On the heels of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics March’s “National Nutrition Month®,” we wanted to discuss the importance of diet and nutrition in recovery. In every substance abuse recovery there is the goal of changing negative behaviors into positive ones. Eating right, relaxing and exercising all play an important role in helping you make these changes. Choosing to eat healthy is crucial to sustaining a healthy lifestyle.

We naturally assume that food affects our physical body but it also affects our mood. Deficiencies in amino acids and nutrients like folic acid and B-vitamins can have tremendous negative impact on how we feel. Sugar and caffeine are two big culprits in sabotaging one’s mood.
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Practicing mindfulness in recovery is a great tool. So what is mindfulness? Psychology Today describes mindfulness as “a state of active, open attention on the present. When you’re mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience.” 

How can this help in your recovery? Practicing mindfulness in recovery can help manage stress and prevent relapse. It’s been proven effective for building coping skills that arise from various psychological issues and that are often the reason one turns to drugs and alcohol in the first place. Mindfulness can be a great tool in helping to overcome urges and cravings. By fostering mindfulness you might notice: Read more →

Finding a healthy approach to Mardi Gras can be challenging. It is not a time of year known for its balance and moderation. In fact, those two goals seem to go against the essence of the season, and it can be a difficult time of year for someone in drug or alcohol recovery. But there are plenty of ways to enjoy the festivities without overindulging.

Laissez les bons temps rouler! Mardi Gras is a time of feasting that’s for sure. Maybe this year you could take a new angle of it and try some of the amazing, yet healthy restaurants that are popping up all over the city. Splurge a little this time of year on eating out and trying all the healthy options the city has to offer. Sip on juice or a smoothie instead of a Daiquiri as you stand on the neutral ground and yell for beads. To get that King Cake fix check out the low-sugar options at The Green Fork and Breads on Oak.

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Navigating the Holiday Season in Substance Abuse Recovery

For most people, the holidays can be a time of emotional highs and lows. Happiness and joy may abound, but so might loneliness, anxiety, and what’s known as the holiday blues. The latter can be a serious trigger for those in substance abuse recovery. What’s important is to be prepared. Planning ahead of time can help you navigate the holiday season and keep your recovery on track.

The memory is a powerful force, and the holidays can have some of the strongest associations of both good and bad times in the past. This is why the holiday blues can appear during such an otherwise festive time. When developing your holiday plan to keep your recovery strong, it should include the following: Read more →

Well into fall and nearing the holiday season, is a good time to think about what it means to cultivate gratitude in addiction recovery. Practicing gratitude can be a powerful force in our daily life. It’s more than just saying thank you to someone, it’s a commitment to let go of hostile and bitter thoughts about people or events in your life, and to invite appreciation into your heart and mind for all of the things you do have in your life. 

Gratitude in addiction recovery is about finding the important things in your life to be thankful for. And it can help you to release negative thoughts or emotions that may be holding you back in your recovery. Gratitude invokes positive thinking, which can improve your physical and mental well-being. It also gives you more energy and the type of outlook necessary to do things that will make your life better. People who cultivate gratitude in their life tend to experience more joy than others. Read more →

National Recovery Month is a time to celebrate those who have embarked on their journey into sobriety. It is also a time to reflect on what makes a recovery strong. There are many things you can do on a daily basis to help keep your recovery strong, whether you’ve been in recovery for weeks or years. 

One of the most important things that we like to emphasize during National Recovery Month is stress management. Stress can be a quick saboteur to recovery, regardless of how long you’ve been in recovery or how confident you might be. It’s always a good idea to take this time to check in with your self and see how you are managing. And remember, stress isn’t always about major life events, it can also be daily hassles that add up over time!

If you notice this National Recovery Month that your stress levels are inching their way up there, here are some ways to help you manage it: Read more →