Tal started drinking at the age of 12. At 13, she began using drugs. Cocaine was her drug of choice, but sedatives were also easy to acquire. Even SSRIs, a class of drugs often prescribed for anxiety and depression, could give her a high when she took them at higher doses. What Triggered Addiction to Drugs and ... Read More
Featured in Alumni
No More Shame Story: Tal Collins
4 Ways Spirituality Calms an Anxious Mind
The last few years of my sobriety have been anxiety-ridden, to say the least. From leaving an abusive relationship, moving to Palm Beach County, surviving a global pandemic, single motherhood, all the way to preparing my heart and my household for my son to start middle school this fall. These seemingly "normal" ebbs ... Read More
The Man’s Guide to Getting Out of Your Own Way
I often tell people early on and new to recovery that they are entering warfare with their minds. The disease of addiction and alcoholism centers within the mind -- only the most powerful thing in the world if you ask me. No big deal. So, what does untreated addiction look like in the mind? What is 'untreated ... Read More
To Share or Not to Share? Navigating Transparency and Openness in Early Recovery
Many people work toward a delicate balance between opening up and keeping their personal life private. This month, Alumni Director Molly Mammen responds to questions from alumni regarding opening up to others about their addiction or mental health treatment experiences. Read on to see her suggestions about transparency ... Read More
5 Effective Self-Care Practices to Manage Stress
Stress affects every human, invariably in many different ways. Stress is the nagging static in your brain that beckons your attention. When stressors crop up, it is seemingly impossible to stay focused on the present moment. When I feel stressed, my brain feels like mush and self-care goes out the window. These ... Read More
5 Ways to Support a Loved One with Depression
Depression is a mental health condition that does not discriminate. From doctors, mothers, teachers, and even preachers - depression is one of the most common mental health issues in existence. As someone who has struggled with depression and anxiety myself, I know how absolutely hopeless this condition can feel. ... Read More
Recovery Insights: How to Build a Better Life in Recovery
In this month's Recovery Insights Q & A column, Alumni Director, Molly Mammen, shares personalized advice and specific ways to build a happy and successful life in recovery. Here are her specific responses to recently submitted alumni questions: How will I come back from this? Of course you will come back ... Read More
The Modern Man’s Guide to Bonding Without Booze
I have this very odd habit that has developed over the past year or so. I'll be watching something; it can be a YouTube video, a tv show, or just an advertisement. No matter how old it is, when I see people socializing close with each other, it irks me that they are not wearing masks. I could be watching the Fresh ... Read More