Subjectivity can muddy the waters when it comes to physical and mental recovery. You need to set realistic goals for yourself, and looking at your circumstances and plans from an objective perspective can make that easier. Many people achieve this by allowing their therapist or someone else in their support system to provide an objective …
Moving to residential treatment is a major transition. Leaving the familiarity of one’s home can bring several stresses, even in people who are looking forward to the changes towards a sober life that the program offers. Residential treatment is a part of recovery that brings a great deal of change, and being prepared for what …
What Can I Expect on My First Day in Residential Treatment? Read More »
Sobriety is more than abstinence. To achieve happiness and progress in your recovery, you need to work through what caused you to turn to substance abuse in the first place and work through it. You have to take a hard look at what you need to change about how you act, feel, and think to …
How to Take Advantage of Talk Therapy During Recovery Read More »
You were doing so well. You had hit rock-bottom and got help. You got clean and started your life over. Then you ran into an old friend who is still using or a new friend invited you out to one drink after work. Perhaps you’ve been falling further into depression and feeling more isolated. However …
You may have heard of pet therapy where your household pets offer a calming or therapeutic effect on your well-being. You may associate animal therapy with cats or dogs and other small pets in your house. Even if you understand the therapeutic effects of those animals, how do horses get into the picture? You might …
Chances are your new social circle will include a lot of friends in recovery. Even if they’re not in recovery you need things to do that don’t involve drinking and clubbing, right? You need to find new things that won’t involve triggering your cravings or tempting you to relapse. Bars and clubs are only a …
Great Group Activities for Your Recovering Friends Read More »
We’re always looking for ways to stay on the right track during recovery and prevent relapse. Some people prefer art. Some people prefer cardio exercise like running. For a less rigorous exercise with relapse prevention benefits, consider doing yoga–it’s not just for old hippies or new bohemians anymore. This technique combines stretching and meditation but …
In a way, recovery is all about the six inches between your ears: your mindset and mental determination are your biggest tool in achieving success in sobriety. That said, your physical environment as you move through the recovery process can make a big impact on your progress. The people you interact with on a daily …
5 Ways Your Environment Can Impact Your Recovery Read More »
Once you embark upon your path of recovery, you may be tempted to be hard on yourself until you’ve hit a certain milestone of progress or have sufficiently distanced yourself from the mistakes of your past. The truth is that you can do the most good for yourself by forgiving yourself right off the bat. …
Recovery doesn’t have to be treatments and therapies with fancy names. There are alternative options to help guide you through recovery. When these experiential therapy options are used alongside more traditional therapies such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and family therapy, great success can be found in your sobriety and overall recovery. …
The Benefits of Mindfulness and Yoga in Addiction Recovery Read More »