The Walker Center — Blog posts

It’s Alcohol Awareness Month - Discover Free Resources To Support You And Your Family

recovery

What is EMDR Therapy? A Comprehensive Guide

What is EMDR Therapy? A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating the world of therapy can sometimes feel like wandering through a maze with a multitude of turns and decisions. Among the various therapeutic approaches, EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing stands out, particularly for individuals grappling with traumatic experiences. But what exactly is EMDR, and how does it function? Let’s delve into the details.

5 Ways to Help A Loved One During a Panic Attack 

5 Ways to Help A Loved One During a Panic Attack 

Did you know? Panic attacks and anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health challenges with studies showing that an estimated 13% of people will experience a panic attack at some point in their life. Despite their prevalence, it can be difficult to know how to respond to a friend or loved one who is experiencing a sudden and unpredictable onset of panic.

How to Discuss Addiction Treatment With Your Employer

How to Discuss Addiction Treatment With Your Employer

Seeking treatment for a substance use disorder is a life-changing decision and for many people in recovery, the choice to get professional help holds the key to getting their life back on track. Nevertheless, addiction treatment is a considerable commitment, especially for those in need of assistance from an inpatient program.

What are Relapse Dreams? 3 Things You Should Know

What are Relapse Dreams? 3 Things You Should Know

It’s no secret that getting quality sleep has a major impact on our overall health and well-being, but for people in recovery, falling asleep may not always be as relaxing as it sounds. Relapse dreams can be a common occurrence for both those progressing through addiction treatment and those maintaining their sobriety, but what are relapse dreams and what do they mean for your recovery?

College Students and Drinking: Is Your Child Hiding Their Alcohol Abuse? 

College Students and Drinking: Is Your Child Hiding Their Alcohol Abuse? 

As young adults entering a strange new world, college students face a variety of unique challenges that can feel both exciting and nerve-racking. In search of ways to cope with their new surroundings, many students resort to drinking as a way to fit in with their peers, manage stress, and lower inhibitions.

Living Substance Free: How to Cope With Boredom in Recovery

Living Substance Free: How to Cope With Boredom in Recovery

Boredom is a normal human experience, but it can be a formidable threat for people in addiction recovery. Feelings of boredom can increase the risk of substitute addictions, hazardous decisions, and relapse, especially for those in the early stages of adopting a sober lifestyle.

4 Common Misconceptions About Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment

4 Common Misconceptions About Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment

It’s no myth that getting sober is a transformative and tremendous accomplishment. An inpatient residential treatment program can offer you a way to ease into your recovery by removing external distractions and encouraging you to engage in healing therapies like mental health counseling, with 24/7 access to your treatment support team.

How to Manage Job Stress in Recovery: 6 Helpful Strategies

How to Manage Job Stress in Recovery: 6 Helpful Strategies

Most workplaces come with a special blend of stressors and responsibilities, but if your stress is having an impact on your ability to maintain your sobriety and mental health, it’s important to find realistic coping mechanisms to combat the pressure rather than rely on drugs or alcohol. Discover how to manage job stress without resorting to substances. Here are 6 helpful strategies to improve your workplace well-being.

7 Things to Do When a Loved One Relapses

7 Things to Do When a Loved One Relapses

Addiction is a chronic disease and studies show that 40-60% of people with a substance use disorder will face a relapse at some point. Managing a loved one’s relapse in recovery can be an arduous and emotionally taxing experience, but your support is critical to helping them get through it. Have you found yourself wondering what to do when a loved one relapses? Here are 7 things you can do to encourage them as they get their recovery back on track.

5 Ways a Sober Living Home Can Strengthen Your Recovery Goals

5 Ways a Sober Living Home Can Strengthen Your Recovery Goals

In the early stages of addiction recovery, it is not uncommon for the newly sober to discover their current living environment is creating a roadblock on their journey, as they may find themselves surrounded by distractions, stressors, and temptations that can usher in a relapse. In this post, we will explore the benefits of a sober living home, what you can expect from sober living requirements, and how changing your environment can radically encourage your recovery goals. Keep reading to learn more.

