A vacation is a great way to relax and reset, but for anyone in recovery, it can present some challenges. Travel is often stressful and sometimes feel like being on vacation means they’re also on vacation from recovery. Vacation also disrupts your normal routine, which can make sticking to your recovery plan more challenging. If you’re planning a vacation soon, here are some ways to stay sober while having fun.
12-step programs like AA and NA have been around for a long time and there are now meetings pretty much everywhere. There are now more than 100,000 AA meetings around the world. If you want to quit using drugs or alcohol, there is probably a 12-step meeting within walking distance of wherever you happen to be. Since 12-step programs are free and convenient, they are often the first thing people
Relapse is common in addiction recovery. According to a frequently cited article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, somewhere between 40 and 60 percent of people will relapse in the first year after addiction treatment. Although many are reluctant to say that relapse is part of addiction, it is at least very common. Contrary to popular belief, a relapse doesn’t come out of nowhere. It’s typically a process
There are many factors in a successful recovery. These include building social support, managing stress, working a recovery plan, and making healthy lifestyle changes. One thing people sometimes overlook is finding work that supports their recovery instead of endangering it. Some jobs make recovery much more difficult. These are typically jobs that are very high stress, have high risk of injury, or easy access to drugs or alcohol. If you
A big part of a successful recovery from addiction is making healthy lifestyle changes. This includes things like getting enough sleep, getting regular exercise, eating healthy, and keeping up with your recovery plan. These things have all been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, improve your mood, increase your energy, and help you think more clearly. The problem is that making these changes isn’t always easy. However, a regular routine
As we learn more about addiction, we increasingly find that it involves a complex interaction of body, mind, and spirit. While addiction was once believed to be a moral failing, then was thought of as a physical disease, we now know the reality is much more complicated. The mind and body are connected in surprising ways. Treating addiction effectively means addressing the problem on all three levels. Body When the
Most experts recommend that you have at least a year of sobriety before you start dating again. This can seem like an unbearably long time to some people. And relationships often form during treatment or 12-step meetings. However tempting these relationships might be, there are some very good reasons to hold off on romantic entanglements until your recovery is on solid ground. A year is typically enough time to become
Although addiction and treatment are similar in some ways for most people, no two paths are the same and so recovery is different for everyone. Your background and experiences make a big difference for your recovery. There are major differences, for example, between young adults and older adults. Men and women also have different needs in treatment. Recognizing some of the key differences between men’s and women’s recovery can lead
There’s a common myth among people with substance use disorders and their families that someone has to hit rock bottom before he or she can recover. The idea is that someone can only change if she wants to change and no amount discussion, rational argument, or imploring will convince someone to get help if she’s not ready. The only way for someone with a substance use disorder to see the
Although addiction and treatment have similar features for everyone, no two people are the same and so recovery is different for everyone. The circumstances of your life make a big difference for your recovery. There are significant differences, for example, between young adults and older adults. Men and women also have different needs in treatment. For a long time, men have been treated as sort of the default. However, recognizing
