The first weeks after you stop using can feel almost euphoric. Colors may seem brighter, sleep may come easier, and interacting with others may feel like you’re building bonds you never imagined were possible. People around you may notice how good you look and how happy you seem. It’s what we refer to as the [...]
You might roll your eyes a little when somebody says therapy can help treat substance use disorder (SUD). Fair enough. When you’re dealing with cravings, withdrawal, mood swings, intense shame, or a brain that seems determined to bargain against you, talking about feelings can sound stupid. But people in recovery programs usually need more than [...]
Maybe you’re the person who has the first cider donut of the season circled on the calendar. Or maybe you’re quite bothered that that 5 p.m. now looks and feels more like 9 p.m. But if you’re in recovery, transitioning into autumn may be more challenging than losing a little daylight. Your sleep, appetite, mood, [...]
If you've ever been a part of conversations about substance use disorder (SUD), you may have noticed something encouraging: people increasingly view it as a health condition instead of a personal failing. This thought shift doesn't mean SUD stigma no longer exists, but it can make it easier to seek help, talk openly, and recognize [...]
For some people, substance use disorder (SUD) means legal troubles. If there's a court date sitting on your calendar, or on the calendar of someone you love, the time beforehand may feel like it's on loan. But if you're dealing with the following legal situations, you may be closer to reclaiming your time in long-lasting [...]
In one Mesopotamian creation story, the sea-entity Tiamat created a host of creatures and filled their bodies with poison. Today’s overdose crisis isn’t mythological—it’s very much real. But it can feel like some vast, formless monster is filling up innocent bodies with poison. Especially as new substances appear in overdose cases. If you're living with [...]
You may or may not know the influential psychologist B.F. Skinner. Basically, he’s the guy who thought rewards and consequences could shape behavior in both lab rats and people. While some of his ideas still influence the psychological approaches in recovery treatment today, living without substances usually feels a lot less like training a lab [...]
If you lived through the 2008 housing crash (or even saw your parents navigate it), you probably remember how unsettling it felt to watch homes, a staple of daily life that felt guaranteed, suddenly become out of reach. For many adults today, close friendship can feel surprisingly similar. You may look around during recovery and [...]
Information is power in recovery, especially when the drug supply changes so quickly that even the government struggles to keep up. You may work hard to protect yourself, support a loved one in recovery, or stay informed about the risks around you, only to hear about yet another new, deadly substance showing up on the [...]
If you grew up with a father whose drinking came before everything else, you may still carry the weight of that experience—and anger if your dad won't get or stick with treatment. If you've ever wondered why he won't get help, you've come to the right place for understanding how AUD impacts his ability to [...]
