Recovery
Drug and alcohol addiction is a complex and chronic condition affecting millions of people worldwide. As anyone battling with it knows, the process of overcoming addiction can be arduous and ugly, and many will go through countless demoralizing attempts to get well on their own...
Recovery
Taking Pain Medication in Recovery: One Woman’s Experience
When I was preparing to have my first daughter, I was 11 years sober, very active in a 12-step fellowship, and pretty confident about how things should be done. That confidence extended to all things recovery—obviously—but also to my birthing plans. I prepared for a...
Mental Health
Depression or just the blues? Here is how to tell
Especially around this time of year – late winter, before the signs of spring spark some joy – feeling a bit blue is common. The thrill and magic of the holidays are past, and the warmth and promise of summer is still a way off....
Trauma
Trauma-Informed Treatment: What it is and Why it Matters
If trauma suddenly seems like a hot topic in the recovery world, rightly so. In recent years, everyone from behavioral health experts to recovering addicts seems to have caught on: trauma matters. Not only does a history of traumatic experience make people more likely to...
Addiction
Why Giving Up Your Phone Addiction is the Next Right Thing
Smartphones – and the wonders of information and distraction they contain – are powerful tools that were supposed to make our lives better. In theory, having the world at your fingertips and the ability to instantly connect with people everywhere is helpful. Yet, more and...
Lifestyle
Why Self-Compassion is the Medicine You Need
Turns out, “tough love” isn’t so loving. For generations, as a culture, we prized a stiff-upper-lip ethos that celebrated toughing it out, never complaining and never explaining. This stern, rather ruthless approach to self-improvement seemed like the surest way to self-discipline ourselves through challenging times...
Treatment
Everything You Need to Know About EMDR
Consider this – 75% of people undergoing addiction treatment report a history of trauma. According to researchers, the risk for substance abuse rises by as much as four times for people who experienced trauma early in life. For those who experienced multiple or repeated traumatic...
Addiction
Is it Time for a Screen Detox?
To start, let us say this: if you are new to recovery and just getting your life in order, first things first. In this case, recovering from substance abuse or alcoholism should be a top-shelf priority. But if you’ve been around a little while, and...
Lifestyle
New Year, New You? How to Make Resolutions That Stick
Every year around this time, the drumbeat of self-improvement begins. We are going to hit the gym 5 days a week, cut out processed foods, re-commit to personal growth, or finally write that memoir. You name it, someone’s committed to it one January. Nevertheless, most...
Lifestyle
Home for the Holidays: Advice for Dealing with Difficult Families
It’s a tale as old as time: braving the holidays with families that are less than, say “perfect.” Perhaps yours is so far from perfect they might be considered positively dysfunctional. Maybe there is a history of alcoholism or mental health struggles, or maybe they...
Recovery
What Is Unique About Scottsdale Providence Recovery Center?
In this segment of our video series, Dr. Carl Schwartz discusses what is so unique about Scottsdale Providence Recovery Center. The tailored experience offered to each individual offers a powerful recipe for healing. Learn more or find treatment at our website www.scottsdaleprovidence.com Scottsdale Providence was...
Addiction
Can You Be Addicted to Shopping?
Ah, ‘tis the season. Yes, for holiday celebration, but also for an unbridled consumer free-for-all, when most of us overindulge in our national pastime, shopping. While shopping during the holiday season can bring the warmth and cheer that comes with gift-giving, it can have a...
Lifestyle
The Science of Gratitude
This Thanksgiving, why not give the holiday some added meaning and connect to something deeper? More than just a feel-good platitude, numerous studies have been published over the last decade singing the praises of gratitude for improving everything from mental well-being to physical health and...
Mental Health
Is Neurofeedback Therapy Right For You?
Neurofeedback is an evidence-based therapeutic intervention that has a number of benefits. It uses technology to help train the brain to function more optimally and help people become more adaptive, resilient, and efficient. Just as a mechanic can assess the condition of your car, neurofeedback...
