If you live with ADHD, you already know what it feels like to be told you’re lazy, disorganised, too much, not enough. You’ve probably spent years trying to function in a world that wasn’t designed for your brain. Now add addiction, a cycle of relief, shame, chaos and craving and recovery can feel impossible. This …
Sometimes in recovery, we can start to feel a bit wobbly, but we don’t think things are bad enough to ask for help. Maybe you’re managing okay, but you’re exhausted. Or maybe things have slipped, but not completely unravelled. You’ve probably told yourself that you should be able to handle all of this by now. …
Connection can save lives, but the wrong kind can cause harm. Peer support is a powerful part of recovery for many people. That sense of “you too?” can break shame, soften isolation and give us tools that professionals can’t. But peer spaces also come with challenges: blurred boundaries, advice-giving or pressure to conform to a …
If you’ve started exploring recovery, you’ve likely come across two phrases: 12-step and non-12-step. They sound simple, but they represent two very different approaches to addiction recovery and choosing between them can feel daunting. At Open Recovery, we don’t believe one is better than the other. We believe you deserve to understand the differences so …
Rehab is often seen as the “main solution” to addiction – the final step when nothing else has worked. But in reality, rehab is just one of many recovery tools. It can be life-changing for the right person, at the right time, with the right support. But it isn’t always necessary, or even helpful, for …
There is no single path to recovery and that’s a good thing. What works for one person might not work for another. And what didn’t work before might help you now, in a different season of life. For decades, addiction recovery was presented as a narrow road: abstinence, 12 steps, group meetings, and spiritual surrender. …
Recovery isn’t just about the big moments like rehab, group shares, milestones etc. Staying in touch with yourself is also a huge part of it. That’s where recovery check-ins come in. A check-in is a simple way to reflect on how you’re feeling, what’s working, and what might need adjusting. It’s not about ticking boxes …
Recovery isn’t just about avoiding a relapse — it’s about learning how to live. Day to day. Moment to moment. Especially when life gets loud, complicated, or unexpectedly hard. That’s where self-management tools come in. These aren’t about controlling yourself through force or shame. They’re about supporting your nervous system, improving your emotional regulation, and …
Recovery doesn’t stop once you’ve left rehab or hit a milestone. The real work begins after the initial crisis period has passed. That’s when you can start shaping a sustainable life, one that supports long-term wellbeing and purpose beyond staying sober. But what does maintenance actually mean? It’s about much more than just avoiding relapse. …
Relapse is part of many people’s recovery journey. It’s not a moral failure; it doesn’t mean that treatment didn’t work. And you’re not back at square one. It means something in your environment, support system or internal world shifted, and your existing tools weren’t enough in that moment. Relapse prevention isn’t about fear or rigidity. …
