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Looking Back at Summer Joy 2019 – The Best of Excursions

  What a difference a year makes. We went back to our articles from last year at this time, when summer was a little simpler to navigate. Interestingly, summer joy and our recovery advice stood the test of time. In 2020, we still seek happiness, connection to nature, and fostering feelings of awe. And in Michigan, […]

Gratitude Therapy – Finding Happiness in Recovery/Life

  I keep a file, with a pink and orange leaf motif, labeled “HAPPINESS”. The file contains articles, post-it notes, clippings, and odds and ends on positive psychology. I am fascinated by the concept of gratitude as a therapeutic intervention (in these times it seems even more germane). And how gratitude groups in the treatment […]

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Update: Sanford Outpatient and Virtual Treatment

The Governor issued Executive Order 2020-21, requiring all people in Michigan to “stay home and stay safe” three months ago. Since that time, Sanford has worked to provide addiction treatment for our clients under these extenuating circumstances. Our Residential Programs are available with testing, increased policies and response protocols. And we were able to pivot […]

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Denial of Addiction – the First Stage of Acceptance

In our last article, we reviewed what it feels like to be a person developing a substance use disorder (SUD). We are now beginning a series discussing the dynamics and defenses used by people as they develop an SUD. The primary defenses used as addictive disease progresses are denial, justification, deception, and manipulation.   Denial, […]

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Boundaries in Recovery – The Freedom of Setting Limits

From the presentation “Establishing Healthy Boundaries in Recovery” – Families Against Narcotics (FAN) Washtenaw County Family Forum, May 11, 2020 by Rae Green, JD, LPC, CAADC and Ellen M. Sork, LLMSW.   What are boundaries in recovery? “Boundary” is a word that has found its way into our everyday vocabulary and popular media. The concept […]

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Do You Know How Active Addiction Feels?

As an adult, in a family with a member who has an active addiction, it is likely you are having feelings and thoughts reported by many other family members who deal with addiction in their midst. You feel hurt, anger, frustration, self-doubt, confusion, anxiety, fear, sadness, and hopelessness. You might also believe you have tried […]

how active addiction feels lonely beach

Sheltering at Home with a Substance Misusing Loved One?

  So, all these weeks of staying at home have answered those nagging questions in the back of your mind about a loved one’s behavior changes. Your spouse, significant other, child, friend has been misusing a substance of some sort and likely has a substance use disorder (SUD).   Substance Misusing Loved One … Everyone […]

sheltering at home substance misusing loved one

Addicted Michigan: COVID-19 Impact Rae Green Interview

Alexis Berdine has done some excellent reporting on Addicted Michigan for WWMT Channel 3 News. And recently, she talked to Sanford Founder, Rae Green, about the COVID-19 impact on addiction treatment. Also prompting this interview, was the increase in requests for help with substance use disorders (SUDs) recently. Green says that job loss, uncertainty, financial […]

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Healthy Eating on a Budget

Healthy Eating Doesn’t Have to Cost an Arm and a Leg … Most people think that healthy eating is expensive. That statement can be true, but it doesn’t have to be. You ABSOLUTELY CAN cook and eat well on a budget. And in the current times, it is even more important to tighten our belts! […]

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Addiction Treatment Admissions SOS – Limelight Interview

The admissions team at Sanford has always offered help to those who are struggling with substance use disorders (SUD). And they have always served as a port in the storm for individuals and their families who are looking for the right answers, facilities and programs to treat SUDs.   During this difficult time, we are […]

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