From Rock Bottom to Rising Confidence: The Journey of Self-Esteem in Recovery Self-esteem – everybody's favorite topic, right? Well, buckle up, folks, because we're about to dive into the messy, beautiful world of rebuilding pride and finding inner peace in recovery. And hey, we'll sprinkle in some dark humor along the way, because if you can't laugh at the absurdity of it all, you might just lose your mind. So, why is self-esteem such a big deal? Think of it as the engine of your recovery. With a healthy dose of self-esteem, you've got the power to keep moving forward, even when the road gets rough. But during active addiction, that engine gets trashed. We're talking sputtering, smoking, on the side of the road – it's a miracle the thing still moves at all. So, how do we get that engine roaring again? First, let's acknowledge that this isn't a quick fix. Rebuilding self-esteem takes time, patience, and a whole lot of kindness towards yourself. It...

  Recovery: It's Not a One-Size-Fits-All Sweater (The Extended Remix) You know those awful holiday sweaters your aunt insists on knitting for you? The ones with the garish reindeer and itchy yarn? Yeah, traditional recovery approaches can feel like those. Well-meaning, but a poor fit and kinda scratchy. I'm tired of the "my way or the highway" mentality plaguing the substance abuse treatment world. We've all encountered the zealots: "AA is the only path!" or "Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the devil!" It's enough to make you want to toss your recovery goals out the window and grab a bottle of... well, something. Here's the thing: we're not all knit from the same yarn. What works for your coworker, your neighbor, or that one guy from that one meeting might not work for you. And that's okay. More than okay – it's essential to understand. Recovery isn't about surviving; it's about living. It's finding a qual...