Starting your Recovery: Understand Addiction as a Disease (01:34)

FREE PREVIEW

Learn about substance use disorder, including symptoms, and physical and social consequences. Addiction is a chronic and fatal disease comparable to diabetes.

Starting your Recovery: Heal your World, Choose Recovery (04:11)

Recovering addicts describe how their disease has affected their personal and professional lives.

Starting your Recovery: Believe the Promises of Recovery (03:33)

Hear the difference between recovery and sobriety. Recovering addicts share how the process has improved their lives and relationships.

Preventing Relapse: Live without Alcohol or Other Drugs (04:35)

Early recovery requires learning how to live again, which takes effort. Cravings are a normal part of recovery and lessen over time. Coping strategies include reminding yourself that cravings will pass and talking about them with others.

Preventing Relapse: Create a Safe Environment; Avoid High-Risk Situations (03:49)

People in recovery should spend time away from the using environment, remove alcohol or paraphernalia from the home, avoid other users, and recruit sober support people. Recovering addicts describe their triggers.

Preventing Relapse: Understanding Relapse (04:06)

The pathway to relapse begins with returning to old patterns of thinking. Managing addiction requires outside support and guidance. Recovering addicts share relapse prevention strategies. Relapses are common and can be valuable learning experiences.

Managing Your Day: Plan Each Day (06:56)

Idle time can be dangerous in early recovery. Recovering addicts share the value of maintaining routines. Reconnecting with past hobbies and finding ways to have fun are also important.

Managing your Day: Return to School or Work (04:33)

Many recovering addicts are surprised by reactions of support and nonjudgment among their peers and coworkers.

Managing Thoughts and Feelings: Understand Emotions (03:01)

People in recovery should acknowledge and accept feelings they have been numbing through chemical use. Recovering addicts share their experience with re-learning how to manage negative emotions.

Managing Thoughts and Feelings: Face Anger, Fear, and Shame (04:46)

People in recovery can talk about emotions with others, find healthy coping methods, and pursue a healthier lifestyle. Recovering addicts share what works for them in terms of managing negative emotions.

Managing Thoughts and Feelings: Practice Positive Thinking (03:16)

Suppressing emotions can lead to self-destructive behavior. Recovering addicts share healthy ways of processing emotions and coping with insecurities.

Building Healthy Relationships: Utilize Peer Support (03:38)

Hear why it is important to have sober social networks during recovery. Recovering addicts discuss ways they have made new friends and pursued healthy lifestyles.

Building Healthy Relationships: Create Healthy Friendships (04:43)

Addiction is a disease of loneliness and isolation; recovery focuses on support and connection. Recovering addicts should distance themselves from people unsupportive of their recovery. Learn to say “no.”

Building Healthy Relationships: Improve Family Relationships (03:45)

Many recovering addicts have feelings of guilt and shame about how their behavior impacted family members. Rebuilding trust takes time. One man expresses gratitude for reconnecting with his brother.

Keep Going: Set Goals (04:06)

People in recovery benefit from the ability to achieve goals. Recovering addicts share what motivates them to stay sober. Staying present is also important.

Keep Going: Stay Grounded in the Twelve Step Program (04:39)

Working a recovery program requires honesty, openness and willingness; self-examination; and spiritual development. Learn about the sponsor role. Recovering addicts share their experiences in the program.

Keep Going: Inspire Others (03:23)

People in recovery share their experience and hope with newcomers. Giving back to the community through volunteer work and building healthy relationships provides a sense of meaning and purpose.

Credits: Recovery Basics (00:37)

Credits: Recovery Basics