Recovery is a lifelong process designed to promote health, manageability, and sustainability. Yet there are times when we have to do things we’re not ready to do because life circumstances demand it. Like a recovering heroin addict who has to take pain medication following a major surgery or having to take a job that isn’t conducive to your recovery because the bills must be paid.
The Emotional Rollercoaster
Jim explores the emotional rollercoasters that are often a significant challenge in recovery. Let’s identify strategies for making the highs more sustainable and the lows less frequent.
Dealing with Cravings & Compulsions
Cravings are common and occur frequently in early recovery. Even with long-term abstinence, we sometimes find ourselves obsessing over a compulsion to use. Jim explores relapse prevention and strategies.
The Fear of Getting Better
Like most aspects of recovery, getting better is counterintuitive in that it’s generally terrifying. When we’re not sure how to be, we entertain the option of shooting ourselves in the foot, just to get back to the familiar.
How to Stay Cool When the World Is on Fire
I want to know what sustains you when you’re overwhelmed? I hope you have lots of answers to that question and I hope that list includes some pretty stellar people. I am grateful for the folks my HP puts in my life. When I look at my support system, my ego would like to believe that I’m so clever that I went out and found these folks – but it’s just not true.
Ambivalence Is a Barrier to Recovery
There’s a fine line between, “I don’t know if I want this” and “I’m afraid of this.” That line is imperceptible when we’re on the fence.
The Most Common Causes of Relapse
I often hear that “relapse is part of recovery.” While I know that many of us do; I remind folks all the time that it doesn’t have to be part of our story. Following a relapse, the most important thing we can do is to return to everything that was previously working.
Relapse Prevention Tips
Getting sober is tough – staying sober is tougher. Let’s explore strategies that are proven to work and which promote greater health!
Relapse Prevention Made Simple
Anyone who stops drinking or drugging, no matter who they are or how determined they are, experiences times in their recovery when the cravings to use or drink are overwhelming. A high percentage will relapse during these periods. We’ll take a drink, or ten. We’ll resume using with the lie