Sometimes when we dissociate, or numb and detach ourselves from our pain, we’ve detached from certain truths and not others. Sometimes we can be fully aware of the extent of our addictions, and even of our mental health issues, but the reality of it all is just too much for us to bear. We feel […]
Category: Resource Center
How Does Dissociation Relate to Our Addictions?
Dissociation is one of the many mental health patterns we can develop, especially after we’ve endured crippling trauma, grief, loss, and other painful experiences. Dissociation can lead to habitual behavioral patterns that we often aren’t conscious of but that can become our default habits. It can morph into anxiety disorders or identity/personality disorders. Dissociation refers […]
How Can Loss Affect Our Recovery?
As recovering addicts, we’re no strangers to loss. We’ve lost loved ones to their addictions. We’ve damaged and lost relationships because of our problems with addiction. We’ve experienced a great deal of tragedy, trauma, and grief related to addiction in our lives. The losses we’ve sustained can play a huge role in our recovery, both […]
Positive vs. Negative Thinking
When we obsess over positive thinking, it’s easy to forget the lessons that our difficult thoughts have to teach us. Let’s learn the healing power of negative and positive thinking. It’s all about how we work through it. The importance of positive thinking is fundamental in our recovery from addiction and mental illness. We learn […]
SMART Recovery
Exploring the goals, beliefs, and philosophy of SMART Recovery, which offers support and independence to those of us in recovery. SMART Recovery, or Self-Management and Recovery Training, is a network of addiction recovery support meetings that help people find independence from their addictive behaviors. Their focus is on abstinence, self-empowerment, and personal freedom from any […]
Custody Battles and Addiction
Custody battles can be an extremely painful time. It’s necessary to gather the tools we’ve learned in recovery and remain calm and sober during these trying times. Many of us struggling with addiction are also grappling with the difficulties of divorce. One of the most challenging aspects of divorce is a custody battle. These can […]
Our Lasting Regrets
Painful memories and feelings of remorse can drag us down. When we start talking about them, they start to lose their power over us and true healing begins. We come to associate our addictions with the many things we regret. These regrets might include the ways in which we’ve hurt the people we care about, […]
Addiction and Job Opportunities
If you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide, PLEASE call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Exploring the difficult feelings that arise when we’re unable to find work and finding hope for a new career and future. One of our greatest challenges when in recovery can be finding a job, especially if we’ve lost our […]
Why Do We Use Denial as a Coping Mechanism?
Denial, often considered the very first stage of addiction recovery, is also one of our go-to coping mechanisms. It is a form of emotional suppression, and we deny not only the traumas we’ve experienced but also the various feelings we’ve accumulated over the years related to those traumas, causing ourselves considerable mental and emotional suffering. […]
Being Pressured into Relapse
It can be difficult to withstand pressure from friends who are actively using. It’s necessary to employ the resources in our recovery toolbox and self-care in order to avoid relapse. When we’ve done the hard work of getting sober, one of the most disheartening and depressing things we can experience is a relapse. We’ve worked […]