Recovery

Brad Lamm, CIP The sponsor-sponsee relationship in twelve-step recovery is one of the key components in the process of maintaining long-term sobriety. Initially coined in the early years of Alcoholic Anonymous (AA), the sponsor has the single purpose of helping the sponsee recover from the compulsive behavior that brought the sufferer into twelve-step work, which…

Brad Lamm, CIP You might be surprised to know that men suffer from body image issues just as women do.  There’s an emerging disorder that we’re seeing in more and more men. Muscle Dysmorphia, referred to as MD or MDM, happens when you have a pathological preoccupation with muscularity and appearance. In the bodybuilding community,…

Brad Lamm, CIP The three tenets of the 12-step program are unity, service, and recovery; perhaps the most important of these is service.  At Breathe Life Healing Centers, we start clients on the journey to recovery by immediately engaging them in community service opportunities. There are many benefits to volunteerism that go beyond the feel-good…

Brad Lamm, CIP One of the biggest challenges faced by a newly sober person is the state of their financial affairs.  Gambling, food, alcohol, and drugs all come at a price, and by the time we get into recovery, some of us face a mountain of debt. That is why at Breathe, we proactively put each…

Brad Lamm, CIP An important aspect of the disease of addiction is, after an extended amount of clean time,  it can resurface, causing a relapse. Many people who suffer from chronic relapse often struggle with feelings of guilt and shame that can sink them even deeper into the cycle of addiction.  However, there are triggers that…

Brad Lamm, CIP One of my major concerns in early sobriety was how to be present at a party when I’m sober and everyone else is drinking. Wouldn’t just being at an event where alcohol is served activate the phenomenon of craving?  Over the past decade or so, I’ve learned myriad ways to engage in…

Brad Lamm, CIP Is “˜happily ever after’ real? Or have we just been so bombarded with “˜love conquers all,’ that we can’t stop the search for our storybook romance? Although many will cultivate unrealistic expectations from romantic partners, those of us who struggle with addiction and codependency may be at a higher risk for developing…

Brad Lamm, CIP Exercise. Diet. Sleep. Meditation. Laughter. They’re all forms of self-care. As a recovering addict, I’ve learned that when I’m in my disease, it all goes to hell in a hand-basket. So I had to put aside my daily life as the walking wounded and learn how to stand in the sun. Addiction…

Brad Lamm, CIP As a former TV weatherman, I spent many an hour worrying about my appearance and the “˜TV adds 10 pounds’ adage. As my drinking and using spiraled out of control, I began engaging in eating disorder behaviors to deal with the added weight.  In response to my negative body image, I soon…

Brad Lamm, CIP Dear Diary, I want to change…you?!! Me It’s the conundrum of every human who is dying on the inside over a loved one’s struggle with life and the things that make it rough. Addiction is a common intervention target. You may be familiar with the television show “˜Intervention,’ where an out of…