Melissa Goodmon 
Moving through recovery is challenging when it comes to figuring out how to navigate romantic relationships. Some people say you must avoid dating, others say dating is okay with some boundaries. That first year is the toughest phase of your recovery. Newly sober people who struggle with alcoholism and addiction are better off thinking about … Read more
Starting over in recovery requires putting some things on the back burner and putting others at the front of the line. This second chance at a new start means figuring out what is a priority right now. Things shift throughout your recovery, but many people find putting family first is vital to healing. Involving loved … Read more
Emotions can trigger behavior that can sometimes turn into negative things like overeating, not eating enough, or emotional eating. Challenges with emotional eating are not uncommon for people in recovery because it is a response to a difficult situation. Sadness can decrease or increase appetite. People with mood swings, or in recovery, might try to … Read more
Family forms the foundation of a person’s life. They are the first people with whom we experience life, through good times and bad. Sometimes, the family experiences a rupture that causes estrangement between members. Even if the healthiest family can experience addiction, mental illness, abuse, or neglect. Each of these issues can become a reason … Read more
Every day is a choice to wake up, after which you’re faced with many other options. In recovery, this can feel overwhelming because all these choices are new. Never before have you faced the day without substances or reaching for a drink or other drug to soothe your soul. Recovery is a minute by minute, … Read more
Learning to quit a bad habit is not as easy as people think. Especially in recovery, it can feel like a person is dropping everything they knew all at once and following an entirely new path for themselves. If they quit using substances, they now have to also leave toxic friends, relationships, and maybe even … Read more
Summer is that season of bliss. It’s like everyone comes out of the woodwork from the winter and spring to fling themselves full-throttle into warmer weather, barbecues, and endless days of enjoying the long summer sun. For people in recovery, it may be triggering to think about summer coming up. It reminds you of those … Read more
Relationships, like life, are always changing. People change over the course of their lives, hopefully for the better, but stressors like work, loss, or existing trauma accumulate whether we like it or not.
Addiction takes a toll on people and their personal relationships. The stress that comes from addiction is inevitable on people, especially those closest to you. Romantic relationships often suffer from broken trust and discomfort around what the reality is like in recovery. Broken dreams and plans that were never completed can lead to frustration and … Read more
Writing letters seems to be something more people are returning to as an ancient expression makes a resurgence. Putting pen to paper can be a great way to connect with people. It is also good practice for the brain to get those neurons firing. Even though the world seems to have moved towards short email … Read more
