Breaking Myths About Recovery
Before I got sober, I only had one close sober friend. I didn’t learn much about sobriety from him until after I got sober, because once he entered recovery, I often avoided him. I thought people in recovery were miserable and bored—or, worse, boring. I didn’t think I could have fun around someone in recovery, […]
Understanding What is Unhealthy for You
When you get sober, you can focus on your physical and mental health. But that doesn’t mean everything you do will be healthy for you. Many of us with histories of addiction have a tendency to engage in things that feel good in the moment, but aren’t great for us in the long run. Identifying […]
Falling Into Old Patterns
The difficult thing about recognizing patterns is that they are by nature instinctive. We “fall into” old patterns because they are something like our default setting—what we do when we’re not paying attention. Recovery gives us the chance to work on ourselves so that we become attuned to our default patterns. Therapy is a great […]
There Are Many Pathways to Recovery
The first time I tried to get sober, I followed two friends into recovery and did exactly what they did. It lasted about two months—which was a lifetime of sobriety for me then, but a lot shorter than I meant to make it. When I got sober this time, nearly eight years ago and six […]
Sober Role Models
There are a lot of stigmas about addiction that keep people from seeking help. If you don’t know (or think you don’t know) any sober people, those stigmas have room to grow. When you speak to a person in recovery, it challenges preconceived ideas about what addiction or sobriety looks like. Sponsors In 12-step fellowships, […]
Staying Sober on Halloween
7 Ways to Stay Sober on Halloween Halloween in recovery—especially early recovery—can be a challenge. Most parties involve alcohol. However, there are many fun ways to celebrate the holiday sober. Halloween is also a kid-centric holiday, meaning that most of us actually do have experience celebrating it sober, even before we enter recovery as adults. […]
Celebrating Valentine’s Day with a Sober Partner
Valentine’s Day is a time for couples to celebrate their love and toast the coming years. For men and women who struggle with addiction, the temptation to drink can prevent them from celebrating. They may feel uncomfortable around alcohol and do not have a sober partner to spend time with. There are plenty of fun […]
3 Ways to Enjoy a Sober Valentine’s Day
Before even knowing what alcohol is, we formed a subconscious link between alcohol and celebrating. As children, we watched our parents having a good time with friends over the holidays drinking and celebrating. For men and women who struggle with addiction, the holidays can be an especially challenging time. If you are newly sober, you […]
Celebrating Short-Term Sobriety Milestones
Recovery is a journey, not a destination. With this in mind, it can be beneficial to celebrate short-term sobriety goals. Not only will joyous celebrations keep you goal-oriented and help you stay motivated, but they also remind your loved ones of your ongoing commitment to your long-term recovery. Having a reliable alumni network with whom […]
3 Steps Towards Achieving Long-Term Sobriety
You may want to get sober for a variety of reasons, from regaining your physical health to repairing your most important relationships, but the ultimate goal of addiction recovery is long-term sobriety. There are many strategies and techniques used to achieve long-term sobriety goals, including the ongoing support of an alumni program. Reach out to […]