choice house blog

Going Back to School as an Adult in Recovery   Much of the focus in early recovery is spent on learning how to stay sober, and once the needs of that goal have been sufficiently met, many in recovery may feel a void in their lives. In these instances, the importance of patients re-evaluating their…

In both initial treatment and during ongoing sobriety maintenance, addiction recovery is a process that many individuals begin by entering a treatment facility. We often refer to treatment as a process because there is no cure for addictive disorders. This disorder more closely resembles a chronic illness or autoimmune disease in that remission is undoubtedly…

In a healthy romantic relationship, an equal partnership full of empathy, understanding, and compromise can often be a complex challenge in its own right. A healthy relationship almost sounds like the ideal practice for learning how to maintain sobriety. However, the complexity and stress in these partnerships can be compounded when addictive disorders or mental…

Communication is the cornerstone of any successful working relationship. The majority of all disagreements stem from some form of miscommunication. Individuals mishear one another, intentions are misconstrued, and body language can be misinterpreted. Communication, which is meant to bridge the gap between separate people, can easily head off the rails as complications abound through misunderstandings,…

The origins of group psychotherapy, sessions that have become a cornerstone of addiction recovery treatment, have their roots in psychodrama. Although this name may initially sound more like a late 90s softcore metal band than an effective form of medical treatment, psychodrama has continued to be an effective form of therapy for addiction recovery patients,…

Fear and the induced states of anxiety stemming from those fears are interwoven into the fabric of addictive behaviors and the recovery process. Fear of the new, different, and unknown has the potential to spark unsound behavioral reactions for everyone. For individuals with addictive disorders, there tends to be an even higher degree of fear-based…

Addiction recovery treatment is primarily about effecting change in both behavioral and thought patterns. Unfortunately, these types of changes rarely meet the many expectations for huge sweeping reform. Change in addictive behaviors and thought patterns are largely attained through the minor feats and actions of repetition recorded unconsciously in memory. Conscious and unconscious memory wind…

Addiction recovery literature and treatment programs speak at great length about creating safe and sober environments for individuals struggling with addictive disorders and co-occurring mental health issues. However, creating a safe environment for addiction recovery patient’s significant others, family, and friends is equally as important. Addiction recovery patients are not innately dangerous, but most individuals with…

While in active treatment at a rehab facility or during ongoing self-treatment in their daily independent life, patients will quickly find that the addiction recovery world is brimming over with a plentitude of acronyms and slogans. From HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired ) and SLIP (Sobriety Lost Its Priority) to even more common phrases…