12 Days of Holiday Hope – Rod Townes’ Recovery Journey
At Sanford Behavioral Health, our work saves lives and brings hope to individuals and families all year round. During the holiday season, we strive to create an atmosphere of excitement and celebration for all our clients and team members. This year, we are showcasing recovery stories, treatment breakthroughs, and the beauty of diversity over 12 […]
The Sober Holidays Q&A
If you or a loved one are experiencing your first sober holiday season, you might worry unnecessarily about saying “no thank you” in the “yes please” season. We want to put your concerns to rest by answering some of the questions you are probably asking yourself. One of the difficulties of recovery is saying no […]
Women and Alcohol – The Downside
The most recent government data show that from 2019 to 2020, rates of alcohol-induced deaths for females “increased across all age groups for those aged 25 and over.” According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly half of adult women report drinking alcohol. 13% of adult women and 18% of women of child-bearing age […]
Holiday Anxiety – Women Feel It More Than Men
It’s almost the Thanksgiving holiday, a time for gratitude and reminiscence about holidays past, but my memories of Thanksgiving mostly involve my angst-ridden mother bustling about while the rest of the family watched the Macy’s parade and played cards. She used to do this predictable “thing” whenever I would indicate frailty, especially during the holidays. […]
The Healing Power of Laughter in Mental Health Treatment
I once heard a comedian say the least funny thing one can do is explain a joke or analyze why something is funny. That is probably because laughter signals a deep connection that is hard to explain. If you find yourself describing a joke, you are bombing as a comedian or missing the shared experience […]
SAD, Sunday Scaries, & Seasonal Anxiety – Best of Excursions
It is that time of year when the air cools, and the invitations to feast, drink, and be merry begin to arrive. Obligations at work, parties, lunch with friends, and family get-togethers are all part of navigating real-life recovery from addiction, eating disorders, and mental health conditions during the holidays. For those new to recovery, […]
The Isolation of Addiction
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we have a case study of a client in the final days of their isolation and active addiction. They were a smoker but not allowed to light up in the house. So, this individual would take a bottle of Jack Daniels to an unheated garage behind their house, sit on a […]
I Can’t Go to Rehab Now – Our 10 “Favorite” Excuses to Debunk
It’s almost that time of year – Halloween parties, family gatherings, pageants at church and school, and an array of parties. The admissions specialists at Sanford Behavioral Health have favorite excuses for putting off the inevitable treatment for addiction, especially this time of year. Why? Because the holidays are a last-ditch opportunity for tying on […]
Afraid to Go Home? The Safety of Sanford Supportive Living
At Sanford Behavioral Health, a recovery-friendly home is essential to the treatment process. Because of this, our family and friends support groups provide education and continuing help for the loved ones of our substance use and eating disorders clients. Forewarned is forearmed, and in our family programs, we anticipate the pitfalls and milestones of recovery […]
Should Treatment for Eating Disorders Be FUN?
The recreational therapy team at Sanford Comprehensive Treatment for Eating Disorders (SCTED) is always an inspiring group to interview. They take on many roles, so you might find them running process groups, leading a light yoga session, driving a van on an excursion to a restaurant, or in a huddle with the interdisciplinary team. Whatever […]
