Recovery

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…

The service industry is full of individuals employed at either bars or restaurants and rife with employees either in full substance misuse or at the very least on the brink of it. The job duties alone tend to feed into the unhealthy behavioral patterns that can ultimately lead to unmanageable substance misuse with the long…

Achieving long-term sobriety can be immensely fulfilling, and many addiction recovery patients may be tempted to put their recovery efforts on the back burner after being in remission for extended periods. However, all the accomplishments of long-term sobriety can quickly dissipate when seeking treatment for severe and chronic pain while in recovery. As with many…

The fallout from addictive disorders and years of continuous substance misuse can involve more than emotional damage. Many addiction recovery patients will find themselves situated with significant financial debt once completing treatment. This can be in part to expensive addiction recovery treatment but mainly due to years of neglect and spending beyond their means due…

With its increasing availability in today’s modern world, the internet has greatly expanded how individuals in recovery receive ongoing treatment for their addictive disorders. As a means of communication, the internet has granted individuals of disparate backgrounds the chance to connect and converse over shared topics of interest. However, connecting and sharing about more pertinent…

Reflecting on the positive outcomes of sobriety maintenance is important for individuals in addiction recovery. The preventative measures and repetition of healthy habits all support the best-case scenario of promoting long-term sobriety. The unfortunate reality is that these methods will not always succeed in helping addiction recovery patients abstain from illicit substances, and relapses will…

When addiction recovery patients initially achieve and maintain a period of short-term sobriety, they often experience intense highs and extreme lows. The addictive mindsets that lean toward the extreme perceive their feelings unrealistically and dramatically — the lows will feel that much more depressing and the highs too euphoric. Experiencing these fluctuations in mood and…