Okay, if we’re honest, it’s possible that “drama-free” and “holiday season” are simply two ideas that don’t go together! All the proverbial hustle and bustle, traveling, and splitting time between places are common. But lingering aspects of the pandemic, as well as possible loneliness and isolation that sometimes accompanies this time of year, might also...Read More

Whether you’re newly sober or in long-term recovery, the holiday season can be both full of joy and full of stress. It’s easy to be boxed in by lofty expectations, even with the best intentions. If you use a 12-Step program as one of your sobriety wellness tools, it’s easier to understand why even the...Read More

Without a doubt, the majority of us will be happy to leave 2020 behind. As the holidays approach, we might still be navigating the mental, emotional, and physical ramifications we’ve experienced these past few months, as well as adjusting to a new “normal.” But if we keep our expectations flexible, 2020 could bring the best...Read More

Breaking the Mold While advertising campaigns and the media often portray the holiday season in the same merry ways every year, sometimes people in recovery feel there are more complications than joys during this time. They might find it challenging to talk with relatives about where they are in sobriety, or struggle with a sense...Read More

Feeling lonely can happen any time of year, but it’s often more apparent during the holiday season. Loneliness is a valid emotion, and it’s fine to acknowledge it. It’s also a feeling you can change with a certain level of acceptance and helpful actions. Alone Vs. Lonely First, it’s important to understand the difference between...Read More

The festive holiday season is often filled with work parties, gatherings with family and friends, themed activities, and other events. We celebrate certain traditions, cook or bake specialty foods, and enjoy customs that only happen once a year. The Holidays: Not Just Jolly As happy as these times often are, they might also be gateways...Read More

Every month to every couple of months there is a national holiday or a widely recognized celebration. In America and many countries around the world, it is customary to celebrate with drinking. Most often, with excessive drinking. During the early months of recovery, and anytime throughout life abstinent from alcohol, drinking holidays, or drinking celebrations...Read More

“…we change lives in the communities we serve by feeding the hungry today and building a healthy, hunger-free tomorrow.” Meet the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona This year, 2016, marks the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona’s 40th Anniversary. A 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation, founded in 1976, the “Food Bank:” Provides food and food-related...Read More

If you are in early recovery you may be finding, with Christmas approaching fast, that the holidays are proving to be a challenge. It is a feeling that is completely normal; it can take some time to learn how to cope with the multitude of emotions that rise up. For many in early recovery, there...Read More

Thursday marks the beginning of the holiday season with Thanksgiving: A time for families to come together to spend quality time over a plethora of food, football and in most cases alcohol. The holidays can be a tricky time for people in recovery, especially those who are new to the program. The typical experience for...Read More