Anger, in itself, is neither good nor bad. Anger can motivate us to solve a problem, leave a bad situation, or stand up for others. However, if you let your anger control you, it may lead to some terrible outcomes. … Read More
The Tree House Recovery Addiction Blog is a made up of contributors from our Staff and other leaders in the addiction treatment field. Our blog is a resource for men struggling with addiction and the family members and friends who want to help. We write to educate, empower and inspire men with drug and alcohol addictions and show them that a sober-happy life is attainable and sustainable.
The North Wind Made the Vikings
“The north wind made the Vikings” is a Scandanavian proverb that reminds us that challenging circumstances can be a blessing rather than a curse. The Vikings were known throughout medieval Europe as fierce warriors and ruthless raiders but they were … Read More
What if Exercise Makes You Feel Worse?
There are loads of studies supporting the numerous mental and physical health benefits of exercise. For example, one study of more than a million Americans found that regular exercise reduced the burden of mental health issues by at least 20 … Read More
Designing Your Life
In the popular TEDx talk called “Designing Your Life,” Stanford design professor Bill Burnett explains how to use design principles to get unstuck in your life. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SemHh0n19LA] Not only do these principles help you get unstuck, they are principles for … Read More
Push Yourself
All good things are available to you in recovery, but only if you learn to push yourself. When you get into a pattern of substance use, you get into the bad habit of doing things the easy way. For example, … Read More
Metta Meditation: May You Be Happy
“Metta” is a Pali word that translates to something like “loving-kindness.” While mindfulness meditation gets all the media attention, metta meditation is a powerful practice that often goes overlooked. Mindfulness is touted for its ability to reduce stress, increase feelings … Read More
Learning to Be Happy
People thinking about getting treatment for addiction or people just starting out in recovery are often told by people with a long history of sobriety that they will be much happier sober but often, they can’t quite believe it. For … Read More
Don’t Build Your Own Roadblocks
Recovering from addiction is hard enough without sabotaging yourself. Most people sabotage themselves in some way but no one does it on purpose. They often internalize behaviors they learned from their parents and friends or they develop unhealthy coping mechanisms. … Read More
“Asking for a Friend”
When people find out you’re recovering from addiction, they may have questions. Often, these questions come from a place of concern. People are often surprised to learn that a friend or a relative has a substance use issue and they … Read More
Keep Your Beginner’s Mind
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” — Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice1 For better or worse, those who have walked the path of … Read More