Aren’t Healthy Coping Mechanisms Enough?

“Healthy coping mechanisms” has become a common catchphrase in popular psychology today. It’s a catch-all term for self-care, emotional balance, rational reaction, and general mental and emotional well-being. Any number of healthy, clear-headed, and constructive tools and practices that allow us to process, deal with, and navigate life events are considered healthy coping mechanisms. They […]

Persistent Anxiety in Treatment and Recovery

Anxiety is an increasingly common mental health issue, but there is still much to be learned about how it affects people. Because symptoms can vary so widely, it leads to a lot of misunderstanding or improper handling of anxiety and anxiety-related issues. Anxiety is especially common among alcoholics and addicts. About 20 percent of people […]

What Can I Do When I Feel Overwhelmed?

In these strange and scary times, it’s easy for anyone to get overwhelmed. We alcoholics and addicts are sensitive people for the most part, often prone to anxiety, depression, and panic. When the world has been turned upside down for pretty much everyone, it’s no wonder that our emotions are all over the place. Over […]

How Can I Deal With Isolation?

In these strange and unprecedented times, isolation is not only recommended but in some cases mandated or otherwise necessary. The health and safety of ourselves, our loved ones, and others currently require that we do as much isolating as possible. Though this is the safe and responsible thing to do for our physical health, it […]

What If the Obsession to Drink or Use Doesn’t Go Away?

For alcoholics and addicts, the mental obsession to drink or use is one of the most dangerous symptoms of our disease. It is a hallmark symptom, and one from which we have all suffered. In the same way that our disease is something common among us, so too is our solution. If the 12-Steps work […]

Dealing with Temptation

Our struggles with alcoholism and addiction change us greatly, but they do not change the fact that other people react to alcohol (and even some drugs) differently than we do. We must accept the fact that we are bodily and mentally different from our fellows. We can never safely use alcohol in any form at […]