by Jackie Hammers-Crowell | Sep 23, 2022 | Addiction
Many people use the terms chemical dependence and addiction interchangeably. While the two can be related, important differences distinguish them from each other. Understanding Dependence Dependence can be demonstrated by the occurrence of side effects when a person...
by Jackie Hammers-Crowell | Aug 26, 2022 | Addiction, Recovery
You’re nearing the end of your treatment, and discharge is on the horizon. This can be a very exciting time–but also a scary one. The days and weeks immediately following discharge are when risk of relapse is highest. Having a good plan for life after treatment...
by Jackie Hammers-Crowell | Jul 28, 2022 | Addiction, Recovery
The 12 Steps The 12 Steps were initially created by the group Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) but are now used by programs that support people dealing with problems from ranging from substance abuse to eating disorders to gambling or sexual compulsions. Groups of this type...
by Jackie Hammers-Crowell | Jun 23, 2022 | Addiction, Recovery
When Should You Share Your Story? People share their addiction recovery stories for a number of reasons. Recognizing why you are sharing your story and who your audience is can help you decide how much you want to tell. Recovery Meetings It is very common in a...
by Jackie Hammers-Crowell | May 13, 2022 | Addiction, Mental Health
In my work as a crisis counselor, one of the first questions I ask people who reach out for support is if they are suicidal, followed by if they have been using alcohol or any other substances. There are a number of reasons why these are important questions to ask...
by Jackie Hammers-Crowell | May 1, 2022 | Addiction, Alcoholism
I once met a woman who became addicted to alcohol relatively late in life, after she had bariatric surgery. She had needed that surgical procedure to address obesity, which had resulted from food addiction. After her surgery, she could no longer eat large quantities...