Lifestyle
How to Survive the Holidays Sober
Newly sober? Long-sober but still suffering? The holidays can be a mixed bag. Maybe you’re dreading them because they’ve long been associated with drinking and using. Maybe you’ve got a tough family and are expecting conflicts and drama. Or maybe you are among the countless...
Mental Health
Everything You Need to Know About Seasonal Affective Disorder
Have you been noticing a bit of malaise creeping in as fall rolls around? If so, you’re not alone. But is it more than just a case of the blues? It could be signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Read on to find out…. About 5%...
Addiction
How to Know it’s Time for Rehab
Wondering if it’s time to go to rehab? Chances are, if you’re reading this, the answer is yes. Jokes aside, here are some guidelines for those who are unsure if their “partying” has crossed a line. You Are Having Health Issues If you are having...
Lifestyle
More Than a Feeling – Why Gratitude is the Cure for What Ails You
“I try hard to hold fast to the truth that a full and thankful heart cannot entertain great conceits. When brimming with gratitude, one’s heartbeat must surely result in outgoing love, the finest emotion we can ever know.” ― Bill W., Co-Founder, Alcoholics Anonymous Gratitude,...
Recovery
Life 101: Going Back to School in Recovery
Many of us who have recovered from alcoholism or drug abuse reach a point when we are struck by a strong urge to rebuild our lives and make up for time lost. For some, this leads to a decision to go back to school. Perhaps...
Mental Health
Anxiety in America is Skyrocketing
For the first time ever, a panel of US experts is urging those under 65 across the country to get screened for anxiety. The draft recommendations come from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an influential group of medical experts, and were created to help...
Recovery
A Team You Can Trust: Meet Our Staff
As one of Arizona’s leading treatment facilities, with years of success stories under our belt, we believe our greatness lies in our staff, the very heart of our center, a team you can trust. At Scottsdale Providence, we have assembled a world-class team of seasoned,...
Recovery
Is a Sober Living Home Right for You?
Getting ready to leave treatment and feeling unsure about your next steps? Are you wondering if a sober living home is right for you? Leaving the safety of treatment can be scary! Most people will be faced with returning to their jobs, families, and friends...
Mental Health
Jump for Joy: Mental Health and Your Workout
By now, you don’t need to be convinced that exercise is good for you. You’ve probably heard it is the single greatest thing you can do for your overall health and longevity; that it can help you look better, sleep better, and feel better. But...
Lifestyle
How to Build a Meaningful and Intentional Morning Routine
How you start the day matters. We believe that taking some time first thing in the morning to be intentional about the day ahead can completely change the flow and texture of your experience. And although we are part of a culture that “optimizes” everything...
Lifestyle
In Sickness and In Health: Can You Get Sober When Your Partner is Still Using?
If the early days of recovery have you questioning even your nearest and dearest relationships, you aren’t alone. We are here to assure you that it is normal, and even warranted, to be concerned that your partner’s drinking or using might impact your chances of...
Recovery
Is CBT Beneficial During Addiction Treatment?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy treatment that offers a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving. We at Scottsdale Providence Recovery Center believe that our thoughts and beliefs shape our behaviors, and by using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, we can change false beliefs...
Lifestyle
How to Stay Sober Long-Term
First off, if the sound of staying sober long-term sounds like a death sentence, I feel you. I too, once thought that life without a drink sounded impossible, if not downright dreary. What about the weddings, New Year’s Eve, 4th of July barbeques, and all...
Addiction
Is it Dangerous to Withdrawal from Benzos?
Benzodiazepines—often known as “Benzos”—for short, is the class of drug that includes Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin, among others. These act as central nervous system depressants that work by slowing brain activity, and are generally prescribed to treat alcohol withdrawal, anxiety, panic attacks, and seizures. While...
Treatment
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that teaches people how to recognize and change harmful or troubling thought patterns that affect their behavior and emotions. CBT focuses on modifying ingrained negative thinking patterns that can exacerbate emotional problems, sadness, and anxiety. As...
