7 Books to Read If You Want to Understand Addiction Better and Build a Better Life
One of the best ways you can help yourself—or someone else—amidst addiction is to read. Learning from others can help you know what works and what doesn’t. (That’s partly why support groups and an alumni community are so important in recovery!) While no two peoples’ recoveries are exactly the same, there’s no getting through addiction […]
What is Person-First Language?
Person-first language is a way of communicating that respects individuals with issues such as drug and alcohol misuse, mental health disorders, or disabilities. The goal of using person-first language is to recognize the person first rather than their disorder by avoiding terms that can be deemed derogatory. Words can hold a lot of meaning, and […]
Contemplating Addiction Treatment? What to Consider & How to Prepare
Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that impacts an individual’s behavior and ability to function through everyday life. When it comes to addiction treatment, it is important to know what treatment options are readily available to the individual. In addition to being aware of the treatment options, it is important to understand that effective […]
5 Movies That Paint a Real Picture of What Addiction Looks Like
Movies can make us feel a range of emotions. Sometimes we watch them to de-stress, disconnect, and escape our current surroundings. Other times, movies can be a window into our souls and depict on the screen that which we are dealing with in our current lives. When it comes to addiction, Hollywood tends to dramatize […]
Coming Clean About Your Addiction
Admitting you have a problem with drugs or alcohol is one of the hardest things to do. It means admitting that you have made mistakes and that you’re aware of it. It may mean losing friends, jobs, housing and starting life over. Furthermore, talking about your addiction now means you are expected to do something […]
10 Questions to Ask Yourself to Gauge Your Own Well-Being
Well-being is defined as “the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.” In today’s world, the phrase “I’m fine”, is the most overused statement when anyone asks you how you are. It’s an easy answer and, for the most part, gets people off of your back. The problem with that is we have become programmed […]
Embracing Our Dark Sides: Self-Acceptance of Our Best & Worst Selves
The first step to self-acceptance is accepting that you can’t accept yourself at this moment. Sounds simple, right? The words are easy to say, but the reality of self-acceptance is not a comfortable journey. Some days we can accept who we are. And some days we just can’t. The truth of who you are and […]
Learn to Love Yourself in Recovery
Low self-worth can go hand-in-hand with addiction. Self-esteem issues may have contributed to substance abuse, and the guilt and shame of addiction can perpetuate it. Mending the emotional wounds of drug and alcohol abuse takes time. Learning to love yourself is part of that. It’s about getting to know yourself and the person that was […]
7 Common Myths About Addiction
There are a lot of myths about addiction. Some of these misbeliefs keep people from getting the help they need; others widen the rift between addicted people and loved ones. Still others perpetuate stigmas around addiction. Myths people believe about addiction sometimes include: #1 Quitting Drugs Is a Matter of Willpower Simply put, addiction hijacks […]
Reclaim Your Energy in the New Year
Waking up to snow falling swiftly outside my window a few years ago, I rolled over to check my phone in hopes that I would be greeted by a text revealing that I did not have to trek through the winter wonderland outside my window and venture to work that day. To my surprise, my […]
