Recovery |

The first thing you should know about recovery is that everyone has his or her own experience. While it would be nice to have a step-by-step guide of exactly what to expect, that just isn’t the reality. With that being said, the first year of recovery can be painted in rather broad strokes. Depending on...Read More

When I was struggling with substance abuse, I often found myself on New Year’s Eve, once again, making a New Years Resolution Goal to myself that I would quit cold turkey. Sometimes, I would make it two or three days. Other times, I wouldn’t make it past the first. The problem was, I was trying...Read More

Completing a rehabilitation program is a huge step in recovery, but it doesn’t mean that you have solved your problem. Remember, recovery is a daily practice and must be a priority if you are to continue progressing. The transition from rehab to “normal” life can be a trying period, but it doesn’t have to be...Read More

It’s the happiest season of all. Or is it? The holidays, while being a time of gathering and celebration, can also trigger emotions that have long been repressed. When you’re unprepared, these addiction triggers can incite relapse. What makes the holidays so stressful for a person in recovery? During the holidays, the pressure to be...Read More

In “Thanks,” a poem written by W.S. Merwin, the speaker gives thanks to the shadow side of life. He writes, “Listen/ with the night falling we are saying thank you/ we are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railings/ we are running out of the glass rooms/ with our mouths full of food...Read More

When given the choice between apple slices and peanut butter or a gooey caramel chocolate bar, most of us will end up with chocolate on our fingertips. Making Healthier Choices Our taste buds may be satisfied with this choice, but we haven’t properly served our minds and bodies. Whole foods are fundamental building blocks for...Read More

Many people think that writing is only for those born with a metaphorical pen in hand. That if you aren’t writing sonnets in middle school or best-selling novels in your twenties, you aren’t a “writer.” But this claim is far from the truth. As both a person in recovery and an instructor of creative writing...Read More

Following the initial stages of treatment for substance abuse, establishing an exercise routine can be a beneficial addition to your recovery. While you might be thinking that committing to an exercise routine is way too much to handle when newly sober, you might be surprised at how quickly the immediate benefits change your mind.Read More

Leaned up against the wall of my living room is a warped piece of wood. From the grainy texture of its surface, a woman painted in acrylic stares back. Dark hair squiggles from her head in sporadic waves. Her complexion is punctuated by shadows that run vertically down her neck. Her lips are haphazardly painted...Read More

Of all the losses that come with substance abuse, perhaps one of the worst is losing trust from loved ones. There is nothing like the pain and frustration that comes with your loved ones not believing you when you say something. It can take years to build trust and a mere moment to shatter it....Read More