Yoga may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you’re considering entering a detox and rehabilitation program. Yet, over the last decade, this restorative exercise technique, once the alternative therapy guru’s domain, has become more mainstream. Although addiction requires lifelong management in much of the same way as mental health, when we…
When we’re impacted by addiction, it’s easy to feel ashamed of our actions and their impact on others. Everywhere we turn, it’s as though we’re faced with a reminder of the person we would rather not be, rather than the person we’re trying to become. It can be challenging to see beyond where we’re at…
Yoga, which was once on the fringes of alternative medicine, is now considered a mainstream therapy in the treatment of addiction, mental health, and even chronic pain and disease management. Most detox and rehabilitation programs offer yoga to work in conjunction with individual and group counseling. One of yoga’s attractive qualities is that the barrier…
As kids, most of us watched The Wizard of Oz. We remember the lion, how he pretended to be fierce when really, he was a coward. He knew he needed to be braver but didn’t know how. What he did know, though, was that he needed courage. Due to this, he went along with some…
Following detox and entering rehabilitation, we are advised and guided toward replacing unhealthy habits with new, healthy activities to counteract moments of boredom and detract from the negative thoughts that can lead to relapse. However, when we think about long term rehabilitation, how often do our minds turn to hobbies? Specifically, a quiet craft on…
Entering recovery, we are encouraged to develop new habits, new hobbies, challenging moments of boredom, new mindsets, and new personal accountability levels. However, probably the most fundamental change, underpinning all other changes, is developing a routine. Why Routines Matter Addiction is all-encompassing, as either drugs or alcohol become the central focus of a person’s day.…
Want to combat anxiety or stress? Create a schedule. When we make significant and transformative changes in our lives, we may feel overwhelmed at times. As we begin working through our addiction and the pattern of dominance it holds over our time, creating new habits from large blocks of seemingly empty chasms of time can…
We don’t think about our health until our health stops working for us, usually in the form of a disease, a prolonged illness, a virus, or surgery. In all those situations, the goal is to restore our health. When recovering from addiction, it becomes even more essential to think about nutrition: the quality of food…
Making transitions in life can be difficult, especially when it involves having conversations about aspects of our life we may have previously hidden. Sometimes, we struggle to function while our addiction and challenges remain out of sight. The stigma attached to mental health may mean suffering in silence for extended periods. Behaviors—good or bad—that others…
Living with addiction demands our priorities as well as our mental and emotional well-being. When we cannot meet the desire for immediate gratification, our emotional state can make it difficult to respond appropriately to close family members or friends. Additionally, if regular communication between your parents involved shouting, angry outbursts, and harmful words, you may…