Being in recovery can be overwhelming. But recovery can also be a great opportunity to revamp your life and create some healthy habits that will help you stay sober. They’ll also help you live a healthier life, now and in the future. Consider adding these healthy practices to your daily routine to live your best life yet.

In this episode, I am joined by Andrew Susskind, LCSW who is an author, podcast host and therapist. He specializes in compulsive sexual behaviors. Andrew shares his experience working with clients struggling with these behaviors, his own journey to recovery and brings insight into what we can do to begin normalizing and healing these types of addictive behaviors through vulnerability and trauma work.

If you’ve lost your job in the last few months, you’re likely dealing with a layer of stress you had no way of planning for -- and searching for a new position doesn’t do much to alleviate your anxiety. Hunting for jobs is tough and comes with a lot of rejection, which can be overwhelming for many of us. It’s OK to wait for the right opportunity to come along, but there are always bills to be paid and life to be lived -- money is simply a necessity of life.

Physical fitness is especially helpful in facilitating recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. When you’re in recovery, your focus is not only on staying away from substance abuse but also on building your body back up and caring for your mental health.

We really don’t understand addiction. There has not been much research done on it. We don’t know what treatments are the most effective, lasting and evidence based. Very few medical professionals specialize or even know how to treat an addict. Yet, there are treatment centers all over the nation that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per month. Some even claiming a cure in 30-90 days.

If you have heard about luxury rehab, you might be wondering what makes them so special. Do the amenities actually help with the recovery process? Are people who completed the program in a luxury center less likely to relapse? Is the cost that different?

Episode 37: Charlene Simpson joins us to share her neuro-feedback can be used in addition to therapy and medication to help decrease a variety of symptoms, both physical and mental.

72,287 deaths from drug overdoses in 2017, 10’s of thousands of others dying of other substance abuse related causes, billions spent on educational campaigns, over a trillion dollars spent on a failed war on drugs and the problem continues to escalate. And the wicked little truth: virtually all in the treatment field see the need for long term continuing engagement, Aftercare, to reinforce and support the new ways of thinking and substance free life approach clients were introduced to in the professional setting.

Episode 35: I meet with my colleague and close friend Kaybe to discuss his journey to sobriety and the importance of building a life worthy staying sober for.

Anyone who has someone in their life struggling with addiction recovery may wonder what role they can play in their loved one’s recovery. One way family and friends can support a recovering addict in an impactful way is by helping them to get their lives back on track after their recovery.

Episode 33: Theo Krzywicki the founder of End Overdose joins me for a discussion about the opioid crisis.

Recovery is intimidating for many reasons, especially if you are new to it. You need to focus on your health while adjusting back to life. Making ends meet until you find your first job opportunity post-recovery is necessary, but shouldn't add stress. There are plenty of options available for you, all of which can be fulfilling.

Episode 26: Jay Wick, LMFT joins me for an interesting discussion about his journey in recovery and how he helps client's find purpose in their sobriety.

It’s not always easy to think of enjoying your life when you’re struggling to get through another day sober, but you should. Finding moments of peace and happiness is a crucial step in the process of personal reinvention, and now’s the time to take it, with summer bringing plenty of warm weather and clear skies to lift your spirits.

Addiction is an equal opportunity destroyer of lives. Park Avenue or park bench, silk sheets or city streets, gay or straight, liberal, conservative or just don’t care politically, addiction touches everyone.  According to the latest statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse: 64 Billion is spent per year for addiction health care with another 520 Billion a year lost to addiction related crime, missed work and productivity. What isn’t included in those numbers is the pain and suffering the 10’s of thousands of families who lost someone to addiction felt.

Addiction, alcoholism, substance abuse... Nearly everyone knows someone or has been personally affected by the unexplainable pain of being, loving or knowing someone who has an addiction. Yet, there is still so much fear, shame and stigma connected to being or having someone that you care deeply about labeled an "addict."