6 High-Spirited Vacations Without Alcohol
Every year at this time, I think of those who are new to recovery. Summer vacation without alcohol can be stressful for the recently sober traveler. In my drinking days, a holiday began with the first glass of wine on the plane. It often ended with bruised shins, battered relationships, and a hangover from hell. […]
Ultra-Processed Foods, Mood & Mental Health
Have you ever read the ingredients on your breakfast cereal box or other ultra-processed foods (UPFs)? It’s not for the faint of heart. Sodium bicarbonate, yellow 5, pyridoxine hydrochloride, and six synonyms for sugar. What is this stuff? Ultra-processed food contains high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and chemical additives like artificial color, sweeteners, and preservatives. […]
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 […]
Trauma and Eating Disorders with Dr. Anna Flores
How are trauma and eating disorders related, and how does trauma-informed care integrate into eating disorder treatment? Dr. Anna Flores sat down with Sanford Comprehensive Treatment for Eating Disorders (SCTED) clinical manager Justyne Ortquist to discuss this in a new episode of The Recovery Tea podcast. The 55-minute podcast covers topics such as: […]
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 […]
When the Milieu Matters – Limelight Interview
What happens behind the scenes at Sanford Behavioral Health to “seamlessly” create a milieu conducive to clients and staff? Today in the Limelight Interview, we turn to the Program Director of Sanford’s substance use disorder units, Shelby Kendrick, to give us the inside information. Milieu Matters with Program Director, Shelby Kendrick Limelight Interview […]
When Experience is Therapeutic – Limelight Interview
At Sanford Behavioral Health, our client’s treatment is enhanced by the relationship they establish with their primary therapist. Today in the Limelight Interview, we focus on clinical therapist Shellie Cole-Mickens. Shellie is a powerhouse who founded Our House of Blessings, which offers sanctuary and support for women ex-offenders or those with mental health and substance […]
Walking for Lasting Addiction Recovery
A doctor friend of mine has an adage that applies to recovery from physical injury but also relates to addiction recovery. He says, “Use it or lose it.” In other words, moving your body, even on a slow walk, is good for what ails you. But do you know how good? Or that walking provides […]
6 Ways Michigan Summer Improves Mental Health & Recovery
Michigan Summer It’s Memorial Day weekend, and it finally feels like Michigan summertime has begun. Green is the color of life, nature, renewal, and energy. The color green is also associated with fertility, growth, and harmony. Blue stands for serenity, stability, inspiration, wisdom, and health. So, what better place to explore than Pure Michigan […]
Early Birds Enjoy Improved Mental Health
I will admit to being a card-carrying early bird. I am known for greeting house guests at 5 am with a hearty “good morning” when they stumble to the bathroom or drink water before returning to sleep. Twilight till noon is when I feel most productive and alive. Watching the sunrise on a deserted beach, […]
