There is no doubt we live in a highly stressful world. In recovery, learning how to reduce stress is an essential relapse prevention action, as stress is a common trigger for relapse. While we all have varying abilities to manage stress in our lives, being able to leverage those skills in recovery is key. Why […]
Mental Health
Five Meditation Techniques to Help Manage Stress
Because daily stress or highly stressful life events are associated with an increased risk of relapse, learning how to better manage our emotional states becomes an essential tool in recovery. Mastering the skill of meditation, using any number of various techniques, can significantly reduce stress levels. Meditation is a holistic practice that allows you to […]
Your Choice of Words Can Help Break Mental Health Stigma
For too many, stigma remains a significant barrier to those who might otherwise seek treatment for mental health issues. The words and terms still in use today that portray mental health conditions in a negative light only add to the stigma. As a result, people have learned to associate mental health conditions with commonly used […]
How to Overcome Shame and Guilt in Recovery
If you are in recovery, you have most likely had to confront the heavy feelings of guilt and shame. These emotions will naturally emerge as you progress through therapy, exploring the behaviors you may now regret. Step Four of the 12-Step Program helps you come to terms with past actions that caused others harm in […]
What is Emotional Self-Care?
The mind is incredibly powerful. Our thoughts shape our emotions, and our emotions influence our behaviors. Therefore, in substance use recovery, our emotional state has the power to help or hinder our recovery efforts. Emotional self-care is the purposeful practice of attending to our mental health. Taking care of emotional wellness is intrinsic to a […]
How Can a Co-Occurring Disorder Impact My Recovery Journey?
If you happen to struggle with both a substance use disorder (SUD) and a co-occurring mental health condition, you are not alone. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about 9.5 million Americans were affected by co-occurring disorders in 2019. Co-occurring disorders come in a multitude of combinations, like alcohol use disorder coexisting with […]