6 Addiction and Recovery Podcasts to Help Your Sobriety Thrive

6 Addiction and Recovery Podcasts to Help Your Sobriety Thrive

One of the hard truths of recovery is sticking with your decision to lead a sober lifestyle takes work. It isn’t a choice you make once, but rather one that you keep making time and time again. When the sobriety motivation starts to wane, having an arsenal of resources to support you can help you get through the tough moments without risking the progress you’ve already made. Grab your headphones and your favorite booze-free treat, here are 6 empowering recovery podcasts to keep you motivated on your path to sobriety.

How To Talk To Someone About Their Drug or Alcohol Use

How To Talk To Someone About Their Drug or Alcohol Use

Facing the realization that your friend or loved one has been abusing drugs or alcohol is a tough reality to face. You may have noticed signs that your friend or family member has been struggling with a private battle or recently discovered their problem. Opening a dialogue about their substance abuse is a process often plagued by feelings of guilt, self-blame, worry, and frustration, but providing your loved one with a safe and supportive foundation can help them recognize they need help and keep them committed to recovery. 

How to Find Friends As A Sober Adult

How to Find Friends As A Sober Adult

There is a lot of pain in realizing some relationships only value you as a drinking buddy and party friend, or that addiction may have harmed your most cherished connections. However, this realization can also guide you to friendships that value and accept you as you are on your current path. 

Making new friends as an adult may seem intimidating, but committing to this process can help you establish truly meaningful relationships and help you sustain a sober lifestyle. With this in mind, here are 4 ways to get started finding friends as a sober adult.

Starting The Year Off Right: Forgiving Yourself Through Mindfulness

Starting The Year Off Right: Forgiving Yourself Through Mindfulness

The new year is a time for taking a step back to ask yourself how things went. What our minds usually like to do is focus on the negative aspects. I didn't do X. I should have done Y. It's easy to get caught up in regret. However, it's not healthy. We must be kind and forgive ourselves. And one of the best ways to reflect positively is through the practice of mindfulness. But how can you use mindfulness to be more healthy, self-aware, and successful this year.

Here, we cover these topics and give you tools to tackle the new year head-on.

6 Ways to Support Your Sober Friends This Holiday Season

6 Ways to Support Your Sober Friends This Holiday Season

Over the holidays parties, family gatherings, get-togethers with friends, and enormous Christmas dinners come hand in hand. It can be easy to forget that the festive season is about spending time with those we love, not just hopping around from gathering to gathering.

This can pose particular challenges for people in recovery. Being surrounded by triggers and temptation leads to relapse. How can you support your friend or family member trying to recover during this time?

4 New Ways to Start the New Year Sober

4 New Ways to Start the New Year Sober

Do you have a hard time during the holiday season? This is often a time of year when family and friends spend time together, and cities are bustling with life, shopping, and all the seasonal merriment. 

The holidays also offer up a lot of tricky situations when we are at our most vulnerable. There may be triggers that come along with the end-of-the-year celebrations. The temptation to drink or use is heightened. With that in mind, here are four methods to help you start the new year sober or clean.

3 Root Factors That Make You Depressed Around Christmas Season

3 Root Factors That Make You Depressed Around Christmas Season

If the holiday season is said to be all about the festive mood, celebration, and cheer, then why do people feel depressed? Especially those people struggling with an addiction?

Today we look through the main reasons why you don’t feel jolly. We also give you suggestions on how to cope with those Christmas blues.

7 Ways You Can Support A Sober Spouse Over The Holidays

7 Ways You Can Support A Sober Spouse Over The Holidays

One in three Americans reports that substance addiction has affected their family. If this is the case for you too, you are probably asking yourself - how can I support my sober partner over the holiday season? While many people are excited about Christmas, others who are battling addiction often find this time of the year particularly stressful.

Here are 7 ways you can support your sober spouse over the holidays.

11 Steps to a Sober Holiday Season

11 Steps to a Sober Holiday Season

Whether you started your recovery journey recently or many years ago, the holiday season can be pretty challenging. It seems like society has conditioned us to think that celebration equals alcohol. And it is no surprise that many people find that triggering.

With that in mind, here’s 11 steps you can use to help you get through the holiday season sober 🤜

How to Avoid Seasonal-Affective Disorder as an Addict?

How to Avoid Seasonal-Affective Disorder as an Addict?

This time of year can be challenging, particularly for those suffering from addiction, as celebrations and holidays are often triggering for those in recovery. It can be even more difficult when suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. Here are some tips to help you cope.