In this follow-up post, we are going to consider even more apps, including some that can support your financial health and others that can help you strengthen your relationships. 

As a reminder, this is all built around the notion that, while it is true that there are downsides to spending too much time using a smartphone for various purposes, there are also resources that can be truly helpful as your recovery journey unfurls. Those are the sorts of resources we have been collecting in these entries.

Apps to Support Your Financial Health

Money can be a stressor in anyone’s life—and certainly in the life of a person in recovery from a substance use disorder. In a previous post, we wrote about the importance of managing your money well in recovery. After all, issues related to money can be major stressors, and adding stress to your life can be detrimental to your efforts to leave drugs and alcohol in the past. Here are some apps that can help you make sense of money matters.

• Goodbudget: This app builds on the idea of budgeting by dividing up your money and placing it in specific envelopes for specific purposes. You can create a digital version of that system in Goodbudget, creating categories like rent/house payment, utilities, groceries, entertainment, and more. The free option can get you started and provides a window into your spending that can help you make good ongoing decisions.

• Rocket Money: There is a good chance you have seen ads for this app. Often, they highlight the app’s ability to help you identify recurring subscriptions you have been paying for—perhaps without realizing it—and make it easy to cancel them. The free version also lets you view your bills and monitor your spending.

• EveryDollar: In this app, you can manually assign your income to a detailed budgeting app. The free version can get you started—and may be sufficient for most users—while the paid version lets you auto-sync the app to your bank accounts to help you monitor your spending.

Apps to Support Relationships and Social Health

Maintaining strong relationships is important in life—including for those who are in recovery. A substance use disorder may have upended some of your relationships, and these apps can help you rebuild trust and create new, lasting, and mutually supportive connections. They can be a wonderful alternative to social media sites that often threaten to do an individual more harm than good.

• ShareWell: This app offers live, free emotional support groups that address a range of topics, including recovery. The peer-support platform also has groups that gather virtually to discuss issues like trauma, anxiety, ADHD, and grief.

• Band: Because everyone is so busy all of the time, it can be hard to keep a group of folks together. Band seeks to address that problem. It is a group communication app that can be great for friend and family groups, teams and clubs, and, yes, even bands. Inside the app, you can share calendars, posts, chats, and files with your group of like-minded people.

• Lovewick: An app for building stronger connections, Lovewick uses questions, discovery prompts, and shared wish lists to help users engage in meaningful conversation and to enjoy shared experiences. 

Apps that Apply to Your Recovery

We would be remiss if we did not note the benefits of the CaredFor App, a secure, online platform that keeps Farley Center alumni connected while also allowing for ongoing support from our team. CaredFor includes a personalized dashboard that lets you track your time in recovery, keep a gratitude journal, join a range of wellness challenges, and more.

We Have the Aptitude to Help You with a Substance Use Disorder

Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, The Farley Center is a beacon of hope for those who are struggling with drugs or alcohol. Our recovery approach, which is highly personalized to each individual we serve, includes group therapy, individual therapy, a relapse prevention program, and 12-Step support groups. 

Because each individual’s needs are unique, we offer a variety of services to effectively address substance use disorders. For example, we provide comprehensive, medically supervised detoxification services. We offer both a residential setting for substance use disorder treatment as well as a partial hospitalization program and an intensive outpatient program. We even offer a telehealth virtual intensive outpatient program.

Whatever your substance use situation, we are able to due to our evidence-based approach grounded in our high levels of expertise, years of experience, and spirit of empathy. If you are ready to make a lasting change for the better, we are ready to help you reach your important goals so that you can reclaim your life and build a positive future.

The post Some Apps You Are Apt to Find Helpful in Recovery: Part Two appeared first on Farley Center.

The Olympics always offer up plenty of inspiring stories of individuals and teams overcoming the odds to accomplish something extraordinary. From our point of view, the Olympics can also provide plenty of inspiration for those who are in recovery from a substance use disorder. While recovery is no game, the Olympic Games shine a spotlight on some ideas that can be useful to those working to leave drugs or alcohol in the past.

Let’s take a look at some gold medal-worthy concepts that can be applied to your recovery.

You Should Always Believe in Yourself

In recovery, it can be all too easy to start to doubt yourself and your ability to move forward without drugs or alcohol in your life. Everyone—including world-class athletes—experiences self-doubt from time to time.

