The Many Surprising Benefits of Walking
Walking is one of the most accessible, and most underrated, forms of exercise for almost everyone — you don’t need to be fit, it’s free,
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
How to Find Peace While Working From Home
While work in your pajamas while sitting on the sofa may seem appealing, the reality is that it is actually quite challenging. I know. I’ve
Non-Clinical Pathways to Explore on Your Recovery Journey
There are many effective pathways to recovery. Sometimes clinical addiction treatment isn’t the right option for people seeking recovery. There are a whole host of
Relationship Red Flags: Navigating Dating in Recovery
Dating is one of the hardest things to navigate as a sober person. Paying attention to relationship red flags can help you throughout the dating
What to Look For When Choosing Addiction Treatment
Knowing what to look for when choosing addiction treatment — whether it is for you or your loved one — can feel overwhelming. There is
How I Rejected Diet Culture for Good
Addiction ravages your whole body, not just your mind. Yet most programs of recovery often only treat the mental and emotional impact of substance use
Cell Phone Addiction: Is it Worse Than You’d Thought?
96 percent of Americans own a cell phone, with 81 percent owning a smartphone — that’s a 35 percent increase since 2011. As a nation,
Finding Financial Sobriety is the Next Step in Recovery
Recovery is so much more than getting sober. Stopping drinking and using—a huge task itself—is simply the gateway to a lifetime of work in recovery.
Depression in Recovery
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.
How to Cope with Difficult Families Over the Holidays.
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.
Common Fears About Getting Sober and How To Face Them
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.
Resources for the Families of Those Suffering with Addiction
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.
How To Deal With Medication Withdrawal
I recently encountered the rather unpleasant effects of withdrawal while coming off antidepressant medication.
Let These 8 Recovery Advocates & Trailblazers Inspire You in 2019
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.
10 Natural Tools for Overcoming Anxiety in Addiction Recovery
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.
Finding Your Own Community in Recovery
The cost of leaving 12-step fellowships was losing my in-person community.
