High-Risk Recovery Situations – What Should I DO?

  The National Council of Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines high-risk recovery situations as “those that threaten your recovery or trigger a strong craving to use substances.”  One of the easiest ways to identify risk is by categorizing situations as people, places, or things.   People, Places, or Things People may be those you have used […]

Recreational Therapy for Eating Disorders – Limelight Interview

Recreational therapy at Sanford Comprehensive Treatment for Eating Disorders (Sanford CTED) is “a bit hard to define,” according to Tori TerAvest, CTRS, and Raina Bawden, CTRS. Both are certified DBT specialists, and Tori is a certified yoga instructor, but they wear many hats. You might find them running process groups, leading a light yoga session, […]

Happiness in Recovery – Reset Your Day!

  It has been a long winter, and some of us may be feeling a bit down lately. To be sure, there’s nothing wrong with feeling down. Happiness is not a prerequisite of recovery for our clients at Sanford Behavioral Health. However, we do teach coping skills to help our clients move through the rough patches: […]

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Women’s Binge Drinking Outpaces Men’s After Pandemic

During the pandemic in 2020, binge drinking among college-age students declined. The decline was attributed to the lack of gatherings and the isolation as classes went online. However, in the wake of the pandemic, overall drinking for young adults is on the rise. And in a Washington Examiner interview with Dr. George F. Koob, director […]

A New Look at 10 Addiction Relapse Triggers

You are new to recovery and innocently pushing your cart down the aisle at the local Fresh Market. Let’s say it’s a gloomy Sunday afternoon. You round the corner, and there in front of you is the alcohol aisle. Aisles more like it, all shapes and sizes of beer and wine stacked and displayed artfully. […]

The History of Women and Wine Culture

  The United States is the largest wine consumer in the world, exceeding the wine-producing European countries such as Italy and France, which long dominated world markets. According to the Beverage Information Group, 52 percent of women prefer wine, compared to 20 percent of men. Women make up 59 percent of wine buyers. It bears […]

Michigan Alcohol Abuse Statistics [2023]

  The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS) has published current Alcohol Use Statistics [2023]. Not surprisingly, 60% of adults in the U.S. say that their alcohol consumption increased during the pandemic. 34% admit binge drinking, and 7% report extreme binge drinking. Men still comprise 62% of those diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder, […]

Sanford Library of Virtual Recovery Resources

Sanford Behavioral Health’s use of telehealth to continue providing virtual treatment services and recovery resources receives favorable reviews from many clients, even in the aftermath of the pandemic. Individuals who choose virtual connection express gratitude for the groups and individual services we provide. In addition, our clients say they look forward to telehealth sessions to […]

virtual recovery resources library

Sobriety Makes You Pretty – It’s Better than Botox!

  I work for Sanford Behavioral Health in Greater Grand Rapids. Michigan, my job gives me a bird’s eye overview of our patients in recovery. Everyone knows that addictive substance use can wreak havoc on our physical health. However, I’d like to address what it does to our physical appearance as well. I don’t see […]

Why Does Mommy Need a Nap? Children of Alcoholics Making it All Better

  What is Codependency? The definition of codependency is “excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner. Especially one who requires support on account of an illness or addiction”.  At Sanford Behavioral Health, our Family Program addresses codependency and other coping mechanisms loved ones of those with substance use disorders employ to make things better. […]