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Olivia.Gillespie

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So far Liv Gillespie has created 95 blog entries.

Tips For Supporting Moms in Recovery

By |2025-04-20T21:49:44-04:00April 20th, 2025|Addiction Recovery, Recovery|

Recovery is hard, but what about recovery as a mom? Imagine waking up every day trying to hold yourself together while also trying to hold a family together. Daily pressures don’t pause just because she’s trying to recover. If anything, they intensify, and that’s the reality for many mothers navigating substance use disorder (SUD) in [...]

Recovery Reads That May Support Your Journey

By |2025-04-06T22:26:37-04:00April 6th, 2025|Uncategorized|

If you’re searching for a book to curl up with while you’re in recovery or hoping to recommend a resource to a loved one supporting you, you’ve found the right article. Below are a few books about recovery that can educate, comfort, and clarify your situation.  Impossible People: A Completely Average Recovery Story Recovering from [...]

Is Recovery Housing Right For You?

By |2025-03-24T11:46:38-04:00March 24th, 2025|Recovery|

Finding the right living environment can make or break your recovery journey. After completing residential treatment in Pennsylvania, recovery housing can offer a stable, supportive place to build a healthier lifestyle as you gear up to tackle independent living. What’s more?  Research supports the case for recovery housing and the effectiveness of its support services [...]

Substance-Free St. Patty’s Day Guide

By |2025-03-06T15:44:45-05:00March 6th, 2025|Healthy Living, Recovery|

Every year, millions of people around the globe celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. It’s a day of parades, shamrocks, and gatherings filled with festive energy that can often include heavy drinking. Temptations to drink and the cultural normalization of unhealthy drinking might trigger cravings for those in recovery for alcohol use disorder (AUD), [...]

A Guide To Recovery Slang

By |2025-02-28T10:56:22-05:00February 28th, 2025|Addiction Recovery|

The words people use in conversations about substance use can build bridges or reinforce barriers. Some well-known recovery-related terms carry a stigma, making it harder for clients and their families to find and get help without fear of judgment.  At St. Joseph Institute in Port Matilda, people can find a shame-free environment to heal, learn [...]

Understanding Rural Alcohol Use

By |2025-02-21T12:19:29-05:00February 21st, 2025|Alcoholism|

Would you be surprised to know that rural Pennsylvania communities have a harder time managing harmful alcohol use than city and suburban populations? The severity of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) can differ depending on where you live, and rural residents often deal with unique stressors that can worsen substance issues. Unfortunately, rural communities deal with [...]

From Philly Cheesesteaks to Football: Self-Care in Recovery 

By |2025-02-13T16:21:27-05:00February 13th, 2025|Addiction Recovery, Exercising, Recovery|

Recovery is a journey that challenges and strengthens you in unexpected ways. Along the way, one vital tool you can rely on is self-care. No, not bubble baths or shopping sprees—though those might help some people! Self-care is all about nurturing your emotional, physical, and mental well-being, especially in residential recovery at St. Joseph Institute. [...]

How He Knew He Needed Help: One Man’s Recovery Story

By |2025-01-30T14:59:39-05:00January 30th, 2025|Addiction Recovery|

Today we’re diving into the story of how Pennsylvania native, A.J. Daulerio, knew he needed help for substance use disorder (SUD). Daulerio suffered from addiction to multiple substances for years and told a prominent podcaster that he had no other option but to enter treatment due to several key moments: Despite achieving a high level [...]

Reward Ideas For Staying Sober

By |2025-01-27T10:06:58-05:00January 27th, 2025|Addiction Recovery, Articles, Healthy Living|

When should you reward yourself for reaching sobriety goals? How do you structure your routine to kick start motivation back into action when cravings strike? These are questions that many patients have in our Port Matilda residential addiction treatment program. Luckily, understanding how rewards and incentives work for the brain in recovery may support your [...]

Gummy Ghosts and Other Negative Side Effects of THC Gummies

By |2025-01-16T09:38:29-05:00January 16th, 2025|Addiction, Articles|

Here at St. Joseph Institute, we often hear intense substance use stories. But not all of them are sad. Some stories are funny and provide helpful tips for navigating legal substance use for people in Port Matilda, Wexford, and beyond. This particular story involves a beloved grandmother, THC gummies, and a guide for understanding the [...]