But Olympians remind us of the power of believing in yourself and pushing through the difficulties when doubts creep in. Making a choice to believe in yourself can help you overcome challenges that will almost certainly arise in recovery. One powerful way to bolster your belief in yourself is to repeat affirmations to yourself on a regular basis. It is a great way to make sure your inner voice is cheering you on rather than holding you back.

Setbacks Are a Reality but Not a Finality

You see a lot of joy at the Olympics when athletes do as well—or even better—than they were expected to do. But you also see a lot of tears and frustration from competitors who don’t reach their goals. In the end, however, the Olympics often remind us that setbacks are part of the process and success is always worth pursuing.

That is certainly true when it comes to your recovery. If you experience a setback—even a setback as serious as a relapse—it can be tempting to give up. A disappointment in recovery can make you feel as though you cannot possibly find ongoing success in your efforts to leave substances behind. But a setback is not the end of your story. When something goes wrong, it is time to get back to work (and back to treatment) to work toward making it right.

So Many People Are Rooting for You

While Olympic fans tend to root for the athletes who represent their home country, it is undeniable that folks from all over the world also cheer for athletes from near and far. A great athletic feat, an inspiring comeback, or a winning personality can endear an athlete to people no matter where they live or what flag they wave. And it is quite common to see athletes from different countries showing love and support for one another.

Something similar is true in recovery, too. When you have made the important choice to pursue a lasting recovery, all kinds of people in your life will be rooting for you to have success. It can be easy to forget that—just like it can be easy for an athlete to listen to the haters instead of the enthusiastic fans. But if you can remember to connect with those who offer you unconditional support, you will be firming up the foundations of your recovery.

As for the people who don’t support you for one reason or another? You should leave them behind. You don’t need their negative energy as you work toward your goals.

Success Can Look Different to Different People

For some people, simply making it to the Olympics is the greatest accomplishment of their career. For others, making it onto the podium to win a bronze or silver medal represents their personal best. And for others, the gold medal is attainable—but not necessarily over and over or in every event. Success can look different to different people even as participating in the Olympics binds them all together.

Recovery, of course, is not a competition at all. And that means there are lots of different ways to achieve personal success. The thing that binds people in recovery together is their shared commitment to trying to live free from the influence of drugs or alcohol. Beyond that, how you define success for yourself is up to you.

We Offer Gold Medal Care

At The Farley Center, located in Williamsburg, Virginia, we provide exceptional personalized care to people who are struggling with drugs or alcohol. We offer medically supervised detoxification and a robust rehabilitation program that helps prepare you to get your recovery journey underway with confidence. We also provide an alumni program that keeps you connected with others who understand the twists and turns of recovery and with the experts at The Farley Center who can provide ongoing resources and support. If you are ready to get to work reclaiming your life from drugs or alcohol, we are ready to help.

The post Recovery Lessons From the Olympics appeared first on Farley Center.

Smartphones are the cause of mental health problems.

Smartphones are the cause of the disconnection so many people feel.

Smartphones are the cause of our ever-shortening attention spans.

When someone talks like that, they are using the general term “smartphones” as a stand-in for something more specific. Often, but not always, that more specific thing is social media.

To be honest, we think some of those concerns about social media and other aspects of living life tethered to your phone are valid—and we certainly believe there are healthier and more helpful hobbies than scrolling on your phone. But we also think that you can use your phone in positive ways to support your ongoing recovery from a substance use disorder.

In just the same way you can use a hammer to build something or to smash something, you can use your phone to lift you up rather than to knock you down.

Before we jump in, a quick disclaimer: We are not endorsing any of the following apps. Rather, we are suggesting some options for you to explore and consider. The most important question you might ask yourself about any app you add to your phone is whether it is likely to have a positive or a negative effect on your recovery efforts—and the answer will be different for different people.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some apps that can be useful in recovery. 

Apps to Support Your Physical Health

We have written frequently about the important role your physical health plays in your recovery efforts. With that in mind, we offer a few suggestions for apps that can help you work toward your goals when it comes to maintaining your physical well-being.

• FitOn: This app offers a whole range of workouts of varying types and intensity guided by instructors (including some celebrity guides)—and it is free. Because there is no cost to get started, this app might be a wonderful place to try different options as you search for a kind of exercise you enjoy and can stick with. The app also includes other wellness content.

• Nike Training Club (NTC): Some of the content in Nike’s app appears similar to what you might find in FitOn—including a significant array of options. We will note that Nike is in the business of selling you footwear and more, so proceed with your eyes open.

