Emotional vulnerability and loneliness are two major challenges people face in addiction treatment and recovery. Pets can alleviate some of the stress associated with these challenges. By the time you began detox treatment, you may have already distanced yourself from old contacts who also led an addictive lifestyle. You have entered a new recovering community … Read more
If you have been using drugs and alcohol for a long time, you have forced your body into an unhealthy habit of depending on harmful substances while potentially forgoing nutrients from a healthy diet. Some people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol may even withhold from eating altogether. When you begin treatment, your physical … Read more
Do you ever feel depressed starting in autumn and experience these blue moods through the winter months? Maybe you find yourself in depressed moods that show up in predictable cyclical patterns. Seasonal changes or cyclical biological shifts can affect your mental health. For example, the less sunny months of a year tend to be related … Read more
Anxiety is the most common type of mental health issue around the world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainty and anxiety have affected everyone. For people in recovery from addiction, it is crucial to observe your state of mind and stop anxiety in its tracks before it causes your recovery journey to backslide. When you feel … Read more
Do you think of yourself as a creative person? The fact is that every one of us was born with the innate gift of creativity. Creativity encompasses our ability to think, perform, make, or produce something that never existed before by way of imagination, original ideas, or materials. Some are encouraged to continue with it, … Read more
Nearly everyone feels stressed from time to time, including young children. Stress is necessary for our survival instinct: stress hormones trigger the body’s “fight or flight” response, leading to rising heartbeats, quickened breaths, and tightening muscles. However, too much stress can be dangerous. In today’s fast-paced world, most people agree that stress can negatively affect … Read more
After quitting drugs and alcohol, you may find you suddenly have a lot of free time. The good thing is, you need a lot of time to reset. Some people adapt to new routines faster. They like to have a full daily schedule, which provides them a sense of control. But when recovery is full … Read more
For people who are going through addiction recovery, motivation is an irreplaceable engine. In fact, many recovery centers interview new clients about the sources of their motivation for starting treatment. Therapists and counselors probe into this area because motivation is critically important for recovery. During treatment and recovery, your level of motivation may not always … Read more
Have you ever tried to write down your thoughts and emotions when going through life’s challenges? For a long time, people have used journaling to cope with life’s challenges, including anxiety, stress, injustice, and disease. Its therapeutic benefits are well-known and manifold. Those who journal often experience uplifting freedom and relief. They develop more self-awareness … Read more
Scientists and counselors often used a life course paradigm to categorize the entire spectrum of recovery into five stages: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. However, within the action stage, when you enter into treatment, this part of recovery can also break down into four additional stages: withdrawal, honeymoon, the wall, and adjustment. Among these, … Read more
