Balance...a word that is cringeworthy to every alcoholic - sober or still drinking. The truth is, most of us have extreme personalities, completely void of any moderation. Think of the game whack-a-mole, the second we begin addressing our addiction, an extreme character defect pops up to the surface. As addicts, we ... Read More
Alumni
At FHE we are very proud and supportive of our Alumni community. They are the proof of our clinical program and when they come to us with a desire to share their story of hope, we love to recognize them. We regularly reach out to alumni and ask them to share their perspective on: what they wish they knew before rehab, their treatment experience, and their thoughts on life in recovery. There is power in relatable experiences, and through their stories we hope you will identifiy with their messages.
Alumni Outlook: Finding Balance in Recovery and Letting Go of the ‘All or Nothing’ Mentality
Alumni Outlook: 4 Tips For Parents in Addiction Recovery
Of all the gifts that have come to fruition in my recovery, the ability to show up and be the best mother I can be is by far my favorite. When I think of the things I’m most grateful for, my kids instantly come to mind -- talk about undeserving. Before getting sober, I was an absolute mess. I couldn’t take care of ... Read More
Alumni Outlook: Benefits of Continued Therapy in Recovery
Most people assume the remedy for recovery involves detox and abstinence from drugs/alcohol. The truth is, this is only the beginning. Recovery is a life-long process, one that requires discipline and most importantly intensive treatment and therapy. Addiction is usually a symptom of an underlying issue such as ... Read More
Managing Stress Without Turning to Substances
One of the most challenging hurdles for an alcoholic/addict, in early recovery, is overcoming the curse of walking through life with a distorted perception. Stress is the perception that more is being demanded, of an individual, than he/she can manage. Stress can be rooted in many areas such as work, finances, family ... Read More
Alumni Outlook: The Hardest Part of Recovery
Whether we have been sober 3 years or 30 days, most would agree our sickness is propelled by negative thinking and behaviors. The common connection between all addicts is our fundamental inability to deal with emotions. Many addicts turn to drugs/alcohol in order to escape reality and shift our thinking. Once we escape ... Read More
Alumni Outlook: Reconciling Regrets in the Search for Self-Acceptance
“...we can fortify and cheer ourselves by remembering what A.A. experience in this Step has meant to others. It is the beginning of the end of isolation from our fellows and God.” (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions pg. 82) For as long as I can remember, I always found a way to turn any disastrous trauma into utter ... Read More
Alumni Outlook: A Woman’s Take on Grief, Loss and Emotional Trauma
“Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.” ― Leo Tolstoy January 6, 2013, was just another day, seemingly like any other day. After battling (what we all believed to be) the flu, I remember it ... Read More
Finding Happiness in Recovery: How the Ultimate Hype Girl Turned Her Life Around
My addiction gracefully led me down many roads. More often than not, I found myself in complete isolation and I reveled in the chaos ruling my thoughts. When the noise became intolerable, I’d be sure to hang out with the “trainwrecks”. A sick satisfaction and justification came with hearing the stories of the people, I ... Read More
