The Aviary Recovery Center Blog
Whether Legal or Illegal, Marijuana Can Still Be the Cause of a Substance Use Disorder
Marijuana & a Major Shift Arguably, no drug has undergone a greater change in its public perception over the last two decades than marijuana. In the mid-20th century, the drug was the subject of a number of films intended to warn parents and kids of the grave...
Up and Down: A Look at High Achievers, Rock Bottom, and Substance Use Disorders
The Art of Rationalization Most of us are pretty good at rationalization. If there is something that we want to do—even something that we suspect is a little (or a lot) sketchy—we find a way to justify doing it. The justification may be paper thin, but it still may be...
Strategies for Curbing Cravings in Recovery
The Curse of Cravings If you have gone through treatment and regained your sobriety, you may be hoping for clear sailing ahead. And why not? The drugs or alcohol are out of your system, and you have strategies and resources for maintaining your sobriety. Stick to the...
We Hate to Break It to You but Methamphetamines Are Bad News
Meth Is Bad News The title of the show Breaking Bad—in which a high school chemistry teacher starts making meth as a strategy for covering medical bills—tells you just about everything you need to know about methamphetamines. Meth is undeniably bad news, and using it...
Words Are Sometimes Worse Than Sticks and Stones
Words Can Be Painful You probably know that old saying that is often used to discourage bullies who use words as their primary weapon: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. It is a powerful idea, suggesting that we can just rise above...
A Handy Checklist for Keeping Relapses at Bay
It's a Good Idea to Have a Plan “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” Maybe you have heard that pithy quote before. It has been attributed to various people in various forms. But no matter who said it (or something like it), it is applicable to a whole...
Substance Use Disorders Cause Disorder for the Whole Family
Your Substance Use Disorder Is Not Yours Alone When you are struggling with a substance use disorder, it can often seem as though you are all alone. The symptoms of drug or alcohol abuse can become all-consuming—and so can the symptoms of withdrawal. There is a good...
SMART Recovery Might Be a Smart Option for Your Recovery
What are Your Options for Recovery It perhaps goes without saying that Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the best known recovery program. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) might be a close second. In fact, when the media portrays a recovery program, it’s a safe bet that it will...
Shake Up Your Recovery Routines with These Engaging Podcasts
Pssst! Hey, you there! We’re going to tell you something you might not expect to read in a blog associated with a substance use disorder recovery center. It’s not the sort of thing people in the recovery community like to say out loud—even though most everyone knows...
Hold On Tight. We’ll Muddle Through: Taking Your Sobriety One Day at a Time
Life, Sobriety, and One Day at a Time Sometimes it seems like life is simply going to overwhelm us. This is especially true when it feels as though new problems arise faster than we can solve the old problems. The car breaks down, the big project at work is behind...