• Samsung Health: If you are a Samsung user, you may well already have a quality physical health app on your phone. Samsung Health tracks your steps and allows you to enter other workout data. You can use it to keep track of calories and sleep statistics and more. Sometimes, a simple reminder that you haven’t taken many steps today can be a good motivator.

Apps to Support Your Mental and Emotional Health

• Happyfeed (becoming Orca): Happyfeed—which may be known as Orca by the time you read this—is fundamentally an app for gratitude journaling. Users enter three things they are grateful for each day. The app lets you look back on memories, add pictures to your entries, and more.

• Cope Notes: This app sends you short, encouraging messages throughout the day—a way to introduce affirmations into your life even if your self-talk does not tend to be so encouraging.

• Moodfit: The Moodfit app can help you track a whole bunch of things that have an impact on your mental health including (as the name suggests) your mood. You can set up custom metrics and track your progress over time.

• BetterSleep: An app for better sleep could just as easily appeared in the physical health section of this post because sleep underpins your overall well-being. BetterSleep includes breathing exercises, guided meditation, soundscapes, and bedtime stories that can help you get more—and more restful—sleep.

More App Suggestions Next Time Out

In our next entry, we’ll consider some apps that can help you keep your finances in order and others that can support your relationship and overall social health. Keeping money worries to a minimum and building strong, supportive relationships are two important things you can do to support your recovery.

We Are Ready to Apply Our Expertise to Help You

At The Farley Center, located in Williamsburg, Virginia, we help those who are struggling with a substance use disorder. Getting free from drugs or alcohol can be devilishly difficult on your own, so high-quality treatment—like the treatment on offer at The Farley Center—is the best option for reclaiming and rebuilding your life.

Whether you choose inpatient, outpatient, or virtual treatment options, you can be assured that you will receive exceptional, evidence-based treatment that is personalized to your specific needs. We take pride in our expertise and experience—and we are committed to a spirit of empathy that ensures you will never feel judged at The Farley Center.

Ready to make a change? We are ready to help.

The post Some Apps You Are Apt to Find Helpful in Recovery: Part One appeared first on Farley Center.

And if sitcoms themselves do not seem like founts of wisdom, it might seem even less likely that there would be lessons to be learned from sitcom theme songs. But some of the classics of the genre do, in fact, provide pearls of wisdom—and that wisdom can be applied to the recovery journey.

Ready to sing along? Let’s look at some famous theme songs and how they might be relevant to your ongoing recovery from a substance use disorder.

The Importance of Friendship in Recovery

There are not too many sitcoms as iconic as Cheers and Friends. And while we admit that Cheers, a show set in a bar, might seem like an odd choice for seeking out recovery advice, the theme songs to both of these classic shows remind us how important friendship really is.

Let’s start with Cheers. Here’s the chorus from the theme song:

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name
And they’re always glad you came
You want to be where you can see
Our troubles are all the same
You want to be where everybody knows your name

We would suggest that this memorable chorus highlights just what is on offer at 12-Step or other recovery meetings. Sure, in some of those meetings, you might only reveal your first name, but it is a community nonetheless—one in which you receive and provide mutual support based on your shared experiences. 

The chorus from the Friends theme song offers up a similar message:

I’ll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I’ll be there for you
(Like I’ve been there before)
I’ll be there for you
(‘Cause you’re there for me too)

Your support network is one of the most important pillars of your recovery efforts. True friends who stand by you no matter what can help see you through difficult moments and keep loneliness at bay. You and recovery benefit from having close friends—and from being a good friend, too.

You Can’t Get Ahead of Yourself in Recovery

One Day at a Time has graced television screens twice over the years—once from the mid-1970s through the mid-1980s and a reimagined version from 2017 to 2020. The theme song—though performed in different styles—featured the same lyrics for both versions. Those lyrics reinforced the idea that we are all getting through life…well…one day at a time:

This is it. 
This is life, the one you get 
So go and have a ball. 

This is it. 
Straight ahead and rest assured 
You can’t be sure at all. 

So while you’re here enjoy the view 
Keep on doing what you do 
Hold on tight. We’ll muddle through 
One day at a time. 

So up on your feet. 
Somewhere there’s music playing. 
Don’t you worry none 
We’ll just take it like it comes. 

One day at a time!

