Lifestyle

Is dating in early sobriety a recipe for disaster? Maybe, maybe not. Here we will discuss the dos and don’ts, enjoy some food for thought. Common wisdom around the rooms of twelve step programs, treatment centers, and sober living homes is to steer clear of...

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...

Turns out, “tough love” isn’t so loving. For generations, as a culture, we dismissed self compassion as weakness and 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 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...

Every year around this time, the drumbeat of implementing good habits and 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...

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...

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...

Newly sober? Long-sober but still suffering? The holidays can be a mixed bag of challenges when you are living sober. 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....

“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 An...

How you start the day matters and having an intentional morning ritual is key. 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...

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 still uses drugs and alcohol and how it...

First off, if the thought to stay 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...

When I stumbled into a 12-step program in my twenties considering getting clean and sober, 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...

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—our close friendships, where we go, the things we...

Is dating a newly sober alcoholic or addict a recipe for disaster? Dating someone in recovery can potentially be complicated, especially if they are early in their recovery journey. Here we offer some food for thought: If you are in recovery yourself or not, you...

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...

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...

For many in the recovery community, developing a spiritual life with a meditation practice 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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...