Author: Cristina Utti, MA, MFA

The brave people who serve in our country’s armed forces are often perceived as perfect, unflappable warriors—individuals who can overcome any obstacle while working to protect the freedoms Americans treasure. We rightly lionize the service members who make the ultimate sacrifice and regularly recognize the many other kinds of sacrifices… Read more: Tactical Recovery Can Help Veterans in Crisis

From time to time, we all experience unpleasant emotions. We might feel sad or lonely or angry or bored or worried. All of those emotions—and many more besides—are perfectly natural and perfectly appropriate in any number of situations. Generally speaking, when you are feeling one of those emotions, you probably… Read more: The Importance of Your Mental Health in Recovery

You have probably heard the expression “where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” Generally, it is used to suggest that if something seems suspicious (that’s the smoke), there is probably something going on (that’s the fire). But when it comes to substance use disorders and the recovery journey, anything you smoke has… Read more: Smoking of Any Kind is Not Smart

Think of your favorite sport. Odds are good that the playing area for whichever sport you picked—whether it is baseball or football or tennis or basketball or soccer or what have you—are strictly marked. The area where the game can be legally played is said to be “in bounds” (or… Read more: Setting Boundaries Strengthens Your Recovery

Do you watch the television show Ghosts? In the situation comedy, a collection of deceased individuals from across the centuries squabble among themselves and with the “livings.” Each of the ghosts has a unique power. One of them can flicker lights. Another can move objects. Some of the other powers… Read more: Identify Your Personal Power in Recovery