Recovering from Addiction

East Cobb Counseling

Committing to a courageous journey

Recovering from addiction is a courageous journey that requires strength, perseverance, and unwavering commitment. While the road may be challenging, it is also transformative, leading individuals towards a life of healing, freedom, and fulfillment. In this blog, we'll explore the steps involved in overcoming addiction and reclaiming your life.


Acknowledging the Problem:

The first step towards recovery is acknowledging the presence of addiction in your life. This requires honesty and self-reflection, as well as the courage to confront the impact that addiction has had on yourself and those around you. Recognizing the need for change is the foundation upon which your journey to recovery is built.


Seeking Support:

Recovery is not a journey that you need to undertake alone. Seeking support from friends, family members, or support groups can provide invaluable encouragement, guidance, and understanding. Additionally, professional help from therapists, counselors, or addiction specialists can offer the expertise and resources needed to navigate the complexities of addiction and recovery.


Committing to Change:

Recovery requires a deep commitment to change and a willingness to take responsibility for your actions. This involves making difficult decisions, setting boundaries, and letting go of unhealthy patterns and behaviors. By embracing change and staying focused on your goals, you can create a solid foundation for lasting recovery.


Learning Coping Strategies:

Addiction often serves as a way to cope with underlying emotional pain, trauma, or stress. In order to overcome addiction, it's essential to develop healthy coping strategies that address these underlying issues. This may involve therapy, mindfulness practices, stress-reduction techniques, or engaging in activities that bring joy and fulfillment.


Building a Supportive Environment:

Surrounding yourself with a supportive and nurturing environment is crucial for recovery. This may involve distancing yourself from people, places, or situations that trigger addictive behaviors, and instead, surrounding yourself with positive influences that reinforce your commitment to sobriety. Cultivating healthy relationships and engaging in activities that promote well-being can help create a sense of stability and belonging.


Taking One Day at a Time:

Recovery is a journey that unfolds one day at a time. It's important to be patient with yourself and to celebrate each small victory along the way. While setbacks may occur, they do not define your journey. By staying resilient and focused on your goals, you can continue moving forward towards a life of freedom and fulfillment.


Conclusion:

Recovering from addiction is a transformative journey that requires courage, determination, and resilience. By acknowledging the problem, seeking support, committing to change, and building a supportive environment, individuals can overcome addiction and reclaim their lives. Remember, recovery is possible, and every step forward is a testament to your strength and resilience.

Eat, Think, and Rewire: How Mental Health and Nutrition Can Help You Drink Less (or Not at All)

By Laurel Clayton-Seheult • April 30, 2025
Author - Laurel Clayton-Seheult, PN2 Master Health Coach, April 30, 2025

So you've got H. Pylori, now what? (Spoiler: Kale isn't the only answer)

By Laurel Clayton-Seheult • April 29, 2025
Author: Laurel Clayton-Seheult, PN1 Master Health Coach - April 29, 2025 Let’s set the scene: You’re bloated, burping like a frat boy, and wondering if your stomach secretly hates you. Your doctor runs some tests and bam—Helicobacter pylori enters your life like that one ex who texts “U up?” at 2 a.m. First, breathe. You’re not alone. H. pylori is a common bacterial party crasher in the gut. But here’s the twist: it doesn’t just make your stomach hurt—it can hijack your entire digestive vibe. The Good News: This is totally fixable—with a little help from science, food, and maybe someone who knows what “methylation” means. Step 1: Get a Nutritional Test (Not Just the Basic Kind) Think of it as a blood test, but with a glow-up (that only requires a mouth swab!). Instead of just checking your iron or cholesterol, it dives deep—like “under-the-hood-of-your-DNA” deep. Why? Because H. pylori doesn’t just throw your gut off—it can mess with nutrient absorption, detox pathways, and even your mood. Your body might be trying to do its job but running low on the building blocks it needs—like trying to bake a cake with no flour, eggs, or will to live. This is where the 3X4 Genetic Blueprint Test comes in. It’s like getting a personalized manual for how your body wants to function. It tells you: How your genes influence digestion, inflammation, and detox If you’re a methylation rockstar—or if your pathways are more “Netflix buffering” How you metabolize nutrients (spoiler: you and kale might not be a match made in heaven) Quick methylation breakdown (without putting you to sleep): Methylation is your body’s behind-the-scenes crew. It helps detox, repair cells, balance mood, and even produce energy. If it’s not working properly—thanks to genes, gut bugs like H. pylori, or nutrient depletion—you might feel tired, anxious, or just plain “meh.” So while you’re healing from H. pylori, this kind of insight is gold. It helps your nutrition coach stop guessing and start customizing—because your gut deserves a healing plan as unique as your Netflix recommendations. Step 2: Hire a Nutrition Coach (AKA Your Food Therapist) After H. pylori, it’s tempting to panic-Google “anti-inflammatory superfoods” and build a diet based on kombucha and prayers. A nutrition coach helps you cut through the chaos and learn to love food again. They’ll help you: Rebuild your gut lining (think bone broth, not broken dreams) Eat in a way that doesn’t trigger your already annoyed digestive system Decode supplements without needing a PhD in biochemistry Quit blaming gluten for everything (unless, y’know, it is the problem) They also hold you accountable—because let’s be honest, left to your own devices, you’ll be Googling “Can I eat nachos on a gut-healing protocol?” And honestly, there most likely "is" a version of nachos that you can totally enjoy! Step 3: Laugh (Seriously) Gut health can be overwhelming, but stress makes everything worse. Laughter really is medicine (no copay required). Plus, nothing bonds you to your nutrition coach faster than admitting you ate a gas station burrito and now feel like a balloon animal. Final Thought: You’re Not Broken H. pylori is a pain, but it’s also a wake-up call. With the right tests and the right coach, you’ll go from “Why does everything I eat hurt?” to “Pass the sweet potato, I’m thriving!” So say goodbye to chronic indigestion, confusing food rules, and living in fear of your own stomach. You’ve got this. Your gut is about to make the ultimate comeback tour.

