Why Do I Need a 12-Step Program?

People have been struggling with alcoholism and addiction for as long as alcohol and addictive substances have existed. Over the years, many treatments were devised and attempted. The remedies available to alcoholics just a few decades ago would seem barbaric by today’s standards. In this era of quick fixes, there may be less horrific approaches […]

Don’t Try To Do Everything at Once

For anyone struggling with drugs and alcohol, finding recovery can often be an incredibly powerful and energizing experience. Once we’ve gotten over the initial culture shock and embraced a recovery lifestyle, we will likely find ourselves incredibly excited by the possibilities our new life holds. We no longer hurt all the time, we’ve stopped making […]

Men’s Issues: Everybody Wants To Be The Lone Ranger

Everybody has issues, whether they are an alcoholic, addict, both, or neither. Man, woman, or child, we all have problems. Culturally speaking, no matter what categories you fit into, we hear a lot of mixed messages — some of which are downright destructive. At Jaywalker, we deal exclusively with men who suffer from alcoholism, addiction, […]

Do I Have To Believe in God To Get Sober?

Faith and belief are both deeply personal, almost private issues. What each of us has faith or believes in, whether we are in or out of recovery, is entirely our business. Yet many alcoholics and addicts who come to 12-Step programs looking for help immediately find their minds closed upon seeing the words “God” or […]

Pushing Past Fear in Recovery

For alcoholics and addicts who find recovery and become willing to do the work, it can seem like we have to start all over again. All our familiar habits, hangouts, and ways of thinking are out the window. This may seem difficult, but only until we realize that all these things contributed to killing us. […]

Persistent Anxiety in Treatment and Recovery

Anxiety is an increasingly common mental health issue, but there is still much to be learned about how it affects people. Because symptoms can vary so widely, it leads to a lot of misunderstanding or improper handling of anxiety and anxiety-related issues. Anxiety is especially common among alcoholics and addicts. About 20 percent of people […]

What Can I Do When I Feel Overwhelmed?

In these strange and scary times, it’s easy for anyone to get overwhelmed. We alcoholics and addicts are sensitive people for the most part, often prone to anxiety, depression, and panic. When the world has been turned upside down for pretty much everyone, it’s no wonder that our emotions are all over the place. Over […]

Action, Action, and More Action!

Continuous action is near-impossible for anyone, but consistent action is an attainable goal for anyone who is willing to take things slow and steady. For alcoholics and addicts, we must stay vigilant against relapse in order to maintain our lives in recovery. Luckily for us, the things we do to prevent a slip are also […]

The Effects of Activity in Treatment and Recovery

When we think of what treatment looks like for alcoholism and addiction, we typically picture a lot of sitting. Perhaps sitting in a 12-Step meeting, sitting with a therapist, or sitting in group counseling. Even if we picture someone well into their recovery going back to work, they are also likely to be sitting. It’s […]

How Can I Find Willingness?

For alcoholics and addicts in recovery, whether they are new or long-timers, there are always new things to discover, explore, and learn. When we were active in our disease it is likely — for many of us at least — that we didn’t do a lot of growing or progressing. For many of us, the […]