Recovering from addiction is not just a matter of abstinence. It requires a holistic approach that includes therapy, medical care, building social connection, and making healthy lifestyle changes. Being active outdoors is one of the best things you can do for a healthier lifestyle. It combines several elements for a whole greater than the sum… Continue Reading How Outdoor Activity Can Supercharge Your Recovery
Several recent studies show that the rate of depression in the US is rising. Blue Cross Blue Shield recently released a report showing that among its more than 40 million customers, depression increased by 33 percent between 2013 and 2016. Although women are about twice as likely to suffer depression as men, both men and… Continue Reading Depression is Becoming More Common in the US
One of the most important aspects of recovery is knowing your triggers. Knowing what triggers your cravings gives you much more control over them. Often, you will be able to avoid triggers entirely, relying on foresight more than willpower. If you are exposed to a trigger, you can take steps to stop a craving from… Continue Reading How Do You Identify Your Addiction Triggers?
Relapse can happen at any point in recovery. Typically, your risk of relapse decreases as you have more time sober, and the greatest risk is early on. Soon after you detox and can think relatively clearly, it’s a good idea to write down a plan for preventing relapse. Having a physical plan written down and… Continue Reading How to Create a Relapse Prevention Plan
There is a common saying in AA: We’re only as sick as our secrets. It’s strange that keeping a secret could have a big impact on your life. After all, what is keeping a secret besides neglecting to mention something? It doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. Unfortunately, keeping secrets is a big… Continue Reading What’s the Cost of Keeping Secrets?
Addiction doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Addiction often has roots in the family dynamic. Poor communication and dysfunctional patterns can lead to distress and trauma and people often use drugs or alcohol to cope. People who struggle with addiction often have parents who struggle with addiction. About half of addiction is genetic, but learned behavior… Continue Reading Why Family Therapy is So Important for Addiction Recovery
One of the biggest challenges of recovering from addiction is dealing with cravings. When you experience a craving, you feel like you really need to drink or use again, that you are being pulled toward it and you can’t escape. Cravings feel like they will never end. In reality, they typically last only a short… Continue Reading How Mindfulness Can Help You Manage Cravings
Many people who find themselves in treatment or at 12-step meetings are there because they have no choice. They may have pleaded guilty or been convicted of DUI or drug-related charges and been sent to treatment as part of sentencing. It certainly seems like a better sentence than prison, but does sending someone to treatment… Continue Reading Does Court-ordered Treatment Work?
Most people are familiar with 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, but fewer people know about SMART Recovery. SMART stands for Self-Management And Recovery Training and was founded in 1994. SMART is a non-profit created to help people struggling with addiction by teaching them strategies shown by research to help control addictive… Continue Reading What is SMART Recovery?
The FDA recently approved a new drug to treat the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Lucemyra, or lofexidine hydrochloride, is the first drug to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms that’s not derived from opioids. Most importantly, Lucemyra is believed to be non-addictive. There are currently three ways to minimize opioid withdrawal for people trying to quit. One… Continue Reading There’s a New Non-addictive Drug to Treat Opioid Addiction
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