Of course, having confidence and being mentally strong will undoubtedly help you maintain your sobriety. But that doesn’t mean that it will always be easy to find or tap into your inner strength. These tips may help you find the courage and strength you need. Be patient and kind to yourself. Unfortunately, negative thinking can …
Nature can play a pretty powerful role in your recovery – boosting your physical and mental health. For one, nature is a natural stress killer. Just think about how relaxed (in mind, body and spirit) you felt last time you spent an afternoon in the sunshine. Spending time in nature has been linked to lower heart …
There’s a fine line between helping and enabling a loved one struggling with addiction. But how do you tell the difference? And how do you know when your “help” isn’t actually helping and may even be delaying treatment? Let’s start by looking at the definitions: To help someone means to do something for someone else that …
Relapse triggers are a very real part of addiction – but you can take steps to fight back. Your first step: Identify your personal triggers. Next, create a plan to take action so they don’t threaten your hard-won sobriety. Here are a few common triggers to watch out for: 1. HALT: Hunger, Anger, Loneliness, and …
Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. We take about half a billion breaths over the course of our life and yet many of us don’t fully pay attention to our breathing. But learning to breathe deeply and consciously can be a valuable tool in your recovery. It’s simple and it’s pretty powerful when it comes to bringing more …
Psalm 46:10: He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Quiet time, or making an effort to unplug and remove yourself from such distractions as phones, electronics, social obligations, etc., can do wonders for your long-term sobriety. For one, …
It’s a common myth that treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction isn’t really needed until the individual has hit rock-bottom. And, work recently published by two UConn Health Researchers has refuted that misconception. Serving as guest editors for a special issue of the scientific journal, Addiction, Thomas Babor and Frances Del Boca conducted a …
Halfway houses. Dry houses. Sober living homes. While they may go by a variety of different names, the common denominator remains the same – they offer an extremely effective tool for preventing relapse. Typically, residents who choose sober living arrangements do so after completing an intensive inpatient treatment program and still need some additional support. …
It’s a staggering statistic. 17.5 million adults currently suffer from a serious mental illness according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). And, among those with behavioral health issues, four million adults also have a co-occurring addiction to drugs or alcohol. Given the fact that so many individuals need help for both …
Have you ever wondered why you sometimes crave spending time outside? What is it about fresh air and a little sunshine that have such a powerful effect on our mood? Multiple research studies have actually proven that the simple act of being outdoors can have a positive impact on virtually every aspect of our physical …
