Support is a crucial part of recovery. When times get tough, it is important to have supportive friends on whom you can rely. However, friends can be problematic when they trigger old addictive habits and behaviors. Often people in recovery need to build new friendships with people who are supportive of recovery and free from their own addictions. This can seem like a daunting task, especially if most of your social activities have involved drinking/using in the past. Here are 3 suggestions for finding new friends: Recovery meetings offer an opportunity to meet new friends who share similar goals. When attending meetings, say hello to other group members. Ask for phone numbers or invite somebody to go out for coffee. It may be scary to reach out to new people at first, but it gets...

Looking to stay sober this NYE? Read on for some celebration ideas! New Year’s Eve is the “booziest” holiday, full of champagne toasts, parties with open bars, and DUI arrests.  It is a challenging day to stay sober for any individual, especially someone in early recovery.  New Year’s Eve does not have to be all about getting intoxicated.  New Year’s is a wonderful time to evaluate goals for the year ahead and strengthen your recovery plan.  It is also a great time to focus on the achievements of the past year, and appreciate how far you’ve come. Just because you aren’t drinking/using this year, doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time!  Here are some ideas for enjoying New Year’s Eve, and waking up still feeling great on New Year’s Day: 1. Game night!  Invite friends over, make s...

Sometimes it can be a challenge to find holiday activities that don’t include alcohol. Add to that the stress that often comes with the season and some in recovery may find this time of year a difficult one. The good news is there are plenty of holiday activities that can be enjoyed sober. We’ve compiled a list of local San Diego activities to get you started with your celebrations – with so many options, you’ll certainly be able to stay busy, safe and merry the whole season through! Happy sober holidays! Clicking the links will take you to the event pages. November 16 – December 28, 2013 Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas Old Globe Theatre Back for its 16th holiday season, this Dr. Seuss classic is a play the whole family will enjoy! Now – End of Season Residential Ho...