You may have heard of the term "re-experiencing, "a sequence of trauma-related symptoms that some people experience after a stressful or traumatic event. A person presenting with re-experiencing symptoms may be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition caused by a … Read more about What It Means to ‘’Re-Experience’’ a Traumatic Event
For those with traumatic histories, escaping or forgetting painful memories from the past can seem like an attractive option. Although many people often use drugs and alcohol socially and recreationally, some use substances to escape, a way to numb or forget painful memories, feelings, and … Read more about Drugs and Escapism: The Trauma Behind Substance Addiction
by Renee W. My first stretch of sobriety lasted for three years and (almost) four months. 1,231 days, to be exact, and I only know that because I Googled the dates. During those three-plus years, I stopped drinking, threw myself into AA meetings, worked with a sponsor, lost weight, got fit, … Read more about What is Emotional Sobriety?
by Renee W. While deep in my alcohol addiction, I was about as self-absorbed as I could be. All my thoughts and behaviours revolved around the centre of my universe: me. It wasn’t until months of recovery that I began to realize just how much I thought of myself. I do not mean I thought a … Read more about A secret weapon in recovery: Helping Others
by Renee W. I knew I desperately needed help, but deep down, I wasn’t ready to give up my addiction. I didn’t know how I would survive without my drug of choice – alcohol. My addiction lasted ten years, and while I had a few periods of sobriety in there, nothing stuck. My addiction was … Read more about How to help an addict who doesn’t want help
by Renee W. Labels can be incredibly damaging. They come with all kinds of biases and connotations, whether positive or negative. However, how we label ourselves defines not only the lens through which we see ourselves but how we act. There are always negative connotations to the label … Read more about Labels, Identity, and Recovery
by Renee W. I remember, early in recovery, logging onto Facebook and scrolling through my feeds. A friend posted a picture of herself looking happy and gorgeous, drinking a glass of wine at a party that I was clearly not invited to. Not that I could have gone anyway. I felt sick to my … Read more about Social Media and Recovery: How it Helps, How it Hurts
by Renee W. When I got sober the first time in 2014, my strategy was simple: get my body back. I had gained weight from my alcoholism, and I thought if I could eat better and exercise, I would lose weight, feel better about myself, and stay sober. So, I put all my effort into … Read more about How Does Diet Culture Affect Women in Recovery?
