10 Tips for a Thankful Sober Holiday
As a person in recovery, I am thankful every day. During the holidays, I am particularly aware of my blessings, and this is Thanksgiving, the time to be loud and proud about the things one is grateful for. I do remember the early days of recovery and how nervous I was that the festivities would […]
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 […]
Addressing Trauma with Alternative Therapy
Trauma is an event or circumstance that results in emotional, physical, and life threatening harm. It is important to note that trauma is highly individualized. This means, we all respond to events differently. How we respond is largely based on prior experience. For this reason, one person may demonstrate resilience after an event while another […]
101 Sober Things to Do to Beat the Winter Blues
Are you feeling the winter blues? There are many wonderful things about living in Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan. But, and there is a but, the winters are long. Many of the awesome things to do are currently buried beneath a crazy quilt of variations on the color white. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real […]
Choose Alcohol over Family?
One of the most challenging questions for those recovering from an alcohol use disorder is, “Why did you choose alcohol over me?” No matter how often you tell the family of a person in active addiction their loved one has a chronic, progressive brain disease, someone will stand up and say, “Yes, but they […]
Recommended Reading 2022 – Dr. Flores’s Library
One of the joys of a Michigan autumn (after shuffling through leaves and looking at color) is to settle in with a lap blanket and a good book. For those in recovery, reading can be a distraction, an escape, and even a stress and anxiety reliever. Reading a good book about another person’s experience […]
In-Network with Physicians Health Plan – Eating Disorders Full Continuum
[Grand Rapids, Michigan 06/20/22] – Sanford Behavioral Health provides a full continuum of care for eating disorders. This includes residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP) and outpatient services. We are proud to announce we are now in-network with Physicians Health Plan for eating disorder treatment. With this new partnership, Sanford is able to […]
Studies Show 75% of Individuals With Addiction Recover
In a world of doom and gloom news, addiction from drugs and alcohol gets its share of bad press. The CDC reported more than 100,000 overdose deaths from April 2020 to April 2021. This is the single highest death toll recorded in a 12-month period. We also hear about the tsunami of increased alcohol […]
What to Expect When You Call a Treatment Center – Anatomy of Addiction Podcast
Have you ever wondered what happens when you call an addiction, eating disorder or mental health treatment center to ask for help? Who answers the phone? What questions do they ask you? What should you have available? Do you have the telephone jitters, but just want to talk to someone about entering a mental […]
Why Do I Need a Recovery Tool Kit?
At the start of my recovery, years of people pleasing had dulled down who I really was. I developed an ability to respond to any situation in the way I thought I should rather than the way I actually felt. On top of that, years of drinking dulled the pain of living a life […]
