Flying High: Why Airports Are Triggers for Those in Recovery
The holidays are coming, and we have begun to venture back to the friendly skies. It seems that everyone is donning a mask and getting on a plane going somewhere. For those of us in recovery, walking through a brightly lit airport has the potential to trigger memories of a high flying past. And […]
Signs of Depression and How to Cope
Depression is more than just sadness. People with depression may experience a lack of interest and pleasure in daily activities, significant weight loss or gain, insomnia or excessive sleeping, lack of energy, inability to concentrate, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. American Psychological Association Signs of Depression Depression […]
Dynamics of Early Recovery – Family Education Series
“Ahh, finally they agreed to some treatment. What a relief! We’re finally going to end this chaos and disruption our family has been living through…” Not so fast, my friends. Yes, treatment works and opens the path to recovery for those with substance use disorders (SUD) by establishing a foundation, or plan, to follow. […]
Milestones, Legends & Michigan Summer – Best of Excursions
Michiganders feel a hint of melancholy during the Labor Day holiday each year. This is the time we dry dock the boats, close up cabins, and buy back-to-school supplies. It is also the last big blowout of the summer and picnics, waterskiing, tubing, hiking and camping excursions abound. Milestones, Legends and Summer… But […]
Remembering Early Recovery in an Empty House
I had what will probably be a once in a lifetime experience this summer. Sanford House at Cherry Street for Women in Grand Rapids, Michigan was closed for a short time for restoration. This is something that happens rarely in the 24/7 world of residential addiction treatment. The 170-year-old floors were restored, and everything […]
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 […]
Olympic Gold? The Conversation About Mental Health!
On the final day of artistic gymnastics at the Tokyo Olympic Games, Simone Biles won a bronze medal on the balance beam. This, after bowing out of all but one individual final. Her decision to withdraw was because of what she called “the twisties,” the sensation of losing her position while in the air. […]
Eating Disorders and OCD – Why They Co-Occur
People with eating disorders (ED) have a nine times greater risk of developing lifetime obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In a recent Journal of Psychiatric Research article, a study by Drakes, Fawsett, Rose, et al. also found that those with EDs were at eight times greater risk for current OCD. Eating Disorders and OCD Both […]
Warning Signs of Relapse: Early Recovery and Beyond
In my most recent article, Understanding Relapse – A Family Guide, we reviewed some of the realities of addiction relapse. We also looked at individual recovery plans designed to provide support and accountability towards family recovery. Now we will look at the bigger picture of relapse in addictive disease and the warning signs in […]
Hiking Michigan – 12 Reasons It’s Good For Your Health!
Everyone knows walking is good for you. But did you know how good? And walking and hiking provide additional benefits to those recovering from substance use disorders (SUD). Especially those who are attempting to rebuild a healthy lifestyle and reverse the ill effects of long-term drug or alcohol use. The best news about taking a […]
