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Researchers at the Harvard medical school have recently shed some light on what it takes to have a successful recovery, and it might not be what you’d think. In what researchers are calling the ‘longest investigation to date,’ 268 Harvard graduates and 456 poor, inner-city men were tracked from adolescence to age 60-70 years of age. And the study found that the poor, inner-city men were twice as likely as the Harvard men to remain in recovery. By age 60, 59 percent of the Harvard men still abused alcohol, while only 28 percent of the inner-city men did. (Harvard University Gazette)

One of the main issues the study addressed is that it was next to impossible for the men who abused alcohol to at any point return to social drinking without relapsing. This reinforces the understanding that in order to have and enjoy a successful recovery, one must abstain from any use of drugs or alcohol. Read more →

So you want to enjoy a long and successful recovery? You’ve made the decision to get clean and sober. You’ve gone through detox and entered a treatment program. Now you should be ready to begin a long and successful recovery, right? The hard part is over, right? Statistics show this isn’t always the case. So what are some of the things that you should be aware of while in recovery to help make it long and successful?

One of the most important things that ExecuCare stresses is undergoing nutritionally assisted detox for neurotransmitter restoration to bring balance back to the brain and address the physical component of addiction. This is a great first step in recovery because it cognitively prepares an individual. It enables the clarity of mind to make the necessary changes for a successful recovery, whether it be psychological, behavioral, social, spiritual, legal, etc.

According to Dr. David Sack, there are some signs that danger may be up ahead when it comes to recovery and risking relapse: Read more →

Stress management is a top skill needed for a successful recovery. Early detection and prevention of stress are key in managing it. Learning how to recognize stress and finding ways to combat it, are not the same for everyone and are not always easy. As we’ve discussed before on the blog, the relationship between addiction and stress is strong, so addressing stress management early in your recovery is crucial to preventing relapse.

Most people ignore early warning signs of stress. This causes the symptoms to worsen and increases the severity of the situation. Substance abuse and stress cause a vicious cycle. Drugs and alcohol are often used to self-medicate the uncomfortable symptoms of stress, but ultimately drugs and alcohol increase stress, further compounding the problem. Read more →