Addiction and Recovery

The recurrence of addicting starts before the actual addicting. It starts with allowing the conditions for addiction to arise by living unskillfully or ineffectively managing the inevitable pain of life. […]

We are kind when we are friendly, helpful, generous, understanding, forgiving, and considerate. Kindness is good for everyone. You give others both what they need and deserve. People feel good […]

Not everyone has the experience of a loving transcendent being at work in their lives. An estimated 488 million people, for example, practice Buddhism, a religion that does not include […]

Relapse starts before addicting. It starts with allowing the conditions for addiction to arise by living unskillfully or ineffectively managing the inevitable pain of life. You “BUTA.”—Build Up to Addict. […]

In previous blogs, I’ve discuss mindful management of cravings and talking out cravings. There are other ways to manage cravings when they arise. Here are just a few: When you […]

Perhaps the most important craving management skill people need to develop in early recovery is to resolve a craving by “talking it out.” Many people become lost in their addiction […]

Everyone gets cravings. Cravings are not good or bad. They are just cravings. What makes them good or bad is how we respond to them. Successful living requires that we […]

Negative emotional states (negativity) such as worry, anger, fear, hopelessness, loneliness, self-pity, self-hatred, envy, or boredom can trigger cravings and relapses. This is why you need to learn to manage […]

For most, recovery from addiction requires help from others, medications, or other resources. For some, religious beliefs and spirituality play an important role in their recovery. These are all part […]