It’s pretty common to start drinking a lot more coffee after quitting drugs or alcohol. Studies have shown that people in 12-step programs drink considerably more coffee than the average person. For the most part, this isn’t a big deal. Research now indicates that coffee may protect against heart failure, liver disease, liver cancer, and […]
10
May
May
Social media connects in ways that were never possible before but it also has some pretty significant drawbacks if you let it control your behavior. Social media platforms intentionally make their products as addictive as possible, which can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction, anxiety, and depression. At least two studies have found that Facebook, instead […]
07
May
May
We live in politically divided times. Cable news and social media have helped create an environment of political hostility. However passionately you may feel about your own political beliefs, it’s best to leave politics out of 12-step meetings. Here’s why. Politics poisons the supportive environment. The biggest reason to leave politics at the door is […]
05
May
May
Therapy, both group and individual, is one of the most important parts of addiction treatment. The majority of people with substance use disorders also have a co-occurring mental health issue. Common co-occurring conditions include anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, autism spectrum disorders, personality disorders, and schizophrenia. For a variety of reasons, these […]
03
May
May
If you’re doing a 12-step program, it helps to have a sponsor. A sponsor is like a mentor or coach, someone whose recovery is strong and can help you figure things out. While the group can listen and give advice, a sponsor can give you more attention. A sponsor is also someone you can call […]
01
May
May
Sharing at 12-step meetings is a way to feel like part of the group, which strengthens recovery. It helps you get clarity on problems and keeps you from delusional thinking. Most importantly, it’s a way of helping others by letting them know they aren’t alone. Sharing is good for sobriety. Here are some tips for […]
Justin came to us with severe alcohol withdrawal. When we used a breathalyzer, he tested beyond the lethal limit. Note that was “lethal” not “legal”—that means the point at which someone could be dead. So after initial medical assessment, we sent Justin to the hospital. He remained under observation for a while, and was then […]
Special thanks to John Bruna and The Mindful Life Program for a wonderful training this past weekend on Mindfulness in Recovery.
Working at a detox is like having a front-row seat to the earliest stages of transformation. It’s been amazing to see the first glimmers of hope break through in people’s lives. Sam came to us when he OD’d after using heavily for many years. As he began detox, he was in a place of thinking […]
At Valiant Living, we are pleased to be hosting the “Mindfulness in Recovery” Training with John Bruna coming up on April 12-13. That will be on a Friday and Saturday, 9am to 5pm both days. 14 CEUS available to participants. If you would like more details or to register, go to this link and scroll […]