For those of us who struggle with substance abuse, we may wonder: “Why me? Why do I tend toward addiction while others do not?” One’s individual risk of developing an addiction depends on a combination of factors. In the past, it was common for people to question and blame either nature or nurture. Now, however,
When an individual struggles with substance use and addiction, their physical and mental health are inevitably affected. For those of us in recovery, finding ways to foster good mental and physical health is essential for maintaining sobriety. Regular use of a sauna is one way to improve your recovery. Sauna usage is a holistic and
Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up. Considering how challenging adulthood can be, avoiding grown-up responsibilities might seem great. However, Peter Pan syndrome comes with a variety of issues. One of these unfortunately is an increased risk of substance abuse. Peter Pan Syndrome Also called failure to launch, Peter Pan syndrome is basically persistent
Addiction is a disease that impacts how our brains function. In recovery, we must address the physical components of addiction with detoxification and abstinence along with the choices we make daily. People who are interested in incorporating complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into their recovery may want to consider chiropractic care. Chiropractic care is a
Coping behaviors are normal and voluntary actions that we use to change how we feel in a situation. In particular, they help us manage or tolerate stressful situations. They can help us manage both internal and external stress. Coping is generally categorized into four main types: Problem-focused: Addressing a distressing problem Emotion-focused: Efforts to reduce
Many of us are animal lovers, feeling at ease when petting a dog or playing with a cat. Connecting with an animal, a horse included, can be calming and create a sense of safety and purpose. Animals affect how we feel and teach us many lessons in treatment and recovery. Focused time and working with
Many people seek treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) or other mental health conditions after they have hit rock bottom. It can be difficult to stay positive during recovery as there can be some incredible highs and lows. However, optimism has tremendous power to impact our recovery. The process of recovery is not easy, but
We may have long periods of chaos in our life, often created by our struggle with substance abuse. The commotion of addiction can make it hard to get far from our original stomping grounds and see other parts of the world. Now that we are in recovery, it may be the perfect time for some
We may have participated in many activities while struggling with substance abuse that no longer fit or are no longer safe for our new lifestyle. Alternatively, we may not have had many hobbies we enjoyed and turned to substance use frequently out of boredom. Now that we have gone through treatment and are sober, we
You took the hard step and went to treatment. It was a challenge, but you made it through. What now? Back into “real life,” where the structure of treatment doesn’t exist. Your first year of recovery after leaving treatment can be overwhelming, and you may feel like you are living in a foreign country where
