A long debate has existed about whether nicotine and/or caffeine addiction mean you aren’t sober. A few diehards cling to this opinion. They believe you should be free of all mind-altering substances. But is it true? Can there be a… Read More »Are caffeine and nicotine a drug relapse?
Lately, I’ve been going to fewer meetings and reaching out to fewer people. It’s considered a dangerous situation by some hardcore AA folks. It may be, even if I have double-digit years sober. I’ve heard all the stories of people… Read More »Taking a Break from AA
As a quiet and reserved recovery member, I understand the struggle with sobriety programs that ask me to interact with others frequently. I am an introvert at heart and become exhausted when I spend a lot of time with groups.… Read More »Accepting Your Introversion in Sober Recovery
I was recently diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. It started with a swollen finger, the only symptom for years. I ignored it, along with the plaques on my scalp that looked like terrible dandruff. I couldn’t put two and two together.… Read More »The Ultimate Guide to Dealing with Chronic Illness in Sobriety
Getting sober is hard enough, but sobering up with an additional mental illness is even more of a challenge. Many addicts bring other disorders to their recovery, such as major depression. My Story with Mental Illness I’ve lived with bipolar… Read More »Dual Diagnosis: Working Sobriety with a Mental Illness
If you’re in a 12 step group and single, you may see plenty of fish. And what’s not to like? You have the same goals: staying sober, learning to live responsibly, and living each day to the fullest. The similarities… Read More »Dating in Twelve-Step Programs: Pros and Cons
Once you enter a sobriety routine and tackle numerous struggles without a drink, you might begin to take it easy. It’s easy to “rest on your laurels,” as the Big Book suggests, and become complacent. There’s a desire to cut… Read More »Complacency in Recovery: How to Recognize It and Change Course
It’s taken me a long time to learn that newly sober addicts deal with some of the deepest insecurity issues known to man. On the outside, they may have everything: a good job, family, cars, and a house. However, when… Read More »Low Self Esteem and Insecurity in Alcoholics: How to Avoid Being Someone’s Doormat