Resources for Family

Mindfulness & Your Mental Health We have written before about the ways in which mindfulness can support your mental health and recovery from a substance use disorder. On the surface, the practice of mindfulness seems both straightforward and simple. The goal is to be present in the current moment rather than ruminating about the past...Read More

What Is Boredom? It happens to all of us from time to time. You are simply going about your day when suddenly you find yourself feeling restless or distracted. Whatever you are doing right at that moment isn’t any fun—and worse, you can’t really think of anything else to do that would be fun. Maybe...Read More

You have heard the expression, “ Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” It is an idea dating back to the 1600s—and many of us simply accept it as true. We believe that if we apply our willpower, we can find a way to accomplish just about anything. It’s a nice, motivational idea. But it...Read More

Core Principles There are times when advice becomes so familiar that it is easy to stop hearing it. For example, if you are in recovery from a substance use disorder, you are likely familiar with the 12 Steps (or some variation on that theme) associated with Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous. You might even be overly...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

It is undeniable that society’s attitudes about marijuana (also called cannabis) have been rapidly changing over the last several years. A Shift in Perception As of this writing, 15 states have made cannabis legal for recreational use (we should note that Kansas is not one of these states) and many more have made it legal...Read More

If you love someone who is struggling with a substance use disorder, you already know the ways in which drugs and alcohol can turn a person’s life upside down and make it difficult for them to deal with even the most mundane parts of their day. They are probably underperforming at work or school; they...Read More

An Overview It’s more than the occasional headache, a lingering ache from a recent sports injury, or a bit of persistent discomfort. It’s chronic pain—and experts estimate that just over 20% of people struggle with it. That number, which means 1 in every 5 people suffers from chronic pain, is alarming in and of itself....Read More

Before the COVID-19 crisis forced many of us to slow down, our lives were extremely busy. There was always another meeting to attend, or an activity to drive the kids to, or lawn work that needed ongoing attention. We talked a lot about how busy we were—complained about it, really. And yet, we didn’t seem...Read More

We can’t overemphasize the potentially catastrophic danger of overdoses. Let us be perfectly clear from the beginning: overdoses require immediate medical intervention. Without that intervention, death is a very real possibility. Even if you survive the overdose, you may suffer severe organ damage or other significant health impacts. Life and Death An overdose is easily...Read More