Unsolicited and unexpected cravings are par for the course when you are struggling with addiction. Much like craving a sugary treat when dieting, restricting yourself from something you would normally have will almost always result in cravings. It is, however, how you manage them, that will make all the difference. To assist you on difficult days, we have compiled some of our most tried and true ways to manage your addiction cravings.
Sober Halloween? Yes it is possible! Gone are the days where Halloween was just about getting dressed up and partying the night away. Now that you are in recovery and working everyday to maintain your sobriety, it is important to find new ways to celebrate different holidays as they come up throughout the year – and Halloween is no exception!
One of the most difficult things for someone to do that is struggling with addiction is to ask for help to get sober. Understanding and accepting you are struggling with addiction is never easy, so much so it is also the reason that so many continue using. However, if you are at the point where you know you need the help, there are many different ways that you can reach out to get the help you need and deserve.
Staying sober is one of the hardest things someone can do. It is mind-blowing how choosing to stay drug and alcohol-free leaves such positive effects on our bodies. While most people do not plan to lose their lives to drugs, it happens to many people around us. Motivation, and staying motivated, is something that comes from within, meaning that we have to want to do better and be better people for ourselves, family, friends, etc.
The following is a list of five ways to stay motivated during addiction treatment as well as through your recovery journey:
This may sound obvious, but it is very easy to fall back into old habits if you don’t surround yourself with likeminded, supportive people. For some people that could mean distancing themselves from family or friends that were either partaking along with you, enabling or lack the overall support you need.
There is a lifetime of possibilities to enjoy when you are sober. From enjoying meals, building positive friendships, creating goals for your future and accomplishing them! Every day you can and will experiences things that you would never have been able to appreciate while using drugs or alcohol.
Flaws? Yes – we are all flawed, and will continue to slip and make mistakes. And that is OK. Understanding that nobody is perfect and cannot live a flawless life, will make the tough days seem more bearable, and the good days the best they could ever be.
Being in recovery, whether it is your first day or 1000 day, is an honour you should be proud of. Never be ashamed of your journey – it has gotten you to where you are today and for that you should always be thankful.
Whether you struggle with addiction or not, everyone should celebrate being alive. Each day we are alive is a gift, and we should not squander it. Make the most out of your days by doing the things you love while being the person you want to be. What is more better than that?
Of course there are many other ways to stay motivated throughout your journey. And whatever your motivation and reasons – they are yours to own. Be proud of them and use them to power you through the days when giving up seems like the only option.
Check out this video detailing our five ways to stay motivated while in addiction rehab.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, contact us today at The Farm. Our addiction treatment centre is located in Stouffville, Ontario, just outside of the GTA.
Dear Dad,
I must have been in denial, I never really saw the signs. But regardless of what I did or didn’t see, alcohol was quickly and surely taking over your life. Looking back I wish I did so much more to help you; to help mom. Even though I was an adult, she protected me from knowing what was really going on with you. A few moments she let a detail or two slip that made me wonder, but that was about as far as it got.
Prescription opioids are powerful painkillers prescribed to treat moderate-to-severe long-term pain. They work by blocking the pain receptors in the brain, stimulating dopamine that produces a feeling of euphoria, heightened pleasure, relaxation, and in some cases, an altered state of consciousness.
Congratulations –making the decision to stop drinking is a very big step! This will be the best decision you have ever made; however difficult at times. Over the years, your body has built a stronger and stronger dependence on the alcohol you were drinking and with your new found decision on sobriety will cause your body to go into alcohol withdrawal.
Choosing between in-patient or out-patient addiction rehab facilities can be a difficult decision for some, as each can have its benefits.
Deciding to put drug and alcohol use behind you can be a challenging and overwhelming experience, but know you never have to be alone and that there is always someone to support you. Making the decision to get sober is and will always be the hardest part, but staying committed to you decision is imperative for continued success. To help you with deciding whether in-patient addiction treatment or out-patient addiction treatment is the best option, we have broken down the pros and cons of each.
