At St. Gregory Recovery Center, we believe in a holistic and compassionate approach to substance use, substance dependence, and addiction/substance use disorder (SUD). Part of having compassion for someone who suffers from SUD is understanding what it is, how it
If the word therapy sends you running for the hills, you’re not alone. At St. Gregory Recovery Center, we understand why many people feel hesitant to begin therapy. It’s intimidating to be vulnerable with a stranger, even when that person
If you are in addiction recovery and looking for ways to give back to your community and find work that supports your sobriety, you might consider becoming an addiction counselor. How Addiction Counseling Gives Back The role of an addiction
If your loved one suffers from a substance use disorder, you know how hard it can be to try to care for them. All too often, loved ones of those who have an addiction get overwhelmed by worry, frustration, and
Transitions can be challenging, but they also present opportunities to reflect and even celebrate. The New Year is a transition we all experience every January when the calendar changes and we have to remember to write a new date on
If you are struggling with substance use and thinking about getting help, don’t let the holiday season delay your treatment. Even though it might seem selfish or wrong to skip out on all of the family activities in December so
As the holiday season continues its march through the next month, it can bring with it excitement and energy. If you’re in addiction recovery, you might find that the break in routine and the extra time with family is a
As we approach the season of gift-buying and giving, the financial burden can feel a little overwhelming depending on the size of your family and friend group and their expectations. Even though it’s fun to exchange gifts, gift-giving can easily
It’s a beautiful time of year, as October comes to a colorful end and November brings shorter days and the welcome break of Thanksgiving. Whether you look forward to the holiday or not will depend on many things: your work
Everyone deserves love and mutual support, whether or not they’re recovering from a substance use disorder. However, when it comes to intimate relationships, it’s important to understand that not everyone will be comfortable dating someone in recovery. That stance should
Iowa State is filled with culture, delicious food, and one of the highest numbers of motorcycle owners in the country. Iowa is nicknamed the Hawkeye State–called so after the legendary character from Last of The Mohicans, a novel from the
Effective Sober Coping Strategies in Recovery Coping with stressful circumstances is a psychological and emotional skill. If you are in addiction recovery, you’re aware that using substances was your way of coping with environmental, emotional, physical, and psychological challenges. Now
Core Christian values could be widely disputed, but it’s probably safe to say that the foundation of Christianity is based on loving God—a higher power—and loving others as you love yourself. Forgiveness is also an essential aspect of Christianity; the
From a mental health perspective, a toxic relationship is any type of sustained interaction with someone that leaves you feeling poorly understood, taken for granted, attacked, unsupported, or looked down upon. Because so much negativity is produced by toxic relationships,
While completing St. Gregory’s addiction treatment program is an awesome achievement, sustaining your sobriety relies on community engagement for the best outcome. That’s why we specialize in bolstering your success with our intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) that include—but aren’t limited
When it comes to barriers to success and recovery, women face more of them than men. But that doesn’t mean recovery isn’t possible. It may mean that women have to work a little harder in some areas and, like anyone
As meditation has become more widely taught and practiced in the U.S. over the last decade, it has become a valued tool for addiction recovery. When cravings for drugs or alcohol arise, or when stress starts to overwhelm, meditation provides
Every September, National Recovery Month celebrates everyone who is in recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs) and mental health disorders. This month is a time for the discovery and promotion of innovative scientific advances in addiction treatment approaches—along with the
Americans across the nation are dealing with a spike in the number of overdose-induced deaths. According to the CDC, we’ve seen a 16% increase from 2020 to 2021, and in 2021, over 75% of drug overdose deaths were linked to
When people enter addiction recovery, they often come face to face with feelings and memories they were using substances to avoid. And because addiction is a disease in which the substance/s hijack the brain, people in active addiction can find
Is Addiction a Mental Problem or a Spiritual Problem? Addiction is a mental disease marked by compulsive drug-seeking and self-destructive behavior. It has nothing to do with lack of self-control or moral failing. You may have made poor choices that
While alcohol and heroin are two of the most commonly abused substances, several other substances, both legal and illicit, can lead to addiction. We review below seven substances that can cause addiction and that often require professional treatment to stop
Forgiveness is a loaded word. It has religious connotations and is associated with words like sin and repentance, both of which can feel problematic for many people. No one can tell you to forgive someone who has hurt you. Only
According to Dr. Daniel Sumrok, director of the Center for Addiction Sciences at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Medicine, addiction should not be called addiction. It should be called “ritualized compulsive comfort-seeking.” Why? Because, he believes,
The term “compassion fatigue” has traditionally been associated with healthcare professionals, particularly those who regularly work with patients who have experienced mental or physical trauma. Over time, caring for these patients can burden the caregiver, causing exhaustion, mood swings, and
