When you begin addiction recovery, you may feel ready to make changes and move forward with your life. You might want to repair relationships, improve your physical health, regain financial stability, or return to activities you once enjoyed. These are meaningful goals, but achieving them often takes longer than you expect. Recovery is not something...Read More

Recovery is not always going to feel the same. There may be times when you feel proud of how far you have come and feel committed to staying sober. At other times, you may wonder why you are putting so much effort into recovery or feel like you are simply going through the motions. Feeling...Read More

Recovery asks you to make changes that go far beyond stopping the use of drugs or alcohol.  You have to look at your thoughts, behaviors, relationships, emotions, and the experiences that may have contributed to your substance use. That kind of growth requires honesty. Being honest in recovery is not always easy. You may feel...Read More

If you drink heavily or regularly, you may have thought about stopping but worried about what will happen when you do. Maybe you have tried before and felt shaky, anxious, sick, or unable to sleep. Or perhaps you are concerned about what could happen if you stop suddenly. Alcohol withdrawal is more than feeling uncomfortable...Read More

Deciding to stop using drugs or alcohol can be one of the most important choices you make for yourself. But if you have been using a substance regularly, quitting may not be as simple as deciding not to use anymore. Your body may have become physically dependent on the substance, and stopping can lead to...Read More

If drugs or alcohol have started to take over your life, you may know that something needs to change without knowing what that change should look like. You may have tried to stop before, promised yourself you would use less, or gone through periods of sobriety only to return to using. For some people, outpatient...Read More

Anger is a normal emotion. Everyone feels it at times, including people in recovery. The emotion itself is not the problem. What matters is how you respond to it. In recovery from drug or alcohol addiction, anger can be especially difficult to manage. You may be dealing with situations that bring up strong emotions while...Read More

Recovery gives you a lot to think about. You may be learning how to handle difficult emotions, rebuild relationships, manage triggers, and make choices that support a healthier life. Some days may feel encouraging, while others may leave you wondering if you are making enough progress. A recovery journal can give you a place to...Read More

Recovery from addiction is filled with moments where you learn more about yourself, your triggers, and what helps you stay on track. One of the most common experiences you may face is dealing with cravings. A craving can feel powerful. It may come on suddenly, bringing thoughts, memories, or urges connected to substance use. During...Read More

Completing treatment for drug or alcohol addiction is a major accomplishment, but recovery doesn’t end when you leave a treatment program. As you adjust to everyday life, you may face emotional and behavioral challenges that catch you by surprise. One of those challenges is something often referred to as dry drunk syndrome. While “dry drunk syndrome”...Read More