Anatomy of Addiction Podcast – What is Recovery?
“Recovery” is a word we hear a lot in the mental health field. Recovery is what all those with mental health and substance use disorders strive for. But what is recovery? And how has the definition of recovery changed over the years? What is Recovery? Recovery is a process of change through which […]
Demi Lovato, Diet Culture & Eating Disorders
Demi Lovato spoke out recently on social media about eating disorders. They have long been open about their personal struggles. Demi said it could be dangerous to comment on a person’s weight, even as a compliment. In the fast-paced world of Instagram stories, the post has likely disappeared from Demi’s feed. But at Sanford, […]
The Best Sober Vacations to Take This Summer
Vacations are good for the body and soul, right? For those in recovery, the answer can be yes and no. The fact is vacations (even well-deserved vacations) can be stressful to folks in recovery. And when there’s a boat party on every sandbar or a history of overindulging on past vacations, a holiday can be […]
Exercise for Stress and Anxiety – 5 Days X 30 Minutes!
I like setting small attainable goals. Tell me to exercise for my stress and anxiety, and I find myself in a quandary. Should I get up early and hit the nature center for a bracing hike (or will that take too long)? Wait, I could do Pilates in the living room and lunges with weights […]
Alcohol and Divorce – Is Drinking Ruining the Marriage?
Updated 1/2/25 In an old song recorded in the 50s, Frank Sinatra sings, “Love and marriage, love and marriage. Go together like a horse and carriage. This I tell you, brother, you can’t have one without the other.” True indeed. But a less lyrical hypothesis is also true; alcohol and divorce go together like a […]
Addiction Stigma – How Person-First Language Helps
Stigma is defined as “a mark of disgrace or infamy”. Stigma in addiction comes mostly from the symptoms of a person’s behavior and other aspects of a substance use disorder. Addiction Stigma It is known that persons who are addicted to alcohol and/or drugs can behave aggressively or dishonestly with erratic behaviors and judgment which […]
Here’s Why Women Can’t “Drink Like Men”
Women and Alcohol – Drink Like a Man I spent time in The Bahamas a few years ago. The collective, benign tolerance to extreme drinking was undoubtedly a factor in the misuse of alcohol by the locals (myself included). But even I was often shocked by the drunken antics of women at the local Yacht […]
Women’s Addiction – “Pink Flags” for Moms Who Need Wine
I met with a thirty-something therapist last week who said she was concerned about her peers and their drinking habits. The “Moms who Need Wine” crowd, Starbucks cups filled with iced KJ at the soccer games. Play dates replete with chardonnay and imported cheese. Even baby-carriage walking groups with iced wine in the cup […]
The Wellbeing Trifecta: Sleep, Social Interaction and Exercise
I’ve been watching Philip K. Dick’s, Electric Dreams on Amazon. Based on his science fiction short stories, Season 1 is a star-studded dystopian watch-athon. The marketing blurb says, “…the anthology will question what it means to be human in uniquely ambitious, grounded, yet fantastical worlds.” Which seems to me like a marketing blurb for […]
Recovery Expectations vs Reality – I’m Sober, What Now?
We have a nasty habit of glamorizing “getting well.” Our recovery expectations envision peak health… how our lives will look (perfect) and bodies will feel (also perfect)… The thoughts we’ll have and the ones we won’t. Sometimes, we use the idealized and far-off future to excuse our behavior. Once I’m not using, then I’ll […]
