If you are in recovery and start to feel like you are beyond relapse, this story is for you. It’s a cautionary tale that shows that everyone is vulnerable – even treatment professionals. It is important to start each day with a renewed commitment to sobriety and the choices that make it possible over the
Keep ReadingAs we celebrated the Fourth of July, many of us gave thanks for the servicemen and women who have bravely fought for our freedom. Ironically, the fireworks we use to celebrate those sacrifices are something some vets try to avoid. The bright colors against the backdrop of the night sky never fail to draw “ooohs”
Keep ReadingA painful loss has you feeling the urge to use again, but that doesn’t mean relapse is a foregone conclusion. You have the tools to stay sober get through the trauma. You’ve completed treatment, you’ve done the hard work, and you’re on track in your recovery. Everything is going great. Then you’re hit by something
Keep ReadingGetting clean is one thing, staying clean is another. But there are concrete ways to avoid the people places and situations that can lead to relapse. Once you’ve completed treatment, your journey of recovery is only beginning. In the protected environment of drug and alcohol rehab, it’s easy to avoid triggers and to avoid the
Keep ReadingThere’s no magic cure for staying clean post-rehab, but there are ways you can ensure the best possible chance of healthy, long-term recovery. Everyone who gets caught up in addiction is a whole person with talents and gifts and unique traits. Despite your recovery status, you don’t need to be defined by your addiction. You
Keep ReadingWhat make someone in recovery return to old habits and how can relapse be avoided? Addiction is a complex disease, and the riddle of relapse is equally difficult to unravel. Why does someone who seems to be successfully working a recovery program and has all the necessary head knowledge about how to avoid falling into
Keep ReadingMany addictions can be traced back to the desire to avoid unwanted feelings. So how do you make peace with emotions and remain in recovery? The holidays, family functions, job stress, family stress, events that take you back in the path of locations where you used to obtain or do drugs can all be dangerous.
Keep ReadingDJ AM had been working on an MTV reality show that helped others struggling with addiction when he was found dead of a suspected overdose. It may be weeks before toxicology reports confirm just what killed celebrity disc jockey DJ AM (aka Adam Goldstein). He was discovered dead in his Manhattan apartment on Aug. 28,
Keep ReadingFor medical professionals battling substance abuse, going back to work can make them the proverbial kid in the candy store. It’s the equivalent to sending a recovering alcohol back to their job as a bartender. This factor is believed to play a role in the increased relapse rates among healthcare professionals. After all, they’re surrounded by the very substances that were the problem in the first place.
Keep Reading