Category: Long-Term Recovery

This article will focus on ways to reshape early-recovery habits to fit the life you’re living now later on in recovery.

If you enter residential recovery treatment with us, you or your loved ones might have questions about how your cocaine abuse affects your brain and neurological functioning. The most important point to remember is that your brain can heal and improve with time. While it won’t be an overnight process, you can bounce back. So don’t despair, stay strong, and keep reading!   Cocaine on The Brain: The Three Takeaways When your brain forms an addictive

An Overview of Emotional Sobriety One important, but often overlooked, part of the recovery journey is the need for emotional sobriety. Since it’s common for people with substance use disorders to turn to drugs and alcohol to self-medicate their emotional distress, learning to process emotions in a healthy way is an essential step in preventing relapse. Since no two people are alike, everyone experiences recovery a bit differently. However, emotional sobriety generally means: Building a

Words have power. If you want to support a friend or family member in recovery, carefully chosen expressions of love and encouragement are priceless. These supportive phrases will help you communicate your support in the most meaningful way.   8 Things to Say to Someone in Recovery 1. I Love You. People in recovery are often dealing with feelings of guilt and shame related to how they treated others while they were actively abusing drugs

If you’re feeling frustrated with your recovery progress, you’re not alone. Our culture conditions us to look for a “quick fix” to our problems, but building the foundation for lasting sobriety takes time. Let’s talk about how you can stay motivated to keep moving forward.   Celebrating Your Sobriety Milestones Helps You Stay Motivated to Continue Making Positive Changes in Your Life When most of us think of sobriety milestones, we think of the chips

Once you’ve made the decision to get sober, it’s normal to be focused on the physical changes your body experiences as you adjust to the absence of drugs and alcohol in your system. As you progress in your journey, however, you’ll start to experience a growing sense of inner calmness. Now that you’re no longer focused on chasing your next high, your mind will become less cluttered with racing thoughts, anxieties, and cravings—allowing you to

Telemedicine continues to grow in popularity, especially in areas where social distancing remains a necessity. For those who are receiving outpatient treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, telemedicine can serve as a vital source of support for maintaining a lasting recovery. About Telemedicine and Addiction Recovery Telemedicine refers to the practice of using telecommunication and information technologies to provide clinical health care at a distance. When you are talking about counseling for substance use disorders,

Making Sober Socializing Easier Recovering from alcoholism can create special challenges, since alcohol is a common feature at social gatherings. Learning how to turn down a drink can take some practice, but there are a number of strategies you can use to make sober socializing a bit easier. 1. Be Confident in Your Sobriety If you don’t want a glass of wine or a beer, a simple “No, thank you” should be sufficient. You can

To some extent, everyone deals with negative thoughts during treatment. However, if you allow yourself to believe your negative thoughts are automatically true, they can become a serious threat to your recovery.   Common Negative Thoughts About Recovery Negative thoughts encourage a victim mentality, promote a sense of hopelessness, and keep you from fulfilling your potential. They discourage the growth mindset that is a crucial part of overcoming the challenges faced in the first year

Shifting your perspective to promote a growth mindset is one key way you can help build the foundation for sobriety.   Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset The concept of a fixed mindset vs. a growth mindset was developed by Carol S. Dweck, the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University. She believes success in any given task can be largely attributed to whether someone has developed a fixed mindset or a growth