Reclaiming Identity After Addiction Addiction has a way of shrinking your world—and your sense of self. It’s not just the behaviour or the substance. It’s the story you start to believe: “This is who I am.” “This is all I’ll ever be.” Shame locks in. Identity gets wrapped up in survival. And before long, you […]
You Belong Here: Why Connection Beats Comparison in Recovery Recovery is hard enough without the extra weight of comparison. You see someone further ahead in their journey. Someone who seems more confident, more put together, more “healed.” And you start wondering: What’s wrong with me? Why am I not there yet? Am I even doing […]
ARC Colour Dash 2025 Lights Up Derry with Colour, Community, and Celebration Derry was alive with colour, cheers, and community spirit as the ARC Colour Dash 2025 took over the city’s streets this weekend. The event, a vibrant mix of fun run and recovery celebration, brought together hundreds of people from all walks of life […]
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 […]