Recovery
Choosing the Right Scottsdale Treatment Center
Navigating the complex world of addiction treatment can be daunting. There are literally thousands to choose from–and a seemingly endless array of treatment approaches. If you’re new to the world of recovery, seeking help for a loved one, or on your 5th stint in rehab,...
Mental Health
May Is Mental Health Awareness Month
In the US, nearly 1 in 5 adults live with mental illness, and according to researchers, almost two-thirds of those affected never seek help. This May, we are honoring national Mental Health Awareness Month to raise awareness of the challenges faced by those experiencing anxiety,...
Addiction
An Overdose Every 5 Minutes in America: The Latest OD Stats are Staggering
For the last few years, we’ve kept a close eye on the annual overdose stats and faithfully reported what we have observed. Each year in America, the deaths associated with ODs rose, surpassing the deaths from AIDS, car crashes, and guns at their peaks. While...
Addiction
The Family’s Role in Addiction Treatment
The old adage is true: addiction is a family disease. And as such, a family can play an essential role in a loved one’s treatment and recovery. As addiction can take a massive toll on a family’s wellbeing, getting help for yourself while the addict...
Mental Health
What is EMDR and Can it Help You?
People with PTSD often have a hard time making sense of what happened to them after a traumatic event. It’s believed that past traumatic experiences continue to cause problems in our lives when the memory of that experience is not processed properly. EMDR is a...
Addiction
Signs a Loved One May be Addicted to Pills
Prescription drugs – much like anything else – can be lifesaving when used as intended but can often turn into an addiction. No one should have to suffer from extended pain or other debilitating conditions. When over-the-counter drugs won’t cut it, such as when recovering...
Addiction
Stages of Withdrawal
Millions of people suffer from the life-altering impacts of drug and alcohol addiction every year including the negative effects of withdrawal. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, up to 40.3...
Addiction
Managing Co-occurring Disorders in Recovery
A co-occurring disorder is defined as having a substance abuse disorder as well as one or more mental health issues. These can be tricky to navigate while still in the throes of addiction as one issue often amplifies the other. Many people resort to self-medicating...
Recovery
What Does Evidence-Based Rehab Treatment Mean?
Evidence-Based Rehab Treatment has become such a buzzword in the mental health and substance abuse treatment communities that it is frequently used without any explanation. While the name “evidence-based treatment” gives a hint, the subtleties are frequently lost or left unclear to the general public...
Mental Health
Mental Health Outlook Remains Grim Post Pandemic
A recently released report indicates that mental health worldwide continues to be on a downward trend. The Mental Health Million Project of Sapien Labs last week issued its second report that compiled data from over 34 countries. All over the world, it found a continued...
Addiction
Do’s and Don’ts of Early Recovery
If you are just starting out on what is, hopefully, a lifelong journey of recovery, it might seem like tough going. We get it and have been there. Early recovery can be marked by anxiety, depression, regret, and fear about the future. Not to mention...
Addiction
Are We Having Fun Yet? When Early Recovery is Harder Than You’d Like
If you’ve been “overusing” drugs and alcohol for years, your life is probably in pretty rough shape. It’s easy to think that simply putting down the booze and drugs is the answer to all your problems – that getting clean will make the mess disappear...
Addiction
Why You Should Take Slowing Down Seriously
When I stumbled into a 12-step program in my twenties, in an effort to salvage what was left of my life, I found myself overrun by feelings of panic, remorse, and general anxiety. I sought out help because I was tired of feeling broken and...
Mental Health
Are the 12 Steps Enough? Debunking the Stigma of Outside Help
Are the 12 Steps A Cure-All? When I first arrived in a 12-step program, at a tender young age, I had a truckload of issues tailing me. I felt broken and irreparable, and as if I qualified for every 12-step program under the sun. My...
Recovery
5 Ways to Develop An Attitude Of Gratitude
We talked before on this blog about just how super potent gratitude can be for improving your level of satisfaction with life. More than just a perspective, practicing gratitude is linked to improved physical health and mental well-being. It’s associated with better sleep, more energy,...
