People can enjoy many pleasurable activities in a healthy way that does not cross the threshold of addiction. However, sometimes the line between healthy enjoyment of an activity and developing an addiction to it can be crossed without someone even realizing it. What Is an Addiction? The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as … Continue reading How Do I Know If I Am Addicted to Something?
It takes hard work and dedication to recover from a substance use disorder. For many people, it will require a lifetime of dedication to stay on the sober track. Unfortunately, relapses are common. Approximately 80% of those in recovery who have found long-term sobriety have experienced at least one relapse along the way. Staying sober … Continue reading How Do I Stay Sober?
If you have recently beat a substance abuse addiction, you may be wondering about what the latest statistics show about substance abuse and recovery. If you live in Massachusetts, the state website can be a good resource to learn about these statistics. Statistics on Substance Abuse in Massachusetts The State of Massachusetts tracks the number … Continue reading Substance Abuse Statistics in Massachusetts
It can be difficult to recognize when something has become an addiction. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), addiction is defined as a chronic disease that affects the brain’s memory, motivation, and reward functions. A person with an addiction will experience feelings of craving that substance. In many cases, those with addictions … Continue reading How Do I Know If I Am Addicted to Something?
Holding yourself accountable in life can help tremendously in maintaining your sobriety. It helps you add the necessary structure to your life to achieve your goals and build a better life for yourself. Sobriety and Accountability Having family, friends, and counselors in your life who hold you accountable for your actions can be very helpful. … Continue reading How Does Accountability Help with Staying Sober?
If you are committed to remaining sober and want to work toward becoming more independent, a sober living home may be the right choice for you. Sober living homes are group residences, where people who are recovering from addiction can live. Life in Sober Living Homes Sober living homes typically require that their residents follow … Continue reading How Do I Know If a Sober Living Home is Right for Me?
You have likely heard that structure is an important aspect of addiction recovery. The importance of structure for addiction recovery cannot be overstated. Structure helps to treat the underlying issues that contribute to addiction. Structure Helps Treat Addiction Behaviors When people suffer from an addiction to drugs or alcohol, they have developed certain behaviors and … Continue reading Why is Structure So Important for Addiction Recovery?
Many people decide staying in a sober living home is a great way to maintain their sobriety. If you are considering sober home living, you may be wondering how long you should stay there. There are many benefits to staying in a sober living home. Studies have shown that time living in a sober living … Continue reading How Long Should I Stay at a Sober Living Home?
In many cases, there are two things that keep people with addictions trapped in the addiction cycle: physical dependence and psychological dependence on a substance. Physical and Psychological Dependency A person is physically dependent on a substance when their body has become dependent on the substance in order to continue functioning and avoid withdrawal symptoms. … Continue reading Letting Go of Addiction
Nature seems to have a certain healing power that simply cannot be explained. When you go outside and experience what nature has to offer, there seems to be a healing and uplifting balance that restores and nurtures your mind, body, and soul. Nature and Physical Recovery One of the ways that nature can help a … Continue reading How Nature Can Help with Sobriety