Recovery from addiction is often a challenging journey that requires commitment, strength, and resilience. Seasonal changes can often affect those on the path of sobriety, making it essential to prioritize not only physical health but also mental well-being during this process. As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, fall offers a beautiful backdrop for those in recovery to focus on their mental health. We hope to inspire you with a few ideas for some fun fall activities that can boost your overall wellbeing.
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Fall Activities to Boost Mental Health During Recovery
Topics: Recovery, Healthy, Mental Health
Setting Healthy Boundaries With Family and Friends
Recovery is more than just a journey of self-transformation, it’s one of redefining relationships with family and friends. At Soberman’s Estate, the importance of setting boundaries is emphasized as a critical step toward sustainable recovery. Boundaries are the invisible lines we draw to protect our well-being and respect our needs during the delicate phases of recovery.
Alin Calini LPC Primary Therapist
The Need for Boundaries in Recovery:
During treatment, men are often vulnerable to external influences. Old patterns of interaction with loved ones may trigger a relapse or hinder progress. Establishing boundaries is therefore not about isolation; it's about creating an environment conducive to healing. Boundaries allow individuals to disconnect from unhealthy relationships and behaviors and provide space for growth.
How Boundaries Aid Recovery:
- Preventing Burnout: By saying no to excessive demands from others, men in recovery can conserve their energy and focus on their healing process.
- Reducing Stress: Clear boundaries minimize stressful interactions, reducing the risk of relapse due to emotional strain.
- Building Self-Esteem: When individuals set and maintain boundaries, they affirm their self-worth and gain confidence in their decision-making.
- Improving Relationships: Paradoxically, boundaries can strengthen relationships by fostering respect and understanding between the individual and their loved ones.
- Encouraging Independence: Learning to set boundaries is a step toward autonomy, an essential aspect of life post-recovery.
Setting Boundaries with Family:
Family dynamics can be complex, and it's not uncommon for family members to inadvertently hinder the recovery process. Open communication is key. Men are encouraged to express their needs calmly and clearly, without blame. It's important to articulate what behaviors are acceptable and which are not, and to stand firm on these decisions.
Setting Boundaries with Friends:
Friendships can also challenge recovery, especially if those friendships were formed around substance use. It's crucial to identify which relationships are supportive of recovery and which are detrimental. This may mean taking a break or ending friendships that pose a risk to sobriety.
Setting boundaries is an empowering practice that is vital for recovery. It's a skill that when learned and embodied, will give men the ability to maintain healthy boundaries which will serve them well in all facets of life, and aid them in their journey of recovery.
International Men's Day: Recognizing the Positive Contributions of Men
Every year on November 19, the world celebrates International Men's Day (IMD). It's a day that serves as a reminder of the diverse challenges and triumphs men face in today's world. It's a day dedicated to celebrating men's achievements and contributions to society, family, marriage, and childcare, while also highlighting the importance of men's health and well-being.
Topics: Recovery, Healthy, Mental Health
The Power of Compassion and Kindness in Recovery
While every day ought to be an opportunity for us to embody kindness, today, November 13, stands out as World Kindness Day - urging us to realign our focus if we’ve momentarily lost sight of it.
Embracing Sobriety, Connection, and the Healing Power of Horses
As the holiday season draws near, it's a period deeply rooted in gratitude, a sentiment that resonates profoundly with our endeavors here at Soberman’s Estate.
Topics: Addiction, Recovery, Alumni, Equine Therapy
12 Tips for Staying Sober Throughout the Holidays
The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. However, for individuals in recovery, it can also be a time filled with triggers, stress, and temptations that may threaten their sobriety. Staying sober during the holidays may be challenging, but it is achievable with the right strategies and support. We’ve come up with 12 practical tips to help you maintain your sobriety throughout season.
Resources For Recovery To Inspire Healing and Growth
Recovery is a journey that requires strength, resilience, and support. For men on the path to healing, there are a wealth of resources available to help navigate this transformative process. Whether you're seeking guidance, inspiration, or simply a relatable story to connect with, this curated list of resources offers a diverse array of books, movies, and more to aid in your recovery journey.
Rising Strong: A Journey of Renewal and Recovery
Have you ever felt stuck, like you've taken a tumble in life that you just can't recover from? Or perhaps you're one of those who can easily rise, dust off the debris, and push forward without looking back. This resilience—or lack thereof—shapes not only our experiences but also our journey toward recovery.
Imagine, for a moment, navigating the ups and downs of life as a young horse embarking on his first adventure out from the safety of a fenced arena. Take Dreamer, my young colt that was about 18-months old at the time, for example. On his inaugural trail ride, he faced an array of obstacles—a few daunting logs, a challenging incline, and even a shallow stream to cross. He accomplished each task impressively, gaining confidence despite the gusty winds that can unsettle even mature horses. Dreamer was handling the ride with confidence, grace and ease.
As my husband and I were riding back towards home, we were discussing how impressively Dreamer had performed. As the ride neared its end, however, Dreamer stumbled. Falling forward onto his knees and right shoulder, he nearly toppled over entirely. Yet, he managed to compose himself quickly. With just a subtle lift of the reins from me, Dreamer found his balance and returned to a stand. As if nothing happened, he resumed walking, carrying me safely back home. Upon arrival, the remark was made, "I'm glad you both survived the fall." A simple yet profound observation that prompted my reflection on resilience and recovery.
Topics: Recovery, Healthy, Mental Health
This has become an increasingly important question of the new millennium. More and more clinics, hospitals, rehabs, schools, nursing homes, and hospice sites are incorporating it. It has been touted as one of the most unique and valuable treatment modalities worldwide. But people continue to need more clarity and understanding to conceptualize it. Music Therapy, or MT for short, is so broad and applicable to so many groups of people, a specific definition has been debated and revised for years.
Topics: Treatment, Recovery, Music Therapy
Understanding Guilt, Shame & Emotional Pain During Treatment
September is Pain Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing understanding and empathy around all kinds of pain, including the emotional and psychological suffering many of us go through. When it comes to emotional pain, guilt and shame often take center stage, becoming overwhelming barriers in the path to recovery.
Topics: Addiction, Recovery, Substance Abuse, Healthy