Awareness and self-honesty are two traits that feel hard to navigate in recovery. They are not part of being addicted to substances because there is so much hiding, lying, stealing, and a lack of awareness for so much of the journey. Addiction takes away a person’s sense of self and ability to be discerning about … Read more
Culinary arts are a way to bring new and positive energy to rehab. In the treatment setting, women often feel emotionally drained, physically exhausted, and are in need of a holistic approach to care. In rehab, women experience detox, individual and group therapy, and often laborious emotional work. One way to lighten what can be … Read more
Addiction rehab can become a sort of safe space for those in early recovery, especially when they are concerned about living outside the four walls of a facility. For some, it provides safety and structure and for others, it’s exciting to move on and move out, in order to get on with their recovery. Sober … Read more
Fun is relative when it comes to recovery. There is a fine line between having fun in recovery and searching for ways to drink or use substances. The difference between the life you had then and now are not even close to being the same thing. To have more fun in recovery means to let … Read more
Most people know getting some form of exercise is good for them. They don’t always want to do it, but getting a little bit of walking in or even time in nature can be healing. Not only is it good to get fresh air, but it clears the mind and cleans out the immune system. … Read more
Recovery is a whole new ballgame. Women have to learn how to navigate the journey much different than when they were actively addicted to substances. Creating space for recovery means learning to set healthy boundaries in life and within relationships. It also means creating room for self-care, recovery, rest, and healthy nutrition. There are many … Read more
Working with families of people with addiction is challenging, but necessary, to help women understand how they got where they are. No two families are alike, but they experience something very similar to addiction: dysfunctional family dynamics. The role of the family can not be understated when it comes to addiction and recovery. Family systems … Read more
The Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK Day) holiday comes around once a year in January. This day also celebrates his birthday, a time to stop and think about his legacy of peace and nonviolence. Racial equality was only one of MLK’s great goals. He also focused attention on poverty and war. Although his legacy seems … Read more
The day a daughter is born is often filled with emotion. For some women, it is an exuberant joy. For other women, it is fear, anxiety, worry about the days ahead and thinking about how to carry the burden of a child. They know the responsibility is going to be different now, to care for … Read more
Women are often left out of the conversation around disordered attachment and addiction. Other things take precedence, like how women’s experiences with addiction differ from men or why they become addicted versus how men come to abuse drugs and abuse alcohol. Research is demonstrating there is a correlation between insecure attachment as children, gender, and … Read more
