Is Excessive Drinking Taking Years Off Your Life?
Our culture conditions us to see drinking as a perfectly normal way to spend time with family and friends. Unfortunately, there is growing evidence that excessive alcohol consumption may actually be robbing us of precious years with our loved ones. [...]
How to Deal With Survivor’s Guilt After an Addiction Overdose
It's not uncommon to feel guilty after surviving an addiction overdose. Whether it was a close call, or you were quickly revived with naloxone and promptly taken to the nearest emergency room, the guilt can be overwhelming—especially when you've lost [...]
Prescription Painkiller Use as a Risk Factor for Heroin Addiction
When a doctor prescribes medication, it's only natural to assume that this is a safe and effective way to treat your condition. However, if you're being prescribed prescription painkillers for moderate to severe pain, you should be aware that opioid [...]
How to Avoid a Relapse After Treatment for a Substance Use Disorder: 4 Key Tips for People in Recovery
Substance use disorders are considered chronic illnesses, which means that relapse will always be a possibility. However, certain preventative measures can help reduce your risk of relapse as you transition from residential treatment back to independent living. 1. Understand Your [...]
Are You Supporting or Enabling? Here’s How to Tell the Difference
Enabling is often unintentional—and generally comes from a place of love. You hate to see your loved one suffer and want to make their life more manageable, but your actions cause more harm on a long-term basis. Some signs that [...]
Making Amends in Recovery
An active addiction can cause us to say or do things that are completely out of character. We may lie, cheat, or steal. We may lash out verbally or physically when confronted about our substance abuse. We may deeply hurt [...]
The Power of God’s Forgiveness in Recovery
A lasting recovery requires more than simply resolving to abstain from drugs and alcohol. You must work to heal your mind, body, and spirit so that you're no longer turning to addictive substances for comfort. Seeking God's forgiveness is part [...]
Denial and Addiction: How to Help Your Loved One Acknowledge the Need for Treatment
Denial can be a powerful coping mechanism when accepting reality seems too painful. Because addiction is often stigmatized, it's common for people with substance use disorders to be in denial about their condition. However, acknowledging the problem and being brave [...]
Tips for Making Friends in Recovery
Recovery is a time of new beginnings. For many people, that includes reevaluating old friendships and cutting ties with anyone who isn't supportive of their newfound sobriety. Ending toxic relationships can be painful, but you're not destined to be alone [...]
5 Tips for a Smooth Transition from Residential Addiction Treatment to Independent Living
Graduating from residential treatment is an important milestone in your recovery journey. As you prepare to return to independent living, you'll need to work on putting the skills you learned in residential treatment to work in the real world. Here, [...]
