Avoid Relapse by Managing Cravings
Those who struggle with addiction know all too well the tug of cravings. They are the itch that begs to be scratched… and when one satisfies that craving, it is commonly referred to as relapse. We...
View ArticleStaying Sober During Football Season
Are you ready for some (sober) football?! We are well into pre-season football and many people are beginning to wonder, “can I do this sober?” Between football pools, fantasy leagues, and the party...
View ArticleWhat is SMART Recovery
What may work for some, will not work for others – finding a system that works for you is crucial to treating your substance use disorder. Some people seeking treatment often say they find the 12-Step...
View ArticleWays to enjoy a safe, sober Halloween
REMEMBER THAT HALLOWEEN CAN STILL BE SPOOKY, SAFE AND FUN. Don’t feel spooked in facing Halloween sober when there are many things you can do to still enjoy this pastime. Get back to basics and...
View ArticleHow to build a sobriety toolbox
What is a Sobriety Toolbox? Anything we can use as a safe coping mechanism to shift our current state of mind and our perspective on difficult situations is a worthy tool for sobriety. This time of...
View ArticleHow to Socialize With Your Co-workers When You Don’t Drink
Browsing your work inbox one day, you come across the following message: Subject: Holiday Party cc: All Departments The rest of the email contains the where and when, but all you can focus on is the...
View ArticleExercise – The Secret Weapon to Recovery
We recently came across an article written by our friends at Northstar Transitions that, based upon a recent study performed by the University of Buffalo, asked the question: Can exercise help prevent...
View Article6 Ways to Stay Sober on New Year’s Eve
You made it through the Christmas holiday unscathed. Now you have to combat one of the biggest parties of the year: NEW YEAR’S EVE. Before the temptation of a champagne toast takes over, be proactive...
View ArticleMy Sponsor Overdosed, But Let’s Start From The Beginning
I entered into treatment in December 2015 – it was my mother’s birthday. I spent 42 days at an in-patient facility in Georgia – that’s how I met Shea. He was on the kitchen staff and we became friends...
View ArticleFacing Grief and Loss in Recovery
I remember I was sitting in my car in the parking lot of a One Stop gas station when Mom called to tell me my grandfather, who I affectionately called Papa, had passed away. As if the initial shock...
View ArticleSix Strategies for Staying Connected while Socially Distancing
To protect ourselves from the coronavirus, many of us are being told to isolate indoors when possible. This poses a unique challenge for those who suffer with addiction. Isolation is sneaky and it...
View ArticlePutting Yourself First in Recovery
The term self-centered has a negative connotation, and understandably so. In most areas of life, being self-centered is undesirable. In recovery, being self-centered has another meaning – deciding to...
View ArticleRegrets of the Alcoholic (Don’t Go There)
In what is probably my least favorite Frank Sinatra song, old blue eyes croons, “Regrets, I’ve had a few – but then again, too few to mention…” Too few to mention? Really? As a recovering alcoholic,...
View ArticleLong Term Sobriety: Making it Stick
A friend of mine, who’s been sober for a few years now, is quite the raconteur. I love to hear her tales of drunken mayhem and redemption. She’s a female Tom Waits – Nighthawks at the Diner kind of...
View ArticleRecovery Work Starts With Finding The Self
We know that an addiction is used by an individual to avoid something that is unwanted. The unwanted is related to interpretations and perceptions each client experiences. These include feelings as...
View ArticleWhy not check out that AA meeting?
The longer I’m sober the more I realize that not a lot of people get sober via AA nor do they stay “in” the program after getting sober, and so I sometimes take on the AA spokesmodel persona and...
View ArticleGrief and Loss is Tricky and Unpredictable
The best definition of grief that I have found to date is that “grief is the normal and natural emotional reaction to loss or change of any kind.” I like this definition because generally speaking when...
View ArticleHow to Approach a Loved One Struggling with Chemical Dependency
For many, there’s nothing worse than watching a loved one struggling with chemical dependency. You may want to help them, but not know the best approach. This is particularly true when addiction is...
View ArticleEnergy Drink Addiction – Chasing the High
Energy Drink Addiction – Chasing the High Addiction to Energy Drinks is common among young adults We live in a volatile time. We are a society addicted to more. Every time one turns around there is...
View ArticleThe Art of Alcoholism
My friend Tall Girl and I were having an email conversation. She had just come back from New York and she was telling me about going to MOMA and seeing “her favorite Jackson Pollack” on display.I said,...
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