Addiction

When you are struggling with drugs or alcohol, your substance use disorder likely occupies just about all of your headspace. You are always thinking about how and when you can get access to more of the substance you are using. You might be constantly aware of—but feel powerless to do anything about—the damage being done...Read More

All of us are subject to the full range of human emotions. Sometimes, we know what causes a certain emotion (for example, when seeing someone you love makes you feel happy). Other times, the source of an emotion is less clear (for example, when you wake up feeling sad and are not sure why). No...Read More

At Bel Aire Recovery Center, National Overdose Awareness Day holds deep significance for both staff and clients, serving as a time to honor those who have lost their lives to addiction while bringing awareness to those still struggling. This year, the center facilitated a special activity where clients personalized water lanterns in remembrance of those...Read More

It is so easy to let our minds wander. And when they wander, they often take us on journeys we would rather avoid. Our mind might dwell on past mistakes or disappointments; our thoughts might get tangled up in worry about the future; or our mind might simply drift away from the present moment while...Read More

What do you think of when going to therapy? If you imagine discussing your childhood while lying on a comfy couch, you’re not alone. This is the traditional Freudian psychoanalysis that’s commonly portrayed on TV and in movies. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for substance abuse is different. CBT treats problems by modifying dysfunctional thoughts, behaviors,...Read More

Moving forward after relapse is a normal part of drug and alcohol recovery. While it’s natural to complete rehab and think, “I’m cured!” no one is ever really cured of addiction. Addiction shares much in common with progressive, chronic diseases such as cancer. While you’re never really ‘cured’ of cancer, cancer can go into remission....Read More

Loneliness Is the Enemy of Sobriety In a recent blog entry, we discussed the various ways in which staying single in the early days of recovery can be a good idea. Rushing into a romantic entanglement can add complications to an already challenging situation and is often not the best strategy for maintaining your hard-won...Read More

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 Plan In reality, nearly every single person in recovery for a substance use...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 Stress One of the many things that can make recovery difficult is stress...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...Read More