We mentioned 12-Step programs above, and this theme song reminds us of some advice from Living Sober, the Alcoholics Anonymous guidebook:

Although we realize that alcoholism is a permanent, irreversible condition, our experience has taught us to make no long-term promises about staying sober. We have found it more realistic—and more successful—to say, ‘I am not taking a drink just for today.’ Even if we drank yesterday, we could plan not to drink today. We may drink tomorrow—who knows whether we’ll even be alive then?—but for these 24 hours, we decide not to drink. No matter what the temptation or provocation, we determine to go to any extremes necessary to avoid a drink today.

The One Day at a Time theme song makes this same point in a much catchier way. It is an important one to keep in mind as you work to maintain your recovery.

Facts Are Persistent in Recovery

The young women attending Eastland School and their housemother were the main characters of the 1980s classic sitcom The Facts of Life. The theme song is undeniably an earworm—but it also is relevant to recovery.

You take the good
You take the bad
You take them both and there you have the facts of life
The facts of life

There’s a time you got to go
And show you’re growin’
Now you know about the facts of life
The facts of life

When the world never seems
To be living up to your dreams
Then suddenly you’re finding out
The facts of life are all about you

The fact is that the recovery journey is going to have ups and downs, and a person working to leave drugs or alcohol in the past is going to have to successfully deal with both. That process involves growth—and a willingness to work your way through tough times. 

We Are Here to Help

At The Farley Center—located in Williamsburg, Virginia—we provide personalized treatment for individuals struggling with a substance use disorder. If you’re ready to make a change, we’re here to help.

The post Sitcom Theme Songs Offer Recovery Advice. No, really. appeared first on Farley Center.

You are probably also aware that high levels of stress can have a negative effect on your physical health and your mental health—and if you are a person in recovery from a substance use disorder, it can also put your recovery at risk. Given those facts, it seems quite clear that you need to develop a set of strategies and actions that can help you keep your stress levels under control. 

We have a few ideas to get you started in your efforts to stress less and protect your recovery.

Clean Up a Mess

You have probably had a moment (maybe many, many moments) when you could not find something you need—your car keys, for example—due to excess clutter in the space where you generally leave the item. Not being able to locate something in a messy environment can trigger an increase in your stress levels.

On the other hand, straightening up can help reduce the stress you experience. That is true for a few reasons. First, a tidier space is more conducive to calm feelings. Also, the act of tossing out the junk mail or folding the laundry or what have you can give you a quick win that feels good. And, of course, reducing clutter can reduce the amount of time you spend racing around looking for lost items.

Establish a Budget

Money is a big stressor for many people. One way to handle that stress is to create—and work to stick to—a budget. Having a budget can take a lot of the guesswork out of your spending and make it more likely that you will have the funds you need when an emergency arises.

The process is fairly simple: Write down all the money you have coming in each month. This will likely primarily be your salary or your hourly wage. Then total up your monthly expenses. In an ideal world, your income would exceed your expenses. If it does not, some changes may be in order. 

The good news is that having a clear picture of your finances not only enables you to make decisions that can lead to positive change, but it also takes the stress of financial uncertainty out of play.

Schedule Your Breaks

Many people are quite bad at taking breaks. Maybe you are among them. Do you find yourself eating lunch at your desk? Powering through chores all weekend long? Scheduling all of your many activities on top of one another so you barely have time to switch between them?

All of those things add to your stress load. That is why it is an excellent idea to put breaks right into your daily schedule. After all, your schedule is where you put all your important responsibilities, and you should count take a break among those key activities. Not only will it reduce your stress, but it will also make you more productive. That is certainly a win-win situation.

Take Up a Hobby

Spending regular and quality time engaged in a hobby you enjoy is an excellent way to combat stress in your life. When you are caught up in something you love to do, you give yourself a chance to recharge and relax—two things many people do not do nearly enough of.

Just like we suggested, you need to put your breaks into your daily schedule; we also think that is a great idea for your hobby, too. Again, you need to remind yourself that taking time for yourself is of equal (sometimes greater) importance to the other things on your long to-do list. 

The great news here is that really any hobby will do as a way to address stress as long as you find it engaging. Build a collection. Read your way through a series of books. Get out in your garden. Take up bowling. Learn to knit or crochet. We could go on and on. Find your thing—whatever it is—and set aside time for it. 

Getting Help for Your Disorder Is a Good Stress Reliever

Few things in life are as stressful as being in the grips of a substance use disorder. To relieve that stress and reclaim your life, you need to pursue treatment.

