Discipline and Motivation – Practices in Early Recovery
A discipline is any activity that I can do by direct effort that will eventually enable me to do that which, currently, I cannot do by direct effort. John Mark Comer Would you pair the word “discipline” with the words “controlling” or “intense”? I certainly would and have. As a self-identified Type B individual, […]
Recovery Adventures Outdoors – 5 Favorites in Michigan
In April of 2020, Michigan had a spring snowstorm. I had been physically distancing since February, and somehow the surprise storm seemed like the last straw (icicle, snowdrift, chilblain?). Of course, there was more to come with COVID-19, but at the time I felt trapped. No adventures, working from home, and far from family […]
Justification of Addiction – The Second Stage of Change
This is the second article in our series on the defenses of addictive disease. There has been an unintended distance between our first article and this one, so please go back and review the article Denial of Addiction – the First Step of Acceptance to refresh your thoughts. This will put your head in […]
Outpatient Addiction Treatment – Limelight Interview
Sanford’s Outpatient Center is abuzz with activity during the pandemic, and outpatient clients are all in groups via telehealth. But even though our programs are being conducted virtually, the administration, assessments, medical monitoring, confidentiality requirements, and stringent standards are still in place. And our outpatient therapists are experiencing the some of the same difficulties […]
Calling All Alumni – Virtual Groups During COVID-19!
There has been a spate of articles, webinars and Zoom presentations talking about the negative impact of COVID-19 on those in recovery from addiction. Isolation, limited in-person connection, and uncertainty are just a few of the stressors that affect everyone during a pandemic. But those with substance use disorders have additional challenges. And Sanford […]
Sober Challenges – My COVID-19 Move & Job Change
The last 3 years of sobriety have thrown many challenges at me, but 2020 threw the biggest ones yet. At the start of this year I was unhappy in my job. It was causing me stress and reigniting some of my depressive behaviours. I talked to the bosses within my company, and managed to get […]
Opioid Overdoses in Michigan – Bridge Interview
Thank you to Bridge Michigan, and reporter, Robin Erb, for including Sanford in her informed article on the state of opioid overdoes 2020. The article provides state data and reports from county medical examiners, showing a rise in opioid-related overdoses and deaths in Michigan. Why the Rise in Opioid-Related Overdoses? It is understandable that […]
Thinking vs Acting – the First Steps to Recovery
Making changes to your alcohol habits is a massive undertaking. It can take months – years even – to get to the point where you actually stop drinking. And that’s okay, because transformation is a long process and it starts from deep within. Often things can be moving well along in the direction of change […]
Out of Sight, Out of Mind? The Opioid Epidemic 2020
As we all process the torrent of information about COVID-19 and its tangents, it seems there is a scarcity of information about the Opioid Epidemic 2020. And when things are out of sight, they tend to be out of mind in this fast-paced world. But according to a new article in The New York […]
Anxiety Disorder 2020 – What are the Signs?
During a family Zoom meeting last week, my son asked us a question his boss had posed in another Zoom meeting. The question was, “What new thing have you learned during the pandemic?” My son, who is clever as well as handsome, answered, “I built a table from scratch.” Another person said, “I learned to […]
