This is an exciting time–your loved one is coming home from treatment! But how should you prepare to help them? How will help them in this new recovery stage? What should you say to support them? What do you do if they falter? And what about all the practical questions–like job, hobbies, and events on the social calendar?
Even though many of us in recovery are lonely, jumping into a dating relationship isn’t always the wisest idea. Dating in recovery can actually easily trigger a relapse—or a new addiction to relationships. Because It’s easy for relationships to become just as addictive as substance abuse, it is not uncommon for those just starting out … Read More
So you’re in recovery and you’re getting your life back on track. You’re making progress in your personal growth and you’re dying to know “is it safe to start dating yet?” While there is no magic formula to tell you when you can successfully wade back into the waters of romance, if you want to … Read More
Recovery means so much to us because it’s opened up so many blessings to us and given us a richer, fuller life. We can celebrate the joy we’ve found as we take our sobriety one day at a time in recovery. Through recovery, we have found that we can live free from the chains of … Read More
Question: What should I do if I relapse during the holidays? The holidays can be one of the most difficult times for those of us in recovery. We’re getting invited to employee Christmas parties and other family and friend events where drinking is expected. And sometimes we relapse almost accidentally, maybe because we just want to fit in with … Read More
Question: How do I refuse a Christmas invitation without offending someone? How do I tell people I can’t drink? This is one of the most commonly asked questions during the holiday season. And no wonder: refusing Christmas invitations never occurs without a layer of awkardness. Ask for advice. The first thing to do is to ask … Read More
So you have lots of Christmas parties you’re supposed to attend, like your work Christmas party, and you’re dreading them because you’re in recovery, attempting to live a life of sobriety. How are you going to be able to stay sober at a Christmas party? Question: Should you avoid or skip your employee Christmas party … Read More
Staying sober during the holidays isn’t easy, probably because you’re surrounded by friends and family, creating emotionally charged and stressful situations. Some of the sticky situations you might encounter this season might may include Family conflict. Strained relationships may complicate holiday planning—or leave you with little to plan for. Past Guilt. Memories of what happened during past … Read More
Today in my morning news, I read of the death of a gunman after a 14-hour standoff with officials at a pharmacy in Alliance, Nebraska. Then I found out that in March of this year, there had been another police standoff at a pharmacy in Oakland, California. It might be slightly understandable that the city … Read More
You’re stuck with it. Your brain has changed. Addictive substances have re-structured the inner workings of your mind, and the squishy stuff beneath that head of hair (or lack thereof) has taken on a new challenge: the challenge of addiction—and all that comes with it. Part of the unforgiving package of addiction is a little … Read More
I just watched the movie My Name is Bill W, and I was really impacted by this brief representation of Bill W’s life. It was so hard to watch him get drunk over and over again and to apologize over and over again. One of the best scenes is when Bill W explains his thoughts to his wife, … Read More
