The winter holidays can be challenging for many of our patients in residential recovery for alcoholism and substance abuse. A time of designated gift-giving, merriment, family time, and cozy atmospheres can bring with it triggers, stress, seasonal affective disorder symptoms (SAD), and relapse episodes. It can also be a time of profound reflection, reset, and [...]
When our clients arrive in Port Matilda to begin residential addiction treatment with us, they have to take the first few hours, days, and weeks one at a time. Jumping from chronic, active substance use disorder (SUD) symptoms to managing withdrawal symptoms during detox services is a curveball in itself. Everything must be taken in [...]
CBD is the most commonly used name for cannabidiol, a product of the cannabis sativa plant that doesn’t actually give you a high. Understandably, there’s some confusion about how a cannabis product can not cause intoxication, but think of this way: Cannabis Sativa is the mother of two daughters called Cannabis and Hemp. Cannabis is [...]
If you are completing residential addiction treatment with St. Joseph Institute in Port Matilda, you may be looking for sources of inspiration and hope to sustain you as you return home. At St. Joseph, we approach recovery with evidence-based methods, and we help our residents foster faith and spirituality. Our facility is named after the [...]
From Port Matilda to Philadelphia to across the United States, the sale and consumption of THC beverages is on the rise. While it’s younger people, mainly Millennials and Gen Zers that consume these cannabis-infused seltzer and alcohol-free cocktails, more and more diverse groups of people are noticing this new and intoxicating method of consuming THC. [...]
Gratitude in recovery isn’t just about thanking your loved ones for supporting you as you enter an addiction treatment program. It’s also not pretending that everything is fine. Everything isn’t fine all the time, and that’s normal. Recovery comes with challenges, setbacks, relapses, and growth. Gratitude is the practice of identifying and acknowledging positive aspects [...]
One tri-state area psychologist and author on dating topics, Paulette Sherman, explains that serial daters are people dependent on early-dating romance. The chase, the novelty, and the freshness of a brand new dating partner excites them in ways likened to substance abuse. Just like someone might feel thrilled and excited by doing cocaine or taking [...]
It’s no secret: married couples often experience disagreements, infidelity, financial strain, and, sometimes, tragedy. They can fail to be on the same page or feel like they’re falling out of love. Many factors can influence a divorce. However, research shows that alcoholism can be one of the driving factors behind a marital split. Many of [...]
If you’re in recovery or residential treatment for substance use disorder in Pennsylvania and thinking about stepping back into the dating world, we support you! It’s a huge step and we want all of our Port Matilda community members to be aware of the research around relationships in recovery before they take the plunge. It’s [...]
Three main areas in life can play a role in whether or not someone develops a substance use disorder (SUD), abuses drugs, or becomes exposed to alcohol and other intoxicants. These areas include genetics, living and working environment, and development and experiences throughout life. How Biology and Childhood Development Play a Role in Addiction Scientists [...]