Recovery
Keeping Recovery Fresh
As a newcomer to a 12-step fellowship, I recall looking around and thinking – with utter despair – “is this my life now?” From that grungy church basement, it didn’t look too promising. Little did I know that years later, rooms like that would become...
Recovery
What to Expect in Treatment
Here we aim to answer some of the most common questions about drug treatment, the recovery process, and the various options for addiction help. How do you know if you need help from a treatment center? You know that it’s gotten bad, but is it...
Lifestyle
Old Friends or New Life? Choosing Right Relationships in Early Recovery
People, Places, and Things. Sometimes in treatment centers or 12-step groups we hear this phrase thrown around. It suggests that in order to recover from alcoholism or drug addiction, we must change every aspect of our lives—who we hang out with, where we go, the...
Lifestyle
Do or Don’t? Dating Someone in Early Recovery
Is dating a newly sober alcoholic or addict a recipe for disaster? Here we offer some food for thought: If you are in recovery yourself or not, you may have had an opportunity to date an addict or alcoholic who is trying to get well....
Addiction
Detox: Is it Safe to Do at Home?
Detoxing at home from alcohol or benzodiazepines (drugs like Valium, Xanax, Ativan), can seem easier, less expensive and more comfortable, but can also pose serious health risks. Most people are unaware of the potential dangers of withdrawal and are often surprised to discover that abruptly...
Recovery
How Much is Too Much? Screen Time in the time of COVID
Here at Scottsdale Providence, we are committed to the overall wellness of our community. It’s at the core of our mission, and it goes far beyond just treatment. We are here to support our client’s lifestyles and health in smooth sailing and rough waters. As...
Recovery
Facing Failure in Recovery
In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, AA’s co-founder, Bill W., describes a trip he takes to Akron, Ohio. He is newly sober—six months—and is pursuing a business venture that he desperately needs to go well. Not only does the business not go well, but...
Addiction
How to Help An Addict
To anyone wondering how to help an addict, here is the bottom line up front: You can’t fix them—there is no magic solution. Your support is helpful. Your indulgence is not. However, you can make the situation better for everyone by helping yourself. We know...
Addiction
Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholism or Addiction
Oddly, it can be astonishingly difficult to diagnose oneself as an alcoholic or an addict. Our lives can be burnt to the ground, in smoldering flames all around us, and yet we still can’t see it. The spectacular levels of denial and delusion surrounding addiction...
Lifestyle
Recovery 101: Eating Healthfully and Feeling Sane
The holidays are upon us! For many, these celebrations center around festive meals with family and friends. Afterward, who hasn’t lamented the overindulgence and vowed to get back on track in the new year? But for alcoholics and addicts in recovery, finding a normal relationship...
Addiction
“He Did Not Want to Die”: Inside Fentanyl’s Deadly Rein
Swainson Brown was a beloved chef at a restaurant on Shelter Island, near New York City. One night in August, he consumed cocaine, which authorities said he had no idea was laced with fentanyl. Mr. Brown was among six people in the community who died in three...
Recovery
How To Enjoy The Holidays Without Losing Your Mind
Well, it’s that time again. Love it or leave it, the holiday season is upon us. Although this time of year brings both joy and stress to most, for those in recovery it can present additional pressure and worry. From intense relatives to boozy holiday...
Recovery
How Long Do You Need to Stay in Treatment?
Let’s be honest—choosing the right treatment center for the right length of time can make the difference between life and death for someone struggling with addiction. And figuring out how long you should stay for the best chance of success can be confusing! Here are...
Addiction
The New Meth Crisis
For years now, we have heard about the seemingly never-ending scourge of the opioid epidemic. In fact, on this blog, we have written extensively about the soaring rates of overdoses associated with opioids that break records each year. Turns out, a parallel crisis exists, but...
Mental Health
4 Ways You Can Reduce the Stigma Around Mental Health
This year alone, over 47 million Americans are reportedly experiencing mental illness, according to Mental Health Alliance, a US-based non-profit. As common as they are—judging by the numbers—mental health issues often remain taboo or shameful, and often elicit little of the empathy and support shown...
