If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, PLEASE call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Some of the most important work we do in recovery is not with the intention of helping ourselves but instead of serving others. An unforeseen positive effect of our service to help others, however, is that we’re actuallyRead More
When approaching recovery, we’re often still lacking the very important self-belief required to really heal. We’re filled with self-doubt, anxiety and insecurity. We feel worry and trepidation when undertaking the recovery journey, rather than confidence and faith. Our capacity for healing and transformation is directly proportional to how much we believe in ourselves. If weRead More
When struggling with addiction, we often experience mental and emotional difficulties as well, alongside our addictive patterns. We feel depressed, anxious, panicked and deeply sad, afraid and ashamed. We struggle to live our normal lives and keep up with our regular routines. We’re unable to function normally. We know we’re in a great deal ofRead More
Our lived experiences and the stories we have to tell are reflections of who we are and how far we’ve come in our recovery. When we tell our stories, we benefit our own healing and that of the people around us, other recovering addicts who can be comforted and uplifted by our words. Oftentimes whileRead More
Our addictions and mental health issues have a way of overpowering us and throwing us completely off balance. As a result, we don’t feel grounded, centered or aligned. We feel distant and removed from our inner selves. We feel disconnected from our purpose and our truth. One way we can restore our internal balance andRead More
When struggling with addiction and mental illness, many of us have a tendency to engage in self-defeating habits, the things we do that are self-sabotaging and that work against our goals. Consciously we want what’s best for us, we want to heal, and we want to make good choices for ourselves. Subconsciously, however, we’re stillRead More
As we work to recover, we start to examine our addictions and mental illnesses more honestly and in greater detail. We start to analyze ourselves more closely and look at our thought patterns, our emotional patterns and our behavioral patterns. We learn over time what is driving these patterns, and for many of us, itRead More
Trauma can be severe and incapacitating. We can find it painful and its effects debilitating. It can be totally destabilizing, knocking us off our center and causing us to feel disconnected from ourselves. When we feel destabilized, we can feel lost, misguided and utterly alone. We feel like we don’t know where to turn orRead More
Sometimes we think that our need for support ends when we finish treatment, where we’ve received resources, help, guidance and inspiration while we laid the foundation for our recovery and started the long process of healing ourselves. Upon leaving treatment, though, we will still need support to help us cope with the ongoing challenges thatRead More
When living with addiction and mental illness, fun and adventure are often among the things that most get sacrificed, that we most lose out on. We become so occupied with the pain of our mental and emotional challenges, the difficult circumstances we’re living with, and the daily issues we have to contend with, that adventureRead More