Addiction

The modern world—and social media in particular—has changed the way we think about the word “friend.” Heck, in current usage, the steadfast noun can even be used as a verb, as is: “Hey, I friended you. Why haven’t you accepted my friend request?” Friends vs Acquaintances But let’s face it, the vast majority of people...Read More

Misconceptions About Addiction Imagine yourself sitting at a table with three other people. Maybe you have come together for a meal or to play cards or just to enjoy each other’s company. The conversation wanders here and there, as conversations do, until one person—maybe it’s you—mentions a mutual friend who has been drinking too much....Read More

When a person is struggling with a substance use disorder, their relationships often fall apart. Maybe they have let their coworkers down again and again, so their work relationships are strained. Maybe they have borrowed money from family or friends to support their habit and failed to pay it back. Maybe their erratic behavior has...Read More

Members of the armed forces—particularly those who spend time in combat zones—face many challenges during their time in the service. And for many, those challenges follow them home in one form or another after their service has been completed. As a result, many veterans turn to drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism. In fact,...Read More

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could go through life and never feel anger—not because we’re suppressing the emotion, but because we simply don’t have anything to feel angry about? Anger in Recovery But in reality, of course, we have plenty to be angry about. Like getting cut off in traffic. Or the boss dropping...Read More

When you are in the grips of a substance use disorder, it is all too easy to convince yourself that your situation is unique. You might believe that you would not be struggling with drugs and alcohol if only your life were just a little bit better. If you were not struggling to make ends...Read More

For the person who is experiencing it, the development of a substance use disorder can feel like a rapid descent—almost a free fall—from being a sober individual to being someone who has an addiction to drugs or alcohol. The reality is that a substance use disorder develops over a period of time and generally involves...Read More

You have probably heard the saying, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” It’s sort of an odd saying—and one many people wrongly believe is from the Bible. It probably does have its roots in ancient religion, and may have originally referred to the idea that purity of body and/or spirit is adjacent to a godly behavior....Read More

“Well, one more won’t hurt, right?” We’ve all said about any number of things. One more piece of candy. One more episode in our binge. One more call to an ex. One more drink. And it is a seductive notion, isn’t it? We tend not to think about cumulative effects. We just think in terms...Read More

The drugs in the class known as benzodiazepines—or benzos for short—are generally used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. While we all feel a sense of anxiety from time to time, a person with a disorder rooted in anxiety or panic may experience those feelings constantly or with particular intensity—or both. For those struggling with...Read More