If you are currently in treatment or just got out, you may be wondering where and how to attend 12-Step meetings. Because of COVID-19, almost all 12-Step meetings have closed their doors. However, there is no reason to worry – plenty of 12-Step meetings are now available online. Find a Zoom Meeting Most meetings are […]
Author Archives: Alta Loma
28
Jul
Jul
The first thing a person usually wants to do when they are newly sober and out of treatment is to find a job. Some are able to rely on loved ones or government assistance programs until they are truly ready. Others will have to go back to work right away. Interviewing and working while trying […]
28
Jul
Jul
One of the mysterious aspects of art therapy is how it allows us to get lost in our own world – while also helping us find ourselves at the same time. For decades, we’ve used a variety of artistic modalities to help us understand our perceptions of the world, even in unconventional ways. For many […]
27
Jul
Jul
We hear the word “surrender” quite often. We hear it in our history classes when we learn about wars. We hear it in church when people talk about God. We also hear this term in regards to recovery. But how do you actually surrender, and what or who is it that you surrender to? The […]
27
Jul
Jul
Prior to recovery, most people with substance use disorders become quite adept at using drugs or alcohol to numb themselves from their emotions. Using helps protect them from feeling pain, heartbreak, fear, or disappointment – at least temporarily. That’s why a lot of people start using in the first place. Our addiction may help us […]
24
Jul
Jul
If you have ever been in treatment, you have probably heard the term “craving” before. It’s often said that we have a three-part disorder – mental obsession, spiritual malady, and the phenomenon of craving. The phenomenon of craving is the main distinction between those of us who have a substance use disorder (SUD) and those […]
24
Jul
Jul
The beginning of any recovery journey involves detoxification, the process in which the body naturally dispels toxins acquired throughout a person’s substance abuse. This period of time can be filled with mixed emotions. A person may feel relieved that they’ve made the decision to pursue sobriety, yet they may also be terrified to think about […]
23
Jul
Jul
The first step in recovery is admitting that we are powerless over drugs or alcohol and that our lives have become unmanageable. Addicts often live their lives in a self-centered way – doing whatever we want to do whenever we want to do it. A lot of us come from chaotic homes where our environment […]
23
Jul
Jul
Addiction often takes us away from the people, places, and things that ground us. Hobbies that we used to adore are put on the back burner, and responsibilities are no longer important. This happens because addiction is a disease of the brain – and once you’ve reached the stage of addiction recovery, it’s time to […]
21
Jul
Jul
When we were teenagers, many of us had secret journals that we kept under our beds. In these journals, we would chronicle our thoughts and feelings for the day, writing about who we talked to, what they said to us, how we felt about it, and of course, who caught our eye romantically. These journals […]