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
I’ve grappled with depression since childhood. It would manifest in feelings of hopelessness, low mood, lethargy, isolation, and a sense of despair. I didn’t want to do anything and family would complain that no one could please me. I was difficult to be around — even I didn’t want to be in my company.
The holiday season can be challenging, especially if you’re new to recovery. Our routine becomes disrupted as we cram lots of social events into an increasingly busy schedule, and we can struggle to navigate challenging family dynamics without numbing agents.
Fear is the biggest barrier to change, even if that change is for the better and will improve our lives. There is no doubt that getting sober is a daunting prospect — it’s terrifying.
Unfortunately, substance use disorder doesn’t affect just one type of person — it impacts people in all walks of life, and most of them have families. It is a serious national public health problem affecting approximately 45 million families.
I recently encountered the rather unpleasant effects of withdrawal while coming off antidepressant medication.
It is challenging to list just eight of my fellow recovery heroes and thought leaders because there are so many more of us. That said, the following list is a picture of the people who have most influenced my recovery, advocacy, and writing.
Recovery is about learning how to live life not just without the use of drugs and alcohol, but also how to deal with the range emotions and feelings we’ve been suppressing for years. The same is true of anxiety: we have to learn how to live with feeling anxious without trying to avoid it.
The cost of leaving 12-step fellowships was losing my in-person community.
Practicing gratitude in hard times can actually help us the most: we might notice that more things are working for us than against us, and that life might be challenging but it’s a whole lot less challenging than dealing with it while loaded.
My annual depression — Seasonal Affective Disorder — has just started to rear its ugly head this week. The hardest part is that I know what I have to do to take care of myself, it just feels impossible to make it happen.
Cold and flu season is upon us. It’s the time of year that we pick up anything from a common cold, to full-blown flu which keeps us in bed for a week. But fear not, there are a host of things you can do to boost your immunity and keep viruses at bay.
Coping with depression can be a challenging process, especially for those in early recovery. Olivia Pennelle of Liv’s Recovery Kitchen recounts her own experience with depression, and her own strategies for managing it today.
Olivia Pennelle of Liv’s Recovery Kitchen explains why meditation has been one of the transformative tools she’s used in her recovery.
In honor of National Recovery Month, we look at why stories of recovery matter. It’s important to share recovery stories, during National Recovery Month, and every other month.
Olivia Pennelle of Liv’s Recovery Kitchen explains why she doesn’t identify with the terms alcoholic or addict.
Achieving work-life balance in recovery isn’t easy, but Olivia Pennelle of Liv’s Recovery Kitchen offers strategies that have helped her set boundaries with work and prioritize self-care.
Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) is indicated for the treatment of opioid dependence in adults. Suboxone should not be taken by individuals who have been shown to be hypersensitive to buprenorphine or naloxone as serious adverse reactions, including anaphylactic shock, have been reported. Taking Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) with other opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants can cause breathing problems that can lead to coma and death. Other side effects may include headaches, nausea, vomiting, constipation, insomnia, pain, increased sweating, sleepiness, dizziness, coordination problems, physical dependence or abuse, and liver problems. For more information about Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) see Suboxone.com, the full Prescribing Information, and Medication Guide, or talk to your healthcare provider. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
All clinical and medical services are provided by licensed physicians and clinicians who are practicing as employees or contractors of independently owned and operated professional medical practices that are owned by licensed physicians. These medical practices include Workit Health (MI), PLLC, Workit Health (CA), P.C., Workit Health (NJ), LLC, Workit Health (OH), LLC, and any other Workit Health professional entity that is established in the future.
Florida
4730 North Habana Ave
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Tampa, FL 33614
fax (HIPAA): (813) 200-2822
Michigan
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Ste 280
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
fax (HIPAA): (855)716-4494
New Jersey
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Ste 117
Marlton, NJ 08053
fax (HIPAA): (609) 855-5027
Ohio
6855 Spring Valley Dr
Ste 110
Holland, OH 43528
fax (HIPAA): (513) 823-3247
Texas
8229 Shoal Creek Blvd
Ste 105
Austin, TX 78757
fax (HIPAA): (737) 738-5046
Clinic locations
Florida
4730 North Habana Ave
Ste 206
Tampa, FL 33614
fax (HIPAA): (813) 200-2822
Michigan
3300 Washtenaw Ave
Ste 280
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
fax (HIPAA): (855)716-4494
New Jersey
5 Greentree Center
Ste 117
Marlton, NJ 08053
fax (HIPAA): (609) 855-5027
Ohio
6855 Spring Valley Dr
Ste 110
Holland, OH 43528
fax (HIPAA): (513) 823-3247
Texas
5373 W Alabama St
Ste 204
Houston, TX 77056
fax (HIPAA): (737) 738-5046
Quit Opioids
Opioid use disorder
Moderate or stop drinking
Alcohol use disorder
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