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
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
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
Humans are creatures of habit; we tend to drive the same way to work every day and drink the same brand of milk. Habits are our brain’s efforts to make things easier. When things become habitual, it takes less pre-frontal cortex effort to make decisions and thus is less energy demanding. This can be a
When we search for behaviors surrounding substance abuse, we will likely find evidence that points to a lack of boundaries. A boundary could also be called a limit or a dividing line, which lies between what is acceptable for you and what is not. Before seeking treatment, this may not be a concept that we
When we have wronged others, especially loved ones, or experienced harmed ourselves, we often seek forgiveness as a way to find peace within ourselves and our community. You may have felt out of control and injured others and yourself during your struggle with substance abuse. It may help to know that this is normal. Since
Going through recovery can be a challenging and lonely road. Inevitably, recovery isolates us from communities we have previously engaged in. Throughout the process of recovery, there are many ups and downs that we do not always have the tools to persevere beyond. This is why community support, which looks different for each person, can
