Family Members & Your Recovery In a perfect world, you could count on your parents, siblings, and other family members to always have your best interests at heart and to be supportive of your efforts to build a better future. Unfortunately, many of us have learned the hard way that our families are deeply flawed. [...]
Feelings of guilt and shame are common in the early stages of recovery, but moving forward requires you to find a way to process your emotions so you're no longer living in the past. Constantly thinking about past mistakes—regardless of their size or severity—can prevent you from making progress in your recovery journey. Sober Strategies [...]
Making the decision to seek treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction is a big step. It's normal to be afraid of what the future holds, but you can't let your fear keep you from pursuing a life free from the burdens of substance abuse. Get Educated Substance abuse is poorly understood by the general [...]
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” ― Carl Gustav Jung Breaking Free Recovery is a new chapter in the story of your life, but it's up to you to decide what happens next. By breaking free from the victim mentality that plagues so many people who are [...]
New Year's Day is the perfect time to reflect on your recovery journey by creating resolutions that will help you build the sober life you deserve. Everyone's recovery journey is unique, but the team at St. Joseph Institute for Addiction's Pennsylvania drug and alcohol treatment center has a few suggestions to help you choose resolutions [...]
Staying sober often seems like an impossible task in the first days of recovery. However, journaling is one self-care strategy that can help keep you accountable and on the right track. Understanding the Benefits of Journaling in Recovery There's no "quick fix" for drug or alcohol addiction, but journaling can offer a number of benefits [...]
Before you entered treatment, most of your free time was probably spent abusing drugs or alcohol. Now that you're in recovery, finding ways to fill your day will prevent boredom from triggering cravings. Try a New Hobby Recovery is the perfect time to reinvent yourself. If you've always wanted to learn to play the guitar, [...]
In the earliest stages of recovery, it's best to focus solely on self-care. However, once you've gone through withdrawal and built a foundation for sobriety, it's time to start thinking about how you can give back to others. Benefits of Giving Back in Recovery St. Francis of Assisi once said, “For it is in giving [...]
Alcohol abuse doesn't just affect the person with a substance use disorder. The effects of addiction also influence relationships with loved ones, especially spouses or romantic partners. Taking the time to better understand what relationship issues are linked to alcohol abuse can help you create healthier bonds as you move forward with your recovery. How [...]
Did you know that experts believe most Americans spend about 90 percent of their day indoors? Our modern lifestyles often don't provide many opportunities to naturally spend time outside, which means we need to make a conscious effort to head outdoors. If you're in recovery, you should make it a goal to spend at least [...]
