Adjusting to Change – Curve-balls in Addiction Recovery
I started to write this article about a week and a half before public safety and public health became part of the global news. The article originally started with “Rigid thinking can be the reason we struggle to move freely through the mundane aspects of life”. Surely, that is even more true today as it […]
Social Distancing, Isolation and Addiction Recovery COVID-19
As a person in recovery, I have been taught that isolation is bad for me. And that connection and community is good. In fact, everyone in recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD) has had this concept drummed into their heads for good reason. Folks with active SUDs isolate so they can protect their addiction. […]
Compassion & Empathy in Rehab Admissions – Limelight Interview
Sanford Admissions Specialists use the same words when asked about what their job entails – compassion and empathy. And when you consider how it feels to pick up the phone and ask for help, someone on the other end of the line feeling “with you” is key. Especially if you are a person with a […]
The Motivation of Rock Bottom in Recovery
Rock bottom is a phrase that I have heard a lot since finding sobriety. And I realize that the term “rock bottom” is subjective. I originally thought rock bottom was an event that would define a singular course of action for me to recover from my addiction. In fact, my first rock bottom happened on […]
Managing Stress – Slow Down, Take Stock, Make Choices
I am sitting at my desk, typing away, and my head is pounding. The coffee I had this morning didn’t fix it. The gallon of water I am halfway to drinking hasn’t done anything. Maybe I am grinding my teeth at night? Or maybe something else is going on? My instinct? To push through. […]
Preventing Addiction – Responsible Use, Misuse, Dependence
Is preventing addiction possible? My office looks out on a residential treatment center parking lot. So I am privy to the expressions on the faces of people as they arrive for their first day in rehab – arguably what will be both the worst and best day of their lives. To a person, they look […]
Drink Like a Man – The Science of Women and Alcohol
Women and Alcohol I spent a lot of time in The Bahamas, on a small island called Staniel Cay. I will admit I was not a saint while living there. The collective, benign tolerance to extreme drinking was certainly a factor in my misuse of alcohol. But I was often shocked by the drunken antics […]
Dogs & Addiction Recovery – Sobriety’s Best Friend?
In the early days of my recovery journey, staying sober was my primary focus and it kept me busy. I had no time for a dog. In order to beat the cravings, I had to fill my time with all sorts of activities. There were meetings and talking with others in recovery to help me […]
David Green’s Guest Column GRBJ – Addressing Workplace Addiction
Sanford Founder, David Green writes a guest column for the Grand Rapids Business Journal, addressing addiction in the workplace. He approaches the problem from the business perspective, pointing out that substance use disorders at work create healthcare and HR challenges as well as a significant impact on the bottom line. As employers, professionals and […]
Establishing Healthy Boundaries in Family Recovery
In this article, we will look at how to establish healthy boundaries in family recovery. Over the past several weeks, my articles have been focused on elements behind the formation of healthy boundaries. However, establishing healthy boundaries is essential to becoming effective in working with a loved one with a substance use disorder (SUD). Healthy […]
