Much of the narrative around addiction focuses on the negatives. We’re told that addicts can’t be trusted. Addicts can’t ever have another drink. Addicts can’t make up for what they’ve done. When people talk about addicts they talk about their limitations. There is an implicit understanding that addicts are expected to live a kind of […]

If you were already far along in your recovery before you relapsed, you might be asking how do I know if I need to go back to rehab? Addiction recovery is rarely linear, and it differs from person to person. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, there are some indications to help you make your […]

For addicts, boundaries are a tricky concept. When you are addicted to a substance, boundaries break down for a number of reasons. Because drugs or alcohol become your priority, you may disrespect other people’s boundaries in order to get access to the substance. Furthermore, you become entangled with people as they try to help you […]

When my therapist suggested trying hypnotherapy in my addiction treatment, I was both excited and skeptical. On the one hand, having my mind reprogrammed seemed like an attractive, effortless way of approaching addiction recovery. On the other hand, it surely could not be that easy. The reality turned out to be a mixture of the […]

A couple of weeks ago, I had to have surgery. Without going into the details, it was a minor procedure with two to three weeks of bed-rest recovery. Unfortunately, part of that recovery is weathering bouts of searing pain that last for hours at a time. And, as a recovering addict, physical pain is not […]

If you know anything about alcohol and drug rehab, you understand that addiction recovery is not linear. There are peaks and troughs along the way. Many people relapse a number of times. Unfortunately, this leads some to be cynical about alcohol and drug rehab. Often, that cynicism gets directed at the more alternative treatments used […]

Every week since March, my phone has shocked me by showing me my screen time. I can spend upwards of nine hours on my phone when I am home all day. And, while I know that is nothing to be ashamed of in these trying times, it does alarm me. As a recovering addict, any […]

A year ago, a close friend died after using spiked cocaine. A few months later, I sat with a mutual friend of ours and listened as he described how he was using substances far more since our friend’s death. I remember hearing stories like this as a kid and thinking that the addicts involved must […]

If you have been clean and sober for a while, you may want to start dating as a recovering addict. Dating is tricky for everyone, but for recovering addicts there are a number of potential landmines. These range from how a person will react to learning about your history of addiction to the potential of […]

If you spend any time in an alcohol and drug rehab center, you will start to see that trauma and addiction are linked. Many recovering addicts have stories of trauma, whether recent or from childhood. In fact, as many as two-thirds of addicts have experienced trauma in their pasts. But why are trauma and addiction […]

In alcohol and drug rehab, you may be referred to a dietitian. Improved dietary or nutrition habits are incredibly important for recovering addicts for two main reasons. Firstly drug and alcohol abuse come at a cost to your eating habits and physical health. Secondly, the way you feel physically impacts your mental health. But why […]

When I watch most TV series that portray addiction and rehab, I cringe inside. They show outdated clichés about addiction and mental health, and tend to portray treatment as something shapeless and deeply flawed. There is the trope of the main character saying something in a meeting that leaves everyone else shell-shocked, as if they […]