Last year, I shared my first post about grounding tools and a lot of you told me how helpful it was. So here I am with the sequel. Think of this as the next level. It’s a mix of creative, sensory, and body-based techniques to help you stay present, especially when triggers or anxiety are trying to take over.

Grounding tools are powerful. They’re not about “fixing” how you feel but about giving your mind and body a safe place when things feel like they’re out of control. These techniques engage your senses and gently guide you back into the present moment.

Let’s dive into some practical, easy-to-use grounding techniques that you can keep in your recovery and healing toolkit.

Welcome, Superstar. I’m grateful you’re here.

Supporting someone with an addiction can be challenging. If you’re here, you’re probably carrying a kind of heaviness that most people can’t see. Maybe someone you love is struggling with addiction or in early recovery, and you’re trying to hold it all together. It’s a lot when you’re trying to help, support, and care for your loved one and not lose yourself in the process.

I can empathize. That’s why I created this space.

I’m Laura. I’ve been clean for over 30 years, but I’ve also been the one sitting in the dark, wondering what my partner was doing, worrying if I said the right thing, googling “what is hypervigilance?” I know how complicated and isolating this journey can feel.

At Bookends of Recovery, you'll find blog posts, podcasts, and free worksheets and workbooks that dive into real-life recovery topics. I talk about things like how to deal with triggers when your brain wants to lie to you, what emotional sobriety actually looks like, how to stop spiraling, how to set boundaries, and…most importantly how to laugh again.

You’ll also find reflection exercises and practical tools to help you stop white-knuckling it and start building a recovery that fits your real life, not someone else’s idea of it. No labels, no “my way is the only way,” no toxic false positivity, and definitely no shame.

Have you ever felt like a broken record when offering support? You provided your experience and a favorite coping tool, showed your vulnerability, and BAM! Your friend, co-worker, or accountability partner is back. Same question. Same spiral. “Why won’t Jack take me seriously?”, “There’s no way I’m getting this done!”, “How do I manage my triggers?”

You want to say, “You mean like we just talked about three days ago?” But instead, you pause. Breathe. Smile. And say it all again. Wash, rinse, repeat.

When I first got sober, I thought not using coke was all I needed to do. BAM! Problem solved! Right? Right? Yeah, not so much.

Life kept happening. Money problems, kids driving me bananas, stress at school and at home, and then there was this habit I had of getting into relationships with people who needed to be in recovery…but didn’t.

And don’t get me started on shoving down the memories trauma and abuse I’d gone through. First through childhood, then relational trauma after disclosure.

That’s where emotional sobriety comes into the picture. The lesser-known, but equally important partner of physical sobriety. And today, we’re taking a closer look.

 Emotions are like layers of an onion. Some are simple and raw, while others are complex, nuanced, and shaped by life experience. Understanding these levels can help us identify what we’re feeling and why, which is especially useful in recovery, healing, relationships, and personal growth.

Although my dad was great at talking with me, there were a lot of things that just weren’t discussed. I was never taught how to process my emotions properly, let alone name them. If that resonates with you, you’re not alone. Here’s a quick overview of emotions that can help you on your journey to recovery and healing.

Today I’m sharing a bonus workbook to accompany Tuesday’s blog post, Relational Trauma: The Possible Effects of Loving an Addict. This workbook is designed to help you identify patterns of hypervigilance, process the emotions that can come up when setting boundaries, and explore wellness exercises to support your healing.

Ever find yourself Googling "How to recover from someone else’s addiction" at 2 a.m. while eating handfuls of Goldfish? Yeah, me too. I didn’t quite give up the Goldfish, but I did give up the Googling. Eventually.

Today we're talking about hypervigilance, the emotions you may experience as the loved one of an addict, and the early signs of relational trauma. This is the second one in the series. You can find the first part here.

This post isn’t just for the loved ones though, it can help those struggling understand what their partners are experiencing as they are supporting you.