Photo by Colton Sturgeon on Unsplash Holidays in general can feel overwhelming for a lot of people in recovery, particularly in the early days of sobriety. For many, they can be times for alcohol-fueled social gatherings, parties and special events. Halloween is certainly no exception and unless you’re a 12-and-under trick-or-treater, it’s a holiday that’s notorious for being …
Asking for help is one of the most challenging things many of us will face when we first get clean, and often throughout our recovery journey. Do the famous last words, “I’ve got this!” sound familiar to anyone? The thing is, if we’re die-hard addicts, we don’t “got this,” but most of us at one …
If you’ve been in recovery for any period of time, you’ve likely dealt with unpleasant experiences and difficult emotions. Feeling uncomfortable in recovery sucks and there are no two ways around it. Not only are we facing something we don’t want to deal with, but we no longer have a way to anesthetize. And then, of …
It’s fairly common in early recovery to start hearing people talk about the concept of a higher power, and how we can turn all of our problems over to this ambiguous entity. This is particularly true in twelve-step programs like AA and NA, and it can be a challenging concept to grasp for many, especially …
Grasping the Concept of a Higher Power in Recovery Read More »
I’ll never forget my early recovery days. I also remember seriously doubting that I’d ever have the same level of enthusiasm for recovery and life as most people with long term sobriety seemed to have. I maintain my recovery through AA, which has worked well for me, but everyone is different. Whatever keeps you sober …
Reasons why Recovery is where it’s at (from a Sober Addict) Read More »
Ah, sobriety, and the freedom that comes along with not being tethered to the bottle, the powder, the spliff, the compulsive behavior – whatever it is, you’ve managed to successfully set that substance or habit aside. Maybe it’s been a week, or a month, or even a year. No matter the length of sobriety time, …
The Importance of Support and Community in Recovery Read More »
Okay, so what exactly is “the real world”? The term gets thrown around pretty casually, and it can mean a lot of different things for a lot of different people. In sobriety, however, we’re simply talking about everyday life stuff – you know like work, friends, and social situations, among other things. For some of …
We often hear about the challenges surrounding getting clean, but rarely do people discuss some of the difficulties that can arise in recovery, both early and long-term. The reason why these things are important to address, however, is not just to help folks in recovery avoid a relapse. It’s to help you find the tools …
Managing Unhealthy Behavior Patterns and Process Addictions in Recovery Read More »
So many of us have been there – the sweaty palms, the sleepless nights, the anxiety and, for some of us, panic attacks. In active addiction, there always seemed to be a Band-Aid for these problems. These Band-Aids came in the form, perhaps, of a warm shot of whiskey or a narcotic. Or, for some, …
Overcoming food addiction is a lot easier said than done, and just the term “food addiction” is a controversial one. Whether or not you view food addiction as a distinctive disease phenotype, or simply an expression of strong habits or cravings, anyone who struggles with compulsive overeating patterns will tell you that giving up the …
