Author Archives: Alta Loma

How do I Choose a Sponsor Who is Right for me?

How do I Choose a Sponsor Who is Right for me?

When we are newly sober and just beginning the journey of recovery, we are in need of a guide and mentor to help us navigate the unfamiliar waters of twelve step recovery. It is our responsibility to ask a member of our twelve step fellowship to sponsor us. Choosing a sponsor who is well suited […]

Pros and Cons of Traveling for Rehab

Pros and Cons of Traveling for Rehab

There are many life factors to consider once you’ve made the decision to get help for a substance use disorder or alcohol addiction. One of the biggest decisions is where to go for help. Luckily, there are rehab centers across the nation, but sometimes, the best treatment center isn’t located close by. Or you may […]

How Important is Diet to my Early Recovery?

How Important is Diet to my Early Recovery?

Diet—the food and drink we consume, and how frequently we consume it—is particularly important to those of us in the first 90 days of recovery. There is a lot of research to support the idea that our bodies, often badly malnourished by our drinking and using, are far more likely to heal fast if we […]

Why Journal Writing is A Powerful Tool During Recovery  

Why Journal Writing is A Powerful Tool During Recovery  

During addiction, people become disconnected from themselves and the world around them. They often feel lost, unstructured, and hopeless. While in recovery, studies have shown that journaling can aid those working to stay sober feel more centered, connected, and focused, especially when life becomes intense. In fact, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center, […]

How Does Alcohol Make Anxiety Worse?

How Does Alcohol Make Anxiety Worse?

It’s easy to understand why people turn to drinking as a prescription for anxiety relief. When ingested, alcohol has a sedative effect on the drinker and causes the release of dopamine, a natural feel-good chemical produced in the body and brain. The resulting sense of wellbeing a drink or two brings us can indeed reduce […]

 5 Tips To Staying Sober During Summer Party Season

 5 Tips To Staying Sober During Summer Party Season

Weddings, graduation, pool parties, festivals and family gatherings, summer is the ultimate party season and with the sultry weather often comes alcohol. And this year, it may be the first time you’re sober during all the fun. Summer parties can be very triggering for those in recovery, but with support, this season can still be […]

What is Vaping?

What is Vaping?

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains, “vaping” is a form of electronic cigarette use – also known as “e-cigs”, “vape pens”, or “e-hookahs”. Despite the ever-growing warning alerts that government and community organizations are sending out regarding traditional cigarette use, e-cigarettes and “vaping” have become more and more popular and are […]

3 Types of Meditation That Will Provide You with Balance in Recovery

It’s become an incredibly popular practice throughout the United States; last year, CNBC reported that 14.2% of Americans had meditated within the previous year. Apps like Headspace and Calm have promoted meditation by providing an open space for individuals to learn more about meditation and to engage in a variety of self-discovery strategies for growth […]

What Are the Signs That Someone Has Developed a Tolerance for a Drug?

What Are the Signs That Someone Has Developed a Tolerance for a Drug?

Tolerance is defined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) as, “A state in which an organism no longer responds to a drug; a higher dose is required to achieve the same effect.” All too often, tolerance begins to develop when a person doesn’t even realize it; they’ve begun using alcohol or other drugs […]

The Road to Recovery: Why Those with Addiction Should Receive More Kindness

The Road to Recovery: Why Those with Addiction Should Receive More Kindness

A few years ago, Dr. Glenn Sterner, writer for Independence Blue Cross Foundation (IBC), shared a common story that he’d heard of from a man he’d previously worked with: “I’ll always be a recovering addict, no matter what, you know what I mean? It’s going to follow me. But every day I feel, I guess […]