American Addiction Centers Blog

Deciding to stop doing whatever it is you have become addicted to is great. I decided to stop drinking pretty much right after I started. It only took me twenty-five years to get up the courage to actually do it. I lived in denial, created chaos and may have sabotaged a bright future by waiting. […]

American Addiction Centers (“AAC”), a leading operator of addiction treatment facilities across the United States, today announced rebranding and content enhancements to its recovery community websites, including recovery.org, rehabs.com, projectknow.com and drugabuse.com. The website upgrades include website logo and page redesigns that further highlight AAC’s primary business of operating treatment facilities across the United States, […]

It is human nature to compare yourself to others, especially people you respect, who you feel have some form of control over their lives, and who seem to have it all. For some, this comparison process is healthy. It encourages self-assessment, inspires new ideas and options, and encourages healthy competition that motivates persistence and progress. […]

If someone in your family is struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, the holidays are the best time to handle the problem. Though your first inclination may be to postpone the discussion in order to avoid ruining the holiday, it is actually the most opportune moment there is to take action. Family is gathered, everyone […]

When it comes to building strong relationships in recovery, there is almost nothing that is more important, especially as you transition out of treatment and into independent living in sobriety. Having positive people around you who understand what you have been through and support you as you work toward increased stability while staying sober can, […]

As a caregiver, your focus, first and foremost, is likely on your loved one – their needs, their risks, their mistakes, their health, and their future. Without even realizing it, you have likely let your own needs fall to the wayside as you work tirelessly to be ready and available as needed to support your […]

I used to think people other than those directly affected by my drinking to excess were aware of what for me was an absolutely epic effort to give it up.   In my alcohol fueled haze, my mere presence on this earth was of great importance to everybody. I believed that my acquaintances actually took […]

Children of Alcoholics Week happens this month, and for many people in recovery, the struggles caused by growing up with a parent living with an active addiction continue to plague their abilities to live balanced and emotionally healthy lives. A child who grows up with a parent or caregiver who drinks heavily and/or uses drugs […]

Milestones in life—e.g., a new year, an unexpected job change, big birthdays, marriage, divorce, etc.—often prompt people to assess their lives and where they’re headed. In doing so, we tend to focus on things we don’t like about ourselves or our circumstances. We pinpoint everything from unwanted pounds to financial setbacks as factors to be […]

In the 12-Step program, participants are often encouraged to acknowledge that they are not in control of their lives, that instead, a higher power is in charge. In early recovery, this can be an encouraging thought – essentially, the idea is that you do not have to worry about what you are going to do […]

What is a Sponsor? The Definition When you’re in recovery, “sponsor” is a word you hear often. What is a sponsor? As James explains, a sponsor is simply a mentor or a guide who has been in recovery and worked through the steps and no longer has to drink or use.   What does a […]

The basis of a twelve step program is the acceptance of a power greater than ourselves to restore us to sanity. Seven of the twelve steps directly mention God as we understand him. Nowhere do the twelve steps acknowledge a person’s own strength and conviction as the power behind the motivation to get sober. That […]