The Reckoning: Facing My PastI am now over 7 years into my opioid use disorder recovery journey. This is my new life. Just when I thought...reactions2comments
Setting Boundaries in Recovery - Even if it’s from FamilyThere is a part of the recovery process that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough - the part where your healing disrupts...reactionscomments
How to Recognize an Overdose and What to Do NextThis work is deeply personal to me. I do it in memory of my friend Teah, who might still be here today...reactionscomments
Tough Love Broke Me, But Love Helped Me HealYou can’t bully a person living with opioid use disorder into choosing recovery. In my case, certain family members went the “tough...reactionscomments
Making Amends with the Person in the Mirror: Forgiving Your Past SelfRecovery is often described as a process of rebuilding relationships. Repairing trust. Making amends. Taking responsibility for the harm addiction caused. Those...reactionscomments
Same Struggles, Different Intentions: Choose Your Circle CarefullyWeak moments are a part of recovery. It doesn’t matter if you’re days, months, or years into your journey. There will always...reactionscomments
How to Practice Safe Medication DisposalToday, more people are aware that old and unused drugs can be dangerous to keep around the house. Leftover drugs may be...reactionscomments
The Life-Saving Mission of National Fentanyl Awareness DayCharlie Ternan was a bright young college senior who died after taking what he believed was a legitimate prescription pill. It was...reactionscomments
Navigating the Shame of a Return to UseLiving with opioid use disorder and having a return to use can feel devastating in so many ways. You may fear losing...reactionscomments
Ask the Advocates: International Overdose Awareness DayEditor's Note: This article discusses overdose and its impacts, which may be distressing for some readers. If you need support, please reach...reactionscomments
When Numbing Turns to Drowning: How Opioids Amplified My Trauma Instead of Healing ItEditor's Note: This article discusses overdose and its impacts, which may be distressing for some readers. If you need support, please reach...reactions2comments
There is Power in the RebuildI, unfortunately, dismantled my life with my opioid use disorder. Since surrendering to the recovery process, I have been able to rebuild...reactionscomments
What I Wish I Knew Before Starting OUD TreatmentStarting treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) can be one of the scariest endeavors in the recovery process. Although each year hundreds...reactionscomments
Myths and Misconceptions of Opioid Use DisorderOpioid use disorder (OUD) affects millions of people worldwide. Unfortunately, myths and misconceptions about OUD can negatively impact people living with OUD...reactions5comments
You Can Choose Recovery For Someone Other Than YourselfIn my experiences battling opioid use disorder, I have been told, "You cannot stop using for anybody but yourself.” It is widely...reactions2comments
The Art and Science of Treating OUD: A Whole-Person ApproachTreating opioid use disorder (OUD) is like uncovering a gemstone. Detoxification is the first step—dusting off the stone to reveal its potential...reactionscomments
Breaking the Stigma: Supporting Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder Without JudgmentDespite growing awareness of the opioid overdose crisis, stigma remains a significant barrier to recovery. Individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) often...reactions2comments
When the Chaos Clears: Coping with Boredom in Middle RecoveryMost conversations about recovery focus on the beginning: detox, cravings, white-knuckling through the first weeks without the substance that once controlled everything...reactionscomments
Bridging the Divide: Chronic Pain, Addiction, and the Compassion We All DeserveThere’s a tension in medicine that many people feel but few want to talk about: the strained relationship between chronic pain patients...reactionscomments
Hypervigilance in RecoveryI am safer now than I have ever been in my existence. Yet somehow, I’m considerably more anxiety-ridden than ever before. Recovery...reactionscomments
