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Telling your truth isn’t just a Hallmark card cliché or some airy-fairy advice from a wellness guru. It’s a bold act of reclaiming yourself from the mess of addiction, trauma, and all the crap life has thrown at you. When you share your story, you’re not just spilling your guts—you’re processing, growing, and healing on a level that’s both terrifying and transformative. But let’s get real: it’s not always a neat, feel-good moment where you stand on a mountaintop and shout your truth to the world like a superhero. Sometimes, sharing your story feels like handing over your soul to a room full of strangers who might just judge you or run for the exit. It’s messy, it’s raw, and you’ve got to be ready for it. If you’re not ready, that’s okay too. Healing isn’t a sprint; it’s more like a slow, awkward dance where you sometimes step on your own feet. There are countless ways to tell your story—writing, art, music, therapy sessions, whispering it to a friend, or even yelling it into a pillow a...

  Why Mental Health Care Must Be Central to Addiction Treatment Belinda Morey BS, CSAC  Clinical Substance Use Counselor - IGNTD Coach - Recovery Coach - Blogger - Editorial Advisor Board member - “doing all the things” August 27, 2025 Addiction is too often misunderstood as a problem of willpower or moral failing. Clinical experience and extensive research tell us it’s far more complex—deeply intertwined with trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. Trauma alters brain regions critical for emotional regulation and decision-making, increasing vulnerability to addiction and complicating recovery. Studies show trauma-informed care reduces relapse and improves engagement by creating safe, supportive environments that foster healing ( Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2023 ). Yet, despite this evidence, many addiction treatment programs still treat mental health as an afterthought. Detox and abstinence alone do not address the root ...

  Here’s the truth nobody wants to admit: sometimes recovery feels like one step forward, two steps back. You think you’re winning, and then boom — a craving, a bad day, a moment that makes you question everything. But guess what? That’s not failure. That’s part of the damn process. My Setback Story: When the Ground Gave Way I remember a point in my recovery when everything looked good on paper. I’d hit a few months clean, was checking all the “right” boxes, and telling myself I was solid. Then, out of nowhere, I had a day that felt like a total collapse. A craving hit me hard, my anxiety spiked, and I found myself spiraling into old thought patterns faster than I could catch them. It felt like I’d blown it all — like all the work was for nothing. But looking back, that day was a brutal, honest teacher. It forced me to face the parts I’d been ignoring: the unresolved trauma, the gaps in my coping skills, the isolation I hadn’t admitted to myself. That setback wasn’t a dead end....

About a month ago, my kids’ dad got out of jail. This isn’t the first time we’ve done the reunification dance, but it is the first time I’ve felt the weight of hope and caution so evenly matched. We’re still in the thick of it—figuring out what’s next, how to move forward, and how to keep our kids both safe and open to love. We tried, honestly. Three times we invited him over, wanting to give the boys a chance to reconnect. On the surface, things went okay. The boys were excited; there were campfires, little moments of connection, and me holding my breath the whole time. But then came the campground weekend. We hoped it would be a chance for them to do something simple, like swim together........ To finish reading this post please visit our new blog platform at progressisprogress.substack.com  

  Music and art have always been powerful forces for human connection and emotional expression. But in the world of addiction recovery, they’re something else entirely: lifelines, therapy, and sometimes even a slightly twisted form of group therapy where everyone’s invited to laugh, cry, and maybe question their life choices all at once. Why Music and Arts Matter in Recovery Let’s face it — traditional talk therapy can sometimes feel like trying to explain a bad hangover to a sober person. Music and arts? They speak the language of the messed-up brain better. They let you scream, whisper, cry, or laugh without the awkward eye contact. Creative expression offers: A way to dump all that emotional baggage without needing a therapist’s couch. A community where you’re not alone in your weirdness. A reason to get up and do something other than binge-watch bad reality TV. A tool to keep the relapse gremlins at bay — because when you’re busy writing a killer verse or painting your mood, th...