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The Ninth Step Promises in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous proclaim that if I am steadfast in the work of recovery, I will harvest emotional fruits such as a “feeling of usefulness” and the ability to “handle situations which used to baffle me”. In fact, it claims, “my whole attitude and outlook on life will change”. These may sound like extravagant promises, but in my experience, they do come to fruition. There is no area in which the Promises have been more evident in my life than my experience as a student in recovery. School, in fact, did used to [...]

My name is Laureen and my son, Max, is an addict. When I think back to the beginning of our recovery journey, the feelings and emotions around that time were very challenging. What I’ve learned is that sharing is healing. There’s nothing unique about our story and I have learned so much through listening to other family’s stories (in rehab and at Family Weekends at Alpha). I ‘ve heard and felt despair, fear, trauma, shame, guilt, anger, sadness & pain. What I’m here to share is there’s also hope, joy, peace, healing, and LOVE. When Max was nearing the end of [...]

Who has been with us from the very beginning? Who knows us better than most people in the world? Who can get on our nerves better than anyone else? Our families. You may look at the title of this post and think, “I’ll just skim this one. I am not the problem; my son, the addict, is the problem.” I am going to explain what family therapy is in relation to drug and alcohol abuse treatment and how it can help your family. Family therapy is similar to individual psychotherapy except that the entire family is participating and the family [...]

I arrived at Alpha 180 on a cold December day in 2017. This was to be an important stop on my journey, but I did not quite know it at that time. For years previous I went around and around on the treatment carousel, occasionally stopping for food and water, but never finding the enriching recovery experience I was seeking. As I took my seat in the Monday night recovery meeting at the Alpha 180 clubhouse for the first time something happened. I walked away from the carousel and never looked back. When I committed to Alpha 180 the idea of [...]

My name is Joseph and I am a born-and-raised Austinite. My struggles with drug and alcohol began at age twelve. Though I didn’t know it at the time, I believe I was just trying to find a place to fit in and feel okay, something that didn’t come easily due to being adopted. At the age of seventeen, I was sent to a residential treatment center in Louisiana, followed by sober living. Still fighting the hands that wanted to help at every turn, I was eventually discharged early and sent back to Austin. Initially with reluctance, I joined Alpha 180 as [...]

When a person starts their recovery journey, they typically look for different ways to live healthier lifestyles. Everything from a person’s diet to their exercise routine and even a change in what over the counter medications someone is taking are all affected by newfound sobriety. Nicotine alternatives and quitting aids come in many forms and varieties and people experience various trial and error until they find the correct path for them. When it comes to quitting smoking, there are a tremendous amount of ways to go about it. The older route of going cold turkey may seem too daunting for many, [...]

The goal for every parent is to see their child grow into a confident, capable, content adult. Setting addiction and mental health issues aside, the transition into young adulthood is tumultuous to say the least. Navigating independence, developing functional life skills, establishing one’s identity, and determining an academic or career path are just a few of the items on the to do list. For young adults in early recovery, you can add in learning to manage emotions without previous coping mechanisms, establishing new friendships, grieving life as you knew it, and probably moving to an entirely new place. Once the crisis of [...]

My name is Max and I was in Alpha 180 for a little over a year and it was quite a journey. I was forced into residential treatment in Mississippi when I was 17 years old and it was there I found out that I would be going to aftercare. I was anything but thrilled, but my parents gave me an ultimatum, so I quickly realized I would need to get open-minded about my future. Truth be told, I had a rough start at Alpha 180 because I wasn’t willing to give it a chance. I was angry all the time, [...]

Everywhere I look I hear the word “trauma”, whether I am with my colleagues, browsing social media, or perusing the latest specials on Netflix. Why is it so important that we understand trauma, not just as clinicians, but as parents, friends, teachers, coworkers, etc.? Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. It can also be thought of as the pasts’ ability to affect the present. No matter what our background is, most people carry some degree of trauma. Perhaps this is why the phrase “do unto others as you would have done unto you” is so popular. However, trauma affects everyone differently. A [...]

As a student in long term recovery, the transition to a virtual learning environment has been frustrating and at times scary. Succeeding in school and in recovery has been the result of finding routine and balance, and online classes for the foreseeable future has presented a need to rapidly adapt my daily disciplines. Students in recovery are resilient, uniquely equipped to face adversity head on, and willing to go to great lengths to succeed. The virtual semester ahead will give us an opportunity to let our assets shine while developing resilience and new skills. While reflecting on what has been important [...]