Tag: addiction recovery
Here are five things I thought would really suck about quitting alcohol that ended up not sucking at all. I hope sharing what I feared about sobriety and recovery will help you realise that whatever your worries about going sober, things will likely not turn out as bad as…
Addicts detoxing from alcohol or drugs often find they have a very hard time sleeping. This is due to both the effects of the substance leaving their system, but can also be exacerbated by negative thoughts running through their minds. These may be guilty or…
Whether you’ve already been clean and sober for a while or are just starting on your recovery journey, you need a strong plan in place. Staying sober can be just as difficult as getting sober in the first place. Here are five tips to help…
People often pass off addictions to things other than drugs and alcohol, and perhaps gambling, as ‘not real’ addictions. Got a shopping addiction? Surely, you’re just a selfish spendthrift. Addicted to Facebook? The verdict: egomaniac. Addicted to a relationship? “I think someone’s needy!” People don’t seem…
12-step fellowships advise addicts to seek out similarities in others’ stories. In this guest article, award-winning memoirist Michele Kirsch shares how seeing her benzo addiction as different kept her in denial; and how identifying and connecting with other addicts helped her recover. My Anxiety Medication Led…
Quitting drinking has a multitude of benefits, whether you’ve merely misused the booze or you’re a full-blown alcoholic. But putting down the bottle rarely pays off immediately. You’ll know this if you’ve ever had a hangover. However, in the longer-term, quitting alcohol may well be…
Cross-addiction is common in recovery. It’s very frustrating to have quit a substance or behaviour you were hopelessly addicted to, only to find another addiction takes its place. Understanding the role of dopamine in addiction, and learning to balance it, can help you stop cross-addiction…
What a strange title. Is that what you’re thinking? Of course alcoholics should try to control their drinking! After all, their overuse of alcohol is causing them and everyone around them a lot of pain. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Not if you’re addicted to…
Recovering addicts can never take sobriety for granted. Staying clean and sober can require work, especially during challenging times. But what if, in the midst of difficulties, you don’t have access to your recovery tools? Lockdown and isolation can be especially painful if you don’t…
Recovering from addiction is a tough, but rewarding, road. Unfortunately, addiction is complex and many people trying to recover and rebuild their lives make some fatal mistakes. Here are five common mistakes that recovering addicts make, and how to avoid them. 1. Trying to control…
