There are some things we can count on in our lives. The sun will come up in the morning (even if we would like to sleep in). Winter follows fall (whether we like the cold weather or not). The moon will move through its cycles (though we may disagree about how—or if—that impacts behavior).Here is...Read More

Frequently, we think of things in groups of three here in this blog. We offered “Three Recovery Tips: Make a Budget, Tidy a Mess, Start a Journal.” We highlighted “Three Groups that Can Be Great Supporters of Your Sobriety.” We have provided “Three Hobby Suggestions to Support Recovery.” And we have considered “Three Roadblocks to...Read More

Two Great Things That Might Not Go Great TogetherYou have reclaimed your sobriety. You are in love.Taken one at a time, each of those things is simply wonderful. Taken together, however, those two things can be in conflict—especially if your partner does not want to give up drugs or alcohol. Whether your partner enjoys a...Read More

Do you experience higher levels of anxiety in the evening?There is a good chance that you, like many others, find nighttime to be the part of your day during which you feel most anxious. That anxiety can disrupt your ability to get the rest you need—and that can be the beginning of a negative cycle....Read More

For many of us, it seems like our time is a scarce resource—and a resource that is mostly used for other people.We give 40 hours (probably more) each week to our boss. We give hours to our families or partners in the form of household chores or running kids from here to there or managing...Read More

There is Withdrawal—And Then There is Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome We write about the challenges of withdrawal fairly frequently. The symptoms of withdrawal from any number of substances can be extremely difficult to withstand. A person using drugs or alcohol can easily find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place: they want to quit...Read More

Can a Personality Test Reveal Your Propensity for Addiction? You have probably taken a personality test at one time or another. Maybe it was one of the many silly “tests” that show up on social media. They ask you a few questions about yourself and then reveal which member of the cast of Friends or...Read More

Recovery Advice Brought to You By the Letter “L”If you or someone you love is a Sesame Street fan, you might remember Bert and Ernie’s duet called “La La La.” It is not as famous, perhaps, as “Rubber Duckie” or “I Love Trash” or “C is for Cookie,” but it is a solid exploration of...Read More

What defines success in recovery? At the most obvious level, success in recovery could probably be defined simply as not using drugs or alcohol. If you are maintaining your sobriety, you are succeeding in recovery, right?In many cases, that formula—not drinking or using drugs = recovery success—is sufficient. But some people in recovery find themselves sober...Read More

Is your inner voice a snooty critic or an enthusiastic cheerleader?For many, many people, the answer to that question is likely to be “snooty critic.” You might count yourself among them. Maybe your inner voice is constantly criticizing you or reminding you of mistakes and regrets. That situation is extremely common, but it isn’t terribly...Read More