Dear Rae: Will the Holidays Derail My Sobriety?
Dear Rae: I am 92 days drug and alcohol-free. How do I manage my recovery during the upcoming holiday season? There are so many temptations! Emily B. Dear Emily: First, congratulations on 92 days. Three months in recovery brings many benefits, including a positive impact on your major organs, including liver regeneration. During this time, […]
10 Tips for a Thankful Sober Holiday
As a person in recovery, I am thankful every day. During the holidays, I am particularly aware of my blessings, and this is Thanksgiving, the time to be loud and proud about the things one is grateful for. I do remember the early days of recovery and how nervous I was that the festivities would […]
Trust and Mistrust in Addiction Recovery
The concepts of trust and mistrust are important to recovery from addiction. The family of a loved one in treatment must “trust” the process. However, mistrust has ruled the roost during their family member’s active addiction. When a family loses trust, the sense of connection as a family is also lost. And for the family […]
Afraid to Go Home? The Safety of Sanford Supportive Living
At Sanford Behavioral Health, a recovery-friendly home is essential to the treatment process. Because of this, our family and friends support groups provide education and continuing help for the loved ones of our substance use and eating disorders clients. Forewarned is forearmed, and in our family programs, we anticipate the pitfalls and milestones of recovery […]
Ask Rae: Alcohol-Free Holidays? That’s Not Fair
Dear Rae: I just got an email from my aunt saying our cousin (we’ll call him Bill) is in early recovery from addiction. She is imposing an alcohol-free holiday season starting with Halloween to support him. She is not allowing any alcohol in her house for the holidays. I have to admit it makes me […]
26 Sober Activities to Celebrate Autumn!
Ah, Michigan autumn is upon us with all its splendor. When a dappled sun shines through a tunnel of yellow oaks, it is hard to feel blue. And looking at beautiful things can reduce cortisol levels (the primary indicator of stress). We have all experienced heightened levels of anxiety during the post-pandemic years, but a […]
Do I Drink Too Much?
I used to live in The Bahamas, where drinking in the morning is called (somewhat facetiously) “Bahamian breakfast.” It was not shocking to see someone walking on the Government Dock at 7:00 a.m. with a beer in one hand and a power tool in the other. No one looked askance when a tipsy tourist slurred, […]
Ask Rae: College Student with Family History of Alcoholism
Dear Rae: I am starting college this month and have been worrying about whether I am genetically more likely to become addicted to drugs and alcohol. I have been vaping weed most mornings this summer and drink hard seltzer. There is a family history of alcoholism, and I worry I might be susceptible to addiction […]
Gray Area Drinking – Socializing or Self-Medicating?
Gray area drinking (GAD) is the often difficult-to-define space between social drinking and damaging alcohol consumption. A couple of glasses of wine with your significant other after a grueling day or a cocktail from the roving golf cart bar on the links is acceptable, right? What about a stiff drink before a party to take […]
Psychiatrist-Led Mental Health Treatment with Dr. Gilbert Masterson
The internet is full of addiction and other mental health treatment websites that tout having a psychiatrist on staff. This is important information to challenge when seeking treatment, as there is a growing psychiatrist shortage in the U.S. “Psychiatrist on staff” may mean psychiatrist on call or shared with other treatment facilities and available infrequently […]
