Healthy Nutrition Can Help Me Stay Sober? DO Tell…
In the musical Oliver, there is a scene where a long line of adorable, strategically smudged orphans imagine they are eating a feast instead of the gruel they are being served. They warble, “Food, glorious food – we’re anxious to try it! 3 banquets a day. Our favourite diet. Just picture a great big steak fried, […]
Early Morning Hikes Fortify Your Rehab/Recovery Experience…
I have started a walking group at Sanford House at Cherry Street. Two mornings each week, rain or shine, I turn up at the treatment center early for “Walks With Mare”. I lead (sometimes follow) a group of women for a four mile hike around the city. We are starting a similar walk for men […]
9 Extraordinary Health Benefits of a Michigan Spring
Spring sneaks up on you when you live in Michigan. Suddenly, there is a fresher feel to the air – birds are tweeting, warbling and chirping as you amble to your car in the morning. And miraculously, the barren trees are sprouting a riot of flowers. The grass is lush and green. I have to admit, as […]
The Brain and Body Healing Effects of a Sober Tropical Vacation
I returned recently from a five-day, sober tropical vacation in Puerto Rico. To put the result into the proper perspective, I missed my connecting flight on the way home. I couldn’t muster enough rancor to be snippy to the customer service representative who rerouted me. What, Me Worry? My originating flight was an […]
You ARE What You Eat – How Nutrition Helps the Therapeutic Process
Working in the field of addiction, it is not uncommon for me to hear people say; “I should be able to indulge in all the sweets, fats and junk food I want.” There is a shared belief that “treating themselves” to processed foods is better than using their drug of choice. This, however, is proving to […]
Blue Monday (Tuesday, Wednesday…) Beating the New Year’s Blues…
This week started with “Blue Monday”. Blue Monday – January 16th. It’s known as the most depressing day of the year. It is when the post-holiday blues set in, when New Year’s resolutions have typically failed, and when the weather is at its worst. But it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom, […]
Every Therapy Dog Has His Day – Addiction Treatment
Therapy Dog … I’m not exactly a dog person. In fact Santino, the Sanford therapy dog, and I have an unwritten “hands off” policy. In other words, I don’t pat his belly or give him full body hugs. He doesn’t lick my face. We usually just ignore each other companionably. But last week, Santino […]
Sanford’s Top Self-Care Picks (Holidays are stressful)
Sanford House Art Therapist, Jess Kimmel gives us her top picks for finding some peace and quiet this holiday season…. Jess says, “Amidst the chaos of the holiday season, unwind with three of my favorite Sanford House posts about recharging and refocusing…Written when the weather was much less blustery, I hope Paul Silva’s “Getting Self-Esteem,” […]
Spirited Sober Gifts! Alcohol-Free Cocktails! 100 Fun Ideas! The Best of Excursions Magazine
The holidays are a wonderful time of year to be with family and friends. The holidays are also a time for emotional triggers, pushed buttons and stress. It’s common for those in recovery to find the “most wonderful time of the year” to be challenging. So, when you need a lift, the following articles have ideas for winter sober activities and […]
Stop the Booze, Start to Move: Why Is Rigorous Exercise Important to Your Recovery?
The past few months I’ve learned a lot about addiction, treatment, and recovery. It’s not because I’m an addict myself or that anyone I know (that I’m aware of) is either. I’m a marketing assistant for Sanford House, a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center. It’s my job to research and learn about different social network […]
