Facing Your Feelings Many people believe that once they get sober, all of their problems will melt away. While it’s true that life improves dramatically upon getting clean, that doesn’t mean that life won’t present any challenges moving forward. The reality is that using drugs or alcohol serves as a coping...
Ask a man if he’s ever experienced trauma, and he’ll probably just shrug or say something dismissive. The reality is that 61% of men have undergone a traumatic event at some point in their lives, although frequently, these men are not given the opportunity to explore the impact these...
Sober Summer Plans This weekend, we celebrated Memorial Day with family and friends. This is the official start of summer! It’s not uncommon for men in early recovery to wonder what a day on the lake will look like without a drink in their hand. Never fear; sobriety doesn’t mean that...
We’ve already discussed that this May is Mental Health Month, and have covered some of the concerns specific to men’s experience of mental illness. Today, we’d like to explore the value of self-esteem: a topic often ignored by men’s health advocates, but one of utmost importance. Why Does Self-Esteem Matter? Self-esteem...
Meditation is certainly becoming more mainstream among the male population; celebs like Russell Simmons and Hugh Jackman have publicly endorsed its benefits. And it can be especially beneficial for men in addiction recovery. For writer Quentin Vennie, who overcame addiction, depression and an anxiety disorder, it helped him to...
When one family member is struggling with a substance use disorder, other family members assume certain attitudes and behaviors to cope with the impact of their loved one’s substance abuse. These coping mechanisms seem like the best way to handle the addiction, but they’re usually extremely unhealthy and can...
Of the 22 million Americans who are dependent on illicit drugs and alcohol, only 2.5 million seek addiction treatment. Such a stark contrast draws attention to a serious public health concern. Even among people who do seek addiction treatment, some are more likely to engage in it than others. Researchers...
A healthy recovery calls for a deep understanding of self, something that’s only acquired through personal development, self-care and learning about ourselves through relationships with others. The importance of finding yourself in recovery cannot be overstated, and there are a few ways to help you along. 1. Find more motivation...
Substance use and addiction are more common among teenagers and college students than you might think. More than 4 million full-time college students aged 18 to 22 engaged in binge drinking within the past month, and approximately 1 in 5 used an illicit substance within the past month. Teenagers experiment...
Sustainable recovery requires extensive engagement in clinical therapies that serve two purposes: 1) to help a client recognize the underlying issues that contributed to substance use disorder, and 2) to establish new, healthy skills that help them maintain freedom from drugs and alcohol. At Spearhead Lodge, our clients participate...
Addiction is a complex disease that affects one in seven Americans, according to a report from the U.S. surgeon general. It seems like everyone knows someone who has dealt with substance addiction, whether personally or within their family or group of friends. But although addiction is common, there are...
The consequences of drug and alcohol abuse don’t just affect the addicted person–they spill over into every area of a person’s life, causing the most amount of damage to their relationships. In the 12-step program, steps eight and nine are all about making amends and repairing the relationships that have...
