It is probably unavoidable. If you are struggling with a substance use disorder, you are likely going to receive a lot of advice—whether you seek it out or not. Friends, family, coworkers, clergy—heck, sometimes even strangers on the street—are going to have something to say and won’t hesitate to say it.  Generally speaking, these folks...Read More

Money plays a huge role in our lives. An outsize amount of our time is spent earning money, spending money, and worrying about money. When money is tight, we tend to feel a lot of stress about it. After all, you need money for just about everything. One clear example of how money and issues...Read More

It probably is not a surprise that substance use disorders and mental health disorders often go hand in hand. In fact, they can be so entangled that it can be difficult to determine which arose first. Did you start using drugs or alcohol as a way to self-medicate against the symptoms of a mental health...Read More

It is one of the most famous scenes from one of the most famous motion pictures of all time (and certainly a classic for anyone who calls Kansas home). In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow (and, of course, Toto!) are headed into a forest along the Yellow Brick Road...Read More

Take a moment to think about your favorite place.  It is possible that the moment you called your “happy place” to mind, you felt a little surge of well-being. Maybe your shoulders relaxed a bit. Maybe you found yourself smiling. Maybe you closed your eyes so you could bring the space more fully to mind....Read More

Regular readers of this blog know that we turn to a wide range of ideas and examples to explain concepts related to substance use disorders and the recovery journey. You can, for example, find a countdown of our favorite pop culture references here and here.This time, we are headed out of this world for inspiration....Read More

In a previous blog post, we provided some daytime tips for getting better sleep at night.  This time out, we are going to focus on some tips for nighttime. Getting quality sleep is an important way to support your sobriety as well as your mental and physical health, so taking your sleep routine seriously is...Read More

Thanksgiving and Christmas might be called the “big food holidays.” The word “big” applies to both “food” and “holidays.” Those two holidays are certainly among the biggest on the calendar in terms of prep time and the pressure we tend to put on ourselves and others to make them perfect. And the food that goes...Read More

When a friend or family member is struggling with drugs or alcohol, you are likely to feel a whole bunch of emotions. You might feel sad or angry or disappointed. You might feel helpless or anxious or overwhelmed. You might feel a combination of any or all of those things. And you might have a...Read More

Sometimes, especially when times are tough, we just want someone to sit with us. Someone who won’t ask questions or offer advice. Someone who can offer comfort and kindness without saying a word. Someone whose love for us is unconditional and unwavering. Having access to someone like that can be a benefit to anyone—and especially...Read More