July marks two special birthdays near and dear to Ashley Addiction Treatment, the birthdays of Micki Thomas on July 23rd, and her sister Mae Abraham on July 24th. “Feminine genius” is a term coined by Pope John Paul II in his groundbreaking 1995 Letter to Women, and is the perfect way to describe two influential […]
Addiction
Our Story: A Gift of Confidence, Connection, Empowerment, and Insight
One hugely important gift in the journey of addiction and recovery is your story. It will always belong to you, and no one can take it from you. Take time to remember the powerful, painful parts of your life, and reflect on how far you have come. Writing it down, or speaking and sharing it […]
Understanding How It Started: The Power of Looking Back
What happened to me? How did I get so hooked? Why did it get so hard, or so bad? These are questions that could feel haunting during the struggle with addiction and can continue to pester us during early recovery. But once stability and sobriety have been reached, it may be time to reflect and […]
Socializing While Sober
Going through the turmoil of addiction, receiving intensive treatment, and embracing recovery is such a powerful undertaking and such a beautiful accomplishment. But figuring out how to return to our life and the world after such a painful process can be just as overwhelming. There can also be fear, uncertainty, trepidation, anxious excitement, or curiosity […]
The Dangers of Rationality: How Reasoning Can Lead Us Down a Harmful Road
These decisions happen in a second, and most of the time, have minimal consequences. Many of us have said, “I’ll just do my work another time, it won’t be a big deal,” or “I’ll just be a few minutes late, it will be OK,” or “I’ll start that health program tomorrow. What’s one more day?” […]
Love in Addiction: The Importance of Protecting Yourself if Someone You Love Is Using
It is devastating to love someone who becomes addicted. The feelings of powerlessness, rage, hopelessness, heartbreak, despair can feel so overwhelming. For many relationships it can feel impossible to know what to do when staying is destructive but walking away feels wrong. If you are unsure of what to do, that’s okay. The most important […]