Recovery

How can men in recovery prevent relapse? In honor of Father’s Day, I thought I’d discuss what some of the pitfalls are for men that put their recovery at risk. While these aren’t exclusively related to men in recovery or the only reasons why men relapse, these do seem to be the most common reasons.

1. They won’t give up the past. In order to prevent relapse, you have to give up the people, places and things of your past, especially those associated with your active addiction. This means finding new places to hangout, new things to do with your time, and new people to do them with. Some friends are willing to spend time doing things that don’t involve alcohol or drugs, but most of the time drinking or using buddies have to be avoided. In fact it’s best to avoid situations that involve any alcohol or drugs until you are well into recovery. Read more →

Knowing some of the stumbling blocks of recovery will help prepare you for some of the obstacles that may be ahead. You can never be too prepared, especially when first entering recovery. Here are a few of the stumbling blocks you might encounter in recovery and ways to overcome them.

1. The “Looking Good/ Feeling Good” trap. There’s a point in recovery when you start to get healthier. You feel healthier and you look healthier, so much so that from your appearance people might not be able to tell you ever had a substance abuse problem. The problem is sometimes your looks can improve faster than your ability to stay sober. Be careful if you feel others tempting you to slip or relapse or if you start to doubt that you ever had a problem in the first place. It’s a trap.    Read more →

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that brings up all kinds of emotions whether you are new to recovery, have been on this road for sometime now, or are thinking about entering recovery. It can be a painful reminder of the strain that substance abuse can put on relationships, or for some it is a day to celebrate the love in their life that has overcome their darkest days. Regardless of whether you tear up or cringe at the endless jewelry commercials, or swoon at the sight of heart-shaped candy boxes or one look and your teeth begin to ache, the one person who can be your Valentine is yourself. Celebrate YOU This Valentine’s Day Read more →

January has come and gone and so have many New Year’s Resolutions. The promise to lose weight, exercise more, and get one’s health back are all popular resolutions. So is the promise to find sobriety by stopping how much you drink or use drugs. And by February many find that their desired sobriety is more difficult to obtain on their own than they realized. It leaves many wondering, why is it so hard to change? And asking when to seek professional help?

It’s important to stress that being unable to stop drug or alcohol use on one’s own is not because of a lack of willpower or moral failing. To understand what you’re up against, you have to realize what drugs and alcohol do to your brain. They hijack the reward center of your brain, the part that controls motivation, desire, pleasure, memory, impulse. All of the things you need working for you, are working against you because of an imbalance in your brain chemistry caused by chronic use of drugs or alcohol. Read more →

People who are struggling with their drug or alcohol use often wonder at what point is substance abuse treatment necessary? It’s important to understand that substance abuse isn’t something that is quantifiable. It’s not about saying this number of pills a day is too many. Or thinking, well I don’t drink as much as so and so, therefore I must not need help. Substance abuse is when you continue to use drugs or alcohol regardless of the negative consequences it has on your life or health. It’s also important to remember that you don’t have to hit rock bottom before you seek help or encourage a loved one to seek help. Read more →

What is the first step when someone is hoping for recovery in the New Year? Where does one begin looking for relief from drug or alcohol abuse? When working towards recovery in the New Year, it’s important to remember that one size doesn’t fit all. Different people need different types of recovery plans, which is why we customize a program specifically to the needs of each individual we work with. It’s also why we begin every recovery program with a nutrition-assisted detox that addresses the damage caused to the brain from chronic use and better prepares an individual for the necessary changes that promote recovery. Read more →