Harder to Hide The signs of addiction are often very subtle—especially in the early stages of a substance use disorder. This means that in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, they can be easy to miss. One unexpected effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is that quarantine restrictions have made it easier to spot potential [...]
Sober Support Networks Building a strong sober support network is one of the most important ways you can create the foundation for lasting sobriety. When you're not able to visit friends and family in person, staying connected can be a challenge. However, St. Joseph Institute for Addiction has compiled this list of fun ways you [...]
Stress Can Be a Relapse Trigger Substance use disorders are chronic illnesses, which means your long-term treatment plan must include a strategy to manage relapse triggers. Everyone's experience is different, but stress is a very common trigger for relapse. Although some sources of stress can be easily avoided, it's impossible to create a stress-free environment. [...]
Although everyone has good days and bad days, depression is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness that interfere with day-to-day functioning. Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders and can pose a significant threat to your recovery if it's not properly addressed. Depression as a Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorder Many people initially [...]
It's not always easy to tell if someone is struggling with a substance use disorder. Since the condition is classified as a chronic and progressive illness, someone can appear to be quite functional to the casual observer yet still have significant problems related to their drug or alcohol use. Understanding Terms If you are worried [...]
Talking to teens about substance abuse is never easy, but the conversation often proves particularly challenging for parents in recovery. At St. Joseph Institute for Addiction, we know that breaking the cycle of addiction is a top priority for many of the parents in our Pennsylvania drug and alcohol addiction treatment program. In this post, [...]
Women and Addiction Women who struggle with addiction often deal with intense guilt and shame regarding the impact their substance abuse has had on their children. However, it's important to realize that every mother worries about her parenting skills. Children don't come with instruction manuals, so we're all simply doing the best we can. At [...]
Although there's nothing wrong with dinner and a movie, sometimes you want a new sober date idea—especially if you're planning an outing for Valentine's Day, your anniversary, your sweetheart's birthday, or another special occasion. The team at St. Joseph Institute has put together this list of fun sober date ideas in the State College area [...]
Making the decision to seek treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction is a big step. It's normal to be afraid of what the future holds, but you can't let your fear keep you from pursuing a life free from the burdens of substance abuse. Get Educated Substance abuse is poorly understood by the general [...]
What Does It Mean to Put Sobriety First? Putting sobriety first means making a conscious choice to create an environment that promotes your recovery. It means you’re actively taking steps to avoid the complacency that puts you at risk of relapse following graduation from residential treatment. 1. Take It One Day at a Time When [...]
