Blog

Since starting a career in the substance abuse field, I’ve had the chance to work with many clients who have experienced a relapse. I’ve also helped them discover factors that have influenced their relapse. Since Covid-19 began, individuals in recovery and those who have achieved sobriety are facing two challenges...

Many forms of mental health that affect individuals––depression being one of them. When we hear the word depression, we may often think of someone who is just sad, upset, or having a hard time dealing with emotions and feelings. It sounds like something with a simple solution, right?  While depression...

Since the spread of COVID-19 has resulted into a world wide pandemic and lockdowns across the country, increased levels of anxiety, depression, stress are impacting even the strongest romantic relationships. While the majority of individuals in romantic relationships express not having enough time to spend with their loved ones, no...

As an experienced Addiction therapist I have found it is useful to define triggers as red flags and coping skills as green flags. I find it is easier for those in early recovery to have an understanding of what a trigger is and how to cope with it in a...

Something you will hear going to 12-step meetings is “relapse is part of recovery”. In my opinion it doesn’t have to be. However, if you do relapse it’s OK. What is important is that it’s a short relapse, get back to a meeting or into treatment. It is easy to...

With all the uncertainty that’s going on, I have been reading a lot about how we are all in the same boat, which in my opinion is not the case at all. We are in the same storm but not the same boat. My boat can be floating and someone...

There has never been a more uncertain and unsettling time than the one we continue to experience on a daily basis. No one could predict we would be experiencing a global pandemic resulting in self-quarantine. During this time, people have experienced and continue to experience unanticipated situations such as job...

Addiction negatively impacts all relationships the individual has whether it may be family relationships, friendships or intimate relationships. When an individual is deep in their addiction they not only are trying to survive day to day in order to avoid becoming sick from withdrawal but also continue to engage in...

Crisis occurs for any number of reasons. Sometimes it is a natural disaster, major loss in the family, loss of job or financial status. Sometimes it is a global pandemic, which results in widespread social isolation. If we are lucky, we have family to be isolated with, even if it...

COVID-19 and lockdown has been especially tough for people in recovery from addiction because addiction leads to and flourishes in isolation. As alcohol and other drugs use can overtake a person’s life, their social life and contact with others then begins to narrow. Thus, substance use becomes the main focus...