Wish Recovery’s Blog Category

The Six Stages of Change - popularized by the Transtheoretical Model developed in the late 70s—has become a measuring tool in behavioral health settings. It helps people embarking on intentional change. These self-changers use the stages to navigate through the process of addiction recovery.

Overcoming substance use disorder is a complex process requiring a comprehensive approach beyond avoiding drugs or alcohol. This is where the idea of recovery capital comes into play. Recovery capital involves utilizing the resources and assets available to aid in your journey toward wellness. Recovery capital includes tangible and intangible resources, such as social support networks, employment opportunities, housing, education, and psychological well-being. Accessing and utilizing these resources can unlock your potential for long-term recovery and overall wellness. Recovery capital is like a beautiful tapestry that you can weave with determination and perseverance, offering hope and healing.

Are you struggling to support someone you love through addiction? In this eye-opening video, we explore why empathy is more effective than "tough love" when helping someone in recovery.

If there were any truth to the misconception, some people have, that all anyone must do if they genuinely want to stop drinking or using drugs is to say, “No,” “I’m done,” “That’s it. I quit,” then, there wouldn’t be nearly 35 million people in the U.S. today diagnosed with a substance use or alcohol use disorder.

Many people believe that it’s OK to drink and drive because they are responsible people. But the truth is, getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol can have devastating consequences for those around you, as well as yourself. Drinking and driving can have severe impacts on not just your safety but also others—from minor injuries to severe injuries to fines to jail time to death. Too many people believe in the fallacy of immunity that it can’t happen to them. Even if you’ve never had an accident because of drunken driving, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t responsible for other people’s lives when you drink and drive.

Struggling to feel joy in recovery? You're not alone. Anhedonia - the inability to feel pleasure - affects countless people in early sobriety, but understanding why it happens is the first step toward healing. Contact Wish Recovery today for personalized support that addresses every aspect of your recovery journey.

The term "addiction" has historically had Latin roots, with translated meanings ranging from deity devotion to attachments to enslavement.

The spooks, ghosts, and goblins of Halloween are gone. As the collected assortment of candies starts to dwindle, the air of the season shifts to cooler, longer nights, and the turkey and tinsel of the holidays begin to appear everywhere. This can bring about stress and mental health conditions like seasonal affective disorder. Many people respond to emotional distress in many ways, from food to shopping to drugs or alcohol. 

When someone has experienced trauma or is in a negative situation, how they react to this will be different for everyone. Some people respond in ways that make matters worse for themselves and the parties involved, and some respond unhealthily, like drinking or misusing drugs.

To prevent relapse into addictive behavior, "burning bridges" is a skill that involves radical acceptance, determination, and action. To "burn one's bridges" is to cut off all links with anybody or anything that might trigger a relapse to the addicted drug or behavior. You effectively block that route out of your life by severing the tie that binds you to addictive behavior.

It may be challenging to identify when drinking has gotten out of control, despite how obvious it is when it affects the most important aspects of life—relationships, money, mental stability, health and happiness. When is it appropriate to look for help? For rehabilitation that's even imaginable, you must first identify your problem. Friends, coworkers, or family members may bring up your issues, but only you can assess yourself.

Drinking alcohol is popular among many people. From daily use to only special occasions, from social to binging, they differ from moderate to unhealthy use. Binge drinking and drinking too much alcohol can raise the risks of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD). Conditions encompassed within an AUD diagnosis include those associated with alcohol addiction, alcohol abuse, and alcohol dependence.