The Aviary Recovery Center Blog

When you have done the hard work of putting drugs or alcohol behind you, it is only natural that you will feel grateful for the improvement in your quality of life. After all, a substance use disorder chips away at every aspect of your life. First and foremost, a substance...

Just recently, the new REAL ID requirements went into effect (sort of) after years of delay. Under the new rules, you now need a REAL ID—rather than just a driver’s license—to board a domestic flight.  Many people rushed to get REAL IDs as the deadline was approaching—just as many people...

Wouldn’t it be great if one day, while you were just minding your own business, you suddenly encountered a big flashing sign that read in bright, clear letters, “This way to your goals!” Maybe it would be the first in a series of signs that would lead you from wherever...

Not too many songs are built around a single musical note. Even the famous song “One Note Samba” involves a lot more than a single note. A song is a complex combination of melody, harmony, rhythm, dynamics, and more. The same is true about a person. No single trait can...

Sometimes we mistake the weather for the climate.  Maybe it is unexpectedly rainy today, so you think a long drought has come to an end. Or maybe it is cool for June, so you are not so sure about all those claims about higher global temperatures. In both cases, you...

Most everyone knows that cigarettes and other tobacco products are required to have a message on their packaging from the Surgeon General of the United States warning of the potential dangers. When it comes to cigarettes, a number of different messages appear, such as: Surgeon General’s Warning: Smoking Causes Lung...

If you are a frequent reader of this blog, you know that we frequently mention the benefits of exercise for individuals who are in recovery from a substance use disorder. Of course, regular exercise is good for everyone, but there are some specific benefits for folks in recovery—including the fact...

You probably remember Mary Poppins’s approach to getting the children in her charge to clean up their room. She sings a song about gamifying chores—and uses the idea of employing “a spoonful of sugar” as a metaphor for taking bad-tasting medicine. (Interesting sidenote: the song was inspired by the practice...

Most of us learn to make excuses at a young age. As children, we make excuses to our parents (“I didn’t know it would break if I picked it up!”). We make excuses to our teachers (“I didn’t do my homework because my little sister kept interrupting me!”). We make...

When you are in recovery from a substance use disorder, it is a good idea to keep an eye on your stress levels. That is because high levels of stress can put you at higher risk for a relapse.  Of course, plenty of different things in your life probably cause—some...