BRC RECOVERY BLOG

KEY SOBRIETY MILESTONES

Whether you’ve been clean and sober for three months or three years, it’s always worthwhile to take the time to celebrate your recovery. Recovery is often referred to as a journey, not a destination; for this reason, it’s something that should continually be progressing. Just...

ENMESHED FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS

Most people consider tight-knit families to be desirable, but there is such a thing as getting too close. Enmeshment is a trait of family dysfunction that involves poorly defined or nonexistent boundaries, unhealthy relationship patterns, and a lack of independence among family members. Children who grow up in...

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THE DANGERS OF NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER

Once you’re pursuing recovery from alcohol addiction, non-alcoholic beer may seem like an appealing and safe option. After all, it won’t get you drunk and lead to problems such as reckless behavior, impaired judgment, or blackouts. However, non-alcoholic beer has several issues you should be...

RECOGNIZING THAT FEELINGS AREN’T FACTS

In one-on-one therapy or 12-step recovery group meetings, you may hear the phrase “feelings aren’t facts.” If you’re new to recovery, this saying’s meaning can be hard to grasp. When you view emotions as facts instead of transient states, you can get in the dangerous...

HOPE: THE FOUNDATION OF ADDICTION RECOVERY

WHAT HOPE IS (& WHAT IT ISN’T) Hope is defined by Mirriam-Webster as cherishing a desire with anticipation; wanting something to happen or be true. It’s markedly different from simple positive thinking because it requires a clear understanding of the obstacles you’ll face along the way. Just as...

WORKING THROUGH ANGER AND RESENTMENT IN RECOVERY

We all get angry; it’s a normal human emotion and one that you’re bound to deal with during recovery. Resentment is closely tied to anger. Resentment forms when you hold onto anger toward a person, institution, or situation – for instance, if you feel snubbed...

DRY DRUNK BEHAVIOR PATTERNS

Healing from a substance use disorder is a lengthy, complex process involving many ups and downs. Choosing to quit drinking or using is an essential first step, but achieving lifelong sobriety involves more than abstaining from alcohol and drugs.  One potential pitfall for people in recovery...

12-STEP RECOVERY: WHY YOU NEED TO MAKE AMENDS

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...

self esteem tips

5 QUICK EXERCISES TO RAISE YOUR SELF-ESTEEM

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...