Once you complete an inpatient rehabilitation treatment program, you may feel a renewed sense of purpose. You may also have aspects of life that require more attention. Some people are able to return to jobs they had before rehab. Perhaps they met the guidelines of the Family and Medical Leave Act, and had assurance before...Read More

There are many types of 12-Step programs—some spiritual and others secular. If Christian faith is instrumental for your sobriety, you may be interested in Celebrate Recovery. While traditional 12-Step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) refer to a higher power in their tenets and practices, Celebrate Recovery is a “Christ-centered program...Read More

We’ve all experienced cravings for one thing or another—a cup of coffee, a piece of chocolate, even a cigarette. With these substances, our bodies go through physiological changes when we regularly consume them. Each prompts a chemical reaction in the brain: take it away, and our systems begin to wonder where it went. Caffeine is...Read More

There are many tough conversations parents and guardians need to have with children. One involves drug and alcohol use and the perils of addiction. Maybe your 2nd grader heard something on the playground. Perhaps you’ve noticed your teen’s behaviors are more unusual. Maybe an offhand comment about a relative at a family gathering raised questions...Read More

Let’s be honest: if you need substance abuse treatment, it doesn’t matter what time of year it is. It’s always going to be a challenging, life-changing decision. During the holidays, we often associate an idyllic greeting card experience with resolving all of our problems. We extend a lot of “if onlys” wishes upon the wonder...Read More

At any time, someone may become so overwhelmed by certain emotions they revert to unhealthy habits. For someone previously addicted to drugs or alcohol, this tendency isn’t greater or worse—just different. Resiliency has a lot to do with how we react to negative circumstances. The definition of resilience is “the capacity to recover quickly from...Read More

It’s heartbreaking to stand by as someone you love struggles with addiction. It’s devastating to know there’s only so much you can do. Right now, it’s important to understand you have the right to take care of yourself first. Just as you’re advised to do when flying: apply your oxygen mask before assisting others with...Read More

No matter how nonjudgmental of a person you may be, finding out that the person you’re dating is in recovery can be a tough truth to navigate. Depending on your background and how much you understand about the disease of addiction, reactions will vary. For some people, finding out that the person you’re dating once...Read More

Our fast-paced, immediately-accessible lifestyles can present easy distraction from the things that matter most. For this reason, Willingway doesn’t allow personal electronic devices (PEDs), such as cell phones, laptops, or smart watches, during inpatient rehabilitation. On your initial journey to sobriety, you’ll experience a number of mental, emotional, and physical changes necessary to break the...Read More

To help continue a solid road to recovery, your counselor’s continuum of care plan may include transitioning you from inpatient rehabilitation to an extended stay or sober living program. While your initial treatment helped you achieve a chemically-free baseline, there are still aspects of behavior, environmental influences, and perhaps even more complex medical issues that...Read More