Guilt in sobriety threatens to derail recovery when mishandled. Often, it’s shame, guilt’s evil twin, which takes recovering folks down. And guilt can morph into shame if you aren’t careful. According to Brené Brown, a renowned shame and vulnerability researcher, the difference between guilt and shame is simple in theory. “Shame is a focus on…
Art therapy is a powerful tool in addiction recovery. Many addiction treatment centers, including The Ranch Pennsylvania, use trained art therapists to help patients express difficult emotions. For someone in recovery from a substance use disorder, they may carry a lot of shame around past actions which hurt family members and friends. Because these feelings…
Addiction treatment centers in the United States treat tens of thousands of patients every year. Resources can be found in all 50 states. But not all treatment centers are created equally. If you are considering treatment for yourself or someone you love, it is important to be informed about the attributes that make an addiction…
What are the six important things to look for in effective treatment centers for substance use disorder? If you or a loved one struggles with a substance use problem, it’s difficult to think straight, let alone make a big decision like finding the right treatment program. What does it look like to face such a…
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost While it is safe to assume that Robert Frost was not speaking of overcoming addiction when he wrote this, recovery is more like walking through the woods on a…
You or a loved one are faced with the decision to seek help for a mental health diagnosis, mental health disorder or uncertainty in knowing that something does not feel right. Accepting that you or a loved one needs help is a step in the right direction in changing your current trajectory. Finding the right…
Common Relapse Triggers Things like cravings and triggers can remain for weeks, months, or even years after your last use, which is why relapsing is common. A relapse happens when you develop a substance abuse disorder after achieving a period of sobriety and abstinence. Overall, up to 60% of people with a substance abuse disorder…
We knew well before the information age about the dangers of substance abuse. It isn’t a new concern but it is one that we have learned more about over the years. It is also a concern that has grown considerably more dangerous as more drugs now flood the market, the streets, and the country than…
Fear of the painful, uncomfortable, and sometimes risky symptoms of withdrawal can keep some people from seeking treatment for drug and alcohol use disorders. While it’s possible to stop using drugs and alcohol without a drug and alcohol treatment center, the DIY method can make withdrawal riskier and more complicated than it is with help. A…
A wise quarantine resolution–stay sober. Yet it may be challenging to keep this promise to yourself. However, staying sober during coronavirus can be difficult especially if you’re someone in recovery or fresh out of treatment. You’ve made your decision to quit using drugs or abusing alcohol. You’ve made your decision to take control of your…