Sober Isn’t Boring
Long-term recovery is a huge accomplishment; it’s a choice that we make over and over again every day. It opens up the world of possibilities
Olivia Pennelle
Olivia Pennelle (Liv) has a masters in clinical social work from Portland State University. She is a mental health therapist, writer, and human activist. Her writing has appeared in STAT News, Insider, Filter Magazine, Ravishly, The Temper, and Shondaland. She is the founder of Liv’s Recovery Kitchen, Life After 12-Step Recovery, and Tera Collaborations. She lives near Portland, Oregon. Follow her on Instagram @Livwritesrecovery and @teracollaborations
5 Great Sober Content Creators
No matter how weird recovery feels at first, SOMEONE else can relate to what you’re going through and show you how they navigated it. Find the creators who can inspire your recovery. Here are a few who inspired me.
Diagnosing Substance Use Disorders
How is a substance use disorder diagnosed? And is it a good thing or a bad thing to get that diagnosis? This blog breaks it down.
Tips to Manage Anxiety in Recovery
I’ve struggled with anxiety my whole life, and tried to self-medicate it for a long time. In recovery, here’s how I deal with my anxiety.
Answering Your Questions About PrEP for HIV
With modern technology and science, it’s now possible to get PrEP for HIV via telemedicine. Here are answers to many of your questions about getting and using PrEP.
Friends Can Either Help or Hinder Your Recovery
Friends can play an important role in your recovery from substance use disorder. Here are some green flags of supportive friends and red flags to watch out for.
How To Tell Your Family About Your Addiction
While some stages of substance use disorder can be hidden, after a while it becomes quite obvious—as much as we like to think we’re great at covering our tracks. Whether your family know or not, telling them can be daunting.
How I Navigate Pain Medication As a Person in Recovery
Liv is in recovery. Here’s why she chooses to take prescription pain meds when necessary, and how she maintain my recovery.
Drink Tracking Apps: Can They Help Reduce Your Drinking?
Drink tracking apps are popular, but do they actually help? Research is limited, but there is some evidence that tracking your drinks can help you cut back.
A Dangerous Myth: “Suboxone is Just Legal Heroin”
The myth that “Suboxone is just legal heroin” is wrong and damaging. It keeps people from getting help with their opioid use disorder.
What to Know About Precipitated Withdrawal from Opioids
Precipitated withdrawal is intense and miserable, and may discourage people from medication-assisted treatment. But if you wait until directed to start buprenorphine, you can avoid precipitated withdrawal.
Having Dreams About Drinking or Using
Dreams about drinking or using can be frightening in recovery. Here’s why people have relapse dreams and what to do if you have one.
Tackling the Stigma of Substance Use During Pregnancy
Substance use is a leading cause of death during or shortly after pregnancy. Stigma often keeps these people from treatment.
How to Advocate for Yourself With Medical Providers
We all deserve good quality medical care every time we see a provider. Learning to advocate for ourselves helps us get that.
Toxic Positivity vs. Healthy Optimism
Toxic positivity is weirdly common in recovery circles, and has the potential to be very harmful. How can we recognize it, and how is it different from healthy optimism?
Countering Negative Self-Talk
Negative self-talk refers to unhelpful ways of thinking that can keep us stuck. Here are some simple techniques to counter them.