by Carley Smiddy | Jan 4, 2021 | Addiction Recovery, Recovery, Support
No matter how mundane you believe your life to be, you have a story. How we see ourselves, the things we say and act upon all become part of the personal narrative we project into the world. When we become caught up in self-destructive habits such as substance abuse...
by Carley Smiddy | Dec 22, 2020 | Addiction Recovery, Alcoholism, Recovery, Support
With the holidays peeking around every corner, we can be forgiven if the very thought of it makes us stressed, especially if this is the first year we get to celebrate staying sober. This may be your first Christmas without alcohol, and everywhere from magazines, to...
by Carley Smiddy | Dec 17, 2020 | Depression, Mental health, Recovery, Support
All of us feel down from time to time. Perhaps we have received some bad news or experienced a recent disappointment. Neither of which is bound to make us feel great. When dealing with long-term substance misuse and addiction issues, we are at greater risk of suicidal...
by Carley Smiddy | Dec 9, 2020 | Mental health, Recovery
No-one said that recovery was going to be easy. Whenever we set goals for ourselves, even if there is no one present for the announcement, we might throw ourselves a ticker-tape parade in the heat of the moment. A small one, at least. “This time,” we say, “we are...
by Carley Smiddy | Dec 4, 2020 | Addiction Recovery, Mental health, Recovery
For many, the month of December, with its tradition of holiday and end of the year, seasonal festivities, leaves them dealing with unpleasant feelings of isolation, sadness, and loneliness. When we enter the recovery stage of substance use, the month of December can...
by Carley Smiddy | Nov 25, 2020 | Addiction Recovery, Recovery, Relapse & Prevention
The loss of a loved one is one of the biggest fears people in recovery face. When you have suffered a profound loss, especially the death of someone close, you will discover that the grieving process is uniquely painful. But learning how to cope with grief without...
