As humans, we have the ability to feel things on behalf of others. When someone we love experiences joy, that positive emotion benefits us as well. It makes us feel good when they feel good. On the other hand, when the people we love are suffering, we might also feel that pain. If you [...]
So you want to quit drinking. “Dry January” is upon us, a time when people of all backgrounds and levels of alcohol consumption commit to staying sober for the entire month. People who participate in this range from heavy drinkers to people who simply want to be alcohol-free for a month. Either way, a [...]
You made it through the Christmas holiday unscathed. Next, you have to overcome one of the biggest party nights of the year: New Year's Eve. It's important to stay proactive for a sober celebration before the temptations of champagne toasts take over. Whatever you do, try not to isolate yourself or assume parties aren't [...]
The holidays can be a period of emotional highs and lows. Anxiety, loneliness, happiness, and sadness are common feelings, sometimes experienced in startling succession. The bad news is the holiday blues can trigger a relapse for people recovering from alcoholism and other drug addiction. The good news is the blues can be remedied by planning [...]
Alcohol abuse ravages families, leaving long-lasting emotional scars. Families are a unit, and when one individual is hurting and acting destructively, it impacts everyone. Here are just some of the effects of alcoholism on families. Marriage and Alcoholism Statistics: Does Alcohol Break Up Relationships? “He’s a happy drunk.” “She’s an angry drunk.” Whatever the [...]
Substance effects on the brain With just a quick search on the Internet for common addictions, it's clear that there are addictions that are more common than others. The list of the top 5 addictions in the world are not necessarily the same as the top five worst addictions. Addictions are variable in how intense and [...]
It's that time of year again - parties, family get-togethers, and excessive eating, drinking and merriment. This time of year can create difficult situations for those in recovery. Thanksgiving, in particular, can be a challenging time, family interaction is often expected and it may be one of your first family get-togethers you've had in [...]
It's a huge moment when your loved one agrees to seek help for drug or alcohol abuse. But it doesn't take long for questions to start creeping into your mind. There's one concern that seems to be at the top of most people's lists: "What if my loved one is tempted to use again [...]
Rationalization is a defense mechanism often used when people see their drinking or drug use has become a problem but they don’t want to stop. There are many different rationalizations, but what they have in common is they try to make it seem like drinking or drug use is reasonable under the circumstances. So someone [...]
Seeking Help Again After a Relapse So you’ve suffered a substance abuse relapse. How did it happen? Will it happen again? What should you do next? The first thing you need to understand is that your relapse experience probably began days, weeks or even months ago. Relapse is a gradual process that often begins with [...]
