family system

Powerful Allies in Recovery – Educating the Family About Addiction

Why is it important to include family in recovery?  At Sanford, we believe family involvement is one of the most important components for a healthy, long term recovery.   Family members can be powerful allies in the recovery process. And while a person is in treatment, it is the perfect time to involve family members. […]

Brave, Big, Bold and Bawdy…

  I know for a lot of people their sober journey can begin in a bit of a stop-start fashion. They have periods of not drinking, then periods of drinking, then back to not drinking. .. until eventually recovery sticks.   For me I never did that. I made the firm decision that I was […]

new zealand eagle

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, […]

Winter Blues...

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 […]

Santino with scar

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,” […]

hot-chocolate

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 […]

snowman star

A Recipe for Anxiety (Hint – It Includes Dark Chocolate…)

  Many of us in recovery suffer with anxiety. It comes as part of the package of feelings we experience. It also waxes and wanes as we experience different moments and milestones in our recovery. Today, I am in the waxing phase. I’ll share with you how I am coping and my top tips to […]

chef

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 […]

kayak

Fighting Fit – A Recipe for a Healthy Winter…

  Winter is on its way. The temperature has dropped; it is getting darker earlier and there is less sunshine. I’m not sure about you, but when I feel winter looming I want to hibernate. A place that is all too familiar. As a person in recovery, I have a propensity to withdraw. I want […]

woman taking photo of lake

Radical Self Care – When Life is Taking a Toll on Your Body…

  This week I have flown over 20,000 miles to attend my brother’s funeral. It has been heart breaking and I feel like a shell of my former self. I’ll never be the same again. I learned the true nature of my powerlessness and what I am able to control. The buck stops with me, […]

people waiting at airport