Sobriety And The Holiday Season The holiday season is often represented as a magical, joy-filled time where “dreams may come true.” However, in my experience as a practicing psychotherapist working within the behavioral health field, the reality is far more aligned with a stressful and challenging experience, especially for those who are experiencing behavioral health …

Holiday Spending Can Fuel Shopping Addiction It’s that time of year again. With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, comes the festive TV ads for this year’s hottest electronics and overflowing inboxes filled with 50% off promotions. This can be a particularly difficult time for those who struggle with a shopping addiction. Categorized as …

Finding Sobriety In Unexpected Places For Rachel Hetchman, the COVID-19 pandemic was a complete 180 experience from what you’d expect of the typical pandemic experience, let alone someone living in the heart of New York City. For most people, the abrupt pause caused by the pandemic was an unwelcome, unprecedented event that dramatically changed daily …

Understanding Aftercare Addiction is a complex, progressive disease that can often require intensive care to be properly addressed. Multiple areas of a person’s life contribute to the development of an addiction, and no two cases are ever the same. After initial addiction treatment, supportive mechanisms that address all areas of life should be put in …

The Top 10 Jobs With The Highest Rates Of Drug Abuse Drug and alcohol addiction can be caused by a variety of factors. For some, an addiction can be the result of a mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. For others, environmental factors such as trauma, financial issues, or stress can …

Spotting A Relapse In A Loved One Recovering from an addiction is never easy, and there are many bumps and obstacles along the way. One of those bumps is a very common, often expected part of getting sober: relapse. Studies show that for one year outcomes across alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs, more than 85% …

A Look Into The Past Some of life’s most defining moments end with a spectacular crash, resulting in a mess of destruction and rubble. Often, we find ourselves walking away from the rubble, believing we are unscathed, only to discover later that we have a rock in our shoe. This small, sharp pebble is left …

A Day To Remember For most people, photos from their wedding day are among some of their most cherished memories, capturing moments from a day filled with happiness, love, and joy. For Jen Hirst, however, photos from her wedding day serve as a reminder of one of the hardest days of her life, and sadly, …

Pornography’s Impact On Relationships Pornography is a consistently controversial subject in our society. From its increased use, to its expanded accessibility, to the impact it has on us as individuals, pornography is a multi-layered subject that evokes strong feelings from both those for and against its use. However, no matter where you land on the …

Why Getting Sober Early In Life Is Important Addiction, like many other conditions, is a progressive disease; meaning it worsens over time. The longer somebody uses drugs or alcohol the more likely they are to not only develop a substance use disorder, but also a host of severe health conditions. Additionally, addiction can cause significant …