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Domestic violence is a traumatic experience that affects millions of men and women every single year. Since the majority of abuse cases happen behind closed doors and do not get reported, however, the number is thought to be chillingly higher. Domestic violence can assume many different forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, sexual, psychological (mental) and even financial. It can happen to men and women of any age, race, religion, educational background, as well as to those of every social and economic standing. Those who experience abuse are known to be at a high risk for developing a wide range [...]

Depression can be a crippling disease that pulls people to the darkest corners of their mind. Despite mental health care being much more widely accepted and encouraged in Western medicine now, the majority of people still do not seek professional help when they need it.  As a result, many people struggling with undiagnosed mental illnesses turn to drugs and alcohol in an attempt to cope with the challenges of their mental health. Some substances are more commonly chosen over others due to providing specific effects that may temporarily relieve them of their symptoms of depression. This relief is truly only [...]

It’s not easy to decide to seek professional help for a substance use disorder, so to be at the point where you’re about to formally begin your recovery process is huge. A complete medical detox is going to be the first phase you go through in recovery. It’s an important stage, one that is best done with professional medical supervision because it often takes a toll on both your mental and physical health. This phase of eliminating substances from your body in a safe and supportive setting allows your initial transition into sobriety to be as smooth as possible, giving [...]

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a condition that is characterized by an unhealthy pattern of alcohol use that causes significant distress to an individual directly, as well as in other areas of their lives, such as their work and relationships. Alcohol use disorder can range in symptoms and harm from mild to severe, depending on the intensity of the addiction. Other factors playing a role in this could be external influences, environment and genetics. The level and type of care you receive will depend on your unique circumstance. The decision to seek alcohol use disorder treatment can be intimidating for [...]

September is National Recovery Month, and all across the country, people will be hosting events and celebrations for those in the recovery community.  It’s a time to celebrate your personal milestones in recovery, the recovery of all those who have come before you, will come after you, as well as the efforts of everyone who makes recovery possible. While National Recovery Month provides you with plenty of opportunities to celebrate recovery with a community of peers, milestones in recovery don’t always fall within the month of September. We’re going to celebrate recovery anyways. Today we’re going to give you seven [...]

Therapeutic practices are no longer limited to the conventional style of four walls and a couch to lie on. In the twenty-first century, therapy has expanded to be accessible in a myriad of forms so as to better help individuals on their journey of recovery and healing. One of these therapeutic practices takes the form of equine-assisted therapy, a niche style of therapy that is commonly found at residential rehabilitation centers. Whether you heard about equine therapy and are simply curious about it or are seriously contemplating whether or not it’s the next step in your recovery, you’ve come to [...]

We care deeply for the people in our lives and look out for those close to us. But have you ever experienced burnout as a result? Have you ever felt like you’re pouring from an empty cup and feel like you’re not helping anyone as a result?  Burnout is real, especially when you’re striving to take care of yourself in addition to other people in your life. Moms experience burnout, teachers experience it and the family members of those struggling with addiction experience it.  So what to do? How do you prioritize yourself while still doing what you can to [...]

When you’ve struggled with a substance use disorder, an open schedule can feel less like infinite freedom and more like an endless source of temptation. Whether you’ve been in retirement for a few years or you are just about to enter retirement, relapse might be a concern that’s at the front of your mind — if so, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to share with you a variety of different ways that you can prevent yourself from relapsing when you’re new to retirement. What causes relapse in retirement? The transition from working every single day to suddenly [...]

Reaching the milestone of retirement is cause for celebration. While retiring is a major accomplishment, it’s also a major life transition that could become the catalyst for developing a substance use disorder. Whether you’ve struggled with substance abuse in the past or find yourself using drugs or alcohol for the first time after retirement, addiction can pose a real threat to the retired population. In this article, we’ll look at the most common triggers for substance use in adults who have reached retirement age, plus steps you can take to prevent drug and alcohol abuse later in life. What are [...]

If you’ve made progress in recovery to the point you’re looking to help others in the same situation you were once in, congratulations are in order. You’ve made it to a major milestone in sobriety and haven’t let your past with substance addiction take your sense of empathy.  Many people who are in recovery feel inclined to give back time and energy to the people around them. This work can have a lasting impact, and it can further bolster your own recovery, too. If you’re looking to give back after recovery from drug or alcohol abuse, here are some ways [...]