Tag Archives: recovery

Finding Self-Forgiveness

Feelings of guilt and shame are common for those in the throes of addiction. There will be countless times throughout your recovery where you will reflect on your past and, if you do not know how to manage the feelings of guilt that come with that, that reflection can lead to a world of self-doubt, […]

Intensive Outpatient Programs: An Overview

Substance abuse intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) offer services for people who are suffering from drug and alcohol addiction but do not require medically supervised detoxification or 24-hr supervision. IOPs share some similarities with residential treatment programs, but the structures of the two are vastly different. IOPs allow you to continue direct services while adjusting to […]

Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment: An Overview

Choosing an addiction treatment program is one of the most consequential decisions you will make during your journey to sobriety. The program that you select will be the foundation for your recovery, so it is imperative to choose one that addresses your individual needs.   Most treatment programs fall into two categories: inpatient treatment or […]

The Importance of Individuation

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As defined by the Oxford dictionary, to individuate is to distinguish from others of the same kind. In practice, this means deciding how you will differentiate yourself from your place of origin through careful discernment. Throughout life, you will have to make decisions for yourself. You decide, at some level, what job you work, who your […]

The Two Dimensions of Fearing Intimacy

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Intimacy is an integral part of the recovery process, with each journey being a wholly personal and emotional venture. However, while intimacy is an essential part of recovery, it is also one of the most difficult and vulnerable parts of the process, and an individual could be resisting these feelings of intimacy for a couple […]

Two Faces of Denial

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Denial is something that can not just stifle the development of new sober practices but also compromise one’s sense of self-worth, leading one to unnecessarily belittle themselves — even in the face of progress. Addressing denial in recovery is a topic that will come up throughout one’s journey, but it won’t always present itself in […]

Roll With the Good Times

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Recovery is a lot of hard work, and maintaining one’s sobriety takes a lot of responsibility. Going to group therapy sessions, diving into difficult memories, or working to reestablish relationships are all tough parts of the journey, all while an individual is asked to stave off urges and cope with unforeseen stressors, continuously reevaluating their […]

Empowerment in Practice

Empowerment theory encourages groups of people to band together to overcome adversity. There are three tenants of cognitive empowerment, according to Gutiérrez in “Understanding the empowerment process: Does consciousness make a difference?” They include identifying similar others, redistributing self-blame for past events, and developing a sense of personal freedom. This directly applies to recovery. To […]

Shame and Guilt in Addiction

Experiencing shame and guilt is a common part of addiction, recovery, and life itself. When you fixate on failed relationships, lost opportunities, or missed connections, it can become a never-ending cycle of negativity. However, this fails to acknowledge your full journey.  If you begin to envision your life after recovery, you may start to see […]