How to Help Someone Stay Sober
Content reviewed by Khelsea Walker Being a parent, friend, sibling, spouse, or other loved one of someone struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) can be distressing. After all, addiction is known as a family disease because it affects more than just the individual engaging in chronic alcohol or drug use. If you are reading this, […]
What Are Sober Living Homes?
Updated 4/29/25 Content reviewed by Karen Rubenstein, LMFT, Chief Clinical Officer at Cliffside Malibu Exploring different living opportunities while in recovery can be both exciting and nerve-racking. On the one hand, you may become nervous at the thought of venturing into uncharted territory and leaving the comfort of your current living situation. On the other […]
The Benefits of Sober Living
Content reviewed by Nicholas G. Glines Continuing treatment is imperative to sustaining long-term sobriety. Sober living homes are a resource that can help those in recovery transition from structured treatment programs back to reality outside of treatment. A person’s living environment is critical when facilitating sobriety. Sober living homes help to provide protective factors that […]
Comparing a Sober Brain to a Brain Affected by Substance Use
Content reviewed by Nicholas G. Glines Substance use disorders (SUDs) like addiction are not results of moral weakness or lack of willpower. Addiction is a complex and chronic brain disease that affects how people think, feel and behave. It is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and drug-using behavior, despite the harmful consequences that may result […]
Tips to Help You Stay Sober During the Holidays
Updated on 11/15/23 Have you ever noticed that your mood changes during the fall and winter months? Are holidays a trigger for you since you have been in recovery? If these statements are true, you are not alone. Feeling sad during the fall and winter could be a sign of the “holiday blues” or you […]
Sober-Friendly Holiday Activities
Content reviewed by Christian Losch, LCSW, LCADC, CEO of Pinelands Despite the explosive excitement and cheer the holiday traditions may bring for many, others may find that this season can cause confusing feelings and struggles. Individuals in addiction recovery may face various scenarios in which they are put face-to-face with temptations, painful memories, or unfamiliar circumstances. […]
How to Host a “Dry” Thanksgiving
Updated on 10/26/23 Content reviewed by Christian Losch, LCSW, LCADC While Thanksgiving can be a great holiday to express what you are thankful for and bond with friends and family, this time can also be particularly triggering. Perhaps past Thanksgiving events included alcoholic beverages as a norm for all adults in the room. Making a change […]
Enjoying the Holiday Season While Staying Sober
Updated on 11/15/23 The holiday season is rapidly approaching, bringing with it dinners, potlucks, parties and cocktails. For many people, this is a festive and joyful time. However, if you are in recovery trying to abstain from alcohol, the joy of the holidays can be interwoven with anxiety surrounding maintaining an alcohol-free lifestyle. While it […]
What is the Relationship Between Compulsions and Addiction?
Content reviewed by Christian Losch, LCSW, LCADC, CEO of Pinelands What is the Relationship Between Compulsions and Addiction? If you are concerned about your own substance use issue or that of your loved one, understanding more about what causes it and what concurring symptoms there might be can help you take steps forward. This is especially […]
Planning for a Sober Summer
Content updated on 04/09/24 Summertime is a season of revitalization and energy. During summer, the weather is warm, friends, family and students get time off, and the overall sense of possibility and adventure seems limitless. While these feelings are great to experience, there are also some risks and concerns for those in addiction recovery; such […]