Though not often mentioned in the context of recovering from drug or alcohol addiction, the event of relapse is very common. It is estimated that up to ninety percent of those in recovery will experience some instance of relapse. The process of recovery tends to follow a curvature pattern, with temptations to use the substance […]
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Several years ago, scientists observed something interesting. They were testing the addictive nature of illicit substances on some rats in a lab. The rats were simultaneously offered a drinking bottle with pure water in it, and one with cocaine mixed into it. They found that the rats who were isolated and bored quickly became addicted […]
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When people choose to use a substance, it isn’t usually for its benign properties. Substances are consumed for the mental and physical effects which are produced as a result. It isn’t often pondered how, or why, these good feelings are produced. The user just enjoys the change, while it lasts. In fact, the changes in […]
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Using alcohol as a substitute for genuine fun can eventually come back to bite us. Over time, the brain learns to wait on the alcohol before relaxing. When we attempt to go without it, our minds rebel. Even things which we formerly found enjoyable can begin to look bleak and uninteresting once our brains have […]
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As destructive as it is, a life which is built within addiction can still provide us with an identity. We establish a certain network of friends – or acquaintances – whom we come to rely on. We have our daily habits, which provide a sense of comfort in routine. And, we have our coping methods […]
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Alcohol consumption is a very integrated part of our culture. It is hard to find a social setting – outside of recovery groups or church meetings – which do not serve it as a supposed enhancement to camaraderie. For those who are seeking to abstain from alcohol, being surrounded by others who are imbibing can […]
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There are many misconceptions surrounding the nature of addiction. Many of these errors in thinking are employed by those who have no first-hand knowledge of the struggle, but some are espoused by the recovering persons, themselves. These types of myths can impede the road to recovery, through spreading misinformation and discouragement. In seeking to help […]
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What we know as “peer pressure” is actually an adaptive evolutionary process gone awry. Human beings are social creatures, and societies are able to be built due to our mutual agreements of norms and acceptable behaviors. When we are in addiction, the societies – or sub cultures – that we belong to tend to be […]
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One thing which we do not tend to learn, while in addiction, is how to give ourselves credit. The road of recovery has been marked with goalposts – or milestones – to ensure that we take the time to acknowledge that we have, indeed, committed to the journey of life which so many before us […]
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For people who are wanting to quit their drinking habits, the easiest approach is to isolate oneself from the substance. When there is no alcohol around – or available – it is easier to resist the temptation to imbibe. This reasoning is what prompts those of means to retreat to sober living homes or distant […]
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