Recovery |

I am coming up on three years of sobriety from working a 12-step program. When I first got sober, I knew nothing about how to live a sober lifestyle. I had been in a 12-step program about ten years ago and relapsed, so I apparently never learned how to live a sober way of life....Read More

You’ve heard the phrase “laughter is the best medicine.” Well, humor-based therapy relies on that concept to help heal internal mental and emotional wounds. “Laughter activates the body’s natural relaxation response. It’s like internal jogging, providing a good massage to all internal organs while also toning abdominal muscles,” says Dr. Gulshan Sethi, head of cardiothoracic...Read More

Talk to any recovering person who has “put the plug in the jug” and you will immediately get a fairly long list of the benefits of being sober. While there are some immediate benefits of being sober, there are also intermediate and long term benefits. Since the benefits keep accruing over time, it is useful...Read More

A Personal Story When I think of the spiritual principle of acceptance, I immediately think of the Serenity Prayer. It is a common prayer in the circles of recovery. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the...Read More

Many people new to sobriety wonder how their recovery will affect their family relationships. It is often true that in the throes of addiction, we seldom realize just how much damage we are doing to our loved ones. They can tell us time and time again, but until we realize that there is a problem...Read More

Relapse is not uncommon. Some people find it difficult to overcome their addictive behaviors in the long term. Once clean, the addict can easily fall back into old practices and habits. Recovery requires commitment, discipline, and a network of support. The old adage “it takes a village” is clearly demonstrated in recovery. Many 12-step programs...Read More

Finding sober friends can be tough, especially if you’re new to recovery. It is suggested that we change people, places, and things when we start on the road to sobriety, but this can be daunting. However, returning back to our old playmates and former stomping grounds can be detrimental to sobriety. There are many ways...Read More

There are few things more excruciating than witnessing alcohol addiction within your own family. This is why many facilities work to repair the strained relationships involved in alcohol addiction recovery and the family. As the loved ones of the alcoholic, we are powerless to stop the madness. We almost become addicted to the person addicted...Read More

You may not have heard of sober bars but you soon will! People in recovery are finding this setting to be a fun way to socialize. What is the first word that comes to mind when someone mentions going to the bar? Most likely ‘alcohol’ or some other related word like ‘drinking’. People go to bars...Read More