Waypoint Recovery Center Blog

Relapse Warning Signs

Contrary to popular belief, relapse doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a slow process where a person starts to struggle emotionally and gradually slips back into old self-destructive behavior patterns. The act of using drugs or alcohol is simply the last step in a downward spiral.

Learning how to recognize the warning signs of a relapse can help you better monitor your recovery progress. If you can learn to identify the subtle signs that you’re starting to struggle, you can take action to put yourself on a different path before a full-blown relapse occurs.

(more…)

While willpower alone isn’t enough for a lasting recovery, there’s no doubt that commitment and motivation play a key role in helping you build a successful sober life for yourself. To stay on track, you’ll need to establish goals that are personalized to fit your unique needs.

About Locke’s Goal-Setting Theory of Motivation

Edwin Locke, an American psychologist, created what is perhaps the most widely respected theory in industrial-organizational psychology. The goal-setting theory of motivation was first introduced in 1968 and emphasized the important relationship between goals and performance. Locke’s research indicates that people reach their peak performance when specific and challenging goals are linked to feedback on results. He believed that all behavior must be motivated and that motivation is directed by the goals a person is working to achieve.

(more…)

Understanding PTSD & Addiction

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder triggered by trauma and characterized by intrusive or disruptive thoughts about the event. PTSD is often associated with military veterans. But there are other non-combat stressors that can lead a person to develop the condition. For example, being the victim of sexual assault, living through a natural disaster, surviving a serious car accident. Or receiving a life-threatening medical diagnosis can also trigger PTSD.

It is estimated that 3.5% of all adults in the United States will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. Many of these individuals will also struggle with addiction as a result of their condition. To move forward, they’ll need access to a personalized care plan that addresses their substance use disorder as well their PTSD symptoms.

(more…)

The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is full of excitement and opportunities to reconnect with the people you care the most about. However, the holiday season is also notoriously stressful—and this can be a trigger for people who are sober.

Tips to Help You Support Your Loved One This Holiday Season

At Waypoint Recovery Center, we believe family and friends play an important role in helping our clients build a future free from the burdens of substance abuse. Here, we share some tips to help you support your loved one and make the most of your time together.

Ask Them What They Need

(more…)

Dealing With Life

When your life no longer centers around substance abuse, you start to realize how frustrating day-to-day life can be. For example:

• Having someone butt in front of you in the checkout line when you’re in a hurry to leave the store
• Working with a coworker who tries to take credit for your ideas
• Having a friend cancel plans at the last minute
• Trying a new recipe for dinner but accidentally burning the meal

Feelings of frustration are a normal response when you’re faced with circumstances that are seemingly beyond your control. Unfortunately, frustration can put you at risk of relapse if you don’t have strong coping mechanisms in place.

(more…)

Rethinking Friendships

As you continue your recovery journey, you’ll find yourself rethinking many aspects of your past life. This includes your friendships.

To stay sober, you need access to a strong support network. People who don’t respect your desire for change will only put your sobriety at risk.

Signs It Might Be Time to Say Goodbye

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve known your friend or what history you’ve shared in the past. You have no obligation to continue a relationship that has become toxic. If you see a glimmer of truth in one or more of the following statements, it may be time to reconsider the relationship:

(more…)