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 [...]
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” ― Carl Gustav Jung Breaking Free Recovery is a new chapter in the story of your life, but it's up to you to decide what happens next. By breaking free from the victim mentality that plagues so many people who are [...]
The New Year As the end of the year approaches, people often reflect on the past year, taking stock of their life and well-being. They see the New Year as a starting point for a new beginning. But for people in recovery, it is important to remember that making resolutions is not about perfection. It [...]
New Year's Day is the perfect time to reflect on your recovery journey by creating resolutions that will help you build the sober life you deserve. Everyone's recovery journey is unique, but the team at St. Joseph Institute for Addiction's Pennsylvania drug and alcohol treatment center has a few suggestions to help you choose resolutions [...]
Support from friends and family is a vital part of the recovery process. While you can't force your loved one who is abusing prescription opioid painkillers to seek treatment, there are several things you can do to help them recognize the severity of the problem and urge them to get the care they need. Educate [...]
If this is your first holiday season in recovery, you may find yourself wondering how you'll stay sober through months of parties with family and friends. At St. Joseph Institute for Addiction's Pennsylvania substance abuse treatment center, we recommend defusing potentially awkward situations by bringing a tasty non-alcoholic drink for everyone to share. You're Not [...]
The Christmas carol may claim that “it’s the most wonderful time of the year,” but for the majority of people who struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the winter months are anything but wonderful. While a small minority of people experience SAD in the spring or early summer, the bulk of sufferers struggle most during [...]
