By Jennifer McDougall When people are in the early stages of recovery, they may have dreams that they’ve relapsed. These dreams can come with symptoms related to drug and alcohol use. When this happens, individuals in sobriety usually wake up feeling guilty and confused. What causes these dreams? And whatContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall Sobriety is the absence of drugs and alcohol and maintaining a clean lifestyle day after day. The term “California Sober” has been introduced in recent years as a way to claim sobriety without fully being abstinent, which can be dangerous for many people, especially those who struggleContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall “Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.” – Sigmund Freud Give a person freedom and see what they do with it. When you give them space and freedom, what they choose to do with it willContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall Drugs and alcohol suppress the way you feel authentically, causing you to have midstride and confused thoughts or feelings of your emotions and reactions to situations or symptoms in your life. When you get sober, you will most likely discover a wave of freedom to feel everythingContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall “A strong personal philosophy does more than sustain us through the tragedies of life. It also stains us daily in everything we think and do. It gives us optimism and hope.”― Chris Prentiss, Zen and the Art of Happiness When you think about the way you view the world,Continue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall “It takes practice, feeling happy about the ever-unfolding events of life, and, because of all the conditioning we have undergone before this, it may be very difficult to make the change, but if we take the saying to heart and practice it, as the days unfold weContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall Being treated for substance abuse-related issues at Passages Malibu is the start of something beautiful. Anyone who has struggled to get and stay sober knows how challenging this process is. That is why at Passages, we are fully committed to providing our clients with the best possibleContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall “Emotion can be the enemy. If you give in to your emotions, you lose yourself. You must be at one with your emotions because the body always follows the mind. “–Bruce Lee Frustration over emotions may suggest that an individual lacks emotional intelligence. For example, if youContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall Self-care is an essential practice in addiction recovery. When you don’t have a self-care routine, it can throw you off balance and make you feel uneasy. Many people who relapse in recovery lose focus on what’s important and forget to take care of the needs of theirContinue Reading
by Jennifer McDougall What is Trauma? When someone experiences a deeply distressed or disruptive event in their life, physical, mental, or emotional, they have been exposed to what is known as trauma. This event or experience can disturb a person’s thought process, emotional response, and behavior patterns that show significantContinue Reading
When you are in need of inspiration in your recovery from drug and alcohol dependency related issues, these quotes by Chris Prentiss will help lift your spirits and give you some wonderful insight to ease your mind. “You are not an alcoholic or an addict. You are not incurably diseased.Continue Reading
by Karin Burns I took a less traditional path to rehab than most people and avoided the DUIs, legal issues and job losses we typically associate with alcohol addiction by embracing change early in the progression of the issue and healing myself proactively with wellness. Since 2015 I have beenContinue Reading
By Dr. Susan Finley “Strumming my pain with his fingers Singing my life with his words Killing me softly with his song” — Roberta Flack Great musicians/bands CONNECT people. All over the world, fans gravitate to music that makes them FEEL something: “I relate to the lyrics,” “I feel theirContinue Reading
By Dr. Kerri Heath It will be difficult to overcome an addiction without a true spiritual practice. Substances are able to numb the pain when you are feeling lost, depressed, discouraged, or disappointed with how things have turned out. However, substances will not make any of your pain go away. TheyContinue Reading
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “He who takes medicine and neglects to diet wastes the skill of his doctors.” -Chinese Proverb What is the connection between diet, nutrition, and addiction? Each has a direct effect on our brain chemistry, our mood, and our physique. Maintaining a nourishing diet and balancedContinue Reading
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “You have to throw a gold brick into the uncertain waters of the future, and have faith because there will be many difficult days before you will see the returns start rolling in…” -P. T. Barnum Elephants in Captivity Have you ever attended a circusContinue Reading
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC Mindfulness is the ability to steer clear from worry and anxiety bringing one’s attention to the present moment. Feeling overwhelmed and ill-equipped to deal with life’s challenges is not uncommon early in sobriety. The use of drugs and alcohol is no longer an option, norContinue Reading
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC Google “online dating tips” and you will be inundated with article after article ranging from top ranking dating sites to online dating safety tips, to rules of dating, to how to set up a winning profile (or avoid a terrible one). “The Dating Game” ThereContinue Reading
by Kimberly Hayes The 12-Step program is what comes to mind when you hear someone talk about recovery from alcohol and drug abuse. However, there are many treatment methods out there that offer personal empowerment beyond breaking bad habits. Here are a few alternative therapies that can be pursued onContinue Reading
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.” –Steve Maraboli Learning from past negative experiences including substance use and addiction can actually serve as your greatest asset when building a life free from drug and alcohol use. The cultivation ofContinue Reading