abject helplessness because you
Volunteering for Others and Helping Yourself
Volunteering can play an important role in the recovery process. As you invest in helping others, you’re also helping yourself. When you
Permit Yourself to Slow Down When Experiencing Chronic Pain
Your days may feel like a constant race against time to accomplish everything you need to do. Living with chronic pain adds
Is Relapse Inevitable?
Does everyone in recovery have at least one relapse? Does it take more than one try to get it right? You may
How Do I Deal With the Relapse of Someone I Care About?
As a person in recovery, you likely have many friends who are working hard to lead a sober life. What happens in
What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
Some people joke around when they describe what they think is a silly behavior as “your OCD coming out.” When you like things
My Therapist Isn’t Helping Me: Should I Switch to a New One?
Sometimes people do not “click.” Their way of thinking and communicating is simply not compatible in a meaningful way. You might be
Is Obsession With Productivity Making You Less Productive?
You’re probably aware of such behavioral addictions as gambling, shopping, and overeating. Did you know that an obsession over productivity is also
Transitioning from a Zoom Support Group to In-Person Meetings
Zoom and other video chat apps have become a part of life for millions of people since the pandemic began. Doctor visits,
How Can I Celebrate Spring Break While Sober?
Traditionally, hordes of college kids have descended on beaches and vacation spots to celebrate spring break. However, people have started rethinking spring
It’s becoming increasingly common for young adults around the world to abuse stimulants to stay awake to study so they can get
I Can’t Be Addicted if I Have a Prescription, Can I?
When most people think of addiction or substance abuse, they may think of illicit substances like cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. Although not
Learning to Manage Anger
While anger is a common challenge for every person, those in recovery may be recovering from trauma, such as feeling anger at
Should I Adjust My Recovery Goals?
Wouldn’t it be easier if there were a standard list of goals for everyone in recovery? You could be handed a pre-written
Celebrate the Small Victories Over Your Eating Disorder
Recovering from an eating disorder, or ED, takes place over some time and in small steps. There is no fast track for
The Six Stages of Recovery
If you’re in recovery, you probably already know it’s a process that never ends–you’re in recovery for life. But did you know
Mindfulness as a Tool for Relapse Prevention
You worked hard to get sober and continue to follow the treatment plans and therapies suggested by your care team, but fear
Can Your Recovery Handle the Stress of Starting a Business?
Starting a business can be stressful enough for entrepreneurs with all the details involved. But starting a business when you already have
What is Dissociative Identity Disorder?
Many people first became aware of dissociative identity disorder (DID) when the book Sybil was released and made into a movie starring
What Are the Four Phases of Treatment for Addiction?
Treatment for substance use and addiction begins the moment you decide that you’ve had enough. The moment you step through the doors
Favorite Addicted and Recovering Characters We Can Relate To
Sometimes when you’re feeling isolated and alone, it’s good to put on a TV show, movie, or documentary that focuses on substance
Is Alcoholism Hereditary?
Science often grapples with the “nature versus nurture” theory about various disorders and diseases. Alcoholism is no exception. Is it a hereditary
What Criteria Must Be Met for an Involuntary Psychiatric Hold?
In the battle against addiction and mental illness, sometimes things get so bad that you may feel you need to use a
How Can You Stop Boredom With a Sober Life?
When you were using drugs and alcohol, life might have seemed more exciting. You were with a crazy group of friends that
Why Should I Get Sober?
When you stop drinking, everyone tells you how much healthier you’ll be. Well, yes, but what else happens? Let’s get down to
Can Urge Surfing Help Modify Destructive Behaviors?
If you’ve heard anything about recovery, you’ve likely heard about the cravings that come when you get sober. Part of your rehabilitation
How Can Wilderness Therapy Treat Addiction?
You may have already noticed that you experience a certain rejuvenating effect when you go outside or go to a big park.
What Should I Do If I’ve Relapsed?
You were doing so well. You had hit rock-bottom and got help. You got clean and started your life over. Then you
Tips for Finding Jobs in Recovery
Once you’ve gone through detoxification and rehabilitation, you’re starting a new life in the outside world. The sun is shining and everything
What Is Alcohol Poisoning?
In the U.S., we often talk about drug overdoses, substance abuse, and alcohol problems, but we seldom understand the seriousness of another
What to Expect With Methamphetamine Withdrawal
Withdrawal is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Alcohol withdrawal is different from heroin withdrawal and heroin withdrawal is different from methamphetamine withdrawal. If
How to Stay Sober and Prevent Relapse During COVID-19
You’ve struggled through addiction, detoxification, rehabilitation, and you’re finally into recovery. You know it’s a tough lifelong fight but your life is
What Happens During Heroin Withdrawal?
You’ve finally admitted to yourself you’re addicted to heroin. You’re tired of the lies, stealing, living on the streets, and the day-to-day
Is Touch Starvation Hurting Our Mental Health?
Much has been said about social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and many people have tried to stay connected to family and
How to Fight the Quarantine Blues When You Already Have Depression
Suffering from depression is already hard enough. Maybe you’ve had to adjust medications to find the right combination or you’re getting therapy
Sexual Orientation and Depression
While people from all walks of life experience depression, 30% to 60% of members of the LGBTQ+ community suffer from increased anxiety
What Is Equine Therapy?
You may have heard of pet therapy where your household pets offer a calming or therapeutic effect on your well-being. You may
Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Illness
Mental health treatment has come a long way from a history of barbaric treatments and scientific misunderstandings by healthcare workers and the
Do I Have Borderline Personality Disorder?
Although we still have a long way to go, our society has become more familiar and compassionate with many mental health issues.
Cooking for Health and Recovery
Have you heard of the latest trend for substance abuse treatment and recovery? It’s not mindfulness meditation, yoga, or even pet therapy.
How Can I Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Sober?
If you got sober this year, this may be your first St. Patrick’s Day without pub crawling or heavy drinking. How can
Could Your Relationships Be Toxic to Your Mental Health?
You may have had some tough times in your relationships in the past but you have stuck with your partner because everyone
The Effects of Methamphetamine Use
Methamphetamine use is reaching epidemic proportions here in the United States. Meth, as it is commonly called, can cause devastating effects to
How Keeping a Journal Can Keep You From Relapsing
Did you start a journal while you were in rehabilitation? Did you keep it up when you left inpatient treatment? Or maybe