Drug use is, among other things, an excellent short-term stress reliever. But it’s in the long-term that its flaws become glaringly obvious – and dangerous. Such forms of stress relief are also known as maladaptive coping mechanisms. In short, they serve to cope with stress but don’t serve to help alleviate it. The difference between […]
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As one of the country’s most famous metropolis, the City of Angels is as diverse and complex as cities can get. People from all over the country – and the world – come to visit LA, and at least a few million have come to call it home. But with that size and reputation comes […]
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Sobriety needs stability. A steady schedule in recovery gives a recovering addict the framework needed to plot out their sober goals and have a step-by-step path to a better life. To consistently make progress in recovery, it’s important to start establishing routines very early on. But to have a routine, a recovering addict must cement […]
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It’s not easy to convince oneself that everything is going to be ‘fine’, especially with addiction. More than just the urge to use drugs, addiction is a complex condition that can be accurately described as a brain disease, a mental disorder, and a treatable yet debilitating problem. For too many, addiction inspires fear and judgment. […]
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Given the widespread news and information on the opioid crisis, it is no longer a surprise that prescription drugs can be dangerous, particularly if misused or used for non-medical purposes. But it’s all too easy to write all prescription drugs off as ‘too dangerous to be used’, especially in this climate. We tend to heavily […]
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Motivation is important for recovery. No matter how expensive or qualitative your drug addiction treatment ends up being, its effectiveness at least partially depends on your willingness to commit to the changes you’ve made in your life. Other factors matter as well, such as how applicable the treatment is to your issues, and the support […]
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The only moment in time when an addiction is truly too much to recover from is when it causes a person to lose their life. But until that moment comes, every second is another opportunity to start the recovery process. No life is too far gone to heal, no matter what others might think. Addiction […]
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By its very definition, sobriety is a drug-free life. With that comes clarity, freedom, and most importantly, choice. But the ability to choose also introduces new challenges. As dangerous as it is to stay addicted to drugs, going completely drug-free opens up a staggering amount of possibilities. Clubs, pubs, and watering holes are no longer […]
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Aside from being physically strong, strength is also the quality of being able to stand up to an immense amount of pressure or resistance without giving way. It’s fair to say that most recovering addicts don’t feel very strong in the early days of recovery. And to many, the guilt and shame of addiction might […]
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Drug relapses occur when the urge to use overcomes any rational thought or inhibition that might have otherwise kept a person from using drugs again. In part, drug relapses are as common as they are due to the chronic nature of addiction as a brain disease, as an illness that changes the way we process […]
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