At The Farley Center, located in Williamsburg, Virginia, we help individuals put drugs or alcohol behind them so they can start their recovery journey with confidence. You can count on evidence-based practices supported by our experience, empathy, and expertise. When you are ready to make a change for the better—one that will reduce your stress levels and so much more—we are here to help.

The post Some Ways to Stress Less in Recovery appeared first on Farley Center.

The optimism inspired by this fresh start is frequently followed by disappointment, however. An article in Forbes titled “New Year’s Resolutions Statistics 2024” reveals that the vast majority of folks have given up on their resolutions before the end of April—and many do so much sooner than that:

If you find yourself in the camp of setting lofty goals for the new year only to find yourself falling off the wagon just months (or weeks) later, rest assured that you’re not alone. In fact, failing at New Year’s resolutions is so common that there’s even a slew of (unofficial) dates commemorating such failures—some sources cite “Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day” as January 17, while others denote the second Friday in January as “Quitter’s Day.”

The Forbes Health/One Poll survey found that the average resolution lasts just 3.74 months. Only 8% of respondents tend to stick with their goals for one month, while 22% last two months, 22% last three months, and 13% last four months.

The disappointment of not being able to stick to your resolutions can have a negative impact on your mental health and put your recovery at risk. But that does not necessarily mean you have to avoid setting resolutions at all. The key to success just might be found in setting smaller goals—goals you are more likely to accomplish in the short term that can provide a boost to your mental health and support your ongoing recovery.

Resolve to Rightsize Your Resolutions

That Forbes article might have us thinking in business terms, because the notion of “rightsizing” comes from the corporate world. But the idea of working to ensure that a business is its optimal size might also apply to the size and scope of your resolutions.

We would argue that one of the reasons many people give up on their resolutions is that they set goals that are too lofty, too vague, or both.

Take the common goal of improving your fitness. We certainly think that is an excellent goal for someone who is working to improve their mental health and maintain those improvements over time. But people who set this goal often find themselves disappointed when they do not see the results they imagined as quickly as they would like—and so they let the whole goal fall away.

But what if your goal was related to fitness, but was much better defined? For example, could you resolve to add a 10-minute walk to your day? That goal is much smaller than a resolution like “get in shape” or “lose 20 pounds.” And you could rightsize the walking goal even more: Resolve to walk for 10 minutes a day, three times a week. Resolve to walk 10 minutes a day each day in January. Resolve to text a friend who might want to join you on regular walks.

Over time, you might find yourself making adjustments to your smaller goal—saying adding five minutes to the daily walk—that give a further boost to your mental health, your physical health, and your recovery.

All of that is to say: A rightsized resolution (or set of resolutions) can help you experience the benefits of successfully reaching a goal rather than the negative aspects of having a goal fall by the wayside.

For related ideas about goal setting, see this previous entry about maintaining a growth mindset.

Your Number One Resolution Should Be Maintaining Your Recovery

It might go without saying, but no resolution is more important than keeping your recovery intact. That is true no matter what time of year it is. Your recovery underpins all other positive changes you hope to make in your life.

We would also encourage you to resolve to return to treatment if you do experience a relapse. It is important not to give up—the way you might give up an overly ambitious New Year’s resolution—but instead to restart your recovery right away. Committing to that as a standing resolution can make it easier to follow through on it should the need arise.

Resolve to Get the Help You Need

If you are struggling with a substance use disorder, getting help should be your primary resolution—and you should not wait for some specific date on the calendar before seeking out that help.

At The Farley Center, located in Williamsburg, Virginia, we help individuals overcome problems with drugs or alcohol while also providing treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, or issues grounded in traumatic experiences. We start with medically supervised detoxification, follow detox with a rehabilitation program that includes individual and group therapy, and continue to provide support via our aftercare program. 

We are filled with resolve when it comes to providing evidence-based treatment supported by our expertise, experience, and empathy. When you are ready to make a change, we are ready to help.

The post Resolve to Keep the Resolutions Smaller in the New Year appeared first on Farley Center.

There are other situations, however, in which making a substitution is a bad idea. One of those situations is when you are in recovery from a substance use disorder. When you are in recovery, you should avoid developing substitute addictions—and that can require vigilance. Substitute addictions have a way of sneaking up on people in recovery, and when they do, they can pave the way to a relapse.

