5 Reasons to Exercise While in Addiction Recovery
Why is Exercise Important? Exercise is important for much more than just the health of your body. Substance use and abuse changes your natural chemistry, especially over long periods of time. When abuse turns into addiction and becomes a dependency, it changes the neurotransmitters in your brain. These determine how you experience positive feelings like […]
An Alcohol-Free Halloween
Is a Sober Halloween Possible? Every season has its challenges for those in recovery. During the summer months, summer beach parties may be hard to manage. But now that summertime is over, the fall present challenges of its own. The autumn season can feel ruled by the presence of Halloween and its festivities, including the […]
Seeking Help During a Breakdown: How to Handle a Mental Health Crisis
What is a Mental Health Crisis? A mental health crisis is when you or a loved one is unable to care for themselves because of emotional distress. This crisis may inhibit your ability to function properly or may even put you at risk of hurting yourself or someone else. The onset of such a crisis […]
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Adults: Symptoms and Solutions
What Is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? Our actions, especially when it comes to substance abuse, affect everyone around us. One serious example of this is known as “fetal alcohol syndrome” (FAS). This syndrome occurs when a mother is pregnant and continues to drink alcohol throughout the pregnancy. Moreover, her choices can have a lasting impact on […]
Helping a Loved One Start Recovery: The Conversation
First Steps to Recovery Do you have a loved one who’s struggling with substance abuse? If you do, you’re not alone. According to the Journal of Addiction Medicine, over 21 million people in the US struggle with substance abuse disorder (SUD). This means that the number of family members impacted is even greater. We know […]
How to Grieve, Heal, and Stay Sober
Grief, Addiction, and Early Recovery Grief and substance abuse are often linked. If left unresolved, the grief that a person experiences from loss can fuel their addiction whether it’s known to them or not. Being in the early stages of recovery makes a person especially vulnerable to the dangers of unresolved grief. In an article […]
The First Year of Recovery: 4 Ways to Stay on the Path
What is “Early Recovery?” There are many things that contribute to a successful first year of sobriety. This first year is often referred to as “early recovery.” General “recovery” usually refers to as the entirety of someone’s life in which sobriety is one of the central focuses. Early recovery has its own designation because it’s a […]
The Trouble with Alcohol and Xanax
To Mix or Not to Mix? Medications like Xanax, even if prescribed, should never be taken lightly. They’re still chemical substances that should be handled with care, especially when it comes to mixing with other substances. And alcohol is no exception. Generally, it’s better to avoid alcohol if you are taking Xanax since they both […]
Neuroplasticity: What It Is and What It Has to Do With Addiction
What is Neuroplasticity? The brain is one the most complex organs in the human body. It is composed of synapses, or small structures that neurons use to communicate with each another. Over time, some synapse connections can grow stronger, while others weaken as we get older. Because our brains are so adaptable, they change according […]
Sober Summer: 7 Tips for Fun in the Sun
What Dangers Does Summer Bring for Those in Recovery? Summer brings its own challenges for those in substance abuse and addiction recovery. More people get together outdoors and have special events like weddings and birthdays. With these activities, there’s more temptation to enjoy a few drinks and enjoy the summertime sun. After all, no one […]