Lifestyle
Mind, Body, Spirit: How Yoga can Support Recovery
Often we hear that recovery is “Mind, Body, Spirit.” Many people in treatment for substance abuse have long mistreated or neglected their bodies, not to mention their minds and spirits. That said, finding a restorative physical practice can be a vital component of a well-rounded...
Recovery
How to Choose the Arizona Treatment Center That’s Best For You
With many options for rehab in the Scottsdale area, choosing the best treatment center can be overwhelming! Here’s where to start. Naturally, for families and individuals considering treatment, choosing the right center can feel like a life and death decision – because it often is!...
Addiction
Why This National Recovery Month Matters More Than Ever
September is National Recovery Month—a time when people whose lives are touched by addiction, alcoholism, and substance use disorder come together to raise awareness of the problem and celebrate stories of hope and change. Scottsdale Providence is proud to join in the celebration. This year,...
Lifestyle
How to Start a Meditation Practice
For many in the recovery community, developing a spiritual life has been an absolute necessity to find some peace and sanity. Most of us have found that once we put down the drink, drugs, or behavior that’s been holding us back, we are in desperate...
Substance Abuse
America’s Overdose Problem
As we’ve written about before on this blog, America is in the midst of an overdose epidemic of epic proportions – and it seems to be getting progressively worse. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) just released their annual statistics on the country’s overdose deaths,...
Recovery
Your Post-Pandemic Sanity Guide
4 strategies to help you return to life in person after finding recovery online Let’s face it – it’s been a tough year. The coronavirus pandemic brought with it unprecedented new levels of stress, uncertainty, and economic insecurity. Many battled with grief, upheaval, and diminished...
Mental Health
How Somatic Experiencing can Help You Treat Trauma and Addiction
Many people on the road to recovery have discovered that taking a deeper dive into the underlying drivers of their addiction is core for contented, long-term sobriety. While many 12-step groups offer great foundations for addressing these issues, many have found that therapy and complementary...
Mental Health
Can Somatic Experiencing Help You?
Josie* had been in recovery for many years and thought she was doing pretty well. When she started dating seriously, she suddenly found herself grappling with intense anxiety, seemingly out of nowhere. Her years of clean and sober living and solid foundations in recovery weren’t...
Addiction
How, Where, and When to Try EMDR
EMDR, also known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a powerful treatment modality often used with people who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma-related distress. Research indicates that trauma and addiction often go hand in hand, making EMDR a natural addition...
Mental Health
Everything You Need to Know About EMDR
Here at Scottsdale Providence, we believe in offering our clients the best range of evidence-based, research-backed treatment modalities to help them find lasting recovery from substance abuse, mental health and behavioral issues, and trauma. EMDR is one such modality our team is passionate about. Otherwise...
Addiction
What is an Addict?
What exactly makes someone an addict, an alcoholic, or a substance abuser? For those struggling with substance abuse habits that are causing problems, figuring out how to get your life back on track can be overwhelming, especially when doing it on your own. We sat...
Addiction
Twin Pandemics: Overdoses are More Common and Deadly than Ever Before
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published its ever-more grim overdose statistics, and it’s not looking good. The data set is published annually and tracks the previous year’s deaths attributable to overdoses as well as where those ODs occur and what drugs...
Mental Health
Who is Neurofeedback best suited for?
Curious about what neurofeedback can do? From 4 to 80, no matter your age or situation; this powerful tool can make an impact. Neurofeedback, also known as EEG biofeedback, is a type of biofeedback. During this therapeutic intervention, non-invasive sensors are attached to your scalp,...
Mental Health
What are some benefits of Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback is an evidence-based therapeutic intervention that has a number of benefits. It uses technology to help train the brain to function more optimally and help people become more adaptive, resilient, and efficient. Patients report improvements in their memory and focus, less impulsivity, reduced anxiety,...
