choice house blog

Addiction is an issue that has been around for decades. But since the arrival of COVID-19, substance abuse rates have soared in the U.S., with 13 percent of Americans reporting an increase in drug or alcohol use. This surge has been linked to the stress, fear and uncertainty of the pandemic and shows no signs…

“Real men don’t cry.” “Tough it out.” “Man up.” We’ve all heard these phrases before. While they’ve become commonplace, these expressions reinforce outdated expectations of what men should and shouldn’t do. When it comes to mental health, this has led to the misconception that men don’t have, and aren’t even supposed to have, the same…

People often measure the quality of their life based on their past decisions, accomplishments, and even shortcomings. While it is good to learn from the past to become more resilient and make better decisions moving forward, when you dwell in the past, it becomes problematic. In recovery and especially early recovery, it is common to…

There are some things in life we just can’t avoid—death, taxes, and anger. Anger is a common emotion we all experience in life, and it can affect you, those around you, and even society as a whole. Episodes of anger can be passive or assertive. Each episode will produce adrenaline which can create lasting adverse…

Many stigmas, taboos, and negative beliefs surround substance use and mental health disorders. Such views not only misrepresent and harm those affected with substance use and mental health disorders. They also create fear, isolation, and even prevent many from seeking the help they need. The legal ramifications further support these beliefs for those in possession…

There is a common misconception that treatment for alcohol use looks and operates a certain way. Unfortunately, these beliefs and stigmas surrounding specific treatments are causing those who need help to avoid it because they decide it won’t work for them. However, the treatment approaches to helping those with alcohol use disorders are much more…

When most people think about the best therapy options for recovery, they don’t typically think about hiking. However, hiking, or adventure therapy, can become an essential holistic treatment option for those recovering from substance use and mental health disorders. Adventure therapy positively affects mental, physical, and emotional health, helping to reduce anxiety and stress, and…

With COVID-19 vaccines available, the push for returning to “normalcy” has been the focus of the global community. Though, after a year of navigating the pandemic, you might feel exhausted, and the last thing you’re ready to do is to go full throttle back into how things were. There might also be many emotional and…

When most hear the term Alcoholics Anonymous, they likely get a specific idea about AA in their head. It might consist of seeing a group of people sitting in a social circle and sharing their experiences about their life and alcohol use. However, because of how movies, television, and media portray AA, there is a…

A significant component of managing recovery is taking time to listen and sit with your internal voices and feelings. The practice of mindfulness contributes to your serenity, health, and overall effectiveness in life and recovery. Therefore, if the distractions of the day feel as though they are pulling you apart and you’re becoming stressed, anxious…