It’s not just your imagination…the change of seasons, in particular, the lack of natural sunlight we get in the fall and winter, can affect your mood and mental health. With it, your recovery can be affected as well. This is known as seasonal affect disorder (SAD). Addiction Recovery in Winter During the winter months, it’s...Read More

The holidays are a time when families look forward to getting together to enjoy the best of the season. This includes celebrating with music, food, and drink.During this festive time, you may be thinking about the year that has passed, as well as previous holiday seasons. In a number of families, there is someone who...Read More

The holiday season is a time when family and friends look forward to spending time together. For people in recovery, this time of year presents a double-edged sword that can put them at higher risk for a relapse. There are more events where alcohol may be served, and this time of year can be stressful...Read More

Addiction treatment requires an individualized approach if it’s going to be successful in helping a client achieve sobriety. Cookie-cutter approaches don’t work for this type of chronic illness. Experiential therapy is one technique that may be part of an overall treatment plan. It may be used in conjunction with other therapies, such as individual counseling...Read More

Programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are based on the idea that support is a key component in healing from substance abuse. Sponsors are an important part of the program, since serving others is one of its foundations. You can work a 12-Step program without a sponsor, but many people find...Read More

If you haven’t been to a 12-Step meeting before, you may be wondering what to expect from the experience. Walking into a new environment where you don’t know the other participants can definitely be a nerve-wracking experience, but recovery groups like Alcoholics Anonymous go out of their way to make any newcomers feel welcome.12-Step Meeting...Read More

At one time, doctors viewed opioids as effective, though highly dangerous, drugs.They were only used in specific situations, such as for patients who were terminally ill, who had just had surgery, or who had been severely injured. In the 1990s, opinions about this class of drugs changed, as pharmaceutical companies promoted their product as being...Read More

Depression isn’t just one type of disorder. Instead, there are different types of depression and each one has its own set of symptoms. It’s not the same thing as being “blue” or down, although being unable to enjoy hobbies and pastimes that used to bring pleasure is one of the signs of depression. Depression isn’t...Read More

If you have been stopped by police and charged with a DUI (Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs) offense, you may be wondering whether seeking professional treatment will help. Before you make a decision about when and where to seek help for substance abuse, your best bet is to get some professional advice...Read More

It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to describe someone with a substance abuse issue as being a person who holds a lot of emotions inside. In fact, one of the common reasons cited for starting to use drugs or alcohol is to cope with negative emotions.Learning healthy ways to process your feelings is a...Read More