Recovery
What is Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback is a therapeutic intervention used to treat conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, sleep problems, PTSD, stroke, concussion, and other neurological issues. Just as a mechanic can assess the condition of your car, neurofeedback uses technology to assess brainwave activity. This technology provides insights into...
Mental Health
How Does Somatic Experiencing Work?
Most people who struggle with alcohol and drug addiction have a long history of attachment or developmental trauma. Treating this directly provides the best chance for a patient to thrive beyond treatment. Somatic Experiencing® helps people move beyond a fight, flight, or freeze response to...
Mental Health
What are the Benefits of Somatic Experiencing?
The Somatic Experiencing® method is a form of therapy that seeks to relieve the symptoms of trauma and other stress disorders through a body-oriented approach. This modality seeks to re-set the nervous system and address traumatic shock, essential to recovering from previous trauma. Somatic Experiencing...
Mental Health
Treatment Modalities: What is Somatic Experiencing?
What is Somatic Experiencing? In short, Somatic Experiencing® is a powerful type of trauma resolution therapy that heals the mind-body connection. Psychology Today defines trauma as “anything that is too much, too soon, or too fast for our nervous system to handle, especially if we...
Addiction
Record Setting Overdose Rates as Pandemic Continues
Overdoses are again on the rise as the coronavirus pandemic rages on. As we reported earlier, fatal ODs surged in tandem with the arrival of COVID-19 and its associated interference with routines, jobs, recovery activity, and essential health services. Recent research suggests that trend has...
Mental Health
The Role of Trauma in Addiction Treatment
What does trauma have to do with addiction or substance abuse? Consider this—incredibly, 75% of people receiving treatment for addiction report a history of trauma. The risk for substance abuse rises by as much as four times for people who experienced trauma early in life....
Mental Health
4 Ways to Stay Sane During COVID-19
For those who are new to sober living, and those who have been in recovery for some time – these are challenging times. People around the world are experiencing unprecedented upheaval and uncertainty. Collectively, we are experiencing conditions that would make even the sanest and...
Recovery
SPRC Primary Mental Health Care
Finding the right treatment for you or your loved one’s specific needs can be challenging. Mental illness does not respond to a “one size fits all” approach—which is why our program is designed to offer personalized treatment to address an individuals’ unique needs. Our goal...
Addiction
The Hidden Epidemic: Coronavirus Pandemic Unleashes a Spike in Overdose Deaths
New data is pointing to a dangerous nationwide uptick in drug overdoses since the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic. Recent reporting indicates the spike is being driven by myriad social and economic factors – including a loss of funding for treatment programs, increased social isolation,...
Recovery
Why Now is the Time to Put Wellness First
There is no denying it – it’s been a rough year. 2020 began with tense political division, followed by a terrifying virus pandemic, economic downturn, and some of the greatest social unrest our country has witnessed in decades. The world has been turned on its...
Mental Health
Staying Connected While Social Distancing
For many of us, when we enter recovery from substance abuse, we have it drilled into our heads that we must avoid isolation at all costs. People regularly tell us that isolation is the enemy, and will put on us the road to relapse. So,...
Recovery
Don’t Let Anything Stand in the Way of Change
Here at Scottsdale Providence, we believe that nothing should stand in the way of change. For people that are ready and willing, transformation can happen under any circumstances. Even lockdown. During the international crisis caused by COVID-19, treatment facilities are considered an essential service. People...
Mental Health
Stress Test: Dealing With Anxiety in Recovery
In these crazy times, how can we deal with feelings of overwhelm and panic without our old ways of coping? How do we learn to show up to whatever comes with grace and calm? Many of us in recovery—especially early recovery—have been overcome with intense...
Addiction
How Addiction Affects the Brain
First things first: understanding what drives addiction is not generally enough to beat it. However – an understanding of the way addiction hijacks the brain can help to explain why so many people who want to quit find themselves totally powerless. Cognitive researchers have made...
