Group therapy has long been a central part of addiction treatment programs. Many people find this intimidating. It’s hard to speak in front of a group and share personal things. Group therapy combines both these things, promoting the practice of … Read More
Making Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick
Every January, millions of people decide that this is going to be the year they lose weight, get in shape, stop drinking, get their career on track, learn another language, or make some other major positive life change. The vast … Read More
What Happens During Opioid Withdrawal?
Detoxing from opioids is one of the biggest challenges in addiction recovery. Opioid detox is not typically dangerous, although there have been rare cases of people dying, usually from dehydration. However, it is considered to be the most miserable detox … Read More
What Makes People Finally Get Help for Addiction?
There are many reasons people resist seeking help for addiction. One of the biggest reasons is that they don’t believe that they need it. Forms of self-manipulation, including rationalization and justification, convince them that they don’t really drink and/or use … Read More
Recovery Challenges for People in Rural Areas
If you look at a map of the areas hardest hit by opioids and meth, it’s immediately obvious that addiction is a problem that disproportionately affects rural areas. This may surprise many people, since addiction is a stereotypically urban problem. … Read More
Should Al-Anon Be Part of Your Recovery Plan?
Typically, joining a 12-step program like AA or NA is one of the first things people think of when they want to get sober. These programs are well known and widely available. Many people will need more intensive treatment, including … Read More
Early Signs You Might Be Heading for Relapse
Relapse rates are notoriously hard to track but the National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that between 40 and 60 percent of people with substance use disorders relapse within a year after completing treatment. Many people assume relapse is a … Read More
3 Reasons Men Don’t Ask for Help for Addiction
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, only about 10 percent of American adults who need specialized help for a substance use disorder actually get treatment. That number is surprisingly low when you consider that there are now … Read More
When in Doubt, Just Get Started
When starting something new, especially something ambitious or difficult, it’s a good idea to start with a bit of research. What do experts recommend? How have other people succeeded? Is there one approach that clearly works better than another? Is … Read More
Where Does it Hurt?- How Your Body Responds to Emotions
Our bodies are capable of handling so much stress. We’ve seen human beings endure absolutely unthinkable physical conditions, illnesses, and more. We’ve seen people hold their physical selves resilient throughout unthinkable stresses, injuries, amputations, cancers, and beyond. This “meat suit” … Read More