Author Archives: Drew Powell

Preparing for Difficult Conversations: Five Things to Think About

Mental Health

Making transitions in life can be difficult, especially when it involves having conversations about aspects of our life we may have previously hidden. Sometimes, we struggle to function while our addiction and challenges remain out of sight. The stigma attached to mental health may mean suffering in silence for extended periods. Behaviors—good or bad—that others […]

Don’t Let A Bad Moment Ruin Your Day

Stressed senior

You know the drill. Everything is going well: you meet your goals, you get a new job, and your new haircut looks great. Then, out of the blue, a relationship breaks down, your new boss isn’t great, and you feel that despite the steps forward you have taken, you’ve taken two dozen in reverse. When […]

Think Before You Speak: Curbing Angry Responses

Self-Healing Heart Chakra Meditation.

Living with addiction demands our priorities as well as our mental and emotional well-being. When we cannot meet the desire for immediate gratification, our emotional state can make it difficult to respond appropriately to close family members or friends. Additionally, if regular communication between your parents involved shouting, angry outbursts, and harmful words, you may […]

Making Friends After Rehab

Friends hanging out at home

Understanding the changes that need to take place in sobriety is essential to recovery. One of those changes is who you choose to spend your time with. When you were active in your addiction, the friends you hung around with probably drank and used as heavily as you did. You and your drinking and using […]

What Should I Do During a Panic Attack?

Smartphone

It is not unusual to become stressed when making significant changes in your life, with unknown challenges lying ahead. As you work with your counselor or therapist, it is essential to talk about your stress levels, including any anxiety you are having. When discussing past trauma and events, experiencing asthma-like symptoms or difficulty swallowing is […]

What Are the Common Fears Surrounding Rehab?

Fears Surrounding Rehab

Someone who desperately needs to receive treatment from drugs and alcohol may put up a fight or refuse to go simply because of fear. They may have devised up some misgivings about what attending a rehabilitation center will be like based on what they believe will happen – not on the reality of what actually […]

Letting Go of the Past: Victim to Survivor

Recovery involves learning to release emotional pain and past wounds. Emotional injury is often cited as a significant reason for self-medicating and turning to substances; it can often ruin a person’s personal and professional life. Numbing pain from the past to cope with stress creates additional stressors as our body becomes accustomed to substances as […]

Your Mind on Quiet Mode

Quiet Mode

Spending Time Alone When we are alone, we may reflect on past events, picking over all that happened to us, and believing we are responsible for where we are today. Destructive, useless thoughts, can drive us deeper into self-hatred, shame, and blame. Thankfully, it’s possible to exercise control over these moments, processing our thoughts in […]

Step Ten – Taking Personal Inventory

Man Smiling Outdoor

Making your way through the 12-Steps means you have admitted you are powerless. You have developed a relationship with a Higher Power, found your part, and admitted it. Your support system has helped you accept your character defects. With your sponsor’s help, you have made a list of people you have harmed and tried to […]

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