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No matter where you are in recovery, replacing your negative habits with healthy ones is one of the best ways to nurture and maintain your sobriety over the course of your life. And, experts agree — spending time in nature can provide a great venue for some of these...

Self-love and self-esteem have been established as some of the most important aspects of good mental health. Unfortunately, so many of us struggle to love and celebrate ourselves that it's no wonder that addiction and poor mental health are such common issues. The...

Yoga is an age-old practice that's been used for millennia to help people achieve balance, happiness, and peace in their lives. In recent years, yoga has also been incredibly beneficial for those recovering from addiction. Yoga can be a powerful tool in the recovery...

Addiction recovery can be one of the most challenging things a person ever does. Getting the support of friends, family, and loved ones can be crucial to ensure individuals make it through recovery successfully and don't relapse afterward. But, there's also one more...

When it comes to addiction recovery, an individual care plan tailored to the patient's unique needs is usually the best action. Treatment centers typically use a combination of treatment methods and mix and match various techniques to achieve optimal results. Art...

Dance therapy has long been established as an excellent way to improve overall mental health. In recent years, it's been proven to be a valuable treatment method for addiction recovery. Many people first turn to substance use because of an inability to express and...

Engaging in regular exercise during recovery and remaining committed to an exercise program: Forms healthy lifestyle habits that make it easier to stay sober and focus on recovery Blunts the edge off cravings when they hit to help those in recovery avoid relapse Is...

Music is a beautiful thing. It can make us feel happy, sad, angry, and every other emotion imaginable. It can also be an effective tool in helping people recover from addiction. If you're reading this because you or someone you love is in recovery, you may wonder if...

A psychostimulant consumed by more people worldwide than any other psychoactive drug, caffeine is an alkaloid found in cola nuts, cacao, and guarana (Brazilian cocoa shrub). The physically and mentally stimulating effects produced by caffeine are due to its ability to...

While it is true that sweating helps eliminate alcohol from the body, forcing yourself to sweat by sitting in a sauna is not the safest method for ridding your body of alcohol. Nor is it a safe way to self-detox if you are trying to stop abusing drugs or alcohol. Both...

Anyone recovering from a substance abuse disorder must learn to cope with a barrage of emotional ups and downs throughout recovery and beyond. For those graduating from a residential treatment center, the unpredictability of living a sober life brings unexpected...

For many people, the early days of addiction recovery can feel quite disorienting. Substance use has likely been at the center of their lives for so long that they find themselves at a loss about how to fill their time. They might feel that many of their routines are...

There's no doubt that addiction recovery is a lot of hard work. Changing old habits and developing a new perspective on yourself and the world requires a lot of emotional strength and mental energy. However, this isn't to say that the recovery process needs to be a...

The addiction recovery process is a significant challenge for everyone. Letting go of alcohol dependency and regaining control over one's life is an incredible feat that doesn't come easy. However, some people may find the process even more difficult simply because of...

Extroverts get their energy from interacting with other people, unlike introverts, who need time to recharge alone. Extroverted people typically do great in addiction treatment as they enjoy participating in group activities and interacting with others in the center....

Many people start feeling the health benefits of quitting alcohol within the first few days or weeks, like more energy, clearer skin, less bloating, and a healthier gut. As your body heals, you may find yourself struggling with food cravings, such as a severe sweet...

The winter holidays – the period from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day – can be the most stressful time for people in recovery from alcohol addiction. Whether you're newly sober or have quadruple-digit days of sobriety under your belt, the celebratory atmosphere...

Exercise is known for being good for the mind and body, but did you know that it can also be a powerful tool for addiction recovery? When paired with evidence-based rehabilitation strategies, exercise can be a powerful, natural tool to help you maintain sobriety and...

Cold showers are a popular health trend lately, with benefits that range from healthier hair and skin to giving you more energy and vigor. Like many popular health trends, this one is a revival of older health treatment, such as the hydrotherapy that AA founder Bill...

Many people leave rehab filled with mixed emotions: fear, or nervousness about their ability to handle life sober. Hope and determination are also common. Many people are focused on doing the next right thing each time, confident that their new sobriety means they...

Addiction treatment is an evolving science. As researchers learn more about how the brain works and the changes that addictive substances make in its neural pathways, the manner in which addiction is treated changes, as well. Addiction treatment methods have evolved...

Fentanyl is a hot topic in the news lately, and for a good reason. This synthetic opiate, up to 50 times stronger than heroin, is flooding into the country, distributed alongside other illicit street drugs like heroin, other opiates, and methamphetamine. The risks of...

If you've been watching the news over the several weeks, you've probably heard about the growing Fentanyl crisis in our county. One of the most alarming aspects of this surge in illicit drugs is that the fentanyl is disguised as candy – small, brightly colored suggest...

Most people are familiar with a Hollywood image of drug or alcohol overdose: an unresponsive user, possibly vomiting or foaming at the mouth, and then, tragically, dying from the overdose. But, not all overdoses are fatal – although all are potentially deadly and can...

