Blogs

Real people sharing real stories about their experience with substance abuse and mental health.

The Insanity of a Family Disease

During my twenty-five year career in substance abuse treatment, I’ve frequently heard family members (and clients) insist that "Alcohol isn't his/her/my problem - drugs are!" and "Alcoholism isn't his/her/my problem - addiction is!" as if the same principles of recovery from chemical dependency don't apply to any dysfunctional situation where alcohol either isn't present or isn't present enough to be identified as the primary drug-of-choice.

The Light of the Dark

By: Bill C., Transformations alumnus

Can you see in the dark?

Tell me, what do you see?

Can you see yourself?

Because I can’t see me

Scratching, fighting, clawing

Begging for God to show me a sign

Because

Addiction Recovery: Changing Your Past

You can’t change your past, you just have to learn to live with it. Yeah that sucks, and to be honest, it was overwhelming in early sobriety. When I look back on my past it is often referred to as a “tornado of terror” by those who love me. I

Lying and Manipulation in Active Addiction

By: Jamie Salsberg, LCSW, CAP, MPH, Assistant Clinical Director at Transformations

Many people have heard the saying, “an addict will steal your wallet, and then help you look for it.” This idea, highlighting the lying and manipulation that

Transformed in Recovery: Three Years and Counting

When I first got sober, people kept telling me I was going to have a life beyond my wildest dreams. At that time, my wildest dreams were made up of millions of dollars and houses all over the world. As I stayed sober and slowly broke free from self-c

The Importance of Continuing Care After Addiction Treatment

Due to the chronic nature of drug and alcohol addiction, relapse after treatment, 40 to 60 percent by some estimates, is an unfortunate reality for many people. Before someone enters a rehab facility, they should already be thinking about their after