Let’s take a look at several substitute addictions so that you know what to watch out for along your own recovery journey.

Gambling Can Become a Substitute Addiction

A person in recovery often misses the rush that accompanied taking drugs, and so they seek out another way to access those feelings of excitement. Often, that means taking up gambling—which a person might do without even consciously realizing they are seeking a new kind of high. The risk and potential rewards can be a potent combination, leading to the types of emotions and sensations that a person used to experience from drugs before they sought out treatment.

But gambling can become a problem in a great big hurry. It can undermine your finances in catastrophic ways, of course, and it can also damage your relationships and upend your recovery. Your best bet? If you are in recovery, you should leave the gambling to others.

Work Can Become a Substitute Addiction 

Most people realize that gambling has the potential to lead to bad outcomes. As a rule, however, most people probably do not think of working hard as a problem. But the fact is that work can become a substitute addiction.

What are the signs? If you are always the first person at the job and the last person to leave, you might be developing an issue. If you always work through your weekends or find yourself feeling anxious anytime you are not at work, a substitute addiction may be in play. If you never take vacations—or even lunch breaks—things are probably headed in the wrong direction.

We do not mean to suggest that you should avoid putting in your best effort at work—especially if you have work-related goals that you can once again pursue now that you are in recovery. But burnout is a reality for many, many people, and for a person in recovery from a substance use disorder, that reality is a stop on the road to relapse.

Exercise Can Become a Substitute Addiction

In this blog, we frequently emphasize that regular exercise can be an essential part of your recovery routines. In fact, we wrote about it quite recently. After all, exercise supports your physical health and your mental health—and by extension, your recovery. As a result, exercise has a lot of upsides in recovery and few downsides.

Few downsides, that is, unless exercise changes from a healthy habit to a substitute addiction. How can you tell if that is happening? One sign might be finding yourself working out several times a day or more strenuously than is safe for your current fitness level. Another indicator of a problem is if you start skipping out on social—or even work—obligations in favor of working out. Indeed, that pattern of behavior might well replicate your behavior when you were using substances—and avoiding other responsibilities to do so.

Binge Eating Can Become a Substitute Addiction

Binge eating can sneak up on you. You might not even realize that is what you are doing at first. An unusually large meal might seem like an outlier to you—an indication that you were unusually hungry and nothing more. But if you find yourself eating large amounts of food regularly, eating even if you are not hungry, eating until you are uncomfortably full, eating unusually fast, or feeling as though you are not in full control of your eating behaviors, a problem has likely developed.

It is a short step from a substitute addiction centered around binge eating and a return to the behaviors that define a substance use disorder. Additionally, binge eating can have serious health consequences even if it does not lead to a relapse. 

What to Do If You Develop a Substitute Addiction

Each of the potential substitute addictions we have identified above (and other like them) can lead to real problems. That is why as soon as you realize you might be developing an issue, you should talk to your doctor or therapist. Nipping a substitute addiction in the bud is important, and your physical and mental health professionals can help.

There Is No Substitute for Effective Treatment

At The Farley Center—located in Williamsburg, Virginia—we help individuals overcome substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders. We’re always ready to help.

The post Avoid Substitute Addictions in Recovery appeared first on Farley Center.

While we mentioned pickleball in that entry about exercise, we are going to turn to a different sport in search of ideas related to recovery. That sport—now a year-round phenomenon—is basketball.

So hum a little “Roundball Rock” as we head out onto the court.

Different Players Bring Different Approaches to the Game

When you watch a basketball game, it is quickly evident that different members of a team bring different skills and approaches to the court. Some players are excellent shooters from outside. Taller players often play down near the basket, where they can shoot from close range and can also grab rebounds. Some players excel at defense, making a real difference in the game, whether or not they provide much scoring. There are skilled dribblers, excellent passers, players you can always count on to run the floor at full tilt, and more.

Just as there are different approaches to playing basketball, there are different ways to approach your recovery, too. The key is to find the things that support your success as you work to leave drugs or alcohol in your past. For example, you might be best served by leaning into healthy habits like getting enough rest, eating healthy, and, yes, getting that regular exercise. You might find that attending multiple recovery meetings each week serves you better than just attending one (or none). And you can find the perfect balance for yourself when it comes to socializing with supportive friends and spending time alone to recharge.

