How to Use Spirituality for Addiction Recovery Articles>Addiction ResearchBy The RanchAugust 1, 2016Religion has taken a hit in modern times. Fewer people associate with a particular religion or attend services, but that doesn’t mean that we have turned away from a higher power. Many of us have simply shifted from being religious to being spiritual. The beauty of spirituality is that it means whatever you want it…
Gardening Helps Women in Addiction Recovery Grow Strong Helpful Articles, RecoveryBy The RanchMarch 17, 2016In Vernon Hills, Illinois, outside of Chicago, women in treatment for addiction are gardening to support their recovery. It’s a simple idea, but one that has a lasting impact and that helps these former addicts feel a sense of purpose, to get exercise and to resist the urges to use again. It’s an idea that…
Is Abstinence Required for Problem Gamblers? Articles>Mental HealthBy The RanchJanuary 25, 2016Problem gamblers are people who develop dysfunctional, addictive patterns of behavior centered on one or more forms of gambling. Doctors use a diagnosis called gambling disorder to identify individuals affected by this problem. In a study published in 2014 in the journal International Gambling Studies, researchers from Canada’s University of Calgary investigated whether dysfunctional gamblers…
Here’s How to Give Loved Ones the Gift of a Sober You Articles>Addiction TreatmentBy The RanchNovember 24, 2015“Mom got drunk and Dad got drunk at our Christmas party.”
Working Your Way Back to God ArticlesBy The RanchOctober 27, 2015Addicts seeking recovery often choose Christian rehab centers because they know that getting well and living free of the bondage of addiction is about more than quitting the abuse of a substance or a destructive behavior. It is about coming to know God, understanding His grace, feeling His presence and experiencing His healing power—the same…
Mandatory Smoking Abstinence Improves Substance Treatment Outcomes Helpful Articles, TreatmentBy The RanchOctober 14, 2015Cigarette use is quite common among people who have diagnosable problems with alcohol, drug or medication intake. Unfortunately, many people continue to smoke after entering substance treatment and continue to experience the potentially fatal health complications associated with cigarette intake. In a study published in December 2014 in The American Journal on Addictions, researchers from…
Stop Enabling and Start Helping the Addict in Your Life Helpful Articles, RecoveryBy The RanchSeptember 18, 2015Being an enabler of an addict means supporting the addiction rather than the addict. You might think that you’re helping the person you love, but you’re really just helping him remain an addict and avoid making positive changes. Chief enablers in families are the ones who are doing the most damage, even when they mean…
Supporting a Loved One After Rehab Helpful Articles, RecoveryBy The RanchSeptember 5, 2015A graduate student who finds herself leaning on Adderall in the morning and pot and booze at night finally enters treatment to learn healthy coping skills.
Addiction Recovery and Geographical Cures: Escapism Isn’t the Solution Articles>Early RecoveryBy The RanchJuly 22, 2015Considering a geographical move isn’t an uncommon strategy for those of us who are in recovery for addiction problems. Many of us experience the urge to pull up roots and start over in a new neighborhood, a new city, a new state or maybe even a new country. We feel sure that all we need…
Pros and Cons of Organization Mental HealthBy The RanchJune 18, 2015Most people see organization as a good thing. However, new studies suggest there might be a downside to zealous compartmentalization. So how organized should you be? It may be helpful to take a look at the pros and cons of organization.
