As we move through March, the festive spirit of the holiday season may feel like a distant memory. During fall and winter, celebrations such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and others emphasize the importance of gratitude, reminding us to cherish the food, gifts, and moments shared with loved ones. Yet, the practice of living in gratitude shouldn’t be confined to a specific season. It holds immense value throughout the entire year, particularly for individuals with AUD or those navigating the journey of recovery. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), in particular, features many guiding pr ..read more

While the initial realization that there is a problem and the decision to seek help can be among the most difficult parts of recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD) or substance use disorder (SUD), staying in recovery can pose its own challenges. Becoming sober can be a scary thought for someone who has relied on substances for so long, and staying sober is a process that requires guidance, support, and fortitude. That’s why the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) created this iconic 12-step program. Together, The Twelve Steps of AA serve as a guide for navigating recovery as well as helpin ..read more

Dear ECHO Recovery Community, We are reaching out with an important update regarding our Sober Housing Scholarship program. Due to an overwhelming demand and a current lack of sufficient funding, we regret to inform you that our sober housing scholarship applications are temporarily closed. The journey towards recovery is unique, challenging, and often expensive. The cost of sober housing can be a significant barrier for many individuals in early recovery. Our scholarship program was designed to help eliminate this financial obstacle by providing funds to cover the cost of sober housing. It sa ..read more

With how pervasive the internet and social media are, it can be easy to assume that we’re more connected than ever before. These tools can make you feel like you have the world at your fingertips; after all, we can get answers to questions in mere seconds as we connect with people the world over. The web is purported to make finding new communities easy, as people are able to gain access to relationships with a number of people they’ve never met. Unfortunately, I’ve found that the opposite is true – and this phenomenon, along with other issues, can make addiction and recovery extremely lonely ..read more

Taking the first step and admitting you need help addressing your alcohol use can be the most difficult, most critical decision you’ll ever make. It’s common to feel defeated in the face of the many physical and mental health issues caused by excessive alcohol use, but it’s not too late to forge a path forward. I made this difficult decision myself many years ago, and today, I continue to encourage others to move away from alcohol use and toward healthier choices. At ECHO Recovery, I’ve found great value in the education and recovery support we provide for those who are struggling with substan ..read more

Every road to recovery is unique. While there are general tools and support systems, nearly everyone can benefit from, finding a therapeutic technique that you truly click with can provide the best benefits for maintaining and thriving in a sober lifestyle. Self-discovery and self-reflection are two critical aspects of recovery. When a person is struggling with a substance use disorder, they often neglect their true physical, mental, and emotional needs. Who they are becomes defined by the substance. Developing the ability to look internally and reflect on what you find is key to regaining you ..read more

People in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) frequently develop the need to find alternative housing – and for a number of reasons. For example, some people who are homeless find themselves relying on alcohol or drugs to cope with their struggles and need a safe place to continue their recovery. Others find that their previous living situations are not conducive to recovery. For these people and many others, sober housing can be crucial for providing security, avoiding relapse, finding community, and developing healthier methods of managing stress. While the importance of sober housing ..read more

As children, we’re shown how to color and paint pictures in ways that show off our creativity. Many people stop drawing or creating art as they get older, and unfortunately, we’re no longer encouraged to use creative expression in our daily lives. However, art can be an effective tool in helping those with substance use disorder (SUD) reach and maintain recovery. SUD can feel debilitating and can be one of the most challenging situations you’ll ever navigate, but it doesn’t have to continue to negatively impact the rest of your life. Art, in its many forms, can make the experience of recovery ..read more

Dealing with triggers in recovery can feel like an ongoing battle – and that’s because, in large part, it is. Triggers are a lasting, repetitive reminder of your substance use and are unique to you and your situation. They can also look different for each individual and could be a person, place, situation, or even an object. Understanding how to handle addiction triggers can help you prepare for when you find yourself in a triggering situation, and the coping skills that work best for you can help you stay on your path to sobriety. Handling triggers can be difficult at any stage of recovery. W ..read more

Empowering families and loved ones helps those dealing with substance use disorders find their own sense of empowerment in recovery. Millions of people nationwide and around the world are dealing with substance use disorders. Substance use negatively affects multiple aspects of a person’s life, including their physical, mental, and emotional health, their finances, and their relationships with others. There is no doubt that a substance use disorder harms the person who uses substances. However, it also severely impacts their close family and friends. Learning effective ways to protect their he ..read more