Nothing can make us feel quite as helpless as watching friends and family struggling with addiction. We may wonder, “what we can do to help our loved ones build recovery skills, “Should I suggest a treatment program?” or, in light of the challenges they face on the road to recovery, “what is our role?” …
Recognizing drug or alcohol abuse or addiction in oneself, a family member or a friend can be more complicated than it seems, filled with obstacles and requiring a deep well of resilience to overcome. An addiction is a chronic disease that impacts the brain’s motivation, reward and memory functions. Common signs of addiction include…
While many people may be aware that drug and alcohol abuse can significantly change an individual’s life, they may not know how much of a challenge it can be for some people to achieve and maintain sobriety when detox and chronic relapse are cyclical patterns. Staying sober after the first attempt at recovery can…
Mentally preparing for a life in recovery can look a lot like stalling. Ruminating on what’s to come, the process of how you will move through each step and the emotions it’ll surface is overwhelming. Have you decided you’re ready to do the work? Then let’s take a look at all the invisible work that…
The decision to go to an addiction detox program can bring up wildly different emotions ranging from excitement to despair. Sometimes these intense emotions can make it difficult to get the ball rolling and begin the step of abstaining and withdrawing from substances. It is important to remember that it is perfectly normal to have…
The elements of emotional intelligence have more going for them than the alliterative way they dance off the tongue. Using the facets of emotional intelligence is vital to assess and create safe spaces to process and protect yourself from threats to your recovery. What’s emotional intelligence? Much like intellect, emotional intelligence (EQ) measures your…
Recovery should feel like hope. But for many who live with addiction, the magnitude of the unknown in recovery can be paralyzing. Uncertainty about what your future holds can stop you from breaking free of the chains of addiction and seeking the supported treatment you deserve. Fear of what your future may hold, or…
You have come so far in your recovery. Through diligent work, you have made steady progress in admission, accountability and surrender of the power addiction once held over you. There is much for you to be proud of as you approach the three-quarter mark of your recovery steps, but these can feel like precarious steps.…
You may find yourself answering embarrassing questions about your history with addiction, naming the drugs of choice or unhealthy means of survival. You feel open and raw, exposing the bones in your closet. Possibly wondering what to expect next, you have found yourself in an addiction treatment program. Regardless of the stage in your recovery…
A relapse is defined as a period of deterioration that happens after a pattern of improvement. In treatment for substance use disorder, relapse occurs when someone in recovery drinks or uses substances again. Consequently, relapse is not an indicator of failure, but it is a serious bump in the road to recovery. At The Right…