supportive living group together

Supportive Living – When It’s Not Safe to Go Home

Around recovery meetings, folks always say you need to change people, places, and things to manage an addiction. But what happens if you don’t have the option to change your current situation? If you live at home with parents or siblings who use, for example. It makes long-term recovery look daunting and can keep an […]

Letting Go in Family Recovery (Happy Thanksgiving!)

  Once again, it’s the holiday season with a tradition of gathering and gift-giving to folks you care about! And Thanksgiving is the time we count our blessings and express gratitude – all part of the recovery process! At Sanford Behavioral Health, we care about our clients and  Excursions readers and have a little practical […]

Living Sober for My Kids

I had one of those classic “couldn’t do this if I was still boozing” parenting moments the other day. Our nine-year-old had a friend over for a sleepover late in the evening. At around 9:30 p.m., we were interrupted in the living room by a little boy in tears saying, “I want to go home!” […]

a mother holds her young child on her back and both are smiling while the mother happy to be living sober

Avoiding the Whack-a-Mole Eating Disorder Game

  I’ve never liked the carnival game whack-a-mole. Bashing heads with a cartoon hammer while an endless succession of new rodents appears. It is too stressful and unpredictable. But I could relate when a friend in recovery said they thought eating disorders, popping up during addiction treatment, reminded them of playing whack-a-mole. Because just when […]

carnival

The Effects of Alcohol on the Whole Body

  Whenever I think of the ill effects of alcohol and drugs on the body, I think of the 1980s Partnership for a Drug-Free America campaign with the egg. This is your brain (hold up a pristine egg). This is drugs (grease bubbling in a frying pan). And this is your brain on drugs (crack […]

guy in shadow

Sanford Behavioral Health Earns Prestigous Blue Distinction

  [Grand Rapids, Michigan 9/15/2022] Sanford Behavioral Health is proud to announce it has been named a Blue Distinction Center for Substance Use Treatment and Recovery at its Sanford House at Cherry Street for Women, and Sanford House at John Street for Men facilities in Grand Rapids, Michigan.    The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association […]

cherry john pretty

Recovery Summit 2022 – Limelight Interview

  It is National Recovery Month, and what better time to interview representatives from St. Claire County Community Mental Health (SCCCMH). They are an organization that exemplifies the best in community mental health support and partnership. We sat down with Executive Director, Debra Johnson, and Karen Zultak, CCBHC Project Director, to talk about their 3rd […]

Karen and Debra

Residential Eating Disorder Treatment Tour

  The purpose of residential eating disorder treatment is to provide structure, safety and accountability with 24/7 nursing and clinical support. This degree of support reduces the harmful effects of eating disorders efficiently and starts individuals on their recovery path. We understand that the needs of each person seeking treatment are unique, and we work […]

compress Sanford west bedroom purple with teddy Brian-min

Anorexia Nervosa – When Is It Time for Residential Treatment?

  Anorexia Nervosa Is the refusal of food/nutrition, along with an obsessional fear of gaining weight or “becoming fat”. This results in a disturbance in the way body image is seen and experienced. In other words, the individual with anorexia not only believes their body is larger than it is, but they also experience it […]

brown and black plate

Ask Rae: How to Choose an Addiction Treatment Center?

Dear Rae: My wife’s addiction and mental health issues have gotten out of hand. It is impacting our quality of life, and our children’s lives. But I am overwhelmed by the options for treatment. How do I find the best addiction treatment center for her? And how do I know what she needs? Also, we […]

Rae Green