What Are Refusal Skills? When working a program of recovery for alcohol-use disorders, there are situations when you might feel like you need some extra support.  Even those who are committed to not drinking can experience social pressure to drink.  Friends can make it somewhat difficult for you especially if they do not know you...Read More

What Is Major Depressive Disorder? A person can feel sad for a number of different reasons.  Some may feel sad after losing a loved one or because they recently lost their job.  Sadness is experienced by many and is part of life.  These feelings of sadness are usually short-lived and will go away on their...Read More

  Control and Addiction Many people ask why they cannot just control their drug use or behavioral addiction such as shopping or gambling.  If one could control their addiction, there would be no treatment facilities or 12-step groups and it is unrealistic to think that self-control is the answer. An addiction is so powerful that...Read More

  What are the Symptoms of Co-Occurring Disorders What are the primary symptoms of co-occurring disorders?  The answer to this question varies based on the specific substance-use disorder and the specific mental health disorder that occur together.  First, the reason why these two disorders occur together is not entirely know.  There are theories that support...Read More

  ADHD and Substance Use Disorders Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often treated with stimulant medication.  The issue with this type of medication has to do with those individuals who have co-occurring substance abuse problems and ADHD.  Over one-half of adults with ADHD have a co-occurring substance use disorder; however, 95% of medications to treat...Read More

  What Treatment is Best for Me? If you are considering treatment for an addiction, you might ask, what treatment is best for me?  There are many things to consider when looking for a treatment program.  Many people think of treatment as a 28-day inpatient program, which emphasizes the 12- step recovery model.  This is...Read More

Depression and Emotions Depression is a mental health disorder that causes overwhelming feelings of sadness, lack of energy, and inability to work productively.  There are many emotions connected to depression including anger, frustration, shame, sadness, and anxiety.  Some individuals have a difficult time addressing and expressing negative emotional states, which can make it difficult to...Read More

How Do Addicts Recovery from Financial Problems In 12-step meetings, finances are often mentioned as something that overwhelms the person in recovery.  Finances are something that the recovering addict will need to work on but maybe not right away.  The first few months of recovery should be focused specifically on finding your own path to...Read More

Exploring Your Treatment Options An addiction to a substance or a behavior is an overwhelming experience.  You may have spent months or years in the addiction cycle of seeking the drug or behavior, using and engaging in the drug or behavior, and then felt shame or guilt for the engagement, only to start the cycle...Read More

“Resentment is the ‘number one’ offender,” to alcoholics. These words are written in Alcoholics Anonymous, more affectionately referred to as The Big Book. “It destroys more alcoholics than anything else,” the authors explain. “From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually...Read More