There is a lot of talk about recovery coaching as a way to assist the treatment of addictive disorders including substance use disorders. So what really is recovery coaching and is it helpful? The Center for Addiction Recovery Training, a leading resource for Recovery Coaching training, defines Recovery Coaching as a peer professional who assists…
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The importance of the stories that we tell ourselves cannot be overstated. Stories can make the difference between recovery and being stuck in or dying from addiction. Stories determine how we see the world around us. I have become aware of the way that the stories that I heard as a child have been carried…
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“Evolution is the single greatest force in the universe. It is the only thing that is permanent, and it drives everything- from the smallest subatomic particle to the entire galaxy.” Ray Dalio (Principles, 2017) Looking back on my experience of three and a half decades of recovery, it occurred to me that what has taken…
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“Know the truth and the truth will set you free – but first it will really piss you off”. I’m not sure where that saying comes from, but it has been my experience. One of the many hard truths that my sponsor shared with me over the years is the fact that real recovery is…
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There are many reasons to love AA and 12-Step recovery. In its 85+ years of existence the program has saved hundreds of thousands of lives (including the life of this writer); it also transmits practical wisdom from the ‘school of hard knocks’- what is shared in the rooms of recovery as well as what is…
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We admitted we were powerless over our addiction – that our lives had become unmanageable. For those who decide to use the 12 steps in their quest for recovery, there is a lot to learn. Not everyone uses the 12 steps, but those who do generally are very passionate about their program. With that said,…
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As I scrolled through social media and read so many inspiring New Year’s Resolutions – lose weight, go back to school, keep the house more organized – my only thought was, “I just want to stop slowly killing myself. I want to stop hating myself and drowning in alcohol.” Historically, New Year’s Resolutions have focused…
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In 2017, the United States declared a public health emergency because of the opiate and heroin epidemic. Heroin addiction rates have drastically increased, with Fentanyl-laced heroin causing a surge in fatal overdoses. In fact, drug overdoses have become the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. The heroin epidemic was partially the result…
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Opioids can include prescription medications like oxycodone and OxyContin, as well as illicit opioids like heroin. They can be both physically and psychologically addicting. Opioids are highly addictive and can cause serious opioid withdrawal symptoms if you stop using. For help, most will turn to an opioid addiction treatment center in Denver. In 2017, President Trump…
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More than half of all people who struggle with addiction have a dual diagnosis. But, what is dual diagnosis and how is it treated at a dual diagnosis treatment center in Denver? Millions of Americans struggle with substance abuse and mental health disorders. More than 10% of Americans have a substance abuse disorder, while more…
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