Drinking During the Holidays: Avoid the Problem or Face It Head-On?
The holidays represent a fascinating time in our culture when families come together and celebrate. However, around this time of year, from November to early January, there is an increase in alcohol consumption. This increase stems from more parties being held, a lackadaisical attitude towards holiday consumption, and high spirits. With this increase in drinking […]
Is Alcoholism Hereditary? How Genetics Predispose You to Addiction
Imagine yourself at a family gathering. Everyone is there. You, your parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins – everyone is there. Hotdogs and burgers on the grill fill the air with a mouth-watering barbeque aroma. Laughter can be heard all around. Games are being played. The younger children scream in the backyard at some made-up […]
Alcoholism and Its Effects on the Brain
Do you or does someone you know struggle with alcohol? Did you know that the abuse of alcohol, such as binge drinking or alcohol dependency, causes damaging effects to your brain? Are you on the verge of seeking help for problems with alcohol? Are you simply curious about the impact of unhealthy drinking habits? Learning […]
Working AA Step 1: Expectations, Goals and the Bigger Picture
Most people’s addiction recovery process involves Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) due to the significant impact the program has had on so many lives. The 12-Step process, which originated from AA, is a proven way to achieve long-term sobriety. TIME reports in 2010 that there were “an estimated 2.1 million members worldwide, with 1.3 million of them […]
8 Fun Things in Recovery: Nurturing a New Outlook on Life
Fun: What first comes to mind when discussing addiction and recovery? Do you think of addiction as a disease? Are you affected by it? If you believe you are, are you in the mode of finding help? Does getting help sound difficult? If so, why? Talking about addiction and recovery brings up uncomfortable feelings for […]
5 Ways When Dealing With Crisis in Recovery
Crisis in Recovery: The early stages of recovery are full of unknowns. Stress can overwhelm you when trying to triumph over your addiction against all of these unknowns, and crisis somehow gets mixed in. Stress has the potential to push you back into old habits. This you want to avoid, but sometimes you can’t. A […]
Looking at 2020: Alcohol Abuse Awareness
Alcohol Abuse Awareness: The year 2020 was unprecedented. No one could have guessed that when the virus that causes COVID-19 first emerged, it would spread worldwide, causing a pandemic. It was a first for several generations. The virus left us unprepared, unknowing, and unable to prevent its spread. When we finally took action, it was […]
Complete Lifestyle Change or 1 Habit at a Time: Which Is Best for Fighting Addiction?
Lifestyle Change: Complications in various parts of your life come as a result of struggles with addiction. Although you might be “functional,” you will find that being truly functional means you accomplish more than what you are capable of doing. When you put too much focus on your financial life, your physical health will inevitably […]
The Long Stretch: Practicing Sobriety During Covid-19 and Other Isolating Events
Over the course of the last year and a half, the world faced a threat no one could have seen coming. The start of 2020 was met with an abrasive attack on millions of people’s health and wellness. It was a pandemic that we expected to blow over sooner than later, but it didn’t. When […]
Grieving the Death of a Loved One While Suffering From Substance Use Disorder, 1 of the top 10 triggers
Grieving the Death of a Loved One While Suffering From Substance Use Disorder, 1 of the Top 10 Triggers The death of a family member, friend, spouse, pet, or any loved one proves to be a tumultuous time for the griever. You experience a spectrum of emotions that are categorized as different stages of grief, […]