Are you worried about your drug use and that you're looking into rehabilitation options? Rehab can help people who have reached their lowest point and provide a safe space to detox and heal. But many addicts fear seeking treatment, even if they know they need it,...

One of the most challenging parts of recovery, no matter how many days, weeks, or years you have sober, is dealing with cravings and urges to drink or use drugs. Cravings are normal, and the intensity can wax and wane over time. The urge can come on strongly out of...

Addiction recovery is never easy. Overcoming dependence on drugs or alcohol is a huge challenge in the best of circumstances but avoiding relapse can be even more difficult—especially when faced with common relapse triggers throughout day-to-day life. According to...

When psychologists talk about the "neuroplasticity" of the brain, they are referring to the ability of the brain to learn, remember, and adapt to new experiences. Another way to understand neuroplasticity is to think of it as a kind of rewiring of the brain to improve...

For many individuals, one of the barriers to getting "clean" from drugs or alcohol is the fear that detox will be painful. They wonder if they'll be in pain while detoxing. Some convince themselves that this pain will be so intense that they won't be able to handle it...

Substance Use Disorder (SUD), or chronic drug or alcohol use, wreaks havoc on nearly all your brain functions, including the hormones that regulate your moods, serotonin, and dopamine. Your drug of choice replaces the dopamine that your brain naturally produces, and...

Addiction recovery takes time and consistent work. Many people in recovery are learning new, healthy coping mechanisms and, for the first time, may be facing painful emotions sober. Being overwhelmed with emotions while surrounded by temptations and fighting cravings...

People in early sobriety face a lot of challenges, one of which can be loneliness and isolation. If you distanced yourself from old friends because they still drink and party, you're probably missing a lot of the social interaction you once had. Sober friends aren't...

Addiction is not a mental or behavioral disorder but a chronic medical disease. Like hypertension or diabetes, drug and alcohol addiction must be continuously treated with lifestyle changes, medication, and counseling to help manage stress and cravings. What makes...

After completing a rehabilitation program, you'll find yourself returning to your regular life and routine, including work. Returning to work after rehab can feel overwhelming. After all, at some point, work is stressful for almost everyone. The best thing you can do...

Addiction is defined as a chronic medical condition that involves complex interactions between brain circuits, the environment, genetics and a person's life experiences according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Addiction doesn't discriminate and can...

We talked about how family and friends can enable an addict to keep using and gave examples of enabling behaviors in Part One of our two-part series about explaining enabling. Now, we're talking about how you can stop enabling behavior, establish boundaries for...

Family members of people seeking help for drug or alcohol addiction may be surprised to learn that their actions could be facilitating their loved one's drug use or drinking – or that they may help create conditions that could lead to a relapse for their loved one. If...

Being in recovery is more than simply staying sober and working on your treatment plan. Active recovery for many people entails an entire lifestyle change, and one of the most important aspects of this is a daily routine. During inpatient treatment, clients have a set...

A 2020 report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) revealed that around 1.5 million Americans experienced a methamphetamine use disorder in the past year. Some communities in Indiana are among the heaviest affected areas, and while meth abuse has been...

Are you looking foor the best drug or alcohol treatment program in Indiana? Congratulations! You've made the important first step to achieving sobriety and a healthier, happier life. If your drinking or drug use has negatively affected your relationships, health, and...

One of the biggest concerns many parents have is what will happen to their child or children while they're in rehab. Many parents are motivated to seek treatment to be better mothers or fathers. But, one unspoken question that keeps many people from seeking addiction...

Are you looking for the best drug or alcohol treatment program in Indiana? Congratulations! You've made the important first step to achieving sobriety and a healthier, happier life. If your drinking or drug use has negatively affected your relationships, health, and...

Confronting a loved one about their addiction can be scary. Interventions, popularized by reality TV, are common approaches to drawing boundaries with a loved one who is addicted or a last-ditch effort to get someone into a treatment program. However, like anything...

The stereotype of an angry drunk is almost ubiquitous in society. If you're struggling with alcohol addiction and anger issues, or if you're worried about a loved one who becomes angry when they drink, you aren't alone. There are treatment options both for the alcohol...

Research into the nature of drug and alcohol addiction has grown tremendously. The science behind addiction has shifted quite a bit in the last century, and it's now seen as a disease that many people may have a genetic predisposition to. However, the choice to pick...

If you have a friend or family member struggling with addiction, you may wonder what it feels like to walk in their shoes. If you've never experienced substance addiction, it can be hard to understand what it feels like to be an addict. Loneliness and Isolation...

Withdrawal symptoms vary depending on which kind of addictive substance you're detoxing from, but overall, most people agree that it feels awful, both physically and emotionally. Many people, especially those who used heavily for a long period of time, report feeling...

Addiction recovery includes dealing with triggers to drink or use. Triggers can be physical, like a craving, or emotional, where an emotional reaction to a life stressor causes a need to drink or get high. Managing triggers and learning healthy coping skills are...

Getting help for an alcohol use disorder starts with the individual. All forms of addiction treatment require a change in behavior and habits, which is difficult for anyone to do. Plus, because many people who have alcohol use disorder are self-medicating to cope with...