Adolescence is a vulnerable time of life. Teens are developing physically, mentally, and emotionally. They are learning new behaviors that will often carry over into adulthood. This can be very positive, a time for adolescents to build healthy habits and […]

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How Community Can Help Adolescents Heal


Building a healthy community is often challenging for teens who struggle with addiction and mental health disorders. However, friendships and community are essential in supporting teens’ mental health and helping them learn how to build healthy relationships as an adult. […]

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Helping Adolescents Build Community Starts at Home


As a parent of an adolescent, you are in a position to help them develop communication skills that will impact the rest of their lives. This is particularly important if you have a teen who is returning home from treatment. […]

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When your teen returns home from treatment, they will need to change many things about their lives. This includes the people they spend time with. By building a healthier community that supports their mental health and sobriety, your teen can […]

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The Value of Parents Keeping Their Cool When All Hell Breaks Loose


Parenting a teen is not easy, especially if they have mental health issues or are recovering from addiction. Parents are likely to feel hurt, shocked, or angry as a reaction to a teen’s behavior and emotions. Learning to stay cool […]

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The Difference Between Structure, Discipline, and Punishment for Teens


The famous German physicist Albert Einstein once said, “If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.” Einstein understood what many parents are still struggling to comprehend: the difference […]

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Is Gratitude Becoming an Evidence-Based Practice in Recovery?


With the increasing evidence that gratitude heals in recovery, it may not be long before practicing gratitude is considered an evidence-based practice. Until then, encouraging teens in recovery to practice gratitude can help sustain abstinence. How can you get teen […]

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The Significance of Teaching Teens Empathy and Compassion in Recovery


With increasingly less human interaction due to more screen time and increased social distance, empathy and compassion are at an increased deficit among teens. This is particularly true of teens with substance use and mental health disorders. The benefits of […]

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The Science Behind Small Acts of Kindness and Human Connection


Kindness, even the simplest acts of kindness, creates a chain reaction in the brains of both the giver and the receiver. Teaching teens in recovery about kindness creates powerful chain reactions of human connection. Helping them learn to both give […]

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Prioritizing Your Teen’s Recovery During the Holidays


The holiday season is often a time to spend with extended family making memories. Spending time with extended family can also be a negative experience for some. For a teen in recovery, the holidays can be particularly triggering. Finding a […]

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Sustain Recovery changed my life in a way I never considered remotely possible. I arrived in a place where I knew nobody. Sustain Recovery gave me tools so that I never had to be alone again. I learned how to live like an adult and have genuine relationships with other human beings. I gained a sense of self respect, love, and pride from the challenges I was given by staff. I was able to work through the recent loss of my father and I achieved my goal of not taking any psychiatric medication.
I learned that life is an endless balancing act. I have to continually work on myself and my relationships with the people in my life. The staff at Sustain Recovery are all incredibly experienced and spiritual. They were available to me whether I wanted their help or not. Through their efforts and experience, I experienced the inner workings of having an intimate, loving relationship with a loving creator.
Sustain Recovery is “home” for me. I discovered a loving, caring family that helped launch me to a place I would have never dreamed and, if I would have dreamed it, I would never have believed I would be able to accomplish it.

K.C.
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