Posts by High Watch Recovery
February Newsletter
January Newsletter 2025
December Newsletter 2024
November Newsletter 2024
October Newsletter
September Newsletter 2024
Recipe of the Month: Red Lentil & Sweet Potato Cakes with Sweet & Spicy Tomato Jam
Yield: One 9 inch Cheesecake INGREDIENTS For the Lentil Cakes 1/2 Cup Red Lentils 1 1/2 Cup Water 2 Sweet Potatoes Small Piece of Ginger, grated with microplane 2 Garlic Cloves, grated with microplane 1 Jalapeño 1/4 Cup Mint, chopped 2 Tsp. Chaat Masala 1 Tsp. Ground Fennel 1/2 Tsp. Garam Masala 1 Tbsp.…
Read MoreAugust Newsletter 2024
July Newsletter 2024
June Newsletter 2024
May Newsletter 2024
Recipe of the Month: High Watch Cheesecake
Yield: One 9 inch Cheesecake 14 Servings | 20 Minutes INGREDIENTS Graham Cracker Crumbs 1 3⁄4 Cups Sugar 3 Tbs Salt Pinch Unsalted Butter (melted) 4 Tbs (1/2 stick) DIRECTIONS for the crust 1. To make the crust: Butter a 9-inch springform pan, at least 3 inches high, and wrap the outside of the…
Read MoreApril Newsletter 2024
Developing Successful Recovery Habits
“In recovery, recovering addicts do more than lose their addictions. Usually, they regain enjoyment of life… Most individuals want to be happy. Addicts learn that they may be happy – even joyful – by appreciating their lives in recovery. Instead of killing themselves with their addictive substances, they live in freedom.” ~Dr. Francis A. Martin,…
Read MoreMarch Newsletter 2024
February Newsletter 2024
December Newsletter 2023
Keeping It Green On St. Patty’s Day
In AA we hear the phrase “keep it green” quite often. It is an important concept to maintain a beginners mind and remember where we came from no matter how long we’ve been sober for. The great thing is there are a lot of ways that you can keep it green on a daily basis…
Read MoreContinuing Care for Mental Health in Sobriety
Sobriety is an amazing journey, but the journey does not end when you put down the substance. One of the very first things I learned during my time at High Watch was during a Living Sober group. The group leader exclaimed “life is not all cupcakes and rainbows just because I got sober.” It wasn’t…
Read MoreHow Creativity Can Help With Recovery
People often labor under the delusion that using or abusing substances like drugs or alcohol help them “open their mind” or help them be “more creative”. Unfortunately, this is not true. For instance, the quote “write drunk, edit sober”, erroneously attributed to Ernest Hemingway, is not actually at all what the famous writer even said.…
Read MoreBeing a New Mom in Recovery
While 2020 was a difficult year for almost all of us, it was also the year I received the greatest gift of my sobriety, my son Aidan. I had always wanted to start a family but had given up hope of ever doing so while I was in active addiction. Aidan truly is the light…
Read MoreHearst Connecticut Media Group Names High Watch Recovery a Winner of the Hearst Connecticut Top Workplaces 2020 Award
(Kent, CT) – High Watch Recovery Center has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2020 honor by Hearst Connecticut Media Group. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by research partner Energage, LLC, a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. The anonymous survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment,…
Read MoreiCAAD Online 2020 and its Significance Amid COVID-19
RehabPath was one of the sponsors and exhibitors for this year’s iCAAD Online 2020, the world’s biggest conference on mental health and addiction. They wrote up a great article on the event, the exhibits, and some of the things that set this event apart from any other like this before. iCAAD is a platform “dedicated…
Read MoreHow to Avoid Feeling Isolated in Recovery
These are difficult times for all of us, and in recovery it can seem like things are spiraling backwards. Addiction is a disease of isolation, and being forced to physically isolate can have us stuck in our own heads again which can be dangerous. There are, however, certain steps we can take to prevent ourselves…
Read MoreMaintaining Your Sobriety During Stressful Situations – Like the Coronavirus Outbreak
Stress is ranked by most studies as among the most frequent causes of relapse. Many people in recovery turn back to their substance of choice when they are feeling overwhelmed with sudden, stressful events. Today’s outbreak of COVID-19 is similar to the days and weeks following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and we have much to…
Read MoreRecent Study finds AA Might Be the Most Effective Way to Abstinence
CNN published an article on March 11 about a recent study concluding that those who go through Alcoholics Anonymous may have the best chance at abstaining from alcohol after completion of the program. Over 10,000 participants were evaluated and 145 scientists conducted research in 35 studies to find out how effective AA was on alcohol…
Read MoreBattling the Winter Blues: Recovery During the Winter Months
The winter months are hard. The weather can be unbearable and there are minimal hours of daylight. Really, who wants to leave the house when it’s 10 degrees and your house is warm and cozy? All in all, it’s really no surprise that a seasonal funk can set in. But we can’t let the season…
Read MoreChristmas
The holiday season is a wonderful time of year, but it can also be incredibly stressful, especially for those of us in early recovery. Holidays are filled with family, parties, and shopping centers that are all but serene. These are a few of the suggestions that I picked up along the way that have helped…
Read MoreGiving Thanks
