It is easy to get caught up in the bustle of life and to stop doing the the things needed to maintain healthy balance. Once off kilter it is so easy to fall into the traps of our negative behaviors, and for addicts and alcoholics that often means falling back into the throes of their addiction. Relapse really starts before the actual drink or drugging. It shows its’ glaring face in other aspects of life

Five ways to stay committed to your recovery after you leave a rehabilitation center include: Create a Substance-Free Environment – One of the greatest things you can do for yourself and your peace of mind is to create a living situation that is free from drugs and alcohol. Surrounding yourself in a positive atmosphere will encourage healthy behaviors. If you live in a house that still has drug paraphernalia in it or with people who

There are times when life gets hard, and everything seems to be going wrong. It often makes people feel overwhelmed and hopeless. This is particularly true of those suffering from addiction. But, there are some tools that you can use to make things feel better, and help you to get through the rough times. Summit’s Clinical Director, Kim Chronister, PsyD, was featured in this article for Bustle, higlighting some great tools to use to turn

  The majority of the population has a challenging time understanding the nature of addiction, and what makes someone vulnerable to addiction. Symptoms of addiction may appear baffling to the average temperate drinker, who is able to control and enjoy his or her drinking. Sociability, conviviality, and celebration are typical associations with the moderate drinker’s experience with alcohol and/ or recreational drugs like marijuana, which has now been legalized in several states; however, the alcoholic

If you are transitioning out of rehab, you may be fraught with anxiety. Now that you’re clean, you’re stronger and better equipped to manage life’s challenges. But no matter how solid your commitment to sobriety might be it, it will undoubtedly be tested as you return to “real life.” For many, the world they left behind to seek treatment is filled with the very pressures that fed their addiction in the first place. And if

“Evidence-based model” has become such a popular buzzword in the mental health community that it is often thrown around without any explanation as to what it means. While the name provides a clue, the details get often lost or go unexplained to the general community. Read on to learn about the history and components of common evidence-based treatment models. Overview Evidence-based treatment practices originated long ago in the medical field but did not gain popularity

The belief that certain drugs or alcohol enhance creativity has been around for centuries. Beethoven and Van Gogh had exceptional talent and were alcoholics. During the 1960’s psychotropic drugs were often taken by musicians to expand their mind and inspire creativity. Even today, Silicon Valley tech workers are justifying the use of micro-doses of LSD to facilitate productivity and creativity. It is certainly likely that illicit drugs can lead to original thinking due to disinhibition

    “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.” Meditation (Step 11 of the 12-Steps) Once seen as a helpful adjunct to addiction recovery, meditation is listed in the 11th step of the 12-step program. Mindful awareness methods taken from Buddhist practices are being developed as addiction interventions in their

“Detox” is often tossed around, meaning everything from beauty-boosting juice cleanses to severing ties with poisonous friends. But in the realm of alcohol and drug treatment, detox is a term that holds tremendous significance: it’s the first fundamental step on the road towards recovery. As common as the word might be, many people don’t know what, exactly, detox means—or how long it will last. And within that uncertainty, fear often breeds, preventing people from taking

The pressure that comes with the ups and downs of everyday life can be difficult to manage, especially when someone is accustomed to suppressing or avoiding it with drugs and alcohol. The ability to relieve stress in a healthy manner is an important component of long-term recovery. Purpose and Meaning Creative expression does not require specialized skills or formal training. It is a personal process, a cathartic method that does not have to follow guidelines