Continue reading “Addiction rehab options – in-patient or out-patient”
Summer is in full swing. The sun is hot, beaches are packed and backyard party invitations are endless. But with most invitations comes the popular phrase: BYOB. Last summer that would not have been a problem, after all you were the life of the party and always had a full cooler at the ready. This summer is a little different now that you have chosen a different path – a sober path.
If you are at the point of questioning whether or not you are married to an alcoholic, chances are pretty high that you are (or at least be given good reason to worry); however, if you are still unsure here are a few questions to think about regarding your spouse’s drinking:
Ask anyone who is going through it – addiction recovery is tough. Some days will be easy, while others will be down right torture. But just because there are inevitably going to be rough days, doesn’t mean you should forget them. One of the best ways to keep a record of your addiction recovery is to write about it. By being able to go back and review some of your hardest moments you can learn more about yourself and the strength you have, than you could ever imagine.
Imagine for a moment that you are a child and you are watching your father, whom you love more than anything in the world, struggle and spiral out of control. You notice that Daddy isn’t acting like himself, he loses his temper easily and is not home nearly as often as he once was. Perhaps you start to wonder what you had done to make him so upset and start to blame yourself for how he is acting – why else wouldn’t he want to be home with you? What you don’t know is that Daddy is struggling with addiction.
Perpetual worry affects the way we feel, how we think, and how we behave. Anxiety can create a downward spiral of emotions and trigger unhealthy behaviour and actions.
To fight back against onset acute anxiety, TAKE ACTION!
Action is the enemy of anxiety. It takes anxiety’s power away and gives it back to you.
Are you ready to take action? Use these simple but highly effective exercises to relieve acute anxiety when it surfaces.
2022 is a blank page, a story yet to be written. What are you going to make of it? Why not make this the year to make the final decision to change your life for the better – to get and stay sober.
Making the decision to put your health and wellbeing first is not like regular resolutions that we normally forget about a few weeks into the year. To help you stay on track and follow through with this life-changing decision, we have some simple tips for you to follow:
Continue reading “New Year’s Resolution or Life Changing Decision?”
Before you can even begin to begin recovery from an addiction, you have to be able to make the most difficult part – admitting that you a problem. For some people, admitting they have a problem is what holds them back from recovery their entire lives, while others are more accepting of the fact and will accept the help they need.
Whether you are questioning whether your actions can be considered an addiction or if you have a friend of loved one that has an issue with substance abuse, you are here to gain a better insight into your present and what your future could be like.
The opioid epidemic is not new in Canada, but as of late, it has brought light to the subject that many were not aware of. It has been estimated by Health Canada that since 2016, there have been more than 9,000 apparent opioid related deaths and in 2017, overdoses took approximately 11 lives per day. This does not count the many hospitalizations due to overdoses.
Not all residential addiction rehab facilities in Ontario are the same. Knowing what to look for in a quality treatment centre can make all the difference in overcoming an addiction. Being prepared to ask the right questions and learning as much as possible about the individual services and treatment options available, will help ensure an informed decision is made and that you or your loved one will be in the best hands possible.
Continue reading “Questions to ask when choosing an addiction rehab facility”
With Covid restrictions easing, more and more summertime events are being planned and household gatherings are happening. Whether it is a backyard BBQ, birthday party, wedding or pool party, there is often one thing in common when it comes to a get together of any size – alcohol.
One of the lesser known or discussed dangers to chronic alcohol use and addiction is what the medical community has coined, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, or for simplicity sake, WKS. This neurodegenerative brain disease is caused by a lack of vitamin B-1, also known as thiamine in the body. When the body is not receiving the proper nutrients it requires, parts of the brain begin to shut down and not function as it once did.
Continue reading “Alcohol related neurological disease: Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome”
Addiction is a disease. It causes an overwhelming urge to do something that feels almost impossible to control or stop. Regardless of what the addiction is to, be it illicit drugs, prescription pills, alcohol, smoking or gambling, everyone who has an addiction struggles with the same four factors: craving, compulsion, control and consequences, also referred to as the 4Cs of addiction. These four factors differentiate an addiction from other neurological disorders as the driving force.