ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

On the Road to Recovery is an addiction blog for those seeking support, guidance, recovery tools and suggestions on how to thrive in recovery. Our posts are designed for individuals in any stage of recovery, as well as family and friends of someone in active addiction.  

Communication is one of the best support mechanisms when recovering from addiction. Having a safe place that you can turn to whether in recovery or looking for assistance can help one overcome feelings of isolation and loneliness often associated with addiction.

• Strategies to Balance StressAugust 22, 2023
  Balancing stress is an essential skill for maintaining your mental and physical well-being. We will all experience stress and it can come in a variety forms. From mental, physical, environmental, and relational stress, one will benefit greatly from having a host of tools and strategies for mitigating stress and turning the stress response into a … Read more
• Inpatient vs. Outpatient Treatment: Two Different ApproachesJuly 18, 2023
  Inpatient rehab and outpatient rehab are two different approaches to treating substance abuse or addiction. The main difference between the two lies in the level of care and the setting in which the treatment takes place. Here’s a breakdown of each: Inpatient Rehab: Outpatient Rehab: The choice between inpatient rehab and outpatient rehab depends on … Read more
• Moderating Alcohol: Is it even possible?May 17, 2023
  Many clients seeking our addiction services are hoping to have a different relationship with alcohol. While this blog is focused on alcohol, moderating any problematic behavior or substance use can be paralleled. Moderation is necessary for certain behavioral addictions such as eating and shopping, and let’s be honest, for most people sex (although abstinence is … Read more
• The Use of Labels: Alcoholic and AddictDecember 15, 2021
  Labels can have powerful effects on our conscious and subconscious beliefs about ourselves and the future actions we engage in. This can be seen well in the world of sports when we think about transcendent athletes such as Michael Jackson, or Tiger Woods. Their belief and self-talk that they are the best to do it … Read more
• How the Abstinence Violation Effect Affects RecoveryOctober 15, 2021
  Have you ever made a determination to start a new habit and have you been able to stay 100% dedicated to it through the remainder of your life? (insert cricket sound…) Of course, if you are reading this then you are still living and cannot confirm nor deny the attainment of this goal. If you … Read more
• What is Cross Addiction?August 15, 2021
  The nature of addiction can be pernicious. Once we have overcome one problematic behavior, another can seemingly sprout up and take its place. In the addiction field, this is often referred to as cross addiction. It has often been stated in various programs and literature that just about everyone has some form of addiction that … Read more
• Desensitization of Triggers and Urge ReprocessingJune 15, 2021
  DeTUR™ (Desensitization of Triggers and Urge Reprocessing) is an empirically supported method developed and refined by AJ Popky, Ph.D. DeTur integrates elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and the Alternative Information Processing (AIP) model of Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). Cognitive therapy (inter-weaves) are utilized during the bi-lateral stimulation of EMDR Therapy to rapidly process … Read more
• Abstinence vs. ModerationMay 15, 2021
  Many clients seeking services for addiction are often ambivalent about whether or not they have to completely quit, forever, or if they will ever be able to use moderately.  This is a frequent conundrum for those in early recovery, and something that we at Realize Recovery often explore with clients uncertain in which direction they want to … Read more
• Coping with Lapses and RelapsesFebruary 15, 2021
  Establishing long term sobriety is hard, and how one manages returns to old behaviors can either enhance this process or greatly jeopardize long term gains.  Gaining some sober time in the sum of weeks or months can feel invigorating and motivating; at times it is easier than it looked, while at others it is a downright … Read more
• Being Comfortable Feeling UncomfortableJanuary 15, 2021
  Getting comfortable feeling uncomfortable, is one of my favorite recovery sayings because I feel it really sums up what is necessary to live a life free from problematic substance use.  Those who use chemicals to change their emotional state may have begun using, as a means of making a fun time even better, but once the … Read more

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