Unexpected Perks of Post-Rehab for Moms

Being a mom is hard and being a mom while trying to stay sober is even harder. Yet even your most challenging day parenting while sober is likely a hundred times better than parenting while abusing alcohol or drugs. For one, being sober means being present in your child’s life – so you can pat yourself on the back for that. What’ s more, what you’ve learned in rehab – lessons like self-care, anger management, time management, stress management, communication – will help you to be a better you and a better mom. 

Read on for some more unexpected perks of post-rehab for moms:

• More quality time. Whether in the form of a family dinner or potluck get-together, spending time with loved ones will take on a whole new importance once you’re sober. 
• New hobbies and interests. Now that you’re in recovery and no longer spend hours using or thinking about using, you’ll have extra time to reignite your passions and participate in activities you loved prior to your addiction. Or, you may choose to use your newly found time to test your hand at new interests and/or hobbies. 
• Increased energy. Especially if diet and exercise is a part of your overall recovery plan, you’ll likely notice that you have a lot more energy now – energy well spent playing and spending time with your kids.
• Greater appreciation. Many moms find greater meaning in everyday simple activities post-rehab – whether reading a bedtime story to your child or doing homework together. After all, another valuable rehab lesson is learning to live in the moment and find joy in your day to day.
• Setting a good example. By working to get sober you’ve already taken a giant step toward being a positive role model. And you can take this further by staying sober and using your own experience to teach your child about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.  

Rehab for Women
Making the decision to seek help for your own addiction is the best gift you can give to your family. Let us lead the way. To learn more about our rehab services for women, call today: 866-746-1558. 

Being a Sober Mom in a Wine Mom World

“I want my kids to be good at math but not so good that they can count how many glasses of wine I’ve had.’

“I wish my tolerance for my children would increase as much as my tolerance for wine.”

“Boxed wine is just a juice box for moms.”

“The most expensive part of having kids is all the wine you have to drink.”

These are just a few of the virtually endless memes out there celebrating the “wine mom” culture we live in – and, yet, for those moms in recovery, these are far from funny.

Sending moms the message that self-medicating is okay is nothing new. In the 1950s and 60s, tranquilizers referred to as “mother’s little helpers” were widely prescribed to mothers.

“This sends women the message that their emotions need to be squelched and not addressed,” Dr. Leena Mittal, a perinatal psychiatrist and addiction specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, told the New York Times.

For those moms struggling to stay sober, this message is especially dangerous. So what’s the solution?

The NY Times recently interviewed some real moms to find out some creative and sober ways they manage the stress of parenting children. Take a look and use their ideas and then make a list of your own.

• Attend a support group.
• Prioritize downtime.
• Go for walks.
• Soak in a hot bath.
• Take yoga.
• Play pick-up sports.
• Read a riveting book.
• Write in a journal.
• Get lost in a murder mystery.
• Meditate.
• Try acupuncture or acupressure.
• Get a good night’s sleep.
• Indulge in an ice cream sundae.
• Pour yourself a glass of seltzer in a fancy cup.

Alcohol Abuse Help for Women
Making the decision to seek help for your own addiction, or helping a loved one to decide to seek help for alcohol abuse, may be the biggest and most important choice of your life. Let us lead the way. To learn more about our rehab services for women, call today: 866-746-1558.