Learning About Yourself in Recovery
In active addiction—especially for people who started drinking or using early—it’s hard to form a sense of self. Your self during that time is under the influence of or recovering from substances. Addiction often stunts your emotional development. In recovery, you learn who you are without substances. This can seem overwhelming—especially in early sobriety—but it […]
Self-Advocacy in Recovery
Active addiction can make you feel out of control and unsure of who you are, which means many of us learn self-advocacy when we get sober. You can’t ask for what you need when you don’t know what that is. It’s important to learn what’s best for your recovery and advocate for it, because what […]
A Conversation About Shame and Self-Compassion With Neuroscientist Marc Lewis
I had the pleasure of speaking with Marc Lewis over Zoom about addiction, neuroscience, shame, and self-compassion. Lewis is a neuroscientist and professor emeritus in developmental psychology. He is the author or co-author of over 70 journal publications in psychology and neuroscience, and the author of two books. Lewis currently writes for the popular press, blogs, and […]
Be Your Own Valentine
Whether you’re single or not, this Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to focus on self-love. Many people come into sobriety with low self-esteem. They may have spent years using drugs or alcohol to build artificial self-confidence when real self-love was lacking. They may have stopped taking care of themselves during active addiction, sending themselves a […]