Sobriety

By definition, a “functional alcoholic” is someone who appears to handle their work and personal responsibilities despite drinking daily. You may know someone who drinks every day and still manages to get to work and take care of their responsibilities. Alcohol doesn’t appear to be harming their family, friendship, or job at this point. This… 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 »

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 »

Here, we will discuss and unpack the myth of “marijuana maintenance” by answering the question: Can Abstinence Include Marijuana? First, it’s important to understand the framework behind this common and controversial inquiry. Abstinence can be defined as the process of avoiding or not engaging in addictive substances and/or behaviors. Abstaining from the use of illicit… Read On »

The fear of missing out is a very real experience during the first few months to the first year of recovery from drugs and alcohol. Our last drink or drug, our last drunk, high, as well as our last good time while intoxicated, is not far behind us. In our brain chemistry, the equation for… Read On »

People can be persistent when it comes to demanding a reason for why someone doesn’t take a drink or participate in drinking. When we’re offered a drink and we say, in some form, “No,” we might be met with disbelief, argument, or even an attempt at persuading us to take a drink even though we… Read On »

Addiction to drugs and alcohol changes the chemistry of the brain by altering the circuitry that facilitates communication between one part of the brain to another. When drugs and alcohol metabolize in the bloodstream, they make their way through the liver and then toward the brain, crossing what is called the blood-brain barrier. Entering the… Read On »