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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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Atlanta, GA | Posted: January 10, 2017
The Collegiate Recovery Program, offered through the Georgia Tech Counseling Center, to provide a safe and welcoming community for students in recovery from substance use disorders. The new year brings a fresh start to program members looking to make a new commitment to healthy lifestyle choices. Recovery is about more than just abstaining from alcohol and other drugs. A strong recovery program requires a complete lifestyle change that improves physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The Collegiate Recovery Program offers holistic programming that helps students develop life skills that their addiction caused them to neglect. Going through the recovery process can be challenging, but figuring out how to balance academics, recovery maintenance and key areas of wellness helps students to succeed in this process long term.
Finding a healthy balance of these lifestyle habits are essential to a strong recovery:
Physical Activity
“Move a muscle change a thought” is a common phrase told to those in early recovery. Physical activity can be a great way to cope with the often-uncomfortable feelings that come with getting sober. It is so important that a person in recovery learns how to take care of their bodies again and this can be accomplished with any sort of activity that fosters a sense of mind-body connection.
Nutrition
When a person is in their active addiction there is little time or thought put into healthy eating. It takes time to learn healthy eating habits and it can be overwhelming to know where to start. The Collegiate Recovery Program has brought in a nutritionist to speak to program members and give them important information about a healthy diet.
Developing a Sober Social Life
Returning to college as a student in recovery can bring challenges in establishing a social life. The college culture is unofficially centered around drugs and alcohol and this can be an isolating experience for sober students. Though it can be difficult to establish a new life and a new routine, recovery is a great opportunity for students to discover what new activities and hobbies they most enjoy. In the past semester, Collegiate Recovery Program members participated in a corn hole intramural, camping, a high ropes course and canoeing.
Sleep
College students often struggle with finding the time to sleep while dealing with a heavy course load. This past semester the CRP had a seminar dedicated to better sleep in which students discussed their issues surrounding sleep as well as helpful habits to improve their quality of sleep.
All of us at the Collegiate Recovery Program are looking forward to a great start to 2017 and an exciting new semester! For more information visit counseling.gatech.edu and look for the Collegiate Recovery Program in the Programs menu.
