Many addiction professionals consider addiction a bio-psycho-social and spiritual disease—a condition with severe detrimental impacts on all four aspects. The ,Dictionary of Psychology of the American Psychological Association (APA) describes spirituality as “a concern for or sensitivity to things of the spirit or soul, especially as opposed to materialistic concerns” and “more specifically, a concern for God and a sensitivity to religious experience, which may include the practice of a particular religion but may also exist without such practice.” It can also be described as an individual's ..read more

Substance misuse can have far-reaching effects on many aspects of a person’s life, including their employment and job prospects. In active addiction, many people who misuse drugs or alcohol lose their jobs as the focus on acquiring psychoactive substances takes over. Seeking treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) can further complicate the situation as this usually means taking time off from work. Taking steps to re-enter the workforce after treatment in a rehab program can also be a daunting challenge for a person with an addiction. Living Sober is a nonclinical program providing transit ..read more

Healthy boundaries are crucial to being a healthy person who enjoys healthy relationships—yet many people are somewhat unfamiliar with the concept. Most people with addiction who enter recovery tend to lack a clear understanding of what boundaries are and why they are important. Often, they have never experienced healthy boundaries before. They tend to come from families where boundaries were not well established or respected. Others found themselves in codependent relationships centered around their addiction. Learning how to establish and maintain healthy boundaries is part of the ,Living So ..read more

Many addiction recovery organizations focus a lot on emotions, spirituality, and self-awareness—and for a good reason, of course. A successful recovery from a severe substance use disorder entails a lot more than managing your feelings and staying sober, though. Managing your money can also be an important key to a successful recovery. Why? In active addiction, the focus was entirely on obtaining drugs or alcohol and certainly not on balancing your checkbook or paying off your credit card debt. That means, in early recovery, many people with addiction have to learn how to manage their finance ..read more

Living Sober is a nonclinical program that provides transitional support for people beginning their recovery journey for the first time, as well as for those who are stepping down from a higher level of care and want to give themselves the best chance for success. Our ,three-phased approach provides increasing independence and is a safe place to explore the many facets of a healthy life of sobriety. The program focuses on 12-Step immersion with a structure reflecting ,the 12 Steps first developed by Alcoholics Anonymous. Each day begins with a beach reading and meditation. Each week the group ..read more

Joining a gym can be intimidating, especially when you’re in early recovery. Most people who get sober are not exactly in the best shape of their lives. But the benefits of working out are unquestionable. ,Healthy activities are a key component of the Living Sober program. We teamed up with a nearby gym called ,FTX Wellness. Membership to this high-end workout facility is included and keeps you motivated. Living Sober’s program director Brad Hanley knows FTX owner Octavio Cifuentes well: “I met him when I first got sober and started going to the FTX gym myself,” he remembers. “So, we decided ..read more

Each new year, your health insurance deductibles reset. This means that you will again have to meet a threshold of out-of-pocket payments (deductible) before your insurance will begin to pay for your healthcare. Your deductible is the amount you are responsible for paying before your insurance will begin paying. Deductibles vary widely based on the insurer and the specific healthcare plan you signed up for. That means, when your deductible resets in January, you are essentially back at square one as far as your contributions are concerned. If you rarely see a healthcare provider, you may not ..read more

People suffering from a substance use disorder (SUD) who want to get sober often need help, although not necessarily medical help. Not every SUD requires detoxification supervised by a medical doctor or full-blown residential treatment supervised by a psychiatrist. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), used by US physicians to diagnose substance use disorders and other mental health conditions presents three levels of severity of SUD—mild, moderate, or severe—based on how many of the eleven diagnostic criteria are met by the patient. A person w ..read more