For some folks, the decision to abstain from alcohol is completely clear . . . there is simply no other alternative. But what about when an individual’s relationship with drinking isn’t as clear? According to author Ruby Warrington, being sober curious means “literally to choose, to question, or get curious about every impulse, invitation and … Read More
Are you someone who struggles with anxiety? According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 40 million people in the US, over the age of 18, have a diagnosable anxiety disorder. Treatment for anxiety is available, and one way to support recovery from anxiety is to pay attention to how you can support your … Read More
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can increase an adult’s likelihood of poor mental and physical health outcomes later in life. The other side of the ‘ACEs coin’ is Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), which can lead to improved mental health and healthier relationships throughout childhood as well as into adulthood. In 2019, Christina Bethell, et al. studied … Read More
Change is hard. So hard that in the 1980s, Carlo C. DiClemente and J.O. Prochaska began making personal observations of the clients they treated for alcohol addiction. They noticed that people go through stages of behavioral change as they address their alcohol and substance misuse. This “Stages of Change Model” continues to be used in … Read More
Healthy connection is an important part of sustainable recovery. One way we can connect to others is by reading about personal experiences in the media. The New York Times has compiled a list of recovery memoirs, told from different perspectives, about substance use and journeys of recovery. Their stories are educational and informative for friends … Read More
Physical abstinence from alcohol and other drugs is one of the first steps on the road to wellness, but emotional sobriety, the ability to regulate emotions without external sources, is what allows for true freedom. This article tells us that “the essence of emotional sobriety is good self-regulation.” Emotional sobriety allows us to self-regulate without … Read More
On occasion, we’ll hear someone in recovery introduce themselves as a “grateful alcoholic.” For some, this is a recognition that their struggles to overcome substance use have granted them a new view on life, which may not have otherwise been seen. Today, this unexpected gift of wisdom provides an opportunity to help ourselves and others … Read More
During times of uncertainty and stress, it’s normal to feel increased anxiety. For those in recovery, this can translate to increased cravings and potentially to relapse. So, how do you protect your sobriety during a time of unprecedented global uncertainty? Harvard Health has some great suggestions.
One of the most powerful lessons of recovery is discovering that once you’re on the right path, there’s no place you can’t go. In most cases, that lesson is a metaphor. But one Bayside Marin alumnus took the concept a bit more literally. Darren D., who completed treatment at Bayside Marin more than a decade … Read More
Friends of Bayside Marin may have noticed a few familiar sights during the season four finale of VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood, which aired Oct. 17. Part of the show focused on the progress of Teairra Mari, the singer-songwriter and actress who had entered rehab at Bayside Marin following an intervention that was featured … Read More
