Blog
What Forms of Record-Keeping Can Motivate Long-Term Recovery?
Staying motivated is not always easy, both in general and especially in recovery. Keeping precise records can help. Specifically, maintaining records of symptoms, goals, and achievements during long-term recovery may help you stay motivated. The question is, what...
Aftercare Plans Tailored to Your Individual Journey
Participation in a treatment program is the first step in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). Most people slowly transition to lower levels of care as they gain the skills and resources to manage their condition. Aftercare, or continuing care, is often the...
How Do I Navigate Relapse With Self-Compassion?
For many individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), relapse is part of the recovery journey. When relapse occurs, it can be challenging for people to handle the setback. Though many may begin feeling shame or guilt, the best way to navigate relapse is through...
Facing Your Fears in Recovery
Fear impacts people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Individuals recovering from substance use disorder (SUD) may experience fear for a wide range of reasons. According to the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, "Fear is a common negative thinking pattern in...
How Does West Coast Recovery Centers Support the LGBTQIA Community?
In the last few decades, people have become more aware of the unique challenges experienced by diverse populations. Within the medical community alone, it took a long while before professionals began to understand mental health conditions and accept that mental...
Maintaining Commitment in Recovery
Recovery is a lifelong process for people diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD). Many individuals remain in some form of treatment for months or years before they feel confident in their ability to maintain sobriety independently. In addition, most people go...
How Can I Navigate Personal Challenges in Recovery?
The recovery journey is not solely about abstaining from drugs and alcohol. Rather, recovery is also about learning new ways to manage stress, cope with conflict, and handle various personal challenges that you will face while sober. These personal challenges in...
5 Ways to Connect on a Deeper Level During Recovery
People recovering from substance use disorder (SUD) benefit from connecting more deeply with peers, their care team, loved ones, and their inner experience. According to Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, "[T]o reach and maintain abstinence, it is important to...
How Can You Cultivate Personal Growth This Spring?
Though it feels like we just celebrated the New Year yesterday, springtime will be here before we know it. While changing seasons can impact mental health, it can also be a time for profound personal growth. Spring is a time of renewal and planning for the future. For...
Building Resilience in Recovery
Individuals recovering from substance use disorder (SUD) face many unexpected challenges and situations. Treatment programs prepare clients to engage more fully in recovery and help people gain confidence in their ability to maintain sobriety. In addition, treatment...