Recovery

Opioid users face a different risk than people drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana. It comes from the threat of becoming addicted much faster. Evidence tells us even using opioids to treat their pain for less than a week can get someone hooked. Today, let’s look at some signs that your opioid use in the past… Read On »

  While the holiday season may look different this year, many people will find the challenge to stay sober hasn’t changed. Relapsing when alcohol is a big part of celebrating a holiday isn’t uncommon, particularly for people who are newly sober or people who are not actively engaging their recovery disciplines. Just like any other… Read On »

Meghan Brooks, Director of Admissions Waiting for a ticker-tape parade or a shooting star to indicate a good time to get sober historically does not work out “as planned,” not to mention it can be a dangerous game for everyone involved. The same can be said for a specific time of year, special event, or… Read On »

People who have been in treatment multiple times may not realize what’s making it harder to stay sober after a program. One of the factors our treatment team sees affecting recovery regularly is trauma. Those traumatic experiences could be from when you were a kid, a teen, or even since you became an adult. We’ve… Read On »

Natalie I. – Hanley Center Alumnus My name is Natalie and I am an alcoholic/addict and proud Origins Alumni. When I came to Origins, I was a broken and defeated woman. My life was filled with empty relationships and my disappointments. Everything I worked hard for was gone except for the few that never gave… Read On »

Our brains are prone to negativity. In neuroscience, scientists and researchers call this the “negativity bias.” Since we are inherently social animals fighting for survival, it’s pertinent for us to take special note of negative situations or feelings, as they might be a threat to our longevity. Unfortunately, we can internalize and catastrophize negative messages… Read On »

Brad Sylvain – Vice President of Operations A common misconception I have experienced during my recovery journey, as well as in my professional career in behavioral health, is the idea that someone may be too young or too old to seek treatment. This message leaves us with the mistaken belief that young people are just… Read On »

The idea that mental health and physical health are intricately related is not new. Some of the oldest medical practices, such as Ayurvedic Medicine and acupuncture, use the mind-body connection as a foundation for healing. Today, advanced disciplines such as psychoneuroimmunology and health psychology understand that many factors – including psychological and behavioral factors – contribute… Read On »

When you aren’t educated on healthy boundaries, it is easy to mistake enmeshment for intimacy. For people living with loved ones who have the disease of addiction, this lack of clarity can prove disastrous. Here, we’ll look at the difference between healthy closeness in relationships and dysfunctional closeness. Characteristics of a Healthy Relationship Healthy relationships… Read On »

How does our brain get inspired and stay inspired? Inspiration is difficult to describe, as it often comes on suddenly and without warning. We associate inspiration with mental stimulation and the sudden urge or idea to engage in something new or to get creative. While feeling inspired can feel fleeting and hard to pin down,… Read On »