Opioid addiction plagues millions of lives in our modern society. Have you recently noticed a change in appearance that has caused you to suspect your loved one is suffering from an addiction? Maybe they have recently undergone a life event such as a job loss, legal trouble, or an injury that requires a pain medication like Oxycontin or Percocet.
Facing the realization that your friend or loved one has been abusing drugs or alcohol is a tough reality to face. You may have noticed signs that your friend or family member has been struggling with a private battle or recently discovered their problem. Opening a dialogue about their substance abuse is a process often plagued by feelings of guilt, self-blame, worry, and frustration, but providing your loved one with a safe and supportive foundation can help them recognize they need help and keep them committed to recovery.
There is a lot of pain in realizing some relationships only value you as a drinking buddy and party friend, or that addiction may have harmed your most cherished connections. However, this realization can also guide you to friendships that value and accept you as you are on your current path.
Making new friends as an adult may seem intimidating, but committing to this process can help you establish truly meaningful relationships and help you sustain a sober lifestyle. With this in mind, here are 4 ways to get started finding friends as a sober adult.
The new year is a time for taking a step back to ask yourself how things went. What our minds usually like to do is focus on the negative aspects. I didn't do X. I should have done Y. It's easy to get caught up in regret. However, it's not healthy. We must be kind and forgive ourselves. And one of the best ways to reflect positively is through the practice of mindfulness. But how can you use mindfulness to be more healthy, self-aware, and successful this year.
Here, we cover these topics and give you tools to tackle the new year head-on.
It can be all too easy for people to conflate the ideas of meditation and mindfulness. Understandable since the two terms are often used interchangeably. So is there a difference between meditation and mindfulness? The simple answer is yes. Read on to learn what the difference between meditation and mindfulness is.
Once you give up drinking, it can seem like half the things you used to enjoy are off the table. But if half your social life revolves around alcohol, this is unhealthy and may have been a contributing factor that leads to addiction. Deciding to live without alcohol may seem challenging, but all you have to do is look for things you can substitute for drinking.
Meditation, focusing and soothing the mind, has a vital role in sobriety. During the treatment process, you may suffer a rollercoaster of emotions. Practicing meditation can be an effective and reliable tool for handling these feelings during healing and long after you achieve sobriety. Meditation is done in different ways, but the important thing is finding the right style for you.
Addiction is more than an emotional dependence on a particular substance. There are biochemical factors at play. Many fail to realize that the brain chemistry of someone battling addiction is actively working against them. Serotonin plays a fundamental role in the biochemical aspect of addiction, and today we're going to explain why.
Do your genes determine your fate? Why can one person drink normally, while another loses all control? Are some people destined to become addicts due to the quirks of their genetic makeup - factors beyond their control? Can nurture overcome nature? Today we tackle the debate - are substance abuse disorders genetic?
Recovery is a beautiful journey marked by self-discovery and transformation. That doesn't mean that it's easy, linear, or guaranteed. If your friend or loved one is in recovery, providing the proper support could be the difference between recovery and relapse. In honor of April being Alcohol Awareness month, we give you the inside scoop on ten things you DON'T say to someone in recovery.
Addiction doesn't just affect the addict, it can be devastating for the entire family. The financial, emotional, and physical burden of dealing with someone that has an addiction could overwhelm anyone. If your loved one is in active addiction or early recovery, it's essential to take care of yourself. Here are ten tips to help family members cope.
Zach had a great job, was making “killer” cash, and thought that because he had money, his drug use wasn’t a problem. He was spending $600/day on heroin & opioids for years. After a near-death experience, he got help. Now, he’s been clean for six years. Read his inspirational story & learn what message he has to share with anyone struggling with addiction.