The dictionary defines gratitude as “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”, and this is definitely the season to practice gratitude in our daily lives. There is no argument that gratitude is an integral part of every recovery program. While it may not be written into AA’s twelve…
Read MoreWhat To Do When Your Friends Still Drink
It’s no secret that most alcoholics and addicts burn a lot of bridges in their journey towards their bottom. Believe it or not, a lot of us do emerge from the wreckage with a few friends and family members still by our side. The question then becomes, what do you do when those friends ask…
Read MoreOutreach
When you come to High Watch, you become an immediate part of our family. When you leave, that doesn’t end and we want to be with our alumni offering support throughout their entire lives. Just over a year ago, we developed a system to do just that by following up with alumni after they leave…
Read MoreDealing With a Loved One in Addiction
It’s Saturday evening and I’m on the couch with the dog watching something insignificant on TV when the phone rings. A few minutes later I hear “She’s been drinking again and is on her way over.” So, I get up and go to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee. Maybe this time…
Read MoreMeeting Disenchantment
Leaving treatment and entering the real world is a big transition and it is very important to have support through this process. But what happens when you’ve been out on your own or living in a sober house for a while, and going to a meeting every day starts to become tedious and repetitive? Meeting…
Read MoreNew Podcast: Interview with Lori W. on Recovery, Life and Work
High Watch’s very first podcast is here!! Listen as Alumni Relations Coordinator, Jenn Worthington interviews Lori W about recovery, life and what it is like to work at High Watch! Meet the Author: Jenn Worthington, Alumni Relations Coordinator
Read MoreEnjoying your first SOBER Fourth of July
It’s no secret that the Fourth of July is a big drinking holiday, but did any of us really need an excuse to drink and partake in dangerous activities i.e. fireworks?? Just because we are sober now doesn’t mean that we have to give up having fun and celebrating our country’s independence. There are plenty…
Read MoreYour Guide to Going on Summer Vacation in Recovery
Summer vacations – they used to mean airport drinking, tropical getaways and sipping cocktails on the beach or by the pool. Nowadays, they can be anxiety ridden affairs that are full of opportunities to relapse. Going on your first vacation in recovery is a big milestone and a treat you definitely deserve but it is…
Read MoreHow Creativity Helps Recovery
A common misconception amongst many creative addicts is the idea that substances such as alcohol or heroin can stimulate creativity. They cite that many creative geniuses have also been alcoholics or addicts. However in a recent study, Roger Beaty, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Cognitive Neuroscience at Harvard University, found that creativity comes from using different…
Read MoreGuide to Life After Rehab
Leaving treatment can be a scary prospect for many recovering addicts. Addiction is a life-long disease that you need to work on continuously, even when you leave your treatment center. In fact, in some ways – you have to work at it harder when you are back in the “real world”. At High Watch, we…
Read MoreNavigating Summer Parties and Picnics in Recovery from Substance Abuse
As summer arrives, so do the invitations to parties, BBQ’s, after-work drinks outside and picnics on the beach or in the park. It is not unusual to associate these events with drinking and using. Navigating the challenges summer brings to us in early recovery can be a difficult and sometimes it’s best to avoid these…
Read MoreHow to Avoid 5 of the Most Common Relapse Triggers
1: Stress Stress may be the number one cause of relapse. Many people in recovery turn back to their substance of choice when they are feeling overwhelmed with life issues. For many addicts, drinking and drugging was a maladaptive way of coping with various stressful experiences. Being Hungry, Angry, Tired or Lonely (HALT) can exacerbate…
Read MoreFinal Exams in Recovery
Exam season is fast approaching. Exams at any time in someone’s life can raise stress and anxiety levels. For people in recovery, stress and anxiety are often triggers for using and drinking. We want to help you navigate the difficulties of a stressful exam period and provide tools to stop you reaching for a substance…
Read MoreHow to Achieve an “Attitude of Gratitude” in Recovery
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” These wise words were from John F Kennedy and got us thinking about how to actually live in continued expressed gratitude. We therefore devised a little guide to help us all live…
Read MoreAn Attitude of Gratitude in Recovery
Practicing daily gratitude has benefits that can help you maintain your recovery. It helps to reduce stress and illness and improves sleep and social connection. When you are focused on what you are grateful for you start to appreciate what is good about your life, instead of what is bad. By being grateful, you can…
Read MoreEmpathy in Recovery
According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, Empathy is “the ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person’s situation”. This means you are able to identify and understand another individual’s feelings and motives without having to actually share their experience. An empathetic person is…
Read MoreHow Can You Get An Addict Into Rehab?
