Contrary to popular belief, not all people with substance use disorders (SUDs) are plagued with low self-esteem. High self-esteem can cause its own unique set of problems when it comes to addiction recovery. Where Does Self-Esteem Come From? Self-esteem comes from experiences with people and activities. Childhood experiences play a huge factor. If you were […]
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Recovery can be incredibly difficult to navigate at times. It’s particularly scary at the very beginning when you don’t know what to expect. Seeking treatment is a major change – and starting recovery can be nerve-racking, because we all crave what we’ve been used to. It’s also not uncommon for those in early recovery to […]
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They absolutely can – but it’s not always easy. Even when you achieve sobriety, feelings of self-doubt can still linger. Self-esteem is defined as a person’s overall sense of self-worth or personal value. In other words, it’s how much you appreciate or like yourself. When we drank and used substances, our self-esteem was very important […]
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Every day across the United States, millions of Americans of all ages struggle with pain – whether it be from an accident, a critical health situation, a sports injury, or something else. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 50 million American adults experience chronic pain. That’s over 20% of […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
