Hello, December!
It’s hard to believe it’s already almost mid-December. The year feels like it has just flown by. Some days do seem to go by faster than others, but as a whole — the year went pretty fast.
Tips for Surviving the Holidays When You’re in Recovery | Guest Post by Ryan Rosen
The holidays are particularly difficult for people in addiction recovery. This time of year can dredge up sad memories, cause financial or travel-related stress, and subject you to uncomfortable social situations. At the same time, alcohol is present at almost all work parties and family gatherings, which can make abstinence all the more difficult to maintain. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to prepare yourself and enjoy a sober holiday season. (Continue Reading…)
Catching My Breath
When you Google the meaning of overwhelmed one of the definitions is: “Defeat completely.” And completely defeated can perfectly go to describe how I have been feeling at times.
Happy Belated Halloween 👻
I would like to wish everyone a happy belated Halloween! I really wanted to blog on Halloween itself but things have been pretty hectic for me the past few days.
4 Tips to Take Back Control During Addiction Recovery
Drugs, alcohol and addictive substances have a way of taking over your life. If you are in recovery, however, you are on the right track to take that control back and start living life on your own terms again. Taking steps to get your life on track again can take some additional effort. Use these tips to maintain focus and manage your life during recovery.
Autumn: My Favorite Time of The Year
Autumn is hands down my favorite time of the year. The weather gets cooler in Pennsylvania, the leaves start to turn beautiful colors before gliding to the ground, it’s hoodie weather, plus, let’s not forget Halloween! I am also one of those pumpkin spice coffee lovers as well! I just love the Fall season! I hate summer even though I am a Leo; a summer baby.
Choosing the Right Rehabilitation Center for a Loved One
I would like to welcome Amber from WriteAboutRecovery.com as she talks about Choosing the Right Rehabilitation Center for a Loved One.
Selecting the right rehab center for a loved one can be a major challenge, no matter how old they are or where they are in life.
Insomnia, Anxiety & Me
“Roughly 60 Million Americans are affected by [a] sleep disorder every year,” and I am one of them – as some of you may already know. Some night I have issues with insomnia, other nights my sleep is completely broken and restless. It is not very often that I actually get a good night’s sleep, regardless of how long I am lying in my bed for. I could be lying in bed for 12 hours and yet only get 4-5 hours of solid sleep. I even have a prescription medication that I take every night (almost) faithfully.
Sober People Don’t Go To Rehab, Karen
I had to give up on someone, we’ll call her Karen, for pretty much the first time in my life. Like completely give up, walk away, and wash my hands of her. I had to learn the hard way that I can’t help and save everyone. You can’t save someone who doesn’t want to be saved or isn’t ready to receive the help yet.
Happy Easter 🐰 2019
I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter! If you celebrate, I hope that you are able to spend some time with your loved ones. To those of you who are spending the holiday solo, that is okay too, but always remember that you are loved and that there is nothing wrong with being alone on the holidays. Spend the entire day doing the things that you love – choirs can wait until tomorrow.
The Devil Is Real And Its Name Is Addiction by Kayl
“I have come face to face with the devil more times than I can count. I have lived life as an addict, and I have loved an addict, and I have been in love with addicts. Being pulled from both sides is so hard considering you have lived both loves. I honestly think that loving an addict is much harder than being an addict.” – Kayl (Continue Reading…)
A Poem | The Real Flavors of Life
The Real Flavors of Life. A Poem by Kristine Colley. (Continue Reading)
Stirring Up Emotions & Memories
Why do bad memories and things that have happened to us that are negative have to hurt so damn much?
Being The Only Non-Drinker At The Party & Tips On How To Survive
If you are in recovery and are worried about attending a holiday party, I can offer you some advice and tips on how I got through it. I am not telling you that you are going to feel comfortable being around your drug of choice and that it is going to be all sunshine and cupcakes, but that doesn’t mean that you have to relapse either. I do not advise anyone in early recovery to put themselves in the same situation that I was in, either. If you don’t have to go to a party just yet, then don’t go. It is so much easier to sit at home and be sober than it is to be around everyone having fun with a drink in their hand.
Counting Sheep Until I Sleep…
Okay, so, I am not literally counting sheep until I fall asleep, but you get the gist.
Insomnia Strikes Again
It is about 12:30 am and I am slowly getting drowsy – most likely thanks to the 300mg of Trazodone that I take at night – but my mind is running a thousand miles a minute. I figured I would take this opportunity to blog a bit.
Recover from Relapsing: What to Do After an Addiction Relapse
If you have relapsed after a prolonged time being abstinent from drugs or alcohol, it can feel like a failure. However, a relapse is not the worst thing in the world. Addiction is a disease for which there is no cure, only management. When you fall off the wagon, it’s just a setback that is a common part of the recovery process for many people. Resolving to recover from a relapse allows you to move on and commit to a lifestyle and choices that support your sobriety, goals and overall happiness.
I Woke Up Like This… Happy
It’s not often that I find myself waking up with energy while in a great mood. So, I figured I would switch it up and make a post while my depression is suppressed for this moment in time. I want to savor this moment and place it safely in my memory – hopefully in a place where I will remember it 😀 – so that when I am feeling down I can pull this memory out and know that sometimes things are okay.
Through The Darkness…
My head has been completely crazy these past few days. Yes, I know my head is a mess most of the time anyway, but it just seems to have gotten worse. Lately, I feel like I am living in a fog. It doesn’t seem like this is my real life anymore. Money’s tight but other than that things are going well. My relationship is good, I am slowly getting back into writing, although, I do believe I took on more than I can actually handle at the moment. So, the question of the day is: Why do I still feel the way I do?
The Sun Will Shine After The Rain
I want to start by apologizing for my absence from this blog. If you read my last few posts, I was stuck in a depressive episode. But like with everything else, the sun will shine after the rain. I still have gloomy moments but, for the most part, I have been feeling a lot better these past few days. A lot of that has to do with an exciting email that I received from an intern at a publishing company.
My Bipolar Mind 