Have you ever seen a wounded wild animal? Perhaps you’ve seen something caught in a trap or in a fence, thrashing wildly to get free, but lashing out at anyone who comes near to try and help it? This analogy is easily relatable to the stories of many whose loved one is trapped in the…
Read MoreSummer 2018 Newsletter
See What’s New at High Watch! Expansion is On the Horizon We are helping more people than ever at High Watch. We see in the news every day that addiction has become an epidemic and we are bursting at the seams helping record numbers of guests as they work toward recovery. To help our staff…
Read MoreFall 2018 Newsletter
What’s New at High Watch? Thanksgiving at High Watch On Thursday we celebrated a wonderful day with staff, guests and their families. It was a truly wonderful day to share in fellowship and give thanks for our family, friends and all who have supported us throughout our lives. Alumni News We would love…
Read More5 Things You Can Do Right Now to Get a Healthier Mind and Body
Our modern lives are often busy, stressful and full of distraction. We often forget to stop and take a breath. Work, friends, and even recreational activities demand our time and energy. It’s important to remember where our priorities are, and what life is really about. Stop and ask yourself if you’re content. Life is stressful…
Read MoreAddiction Treatment Center in Kent, CT Successfully Bucks Treatment Trend
In a treatment world long-dominated by medication assisted treatment, High Watch Recovery Center in Kent, CT has bucked that trend and focuses its treatment on the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. There is finally a broad consensus that the opioid crisis has reached epidemic proportions. Lawmakers are responding with myriad proposals to stem the tsunami of tragedy…
Read MoreAddiction Treatment Center in Kent, CT Successfully Bucks Treatment Trend
In a treatment world long-dominated by medication assisted treatment, High Watch Recovery Center in Kent, CT has bucked that trend and focuses its treatment on the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. There is finally a broad consensus that the opioid crisis has reached epidemic proportions. Lawmakers are responding with myriad proposals to stem the tsunami…
Read MoreHow to Help a Loved One with Addiction
Addiction can be a long journey full of heart-break, frustration and learning. There’s a lot of advice out there for how to deal with a family member or loved one that is in the depths of addiction. Although there is a lot of good advice and people do mean well, there is also quite a…
Read MoreSummer 2018 Newsletter
See What’s Happening at High Watch! Expansion is On the Horizon We are helping more people than ever at High Watch. We see in the news every day that addiction has become an epidemic and we are bursting at the seams helping record numbers of guests as they work toward recovery. To help our staff…
Read MoreHigh Watch Annual Picnic 2018
Date: Sunday, September 9 Time: 11AM – 4PM Price: $20/person, children under 12 free Where: High Watch Recovery Center 62 Carter Rd, Kent, CT 06757 The annual picnic is a “don’t miss” event scheduled for Sunday, September 9th, 2018. Please join us for a fun day of inspirational speakers, raffles and delicious homemade picnic foods…
Read MoreYou Can’t Treat Chemical Dependence With Chemical Dependence
There is finally a broad consensus that the opioid crisis has reached epidemic proportions. Lawmakers in Hartford and in Washington are responding with myriad proposals to stem the tsunami of tragedy and rising costs that is inundating communities of every socio-economic stripe across the country. While this surge in awareness and commitment to roll back…
Read MoreJane’s Recovery Story
Re-discovering True Friendship through Recovery My name is Jane and this my story, told from the perspective of a friend I recently made after pursuing my own recovery. Sometimes, I can’t believe how far I’ve come. It’s good to have a trusted friend remind me by sharing my experience with others… Emily Tells Jane’s Story…
Read More10 Signs of a Possible Drinking Problem
It’s hard to be objective when assessing whether or not you or a loved one has a drinking problem. Emotions run high, and it’s hard to understand where the line is between what is acceptable and when it’s gone too far. Although boundaries may be fuzzy, there are classic signs of alcohol dependence that materialize…
Read MoreJane’s Recovery Story
Re-discovering True Friendship through Recovery My name is Jane and this my story, told from the perspective of a friend I recently made after pursuing my own recovery. Sometimes, I can’t believe how far I’ve come. It’s good to have a trusted friend remind me by sharing my experience with others… Emily Tells Jane’s Story…
Read MoreRich History of High Watch Recovery
Hill of Hope: High Watch Recovery Center
Hope
“Hope” The Hill of Hope It was there that I found Hope in getting and staying Sober. I began to listen, to pray, to trust and to willfully make connections with other humans. I began to become able to be quiet and listen to the sound of the wind. To confide in the universe, the…
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