For recovery advocates who attend twelve step programs in New Hampshire, one of the biggest challenges is talking openly about addiction recovery while also respecting the tradition of anonymity. After all, these programs have anonymous in their names for a reason. Most people know about the twelve steps, but there are also twelve traditions –…
Whether you are in recovery from addiction in New Hampshire or somewhere else, you’ve seen the meme. “If Narcan is free for drug addicts, why isn’t chemotherapy free for cancer patients?” Wrapped up in this seemingly harmless little question is a Pandora’s Box of stigma, bias, and ignorance, jeopardizing any attempt by recovery advocates to…
Stigma is an ugly word. Sure, it’s like any other word in the English language – devoid of emotional meaning unless you have experienced it firsthand – but its ugliness isn’t limited to experience. Stigma denotes human judgment and suffering. Merriam Webster defines stigma as “a mark of shame or discredit : STAIN”. To be stigmatized, therefore,…
Some people survey the modern day addiction landscape – particularly government and law enforcement officials – and refer to the ongoing struggle with substance use as “the war on drugs”. Still others refer to it as the “opioid epidemic”. Regardless of how you label it – or the accuracy of your label – it’s hard…
Each new year rings in a brief and frenzied season of resolution. Dictionary.com defines a resolution as “a firm decision to do or not to do something”. Process CEO, Justin Etling, has long resolved to offer innovative solutions, along with the best New Hampshire addiction treatment center practices available. Unlike most resolutions, his decision has…
When you are new to recovery, it can be hard to know how to get through a regular Tuesday without drugs and alcohol, never mind a major holiday. As December 25th fast approaches, we are taking a different approach to our blog; we are inviting you behind-the-scenes of the Process Recovery Center, including at our…
Chances are, if you live a notable distance from the equator, like at one of our New Hampshire sober livings, you’ve experienced the so-called “winter blues”. Frigid temperatures and shorter days can drag even the most cheerful person down. But what is seasonal depression – and how is it different? Moreover, how do you know…
If you want to keep it, you have to give it away. By definition, that’s a contradiction. But in the recovery world, it’s fundamental. So, what does it mean? According to Jennifer Harrington, therapist at the Process Recovery Center, a New Hampshire drug rehab, it’s all about making connections. “It’s about the relationship, the connection…
Thanksgiving does not extend equal abundance to all people. While some enjoy a loving family feast of turkey and pumpkin pie, others agonize over how to make it through the day. The unique challenges posed by the holiday season can be especially destabilizing for those in early recovery. If you’re wondering how to make it…
Our daily commutes say a lot about who we are. Whether we are driving to work, the grocery store, or the park, we can learn a great deal from the way our minds function when we travel. Some people use the time to reflect on their week, while others turn the music up and try…