Whether you are concerned about your own relationship with drugs or alcohol, or the substance use of a loved one, talking seriously about treatment can be difficult and tense. You may be making excuses to yourself, or have a loved
Addiction is often understood as physical dependence on a substance, but the reality of this disease is far more complex. While the existence of psychological addiction has been acknowledged for some time, these two facets of dependence are often discussed
Alcohol use disorder doesn’t discriminate, but many recovery programs have found that gender segregation in treatment allows for a more individual approach that considers the unique needs of men and women battling addictions. Men and women experience substance abuse differently
There are many reasons people are reluctant to enter treatment. The most common are that they aren’t ready to get sober, they don’t think they can afford treatment, or they don’t know where to get treatment. [https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DR-FFR2-2016/NSDUH-DR-FFR2-2016.htm] However, even after
The opioid crisis in the US continues to get worse every year. In 2017, more than 70,000 Americans died of drug overdoses and nearly 48,000 of those deaths involved opioids. [https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates] Much of the response by insurance companies and local,
Addiction recovery isn’t just about abstinence but rather about making lifestyle changes that support physical, mental, and spiritual health. To that end, regular exercise can at least help you improve your mental and physical health. Here’s 5 Reasons Exercise Is
Practicing Mindfulness is simply learning to be in the present moment and being aware of what’s going on around you. It’s an ancient Buddhist practice supported by modern science. Every year, more and more research affirms the benefits of a
Within addiction recovery, there are many terms that incite fear due to stigma. A 2019 study published in the journal Health Education surveyed a group of people – those who were in recovery, their family members and loved ones, as
Psychotherapy, also known as “talk therapy,” is when a person works one-on-one with a therapist to cover deep-rooted issues that may not have been addressed before. Many people in addiction recovery have struggled with trauma, abuse, neglect, pain and more,
It’s completely normal to experience bouts of anxiety from time to time – job interviews, meeting new people and being thrown into social situations can easily make a person jittery. There are times, however, when anxiety begins to fester out
Dear Renewal Lodge Visitors,
My name is John Bruna, co-founder of the Mindfulness in Recovery® Institute, and more importantly, a grateful member of the recovery community. I am incredibly fortunate to have found my recovery in 1984. Of course, I did not achieve continuous recovery through willpower or my own efforts, but through the guidance and caring support of countless others that selflessly taught me how to live through the 12 Steps.
My journey of recovery brought this once homeless, shame-based, traumatized, insecure young man to a life far beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I discovered self-worth, the joy of helping others, the gifts of parenting and grandparenting, and most importantly the ability to live a meaningful and purposeful life with integrity.
One of the greatest gifts of recovery is that I have the opportunity to give back and help others discover their self-worth, dignity, and the skills to fully live lives that they find truly meaningful. This is the inspiration for developing the skills of Mindfulness in Recovery® (MIR) to meet the needs of new generations struggling with alcohol and other substance use disorders. MIR is a set of evidence-based skills designed to help people fully integrate their tools of recovery in ways that are personalized, practical, and in alignment with their deepest values.
While we train counselors and therapists throughout the United States and abroad, I personally have chosen to work directly with the amazing team and clients at Renewal Lodge to develop the model MIR 12-step program for the nation. I choose Renewal Lodge because of the vision of its mission and the dedication of its team. Renewal Lodge is an extremely rare environment in which the staff embodies the very mindfulness and 12-step practices and skills they offer their clients. The results have been beyond my expectations. It is an honor to be here and I treasure my personal time with every client I meet.
With Gratitude,
