Articles
Spirituality
Jerry Green | Alumni Services Liaison For me, spirituality is a set of actions. It has far more to do with the actions I take, rather than what I think, feel, or believe in any given moment. My thoughts are not always correct, especially my reactive thoughts. When I...
How to Learn Problem Solving Skills in Addiction Recovery
Getting sober is only one problem to solve in addiction recovery. It may be why people who start treatment only focused on quitting drug use or drinking have trouble maintaining their sobriety. Problem solving skills are valuable tools to learn and develop during...
How to Deal with My Husband’s Addiction
Seeing your spouse's drinking or drug use affect every member of the family for years can leave you feeling helpless. While the responsibility to end a partner's substance use isn't yours, reducing the harm to you and your children is within your reach. In this blog...
Unchanged
Jerry Green | Alumni Services Liaison I have been going through some ups and downs lately. Nothing major, just changes. My wife reminds me all the time that no matter what the problem is, the answer is always the same. And it is. The Solution to my problems today, big...
Signs of Depression in Men
Sudden behavior changes in the men in your life could be signs of a shift in their mental health. These signs may reveal that a friend, family member, or coworker needs help for depression or even both depression and addiction. Your role as a support system can only...
Just Do It
Jerry Green | Alumni Services Liaison Taking the actions "suggested" in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous work. Every time! If this is our experience, then why do so many of us fail to take them on a regular basis? It is because we either fail to "REALize" (becomes...
How Does Detox Work
Detoxification is a crucial first step for anyone with a substance use disorder to begin long-term recovery work. Still, you may need detox and not know exactly how it works. Without knowledge of its process, you may be unaware of the risks of attempting to detox in...
Why Understanding Meth Addiction for the Non-User is Crucial for Friends and Family
The physical transformation of meth users is well documented. It’s likely you’ve seen before and after photos of people who regularly use the drug. What may be unknown to you is how meth addiction affects how a person feels and thinks. Today, let’s talk about what...
A New Year: Being Spiritually Awake Changes Everything
Jerry Green | Alumni Services Liaison A New Year is upon us! What a time for rebirth, renewal, and a glorious opportunity to serve others. I must remember that this is not about making resolutions and resolving to do better. This New Year is about asking my Higher...
Working the Steps
Jerry Green | Alumni Services Liaison There has been a misconception for years in our fellowship concerning the working of the Steps. Many people say it takes years to get sick, and it will take you years to get well. But this is not true. It is documented repeatedly...
The Season
By Jerry Green | Alumni Services Liaison The holiday season is upon us. For a struggling alcoholic or addict, this season can be especially hard. Not only does the guilt and shame of a life of taking, rather than giving, increase, so does our grandiose thinking. We...
Finding a New Home
By Newell Bentley | Senior Alumni Care Coordinator When I first found myself in treatment and accepted that I would have to do things differently, I thought I was going to lose my home and my way of life forever. Yes, my life was in ruins, and from the outside, it...
Addiction and the Brain
One of the most critical parts of recovery for someone with addiction is restoring the function of the brain. Much of the harm that’s been done can be reversed. It’s important before starting treatment to understand how the brain may have been affected by years of...
We Need You
Jerry Green | Alumni Services Liaison We see people every day who are living in a “recovered state.” They are happy, joyous, and free, helping other people and enjoying life. They are changing the world one person at a time. They find real happiness by using their...
How Long Does Addiction Recovery Take?
Virtually everywhere we look, there’s a clear beginning, middle, and end to something. It’s true in work days, sports seasons, and school years. Most of us may be counting down to the end of something on any given day. It’s natural to want to know how long something...
Staff Spotlight – Newell Bentley
Newell Bentley - Senior Alumni Coordinator What brought you to the field of addiction treatment? What brought you to Origins? I had been in and out of treatment, letting myself and my family down again and again. I finally found myself willing to do whatever was...
Staff Spotlight – Jerry Green
Jerry Green - Alumni Services Liaison What brought you to the field of addiction treatment? What brought you to Origins? I have been involved in raising funds and building a treatment center for the past five years. What brought me to Origins was a miracle. I found...
God Among Us
Jerry Green | Alumni Services Liaison I sat in a meeting recently with lots of newcomers. The topic was from Pages 24 and 25 of The Big Book. You know: first the bad news and then the good news. I watched their eyes as a few glazed over. Yet, there was a spark of hope...
What is an Intervention?
You may have heard the word “intervention” repeatedly used in the addiction community and still not know exactly what it involves or how one looks. What is an intervention? It can feel like a major undertaking to initiate an important change in the life of someone you...
Is my Husband an Alcoholic? 5 Signs You Can’t Ignore
You may have seen your husband drink for years and not considered it a problem. Now, you may be wondering if his drinking has become a diagnosable condition. It’s natural to have questions about how serious the problem might be for him and for your marriage. Helping...