In a perfect world, a person would go through detoxification and treatment for a substance use disorder and never again feel the urge to return to drugs or alcohol. But of course, this isn’t a perfect world, and cravings happen.Have a PlanIn reality, nearly every single person in recovery for a substance use disorder will...Read More

Recovery from a substance use disorder is an ongoing journey—and the trip is not always smooth. That is why it is so important to develop a range of skills that can help you maintain your sobriety when the going gets tough.Work-Related StressOne of the many things that can make recovery difficult is stress related to...Read More

When you think about it, it is kind of amazing how frequently we fail to do something we know we really ought to do, and the roadblocks we face.  You know you should go to bed, so you won’t be exhausted in the morning. But you stay up to binge a few more episodes of...Read More

Emotions have a way of sneaking up on a person.One moment, you are feeling perfectly fine, but then a stray memory makes you feel sad. Or you are working steadily on a project, but then a series of small setbacks add up to mounting feelings of frustration. Or you are feeling down in the dumps,...Read More

Family Systems Therapy can be particularly beneficial in the context of addiction recovery. Substance use disorder, (formerly known as substance abuse), and addiction not only affect the individual struggling with the addiction but also have a significant impact on the entire family unit. Family members may experience feelings of helplessness, anger, guilt, and anxiety, and...Read More

You’re sitting at home one night watching your favorite show or reading a new book or helping your kids with their homework when all of a sudden the lights go out. It’s a blackout. After you find a couple of flashlights or light a few candles, you will turn your attention to the source of...Read More

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 UseThe 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 drugs...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