Alcoholism

Not Wholly Sober: Functioning Alcoholics, Dry Drunks,In one sense, the idea of sobriety is pretty easy to wrap your head around. If you are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you are sober. By extension, if you have given up drugs and alcohol entirely, you can also be described as sober. Seems fairly cut...Read More

Routine in RecoveryAs a general rule, we are believers in the power of routine in recovery.A good slate of routines can go a long way toward helping you maintain your sobriety. For example, it is a good idea to have a set of routines around things like attending 12-Step (or other) recovery meetings, meeting with...Read More

You have probably heard the old song that opens: “Summertime and the livin’ is easy.”It is a nice thought, isn’t it?As the summer arrives in full force, it is nice to think that perhaps the living will, in fact, be easy.Turns out, however, that the season of the year has very little to do with...Read More

Both good and bad habits in addiction recovery can be powerful.Sometimes the power of a habit is good for us. Other times, the power of a habit is a problem.Take, for example, a habit like brushing your teeth in the morning and before bed. The odds are good that you don’t spend a lot of...Read More

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 AcquaintancesBut let’s face it, the vast majority of people on your...Read More

When a person is in the grip of a substance use disorder, odds are their daily routine centers around just one thing: drugs or alcohol. Serving the addiction becomes the number one priority. Eventually, the substance use disorder will dictate the routines—upending a person’s job, relationships, education, and more.Routine in RecoveryOn the flip side, establishing...Read More

Sometimes you need a break from the city environment. Sure, Wichita is by no means New York City or Los Angeles. But it is a city just the same—with traffic and construction and crowds at the store and busy schedules and all the things that go with living in an urban environment.Nature Reduces Stress NaturallySometimes...Read More

Recent ChangesDuring this lengthy period when many of us have been staying home to slow the spread of COVID-19, our usual sources of exercise have been harder to come by. We’ve had to stay home from the gym. Our friendly pick-up games haven’t happened. Pools have been closed. Heck, many of us haven’t even been...Read More

Screen TimeThere is a good chance you have been spending this time of social distancing with your eyes on a screen. You might be binging on streaming services to the point that they occasionally ask you to confirm you are still watching (which, of course, you are). Or you might be staring at your phone...Read More

Many people who have gone through detox and rehab experience feelings of intense euphoria in the early days of their recovery journey. This is wholly understandable. After all, a person who is newly out from under the influence of drugs or alcohol use has plenty of reasons to celebrate. When we reach significant milestones, it...Read More