Therapy is essential for anyone trying to recover from a substance use disorder or a mental health issue. Therapy is where you uncover what drives destructive behavior and where you learn strategies for emotional regulation, processing trauma, and living a more fulfilling life. Therapists are experts in mental health and experienced therapists have a process… Continue Reading 7 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Therapy
People recovering from substance use disorders often feel like they have much to apologize for. Addiction can distort your priorities and make you do things you would otherwise never do. They may do things that leave their loved ones feeling hurt, betrayed, and angry. Apologizing and making amends are well-known parts of the 12 steps… Continue Reading How to Apologize
Family therapy is an important part of addiction treatment. A major aspect of family therapy is learning to respect boundaries in family relationships. Boundaries essentially mean respecting someone else’s needs and desires while at the same time asserting your own. It means neither trying to control someone else nor being too distant. Dysfunctional relationships often… Continue Reading Why Are Family Boundaries Important in Addiction Recovery?
Whether you have an alcohol use disorder or you just feel like it might be a good idea to cut back, you may feel conflicted about quitting alcohol. The costs of drinking might be apparent to you, but no one drinks without getting something out of it. It might help you relax, cope with emotional… Continue Reading 9 Things That Happen When You Quit Drinking
Getting enough quality sleep is one of the best things you can do for yourself, especially if you’re recovering from addiction or a mental health issue such as an anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, or others. Even a few nights of too little sleep can lead to significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal… Continue Reading 7 Ways to Sleep Better in Recovery
Despite all the media attention the opioid crisis has gotten in recent years, many myths about addiction still persist. One of the more dangerous myths is that someone struggling with a substance use disorder has to hit “rock bottom” before she can have a successful recovery. While many people do have a last-straw moment when… Continue Reading Do You Have to Hit Rock Bottom Before You Can Recover from Addiction?
One of the most important aspects of a strong recovery is having social support. This can include friends, family, and mutual aid groups. This presents a bit of a challenge for people just starting out in recovery. Often, they find their old friends were just drinking buddies and they don’t have much else in common.… Continue Reading How to Choose Friends in Addiction Recovery
One thing you will likely notice about life in an addiction treatment center or even in a sober living home is that routines are important. There’s a regular time for everything. You get up, you eat, you go to group, you meet with your therapist, you get some exercise, and you go to bed at… Continue Reading 4 Reasons a Regular Routine is Good for Addiction Recovery
Impulse control has a lot to do with addiction. It’s no coincidence that many mental health issues that involve impulse control also increase your risk of addiction. ADHD, OCD, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder all have a significant impulse control component and higher risk of addiction. What’s more, the longer you live with addiction,… Continue Reading How Can You Control Your Impulses in Addiction Recovery?
In a rare display of bipartisan cooperation, Congress recently passed the SUPPORT Act, which combines policies from more than 60 pieces of legislation already passed by the House. The SUPPORT Act comes in response to the opioid crisis that gets worse every year and killed nearly 60,000 people in the US in 2017. The act… Continue Reading How the SUPPORT Act Protects People Seeking Addiction Treatment