Is it difficult to transform from someone who constantly worries into someone who takes things a day at a time? Absolutely. But it’s so incredibly worth it. According to Psychology Today, “Mindful people are happier, more exuberant, more empathetic, and more secure. They have higher self-esteem and are more accepting of their own weaknesses. Anchoring awareness in the here and now reduces the kinds of impulsivity and reactivity that underlie depression, binge eating, and attention problems.
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Like writing, cooking is incredibly therapeutic to me. When I’m cooking, my mind is focused on the task at hand; not on the little—and not so little—life problems that bring stress to my world. I feel at peace in the kitchen. It’s my happy place and my sanctuary. There’s no doubt that cooking has been a key ingredient in my recipe for recovery from my son’s addiction.
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As a parent, you tend to replay things you did in the past and wonder if you could have—or should have—done them differently. Inevitably you’ll find yourself second-guessing yourself. But you can’t let the crystal clear vision of hindsight bring you down. You did what you thought was best at the time, and if you come to the conclusion that you didn’t do certain things exactly right? You have to let it go. You’re a human being, and human beings make mistakes.
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Of my son’s multiple rehab visits, all but one were relatively local. By local, I mean within the …
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From my experience, it’s becoming commonplace to find young people in their twenties—or even late teens—who have been in recovery for two, three, or even more years. Still others have simply chosen to live a sober lifestyle. All of these brave young adults have taken a stand and are not afraid of how others may judge them. And they deserve support.
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As part of the Heroes in Recovery Lead Advocate Training Winter Summit, the 2015 Heroes in Recovery lead advocates recently visited The Next Door, a nonprofit residential addiction treatment facility for women in downtown Nashville. The purpose of their visit was simple: To perform an act of community service by serving dinner to the residents. But the rewards were bountiful.
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