Seven Steps to Facing and Processing Disappointments

By Stephen Wise • January 30, 2025
Sometimes what didn't work out for you - worked out for you! By: Dr. Stephen Wise, PsyD, CCTP - Life is full of disappointments, ranging from minor letdowns to devastating blows that feel impossible to recover from. Disappointment is a complex emotion, often intertwined with sadness, a sense of loss, or even failure. While disappointments are inevitable, how we process and respond to them shapes our ability to move forward. As the image I posted reminds us, sometimes what seems like a setback may actually be clearing the way for something bigger and better. Disappointments arise when expectations go unmet—and let’s be honest, living without expectations is nearly impossible. From a young age, we are surrounded by societal, familial, and personal pressures that only grow as we navigate adulthood. These expectations drive us toward success and happiness, but they also make us vulnerable to disappointment when life doesn’t go as planned. To help you face and move through these moments of disappointment, I’ve outlined seven practical steps for processing emotions and moving forward productively: 1. Acknowledge and Feel Your Emotions The first step in healing is to allow yourself to experience the full range of emotions—sadness, anger, hurt, or even despair. Give yourself the space and grace to adjust to what has happened. While it’s important to feel your emotions, don’t let them consume you indefinitely. Healing begins here, but survival requires forward movement. 2. Practice Acceptance Denial keeps you stuck. Accept what happened so you can shift into a problem-solving mode. Reflect on past experiences where you overcame setbacks—what strategies helped you regain your footing? Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up; it means letting go of resistance so you can reclaim your momentum. Dwelling on negativity can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. A positive outlook can help you maintain emotional balance, reduce the mental toll of disappointment, and foster a sense of hope. 3. Resist the Trap of Self-Pity After acknowledging your emotions and accepting reality, avoid falling into self-pity. Dwelling on "why me?" will only drain your emotional energy and keep you from feeling empowered. Disappointments can actually empower growth and often reveal areas where you can learn, improve, or pivot. By focusing on the lessons within the setback, you turn what feels like failure into an opportunity for personal or professional growth. 4. Let Go of Self-Blame It’s easy to internalize disappointments and blame yourself, but often, many factors contributing to an outcome are beyond your control. Recognize the difference between accountability and unfair self-blame and show yourself compassion. 5. Keep Perspective Put this experience into context within the broader scope of your life. Ask yourself: how significant will this moment feel a year from now? Challenges are opportunities to grow stronger and more resilient. Life’s "speed bumps" may feel jarring, but they prepare us for navigating even greater challenges. 6. Reflect and Learn Every disappointment holds a lesson. What has this experience taught you about your goals, priorities, or values? In my own journey, a significant disappointment helped me realize what I truly wanted from my career, leading me down a new and fulfilling path. Give yourself time for reflection and be open to the possibilities that follow. 7. Take Action Channel your energy into identifying the next opportunity. The excitement you felt for what didn’t work out can resurface as you pursue new goals. Don’t let pessimism or fear of failure hold you back from future prospects. With each new step, you’re moving closer to something better. How you handle difficulties can inspire those around you. Demonstrating positivity can encourage others to face their own challenges with grace and determination. Summary Disappointments, while painful, can become turning points in our lives. By processing our emotions and staying focused on the bigger picture, we not only recover but often emerge stronger, wiser, and more prepared for what lies ahead.