Completing an inpatient rehabilitation program is a huge milestone that should be celebrated. However, because recovery is a lifelong process, it’s just as important to know what to do after inpatient treatment is complete. In many ways, the hardest part of the journey begins after exiting the safe cocoon of rehab. Whether you are in…
How do we understand alcoholism when the root of the problem stems from legal behavior? Where is the turning point? Alcohol is everywhere — at parties, at work, at school, at home… How can we possibly skim the crowd and find the abusers? More importantly, how can we pick out the functioning alcoholics? This is…
Drug and alcohol abuse is as old as human civilization. In the United States, addiction has been acknowledged as early as the 1600s. Although addiction is now understood and treated as a disease, society once viewed it as a character flaw of the individual. Early aversion therapy included prayer, adding bird dung or a…
Graduation from a rehab program is a huge step toward recovery. However, this milestone does not bear the same celebratory connotation within a traditional graduation. For recovering addicts, abstinence is a lifelong commitment that demands incredible discipline and bravery. It is not an impossible journey, but it is a realistic one. And this means that…
Guilt and shame can create problems for anyone entering recovery. Guilt and shame are powerful emotions that play a vital role in the healing process. People who are new to recovery often struggle with issues of guilt, and shame surrounding their addiction and the acts committed while intoxicated and addicted. Powerful emotions play an integral…
Addiction is unfortunately extremely prevalent in the United States. More than 20 million Americans are estimated to suffer from the disorder, many of whom never seek treatment. It’s a well-known fact that addiction can be passed down from generation to generation. But what about other factors, such as a traumatic event? Is there a link…
There are a lot of great books to read for addiction recovery. Those who join narcotics anonymous start with the basic text, Narcotics Anonymous 6th Edition. Narcotics Anonymous also publishes It Works How and Why – The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous along with an accompanying workbook. These three books provide a…
Rehab is often considered a promising solution to substance abuse. The reality of addiction, however, is much more complex. Rehab is just the first step toward recovery — a journey that spans a lifetime of self-discipline and hard work. Not only do addicts need the counsel and attention of medical professionals, but they also need…
