Is There a One-Size-Fits-All Approach to Recovery?
In a perfect world, everyone would struggle with the same problems, and we could each follow the same cookie-cutter solutions to fix our lives. In reality, of course, every person’s problems are as singular as they are. People arrive at the front door of addiction in countless different ways, so turning around and walking away from that door will look different for everyone. The negative consequences of addiction manifest in unique ways in each person’s life, and those problems must be solved on an individual level.
How to Establish an Effective Daily Routine
A dependable routine is the foundation of successful living in any form. From professional athletes to CEOs, productive people make and follow healthy, intentional habits, both when conducting their daily affairs and when working towards their long-term goals. Success doesn’t happen overnight; the people you look up to most likely put in the time to take proper care of themselves, in mind and in body, in order to get where they are now.
Why You Should Embrace the Old You
One of the biggest goals for most people in recovery is to avoid making the same mistakes that they made in the past and to instead make healthier decisions. As you move through the process of recovery, remember that the best use for your old mistakes is to learn from them, forgive yourself, and accept yourself as you are. The psychological component of your recovery is best served by receiving therapy, developing healthy emotional outlets, and understanding the importance of treating yourself with kindness, grace, and forgiveness--both the you that you are now, and the you that you were in the past.
Is Marijuana a Gateway Drug?
When people refer to marijuana as a “gateway drug”, they’re saying that people who use it will go on to use other, more dangerous substances. Some have suggested that using marijuana creates neural pathways in the brain which makes a smoker begin to crave stronger drugs. While some people who use marijuana move on to harder drugs, there is currently no evidence to back up claims that marijuana is responsible for increasing one’s habits of substance abuse.
How to Reawaken Your Passion for Life
Now that we’re starting a new year and are learning to live with COVID-19, it might be a good time to think about going back to your regular life. If so, make sure you put your safety first and foremost. Many of us spent the past ten months with no hugs, no visiting our elderly family members, and no ability to enjoy large parts of our lives like we used to. Until we have better knowledge of how much longer COVID is going to keep us in this position, it’s in your best interests to understand that you can have a life filled with fun and passion without involving risky activities which could get you sick. You can still make choices that will uplift you and carry you through the year with a positive attitude. Take this chance to reawaken your passions. Now is the time to open up to your support network, revisit your favorite hobbies, and explore new activities.
Finding the Right Accountability Partner
Recovery is a challenging road to walk. You may have already seen the powerful impact that other people can have on your sobriety by providing support, guidance, and professional help. One of the most important roles in your recovery will be your accountability partner: someone who specifically works to hold you to your goals and ensure that you’re keeping on track. As such, it’s a position of great responsibility. Here’s how to choose an accountability partner who’ll help you focus on achieving success in sobriety.
How Long Will My Recovery Last?
It’s common for people in recovery to expect their healing process to come to a definitive end. Unfortunately, the recovery process is nothing like the movies, where everything comes full circle at the perfect time. The truth is that recovery is a long, complicated journey that can last a lifetime. If you or a loved one are beginning your recovery process, your early efforts will be dealing with going through detox. Understanding what detox is, how long it takes, and the benefits it brings are essential components to an effective recovery. Keeping yourself informed and aware is the best thing you can do to help yourself move forward on a daily basis.
The Power of Meditation
“The mind is a terrible thing to waste” may be one of the truest sayings we know. Your mind controls your body, after all. It dictates how we communicate with others and how we perceive ourselves. With that in mind, you want to take great care of your brain. One of your most effective tools for mental maintenance is simply meditation. While it won’t replace medications or professional treatment, meditation can be highly useful in managing mental disorders, stress, and recovery from addiction, especially when combined with medical help. Meditation can be a powerful source of energy and mindfulness that helps you be prepared to handle anything that comes your way.
What to Do First Once You’re Back Home
Once you’re home from treatment, detox, or whatever steps you took to get sober, you have the rest of your life to look forward to…except that things are different now, aren’t they? Between the new rules you’ve established for yourself (no more hanging out at Eddie’s, gotta check in with my sponsor tomorrow) to the list of goals that may now be hovering at the back of your mind (pay off my debts by the summer, sign up for online classes, start working out) it might seem as though you barely recognize your day-to-day life anymore. Here are some suggestions for ways to take initiative and intentionally live your new life to serve your own best interests.
How Can I Be Accountable in My Recovery?
Accountability is holding yourself responsible for your actions and commitments. For many, this is the most crucial knot to untangle at the heart of an effective recovery. Unless you accept yourself as you were and learn from your mistakes, you won’t have that urgent inner source of motivation to push you forward into healing and away from destructive behavior. Take the time to reflect on who you were and realize that you have to heal the parts of you that caused you to be that way in order to move ahead.