Category: Addiction Advice

‘Dry people, dry places’ is an important concept early in recovery. The idea is simple: if you want to stay sober, stay away from people who drink and stay away from places that serve alcohol. This isn’t always convenient. You will probably have friends who still drink and you are probably used to spending time […]

There’s a saying in AA that ‘We’re only as sick as our secrets’. It’s not obvious that something like keeping secrets can be closely connected to addiction, but it’s true. Keeping secrets is a major impediment to recovery. That’s why steps four and five are so important. These steps are making a ‘searching and fearless […]

Addiction and food have a strange sort of relationship. It’s common for people who struggle with addiction to eat too much or too little. Often, the factors that lead to addiction also lead to a perverse relationship with food. People will often get sober only to discover several months later that they have gained a lot […]

Published June 2025. Recovery doesn’t stop when you leave treatment or finish a support group meeting, it’s a daily commitment. Thankfully, today’s technology offers powerful tools to help you stay on track. Whether you’re looking for peer support, motivational boosts, sharing milestones or structured routines, there’s an app to support your journey. Here are five […]

At the beginning, recovery can seem daunting. Basically, you’re saying that you will never again do this thing that you can’t seem to stop doing for even one day. Once you start detox, and feel the pain of withdrawal, you know it won’t be easy and there’s still a long way to go. It’s natural […]

Survivor’s guilt is a pitfall many people face in recovery. If you decide to get help, you still likely have friends and acquaintances who still use. If you get sober, you will likely become friends with others in recovery. Statistically, some of these people are likely to relapse, possibly with tragic results. It’s not uncommon […]

Gambling addiction is a serious problem. People who normally responsible get into all sorts of financial, and sometimes, legal trouble when their gambling gets out of control. In recent years, researchers have discovered that gambling addiction is similar to drug addiction in several significant ways. The most important is probably the dopamine produced in the […]

For most people, video games are a harmless diversion. They play for an hour to two when they don’t have anything else to do or to relax at the end of the day. As with anything though, spending too much time playing video games can negatively affect your life. There are some reliable signs that […]

If you gamble regularly, the question, ‘Why is gambling addictive?’ probably seems absurd. Gambling is addictive because it’s fun and exciting. But plenty of things are fun and exciting without being addictive. What is it about gambling that is so compelling that otherwise responsible people will spend all their savings then steal money to gamble […]

Sharing your experiences with addiction and recovery is a cornerstone of 12 Step programmes. It allows you to tell others your story and let them know they aren’t alone. It helps you get clarity on your challenges and applause for your victories. It keeps you honest when your thinking goes astray. It can also be […]

Sharing at meetings is an important part of recovery. Sharing makes you feel more like part of the group, creating a sense of mutual support. It allows you to get feedback on your problems so you don’t get lost in delusional thinking. It helps you feel better and get some clarity on your problems. Sharing […]