Treatment and addiction recovery blog

The desire to drink some cold alcohol on a hot summer day may not attract a regular person. However, alcohol-dependent people may find this idea to be not just attractive, but a perfect excuse to day drink since it’s “just for refreshment”. What might be an even better excuse? Summer BBQ parties! They sound like an innocent and fun activity for people that don’t have a tendency to drink too much. For people that have weakness for alcohol beverages this may be a perfect trigger of eager desire to drink. Thinking about drinking One of the most efficient ways of

What’s it like to be drunk? Do you enjoy being drunk? These seem like crazy questions to ask, especially to someone who regularly drinks. If they’re getting drunk all the time, they must really love the feeling of being drunk! If you’re anything like most people though, you might haven’t asked the question and honestly tried to answer it. It might be a more complicated question than at what first meets the eye. Do you remember your first drink? Most people remember not liking it. Why do people keep coming back? Societal pressure perhaps. Drinking is ingrained into our culture

Alcohol abuse and PTSD are two common problems. Unfortunately, due to the nature of PTSD, it can often lead some to be more vulnerable to alcohol abuse. Many people who struggle with PTSD turn to alcohol to mask their symptoms. While this might feel like a good decision in the short term – in the long run, it only accentuates your problems. Understanding both of these conditions can better help one treat loved ones (or yourself) should you know anyone who is suffering from this. What is PTSD? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that affects people who have

Being in recovery is a difficult situation. It can be even more difficult if you go through it alone. Hearing other’s stories and being a part of a support group is one incredible way that you can make your recovery just a little bit easier. Being in these support groups aren’t only for you to receive – one of the best parts of being in a support group like these ones is that you get to share your story along with others as well. It might be hard to recall some of the stuff you have been through – but

When you think of binge drinking, what do you think of? Most people think of the hard parties or the late nights out without any stoppage. One might think that one night out isn’t the end of the world, and while one might not be, are you aware of the effects of long term binge drinking? For some people, it simply amounts to stumbling around, slurring their words, or getting sick, but the truth is that binge drinking looks much more serious than any of those things. It’s not always easy to spot someone who binge drinks. The effects are

Alcoholism isn’t a choice. While that first drink may have been, those that continue to be addicted are not making the conscious decision to continue being addicted. Addiction robs a person of the ability to make the decision to stay sober, and alcohol cravings are sometimes just too hard to overcome. This is not something that anyone should have to experience, however if one doesn’t know what it’s like, it can be hard for them to truly relate to the struggle that someone who is addicted faces. If one wants to truly stop being addicted to alcohol, they need to

The human brain is no less than a work of art. Intricately crafted, and while we have a great handle on what our brains do and how they operate, there is still much to be found out. Addiction, dependence, and many other things are linked to brain chemistry. While there’s still much to be found out, much is known – and understanding what is known currently and how it can affect your life as someone who is trying to become sober will give you a huge advantage when it comes to staying sober or helping your friends through a troubled

After one has gone through rehab and is trying to reintegrate back into normal life, the first few weeks can be the hardest. Trying to figure out who you are while sober, who your friends are, and how to act in family events are all different challenges within themselves. During the summer months, as parties and family get-togethers are still in full swing, it can be even more difficult to really understand how to tackle each of these questions. Gathering some strategies to help you be successful in your sobriety is key in getting through the summer. Have a Plan

In general, your family are the people that are closest to you, know you the best, and have been through the most with you. If you have a family member that is struggling with addiction, you might be wondering what exactly you should be doing to help them, what you can be doing, and what your role should look like throughout the process. How should you act? What is the best way to help them? What can you do right now? If you’re asking these questions, feeling helpless, frustrated, or weak when it comes to your loved one, you’re not

Since the beginning of time, humans have struggled to find the answer to what is the meaning of their own lives. In some cases, people have found it in their careers, their families, their hobbies, or religion. In other cases, people without an answer turn to things to fulfill them with temporary meaning that inevitably leaves them hollow and empty inside. The sweet trap of substance abuse tricks users into giving them a sense of hope, of meaning in life, then rips that away as the high wears off. One cannot live a life that is devoid of meaning for

Sobriety can be a hard life to live, but one that’s extremely rewarding in the end. Understanding your own goals and why you personally want to become sober is the first step in truly living a sober life. As hard as it might be, you can become sober. Your situation might seem dire at times but it certainly isn’t hopeless. Adjusting to a sober life isn’t the easiest thing, and struggling to adjust to it is a normal part of the process. If this is you, fear not! You’re not alone. Understand that this a normal part of the process

Relapse is a hard part of the sobriety process. Understanding what exactly you can do to avoid a relapse yourself is your ticket to success. Be on the lookout for these parts below so that you can be your best self and find the most success when walking the worn, weary and hard road to sobriety. Relapse Your path to sobriety starts with a single step, but it comes with the expectation that you will make many more sequential steps following it. Some say that the first step is the hardest – others say that different stages are harder. The

Whatever you eat or drink, be sure that you’re keeping in mind what it does to your body. Whether you realize it or not, everything that you put in your body has major effects on your mood, energy, everything is centered on what you eat and drink. Because of these, many times each day you will decide what to drink. Whether at a party, restaurant, or just hanging out at home, living a sober life does limit your choices, but it doesn’t have to limit your life. Take control of your life by picking drinks that are better alternatives. Living

Sober living is a lifelong process, and one that can’t be expected to have problems along the way. Exiting rehab can be one of the most liberating experiences, but at the same time it can be rather difficult as time goes on. There are many different signs that you might want to go back to rehab, but some signs are more obvious than others. If you or someone you love is having any issues with addiction, reach out to a rehab center right away. Understanding the Purpose of Rehab Rehab is typically a place where one goes to get sober