Most of us have a pretty good idea of what an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting is like—at least in broad outline.People gather together in someplace like a church basement, share something from their lives and recovery journey (if they are so inclined), and enjoy some coffee and cookies. That much has been depicted in countless books,...Read More

You have regained your sobriety and started your recovery journey. You have established some good routines—going to recovery meetings, keeping a gratitude journal, getting outside to enjoy the fresh air and beauty to be found in the natural world—and you are feeling pretty good about your ability to manage cravings and maintain your sobriety over...Read More

Trauma and Substance Use The connection between trauma and increased risk of substance abuse disorders is well documented. As a result, most treatment centers and medical professionals in the addiction field can be described as “trauma informed:” their treatment philosophy and methodology takes into account the experiences that might be undergirding a person’s struggles with...Read More

Some prescription drugs become well known in popular culture, especially drugs related to the treatment of anxiety. Any number of neurotic or anxious characters who appear in comedies—think of any character ever played by Woody Allen, for example—may namecheck a pharmaceutical to get a laugh.Use and MisuseXanax, a drug often prescribed for anxiety, is just...Read More

Many a child has heard a parent say something akin to, “Watch your tone of voice when you are talking to me!” It is the kind of thing a parent says when a child is disrespectful or sarcastic or flippant. The child’s parent may take as much issue with how the kid said what they...Read More

We probably do not have to tell you that many, many people have at least one pet. Current statistics reveal that 66 percent—that’s two thirds—of American households include a pet. That means there is a pretty good chance that you, the person who is reading this blog entry right now, have a pet. But there is...Read More

Often, a big experience or accomplishment in our lives is followed by a moment of indecision or uncertainty. You might call it a “now what?” moment.You just graduated from high school or college, but you don’t have the next thing lined up yet. Now what?You just brought a brand new baby home from the hospital...Read More

In this blog, we frequently advocate for inpatient treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders. The combination of medically supervised detoxification and a robust rehabilitation program—followed by an ongoing continuum of care—is extremely effective when it comes to helping someone reclaim their sobriety and begin their recovery journey with confidence.But inpatient treatment...Read More

Whether you get your information from Schoolhouse Rock or from Greek philosophy, an investigation of the number three will quickly lead you to the suggestion that there is something special or significant about the third digit.  We can neither deny nor confirm this hypothesis. But what we can confirm is that we have often used...Read More

“Dear Diary…” Maybe that’s what you think of when someone suggests keeping a journal. You might imagine some starry-eyed teenager mooning over a crush in page after page of purple prose. Or an angst-filled young person detailing all the ways the world is unfair to them. It might be hard to imagine how keeping a...Read More