Sometimes life just sucks. I was desperate for something different. I grew up in a broken home, with a schizophrenic mom. As far as I can remember I was always asking myself why can’t I be like others. By others, I mean having both parents in the home and a mother that either didn’t have […]

Self-care in addiction recovery can be mood stabilizing. Whether you read a book, play a sport, or practice meditation, self-care is necessary. Self-care can include anything that helps you relax, enjoy life, or improve your mood. It can be as simple as getting a manicure, going to the spa, surfing, or even yoga. Whatever the […]

You have probably heard the expression, “Trust your gut.” At one time or another, we have all had the experience of not trusting and having things go south. What explains this phenomena? Part of it can be understood through vagus nerve which connects the gut lining to the brain. The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) lives […]

Whether or not you share with people that you’re sober from drug and alcohol addiction is a personal choice. Some people believe that their recovery is a part of their identity and choose to wear their story on their sleeve. These people candidly joke, “I don’t drink. I am allergic to alcohol. I break out […]

As humans we eventually learn that things don’t always go according to plan. As kids we don’t anticipate becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol, nor does anyone expect their child to develop addictions. Yet, these difficult things happen to many of us. Part of the process of healing from them is to grieve the loss […]

Social media is an incredible tool for self-expression and connection. However, the process of recovery often reveals a new self with different values and interests. The simple act of logging in to Facebook and seeing old photos and friends can bring up painful memories. Taking steps forward in a new way of life while messages […]

We live in a stressful world. Stress is almost as common as breathing. Did you know that many famous people have suffered from emotional stress too? Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Bill Russell, Alanis Morisette, Howard Stern and Oprah Winfrey all suffered from stress so much so that it affected their lives negatively. Bill Russell of […]

Surviving the success of Recovery You may think that is a strange statement – “Surviving the Success of Recovery”, however it is something that those of us in recovery need to be aware of. At times we will hear about alcoholics and addicts who have been sober for a long period of time and then […]