Winter can be a difficult time of year for many people living with seasonal depression. As the days get shorter and colder, it can be hard to keep motivated and stay on top of recovery. For those recovering from addiction, winter can present an even greater challenge. The combination of seasonal depression and sobriety (not to mention the holidays) can make the winter months seem especially daunting. However, it is possible to manage both seasonal depression and sobriety. You can beat the winter blues and stay sober through the cold months with the right coping strategies.
Category: Recovery
5 Activities to Help Structure Yourself in Addiction Recovery
The first few weeks after you’ve completed a substance abuse program can be emotionally and physically challenging. Many of the things you’ve been doing for so long may seem bizarre and unnatural to you. However, as challenging as it may seem, staying structured is one of the most important things you can do in recovery. Without structure, your recovery is much more likely to be temporary and unstable. Here are some helpful tips on how to stay organized while in recovery from a substance use disorder.
Pet Therapy: Interacting with Animals in Addiction Recovery
Pets can be a source of tremendous comfort to people. When people feel loved and supported, they are more likely to recover from a substance use disorder. That’s why pet therapy programs exist – they offer pet owners an opportunity to provide care, compassion, and love to those who need it most. In today’s article, we will explore the benefits of pet therapy in recovery and how program participants may benefit from the experience.
What it Means to Live a Sober Lifestyle
Sober living isn’t just about abstaining from alcohol and other substances. It’s a lifestyle that encompasses many different aspects of your life. For example, it can help you make better decisions, keep you stress-free, and even improve your physical health. If you’re ready to start living an active sober lifestyle, read on for more information.
5 Tips for Staying Sober During This Thanksgiving Holiday
The Thanksgiving holiday is a time when friends and family come together to give thanks for all the wonderful things in their lives. But it also holds the potential to be a challenging time for anyone who struggles with alcohol addiction or any other type of substance use. If you are sober, staying that way during this holiday can be very difficult. Here are some tips on how to stay sober during the Thanksgiving holiday:
Sober Activity Series: Why Yoga is a Great Sober Activity for Addiction Recovery
Sober living is challenging, especially when faced with all the free time that used to be occupied by substance use. Isolation is also a concern for people whose friend group was previously curated through addiction. Finding new hobbies and activities can be a great way to meet new people and keep your mind stimulated. This is why so many recovering addicts find that adding sober activities to their routine is beneficial in keeping them on the right path. These days, there are so many different ways that people in recovery can enrich their daily lives. Yoga is one such practice that the addiction recovery community has turned to as a constructive sober activity. Let’s discuss the benefits of yoga and some basic poses that you can try today!
Top 7 Apps for People in Addiction Recovery
In the age of technology, it’s become a lot easier to track your sobriety and manage your recovery plan with the advent of mobile apps. Below is a list of recovery-based apps that you can download on your smartphone to connect with a supportive community and meet your own treatment goals. Regardless of whether you are newly sober or established in your recovery, there is an app on this list for you! All of the applications are available on Android and Apple iOS. Prices are subject to change as of the writing of this article. Eudaimonia does not receive commissions on purchases and is not in a sponsorship agreement with any of the applications listed below.
Sober Activity Series: An Introductory Guide to Houseplants
In recovery, some find that they have extra time on their hands that used to be occupied in some way by substance use. We’re starting off our new Sober Activity Series with caring for houseplants as a great way to dedicate that extra time to something productive. Houseplants are a great form of therapy for anyone in recovery, someone working through trauma, dealing with mental illness, or some combination of the three. Research shows that for 88% of Americans, caring for houseplants has improved their mental health. So let’s go over a few beginner-friendly houseplants to get you started in your new sober hobby!
Urge Surfing in Addiction Recovery
Every person in addiction recovery will at some point experience cravings for a substance they are abstaining from. It’s natural. For some, these cravings are hard to ignore and unfortunately lead to a relapse of substance use. Urge surfing is a method of maintaining and coping with these cravings and preventing relapse. Let’s discuss how you can implement this practice into your recovery plan.
Making Amends: 6 Tips to Get You Started
Step 9 of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-Step program is all about making amends to the people you’ve hurt through your substance use. For many, this can be the most difficult and visceral step of the program. Which makes it all the more important in the recovery process. Not only is this step useful in helping you rebuild your relationships but it forces you to face the very real damage your substance use has caused. Let’s discuss some tips on reaching out and composing apologies to the people in your life you wish to make amends with.
Non-Alcoholic Drinks and Sober Living
As the season of parties and social gatherings approaches, you may want to consider some sober alternatives to toasting with friends and family. But what are the options out there, and which one is right for you? Is it even okay to drink non-alcoholic beverages in recovery? We’ve got the answers for you.
Telling People You’re Sober
Are you ready to have the talk? Telling people you’re sober is a big step forward in recovery. Make sure you know who you want to tell and why you want to tell them. Check-in with yourself and weigh whether this is the right step forward. How will informing people about your sobriety benefit your recovery? What are the risks? Let’s explore.
Strategies For Successful Sobriety
A lot of people want quick solutions when they’re seeking successful sobriety and recovery. But the truth of the matter is that recovery is a lifelong process that is cultivated carefully through time and dedication. That being said, let’s discuss some key strategies that will foster successful sobriety no matter the stage of recovery.
Can You Visit Someone in a Sober Living Home?
When someone you care about enters rehab or a sober living home, your first instinct is to be there for them. After all, one of the keys to successful recovery is community support and involvement. We’ve discussed here before that it isn’t always easy to support someone in recovery, but sometimes it’s as easy as visiting them. But can you visit a sober living home? And more importantly, should you visit? Let’s discuss the idea behind sober living facilities and all of the factors that will impact your decision to visit one.
Family Support is Important But Not Everything
It is vital that the family members of the patients provide support and care during the rehab process. This makes the patients feel that they are loved and needed by people. It also helps them grow more confident and speed up their recovery process too.