Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is categorized as a sustained, noticeable behavior on the part of an individual that involves being unable to control how much they drink or being unable to stop drinking despite the consequences. Examples of AUD behavior can include binge drinking, drinking and driving, or losing a job or custodial privileges due [...]
While many people may not automatically realize it, nutrition can be the thread that ties mind, body, and spirit together. If you’ve struggled to nourish yourself with a healthy, diverse diet during or after substance use, you’re not the only one. At St. Joseph Institute in Pennsylvania, your health and wellness are always a top [...]
If you’re already in residential treatment—or newly out of it—you might be wondering why you’re breaking down emotionally. When you live with substance use disorder (SUD), the brain’s reward and stress systems often change. For example, alcohol can seem helpful at first, activating pleasure systems and dialing down emotional pain. But with repeated use and [...]
Returning to a behavior you’ve worked to stop, like drinking, using, or gambling, is often called a relapse, and it can feel devastating in the worst of cases and defeating in the best. Still, relapsing may look different for everyone. For some, it’s one rough night that won’t be repeated. For others, relapse is one [...]
The process of recovering from substance use disorder (SUD) has no finish line. Understanding that can be overwhelming at first, especially during the early stages of recovery. But the lack of an end date also means that the chances to grow, improve, and build a life you love living continuously present themselves. At St. Joseph [...]
Feeling like you want to run away from your past, especially in recovery, is common. The memories of people you may have hurt, how you might have hurt yourself, and all the other moments you want to forget can be overwhelming. But embracing your future requires facing what’s behind you, too. You don’t have to [...]
Big changes can feel like a free fall, especially when they come back-to-back. One day, you’re living deep in substance use, unsure how you’ll ever get out. The next, you’re in treatment, beginning a new life in recovery. Then, just as you start to feel safe, another wave hits—you’re stepping down from inpatient care in [...]
If you or someone you love struggles with substance use, you may be worried about how it’s affecting their job or how caring for someone in recovery could impact your ability to work. Maybe you’re thinking about entering residential treatment in Pennsylvania, but fear you’ll jeopardize your income. These are deeply personal and stressful situations, [...]
You might be noticing strange or concerning behavior in a loved one. They might accuse you of plotting against them. They might claim they’re at the center of a government conspiracy or identity theft. These moments of paranoia may feel surreal or shocking, and you might not realize something’s medically wrong until it feels like [...]
At St. Joseph Recovery Center, we know that you may not always know you need help for substance use disorder (SUD) until negative effects clearly start to manifest. For some people, that might mean developing serotonin syndrome from illicit substance use. In a nutshell, serotonin syndrome means your body has too much serotonin, and this [...]
