The High Watch Blog
When we’re actively involved in addiction, our daily schedule involves the intense desire to abuse substances. As Harvard Health indicates, craving, loss of control, and continued involvement in substances – despite their consequences – essentially hardwires our brain to want nothing else. In 2017, CNBC covered a study that surveyed 1,057 individuals who identified as…
Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for yourself in recovery. Numerous studies have supported the many benefits of exercise. It has been shown to increase activity in your prefrontal cortex, the part of your brain responsible for executive functions like planning, self-control, emotional regulation, concentration, and working memory. It has…
Relaxation is an essential recovery skill for several reasons. First, and most importantly, stress is a major relapse trigger. When you feel stressed and overwhelmed, you become negative and feel like recovery is pointless. Often times, you have used drugs and alcohol for years as a way to cope with stress. Due to the way…
Loneliness is one major challenge people often face early in recovery. It’s usually a good idea to distance yourself from old friends who drink or use drugs since they can be a major trigger of cravings. However, you may not yet have any friends to replace them. People typically find loneliness stressful and depressing. Chronic…
Finishing inpatient treatment for addiction is a great beginning to recovery. It creates a solid foundation to build on. If you have a loved one who struggles with addiction, you will play a role in building on that foundation if you want your loved one to succeed. Recovery is challenging for both the person in…
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 16 million American adults suffer from depression every year. Although we typically talk about depression as if it were one condition, it is actually an umbrella term that includes many related conditions. It may be helpful to know something about these different subtypes, since they often…
Around this time of the year, it’s common to hear people talking about New Year’s resolutions. Weight loss, fitness goals, smoking cessation, travel plans and more fill the air as friends and family share with one another what they hope to complete within the next 12 months. For years, New Year’s as served as a…
With the New Year having just taken a turn, many people are looking to change their lives for the better. If you’re currently in recovery, you may plan to become stronger in using the coping skills you’ve learned, or to continue to remain diligent in your sobriety. It’s quite an accomplishment to have sought treatment,…
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 deliver…
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…
