Spirituality is integral to the recovery process for many people struggling with substance use disorder (SUD). Many aspects of treatment, including the 12-Step philosophy and experiential therapies, provide an opportunity for spiritual healing. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in one program that utilized The Twelve Steps, “21% of the…
DetailsWhen it comes to getting treatment for addiction and seeking long-term recovery, there are challenges that many people don’t anticipate. For one, they may not even know where to begin. Although there are many treatment centers, it can be difficult to get the help you need. There is also cost to be factored in, as…
DetailsWhy does it feel so good to be outside? Being out in the sun, feeling the breeze and breathing in the fresh air, hearing birds, seeing trees, lakes, mountains, and maybe even the occasional wild animal, all have a way of invigorating our spirits. Scientific studies suggest that one reason it may feel so good…
DetailsBy the time many people reach an advanced age, they begin taking prescription medication. It’s now common even for people in their thirties to be on several prescription drugs, which often are added to throughout the years. This leads to the view that taking highly addictive prescription drugs (including opioids) is simply another part of…
DetailsSince the 1960 release of Alfred Hitchcock’s seminal masterpiece Psycho first terrified the public, the word “psycho” has been used and misused in our vocabulary. We use words like psychotic, psychopath, and psychodrama, but what do they mean? Despite its association with Hitchcock’s film villain Norman Bates, the word psycho actually derives from the Greek…
DetailsFor many people, being a parent is a normalized experience with common, shared roles among people of varied backgrounds. Many people find that becoming a parent fulfills a major life goal, giving them a purpose toward which they direct their energy. While becoming a parent may be one of the greatest achievements we can have,…
DetailsAs human beings, the unique identifiers we place on ourselves are some of the most important aspects of our existence. We define ourselves even without realizing it, by our jobs, education, hobbies, likes, dislikes, and intersectionalities. These concepts combine to form our singular sense of self. They define us in every interaction. Our identifiers provide…
DetailsIn our world, women often face challenges and barriers in life experiences that are not necessarily felt by men. In the realm of addiction recovery, women may experience a greater degree of abuse that can lead to higher rates of substance use and the need for treatment. Trauma that occurs during childhood is devastating and…
DetailsSome of our happiest memories are the ones we spend our lifetimes trying to continually recreate. When we think of these times (for example, birthdays, Christmas mornings, and Thanksgiving dinners at our grandmother’s house), we remember everything we liked and keep those memories with us. Unfortunately, some of our strongest memories tend to be the…
DetailsHere you are. You have completed a treatment program and have moved on to the recovery phase of treatment. Everything is going great, and you should be the happiest you have ever been–but for some reason, you cannot shake that feeling of being down on yourself. Maybe it is a new feeling, or maybe it…
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