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The benefits of emotional sobriety It’s no secret that every addict struggles with the foundational inability to shift our thinking and successfully process emotion. The common theme for my upbringing was complete and utter avoidance. If I didn’t like the way I was feeling or the way a relationship was unfolding, I’d avoid […]
Overcoming the guilt of your past in recovery When you’re in early recovery, there are so many things to worry about. You’re battling physical symptoms along with constant cravings. You barely have time for guilt. But once the physical symptoms subside and you get a small handle on cravings, it’s as if you […]
You are not your addiction Not long ago, anyone who found themselves addicted to drugs would become an instant social outcast. They were labeled as derelicts without any drive or ambition. People saw their manipulative behaviors as part of their personalities instead of what they really are: part of a disease. […]
Want to avoid the stress of holidays during recovery? Twinkling lights, Christmas music, and family celebrations are some of the things that make the holidays wonderful for many people. This busy time can also bring with it a lot of stress, especially for recovering addicts. Crowded parties and family get-togethers can abound […]
Want to throw a sober Halloween party? It may seem like adult Halloween celebrations are all centered around booze, but Halloween is actually the perfect time to throw a great substance-free party because there are so many fun ideas you can do. With all the great food, punch, themes and activity ideas for Halloween, […]
Peer coaching and a support network help in recovery Anyone who is about to embark on a long and difficult journey would benefit from some moral support. Recovering addicts are no exception. People who are recovering from substance abuse struggle with temptation and withdrawal symptoms daily. It helps to […]
Saying goodbye to my addiction Today, we have a special guest post from Danielle who has written a goodbye letter to her addiction. If you would like to share your goodbye letter to your addiction, you can send it to Dear Addiction, It started out as fun, my weekend companion, I […]
How to set yourself up for success while in recovery Giving up addictive behaviors is only the beginning of recovery. In order to set yourself up on a sober path this new year, it’s important to set yourself up for success. Recovery is a process, and you have to put yourself in […]
Social Media’s Impact on Recovery As ubiquitous as it has become on the cultural landscape, the narrative surrounding social media is not always positive. A large part of the issue is that social media can so easily be weaponized. There have been numerous news reports about teens getting bullied on social […]
What is the key to finding a job after rehab? It’s often said that getting sober is the easiest part of the recovery process. By comparison, staying sober is what takes the most effort. Fortunately, addiction treatment programs help individuals to learn the skills and strategies that are required […]
Sarah Fader, CEO of Stigma Fighters, shared some of her story with us for Mental Health Month. She also wrote about mental illness, what […]
The event that women from all over have been anxiously waiting for is almost here. She Recovers is an event taking place in New York City from May 5 – 7, 2017. The name is pretty self-explanatory, but for anyone not familiar with the organization, She Recovers hosts events and workshops for women in recovery […]
Families of people in recovery need treatment too Most illness affects the family of the person afflicted. From having to watch their loved one suffer, to having to possibly put their career on hold in order to offer care, to the emotional stress of not knowing if the person you love is […]
Take care of yourself to help your loved one People in recovery who have strong, involved support systems are more likely to recover than those who don’t. However, if you want to help your loved one get sober you have to remember to take care of yourself also. You are your […]
Why it is important to prioritize self-care It is so easy in the fast paced modern society that we live in to forget to stop, breath, and take care of ourselves. We can get so caught up in the daily goings on, the schedules, and the obligations that we completely neglect the […]
The emergence of opioid dependence among adolescents Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health just completed a research study focusing on the emergence of opioid dependence among adolescents, ages 12-17, emerging adults, ages 18-25, and young adults, ages 26-34, over the past ten year. The study found that there was a 37 […]
Opioid abuse and the dangerous epidemic It is no secret that synthetic opioids have become a huge problem in this country, to the point where President Obama has addressed the issue in an attempt to raise awareness among the population about the potential epidemic that we have on our hands. He has […]
How Peer Support Helps People With Addiction Peer support has been used as a means to help people in recovery from alcoholism and addiction for almost a hundred years now. Starting with groups such as the Oxford Group, a precursor to Alcoholics Anonymous, people […]
Addiction and its Effect on Suicide Addiction and suicide sometimes, unfortunately, goes hand and hand. A person caught in the depths of addiction can often times see no way out and as a result, believe that their only option is to commit suicide. This is always an extremely sad thing to hear, not only […]
How technology can support your recovery There was a time when the only technologies that were available to aid you in your recovery were the telephone and the printing press. This, however, is not the case today and there are now hundreds of applications and technology to support your recovery. These will come in […]
The Importance of National Recovery Month September 1st marks the beginning of the 27th National Recovery Month. National Recovery Month is intended as a month to educate the American population on the benefits that substance abuse treatment and other mental health services can offer to those struggling with substance abuse problems or mental […]
The stigma of addiction and mental illness As far as we’ve come as a society in our understanding of addiction there is still an overarching societal stigma that comes with being an addict or an alcoholic. The pervasive thought being that addicts and alcoholics are some shadowy figures lurking around the corner ready to […]
The story of recovery coach: Chris Hall As Ascent continues to grow and expand to new treatment centers, we are constantly reminded just how invaluable our coaches and support team are. Without recovery coaches and supervisors being accessible 24/7/365, Ascent wouldn’t be what it is. These coaches make it possible for people in recovery to […]
The Importance Of Peers And Mentors In Recovery Recovery is a journey, and if you are new to it, the whole thing may be mysterious. What does it mean to live a life of recovery? How will you do it? What happens when you have cravings or run into problems? A Guide To […]
Goodbye, addiction… Many of us would love to write a goodbye letter to our addictions. It’s a good exercise to voice how addiction made you feel and how you feel now that you are in recovery. And if you are still trying to find recovery, well then, it’s a great way to start that […]
The benefits of technology for the treatment community Technology is a big part of our everyday lives. Mobile phones and apps, tablets, laptops and social media have allowed us to be connected in ways most of us would never have dreamed of just two decades ago. Some people believe that all this technology […]
Today, we are featuring a blog by a guest reader named Lindsey on suicide and her experiences. Dear Reader, I don’t know what you’re struggling with, what has brought you to this point, but I hope you will take a minute to read this.. I know where you’re at, the […]
Rise2Recovery podcast: industry leaders in addiction and mental health Everyone has a story. Every single person has had experiences that have shaped their life, for better or worse. How each person reacts to those experiences can also affect the outcome. This is especially true for people in recovery or with mental health conditions. Every one […]
This year’s National Rx Drug Summit in Atlanta kicked off on March 28th and goes through March 31st. The Summit is the largest collaboration of professionals in the nation from all different industries impacted by Rx drug abuse. The event was organized by Kentucky Congressman Hal Rogers and consisted of some powerful panels. One […]
Mental illnesses are prevalent in the world today and can lead to a variety of other conditions. Despite the efforts of many organizations to create awareness about mental illnesses and the importance of mental health, there still seems to be a lack of knowledge on the subject for many. In order to better explain […]