
Happy Trails – 5 Favorite Michigan Excursions
At Sanford Behavioral Health, excursions are opportunities for our clients to experience real life in the safety of treatment. Excursions provide authentic opportunities to unpack feelings and triggers. They also rekindle or develop new interests that help make long-term recovery manageable and fun. Happy Trails We recommend walking excursions while in treatment and long-term recovery. With […]
Toxic Masculinity, Trauma and the Elusive Emotions of Men
Toxic masculinity refers to masculine norms emphasizing toughness and discouraging vulnerable emotions in boys and men. It is correlated with increased mental health conditions (e.g., substance use disorders, depression, and stress). The residential programs at Sanford House at John Street for Men address these conditions in an atmosphere of camaraderie and trust. Clinicians specialize in […]
The Health Benefits of Positive Thinking
Recently, I was with a group of women in recovery, and I asked everyone what they were grateful for – with a caveat. My car was in the shop, and I felt pessimistic about the looming deductible. I said, “I am grateful for many things, except I’d be more grateful if a tree had […]
Alcohol-Related Deaths are on the Rise for Women
A new study by the JAMA Network examined sex differences in alcohol-related deaths in the US from 1999 to 2020. The study analyzed data from the CDC on over 600,000 deaths attributed to alcohol, including alcohol-related poisoning, liver disease, gastritis, and cardiomyopathy, among others. Alcohol-related deaths have steadily risen across all demographics in the past […]
5 Recovery Ideas for the Sunday Scaries
The Sunday Scaries are the feelings of dread that occur before heading back to responsibilities like work, childcare, or school. Studies show that 80% of Americans experience anxiety on Sunday afternoons when looming duties remind us that Monday is just a sleep away. Speaking of sleep, 79% of Americans say they have more difficulty falling […]
Al-Anon and Family Support in Recovery – Wood TV Interview
Thank you to noon anchor/reporter Emily Linnert, Wood TV 8, for her informed reporting on the role of family in addiction recovery. Sanford Behavioral Health Founder Rae Green, JD, LPC, CAADA, spoke with Emily this week to discuss the value of Al-Anon and family programs in addiction treatment and recovery. “We started a family […]
Reflections on Lasting Recovery – Limelight Interview
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we have invested in our workplace culture to provide a pleasant space for patients to recover and a great place for staff to work. Why? Because a positive workplace culture impacts patient satisfaction and the team’s performance. Today’s Limelight Interview with Substance Use Disorder Program Manager Garrett Dunn, CADC, reflects […]
Discipline in Recovery – Staying the Distance
Would you pair the word “discipline” with the words “controlling” or “intense”? I certainly would and have. As a self-identified Type B individual, my concern regarding the practice of healthy discipline in my life has been non-existent. That is until I started working in substance use and mental health. Now I understand the need for […]
Avoiding Addiction Treatment – The Back-to-School Excuse
The admissions specialists at Sanford Behavioral Health have heard every excuse in the book for avoiding addiction treatment. A person calls for information about Sanford’s programs, but “for future reference because it is not a convenient time.” During the holidays, there are mandatory work or family get-togethers. School is letting out in spring, or there […]
Intensive Outpatient Programs – Tips for Staying on Track
Outpatient addiction treatment at Sanford Behavioral Health gives individuals the support they need while maintaining daily responsibilities and routines. Sanford West Behavioral Health Campus outpatient center offers individualized addiction recovery programs that work in “real life.” When entering a Sanford program, each person is assessed to determine their appropriate placement; the goal is to select […]