With the holiday season upon us, you might be understandably worried about maintaining your sobriety or recovery. Even if you have some time in recovery, and feel relatively secure in it, the stressors and triggers of the holidays can feel unbearable. Memories of past pain or trauma, unresolved grievances or resentments, shame, guilt and regret, […]

How did this happen? It’s been five years and I sometimes still find myself asking myself this question. I have great parents, great family, I went to great schools – so how did I end up with an addiction? When I think back to the beginning, it’s hard to narrow it down. It probably started […]

Mental wellness and physical wellness go hand-in-hand. Over the past few years, that idea has become crystal clear. I have been so pleased to see more open conversations about the role of mental health in whole-person care. Still, I fear we risk missing a vital part of the conversation if we do not specifically talk […]

When someone thinks of addiction, they reflexively put a face to the disease. Because of the stigma surrounding this disease, that face doesn’t usually have a job, a family, a proper upbringing. That’s why I share my recovery story as often as I can – because I had all those things. I had fantastic parents […]

This September marks the 33rd anniversary of National Recovery Month – and raising awareness has never been more important. A new study found that 80% of individuals suffering from opioid abuse are not receiving treatment. The meaning behind National Recovery Month is simple but strong: Everyone deserves a life in recovery and treatment works. Question […]

The MAT Act Has Passed the House, Now the Senate Must Act In June, Congress began to take new steps to stem the historic level of overdose deaths in the United States by advancing legislation that would enhance access to life-saving Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment and better prepare health care providers to identify and […]

The overdose epidemic we see across the country essentially has to do with the changing landscape of addiction, and mental and behavioral health in the United States. Unfortunately, many people are using opioid substances such as Heroin and Fentanyl to cope with loneliness and sadness, especially as the pandemic continues. As we know in addiction […]

There are a lot of ups and downs when in recovery and it’s easy to become overwhelmed by emotions at times and lose sight of our progress or long-term goals. One technique that can help ground someone feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious is practicing Mindfulness. Mindfulness is the act of being present “in the here […]

Individuals with substance use disorders overcome many challenges in pursuit of their long-term, ongoing recovery. Like many other diseases, these disorders affect a person’s brain and behavior, and do not discriminate based on age, gender, race or economic status. One way we can all help make the recovery journey a bit easier for those affected […]

According to the Pew Research Center, 72% of Americans use social media. While social media can be helpful to build a sense of community, which is important in recovery, there are some negative consequences of spending too much time online. Here are some reasons to be mindful of the time you spend on social media […]