Emotional Fitness: Building the Skills to Feel Without Numbing Addiction is often an escape from feeling. Whether it’s stress, shame, grief, anger, or even joy, numbing becomes the default if an emotion feels overwhelming or unfamiliar. Substances promise relief, even if temporary. But in recovery, we’re no longer avoiding life—we’re learning how to live it. […]
When Progress Slows: What to Do When Recovery Feels Stuck Recovery isn’t a straight line, it’s more like a messy, winding road. And along the way, there will be times when it feels like nothing is moving. You’re doing the work, showing up, staying sober—but it feels flat. Stagnant. Like, the growth has stalled. This […]
Routine vs. Rut: How to Keep Recovery Fresh and Forward-Focused Structure is vital in recovery. Routines help stabilise your brain, create predictability, and reduce the chaos that often fuels addiction. But there’s a fine line between a routine that supports growth and a rut that holds you back. At ARC Fitness, we teach our clients […]
Self-Compassion Beats Self-Criticism Every Time When it comes to recovery, many people think they need to be hard on themselves to succeed. The internal dialogue often sounds like: “I should know better.” “I’m weak.” “I can’t believe I slipped again.” This harsh inner voice masquerades as motivation, but science tells a different story. At ARC […]
From Surviving to Thriving In the early stages of addiction recovery, the focus is often simple and crucial: just get through today. For many, this initial period is about survival—staying sober, staying safe, showing up. And rightly so. Those first steps are vital. But recovery doesn’t stop there. True healing is not just about removing […]
The Science of Routine: Why Structure Supports Recovery When life feels chaotic, unpredictable, or out of control, addiction often steps in as a coping mechanism. Substances can offer what feels like quick relief, but they also feed the chaos. In recovery, one of the most powerful antidotes to this cycle isn’t willpower alone. Its structure. […]
What You Track, You Transform: The Psychology of Progress in Recovery In recovery, small wins matter more than you think. When you’re rebuilding your life—physically, mentally, and emotionally keeping track of progress isn’t just helpful; it’s transformational. At ARC Fitness, we say it often: What you track, you transform. Why? Because the act of tracking […]
12 Neuroscience-Backed Ways to Overcome Helplessness Helplessness is a state we all face at some point, especially in addiction recovery or during periods of mental health struggle. It’s that heavy, paralysing feeling that nothing you do will make a difference. But neuroscience says otherwise. Your brain is built to change, adapt, and heal. You just […]
Movement as Medicine: How Exercise Transforms Recovery Recovery is more than saying no to substances—it’s about saying yes to something greater. At ARC Fitness, we’ve always believed in the power of movement to change lives. Not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and socially. That’s why fitness isn’t an afterthought in our programme—it’s a pillar. When […]
Shifting the Narrative Around Addiction For too long, addiction has been treated like a moral failure—something shameful, something to hide. People are labelled as weak, selfish, or broken. That narrative is not only wrong—it’s dangerous. It keeps people silent. It delays recovery. It fuels stigma. And worst of all, it stops people from seeing their […]