Different Moments Can Require Different Strategies

Some basketball teams really love to push the pace. Others prefer a slower game. But no matter what a team generally prefers, there are times when the opposite approach is the right one for a given situation. You might, for example, slow down to burn some time off the clock if you are protecting a lead late in the game. If you are trailing, you might need to apply added pressure in the hope of getting the ball and scoring quickly. Understanding the situation is an important part of the game.

That is true in recovery, too. Your regular recovery routines might be working quite well for you—until you are suddenly beset by cravings for drugs or alcohol. While the craving persists, you may need to employ some different tactics—like urge surfing, for example—to keep your recovery intact. Employing the right strategy at the right moment is essential.

You Can Rely On Your Teammates

While basketball can be played one-on-one, most of the time it is a team sport. That means you have folks to rely on at every moment of the game. A successful team racks up wins by learning to lean on one another. The team has shared goals, and everyone supports everyone else in pursuit of those goals.

The same can be true in recovery. Take, for example, recovery meetings. When you attend a meeting, you are surrounded by other people who know what you have been through, who understand the challenges you are facing now, and who share a goal with you. Everyone in that meeting is working to maintain their recovery just as you are working to maintain yours. You are all on the same team—and can rely on each other for support when the going gets tough.

Your Coach Is Always There for You

Basketball coaches are teachers, cheerleaders, and disciplinarians all at the same time. Their job is to set their team up for ongoing success—which includes celebrating when things are going well and commiserating and correcting when things are going poorly. Often, a coach’s skills in these areas are what separate good teams from great teams.

In recovery, your sponsor, recovery mentor, or therapist might serve as a kind of coach. You can turn to your “coach” when you need help navigating your recovery. These individuals can encourage you in tough moments and celebrate with you when things are going well. They can offer up their experiences and ideas, and they can point out when you might be making decisions that do not support your recovery. A good coach in recovery can be a real difference maker. 

Get Back In the Game 

If drugs or alcohol have you sidelined, we can help you reclaim your life with personalized, evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders.

At The Farley Center—located in Williamsburg, Virginia—we bring expertise, experience, and empathy to every interaction we have with those we serve. You can count on us to see you through medically supervised detoxification and our robust rehabilitation program. And you can rely on us for ongoing support and resources when your time in treatment comes to an end. 

If you are ready to reclaim your life from a substance use disorder, we are ready to be your teammates in that endeavor. Let’s get you back in the game.

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Of course, exercise is a key to good health, so it is a good practice for just about everyone. But it is an especially important habit to get into if you are in recovery from a substance use disorder. That is because exercise supports your recovery by supporting your overall well-being. 

Let’s take a look at the importance of exercise. We will also offer up a few options for getting started if you tend to be somewhat (or very) exercise adverse.

The Benefits of Exercise in Recovery

Most everyone generally understands that getting enough exercise contributes to a person’s physical health. Various kinds of exercise help a person build strength, increase flexibility, improve cardiovascular conditioning, and more. 

What few people consider, however, is the benefits of exercise in relation to a person’s mental health. Physical and mental health are deeply intertwined, and so when you exercise to support your physical well-being, you are also supporting your mental well-being.

Physical and mental well-being both underpin your recovery efforts. Maintaining your recovery over time is more easily accomplished when you are physically and mentally healthy. With that fact in mind, you might find yourself more motivated to exercise than you otherwise might be. After all, maintaining your recovery is an essential goal, right? 

But even if you have new motivation, you might be a little short on direction. What sort of exercise should you take up? We have some suggestions.

First things first, however: If you are thinking about starting a new exercise program, it is a good idea to talk with your doctor. You want to minimize the risk of injury and ensure that your exercises of choice are serving you well. 

Walking Is a Wonderful Way to Start

For those who are able, adding some walking to each day is a great way to add some exercise right away. After all, most of us are already doing some walking—from the car to the office, for example, or from one end of your home to the other. Those short trips might not add up to much by themselves, but they do provide a starting point to get some more steps in every day.

For example, you might start parking a little further from your workplace. Once inside, you might choose the steps rather than the elevator. Rather than sending an email to a colleague, you might walk over to talk with them face-to-face. And you might add, say, a 10-minute walk to your lunch break (a practice that has the additional advantage of getting you away from your work station for a bit).

A home, you might add an evening walk around the block (or around two blocks or more) as a way to wind down. You might be joined on the walk by a pet, and both of you will benefit. Or your partner or a friend might join you and you can enjoy each other’s company and strengthen your relationship while you also get the benefits of some exercise.

