Fall signals the beginning of colder weather, shorter days, and for many, seasonal depression. While fall can be a very a pretty time as the season landscape changes; Cold, cloudy days can limit your time outside, leaving you feeling down and out. If you’re affected by the change of seasons, it’s important to protect your mental health. Here are some tips for overcoming mood swings and improving your mental health in the fall. Continue reading
If your finances took a hit during your addiction, take time to put them in order during your recovery. Whether you’ve depleted your savings or gone into debt, it’s never too late to start anew in regaining control of your finances. Here are some solid financial tips to help you get started. Continue reading
Working toward recovery can be stressful at times, which can increase your risk of a relapse. Maintaining your emotional well-being is an important part of managing stress and continuing to move toward a sober life. The following therapeutic activities can help you reduce stress in your everyday life so that you can focus on the recovery process. Continue reading
When you enter a journey in recovery, you need to choose your friends with care. Everyone has an influence on others. The wrong relationships can drag you down, making it even harder for you to overcome your addiction. In contrast, befriending people who encourage, inspire or empower you can help you become the person you want to be. Most rehabs do some type of vetting and checking of people you will visit or who will be in contact with you. If you’re not in rehab or you are in a sober living house you should be very honest with the people you surround yourself with. Here are a few ways to distinguish if someone is a bad influence in your life. Continue reading
Alcoholism and alcohol abuse both refer to problems with alcohol consumption, but they’re not the same. What is the difference between these, and how do you know which one you’re dealing with? Find out more about these different types of drinking problems. Continue reading
Losing a loved one is a painful experience that can be difficult to handle, especially if you’re in the early stages of the recovery process. Knowing how to cope with grief in healthy ways at this time can help you stay sober. Recently someone was asked how their day is going, given the most common responses are; not bad how is yours or it okay or great. I was taken back when the reply was not to good, I buried my mom last week. Whether its expected or not, death is something that triggers many different emotions and feelings. Loss is traumatic. Unfortunately, at some point in every person’s life, some type of loss will be experienced. Continue reading
With September being National Recovery Month, this is an ideal time to think about how much you have accomplished and learn more about the recovery process. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in substance abuse and a significant impact on mental health. Now in its 31st year, participating in the observance of National Recovery Month and staying connected to others is more important than ever. There are several ways to celebrate your sobriety and let others know where to go for help with addiction recovery or support. While most celebrations this year will be taking place on zoom and other online platforms it is a great way to meet and see other people from outside your area. Continue reading
A journal is used as a coping method for expressing your stressors in a healthy manner, and for those in recovery, journaling may help to keep your temptations at bay and maintain your mental health. Journaling is one of the least expensive and most beneficial forms of therapy. It is a way to track your progress, increase your motivation, relieve stress, and keep track of your thought patterns. Many 12 step rehabs and treatment programs require journaling for all its benefits. The benefits of journaling are undeniable, but people still have excuses for not doing it. Here are just a few reasons why a journal is helpful during your recovery.
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We checked in with these clean and sober individuals with different lengths of recovery time to see how they continue to maintain their sobriety as the pandemic continues to shut down in-person recovery meetings and fellowship. https://www.my12stepstore.com/product2562.html
A MIRACLE
Some people might think that it’s made things more difficult. Not for me, surprisingly. I often think about how I would be reacting to this if I were still an active alcoholic. I’d most definitely be drinking all day, every day, dismissing any semblance of daily structure. The days would blend into a grey, joyless, hopeless void with no end in sight. Thank God I have a program of recovery. Luckily, I have been blessed to still have my steady job. Zoom AA meetings have been a godsend. I even gained two sponsees since this pandemic began. I’m also blessed to have an amazing boyfriend, who is also sober, by my side for most of it. We have watched a lot of TV and we’ve been taking walks and doing home workouts. As crappy as COVID-land can be, it’s forced me to get creative with maintaining my sanity and to test my ability to be the best Kyle I can be. And I have a feeling that, once all this is over, I’ll emerge from this a better person because I won’t be so quick to take the relationships, I’ve gained in recovery for granted. And that, in a weird way, is a miracle.
—Kyle Holtgren, sober since August 3, 2015.
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Smaller Things
“It’s been a challenge. I miss being around people. I’m not a homebody so it’s been difficult navigating around that. I tried to go to a restaurant today and it was too crowded for me. It really has been the small things that are getting me through this. The new normal for me is gratitude. More than ever gratitude for the smaller things in life have become important to me. I find myself saying ‘thank you’ out loud more than ever. It could be for anything, kindness from a stranger or a butterfly traveling by when I need it the most.”
—Joe McDonald, sober since December 12, 1997.
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What gets in the way of serenity? For most people, the answer is life-those everyday distractions, obligations, and frustrations that cause chaos and clutter.
LOVING THE PERSON, I SEE
“I’m a sober showgirl. Before, I needed to drink to feel beautiful and secure. Now I enjoy being present. I love looking in the mirror and loving the person I see. I see the girl I always wanted to see without any drugs. I love feeling my feelings and being present for all of it. I enjoy seeing my family being happy that they have their girl back. Before, I wasn’t present for them. I was a mess. Now I’m no longer fighting with them. Sobriety has changed my life in so many ways. I love walking down the street, knowing that I’m a transgender woman and accepting myself for who I am without any alcohol. I love my life sober and I love who I am now.” —Azul Love Looez, sober since February 28, 2017
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Being sober and in recovery often allows you to be more optimistic about the future. If you are clean and sober and have decided to go back to school, whether it is to improve your earning potential or to start a new career path-congratulations! You are taking one more step to living a happy, healthy life and one that will help you to feel inspired to keep improving yourself. Going back to school while you are in recovery is an exciting opportunity, but it’s important to keep in mind that some days, it may also seem overwhelming. Here are a few tips to help you remain focused and on the path to success. Keep in mind many colleges have altered their reopening plans in the past several weeks after taking stock of COVID-19 testing availability, student and faculty safety concerns, state regulations and the worsening public health crisis. The information seems to keep being altered as the school year nears so stay informed the school you are planning to attend. Continue reading
