The Estate News & Blog

Recovering from addiction is a major achievement, but it often comes with hidden challenges. One of the biggest risks during recovery is transfer addiction, also known as cross addiction. This happens when a person stops one destructive habit but unconsciously replaces it with another.

The other day, a conversation came up with a few of our clients, and with some alumni, that felt worth writing about. We were talking about RAM (Remote Alcohol Monitoring) tools like Soberlink or portable breathalyzers. Not the technology itself, but what it represents. How it feels when a spouse asks for it. The mix of emotions that can show up. The resistance. The relief. The questions underneath it all.

Soberman’s Estate was established in honor of our Founder’s brother Jeff, who passed away from an accidental opioid overdose, and his best friend Jerry, who died as a direct result of alcoholism. Tragically, over the years, we have also lost alumni to this disease.

Addiction is more than just a struggle with substances. It affects how people think, feel, and connect with others. One of the most overlooked challenges is isolation and loneliness. Many people living with substance use disorders (SUDs) in the United States find themselves pulling away from others. This pattern of disconnection can create a cycle where loneliness fuels addiction, and addiction increases loneliness.

For centuries, people have described alcohol as both a “pick-me-up” and a “slow-down” substance. You may feel energized and sociable after the first drink, but the science is clear: alcohol is classified as a depressant drug. While alcohol can create stimulating effects in the short term, the longer-lasting reality is that alcohol slows brain function, reduces reaction time, and affects breathing and heart rate.

Alcohol is one of the most widely consumed substances worldwide. While moderate use may not cause significant harm, heavy drinking, binge drinking, and long-term alcohol dependence can have profound effects on the brain. Many people wonder if the brain can recover after years of excessive drinking, and what actually happens when someone stops consuming alcohol. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the science of brain alcohol recovery, the timeline for healing, what changes occur in the brain after abstaining from alcohol, and whether alcohol-related brain damage can be reversed. 

The journey through addiction recovery is filled with ups and downs. One of the most intriguing and often misunderstood phases early in this process is known as Pink Cloud Syndrome. 

Most people drink to socialize, relax, or temporarily escape from stress. However, too much alcohol can significantly harm the brain. Mental illness disorders are seriously impacted by the consumption of alcohol. Alcohol addiction can lead to delusional thinking.  

Feeling sick after a night of drinking can be alarming. Was it food poisoning vs alcohol? 

Addiction does more than create harmful habits—it physically changes the brain. From damaging impulse control to disrupting memory and emotional regulation, drugs and alcohol deeply affect how your brain works.