Above & Beyond

By Mountainside

Pura Vida! Pure life – that is exactly what I experienced on my first ever alumni trip. Being immersed in Costa Rica’s culture for eight days, I began to embrace this idea of living the simple life and the idea of going with the flow.

The journey was filled with adventure, volunteerism, and nature. Each of us was challenged to reach outside of our comfort zone. Through each activity, through each day, we all supported one another.

No matter where we went, we were always greeted with a genuine smile. The people were amazing — sharing their history, customs, values, and let’s not forget, their food! Each conversation we had was real and heartfelt.

There is something truly special about sharing experiences such as this one with a group of people. We made memories, shared laughs, and even some tears. But most of all, we celebrated life and each other. Each of us has grown from this experience and that is what recovery is all about!

Each step moment made me appreciate and live in gratitude. Pura Vida is not something you can explain. It is a way of life. It is a feeling. It is what made the trip to Costa Rica so special.

Ask The Experts

Going "Above and Beyond" in Recovery

When it comes to recovery, it is easy to get stuck in a routine and let the demands of life outside a treatment center cause us to lose momentum. But it is important to remember that we can only get out of recovery what we put into it. We can't just give up when things get hard. We can't do the bare minimum. We have to go above and beyond. Clinician, Whitney Balliett, shares what that means.

Piece by Piece: Recovery Q&A with Hayley L.

Hayley came to Mountainside after a judge and her parents gave her an ultimatum. Now, she's happy, healthy, and her relationship with her family is stronger than ever. In this month's Spotlight, learn more about how honesty has played a huge role in her recovery. **Q.** What was the turning point that led you to get help? **A.** My emotional turning point occurred when I got home from court that day. My dad called me into his office and showed me Mountainside's website and explained everything to me for about an hour. While doing this, I saw a side of him that I'd never seen before. He turned to me with tears in his eyes, and he said, "Hayley, please make the decision to go here and get some help." That's all he said, and that's all he had to say. I'd never seen my dad cry before, not even once.

Say Goodbye to Anxiety

Sometimes 24 hours is simply not enough. Work, family, and social obligations can often leave us feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. The idea of adding another task to our to-do list can send us spiraling, causing us anxiety. Anxiety is not something we should ignore, because in the long run, it can be dangerous to recovery and even cause a relapse. Here are 5 simple ways to help you manage your anxiety no matter how hectic life gets.

Recovery Q&A with Bill D.

Alumni Bill D. recently shared with us a few of his favorite things to do. He told us all about the television show he can't miss right now, his favorite type of exercise, and his guilty pleasure.

MTS News

Mountainside and our amazing team of addiction professionals have been featured in the media recently. Not only are they raising awareness about Mountainside but they are sharing their expertise about addiction. In some cases, our team members have shared their own stories of addiction to reduce the stigma associated with the disease.

Jason Arsenault, Senior Manager in our Recovery Coaching program, discusses alcoholism in the New York Post while in NBC Out, Jason shared more of his personal story of addiction. In Talkspace and in Vice, our Director of Psychiatry, Dr. Shanthi Mogali, spoke about anxiety.

You can always keep track of Mountainside in the media by checking our newsroom.

Journey to Costa Rica

Floating in crystal clear oceans, meditating in the middle of nature, taking nocturnal wilderness walks, and snorkeling with sharks – that is just a glimpse of what our alumni experienced during this eight-day, life changing trip to Costa Rica.

Watch this video to see alumni having an amazing time on this adventure!

Watch

June Milestones

Click here to see all of the June recovery birthdays! If you have a milestone coming up next month, [email us](mailto:jessica.dunn@mountainside.com) your first name, last initial, city, state, and how long you’ve been in recovery.

888 833 4676

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, Mountainside can help.
Click here or call (888) 833-4676 to speak with one of our addiction treatment experts.

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