The Dangers of Fentanyl and Addiction
What is Fentanyl? Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. Producers make it in a lab and chemically modify it to be stronger than other opioids such as heroin or morphine. Doctors prescribe it to patients in severe pain, most commonly after serious surgeries. Although fentanyl is present in a number of legal prescriptions, it’s now increasingly […]
Living in Recovery: How Aftercare Can Help
What is Aftercare? Aftercare programs are one of the most important parts of the recovery process. They include any type of care offered after the detox or residential treatment. Now that you’re sober, aftercare programs focus on how to keep it that way. They offer tools, strategies, resources, and support networks to make sure you […]
Signs That You’re Enabling an Addict
“Enabling is helping a person in a way that feeds the dysfunction. Helping is being there for someone in a way that does not support the dysfunction.” — Dr. Noelle Nelson Addiction is a family disease. If you have a loved one that is suffering from addiction, you know this all too well. Whether a […]
How Can I Let Go?
As the year begins to fade and a new one draws near, we often worry about what we have completed but end up focusing on what we have not. We didn’t get the grade we wanted in that class we took. We didn’t get the promotion we had hoped for. We didn’t check off each […]
Staying Sober While On Vacation
We know that recovery is difficult. When there are added layers, however, recovery can be even harder to navigate. One of these added layers can be going on vacation. Your daily routine provides a sense of structure for your days. Without work, along with going away, you can feel a bit lost. Vacation can also […]
DBT Skill: ABC PLEASE
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) focuses on the present moment. Mindfulness can be helpful for individuals with depression, anxiety, a substance use disorder, or even someone without a mental illness! Everyone has mental health to nurture, and practicing mindfulness helps you do that. During mindfulness, you are focused on the present moment — what you are […]
What In My Relationship Triggered Me?
The Gottman Institute is a good resource for couples dealing with addiction in their relationships. They aim to “reach out to families in order to help create and maintain greater love and health in relationships.” Loving someone with an addiction can be a difficult thing. Or, maybe you’re the one with an addiction and you […]
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
There are many forms of therapy out there for people dealing with substance use disorders. Certain therapies work for some people, while others might not. If you are struggling with finding “the right type of therapy,” it is important to try out different types. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to […]
Can I Stay Sober Now that My Pet Died?
Anytime someone loses their beloved pet it will inevitably be a difficult time for them. Add trying to stay sober into the mix and you could find yourself in the risk of jeopardizing your recovery altogether, especially your emotional sobriety. Pets become a member of the family and the thought of having to go a […]
What Does “It Takes What It Takes” Mean?
Recovery has sayings and slogans that make people want to roll their eyes when they hear them over and over. What usually happens is that over time someone will have an ah-ha moment where they realize that annoying statement actually makes some sense to them. They finally get the drift of how the cliché will […]
