Recovery Support

  • Recovery Support

    Top 10 Reasons to Get Sober

    ByPines Recovery Life Staff

    Life is full of challenges – no matter where you were born or where you’re headed, there will always be highs and lows that add together into the person you are today. For many, this rollercoaster can lead to some sort of addiction, whether that be addiction to drugs, alcohol, or the number of other dangerous addictions we see in our world today. The road to recovery can be long and challenging, especially without the right support systems put in place. Thankfully, there are hundreds of organizations in the United States (such as SAMHSA) designed to help those who struggle with addictions to come out on the other side stronger than before.

    One of the most important things shared in many of these treatment programs is the constant reminder of why you are working toward becoming (and staying) sober. Without any reason to get sober, it can be nearly impossible to force yourself out of the cycle. Here, we have compiled the top 10 reasons for getting sober – if you or someone you know is living with addiction, brainstorm through these reasons as you construct your own, adding specific examples that apply to your individual situation.

  • Recovery Support

    Loss in Recovery: A Personal Experience

    ByPines Recovery Life Staff

    Loss overall is never an easy circumstance to navigate. This can come in many shapes and forms, mainly because what we define as loss is entirely subjective- it’s personal to us based on our experiences with and the depths of our feelings toward whatever it is we find ourselves lacking. Some of the most common losses are those of relationships, the death of a loved one or even the loss of self. In recovery especially, loss can be felt on so many levels and because we are no longer numb, that loss can hurt like none other.

    By the time I was beaten down enough to seek a different solution for my life, I certainly didn’t recognize myself. My physical appearance in regards to my health were on a fast-track to deterioration; I was sick, I looked sick and didn’t know how to get better. When it comes healing, I like to see it as a rebuilding process- the foundation of who we are is always there, even if it’s covered and buried by the debris of the wreckage of our pasts, it’s there. Getting back to bottom floor, carefully straightening up and working to rebuild again is a long and arduous process but it also teaches a vital lesson that we can carry forward to other facets of life; no matter how far we think we have fallen, what we think we have lost can, in most instances, be regained.

  • Alcoholism & Drug Addiction | Recovery Support

    Exercise and Addiction Recovery: 9 Benefits + Exercise Tips

    ByPines Recovery Life Staff

    If you have made the decision to detox from drugs & alochol, the process can seem daunting. Withdrawal symptoms and cravings can make it difficult to stay on course with detox and recovery. For many going through detox from drugs & alcohol, there is a need to fill the void left by substances. Recent data suggests that exercise can help remove toxins from the body, lessen stress, and improve overall health during and after drug detox. While it is always best to consult your doctor for specific guidance and advice regarding drug detox, you can keep reading for some tips on exercising during detox.

    Benefits of Exercise for Drug Detox

    Exercise is good for you – we all know that. But for individuals struggling with drug addiction or going through detox, exercise can have a wide range of benefits beyond weight management or building muscle. Incorporating exercise into your daily routine can help your body heal from substance use while naturally detoxing.

  • Recovery Support

    5 Stages of Change in Recovery: When Things Begin To Get Better

    ByPines Recovery Life Staff

    When living an addictive lifestyle, there are many things that your addiction can take from you. The addiction you have can take away your dignity, relationships, career, and so much more. Some people will hit rock bottom and realize they need to turn their lives around, while others will decide one day that they need to make a change to their life.

    No matter what got you to the point of realizing that you need to recover from your addiction, you are here today. You may have just decided to get sober. You may be in your first 24 hours of recovery or you may have been in recovery for a while. Regardless, you are looking to find out when things will get better. It is different for everyone who is recovering from addiction – as this is an individualized process – but there is some information that might be able to help you get the answers you are looking for.

  • Alcohol Addiction | Alcoholism (AUD) | Drug & Alcohol Detox | Recovery Support

    Detoxing from Alcohol at Home

    ByPines Recovery Life Staff

    As of 2018, the National Institute on Alcohol Misuse and Alcoholism reported that 15 million people in the United States have alcohol use disorder. As a chronic and relapsing brain disease, alcohol use disorder, or AUD, involves the compulsive use of alcohol, a loss of control over the amount of alcohol taken in, and an emotional state that is negative when not using alcohol.

    Whether a person faces binge drinking, heavy drinking, or dependency on alcohol, it is very difficult to overcome an AUD. However, it is also extremely important for that person’s health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, quitting is not an easy process, and people who drink a considerable amount of alcohol are at risk of experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

    Some people looking to overcome an alcohol use disorder choose to detox from alcohol at home. While this may be the only option for some, it is not the recommended method according to Alcohol.org, a resource from the American Addiction Centers. Keep reading to learn more about alcohol detox at home.

  • News | Recovery Support

    The Rise of Boredom and Its Effect on People in Recovery

    ByPines Recovery Life Staff

    Boredom. It’s a slippery slope, especially for people with addiction. It begins as something not so horrid, easily bypassed; but it can quickly turn into something that will destroy goals and ruin a solid mind. And when that boredom is forced upon you by authorities beyond your control, it can become unbearable.

    Now, Pines Recovery Life Detox is open and ready to help guide you or your loved ones successfully through an addiction crisis. We can help you defeat that monster today! But, what if you’re not quite to that point yet. You feel boredom, and maybe loneliness, becoming a bit too much to handle, but you’re not in crisis mode just yet.

    Well, this is the situation that this blog is geared toward today.

  • Recovery Support

    Success After Addiction

    ByPines Recovery Life Staff

    Addiction can quickly become a spiral of anger and hopelessness. Breaking its grip on your life can seem like an impossible task. Depression, anxiety, and an attitude of “who cares anymore” can quickly seep in and ruin an someone’s drive to succeed in the pursuit of sobriety. It can seem like the world is against you and, more than that, your own body is against you. And it can seem like recovering from addiction is pointless, because what happens on the other side? Life has already fallen completely apart, what happens when sobriety hits – then what? Life is still broken into pieces around you, so why even try?

    Every person with addiction shares some or all of those emotions. And no matter how supported a person with addiction is, or how many others in recovery surround them, the effort to achieve sobriety can be a very lonely one.

    That is when the need for examples comes into play. People often point to the famous. Robert Downey, Jr., Eminem, Elton John, Demi Lovato. All of these popular names, and many more, have recovered from addiction and gone on to claim fortune and fame. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.

  • Recovery Support

    Addiction and LGBTQ+

    ByPines Recovery Life Staff

    Life is hard. Even for the most successful amongst us, those with the biggest smiles and best careers, life can be tumultuous. People with addiction know this all too well. It is one of our most often repeated mantras here at Pines Recovery Life – anyone can become addicted to drugs or alcohol. That means the officer who patrols your streets, the doctor who cares for your family, the pastor of your church, your therapist; anyone.

    For people like that, untreated addiction can be a never ending torment. Not only is their body and mind under the control of a substance that is tearing them apart, but if that fact is ever found out, their professional, and in many cases personal, lives could come crashing down around them. One segment of the person with addiction population that knows the horrid shock of that situation all too well is the LGBTQ+ community. For this community, simply being “outed” before they are ready can result in life altering repercussions.