Best of Resolutions for a New Year
12 Days of Hope Series #3 This time of year, the word “resolution” is on the mind. There is something about a clean New Year and the hope for change. For those with active addiction or an eating disorder, the holidays exacerbate their disorders and accentuate emotional triggers. Social media says we should keep resolutions […]
Ideas to Bolster Your Mental Health – 12 Days of Hope Series
12 Days of Hope Series #1 Last year, we published a series of hopeful ideas for improving mental health during the winter holidays and beyond. (Even playing in the snow can be good for mental health!) We’re doing it again this year, beginning with the best ideas from last year. As we head into 2025, […]
Hope for Creating Personal Boundaries in the Addicted Home
Recently, Sanford Behavioral Health Founder Rae Green and I presented an educational in-service for the Mental Health Association of Michigan. Our focus was on boundaries (personal or external) for recovering families. After the presentation, I began thinking deeply about boundaries and recovery. I became even stronger in my belief that families dealing with addiction have […]
Dopamine Rush – 27 Things to Do Instead of Scroll
These days, there are studies, marketing campaigns, and warnings about excessive scrolling on smartphones, but many of us reach for our phones the moment our eyes open in the morning or a beep tells us we have a message. Grabbing the phone can be practical for checking the schedule, weather, and time. However, according to […]
Mocktail Recipes to Toast the Holidays
It’s party time, and the good news for those who are in early recovery or alcohol-free is the trend toward the damp/dry lifestyle and the growth of sober bars and mocktails on the menu. In Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan, many establishments serve non-alcoholic drinks, and Chartreuse Sisters serves homemade sweet treats and mocktails with enticing […]
The Holiday Season is Upon Us! Recovery Plans and Tips
The 2024 Holiday Season is upon us! No matter whether and what you celebrate, the season is enjoyable and stressful. The stress comes along with the disruption of our usual day-to-day routines and the added tasks related to the celebrations of the season. Odd isnโt it that the very enjoyment we crave and anticipate, one […]
How Can We Establish Family Boundaries in Recovery?
Let’s face it: family members can push every button. When a person is in recovery from a substance use disorder, the entire family is involved in the delicate process of transitioning beliefs, feelings, and actions. How can we establish family boundaries in recovery? In an upcoming webinar with the Mental Health Association in Michigan, […]
Is Pink Cocaine the New Club Drug?
Pink cocaine (or tusi) is a dyed pink powder, but despite its name, it does not contain much cocaine. The hot pink color comes from food dye or colored baking powder to distinguish it from cocaine or methamphetamines. Like MDMA or ecstasy, pink cocaine is a mind-altering hallucinogenic drug, although the effects and mixtures of […]
Residential Eating Disorder Treatment Tour
The purpose of residential eating disorder treatment is to provide structure, safety and accountability with 24/7 nursing and clinical support. This degree of support reduces the harmful effects of eating disorders efficiently and starts individuals on their recovery path. We understand that the needs of each person seeking treatment are unique, and we work with […]
Election Anxiety? 10 Tips from the Experts to Outlast the Onslaught!
There is a familiar adage that states, “This too shall pass.” It means both good and bad situations don’t last forever, and one may be tempted to use it when a loved one or colleague says they have election anxiety. After all, the onslaught of slogans and requests for donations will pass. A presidential term […]