Over time, you can add more steps to your routine. Doing so will benefit your physical health, your mental health, and your recovery efforts.

Other Options Are Available

Walking can be an easy place to start, but there are, of course, many other options for exercising that you might enjoy if you give them a chance. Maybe you would enjoy practicing yoga. Perhaps swimming or doing other exercises in a pool is appealing. Maybe you would like to get in on the pickleball trend. Perhaps you would enjoy working out at a gym with others who share your fitness goals.

The key to getting regular exercise is to find something you truly enjoy. When you do so, it makes it much, much easier to stick with the activity. We encourage you to try a few things until you find something that seems right for you. And if that activity starts to feel like a chore rather than something you look forward to, try something new rather than giving up on exercise entirely.

Your recovery is worth the effort.

Exercise the Option to Get the Help You Need

Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, The Farley Center is committed to helping individuals overcome substance use disorders as well as co-occurring mental health disorders. We rely on evidence-based practices that are supported by our expertise, experience, and empathy. From our medically supervised detoxification through our rehabilitation program and beyond, you can count on ongoing support as you work to leave drugs or alcohol behind you.

Just as any new exercise program requires you to take the first step, you can take the first step toward reclaiming your life. It is no idle exercise. It is a life-changing transformation.

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What is Tramadol?

Designated a Schedule IV drug by the DEA, tramadol is marketed under many brand names, including ConZip, Mabron, Ryzolt, Ultram, Ultram ER, and Zydol. Tramadol belongs to a group of drugs called opioid agonists, drugs that block the pain signals that travel along your nerves to your brain. In the process of blocking pain, such drugs can cause feelings of euphoria.

Tramadol Addiction

Tramadol addiction can occur when a person misuses the drug. They may take more than the prescribed dose or take it more often. As their tolerance to the substance increases, they need to take more to get the desired result. As the cycle of use goes on, addiction occurs, and the user is unable to stop taking the drug regardless of the consequences. 

Warning Signs of Tramadol Abuse and Addiction

Being aware of the warning signs of tramadol abuse could prevent the user from developing an addiction. In addition to increasing the amount of the drug or taking it more often, users may borrow or steal tramadol from others. They may doctor-shop to get multiple prescriptions. Their tramadol misuse may lead to relationship, financial, or legal problems.

Symptoms of Tramadol Addiction

Since tramadol depresses the central nervous system, those addicted to the drug often show signs of intense calm and relaxation. Their breathing and heart rate are slow. Headaches, slurred speech, and impaired coordination are other physical signs of abuse to be aware of. 

Additional warning signs include:

• Nausea or vomiting
• An increase or decrease in appetite
• Drowsiness or the inability to stay awake
• Pinpoint (very small) pupils
• Respiratory difficulties resulting in low oxygen and bluish fingernails and lips

Taking too much tramadol can cause an overdose and very slowed or stopped breathing. This severe respiratory depression can result in unconsciousness or coma and possible brain damage or death. 

Serotonin Syndrome

Serotonin syndrome occurs when there is too much buildup of serotonin in the body. This can occur with tramadol addiction. When this happens, the user becomes agitated and restless. Their blood pressure and heart rate are elevated. They are confused and sweat profusely. 

Additional signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome include:

• Loss of muscle coordination
• Rigid or twitching muscles
• Dilated pupils
• Goosebumps
• Shivering
• Diarrhea

Severe symptoms include irregular heartbeat, seizures, high fever, and unconsciousness. Serotonin syndrome can be life-threatening. 

Tramadol Withdrawal

When a person is addicted to tramadol, they will experience withdrawal symptoms if they reduce the amount of the drug or stop taking it completely. According to Healthline, tramadol withdrawal symptoms are very similar to opioid withdrawal symptoms but are generally milder. Typically, the person will experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. They will have cravings for the drug and be anxious and agitated.

Additional withdrawal symptoms could include:

• Insomnia
• Restlessness
• Muscle aches
• Sweating
• Shivering

More severe symptoms are experienced by approximately ten percent of those in withdrawal from tramadol. These symptoms include confusion, extreme anxiety, numbness and tingling, hallucinations, paranoia, and panic attacks.

Help is Available

If you or a loved one is addicted to tramadol or any other substance, you are not alone. At Farley Center in Williamsburg, VA, we can help you become clean and sober. Take the first step and call us today. A caring professional will answer your questions and help you get started on the road to recovery.

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