Articles

After years in the drug world, it may not be easy for someone new to recovery to fit comfortably into the larger society. It helps to find people such as yourself– who used to use drugs but no longer do– to relate to.

Many addicts think they can control their drinking. While they may be able to stop, simply quitting is different from a lasting, internal change.

Craving has finally been added to the symptom list. I was never entirely clear on why it wasn’t included in DSM-IV, since there’s an impressive body of research on craving measurement.

One study indicated that it could take as little as 33 milliseconds to trigger a craving. If something only lasts three one-hundredths of a second, you’re probably not going to be aware of it.

Ultimately, what replaces addiction in recovery is life, in all its glory.

If we inadvertently activate the ‘fight-flight’ response, communication will come to a halt.

What’s the difference? Maybe it’s in how confrontation is used.

The personal story that recovering folks tell at 12 Step meetings is a reconstruction of episodic memories.

Suppose you were in the audience listening to someone else deliver the talk. What would get your attention? What would you enjoy learning about?

In the early and middle stages of addiction, addicts may experience mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms without recognizing them.