It’s a normal experience to see alcohol used in excess, especially in times of celebration, relaxation, and socialization. However, excessive alcohol consumption, including binge drinking, can lead to a range of negative health effects. What is Binge Drinking? Binge drinking
People who always respond to your expressions of worry or struggle with “think positive!” can be more than a little annoying. In fact, there’s a new phrase that describes this tendency to suppress or minimize painful emotions in yourself or
Recovery from addiction is a lifelong process. Sometimes it feels like hard work, conquering cravings one day at a time, and other times it can feel beautifully easy. But when it’s hard, it’s hard, and a slip or relapse can
In traditional 12-step addiction recovery models, a sponsor is a person who has completed the steps and has achieved a level of sobriety where they no longer feel compelled to consume alcohol or drugs. They’re also usually stable in their
Although it’s relatively common to see celebrities and big names in the entertainment industry check in to rehabilitation centers around the country, is Hollywood the only industry with a high rate of substance abuse disorders? It’s a good question, and
At St. Gregory Recovery Center in Iowa, we believe that the values of honesty, competence, perseverance, passion, respect, and teamwork all culminate to create the life skills you need to thrive after graduating from our Recovery Program. When you work
It can be frustrating to have a loved one who is clearly showing signs of drug or alcohol addiction yet refusing to get the help they need. You may have exhausted yourself from emotional battles with your loved one that
Despite the fact that substance use disorders are, very simply, a chronic medical condition, the stigma that surrounds addiction is powerful and can hinder treatment. Studies demonstrate that stigma can actually prevent people from understanding how to get better. Stigma
Have you or a loved one recently been considering entering treatment for Xanax use disorder? Perhaps you’ve recently seen a medical professional for your mental health, and they’ve prescribed you this popular drug. While it can provide very helpful short-term
Some people consider themselves “spiritual” while others do not. But spirituality in its broadest sense–the search for connection to something greater than ourselves and/or the search for meaning in our lives–plays a role in all of our lives. In the
It’s March, and it’s action-packed: Women’s History Month, Disability Awareness Month—National Reading Month! It’s also the month of a famous holiday filled with pride (and drinking): St. Patrick’s Day. The nature of this Irish American holiday is clear to everyone
Drug or alcohol addiction rarely results from an easily identifiable root cause. Factors playing a role in addiction can include genetics, epigenetics, neurobiology, psychology, cognition, and environment. But regardless of what leads a person to develop substance dependence and addiction,
In December of 2022, The New York Times republished an article about a large group of people that is ignored in the addiction recovery context: senior citizens. Nearly a million people 65 and up struggle with opioid and alcohol abuse—and
When someone becomes physically dependent on a drug—whether it be a prescription drug, an opioid, marijuana, alcohol, or club drugs—reducing consumption of that substance or quitting it altogether can cause uncomfortable or medically significant adverse effects. These effects are called
Many doctors report that their patients feel attacked or harmed by the labels that family, friends, and society assign to them in addiction recovery. Words like “addict” tend to make people with substance use disorder feel reduced and diminished. The
Hitting rock bottom means different things to different people. For some, it’s losing a relationship, a job, a home, or a beloved possession. For others, hitting rock bottom entails losing access to a privilege, such as driving or traveling—or the
You are probably familiar with the expression “forgive and forget” –or perhaps more so with its variation, “forgive but never forget.” Whether forgetfulness should be paired with forgiveness or not, the truth is that forgiveness is important for our health
Before entering an addiction recovery program, you may learn that the program consists of both individual and group therapy. If you haven’t participated in it before, you may wonder what to expect. What will you “have” to talk about in
St. Gregory Recovery Center is proud to present a new therapeutic program for residents: equine therapy. Since its official inception in the West in the late 1940s, equine therapy has gained increasing popularity. People suffering from a variety of substance
Participating in any holiday during a recovery journey to sobriety can require some complex navigation. If you’re feeling nervous when it comes to planning your Thanksgiving this year, know that you’re not alone. Many people recovering from substance abuse disorder
Iowa is one of the most proactive states in the country when it comes to preventing and treating addiction. For most of its residents, Iowa recognizes and readily provides substance abuse treatment and support in over 125 treatment centers. But
It’s always a little awkward to have to tell someone older than yourself a hard truth. Maybe a young employee has to train an older newcomer. Maybe a teacher has adult students older than herself. Or maybe a teenage or
While some may view having a brain as a blessing, others see it as a curse that leads to overthinking, unhappiness, and poor learned behaviors. Philosophy about consciousness and self-awareness aside, everyone has a brain, and everyone needs to keep
When we think about mental health treatment, the word “prescription” may come to mind. Doctors often prescribe antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, and other medications to help stabilize a patient’s mental health. This is called a “prescriptive approach,” one that involves diagnosis,
For some people, trading in one evil for a lesser one makes sense. For example, a person who quits using marijuana might compulsively engage in online shopping or late-night snacking instead. Or maybe someone finally breaks a heroin addiction only