choice house blog

Many people use the terms compulsion and addiction interchangeably to describe either their or another person’s behavior, however, they are not the same thing. The interchangeable use of these terms also causes confusion with those seeking treatment for specific conditions. Both compulsion and addictive tendencies can have a significant impact on your mental and physical…

After years of substance use and addiction, you might feel emotionally numb. Whether this happens consciously or unconsciously, addiction tends to cause people to turn off their emotions. Sometimes this response occurs due to past trauma, anxiety, fear, stress, or other responsibilities. When you use substances to cope and suppress feelings, you might think that…

Addiction is an issue that has been around for decades. But since the arrival of COVID-19, substance abuse rates have soared in the U.S., with 13 percent of Americans reporting an increase in drug or alcohol use. This surge has been linked to the stress, fear and uncertainty of the pandemic and shows no signs…

Reaching out for help for a mental health or substance use disorder (SUD) can be intimidating because it often means that you are admitting to something that you’d probably rather not talk about. Furthermore, opening yourself up to being vulnerable can be just as challenging. As such, it’s important to know that the friends and…

Attending group therapy and sharing your story and experiences with others might seem intimidating. Moreover, the idea of becoming vulnerable in these settings might even keep you from pursuing any form of therapy. However, group therapy can be one of the most beneficial therapies for your recovery. Many who attend group therapy are often surprised…

Recovery is a lifelong journey that, at times, can be difficult to endure. Some of these challenges might have you spending unnecessary time, effort, and worrying over things that have happened or not yet happened. There is nothing to gain by living in the past. What you have now is sobriety; therefore, learning to embrace…

After years of using substances, your emotions can become numbed and imbalanced. Consistent substance use also involves avoiding emotions. Alcohol and drugs used to cope with feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, and depression further perpetuate your emotional numbness. Recovery, however, is all about reconnecting with your emotions and finding balance. As such, you will have…

Making meaningful connections with others influences the health and longevity of recovery. However, men do not always form the skills needed to develop and maintain healthy relationships to the degree that women do. Studies show that as many as 50 percent of men report having less than two people in their life with whom they…

Treatment is the first step to getting onto the road to recovery, and this takes dedication, work, and endurance. Along the way, you will develop meaningful relationships with healthcare professionals to help you through this process. Building a relationship and putting trust in your healthcare professionals will make for a much more comfortable and secure…