Addiction
Overdose Deaths Have Dropped But Remain Shockingly High
Recent figures released by the Centers for Disease Control indicate that 2018 saw the first decline in drug overdose deaths since 1999. Overdose fatalities dropped by 4.1%, compared to 2017, and the drop mostly involved natural and semi-synthetic opioids. Despite the improvement, the numbers remain...
Recovery
3 Ways to Live Your Best Life in 2020
2020 has arrived! And if you’re anything like the rest of us, you’ve probably got some New Year’s motivation and maybe even a resolution or two. To be sure, making big goals around the New Year is almost a cliché, even though most of us...
Addiction
Does Rehab Work?
As Shawn took a seat on his first day of treatment, the group counselor stood up and issued a dire warning: “Look to your left. Now look to your right. According to the statistics, two of you won’t make it.” In Shawn’s case, it was...
Mental Health
The Science of Gratitude
Welcome to November, when those throughout the recovery community celebrate Gratitude Month! More than just a hollow reminder to be more thankful, gratitude is a principal that many claim is key to a happy, contented recovery. Unsurprisingly, recovering addicts and alcoholics weren’t the first to...
Mental Health
Autumn Anxiety is Real: Four Ways to Deal
As the fall months roll in, our bodies recognize it. The days get shorter, the weather gets cooler, and the whole world seems to take on a “back to work” feel. Maybe this has to do with back to school schedules, but even for those...
Addiction
Overdose Deaths Drop for the First Time Since 1990; Fentanyl Remains Deadly Risk
For the first time in over three decades, the US in 2018 recorded a drop in the number of drug overdose deaths, according to the Center for Disease Control’s annual survey. The decline came almost entirely from a dip in the number of deaths associated...
Treatment
Life After Treatment: Finding Wellness
Welcome to the second in our two-part series on life after treatment! You’ve heard it said before: treatment is just the beginning. When our bodies and minds have been pummeled and warped by addiction, rebuilding takes time. Most people discoverer that even once clean and...
Recovery
Life After Treatment: Getting Connected and Getting out There
So, you are ready to leave treatment and head out into the world. Now what? Welcome the first installment of our three-part series on Life After Treatment. Here, we offer tools, tips, and tricks for thriving out in the world, beyond the safe confines of...
Lifestyle
5 Ways To Have Fun in the Sun Without Drinking
Now that summer’s finally here, what are you going to do with yourself? Luckily, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the best of what summer has to offer while staying clean and sober. Here is some inspiration… Get out there Studies have shown that...
Recovery
The 12 Steps and the Non-Believer
Can a God skeptic find hope in a 12-Step program? Countless people have wandered into a 12-Step group, only to be put off by the seemingly religious undertones of the program. The church basements, talk of miracles, and G-word are just too much for some....
Recovery
The Priceless Magic of Sponsorship
In most 12-step fellowships, we hear the word “sponsor” thrown around quite a bit. To the uninitiated, the role of this elusive person is hazy at best. Of course, it brings to mind lucrative deals with athletic brands, or Little League teams brought to you...
Recovery
The Undeniable Power of Connection
“The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. It is connection.” A chilling thought occurred to me the other day: there was a time, near the end of my drinking career, that if some horrible circumstance were to befall me and I died suddenly—that it would...
Addiction
Choosing the Right Treatment Center: 10 Things to Ask
Long-lasting recovery from compulsive and self-defeating behaviors is possible, and seeking treatment is a perfect place to start. Although, admittedly, choosing a treatment center can be a daunting and overwhelming prospect. Here we offer some guidance you can trust to help you find your way to...
Recovery
Thoughts on Amends and Forgiveness
This is about learning to live comfortably sober. If we are going to stay sober for the long haul, most of us have to find a way to live happily and comfortably in this world without alcohol, drugs, or anything else to take the edge...
Lifestyle
How to Make 2019 Your Best Year Yet
So often, around the New Year, we as a society collectively get inspired to do some self-improvement. We make ambitious goals that often fall by the wayside weeks after they were so committedly made. Often, when aiming for greater “wellness” – the much-hyped buzzword of...
