Longbranch Recovery Blog

Perhaps you don’t even realize how many traumatic experiences you have weathered in your life. Like the rings of a tree, they are imprinted into our souls as we grow, hidden deep within the core. It could be the death of…

Suffering from mental health challenges feels like an attack on your body, mind, spirit, and family. Anxiety grips the mind, making us worry over things that are not worth the angst. Depression crushes the spirit, going far beyond mere sadness…

Suffering from depression is utterly debilitating. It is more than just feeling “down” or being in a period of sadness. It is something that lasts much longer — to the point where it feels like it’s become part of our…

We all feel sad from time to time. For some, though, the sadness lasts for months. It has many crushing layers — of grief, self-hatred, and apathy. Family, friends, and hobbies fade into the background as depression takes over. Conquering…

Dealing with drug or alcohol dependency feels like being a tree in the storm. Even those with the deepest roots get tossed and turned, liable to come crashing down at any minute. If you know that you need to get…

Depression is unrelenting. It always seems to be around, and no matter what we do, we can’t shake the constant weight. In the midst of depression, doing everyday tasks feels so difficult – even the most enjoyable ones. When you…

Depression can be the loneliest place in the world. We fear that nobody understands what we are going through and that nobody will be supportive – and that it will never get better. No matter how dark it may feel,…

Deciding to get help for drinking can feel like the end of a tortuous battle. You’ve faced down the denial, the doubt, and the shame to make a positive decision to transform your life. Yet, that’s where the real work…

Once you realize that substance abuse is becoming an issue in your life, it’s hard to ignore. Even if you’ve been able to hold it together so far, the fact that you have a problem is inescapable — and it’s…

Dealing with drug and alcohol abuse is a nightmare for anyone. It feels like your body, mind, spirit, and family are under attack as the disease takes hold. But how can you break the cycle — especially if you have…

Roughly 65% of American adults had a drink in the last year, according to a recent poll. Some go out to the bar for a beer with friends after work, while others enjoy a glass of wine or a tumbler…

Intensive outpatient programs for substance use disorder are successful in helping up to 70% of their graduates stay clean and sober for the long-term. So, if you are considering IOP, it’s likely that you haven’t been before. With most cultural…

Struggling with drinking keeps you trapped in an endless loop of impossible, illogical situations: You don’t want to drink, but you do it anyway. Alcohol makes you feel sick, so you drink more to feel better. Or, this: You know…

Alcohol use disorder can sneak up on you. Like rot in a tree, it can fester beneath the surface for years, showing few signs of what has taken root before the entire tree tumbles. If you believe you are a…

Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired? Drinking and drug use take a serious toll on your body, mind, spirit, and family. Even if you’ve managed to hold onto all of your “things” so far — your…

Asking for help is the most difficult thing someone suffering from addiction can do. It takes courage, and strength, and support. Here are a few ways you can ask for help to gain control over your life away from addiction….

The recent upheaval in our daily lives due to coronavirus has left many feeling scattered, uprooted, and anxious. For those in recovery, these emotions can be a slippery slope. Although being at home can feel like our usual support resources…