There are so many reasons why people relapse, and the reasons can be as varied and unique as our experiences with addiction. There are some common themes that can help us to understand why we relapse, which can be a very difficult experience, especially when we want so badly to get better. For many of…
Many of us struggling with addiction have developed unhealthy patterns of communication that have caused us to operate within our relationships in very destructive ways. The toxicity of our relationships can contribute to our depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. It can fuel our addictive patterns because we seek an escape from the conflict…
One of our major setbacks when we’re struggling with addiction can be how much we close ourselves off to learning from other people. We think no one will be able to understand our struggles. We think we’re alone with our pain. Sometimes our hopelessness causes us to feel as though there’s no point in even…
Going back to school is hard in that each new school year presents academic and social challenges. It can make students never want to get out of bed knowing what awaits them. It is important for parents to never give their kids reasons to be scared to go to school and to be able to…
One of the many advantages of being in recovery is getting to rebuild the relationships that were damaged, broken or estranged as a result of our addictions. When we’re struggling with our addictions, we can be extremely self-destructive and consumed with anger, both of which can make us take our pain out on the people…
Facing our fears is something we must learn to do if we want to stop our addictions from controlling our lives and directing our choices and behaviors. Fear plays a major role in our addictions, because we are often running from our fears when we turn to our addictions, in an attempt not to feel…
We are on our phones all the time whether it is checking our emails, texting, video chatting, playing games, or checking our social media statuses. If we are on our phones a lot, we might as well use them to educate ourselves and find support while in recovery from drug addiction. Smartphone apps have the…
You may have seen the signs of a student with self-inflicted marks on their body and feel like it is not your place to get involved. The truth is that as long as those students are in your classroom, it is your responsibility to ensure that your students are in good health both physically and…
Thanksgiving is known as a time for celebrating not only gratitude but also our special bonds with family and friends. Many of us are grieving losses, and because the holidays are associated with spending quality time with loved ones, we can feel the pain of our grief that much more acutely this time of year.…
Developing emotional resilience requires that we change our perspective – on ourselves, on our addictions, on life in general. Many of us have been conditioned to strive for perfection, and we’re taught that anything less than perfect is wrong and unlovable. We think of our challenges as burdens, and we run from difficulty. This mentality…