Lifestyle
5 Ways to Stay Sane And Sober Through the Holidays
The holiday season can be hell. It can also be an opportunity for joy, connection, and wonder. For people in recovery, the holidays often come with some extra challenges—stress, expectations, family, commitments, and booze everywhere. It can be tough to weather this whirlwind with any...
Lifestyle
A Beginner’s Guide to Mindfulness
By Christina Rock Mindfulness. We hear this word thrown around with astonishing frequency—so much so that it seems like becoming more mindful can be a panacea for anything that ails us. What does it mean though, and how exactly do you practice mindfulness? Being mindful...
Addiction
Finding Peace at Last: How Neurofeedback Therapy Helped Samantha Get the Help She Needed
By Megan Krause Believe it or not, your brain really does want to be healthy. It might not always seem like that, we know. Sometimes it seems like our brain is attacking us from a million different angles. We’ve been there, too. Our brains have...
Addiction
The Problem on the Street: Fentanyl and The New Face of the Opioid Crisis
The Opioid Epidemic The opioid epidemic continues to rage across the country, with a record 72,000 drug overdose deaths estimated in 2017, up sharply from the previous year, which itself was record-breaking. The statistics are heartbreaking, and often leave us feeling powerless in the face...
Mental Health
The Healing Power of EMDR: 2 Women Share Their Experiences
By Megan Krause Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy that helps people heal from their past traumatic experiences. Experts believe that past traumatic experiences can continue to cause problems in our lives if we haven’t properly processed the memory of...
Mental Health
Healing Through DBT: The Life-Changing Effects of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Darcy Van Dyke felt broken. After years—decades—battling substance abuse and bipolar disorders, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to hang in there with life any longer. Her relationships were in shambles. Her life was a mess. She didn’t get it. Other people were living happy,...
Addiction
How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Changed Cherie’s Life – and It Can Change Yours, Too
Cherie McMahon had always been a nervous kid. Her anxiety increased in her 20s, compounded by bouts of depression and obsessive-compulsive behavior. She was plagued by stress and self-doubt. She had insomnia. Her relationships began to suffer. Last summer, the 34-year-old Phoenix native finally had...
Addiction
How We Are Celebrating National Recovery Month
September is National Recovery Month—a time when people whose lives are touched by addiction come together to celebrate stories of hope and change. Every year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration sponsors Recovery Month to bring attention to substance use disorders and honor those...
Addiction
Overdose Stats for 2017 Are In: Drug Deaths Are Breaking Records
Early estimates suggest that 2017 is the deadliest year yet for drug overdoses in America. Some 72,000 people died—that’s 200 people a day or one death every eight minutes. This means drug overdoses in 2017 killed more people than guns, car crashes, or HIV/AIDS ever...
Addiction
Pay the Bills and More While Getting Your Life on Track Post-Addiction
After a long period of struggling with substance abuse, finding a job can be difficult, leaving you with nothing to do with your spare time but continue the job search and hope for the best. At least, that’s what you thought. In fact, there’s an...
Recovery
Hope For the Hopeless: Can You Get Sober if You Don’t Believe in God?
Can you get sober if you don’t believe in God? The short answer is: sure you can, come on in! But there is more to the story… Often people in need of help for their alcoholism or drug addiction wander into treatment centers or 12-step...
Lifestyle
Why Now? Getting Sober Young
What am I doing I thought to myself as I sat in that depressing room. Why am I here? I’m only 21. I was about a month sober. 46 days, as I had just graduated from my 45-day rehab. I was up at the ungodly...
Recovery
The First Day of Treatment
There are two types of people who go to rehab: those who want to be there, and those that don’t. If you’re part of the first group, I have fantastic news. You’re going to love it here. Three square meals a day, comfortable beds, more...
Recovery
Hope is Alive in Hopelessness
The dawn of sobriety in our lives is not always straight trajectory to joy. Rarely, if ever, do we overcome the grips of our alcoholism unscarred or lacking severe pain. The veil is ripped away; we lay bare with our fear and depression, our desperation...