In the spring of 2012, I attended a meeting in which the topic was gratitude. I was not sober at the time, nor engaged in recovery but was just trying to get people off my back. After a few people shared, it was my turn...
Seeking a partial hospitalization program could be a great alternative for addiction reatment. PHP treatment serves as a step down from inpatient treatment but still offers evidence-based therapies and practices. This might be an affordable option for those looking for treatment. Within Travis County, there’s...
Navigating the upcoming Holiday Season sober can be both frightening and freeing. Many of us think of the holidays as a time for family, friends, and fun. Often that fun has included substances. For many of us, substances have been a central part of our...
A severe addiction is best treated in an inpatient residential program so that the detoxification and withdrawal processes can be properly managed. However, outpatient rehab programs can be an excellent option for people who want to quit using their drugs but need a program that...
Whether you’ve been clean and sober for three months or three years, it’s always worthwhile to take the time to celebrate your recovery. Recovery is often referred to as a journey, not a destination; for this reason, it’s something that should continually be progressing. Just...
One of the biggest challenges for those in addiction recovery is the limited list of options for the management of acute and chronic pain. While most issues are fully covered by typical over-the-counter medications like NSAIDs and other anti-inflammatory agents, sometimes one requires more substantial...
Most people consider tight-knit families to be desirable, but there is such a thing as getting too close. Enmeshment is a trait of family dysfunction that involves poorly defined or nonexistent boundaries, unhealthy relationship patterns, and a lack of independence among family members. Children who grow up in...
The holiday season is upon us, and those of us who are lucky enough to have a break from work during the weeks ahead might be searching for some entertainment options. If it seems like you’ve exhausted your Netflix watchlist in COVID-19 quarantine, why not...
Recovery is one of the most rewarding endeavors you’ll ever undertake – one with benefits that last a lifetime. It’s also something you need to work at every day. Whether you’re newly sober or have been in recovery for decades, everyone needs a little inspiration from...
Once you’re pursuing recovery from alcohol addiction, non-alcoholic beer may seem like an appealing and safe option. After all, it won’t get you drunk and lead to problems such as reckless behavior, impaired judgment, or blackouts. However, non-alcoholic beer has several issues you should be...
In one-on-one therapy or 12-step recovery group meetings, you may hear the phrase “feelings aren’t facts.” If you’re new to recovery, this saying’s meaning can be hard to grasp. When you view emotions as facts instead of transient states, you can get in the dangerous...
WHAT HOPE IS (& WHAT IT ISN’T) Hope is defined by Mirriam-Webster as cherishing a desire with anticipation; wanting something to happen or be true. It’s markedly different from simple positive thinking because it requires a clear understanding of the obstacles you’ll face along the way. Just as...